Five Towns Jewish Home 09.11.25

Dear Readers,

When we awoke on Monday morning to the horrific news that six special souls were snuffed out by sadistic terrorists, our world was shaken. For most of us, the news of our brothers and sister who were killed, callously, as they waited for the bus to take them to work and yeshiva was jarring. We felt for those families, those children and spouses who will never see the special people in their lives ever again.

But when I looked at the news sites today, there was no mention of what happened, no talk of those who were killed two days ago al kiddush Hashem. And I thought to myself: could it be that they were just “yesterday’s news”? Could it be that their deaths were just a blip on the screen, a mere sigh of anguish as we go about our lives?

But no, we cannot allow that to be. We cannot allow their deaths to not affect us personally.

You see, their families – their brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, wives and husbands – will forever feel that hole in their hearts. They will forever have a gaping chasm in their days as they remember their loved ones. Every day, when they open the door to their apartments, their homes will feel dimmer, quieter, lonelier. Every night, when they go to sleep, their houses will feel emptier. Every Shabbos and yom tov seudah, their tables will be less vibrant and bright – because of whom they are missing.

And if we all are one – and we are – part of one nation that loves each other and cares for

one another, we should also acknowledge and feel their pain. We should try to keep them in our hearts and in our prayers and think about them throughout our day.

We cannot allow ourselves to move on so quickly, to let the headlines fade and the tears dry without leaving a mark on each of us. Each tragedy that befalls Klal Yisrael must strengthen our sense of unity, our commitment to one another, and our connection to Hashem. If their lives were stolen from us in darkness, then let us bring more light into the world in their memory – by doing another mitzvah, by showing kindness to another Jew, by saying an extra kapitel Tehillim, by reaching out to someone who needs encouragement. Every act of chessed, every special mitzvah, every extra tefillah we do becomes an eternal gift to their neshamas and a step toward the ultimate geulah.

And so, even in our grief, we look ahead with hope. We know that the story of Am Yisrael does not end with tears; we know that Hashem collects our heartfelt tefillos and cries and uses them to form the ultimate redemption. Just as night always gives way to dawn, so, too, the pain of today will one day – may it be soon— be replaced with everlasting simcha.

May Hashem see our unity and our connection to each of His children, and may He swiftly bring the geulah in which we will all share in the ultimate joy.

Wishing you a wonderful week, Shoshana

Yitzy Halpern, PUBLISHER publisher@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Yosef Feinerman, MANAGING EDITOR ads@fivetownsjewishhome.com

Shoshana Soroka, EDITOR editor@fivetownsjewishhome.com

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Showers Showers

Dear Editor,

At a time of rising antisemitism and growing threats to Jewish communities across the country and around the world, it’s heartening to see leaders like Congresswoman Laura Gillen put partisan politics aside and standing up for us with real action.

Since taking office in January, Rep. Gillen been one of the strongest voices in Congress defending the Jewish community. She co-sponsored the Antisemitism Awareness Act, requiring the Department of Education to use the IHRA definition of antisemitism when addressing campus incidents. She also voted for a $17 billion aid package to support Israel’s defense.

Like her predecessors, Rep. Gillen has taken a clear, unwavering stance against Hamas, stating they must be completely dismantled. She continues to push for tougher sanctions on Iran, rightly identifying its nuclear ambitions as a direct threat to U.S. and Israeli security.

Most recently, Rep. Gillen denounced New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as the wrong choice for NYC, calling out his history of associating with antisemitic views. But she isn’t just offering statements; she’s delivering policy.

We have been very fortunate to have elected officials in the 4th Congressional district that are looking out for our community regardless of party and we’re grateful for Congresswoman Gillen’s leadership.

Jonathan Katz Woodmere, NY

Dear Editor,

Once again, a superbly written, insightful piece by Jonathan Tobin.

His “take” on the take of the liberal media as it continues to falsely report and distort the continuing unfolding tragedy on Israel/Gaza is a tragic story in and of itself.

The once respected icons of journalism (i.e., The NY Times, CNN and the major networks) no longer can be trusted to deliver a message of unbiased truth to the American people nor to the world as well.

The Thomas Friedmans, Nicholas Kristofs and their ilk are an embarrassment to themselves and their profession.

I expect nothing more from MSNBC and the inane comments voiced by Krystal Ball and Glen Greenwald. They unashamedly have become outward enemies of Israel while supporting the horrors that began on October 7.

What I find most disturbing in Mr. Tobin’s comments is that by quietly accepting the lies set forth daily, and by not strongly voicing opposition to such, we Jews in too many instances endorse this propaganda!

This dishonest journalism is a cancer that is spreading unchecked.

We must loudly denounce it without fear. Failure to do so will continue to infect our Israel, America and the world.

Respectfully,

Morty Grossman Plainview, NY

Dear Editor,

How grateful I am for rabbis. How much they do for so many. How many people they influence, inspire, even bring to Yiddishkeit from completely secular backgrounds, forever changing people’s lives. Rabbis’ words can be powerful and many people listen to them weekly and even daily to help them guide their lives. In less than two weeks, rabbis will stand in front of perhaps their largest audience of the year. Rabbi, about what will you speak? So many important issues are facing us this year. Which will you choose?

I respectfully suggest one that may not

Continued on page 16

French Gov’t Collapses

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou was ousted on Monday in a 364-194 confidence vote in the National Assembly, leading to the collapse of the French government. Now, the government of Bayrou, which was appointed by President Emanuel Macron less than a year ago, must resign. Macron, in turn, needs to decide who will replace Bayrou. Macron’s office said this would happen “in the coming days.”

France is now on the way to getting its fifth prime minister in less than two year’s.

Some have speculated that Macron will turn now to a leftwing prime minister, having failed with the conservative Barnier and the centrist Bayrou. Still, others believe that Macron will be turning to Minister of the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu. Labour Minister Catherine Vautrin and Finance Minister Eric Lombard are also said to be in the running.

Lecornu, 39, has held several positions throughout Macron’s tenure in office, including Minister for Local Authorities and Minister of the Overseas. He has lasted longer than other ministers who have held office since Macron’s 2017 election and has been a key ally to Macron. He is a member of Macron’s Renaissance Party.

Nicolas Bonnet, a member of the general assembly from the Green Party, told France 24, “I’m happy that François Bayrou is out. The National Assembly no longer trusted him. But I’m also concerned because we have to build something new, a new government. We have a new prime minister, and firstly, a new budget for next year. It will be quite difficult because we have seen in the past year, this was complicated to make different parties, different groups in the assembly to...build compromise.”

Protests Sweep Nepal

After Nepal’s government banned social media applications, including WhatsApp, thousands of people protested across the country amid widespread anger over accusations of government corruption. At least 19 people were killed in the protests. Hundreds others were injured during the violent crackdown by security forces on demonstrators.

Nepal’s home minister, Ramesh Lekhak, tendered his resignation to Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli amid calls for the latter’s resignation by critics across the political spectrum. Lekhak cited moral grounds. Oli, who is serving for the fourth time, heads the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) and is leading a coalition government alongside the Nepali Congress party.

Police in Kathmandu, the capital, responded with lethal force to throngs of protesters entering the area around the parliament building. Officials fired live ammunition along with water cannons, rubber bullets and tear gas.

Protests and clashes in Kathmandu and other Nepali cities continued even after a curfew was imposed for certain neighborhoods in the afternoon.

The demonstrations have come to be known as the “Gen Z protests,” given young people’s widespread participation. Photos showed signs decrying nepotism and political elites.

The wife of former prime minister of Nepal Jhala Nath Khanal died after she was burned alive when her home was set on fire by protesters.

On August 28, Nepal’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology ordered all social media platforms, foreign and domestic, to register with the ministry within seven days or face a nationwide ban. In a notice issued after a Supreme Court directive, the government said companies must appoint local representatives — including a grievance officer and compliance monitor — in order to continue operating. Platforms that did not comply would be deactivated, while registered services would be reactivated immediately. The ban went into effect Thursday. Twenty six apps were blocked, including WhatsApp, Facebook,

The ban on these applications was strategic. Many of these platforms were used by citizens to express their discontent with Nepal’s government. Many people living in Nepal hail from India, Malaysia, and countries in the Persian Gulf. As such, communication with family members has been hindered.

“The independence of the nation is greater than the loss of jobs of a handful of individuals,” Oli, the prime minister, said in a speech Sunday in defense of the social media crackdown. “How can it be acceptable to defy the law, disregard the constitution and disrespect national dignity, independence and sovereignty?”

Nepal’s former prime minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, widely known as Prachanda, criticized the social media ban and asked for it to be lifted in posts to X on Monday. He said the government should address the wider issues of corruption to prevent the situation from deteriorating further.

Japan’s PM Resigns

This week, Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his resignation

after less than a year in the position. His resignation came a day before his opponents in his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) were expected to vote him out.

Ishiba’s departure sets the stage for yet another leadership contest in Tokyo, the third in four years. The new prime minister won’t have an easy job. Japan is balancing a fraught relationship with the United States and is dealing with rising inflation and a government that has lost its majority in both houses of parliament.

In 2024, Ishiba replaced then outgoing prime minister Fumio Kishida, whose popularity plunged in the wake of a corruption scandal involving the LDP, rising living costs and a slumping yen.

Just days after being elected, Ishiba announced plans for a snap election, saying it was “important for the new administration to be judged by the people as soon as possible.” But the people weren’t too happy with Ishiba, delivering the LDP its worst election result in over a decade and causing it to lose its single-party majority in the powerful lower house.

Earlier this year, the LDP suffered another defeat in the upper house parliamentary elections where it also lost its majority.

At first, Ishiba resisted calls to resign. But ahead of an internal leadership

vote that could have forced him out, he stepped down on Sunday.

For now, no one has announced their intention to run for prime minister. The top candidates – who have not yet announced their candidacy – include Shinjiro Kiozumi, the agricultural minister and son of a popular former prime minister; Yoshimasa Hayashi, the chief cabinet secretary; and Sanae Takaichi, who would be Japan’s first female prime minister if she won.

The new leader faces the challenge of bringing together a weakened party – and someone who can bring back voters to the LDP.

Japan has been led by more than 10 prime ministers over the last two decades because of its “one-party democracy,” in which the LDP has always been governing. As such, competition arises from within the main political party, rather than from external parties.

Tragic Tram Crash in Lisbon

Last Wednesday, the Elevador da Gloria funicular — Lisbon’s iconic tram — derailed, flying off its track and hitting a building. The accident took the lives of 16 people, including an American, and injured 21 others, around half of whom were tourists.

The streetcar, which is beloved by tourists, has operated for around 140 years, bringing passengers 270 yards up and down a hill in central Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. Each year, millions ride the tram for a four-minute trip.

Following the tragedy, Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his condolences to the victims’ loved ones. The capital’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, declared three days of mourning for his city. Moedas said, “It’s a tragedy of the like we’ve never seen.”

The national government, meanwhile, declared Thursday a national day of mourning.

According to Reuters, emergency services were closely inspecting three other funiculars in Lisbon to ensure their safety.

The Elevador da Gloria fell around

800 feet down the cliff, hitting a building. After the crash, many onlookers fled, while others ran to try to save those in need of rescuing.

Almeis Santos, the Portuguese Order of the Engineers’ president, said that the crash seems to have happened because of a broken cable. Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the accident.

Jail for Former Thai PM

This week, Thailand’s top court ordered former prime minister and billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra to prison for one year.

Thaksin, 76, served as prime minister from 2001 until he was ousted in a military coup in 2006. He made a dramatic return to Thailand in 2023 after 15 years in self-imposed exile and was sentenced to eight years in prison for conflict of interest, abuse of power and corruption during his time in power.

Thaksin was once the owner of the Manchester City Football Club. Despite the sentencing, he never spent a night in jail, residing instead in a luxury suite at Bangkok’s Police General Hospital after complaining of tightness in his chest, high blood pressure and low oxygen levels.

Thailand’s King Maha Vajiralongkorn then reduced Thaksin’s prison sentence to one year, before he was released on parole six months later in February 2024.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that Thaksin’s prolonged hospital stay last year was unlawful and ordered him to serve his sentence at Bangkok Remand Prison, according to the court.

Many say that Thaksin returned to Thailand after striking a deal with the country’s powerful conservative and royalist establishment for his return in exchange for a reduced jail term, lenient treatment, or a possible pardon. Thaksin returned on the same day his family’s political party took up the reins of government once again.

Thaksin has denied making such an arrangement.

In a social media post after the verdict, Thaksin said he accepted the court’s decision.

“Today I choose to look forward, letting all past matters come to a resolution,” he said. “Though I may lack physical freedom, I still have the freedom of thought for the benefit of the nation and people.”

Speaking to reporters outside court, Thaksin’s daughter and former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said, “My father and our family remain holding high spirits.”

She added that the Shinawatras’ Pheu

Thai political party “will carry on doing (our) political duty as the opposition party.”

Paetongtarn Shinawatra was removed from office by the Constitutional Court less than two weeks ago over a leaked phone call she had with Cambodia’s former leader that breached ethics rules.

The family is somewhat of a political dynasty, with allied candidates winning almost every election since 2001. Thaksin’s sister Yingluck ran a government until a court ruling ended her tenure

end frequent blackouts, and support the growth of electric vehicle development in a country that has banned the importation of gasoline-powered vehicles.

Reservoir waters flowed into the turbines of the Grand Renaissance Dam on Tuesday. Hundreds of Ethiopians came out in celebration, viewing the ceremony on large screens across the capital, Addis Ababa.

The almost $5 billion mega-dam, located on a tributary of the River Nile in the northwest of the country, near the border with Sudan, will produce more than 5,000 megawatts and is expected to double national electricity generation capacity, according to officials.

Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, speaking during the launch, said the dam was a “big achievement” that would show the world what Africans are capable of accomplishing.

“I am proud to announce we will soon be signing an agreement with the government of Ethiopia to receive electricity from the dam that will benefit our hospitals and schools,” said South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir.

Kenyan President William Ruto said his nation is looking to sign a power purchasing agreement with Ethiopia based on the resources of the dam project, which he said was a “pan-African statement.” Kenya already imports Ethiopian electricity.

The dam is not without controversy.

Egypt has long opposed the dam because of concerns it would deplete its share of Nile River waters. The Arab world’s most populous country relies almost entirely on the Nile to supply water for agriculture and its more than 100 million people.

Tamim Khallaf, a spokesperson for Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that the dam posed an “existential threat.”

followed by a 2014 military coup, while Thaksin’s brother-in-law was also in charge of Thailand briefly during his absence.

Largest Dam in Africa

On Tuesday, Ethiopia inaugurated Africa’s largest dam to boost the economy,

“There was no prior notification, proper consultations, or consensus with downstream countries, thereby constituting a grave violation of international law,” he said.

Abiy assured his neighbors this week that Ethiopia does not plan to hurt them and that they will have shared prosperity.

“I assure you that Ethiopia will never take away your rightful share,” he said. “Today, I make this promise before my people. The hunger of our brothers in

Egypt, in Sudan, or anywhere else is also our hunger. We must share and grow together, for we have no intention of harming anyone.”

U.K.’s Deputy PM Resigns

Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister of Britain, handed in her resignation

to Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Friday, simultaneously stepping down as housing minister and Labour Party deputy leader. Her decision came amid a scandal that alleged that she didn’t pay the right amount of property tax.

Rayner’s departure is yet another setback for the once-popular Labour Party, which is now struggling to fight the rising popularity of the anti-immigration Reform UK party. Rayner, in particular, was admired by young voters for her “realness.”

After she left, Starmer appointed Foreign Minister David Lammy as deputy prime minister and justice secretary. In kind, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper succeeded Lammy as foreign minister, and Shabana Mahmood switched from justice secretary to home secretary.

Rayner maintained that her failure to pay the full tax for her million-dollar beach apartment in Hove was unintentional, though her actions were partic-

ularly controversial given that Britain is in a housing crisis and she herself has criticized members of the opposition who were guilty of similar moves. Amid attacks from conservatives, she resigned, claiming that her situation had become “unbearable.”

“While I rightly expect proper scrutiny on me and my life, my family did not choose to have their private lives interrogated and exposed so publicly,” Rayner wrote on Friday.

Rayner was raised on the outskirts of Manchester in poverty. She gave birth to her first child at the age of 16, and worked as a carer for the elderly and as a trade union representative before becoming a politician.

Rayner claimed that legal advisors told her it was unnecessary to pay the stamp duty — a tax that’s higher for second homes — because she had already sold her stake in the Greater Manchester constituency home and put it into a trust for her children that was funded from a medical award after her son was born with lifelong disabilities due to premature birth. As such, she paid £30,000 ($40,000) when she should’ve paid £70,000 (£94,000).

Lost Art

An 18th century painting that was taken by the Nazis during World War II was recently recovered and handed over to police.

An Argentinian couple, Patricia Kadgien and her husband, Juan Carlos Cortegoso, handed over “Portrait of a Lady,” a portrait of Countess Colleoni by Vittore Ghislandi, to authorities last week, Federal Attorney General of Mar del Plata Daniel Adler said. The couple was placed on a 72-hour house arrest as police raided their properties in search of the artwork.

The painting was spotted in an August real estate listing of Kadgien’s home in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

Since the couple did not reveal that they owned the stolen piece of art, they could be held criminally responsible for concealing their possession of the painting.

It is believed that a family member of Dutch art dealer Jacques Goudstikker was forced to “sell” the painting to Nazi officials during World War II, the Argentinian public prosecutor’s office said in a news release.

It’s thought the painting made in the 1700s was sold to Kadgien’s father, Friedrich Kadgien, by the Nazis in 1944, Yaél M. Weitz, attorney for Marei von Saher, Goudstikker’s daughter-in-law, said.

Friedrich Kadgien was a Nazi leader who became involved in acquiring currency, securities and diamonds that had been stolen or bought by force from Jewish victims. The office of the FourYear Plan (economic measures initiated by Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany in 1936) asked Kadgien to move some of these assets to Switzerland, according to a Swiss investigative commission that probed the fate of assets transported to the country during and after World War II. Kadgien also moved to Switzerland after the war.

Swiss authorities protected him from extradition requests by the Allies and let him leave the country for Latin America in 1951. He later settled in Argentina, where he spent the remainder of his life.

In the raids of his daughter’s home and the properties belonging to her family on September 1, officials found two paintings from one of the family’s residences that could date to the 1800s, according to the Argentinian public prosecutor’s office. The office said other drawings and prints were also found.

Officials plan to examine these works to determine if they’re connected to any thefts during World War II, according to prosecutors.

Weitz, the attorney for the family who lost the work, said that her client, von Saher, 81, is the rightful heir to the painting. Her client has been searching for her family’s missing art pieces since the 1990s. According to Weitz, von Saher has been able to recover about 350 of an estimated 1,200 works that were part of the family’s collection at the time of the war.

“It is encouraging that the painting is now with the authorities and that it is no longer missing. I am relieved that it’s now in a safe and secure place,” von Saher said in a statement.

It is estimated that the Nazis either

stole or forced Jewish collectors to sell them about 650,000 art pieces between 1933 and 1945, valued at $2.5 billion at the time. Current estimates suggest the value of the paintings is now $20.5 billion. More than 100,000 artworks from that time period have still not been returned to their owners, documents say.

Hezbollah to Disarm

On Monday, Lebanese Information Minister Paul Morcos said the country’s army would start disarming the Hezbollah terror group. However, the plan’s exact details, which were discussed on Friday, will remain “secret.”

When Gen. Rudolph Haikal, the military chief, arrived during a cabinet meeting, ministers from Hezbollah and Shiite Amal, along with an independent Shi’ite minister, walked out of the room and exited the government palace. They also left last month during a meeting in which the cabinet tasked the military with drafting disarmament plans, which would ensure that, by the year’s end, only state entities officially possess weapons.

In August, when the Lebanese government decided to disarm Hezbollah, the Iran-backed terror group said it would “treat this decision as if it does not exist.” Hezbollah alleged that the government made that decision after succumbing to pressure from the United States and Israel.

After the October 7 massacre, Hezbollah began launching rockets at northern Israel. Just under a year later, in September 2024, that conflict escalated into an all-out war, with an Israeli ground campaign in southern Lebanon. The war ended with a ceasefire in November 2024, leaving Hezbollah at its weakest. As per the truce, both Hezbollah and Israel were required to withdraw from southern Lebanon. However, Israel has kept troops stationed in strategic areas. The Jewish state has said it would leave if Hezbollah disarms, a demand that the terror group has rejected. Morcos has accused Israel of “reneging on these obligations and seriously threaten[ing] regional security and stability.”

Antisemitism Increases in Britain

YouGov and Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) published results on Sunday for an online poll it conducted in Britain about Israel and Jews. According to the survey, 21% of British citizens agree with four or more antisemitic statements — an almost 200% increase since 2021.

Forty-five percent of respondents and up to 60% of 18- to 24-year-olds believe that Israel treats Palestinians in the same way that Nazis treated Jews — up from 33% in 2024.

“This is one of the most common antisemitic tropes that we see,” CAA said. “It both trivializes the Holocaust, in which six million Jews were industrially slaughtered, and insultingly accuses victims of the crime committed against them of perpetrating it.”

Almost half of young Britons said they’d feel uneasy about spending time with people who are openly Zionist. Just 31% agreed that the Jews have a right to Israel as their homeland. Nineteen percent of young respondents said that the October 7 massacre was justified, while around 10% admit to holding positive views about Hamas, and 14% believe it shouldn’t be designated as a terror group. Fifty-four percent admitted to not knowing the definition of “Zionism.”

“Our country is clearly at a tipping point,” said a spokesperson for the CAA. “These are the highest antisemitism figures that we have ever recorded, having doubled in less than five years. Our young people are being radicalized into adopting hateful ideologies before our eyes. Britain will lose its soul to extremists unless the silent majority wakes up.”

However, many Britons still oppose the pro-Palestinian marches. Around 32% view the protests negatively, 69% say the marches are futile, and 58% believe that the protestors should be responsible for cleaning up and paying for the costs of the riots.

“There was gunfire there beyond anything imaginable. I can’t believe I’m standing here. Indescribable gunfire,” she said.

The Shin Bet identified the terrorists as Mohammad Taha, 21, and Muthanna Amro, 20, from the Judea and Samaria villages of Qatanna and Qubeiba, respectively. The assailants used improvised “Carlo” submachine guns. Along with the guns, police also recovered a knife and ammunition.

A third man — an East Jerusalem resident — was later detained by the Shin Bet security agency for allegedly smuggling by car the two terrorists into Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the scene of the terrorist attack, along with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and MK Zvi Sukkot. Netanyahu also boarded the number 62 bus that was attacked and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. Later, Netanyahu held a situational assessment with security establishment heads. Ben Gvir held a situational assessment with deputy police commissioner Avshalom Peled and Jerusalem District commander Amir Azrani.

Hamas hailed the attack as “heroic” and urged Palestinians to continue attacking Israelis but didn’t claim responsibility.

Following the attack, police blocked off Route 1 through the Arazim Tunnel to eastbound traffic.

A Day of Mourning

On Monday morning, two Palestinian terrorists murdered six Israelis and injured 12 more in the Ramot Junction in

Jerusalem after attacking a group of people waiting at a bus stop.

The victims were identified as Levi Yitzhak Pash, 57, Yaakov Pinto, 25, Yisrael Matzner, 28, Rabbi Yosef David, 43, Rabbi Mordechai Steintzag, 79, and Sarah Mendelson, 60.

The terrorists were neutralized by a charedi soldier and an armed charedi man who obtained his gun license after the October 7 massacre.

Malka Cohen, who was on the num-

ber 62 bus when terrorists opened fire, recounted the harrowing moments of the attack.

“I was on the bus. The bus was packed,” Cohen told Channel 12. “The moment [the driver] opened the door… terrorists came. It was terrible. I was by the back door, I fell on everyone and escaped, I saved myself.”

She said she hid behind another nearby vehicle until the shooting stopped and the terrorists were neutralized.

Army engineers mapped out the two terrorists’ homes on Monday, as they are now set for demolition. Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered authorities to impose “civil sanctions” on the relatives of the two terrorists as well as residents of Qatanna and Qubeiba. Katz also said that 750 work and entry permits to Israel would be revoked in response to the attack.

Levi Yitzhak Pash, Hy”d, a father of six children, was laid to rest in Har Hamenuchos on Monday. He was the maintenance man in Kol Torah Yeshiva and was waiting at the bus stop on his way to work. A short while before the attack, R’ Pash gave up his seat in a car when he heard that someone going to a medical appointment needed a ride. R’ Pash decided to take the bus instead.

“In the past ten years, I had the privilege of knowing an extraordinary man with a warm and radiant face,” said Elhanan Koren, who works at the Kol Torah yeshiva, told ynet. “He was always the first to help, the mother and father of the students in the dormitories. Levi Yitzchak always came with a glowing face and wisdom. He was a true example of dedication. Beyond his work as a maintenance man, he never wasted time — he always had a sefer in hand and would go study in the beit midrash. He was a joyful Jew, and we were happy to be in his company. He would stay late into the night, well beyond working hours.”

Yaakov Pinto, Hy”d, got married a year ago. He recently immigrated to Israel from Spain. He was learning in Derech Emunah Yeshiva in Lod.

Yisrael Matzner, Hy”d, was a father of three who was born in Bnei Brak. R’ Yisrael learned in Yeshiva Hevron and was learning in Meisharim Kollel in Jerusalem when he was killed.

Rabbi Yosef David, Hy”d, was on his way to yeshiva, carrying his sefarim with him, when he was murdered.

Rabbi Mordechai Steintzeg, Hy”d, was also known as Dr. Mark. He lived in the Ramot Bet neighborhood. Rabbi Steintzeg was the founder of the well-known Dr. Mark’s Bakery in Beit Shemesh. He immigrated from Pennsylvania in 1993 and embraced a healthy lifestyle that included wholesome food. He eventually opened a small home bakery specializing in spelt and sourdough loaves. Today, his products are sold in nearly every supermarket in Israel.

“For him, bread was not just food but a symbol of warmth, home, belonging and generosity. Through bread, he brought people together and offered comfort,” the bakery’s Instagram page said on Monday.

Sarah (Sarita) Mendelson, Hy”d, lived in the Ramat Shlomo neighborhood. She is survived by four children and grandchildren. A longtime leader in the Bnei Akiva youth movement, she was affectionately known as “Sarita” and worked for decades as director of municipal relations in the movement’s finance department. She was killed on her way to work at Bnei Akiva’s national headquarters in Jerusalem.

“Sarita was like the mother of Bnei Akiva. She sat in the director-general’s office, always welcoming everyone with a smile,” Netanel Elk, deputy secretary-general of Bnei Akiva, said. “Over the years, dozens of employees came through, and she always helped and supported them, even in stressful times.”

Her daughter, Aviya Ben-Haroush,

said at the funeral, “How can a pure thing like you meet such evil? I’m sure you will look after us and send us powers of joy and support from above. The people of Israel have suffered enough; it hurts too much. Pray for the hostages, for our soldiers, and for us.”

Secretary-General of Bnei Akiva, Yigal Klein, said, “Sarita, before we say our final goodbye, one more request from you. With all your light, you knew in your role how to demand, to demand payment, to demand debts from the authorities, to demand what Bnei Akiva always needed. We have one request, Sarita: please, rise up before the throne of glory, and with your unique strength, demand the debts owed by the Master of the Universe, who already owes us redemption.

“Demand goodness for your family and for all our people. Demand the safe return of our soldiers in health and peace, crowned with victory until the victory of light and good. Demand the swift return of our hostages. Demand the return of our people to the beloved expanses of our land. Demand deep unity within us. Demand that ‘joy will come to our land, gladness to our city, and a great light will shine for the house of Yishai, your Moshiach.’ … Sarita, you’ve already met many more demands that you have called for, so on our behalf, to Heaven, please demand these too.”

This was the first major terrorist attack in Jerusalem since November 2023, when two terrorists murdered four children near Givat Shaul.

So Much Pain

On Monday morning, four IDF soldiers lost their lives in a Hamas attack on the outskirts of Gaza City.

The announcement came as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a warning to the residents of Gaza City to “get out” of the area and as the IDF continued its campaign of heavy bombardment ahead of an imminent ground offensive to capture the major city.

The four heroes who lost their lives while fighting for their nation and country were Lt. Matan Abramovitz, 21, from Ganei Tikva; Staff Sgt. Uri Lamed, 20,

38 from Tel Mond; Sgt. Amit Arye Regev, 19, from Modiin; and Sgt. Gadi Cotal, 20, from Kibbutz Afikim.

They all served with the 401st Armored Brigade’s 52nd Battalion.

Additionally, a soldier of the Nahal Brigade’s 50th Battalion was moderately wounded in the incident, the army said.

According to a preliminary IDF probe, three Hamas terrorists launched an attack on an army encampment in the Kafr Jabalia area, on the outskirts of Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, at around 6 a.m. The incident took place shortly after troops had returned to the outpost following an overnight activity.

The operatives reached a tank at the entrance to the encampment and opened fire at the commander, who had his head outside the armored vehicle’s open hatch. The gunmen then hurled an explosive device into the tank, killing the four soldiers, according to the initial investigation.

The probe also found that other soldiers stationed in the encampment returned fire at the fleeing gunmen, hitting at least two of them. During the exchange of fire, the wounded infantryman was hit in the leg, according to the IDF.

Spain: Ben-Gvir, Smotrich Banned

On Tuesday, Spain said that it will deny entry to Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, as part of measures tied to the Gaza war.

In response, Ben-Gvir posted on X, “Don’t let me in, give free entrance to Spain for the people in Gaza.”

The Spanish government has already moved to bar ships and aircraft carrying weapons to Israel from using Spanish ports and airspace, and to boost aid to Palestinian bodies while targeting settlement-linked goods.

A day before the announced ban on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, Israel announced a ban of entry against two Spanish cabinet members, Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz and Youth Minister Sira Rego, after they supported sanctions against

Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar had accused the Spanish ministers of promoting antisemitic and anti-Israeli rhetoric, drawing a sharp protest from Madrid and the recall of Spain’s ambassador to Israel for consultations.

This is not the first time that Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have faced international pressure. In June, Britain joined allied countries in sanctioning Ben-Gvir and Smotrich over incendiary remarks linked to the Gaza war, a move that Jerusalem criticized. Other European capitals have also targeted the pair. In late July, the Netherlands imposed its own entry ban on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich and summoned Israel’s ambassador in The Hague.

Israel Strikes Doha

On Tuesday, in a targeted strike against Hamas leadership hiding out in Qatar, Israel launched a strike that

targeted the “residential headquarters” where senior Hamas politicians lived. As of now, it is unclear if those members were killed in the strike, although Palestinians say that two members of Hamas were killed in the attack.

Qatar condemned the attack, dubbed by Israel “Summit of Fire.”

Qatar has played a major role as a mediator in talks between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza. According to Qatari officials, Qatar agreed to host an office for Hamas at the request of the United States.

“This criminal assault constitutes a blatant violation of all international laws and norms, and poses a serious threat to the security and safety of Qataris and residents in Qatar,” Majed al-Ansari, the spokesman for the Qatari foreign ministry, said.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, saying “all parties must work towards achieving a permanent ceasefire, not destroying it.”

Saudi de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also condemned the attack.

The crown prince offers Saudi Arabia’s “full support for the sisterly State of Qatar, and its condemnation of the blatant Israeli attack on the sisterly State of

Qatar, which constitutes a criminal act and a flagrant violation of international laws and norms,” says the kingdom’s Foreign Ministry.

Saudi Arabia says it is also “deploying all its capabilities” to support Qatar “and the measures it is taking to protect its security and preserve its sovereignty.”

The United States was informed of the attack prior to it being carried out.

ruling right-wing coalition government, which includes the Finns Party and the Christian Democrats, is against recognizing a state for the Palestinians.

Recently, many European countries have moved to recognize Palestine as a state, sparking condemnation from Israel and the United States. In retaliation, Israeli officials have considered annexing more of Judea and Samaria.

High Court: Palestinian Prisoners Need More Food

On Sunday, Israel’s high court, in a two-to-one decision, ruled that the Israel Prison Service must give more food to imprisoned Palestinian terrorists, thus siding with the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and Gisha organizations, who brought the case against National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and the IPS in April 2024.

The majority decision, written by Judge Daphne Barak Erez, claimed that Ben Gvir and the IPS intentionally starve Palestinian prisoners. Judge David Mintz wrote the dissenting opinion, asserting that the current nutritional program and its implementation are sufficient.

Finland Calls for Two-State Solution

On Friday, Finland joined many countries in calling for a two-state solution.

“The process led by France and Saudi Arabia is the most significant international effort in years to create the conditions for a two-state solution,” Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said of the Unit-

ed Nations summit held in July to address the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel and the United States skipped the event in protest.

The declaration, which supposedly includes “tangible, timebound and irreversible steps” toward a two-state solution, first calls for an end to the war in Gaza.

Valtonen has said that Finland “is committed to recognizing the state of Palestine at some point in the future,” though she hasn’t specified when. The

Ben Gvir, who controls the IPS, attacked the court’s ruling for “defending terrorists” while Israeli hostages are still suffering in Gaza. Ben Gvir has previously boasted about reducing rations for Palestinian prisoners but has still maintained that the rations meet minimum legal requirements. According to Israel, the IPS’s approved menu includes 2,300 calories a day.

Barak-Erez, in her opinion, wrote that “a stricter food regime [for Palestinian prisoners] does not improve the suffering of our kidnapped brothers who are still

in distress and captivity, and even the opposite.” She added that the nutritional program also applies to Israeli prisoners and non-terrorists and cannot legally be manipulated to punish prisoners.

“It was not made clear what guarantees are in place to ensure that the provision of food is actually carried out in a manner that ensures the actual implementation of the food menus,” wrote Barak-Erez. “The information presented to us raised real doubts regarding the ac-

tual nutritional status of the security prisoners, and not only in exceptional cases.”

“While the hostages are being starved in the tunnels, a duo of judges in the High Court require that the food given to the worst terrorists be improved,” noted Justice Minister Yariv Levin.

Ben Gvir, questioning the judges’ loyalty, has maintained that the policy of giving “the most minimal conditions under the law” will continue.

sought to put the family trust and media empire into the hands of his son, Lachlan. But his other children, James, Elisabeth, and Prudence opposed the move.

For the past few years, much of the family’s battle had played out behind closed doors. Last December, a Nevada probate commissioner ruled against Murdoch’s efforts to amend terms of the trust and give control to Lachlan.

Murdoch sought the change, in part, because Lachlan is the one most aligned with his conservative political views as well as the best manager to run the companies. Murdoch owns Fox Corporation, The Wall Street Journal, New York Post, The Sun, and The Times, along with broadcast networks such as Fox News.

This week, the Murdoch family announced that it reached a deal over control of its media empire.

Lachlan Murdoch is set to take control of his father’s media assets as part of the new agreement between the patriarch and his children. Lachlan will control all the votes in a new trust that will hold sizable stakes in Fox Corp. and News Corp once the deal is completed.

The transaction is valued at approximately $3.3 billion, according to a person familiar with the situation.

The Murdoch trust, which currently holds roughly 40% voting stakes in Fox and Wall Street Journal parent News Corp, was initially designed to give each of his four oldest children an equal voting share.

As part of the settlement announced Monday, Rupert Murdoch’s children James, Elisabeth and Prudence will give up their claims to the existing trust. They will instead receive new trusts with cash funded in part by sales of some of the existing trust’s Fox and News Corp stock. The three children will also be subject to a long-term agreement preventing them from buying shares in the companies.

Controlling the Murdoch Fortune

Rupert Murdoch, 94, is worth $24.2 billion, according to Forbes. He had

New trusts will also be created for Lachlan, who is executive chair and chief executive officer of Fox Corp. and chair of News Corp, as well as the two children that Rupert Murdoch had with Wendi Deng. Grace and Chloe Murdoch are beneficiaries of the original trust.

Eat Jewish

Ukrainian Stabbed on N. Carolina Train

Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was stabbed and killed last month on a train by a notorious criminal who had been roaming the streets.

The 23-year-old had boarded the train innocently before Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, who had been sitting behind her, randomly stabbed her several times.

Brown has been charged with first-degree murder.

President Donald Trump sent “love and hope” to Zarutska’s family, saying on Monday that her killing was “horrible.”

“There are evil people. We have to be able to handle that. If we don’t handle that, we don’t have a country,” he said.

Zarutska’s senseless death “is the result of decades of Democrat DAs and Sheriffs putting their woke agendas above public safety. Violent criminals commit crimes with impunity, while families live in fear.”

Republican Florida Congressman Randy Fine said he would “introduce legislation to hold judges accountable when violent repeat offenders they release commit new crimes.”

“Those 12+ judges that released Decarlos Brown Jr. should have their day in court, too,” he added.

Christian Groups Sue UN Member

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Zarutska had fled Ukraine with her mother and siblings in 2022 and had “quickly embraced her new life in the United States,” according to an online obituary.

Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said on Saturday that her death was a “senseless and tragic loss,” adding that she has been “been thinking hard about what safety really looks like in our city.”

“I remain committed to doing all we can to protect our residents and ensure Charlotte is a place where everyone feels safe,” the mayor, a Democrat, said in a statement on X.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein said he was “appalled” by the footage of Zarutska’s killing.

“We need more cops on the beat to keep people safe,” the Democratic governor said on X, and called for the state legislature to pass a law enforcement package to “address vacancies in our state and local agencies so they can stop these horrific crimes and hold violent criminals accountable.”

Brown had an extensive criminal record. He was convicted of armed robbery, felony larceny and break and enter and spent eight years in jail for robbery with a dangerous weapon. He also suffers from mental health issues and is homeless, according to media reports.

North Carolina Representative Brenden Jones, a Republican, wrote on X that

Two pro-Israel U.S. Christian groups have sued the UN special rapporteur on the Palestinians for alleged defamation and libel. The groups say that Francesca Albanese sought to harm them due to their support for Israel.

The plaintiffs in the case against Albanese are Christian Friends of Israeli Communities and Christians for Israel USA, two U.S.-based nonprofits.

In the lawsuit filed in a federal court in Colorado, where Christian Friends of Israeli Communities is based, the two groups said Albanese “spread malicious lies” to “harm their reputations and financial wellbeing” due to their support for Israel.

In April, Albanese sent letters to the two groups accusing them of complicity in “gross human rights violations that require immediate cessation,” war crimes, crimes against humanity and apartheid, according to the lawsuit.

The letters said the plaintiffs were at “serious risk of being implicated in international crimes.”

The lawsuit included copies of the letters, which accused the nonprofits of aiding illegal settlement activity, assisting the Israeli military, denying the Palestinians the right to self-determination, and aiding the unlawful annexation of Palestinian land.

The letters drew a response from Leo Terrell, the head of an antisemitism task force at the U.S. Department of Justice, who warned Albanese that her actions were false and defamatory, the lawsuit said.

48 Weeks later, Albanese published a UN report that attacked the two Christian groups. In the report, Albanese said that the groups and others should be punished by governments, courts and the public. The report demanded the nonprofits cease any activity linked to “crimes against the Palestinian people,” pay reparations to Palestinians, be investigated by international and U.S. authorities, and be subject to a boycott.

The lawsuit alleged that Albanese made the statements knowing they were false, which would constitute defamation and libel.

The lawsuit said Albanese has claimed immunity as a UN official but argued that she made the defamatory remarks outside of her official duties.

Albanese has a history of antisemitism and extremist rhetoric toward Israel. In July, the United States imposed sanctions on her, accusing her of “political and economic warfare” against the U.S. and Israel.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the step was taken in light of “her illegitimate and shameful efforts to prompt International Criminal Court action against U.S. and Israeli officials, companies, and executives.”

In June, the Trump administration

wrote a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urging him to remove Albanese from her post, alleging “virulent antisemitism and support for terrorism.”

Albanese, an Italian national, regularly accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza and has said that the October 7, 2023, massacre by Hamas in Israel must be put in a “context of decades of oppression imposed on the Palestinians.” She has come under harsh criticism from both the Biden and Trump administrations.

Albanese has said that the “Jewish lobby” controls the U.S., repeatedly compared Israelis to Nazis, rejected antisemitic motivations for Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, blamed Israel for the invasion, rejected Israeli security concerns, condemned Israel’s killing of Hamas terror chief Yahya Sinwar, and denied Israel’s right to self defense, among other inflammatory statements.

Hyundai Immigration Raid

On Thursday, ICE conducted its largest immigration raid since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term, detaining 475 people at the Hyun-

dai Metaplant in Ellabell, Georgia. Most of the detainees are Korean nationals, according to Homeland Security Investigations special agent Steven Schrank.

All the detainees were either living or working in the United States illegally.

At one point during the raid, a number of workers attempted to run away. A few “ran into a sewage pond located on the premises,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Georgia.

“Agents used a boat to fish them out of the water. One of the individuals swam under the boat and tried to flip it over to no avail. These people were captured and identified as illegal workers,” the release says.

Some of the workers might have been contractors or subcontractors, according to Schrank, who was in charge. Hyundai has said it believes none of the detainees worked directly for the company.

“Hyundai is committed to full compliance with all laws and regulations in every market where we operate. This includes employment verification requirements and immigration laws,” Hyundai said.

“We are reviewing our processes to ensure that all parties working on our projects maintain the same high standards of legal compliance that we demand of ourselves. This includes thorough vetting of employment practices by contractors and subcontractors,” Hyundai said. “Hyundai has zero tolerance for those who don’t follow the law.”

“We are closely monitoring the situation and gathering all relevant details. Our top priority is always ensuring the safety and well-being of our employees and partners. We will fully cooperate with the relevant authorities.”

Schrank said that the operation was a criminal investigation that was planned for months and supported by evidence, interviews, and judicial search warrants. During the operation, ICE and Homeland Security Investigations were joined by officers from the Georgia State Patrol, the FBI, DEA, ATF, and other agencies.

“No charges have been filed, so that means that no wrongdoing is being accused at this time,” Schrank said.

Workers who witnessed the raid compared it to a “war zone.”

“Everyone came out running and told

us immigration has arrived,” one worker said. “We hid ourselves in an air duct, and it was really hot.”

The officers made everyone stand by a wall for around an hour and asked each employee for their Social Security number, date of birth, and other information. Those cleared were handed “clear to depart” papers.

Republican Gov. Brian Kemp was supportive of the raid.

“In Georgia, we will always enforce the law, including all state and federal immigration laws,” a spokesperson for Kemp said. “The Department of Public Safety coordinated with ICE to provide all necessary support for this operation, the latest in a long line of cooperation and partnership between state law enforcement and federal immigration enforcement.”

On Friday, South Korea’s foreign ministry expressed concern about the detainment of its nationals.

“The economic activities of our companies investing in the United States and the interests of our citizens must not be unduly violated during the course of U.S. law enforcement,” Lee Jae-woong, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said. “In Seoul, we also conveyed our concerns and regret through the U.S. Embassy today, urging special attention to ensure that the legitimate rights and interests of our citizens are not violated.”

According to Charles Kuck, an immigration attorney in Georgia, two of his clients were arrested despite arriving within the past few weeks and being part of a valid visa waiver that allowed them to conduct business for up to 90 days. The clients visited the U.S. “to advise briefly on the work,” he said. “This trip was actually part of their assigned duties abroad.”

On that same day, ICE raided the Nutrition Bar Confectioners plant in Cato, New York, and detained nearly all of the 70 employees.

HHS Report Links Autism to Tylenol

The Wall Street Journal reported that an upcoming report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is expected to highlight an association

50 between the consumption of Tylenol, a common over-the-counter pain reliever, by pregnant women and the development of autism in children. The report will also reportedly recommend a vitamin called folinic acid, a form of folate also referred to as leucovorin, as a means of reducing autism symptoms. It is already recommended for pregnant women to take folate supplements, as they decrease the risk of neural tube defects in infants.

Many individuals and groups were quick to point out that this hypothetical report only finds an association, not a causal link, between Tylenol consumption and the development of autism.

“There is no clear evidence that proves a direct relationship between the prudent use of acetaminophen during pregnancy and fetal developmental issues,” said Dr. Christopher Zahn, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ chief of clinical practice. “Neurodevelopmental disorders, in particular, are multifactorial and very difficult to associate with a singular cause. Pregnant patients should not be frightened away from the many benefits of acetaminophen, which is safe and one of the few options pregnant people have for pain relief.”

The HHS also pointed out that the report is preliminary and unconfirmed.

The HHS, a spokesperson said, is “using gold-standard science to get to the bottom of America’s unprecedented rise in autism rates. Until we release the final report, any claims about its contents are nothing more than speculation.”

This isn’t the first study to examine the link between acetaminophen use in pregnancy and autism in children. In 2024, a study published in JAMA found no association between the two, while a meta-analysis in August found “strong evidence of an association” between consuming acetaminophen in pregnancy and the development of autism in children –but not causation.

“We recommend judicious acetaminophen use — lowest effective dose, shortest duration — under medical guidance, tailored to individual risk–benefit assessments, rather than a broad limitation,” the researchers of the August study wrote.

In 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that studies linking pain reliever consumption and risks during pregnancy were methodologically flawed. As such, the FDA maintained that consumption of such drugs is safe during pregnancy.

In response to the WSJ’s report, the Autism Science Foundation put out a statement: “Any association between ac-

etaminophen and autism is based on limited, conflicting, and inconsistent science and is premature given the current science. … The Autism Science Foundation strongly supports research into autism’s causes. More research needs to be done before alarming families or suggesting steps that may not actually reduce risk.”

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has previously claimed that vaccines may cause autism, said in April that his agency would uncover autism’s causes by September. Experts, however, have cautioned that it would be foolish to pinpoint only a few causes for autism.

Autism cases have risen in recent years, likely because the definition of autism has broadened and more parents are screening their children.

SEAL’s Secret 2019 N. Korea Operation

The New York Times recently published a report about a failed top-secret military operation conducted by the United States in 2019. The operation, which saw a group of Navy SEALS secretly go to North Korea, was never previously reported or publicly acknowledged.

Amid high-level nuclear talks between President Donald Trump, during his first term, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the U.S.’s SEAL Team 6’s Red Squadron (the unit that killed Osama bin Laden) secretly snuck into North Korea in hopes of planting an advanced electronic device designed to intercept Kim’s communications. The device was meant to give the U.S. a strategic intelligence advantage over North Korea during negotiations.

Trump greenlit the high-risk operation, despite the risks involved. If North Korea had found out, the operation could have had disastrous consequences. Nevertheless, the team snuck a nuclear-powered submarine into the waters off North Korea and then proceeded to deploy two mini-subs. The aim was to allow the team to evade detection, install the listening device, and then discreetly leave.

To avoid detection, the unit couldn’t use real-time satellite imagery. As such,

the team was in the dark. When they reached their destination, they made several blunders. For example, one of the mini-subs was parked incorrectly, and one of the pilots accidentally revved the electric motor, which made a loud sound. Worst of all, their sensors indicated that the coast was clear, but when they reached their destination, they saw a boat of North Koreans approaching. If spotted by anyone, the SEALs had to abort the operation. As the North Koreans drew closer, the SEALs took out their rifles, shot the men dead, and dumped their bodies in the water before fleeing. The SEALs returned home safely before planting the device on North Korean soil. It’s unclear if North Korea ever found out about the operation, though nuclear talks collapsed soon thereafter.

Reading, Writing, ‘Rithmetic

Children in the United States need to brush up on their reading and math skills. According to a recent report known as the nation’s report card, reading and math performance by twelfth graders has dropped to the lowest in more than two decades. Eighth grade students also lost significant ground in science skills, according to the results from the National Assessment of Education Progress.

The assessments were the first since the pandemic for eighth graders in science and twelfth graders in reading and math.

“Scores for our lowest-performing students are at historic lows,” noted Matthew Soldner, the acting commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics. “These results should galvanize all of us to take concerted and focused action to accelerate student learning.”

Educators believe that these results are not just pandemic-related. Increased screen time, shortened attention spans, and a decline in reading both in and out of school are also contributors to the decline.

The dip in reading scores appeared alongside a shift in how English and language arts are taught in schools, with an emphasis on short texts and book excerpts, said Carol Jago, associate director

of the California Reading and Literature Project at UCLA.

“To be a good reader, you have to have the stamina to stay on the page, even when the going gets tough,” Jago said. “You have to build those muscles, and we’re not building those muscles in kids.”

In reading, the average score in 2024 was the lowest score in the history of the assessment, which began in 1992. Thirty-two percent of high school seniors scored below “basic,” meaning they were not able to find details in a text to help them understand its meaning.

In math, the average score in 2024 was the lowest since 2005, when the assessment framework changed significantly. On the test, 45% of high school seniors scored below “basic” achievement, the highest percentage since 2005. Only 33% of high school seniors were considered academically prepared for college-level math courses, a decline from 37% in 2019.

The high school reading and math assessments, and the eighth grade science test, are given less frequently than the biannual fourth and eighth grade reading tests, which were last released earlier this year.

Running High

Running backwards isn’t easy. Running in high heels isn’t easy, either. Running backwards in high heels? Even harder.

This week, Christian Roberto López Rodríguez, a man from Spain, defeated one of his own Guinness World Records titles by running 328 feet backward in 16.55 seconds – while wearing blue high heels.

He broke the record for the fastest 100 meters backwards in high heels, which he previously set at 20.05 seconds during an appearance on Spanish TV series La Noche De Los Récords.

The record-keeping organization’s rules for the record required Rodríguez’s shoes to have heels of at leash 2.76 inches and be no wider than .59 inches at the tip.

Rodríguez currently holds more than 80 Guinness World Records titles, including the fastest 400 meters in clogs, 1 minute and 1.38 seconds; the fastest 100 meters wearing flip flops, 12.10 seconds; the fastest mile traveled while balancing a pool cue on a finger, 5 minutes and 52.30 seconds; the fastest 100 meters on a space hopper, 29.91 seconds; the fastest 100 meters carrying an egg on a spoon in the mouth, 17.21 seconds; and the fastest 50 meters backwards wearing swim fins, 8.82 seconds.

He’s on the run.

Lego On the Go

Do you know the pain of going to get a drink in middle of the night, only to stumble on a pile of LEGOs? Gabrielle Wall is unafraid of those tiny building blocks. The New Zealand mom recently broke a world record for running barefoot across a track littered with LEGOs.

Wall earned the Guinness World Record for fastest 100 meter barefoot on LEGO bricks back in January — but she went viral this week, racking up 9.3 million views, after Guinness World Records posted a video of the effort on Instagram.

Wall, a mother of two, ran the 100 meters in 24.75 seconds and explained it was one of the items on the bucket list she wrote after she suffered a health scare in 2022.

“I am proud to have pushed myself to new limits,” she told Guinness World Records, calling it an “unforgettable” experience.

The track Wall sprinted through was constructed from a staggering 661 pounds of LEGOs, which were donated.

We have three words for her: Ow! Ow! Ow!

Ancient Elevation

Kokichi Akuzawa is 102 years old, but he is not letting his age stop him from achieving new heights.

The Japanese centenarian has set the Guinness World Record for the oldest person ever to climb to the summit of Mount Fuji for the second time.

Akuzawa climbed to the top of the 12,388-foot Japanese peak on August 5 with the help of his 70-year-old daughter, her husband and some friends.

“I’m impressed I climbed so well,” the man, born in 1923, said.

“I was really tempted to give up halfway through,” he added. “Reaching the summit was tough, but my friends encouraged me, and it turned out well. I managed to get through it because so many people supported me.”

It took the group three days to climb the summit, as they took a longer, more circuitous route.

Akuzawa spent three months training for the journey — waking up at 5 a.m., going for hours-long walks, and practicing on smaller mountains around his neighborhood.

He previously set the record for the oldest person to scale Fuji at the age of 96, overcoming dreaded shingles, heart issues, and a climbing fall before setting forth towards the mountain again.

Mount Fuji is the 35th highest peak in the world and is treacherous for climbers less than half Akuzawa’s age.

“Mount Fuji isn’t a difficult mountain, but this time was harder than six years ago. Harder than any mountain before,” he admitted. “I’ve never felt this weak. I didn’t have pain, but I kept wondering why I was so slow, why I had no stamina. I’d long since passed my physical limit, and it was only thanks to everyone else’s strength that I made it.”

Akuzawa added, “I climb because I like it. It’s easy to make friends on the mountain.

“Whether you liked studying or not, you could enjoy the mountain the same,” he said. “Intelligence didn’t matter up there. We were all on equal footing and moved forward together.”

A social climber…

Around the Community

At the Chasdei Lev Distribution in Woodmere on Sunday

Photo Credit: Yehuda Jacobs

The First Week at Rambam Mesivta

The first week at Rambam Mesivta was filled with energy, excitement, and inspiration as students came together to begin the new school year!

Freshman Orientation welcomed a class of students hailing from 12 different middle schools, a diverse group that quickly began to bond into a cohesive grade. Students gathered in the shul and heard words from Rosh HaYeshiva, Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, Rosh Mesivta, Rabbi Avi Herschman, Principal Dr. Hillel Goldman, Rabbi Yitzy Laster, the new Director of College Guidance, and the Director of Student Activities, Rabbi Yitz Milworn. They also were introduced to Rabbi Avi Haar, Assistant Principal and rebbi of the Masmidim Extra Learning Program.

To help break the ice, the freshmen enjoyed an afternoon of bowling. The

friendly competition was highlighted by Zev Schimmel and Aryeh Peskin who bowled the highest scores and proudly earned the highly coveted Rambam plaques, a cherished school tradition. Students enjoyed plenty of snacks of Oreos, chips, and soda and davened a heartfelt Mincha together. At dismissal, the freshmen left with Dunkin’ Donuts, ending the day on a sweet note.

The following day, sophomores, juniors, and seniors returned to school. They gathered to hear words of inspiration from the administration, and all grades were welcomed back with Rambam-branded polo shirts. Upperclassmen also enjoyed donuts as part of the opening-day celebration.

The week concluded with a spirited school-wide kumzitz led by musical superstar, Mordechai Levovitz. Students and rebbeim joined together in mean-

ingful singing and dancing, creating a powerful sense of unity that set the tone for what promises to be a meaningful and successful year at Rambam.

Looking ahead, the year is already off to a busy and exciting start. The Masmidim Program has begun, basketball and

hockey tryouts are underway, and students are gearing up for debate, mock trial, chess, and more! With returning faculty and fresh faces in place, and so many opportunities ahead, 2026 looks to be a great year at Rambam!

SKA Launches Innovative “SKA Family” Program to Foster Unity and Connection

The Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls (SKA) has always prided itself on being more than just a school, it’s a community. This year, SKA has taken the concept of family one step further with the launch of an innovative new program.

The initiative creates small clusters of students, comprised of two freshmen, two sophomores, two juniors, and a few seniors. These groups, affectionately called “families,” are designed to give every student a sense of belonging, mentorship, and shared purpose throughout their high school journey.

The goal is simple: to help students

see each other not just as classmates, but as sisters in a larger SKA family. Together, the groups will engage in activities, discussions, and projects that reflect the school’s shared values of unity, kindness, and responsibility.

“High school can feel overwhelming at times, especially for younger students,” explains SKA Student Council

President Emma Boczko, who spearheaded the program. “The SKA Family program gives every girl a built-in support system—a group of peers from all grades who are there for her, who cheer her on, and who remind her that she’s part of something bigger.”

By breaking down barriers between grades and fostering connections across the student body, this program will encourage friendships that might not have formed otherwise. Seniors provide guidance and role modeling, juniors and sophomores bring energy and encouragement, and freshmen feel welcomed into the warmth of the SKA community from day one.

The program is already receiving enthusiastic feedback from students and faculty alike, who see it as yet another example of SKA’s commitment to creating a nurturing, values-driven environment where every student can thrive.

Rising to New Heights as Seniors of SHS

As seniors at Shulamith High School, we recently had the opportunity to take part in an unforgettable trip to Empower Leadership in Connecticut. The day was filled with team-building activities designed not only to challenge us but also to strengthen our skills as leaders, skills that will serve us as the oldest grade in school and as leaders in the communities we’ll one day be part of.

From the moment we arrived, we were challenged to think outside the box and work with people we don’t always

partner with. Every activity required us to lean on each other, whether it was strategizing in group challenges or stepping outside our comfort zones on the ropes courses. One of the highlights was ziplining. The rush of soaring above the trees was exhilarating, but even more meaningful was the way we encouraged and supported each other through the nerves that came with it.

The trip was about both fun and growth. We learned to trust one another, to listen, and to work as a unit. We left feeling closer to our classmates and more

At SKA, being a family isn’t just a metaphor—it’s a lived reality. With initiatives like “SKA Family,” the school continues to inspire unity, leadership, and a spirit of caring that lasts long after graduation.

confident in our ability to lead. As the director Dan kept reminding us, “Leadership isn’t only about standing in front, but also about supporting and lifting others up.”

Our day at Empower Leadership was an adventure and an important step in preparing us to be leaders of our school and our communities.

Rambam Mesivta: A Team for Every Talent

Rambam Mesivta continues to live up to its motto of “A Team for Every Talent. A Club for Every Curiosity. A Place for Every Person.” This year, the school has rolled out an exciting array of programs, initiatives, and new opportunities designed to engage students both inside and outside the classroom.

Among the new highlights is Rambam’s participation in the “Just One Chesed” international gamification chessed network, encouraging students to infuse kindness into daily life in creative ways. The school has also launched a Zionism Fellowship through Gush with Rav Moshe Taragin, offering students deeper insights into Israel, Jewish history, and identity. In addition, the Alumni Rabbinic Fellowship continues to thrive and will be bringing back and leading the Sugya Yomi program for the school’s current students. The Parsha Yomi program, led by Rabbi Dr. Andrew Sicklick, now in its second year, remains a meaningful opportunity for current students to engage in Torah learning.

Athletics are also thriving, with Rambam’s baseball team striving to compete

in a tournament in Ohio and the newly formed Rambam Volleyball team entering its second season as a fast-growing favorite. To further enrich the student experience, an Ulpan program led by Rav Yitz Milworn, Rambam alum and the school’s Director of Student Activities, is giving students the opportunity to strengthen their Hebrew skills in a meaningful way.

Additionally, the school will be bringing back all the old favorites including, but not limited to, its 2nd Annual Pickleball Tournament, 16th Annual 4-Corner Dodgeball Tournament, 23rd Annual 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, 12th Annual 3-on-3 Hockey Tournament, 6th Annual Rambam World Cup Soccer Tournament, 12th Annual Flag Football Tournament, and Homerun Derby. On the cultural and intellectual front, the school will also be running its annual Chess, Catan, Connect-4, Debate, Codenames, and other bevy of contests.

From Torah learning to athletics, from chessed to Zionism, Rambam continues to expand its clubs, ensuring that every student can find a place to excel.

Chessed at YOSS

At YOSS, talmidim don’t just learn about chesed—they live it. This week, Rabbi Rosenwasser’s shiur partnered with the JCCRP to help prepare and package Shabbos and Yom Tov boxes for families in need within the local community. The talmidim took initiative, dividing responsibilities among themselves to ensure the work was done both efficiently and effectively — seeing firsthand what can be accomplished when you work together.

Shulamith Welcomes Back Students for a Fantastic New Year

The energy in the halls of Shulamith was unmistakable as students returned for another fantastic school year!

The celebration began the night before, when the eighth grade gathered for their kickoff BBQ. The girls created memory boards reflecting on their years at Shulamith and were inspired by meaningful conversations about what it means to step into their role as leaders in the building.

On the first day, both the Elementary and Middle Schools began with a spirited lineup, where the girls proudly recited the Pledge of Allegiance, sang Hatikva, and said Tehillim. They were also introduced

to this year’s inspiring theme: “Rooted in Our Past, Rising to Our Future.”

Throughout the year, students will travel back in time, exploring the richness of Jewish history and focusing on the resilience of the Jewish people across every generation. This theme will guide their learning and experiences, reminding the girls of their strong roots while encouraging them to rise toward a bright future.

The excitement was palpable as the halls filled with smiling faces, eager to begin a year of growth, connection, and discovery. Shulamith looks forward to continuing the celebration with all families this Sunday at the Welcome Back Carnival.

How 2025’s Travel Trends Inspire the Future of Kosher Travel

There’s something about the Jewish New Year that makes you pause, think about the year behind you and start dreaming about what’s to come. For many of us, looking ahead means making plans—big and small—for how we want to spend our time, how we want to create memories and for those of us who love to see the world, where we might want to go next.

At the start of 2025, the BBC published an article predicting the seven new travel trends for the year ahead. The shifts described are significant—personalisation, slower and more meaningful experiences and a craving for wellness and authenticity. You can easily see the appeal, but you can also imagine kosher readers thinking: Are these experiences really achievable for me? Will there be kosher food, or will I be stuck with pot noodles? How will I manage Shabbat? For years, these questions have closed the doors to exciting travel experiences for those who keep kosher.

What makes me proud is that at Be-

spoke Kosher Travel, we’ve spent well over a decade unlocking those doors. We focus on the global trends shaping travel and make them possible for everyone – without stress and with a level of care that means you can focus on what really matters: seeing the world whilst being present, enjoying yourself and creating lasting memories.

One of the strongest predicted trends was hyper-personalisation. Today’s travellers don’t want cookie-cutter packages— they want journeys that feel like they were made for them. And they should. When you take the time, energy and the investment to go abroad, it shouldn’t feel like you’re on someone else’s vacation. That’s why every trip we put together is built from scratch. Whether you want a safari where your children can see lions and have a barbecue for dinner, or a cultural tour of Kyoto’s temples and Friday night davening, we make that happen. Working at your pace, within your budget and catered to your interests— means we can create your perfect vacation. In many ways, Bespoke Kosher Travel were doing “personalisation” long

before it became a buzzword.

Another trend highlighted was the rise of slow and immersive travel. People are less interested in racing from landmark to landmark and more interested in feeling connected – to a place, to its culture, to the people they’re with. That resonates deeply in the Jewish travel experience, too. For many of our clients, Shabbat is a natural pause in the week. Imagine welcoming Shabbat in the rolling hills of Tuscany, or in a quiet Caribbean resort, where everything is prepared for you and you can truly switch off. That enforced moment of slowing down becomes not an obstacle, but one of the highlights of the vacation. And because we take care of the planning, you can step into those moments without the stress of worrying about where the next kosher meal is coming from, or whether the hotel understands your needs.

Wellness, nostalgia and purpose-driven exploration were also defining travel trends for 2025. Again, these are things that fit hand-in-hand with what many people ask us. We’ve arranged milestone celebrations—bar and bat mitzvahs, anniversaries, big family reunions—in destinations people once thought impossible. We’ve created itineraries that combine adventure and luxury with meaningful moments. And always, the backbone is the same: tailored vacations, personalised for you, wherever you choose to go in the world. For many, that’s not just a dietary and religious preference but part of their mental wellness too. To know you won’t have to compromise—that wherever you go, your standards and your values are upheld—makes for a more enjoyable travel experience.

Of course, all of this rests on something more practical but equally important: trust. We’ve been in the travel industry working with the Jewish community for a long time and we know that the best vacations are built not only on dream destinations but also on practical logistics. That’s why we’re fully compliant with UK travel regulations, provide financial protection through Protected Trust Ser-

vices and offer 24/7 support while you’re abroad. It’s easy to talk about luxury hotels or exotic itineraries, but what really gives peace of mind is knowing that if anything goes wrong—a flight delay, a sudden change of plans—we’re there, on the other end of the phone, to fix it. That’s what lets our travellers relax, because they know they’re not on their own.

Looking back at these travel predictions, I see these trends moving long into 2026 too. It’s clear that travellers are looking for more than just checklists and ticking off tourist hotspots. People want travel to feel personal, meaningful and designed for a pace that suits them. They want deeper experiences. They want wellbeing and meaning woven into their time away. But for travellers wanting a kosher option, the exciting part is that these things are no longer just theoretical—they’re available, now, through Bespoke Kosher Travel.

So, as we step into the new Jewish year, my advice is: take the trip. Whether it’s to recharge, spend quality time with family, discover new corners of the world, or even make the most of a work trip, we’ll take care of all the details. That way, you can focus on the experience itself—the places you visit, the moments you share, the memories you actually take home. The world is open and yes, it’s open kosher too.

To discuss your next vacation, call us today on 917-336-1182, visit www.bespokekoshertravel.com, or email us info@bespokekoshertravel.com

A Community Kollel Comes to Shaaray

B”H, Shaaray has the zechus to host a new, independent Community Kollel – The Lawrence Talmudical Institute – under the leadership of Rabbi Binyomin Thumim. The Kollel officially opened its doors this Elul Zman, marking an exciting milestone for the broader Lawrence and Five Towns community. The Kollel consists of eight outstanding yungerleit, learning three full sedarim daily, in our Beis Medrash Zichron Alter and Gold Otzar Shiur Rooms. This initiative reflects the thirst for Limud HaTorah and spiritual growth across the Five Towns and aims to serve the entire Kehilla through learning, shiurim, chavrusos, and community programming.

Rav Uri Orlian, Morah D’Asra of Shaaray Tefila, warmly welcomed the Kollel: “We are truly honored to host Rabbi Thumim and his Kollel. The Avreichim are stellar, and while the Kollel is an independent initiative serving the entire Five Towns community, we at Shaaray feel privileged to provide them

a home base. Their presence will elevate our shul and our community as a whole.”

Rabbi Binyomin Thumim expressed his vision. “It is a tremendous zechus to establish a Community Kollel here in Lawrence, dedicated to full-time Torah learning and to sharing that Torah with the greater Kehilla. We look forward to opening our doors to everyone in the Five Towns — through chavrusos, shiurim, and meaningful connection — and to together building a Makom Torah that uplifts Klal Yisroel.”

Shul President Avi Lazar added, “Over the past few years, Shaaray has experienced remarkable growth in both tefilah and ruchnius. Hosting Reb Binyomin’s Kollel is a natural next step. Our membership is gratified to help provide the setting for this independent initiative, and we enthusiastically encourage our Mispallelim to experience the Kol Torah that now permeates the Dalet Koslei Shaaray from early morning until late at night.”

extends heartfelt condolences to Barbara Deutsch and Family upon the tragic loss of her husband, Bob, z”l.

Yeshiva of South Shore Welcomes Students and Parents Back for a New School Year

On Wednesday, September 3, Yeshiva of South Shore joyfully welcomed back its students for the start of an exciting new year. Smiling boys entered the building beneath a towering, colorful balloon arch, eager to reunite with their rebbes, teachers, and friends.

The first day was filled with energy and enthusiasm as students enjoyed Torah learning, fun games, icebreaker activities, and a spirit of excitement that set the tone for the year ahead.

That same week, YOSS also warmly welcomed parents for Back-to-School

Night. First grade parents gathered in the Friedman Family Building for a beautiful presentation led by Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, Menahel, Rabbi Avraham Robinson, and Principal, Mrs. Leah Girnun. The evening offered parents the opportunity to meet their sons’ rebbes and teachers, learn more about the year ahead, and celebrate being part of the YOSS family.

With students and parents alike starting the year with joy, connection, and inspiration, Yeshiva of South Shore looks forward to a wonderful and successful school year ahead.

Pre-Rosh Hashana Shiur at YI of Kew Gardens Hills

On Monday evening, September 15, at 8:00 p.m., Rabbi Ari Schonfeld, Menahel of Yeshiva Ketana of Manhattan, will give the third annual Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills Pre-Rosh Hashana shiur.

The shiur is a program of the Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld Adult Education Center. The founding rabbi of YIKGH known worldwide for his wisdom and erudition, Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld served the shul for over six decades and believed that adult education was an integral part of a shul’s mission. Inaugurated in 2021, the Center runs a program of shiurim, lectures, and scholar-in-residence Shabbosim.

Rabbi Schonfeld, who is a master mechanech and educator known for his

transformative programs, will speak on the topic “Am I good enough? The eternal quest for connection.”

Rabbi Schonfeld grew up in Kew Gardens Hills. He was an eighth grade rebbe and mashgiach ruchani in Passaic before joining Yeshiva Ketana of Manhattan. His success extends beyond the standard classroom to unparalleled extracurricular activities and annual summer camps.

Rabbi Schonfeld earned international acclaim for his “Night Seder America,” an interactive Zoom learning seder for middle school boys, which he launched at the start of Covid-19, and which grew and inspired 5,000 boys across the globe.

The Zoom meeting ID is: 395 337 9992. The Passcode is: 4Y4d19

Camp YHT: Fun for Kids, Peace of Mind for Parents

During professional development sessions, Yeshiva Har Torah found a thoughtful way to support its staff. While teachers and administrators took part in a variety of workshops and meetings, their children enjoyed a fun and engaging “camp” experience held right at school.

The program was designed to give staff peace of mind, allowing them to focus on their professional growth without worrying about childcare. Children spent the day participating in games, activities, and social time with friends, all in a safe and nurturing environment led by counselors who were current YHT students.

Staff members shared their appreciation for the initiative, noting how meaningful it was to know their children were

not only cared for, but also having a great time.

This effort reflects YHT’s strong sense of community and its commitment to supporting the families who dedicate themselves to the school. By making professional development worry-free for parents, Yeshiva Har Torah once again demonstrated the warmth and care that define its mission.

Village of Lawrence Plans Installation of Modern Meters for Easier Parking Access

Lawrence, NY – The Village of Lawrence is modernizing public parking access by installing over 250 new, solar-powered digital parking meters across 400 parking spots in municipal lots and along Central Avenue. Whether visiting the Village for its fine dining, boutique shopping, or professional services, residents and visitors alike will now enjoy a more convenient, user-friendly parking experience.

The new digital meters accept multiple forms of payment, including coins, credit cards, and mobile payments via the “Passport” app—eliminating the need to carry change or worry about running back to the meter. The rates will not be changed in this update: 25 cents for 30

minutes in high traffic areas. Powered by solar energy, these meters are designed for long-term sustainability and efficiency.

In addition to greater convenience for drivers, the meters offer enhanced enforcement capabilities. Code Enforcement personnel will now be able to digitally scan and verify parking records in real time, reducing frustrating errors and helping ensure fair and consistent compliance.

“It makes us much more efficient as a Village,” said Mayor Sam Nahmias. “And it helps mitigate a lot of tickets that get dismissed just by error and the way they’re written.”

Gravity-Defying Fun & Good Food at the Shaaray-Youth Kickoff Carnival

Friendship Circle: Summer Recap

Over the last two weeks of August, the Friendship Circle held three unforgettable day trips, ending the summer with smiles and memories!

On day one, we visited White Post Farms, where the kids enjoyed various attractions. Strolling around the farm, participants stared in amazement at all the animals, including the monkeys, goats, and orange parrots. Some of the kids even went on pony rides.

For the next trip, the Friendship Circle headed to Space Club, an incredible indoor sensory playground. There, the kids had a blast exploring the playground’s ball pits and enjoying its swings and slides. Our participants also had fun jumping on trampolines and a giant

bouncy house, playing in the LEGO pits, and making music with floor keyboards and xylophones. After the exciting experience, we returned to Chabad of the Five Towns and made delicious, fresh lemonade.

On the last day of the Friendship Circle’s End of Summer Camp program, we went on an extraordinary trip to LEGOLAND. As with the other two trips, each participant was paired with a dedicated volunteer who ensured that the experience was both safe and memorable. Together with their volunteer, each child explored the discovery center. They went on interactive LEGO-themed rides, ran around the play areas, and admired the center’s impressive LEGO models. As a

group, we experienced a short 4D LEGO film. We put on 3D glasses, took our seats, and enjoyed the immersive experience, which included special effects — like rain and wind — and LEGO characters popping out of the screen.

Each trip was beautiful, filled with smiles and laughter. Even the bus rides were filled with excitement. Each moment was special.

Though the summer’s now over, the Friendship Circle has a lot more fun in store this year. We offer numerous weekly and monthly programs for children, teenagers, and adults with special needs. From Judaica Circle (our weekly Hebrew school program that makes learning fun—enrollment is now open!) to Sunday

Circle to Kugel and Kumzitz to Fun and Fitness to Friends at Home to everything in between, we have something for everyone. Our programs are made possible thanks to our dedicated high school volunteers. If you’re interested in volunteering for the Friendship Circle and bringing joy and friendship to the lives of individuals with disabilities, please contact Batsheva@chabad5towns.com for more information and to sign up for our volunteer orientation on September 28. And for more information about enrolling your child, please visit fc5towns.com.

HALB Middle School students were treated to ice cream to welcome them back to school

Week 1 Recap: Five Towns Flag Football League

The first week of the FM Home Loans Five Towns flag football league lived up to the hype, delivering dynamic plays, clutch catches, and eye-popping touchdowns across all grades. From game-changing moments, the action set a high bar for the rest of the season.

In the Pre1A: The newcomers learned the ropes of catching, routing, and making plays with Coach Rabbi Fine. The emphasis on fundamentals paid off, with several impressive catches and quick exits for positive yardage.

In First Grade: The Giants emerged victorious over the Broncos, while the Patriots topped the Jets in another tight contest. Both games showcased crisp routes and surprising field awareness from the young players.

Second Grade: A thrilling showdown

saw the Broncos edge the Giants in a matchup that kept fans on their feet until the final whistle.

Third & Fourth Grade: This block featured five exciting games Packers vs. Eagles: Packers secured a commanding win with sharp passing and stout defense. Raiders vs. Seahawks: A back-and-forth battle highlighted by creative play-calling and spirited effort. Patriots vs. Giants: A hard-fought game with timely catches and strong ball security. Jets vs. Broncos: The Jets pulled off a convincing victory, showcasing speed and precision. Steelers vs. Vikings: A cooler-headed, methodical performance sealed a win for the Steelers.

Fifth & Sixth Grade: The action continued with Eagles vs. Broncos: A competitive clash that tested both teams’ resilience. Jets vs. Giants: A tight matchup

with notable route-running and hands. Vikings vs. Steelers: A hard-nosed game that went down to the wire. Patriots vs. Panthers: A strong showing from the Patriots, balancing offense and defense.

Seventh & Eighth Grade: The Giants defeated the Broncos, and the Patriots outpaced the Jets in a display of seasoned playmaking and strategic execution. The week produced a handful of standout performances that energized fans and teammates alike. Noah Frankel delivered multiple athletic catches and several key first-downs. Shlomo Thaler showed relentless hustle on both sides of the ball, contributing in crucial moments. Zack Slansky made a series of highlight-worthy runs and a game-changing reception. Meyer Jacobowitz closed drives with consistent ball handling and smart decision-making. These players helped their teams stack up momentum heading into Week 2, illustrating the depth of talent across age groups.

All updates can be found at www.5townsflagfootball.com.

New School Year Begins with Exciting Changes at YUHSG

It’s the start of a brand-new school year at the Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central). Students and faculty alike are stepping into the semester with fresh energy – and in fresh surroundings. After months of planning and hard work, YUHSG proudly unveiled its newly renovated facilities this past week.

YUHSG’s Principal, Mrs. Aliza Gewirtz, spoke to these exciting new improvements. “When students are in a space that is warm, welcoming, and inspiring, they can bring out their best selves academically, spiritually, and personally,” Mrs. Gewirtz said. “These changes are designed to give our girls that environment every single day.”

Upgrades include a brand-new student lounge (complete with couches and a ping-pong table), a renovated Beit Midrash, a new engineering lab, new faculty spaces, and an enlarged lobby and lawn, complete with a central branded basketball and pickleball court. But the growth doesn’t stop there! Alongside the reno -

vations, YUHSG will debut several new classes designed to challenge and engage students across grade levels. Among the additions are a new freshman-level Jewish History course, a new senior Chassidus elective, a new senior-level Current Events course, Digital Photography, and Engineering IV: Circuit Design. In a reinforcement of the close relationship

YUHSG enjoys with Yeshiva University, a new Moadim class taught in conjunction with YU’s Stern College for Women will be offered, as well as a Principles of Biology course in which seniors can earn nine credit hours as a part of YUHSG’s YU Residency Credit program. The year will also see an exciting new group of faculty members joining returning staff.

The theme of the 2025-26 school year comes from the Shema: to love Hashem “with all your heart, with all your soul.”

The theme serves as a meaningful reminder to all to reinvigorate their sense of purpose and to commit themselves to their values with strength and conviction. “Being in the classroom is not just

about teaching,” said YUHSG’s Associate Principal, Ms. Leah Moskovich. “It is important to show up with all our heart and soul. We want to inspire our students to find what they are passionate about –what fires their heart and soul. Find the heart, and fuel their souls.”

Before the official start of classes, incoming freshmen were welcomed at Central’s Freshman Orientation on Wednesday, September 3, where the class of 2029 was greeted by faculty, senior Big Sisters, and administrators, who led them through a morning of games, activities, and introductions to Wildcat life. On Thursday, September 4, the entire YUHSG student body returned for the official first day of school. The halls buzzed with energy as students reconnected with friends, met new staff members, and explored the transformed campus. With renovated facilities, innovative new classes, and a successful freshman orientation kicking things off, YUHSG is poised for a memorable, meaningful school year – one lived with

heart and soul. Enormous thanks go out to the many staff, faculty, and YUHSG community members who contributed to the summer’s renovations, course development, and orientation programming. And the fall semester is just getting underway: upcoming events include a schoolwide YUHSG retreat at Camp Kaylie September 11 and 12, as well as Back to School Night, where faculty and staff will welcome the community onto campus on Monday, September 15.

A Second Trauma: Holocaust Survivors Struggle to Survive in War-Time

Israel

By Hadassah Bay

As Rosh Hashana nears, Meir Panim rallies to support the generation that remembers what it means to be hunted.

It’s been nearly eight decades since they endured the horrors of Nazi Europe, but for thousands of Holocaust survivors in Israel, the trauma has never truly ended. And since October 7, and after the intense Iran war, many are reliving it.

Most of Israel’s 123,000 survivors were children during the Holocaust. They know what it means to hide, to go hungry, to live in fear. Today, many are elderly, fragile, and unable to run when the sirens wail. These sirens have become a regular, if underreported, feature of life in Israel since the most recent wave of conflict. “For many of them, it’s like history is repeating itself,” says Mimi Rozmaryn, Director of Global Development at Meir Panim.

As the cost of living soars, and pensions fail to stretch far enough, thousands of seniors—including survivors— are relying on Meir Panim for basics. Every day, they receive hot, home-delivered meals. Every Tuesday, they pick up free fruits and vegetables, and as Rosh Hashana approaches, they’ll also receive

festive food boxes, prepaid grocery cards, and invitations to community holiday meals at some of Meir Panim’s branches.

The past year has brought staggering challenges: war, displacement, skyrocketing inflation, and cuts to social services as government resources are diverted to defense. According to the Taub Center, Iranian strikes have caused over $2 million in damage, while the broader economic toll on Israel has topped $6 billion.

Against this backdrop, Meir Panim has expanded its reach dramatically, with over 600,000 hot meals delivered in 2025 alone; 100,000+ care packages of food, blankets, and essentials; and thousands of prepaid grocery vouchers.

Above all, Meir Panim is helping Holocaust survivors age in place—with dignity, care, and continuity. “We know that staying in their homes is key to their long-term health and happiness,” says the organization. “And we’re doing everything we can to make that possible.”

This Rosh Hashanah, help us honor their resilience. Support Meir Panim by donating online at mpdonate.org, by phone at 877-736-6283, or by mail to American Friends of Meir Panim, 88 Walton Street, Suite B1, Brooklyn, NY 11206. All U.S. donations are tax-deductible under EIN #20-1582478.

Five HALB students made a siyum at the Middle School Boys Tisch on Friday. Elisha Fleksher, Alex Sinnreich, Yoni Fischbein, Rafi Levine, and Chaim Doman spent their free time learning Daf Yomi and were proud to celebrate with their classmates. Mazal tov!

Back-to-School Energy Fills the Halls of MTA

The energy was electric as the buses pulled up on the first day of school at Yeshiva University High School for Boys. Music filled the air as administrators lined the front entrance to greet each talmid with smiles and excitement.

After an uplifting tefillah, the entire yeshiva gathered in the Beis Medrash where Rabbi Schenker offered inspiring words of chizuk to set the tone for the year ahead. “What I want each of you to think about is this: what could you do to accomplish truly amazing things this year, to reach your fullest potential?” he asked the talmidim, challenging them to approach the new year with ambition and focus.

Rabbi Konigsberg followed with exciting announcements and a vision for the year ahead. He remarked, “With such a strong freshman class, together with the incredible growth we are already seeing across every grade, there is a special energy in the building. This is shaping up to be one of the best years MTA has ever had, and I can’t wait to see what our talmidim accomplish.”

The halls were filled with energy, excitement, and achdus as we kicked off a year of growth, learning, and community. From reconnecting with friends and meeting new classmates to diving right into inspiring shiurim and classes, the atmosphere was electric.

The Class of 2026 began their senior year with a special welcome-back breakfast alongside their rebbeim, marking the start of their final year at MTA in a meaningful way. It was a chance to reflect on how far they’ve come, to reconnect with their rabbeim, and to set goals for the year ahead. Their laughter, divrei Torah, and words of encouragement set the tone for what promises to be a memo -

rable senior experience.

From there, the entire yeshiva came together for an afternoon that will be remembered for a long time. The Silent DJ brought the building alive, filling the gym with the sight of hundreds of talmidim dancing, jumping, and singing along together — headphones on, but united in spirit. One moment it felt like a kumzitz, with talmidim swaying arm in arm and singing with deep emotion; the next moment, it was pure celebration, as circles of talmidim broke out into energetic dancing, lifting the ruach higher and higher.

The excitement didn’t stop there. A delicious Dougie’s lunch followed, with long tables set up so that every talmid could eat together in a spirit of achdus. Plates were piled high, conversations flowed, and the sounds of laughter and music created a festive backdrop for the year ahead.

By the end of the day, as talmidim settled back into the rhythm of yeshiva life, it was clear that the first day was much more than a welcome back; it was a statement of what this year at MTA will be all about. Growth, ruach, learning, and community came together in a way that left every student inspired and excited. With such a spirited start, there is no doubt that another incredible year at MTA is underway.

Around the Community

Rami Levy’s New Vision for Jerusalem

By Shani Tamir

For decades, the name Rami Levy has been synonymous with accessibility, reliability, and social responsibility in Israel. From a modest stall in Jerusalem’s Mahane Yehuda market, Levy built a retail empire that reshaped the country’s grocery landscape, introducing fair pricing and customer-first service. But Levy’s entrepreneurial spirit did not end with retail. Over the years, he branched into communications, industry, and real estate—each time bringing the same blend of vision, practicality, and public-mindedness.

Nearly three decades ago, Levy entered the real estate field, guided by creative thinking and a wide-ranging perspective. What began as a natural extension of his business ventures has now evolved into a major presence in Israel’s property market. For Levy, however, real estate is not just about buildings and profits. It is about shaping communities, especially in the city that raised him and remains closest to his heart—Jerusalem.

Building Jerusalem, Personally

Today, Levy is advancing several projects across Israel, including PRIME Jerusalem at the Holyland site with 268 units, 180 units at the Jerusalem Train Compound, and luxury residences on the Armon Hanatziv promenade. In Rosh Ha’Ayin, he is developing 80 additional units. Yet, as he often says, when it comes to Jerusalem, the projects are personal.

“When I build in Jerusalem, it’s not just business,” Levy explained in one con-

versation. “I’m creating homes for people, building communities, and investing in the future of this city that I love.”

It is from this philosophy that the VISION project was born—a landmark residential development in Jerusalem designed not only to meet modern standards of comfort and quality but also to embody Levy’s values of community, service, and integrity.

VISION: Community at the Center

Currently rising in the new Viener Quarter, the VISION project represents an investment in modern urban living, thoughtful planning, and high-quality design. With 298 residential units, the development offers a wide range of apartments—from three- to five-room homes to mini-penthouses and expansive penthouses—each finished with premium specifications.

The buildings, set to reach 30 stories, will provide residents with everything needed for daily life within walking distance. Daycare centers, kindergartens, a synagogue, fitness rooms, commercial spaces, cafes, and an adjacent park with direct access are all integral parts of the project. Underground smart parking and advanced management services further ensure convenience and peace of mind.

Architect Amatzia Aharonson, whose firm has shaped many of Jerusalem’s most iconic landmarks, was entrusted with translating Levy’s vision into reality.

“Rami himself understands what Jerusalemites need,” says Aharonson. “Quality of life, security, and community—together with easy access to the commercial and

cultural pulse of the city.”

Emphasis on Lifestyle

What sets VISION apart is its emphasis on the residents’ experience. “Rami instructed us to deliver more than the standard,” explains Shai Shachar, engineer at Rami Levy Real Estate. “Every detail was planned to meet modern needs while nurturing community values.”

Central to this approach is the exclusive 800-square-meter residents’ complex, designed to foster connection and enrich daily life.

VISION PLAY spans 150 square meters, offering children and teenagers recreational zones with lounge corners, PlayStation stations, big screens, and designated toddler play areas. A family space will also allow residents to host birthdays and neighborhood gatherings.

VISION WORK, covering 450 square meters, provides fully equipped co-working spaces and meeting rooms for professionals seeking modern, flexible solutions.

VISION SPORT, a 200-square-meter fitness and Pilates center, promotes wellness with state-of-the-art equipment.

Innovation

and Quality in Every Detail

From construction materials to cutting-edge systems, Levy insisted that VISION reflect uncompromising standards. Apartments will feature underfloor heating, VRF air conditioning with individual room controls, smart energy management, and advanced thermal insulation.

Safety and convenience are also paramount. CCTV systems and a smart under-

ground parking garage—managed directly from residents’ apartments—set a new bar for urban living in Jerusalem.

A Location With a View

Beyond the buildings themselves, VISION’s location is one of its most striking assets. Situated near the ridge line of the Viener Quarter, the towers will offer sweeping panoramic views over historic Jerusalem on one side and the Judean Desert on the other.

The site also enjoys excellent connectivity. Proximity to Begin Road and the city’s light rail system ensures that residents are well connected to all corners of Jerusalem, whether for work, leisure, or education.

With VISION, Rami Levy is redefining what it means to build in Jerusalem: creating homes designed for quality living and true community. Find out more today! https://vision-rl.co.il/ing/

Lev Chana children are excited to be back in school

At the grand opening celebration of the Boro Park JCC Community Center.

L-R: Gil Cygler, Ushi Teitelbaum, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Pinny Hikind representing the city comptroller, and Chesky Blau

JSL Opening Day Recap

JSL’s Fall Season began on Sunday with nearly 600 boys enjoying Hockey or Basketball across the league’s 3 gyms. Week One featured drills and skills activities followed by scrimmage games. Each boy also received a JSL/FM Home Loans warmup hoodie.

Game MVPs were treated to Smash House gift cards and other promotional cards boys can earn came from Seasons Express, Rita’s, Central Pizza Co. and RipIt Card Store.

The day kicked off with the morning sessions for 4- and 5-year-olds where coaches – either volunteer fathers or JSL staff – worked with the boys to introduce

them to Hockey and help them improve their skills. JSL added special clinic slots this season focused on development for beginners.

The afternoon games featured Hockey in Brandeis and Inwood, as well as Basketball at LWA. Teams will be finalized this week for the start of the Regular Season this Sunday.

On Sunday night, the JSL Men’s Basketball league tipped off with 4 games. Hewlett Auto Body, led by Yoni Oratz, held off Town Appliance 40-39! Kol V’Or defeated Emporio 55-51 behind a strong game from Shimon David. Smash House blew out SR Whee 70-46 and Maidenbaum defeated Advantage PT 74-57.

Oraysa Begins the Final Masechta in Seder Moed

Have you always dreamed of learning Shas in a goal-oriented manner and exploring sugyos at a manageable pace? Here is your chance to join Oraysa, the Amud V’Chazara Initiative – as they embark on the final Masechta in Seder Moed – and be a part of this monumental movement as we reach a historic milestone in just a few months!

Excitement is mounting among the thousands of Lomdei Oraysa around the globe as they approach the end of Maseches Moed Katan. This Masechta has been learned, toiled upon, and reviewed by lomdim over the past three months as they now prepare to begin Maseches Chagigah.

Masechta Chagigah is especially meaningful as it begins with sugyos at the core of Yom Tov: Olas Re’iyah, Shalmei Chagigah, Aliyah L’regel, Mitzvas Aseh She’hazman Grama, and Simchas Yom Tov.

With Oraysa beginning this Masechta right before Yom Tov, lomdim will have the unique opportunity to enter Yom Tov while learning these very relevant sugyos.

An additional reason for excitement is the fact that Chagigah is the final Masechta in Seder Moed. The completion of this Masechta will be celebrated with a Siyum on the entire Seder Moed, slated to take place at the beginning of Kislev 5786 –end of November.

The completion of an entire Seder is the first such celebration since the inception of Oraysa almost six years ago. Lomdim have been tirelessly toiling through Masechta after Masechta, amud by amud, slowly and steadily making their way through Seder Moed. The ripples of excitement and anticipation are being felt in chaburos all over the globe.

B’siyata d’Shmaya, the central Siyum will be celebrated at the Cure Arena in Trenton, New Jersey, on Sunday, November 23. This event will surely be a historic Maamad of honor to the Torah, graced by Gedolim and Roshei Yeshiva and attended by thousands of lomdim and their families.

Siyumim will also be held in Israel and Europe, drawing thousands of lomdim in each location to rejoice in this monumen-

Did you know?

tal milestone of Torah study.

The Oraysa Amud V’Chazara program was developed in collaboration with leading Roshei Yeshiva and Torah leaders to address the growing demand for a Gemara-learning framework that balances consistent progress with structured review.

Oraysa is a worldwide initiative designed to unite and empower Lomdei Torah through a structured daily seder limud of an amud a day. It provides the framework with which to learn, review, and retain Shas while delving into its sugyos, at a pace that works.

With every Masechta, Oraysa sees extraordinary growth with siyata d’Shmaya, with more chaburos and hundreds of individuals joining all around the world. The program’s structured yet flexible approach makes it accessible to lomdei Torah across the spectrum, from kollel scholars to working professionals to educators. With Oraysa, every participant, regardless of their background or schedule, has the ability to grow in their Torah learning and deepen their connection to their learning.

Lomdim can also avail themselves of the many varied resources that are provided both digitally and in print. These include the daily world-class shiurim that are accessible by video or audio, as well as the highly-popular Yalkuts which contain many valuable resources to complement one’s learning and are distributed around the world on a monthly basis.

Oraysa has become a global movement, connecting approximately 35,000 lomdim in 450 chaburos across 100 cities worldwide. Join the Lomdei Oraysa as they embark on this journey into the sugyos of Maseches Chagigah. Savor the satisfaction of learning in a goal-oriented way with a system which incorporates review and retention, ensuring that every amud remains truly yours for years to come.

To join Oraysa, for more information, or to help establish a chaburah in your community, contact Oraysa at 914.8.ORAYSA, email info@oraysa.org, or visit www.oraysa.org.

Coca Cola got its name from two of its original ingredients: coca leaves & kola nuts.

As the seasons change, The J.U.F. Vocational Training Division of Yachad invited its staff and participants to a BBQ at the beach! Burgers, hot dogs, and so many happy faces. Be -

coming a vital member of an inclusive workforce is J.U.F.’s mission. Thank you Dena Cooperman, the Director of J.U.F., for Getting. It. Done. There’s nothing like a beach day to buoy your spirits!

HAFTR Welcomes Families Back for a New School Year

The 2025-26 school year has officially begun at HAFTR, as students, parents, and teachers returned to what the community proudly calls makom shelanu, our place.

For HAFTR, the beginning of a school year is not only about the return of students to classrooms. It is about recommitting to the values that make this yeshiva exceptional: a dedication to Torah learning, academic excellence, a deep connection to Israel, and the warmth of a community where every student is known and valued.

“HAFTR is a place where each child can discover their strengths, grow in character, and feel the support of a community that truly cares,” shared one faculty member. This balance of high expectations with genuine care continues to define the HAFTR experience.

This year, new initiatives and programs are building on that foundation. From innovative STEM projects and inspiring Judaic Studies curricula to vibrant arts, athletics, and chesed opportunities, the HAFTR experience is designed to educate the whole child. Every student’s mind, heart, and soul are nurtured with academic, emotional, and spiritual excellence. Teachers across every division

have prepared lessons and experiences that bring learning to life and reflect the school’s guiding mission.

The power of makom shelanu lies not only in what happens in the classrooms, but in the deep sense of belonging shared by all who walk through HAFTR’s doors.

Parents, faculty, and students together weave the fabric of HAFTR life, each contributing their unique strengths and spirit. That partnership transforms the school from simply a place of study into a true makom—a home where Torah, learning, and community come alive every day. HAFTR is where relationships are formed, values are lived, and children grow into confident, compassionate Jews. It is a space where Jewish pride is nurtured alongside curiosity, and where every family feels they are part of something larger than themselves. This is what makes HAFTR not just a school, but our place

. As the year unfolds, HAFTR looks ahead with great excitement. With strong academics, meaningful programming, and a steadfast commitment to Torah values, the 2025–26 school year promises to be one filled with inspiration and impact, shaping students who will carry the lessons of our place into the wider world.

Multitudes Throughout the World To Unite On Behalf of Klal Yisrael in Dirshu’s Yom Limud and Tefillah

By Chaim Gold

The Chofetz Chaim’s yahrtzeit is an eis ratzon. There is perhaps no one in recent generations who did so much to help and enrich Klal Yisrael – both in sur mei’rah and asei tov. Whether it is the sefer Chofetz Chaim that brought to the forefront of Klal Yisrael’s agenda the importance of being careful with one’s speech, Ahavas Chessed that codified all the halachos of chessed or, of course, the Chofetz Chaim’s magnum opus sefer Mishnah Berurah that continues to be the foundational daily halacha sefer in Klal Yisrael, we are still today being spiritually enriched by the Chofetz Chaim. Certainly, the Chofetz Chaim, through his sefer Likutei Halachos on hilchos korbanos in the Beis Hamikdash, also brought the concept of tzipisa l’yeshua, longing for the yeshua to the forefront of public consciousness. Thus, there is no doubt that the day of his yahrtzeit is a tremendous eis ratzon, an opportune time for tefilla and for invoking rachmei shomayim on behalf of all Jews.

The Need for Tefilla

If there was ever a time when Klal Yisrael needed to unite in a massive outpouring of tefillah and achdus, if there was ever a time when tens of thousands of tinokos shel beis rabban needed to come together to invoke rachmei shomayim, that time is now!

The am hayoshev b’Tzion is under attack from multiple enemies. Just this week, the lives of six Yidden were snuffed out by a heinous terrorist attack at the Ramot junction in Yerushalayim. They were killed for no other reason than the fact that they were Jews. Not only are they surrounded by ruthless adversaries who seek to destroy all Jews, but they are also under attack by Western journalists, heads of state and an entire leftwing public relations assault that seeks to paint the Jews as a genocidal, ruthless enemy of humanity. As a result, antisemitism is running rampant in ways that have not been seen since the Holocaust. The stability of the world order is under threat, and license has been given to Jew haters to come out of the closet and openly declare war against the Jews. They have come out of the shadows and are unabashedly in the open.

The Age Old Jewish Response

That is why Dirshu’s 11th Annual International Yom Limud and Tefillah, to be held on 24 Elul/September 17, the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrtzeit, can’t come sooner.

Dirshu, in a remarkable global effort to invoke rachmei shomayim, is holding a multifaceted Yom Limud and Tefillah that will encompass all of Klal Yisrael the world over, including tinokos shel beis rabban, bnei yeshiva, Bais Yaakov schools, baalei battim and any caring Jew.

This year’s Yom Limud and Tefillah will also showcase a special videocast featuring unique divrei chizuk in advance of the Yamim Noraim delivered by distinguished Gedolim and Rabbonim. The videocast will feature a powerful address in English by HaGaon HaRav Chaim Mordechai Ausband, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Ateres Shlomo, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, Nasi of Dirshu, Rav Eitan Feiner, Rav of Kehillas Knesses Yisroel of Far Rockaway-Lawrence, and Rav Zev Smith, Maggid Shiur, Daf HaYomi B’Halacha.

Another fascinating aspect to be shown on the videocast is unique footage of HaGaon HaRav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, zt”l, Rosh Yeshiva of the Ponovezh Yeshiva L’Tzeirim who was one of the most insightful mechanchim of bachurim in his generation, as he answers questions about and discusses the rebbi-talmid relationship.

The Yom Limud and Tefilla was established by Dirshu eleven years ago specifically to bring Klal Yisrael together on the auspicious occasion of the Chofetz Chaim’s yahrzeit right before Rosh Hashanah in unified tefilla on behalf of Klal Yisrael and to encourage the continued learning of the Chofetz Chaim’s sefarim that have such power to invoke rachmei shomayim

Organizers of the Yom Limud and Tefilla clearly tapped into the innate feeling of every Jewish neshama in these extraordinary times when Klal Yisrael is facing unprecedented challenges. This concentrated effort in tefilla and achdus was designed to arouse rachmei shomayim in the zechus of the heiligeh Chofetz Chaim who was so moser nefesh to promote these ideals amongst Klal Yisrael.

On the Yom Limud and Tefilla, Jews throughout the world will gather to recite specific perakim of Tehillim and learn

segments from the sefarim written by the Chofetz Chaim, the Mishnah Berurah and Sefer Shemiras Halason.

The Tehillim being recited will be perakim chof and kuf-lamed, followed by the tefilla of Acheinu Beis Yisrael. The limud of the sifrei Chofetz Chaim will be from Dirshu’s super popular Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program that is currently learning the laws of refuah, healing on Shabbos. It will comprise siman 328, seif 35-37. The mussar limud from the sefarim of the Chofetz Chaim will be from the sefer Chovas Hashemirah, Perek 12-13. School Programs Learning from the Ways of the Chofetz Chaim

Simultaneously, a remarkable program will take place in more than 300 cities across the world with many hundreds of yeshivos, chadorim and Bais Yaakovs participating.

The extraordinary school-age program designed by Dirshu is sure to have a tremendous impact on tens of thousands of children both in major Jewish centers and in places far from Yiddishkeit hubs. Created with the singular goal of connecting children to the teachings and life of the Chofetz Chaim, the program offers some hilchos Rosh Hashanah together with hashkafa and mussar as taught by the Chofetz Chaim all compiled into an age-appropriate, user-friendly, easy-to-understand booklet replete with magnificent illustrations, rare stories of the Chofetz Chaim and a brief history of the Chofetz Chaim’s yeshiva.

Dirshu has made these extremely compelling, artfully designed booklets in both English and Yiddish.

The captivating stories and graphics are sure to motivate the children in each age group to read and be inspired. In addition, the combination of riveting graphics and clarity of the lessons has been hailed by leading menahelim and mechanchim as a tremendously successful way of bringing alive the lessons of the Chofetz Chaim.

In the English language program, there are over sixty schools participating from Baltimore, Phoenix, Boca Raton, Boston, Brooklyn, Deal, Denver, Far Rockaway, Houston, LA, Lakewood, Monsey, Waterbury, Toronto, Philadelphia and Miami.

In their effort to reach tinokos shel beis rabban from across the spectrum,

Dirshu has designed a vivid Yiddish version of the booklet for Chassidishe chadorim with tailormade illustrations. There will be approximately fifty five schools participating in the Yiddish program hailing from Union City, Montreal, Brooklyn, Lakewood and Monsey.

Along with the booklet, all children will be gifted with a professionally produced USB recording in English and in Yiddish replete with remarkable lessons and stories about the Chofetz Chaim.

Many Menhalim have enthusiastically embraced these programs and have noted how much the children have gained from the material during the past years’ programs.

This is aside from schools, chadorim and Bais Yaakovs throughout Eretz Yisrael and Europe who will also participate in the Yom Limud and Tefilla. In all, hundreds of schools throughout Eretz Yisrael, North America and Europe encompassing hundreds of thousands of children will participate in the Yom Limud and Tefilla utilizing the unique content provided to commemorate the auspicious day. The impact on young boys and girls learning about the Chofetz Chaim will be both huge and unparalleled.

With Rosh Hashana nearly upon us, we realize what a monumental Yom Hadin we are facing. The world is an extremely unstable place. Klal Yisrael needs YOU to daven together with hundreds of thousands throughout the world on Dirshu’s Yom Limud and Tefilla, and YOU need the words of the Gedolim broadcast on the videocast for guidance and chizuk in advance of the New Year.

Don’t miss it!

Dirshu Yom Limud and Tefilla participants at Yeshiva Darchei Torah, Far Rockaway, 2024

Around the Community

The Master of Mercy…and Me

By Rabbi Yechiel Spero

Leaving the Light On

An Israeli avreich traveled to Ukraine and Poland to visit the kivrei tzaddikim (the graves of the righteous), among them the holy Bnei Yissaschar of Dinov (R’ Tzvi Elimelech Spira). As he approached the kever, the avreich noticed a Yid bent over the matzeivah, the monument, praying with much emotion. Drawing closer, he realized that the man standing there, lost in tefillah, was none other than his childhood friend, Yossi.

Years earlier, Yossi had left the path of Torah and mitzvos. He had abandoned his tefillin, left his Yiddishkeit behind, and moved to Tel Aviv. For a decade, the avreich and Yossi had not crossed paths. And yet, here was Yossi — eyes closed, davening like one of the tzaddikim of old.

The avreich didn’t want to interrupt, so he waited patiently until Yossi finished. An hour later, Yossi finally turned around. When their eyes met, the shock and joy were mutual. They embraced warmly, sat

down on a nearby bench, and began to talk.

“Yossi!” the avreich exclaimed. “It’s been ten years! The last I heard, you had moved to Tel Aviv. And here you are, davening like a tzaddik! What happened?”

Yossi smiled, sensing his old friend’s curiosity. With striking honesty, he began to share his story:

Two months ago, I happened to meet my old neighbor, the one who still lives across from my parents’ apartment. We started talking, just catching up, when out of nowhere, he said to me, “Yossi, I need to tell you something. You won’t believe it, but your mother told my wife that for the past ten years, she hasn’t locked the front door at night. Every single night, she leaves it open — just in case. Just in case tonight is the night that Yossi decides to come home.”

His words hit me like thunder. Ten years had passed, and my mother was still waiting for me! Every night, she hoped, she prayed, she believed I might just walk through that door. It struck me: If my parents never locked the door on me, then surely my Father in Heaven never locked

the door on me either.

I realized, in that moment, that Hashem Himself was sending me a message. He was telling me, “Yossi, it doesn’t matter what you’ve done. It doesn’t matter how far you’ve gone. It doesn’t matter where you’ve fallen. My door is still open. I’m waiting for you, every single day, with love, with longing. You can come back whenever you’re ready.”

That thought shook me to the core. I felt Hashem reaching out to me, calling me back. In that moment, I made a decision — I was going home: to my parents, to the life I had left behind.

R’ Isaac Sher taught that one of the greatest yesodos of emunah (foundations of faith) was revealed in the miracles of Yetzias Mitzrayim. Hashem declared: “Beni bechori Yisrael — My firstborn son is Yisrael” (Shemos 4:22).

When did Hashem say these words?

Was it when Yehoshua led Klal Yisrael triumphantly into Eretz Yisrael? Was it when Shlomo HaMelech reigned in glory and every Yid sat “tachas gafno v’sachas te’einaso — each man under his grapevine and under his fig tree”? (I Melachim 5:5).

No. Hashem declared, “Beni bechori Yisrael,” when Klal Yisrael was at its lowest. When they were enslaved in Mitzrayim, crushed beneath the shibud (enslavement), sinking into the mem-tes

shaarei tumah (the forty-nine levels of impurity).

Specifically then, Hashem called us His bechor, His firstborn. His beloved child.

TAKEAWAY: Hashem gave us the promise that even after everything, He is still waiting for us, b’ratzon, with goodwill and with love. We just have to come up to Him, and He will be there for us. His door is never locked.

Reprinted from The Master of Mercy… and Me by Rabbi Yechiel Spero with permission from the copyright holder, ArtScroll Mesorah Publications.

Gan Chamesh Ushers in the New School Year

Teachers and staff at Gan Chamesh, Chabad’s Early Childhood Center, were thrilled and excited to open their doors and welcome their young students into the classrooms. The children quickly adjusted and are all immersed in various hands-on multi-sensory explorations to help them learn about the upcoming yom tov of Rosh Hashana. We are looking forward to a year of continued social, emotional and academic growth. Shana tova!

Centerfold

United Nations Trivia

1. Who is the current Secretary General of the United Nations?

a. António Guterres

b. Ban Ki-moon

c. Nikki Haley

d. Kofi Annan

e. Boutros Boutros-Ghali

2. Which one of the following countries is not a member of the UN Human Rights Council?

a. Afghanistan

b. China

c. Cuba

d. Saudi Arabia

e. United States

3. The longest speech in the history of the UN was made on January 23, 1957. It was for five hours. Who gave the speech?

a. Russian President Nikita Khrushchev, accusing the U.S. of nuclear proliferation

b. Indian representative V.K. Krishna Menon defending India’s position on Kashmir

c. Egypt’s Mahmoud Fawzi,

arguing that Israel does not have a right to exist

d. Cuban President Fidel Castro, claiming that the U.S. was poisoning its water supply

4. How many countries are members of the UN?

a. 54

b. 112

c. 193

d. 237

5. What is the color of U.N. peacekeepers helmet or beret?

a. White

b. Blue

c. Green

d. Red

6. Who donated the property where the U.N. is headquartered?

a. John Rockefeller, Jr.

b. State of New York

c. Joseph Kennedy

d. The U.S. Government

Wisdom Key:

5-7 correct: You should try to get the position as next UN Secretary General. You may have to change your name from Gila Goldberg to Gwonzlliala Gwaldbwagleberg in order to increase the odds, though.

2-4 correct: You are stuck in the middle of the pack. You need a good fivehour speech and some real foot stomping during your next speech at the General Assembly in order to make yourself stand out.

0-1 correct: You are un-un-educated!

7. Which president signed the United Nations Charter, making the United States the first nation to complete the ratification process and join the UN?

a. Harry Truman

b. Franklin D. Roosevelt

c. Dwight D. Eisenhower

d. Woodrow Wilson

You Gotta Be Kidding Me!

Moishe asked his wife Sarah what she wanted for her birthday.

“World peace,” she replied.

Moishe laughed and said, “You have to tell me something more realistic.”

“OK,” she said. “How about for the next month, when I ask you to do something, you will do it in less than a week.”

Moishe reached for the phone.

“Who are you calling?” asked Sarah.

Moishe replied, “The United Nations!”

Official UN Rules

1. Every speech must be twice as long as necessary.

2. Acronyms are mandatory. If it doesn’t sound like alphabet soup, it’s not real.

3. Resolutions are like Wi-Fi passwords: everyone has one, nobody remembers them.

4. Coffee must be served in small paper cups because the U.N. is wasting all their money supporting terrorists around the globe.

5. Diplomacy = arguing politely while drinking bad coffee.

6. Nothing gets done until at least three recesses and one photo op.

7. Every meeting begins with a reminder that this meeting is historic.

8. Everyone nods, even when the earpiece isn’t working.

9. If you can’t solve it, schedule another summit.

10. Every delegate must begin their speech with, “Distinguished colleagues…” even if they forgot your name.

11. If the meeting is running on time, you’re in the wrong building.

12. Coffee breaks are sacred –miss one, and you’ll miss three major alliances.

13. The louder the applause, the less likely the resolution will pass.

14. If two countries agree too quickly, expect a 300-page appendix.

15. “Let’s revisit this issue” means “see you in 2035.”

16. If a delegate says, “I’ll be brief,” cancel your lunch plans.

17. The word “dialogue” means “we don’t have a solution, but we want credit for trying.”

18. A working group is just a nap scheduled in a circle.

19. The longer the title of the resolution, the shorter its lifespan.

20. Sad but true: If it is against the Jews or Israel, it will have near unanimous support, with only the U.S. objecting.

Riddle Me This

Five delegates – Brazil, Egypt, India, Norway, Peru – are seated left-to-right at a committee table.

Rules:

1. Norway is not at either end.

2. India sits immediately to the right of Brazil.

3. Egypt sits somewhere to the left of Norway.

4. Peru is not next to Egypt and prefers an end seat.

5. Brazil is not at the far left.

6. Brazil must be to the left of Norway.

What is the exact left-to-right order?

Answer: Egypt – Brazil – India –Norway – Peru

Torah Thought

Parshas Ki Savo

By Rabbi Berel Wein z”l

This week’s parsha describes the two very different situations in Jewish life that have been present throughout our long history as a people. One situation is when we inhabited and controlled our own land, the Land of Israel. That is clearly indicated in the opening words of the parsha – “ki savo” – when you will come into your land. The second much more difficult situation is outlined again in the parsha in the bitter, lengthy and detailed description of the lot of the Jewish people in exile, scattered amongst hostile nations and violent hatreds.

Over the many millennia of the Jewish story, we have been in exile far longer than we were at home in the Land of Israel. It is significant that the recounting of the troubles and persecutions of the exile of Israel from its land occupies greater space (and perhaps even greater notice) in the parsha than does the section relating to our living in the Land of Israel.

The Land of Israel carried with it special commandments and rituals as described in the parsha such as various types of maaser, tithing, and bikkurim, the first fruits of the agricultural year.

The description of the exile posed problems of demographic extinction and continued tension, fear and a constant state of uncertainty. In the words of the parsha itself, the conditions of the exile were capable of driving people into insanity and fostered hopelessness.

Yet the strange, almost unfathomable result was that the Jewish people survived, created and, at times, even thrived under the conditions of the exile, while our record as a national entity living in our own country was much spottier. Jews are a special people, but our behavior is oftentimes strange and counterproductive. We don’t seem to deal too well with success and stability.

ber why we failed in the past in our nation building and why, paradoxically, we succeeded in achieving major successes while in exile and under very negative circumstances. Straying from the path of Torah and tradition has always brought us to harm. Adopting foreign cultures and fads that are temporarily popular and extolled is not the way to fulfillment of our national interest and purpose. Our historical experiences both in the Land of Israel and in the exile have taught us this clear lesson. It would be foolhardy in the extreme to repeat these errors once more. Coming into our land carries with it the challenges of living in holiness and having a special rela -

Adopting foreign cultures and fads that are temporarily popular and extolled is not the way to fulfillment of our national interest and purpose.

By the grace of G-d, we are once again back in our lands. After seeing the words of the parsha, in all of its terror fulfilled, literally, decades ago, we have nevertheless restored our national sovereignty, built a wonderful country and an intriguing society, and are engaged in facing great challenges as to our future development here in the Land of Israel.

We would indeed be wise to remem-

tionship with our Creator. Our efforts should be concentrated in strengthening and broadening that relationship. It may be wise for us to discard the bathwater of the exile now that we have returned home. But we must preserve at all costs the “baby” – the Torah and its values – that has brought us home to the land that the L-rd has promised to us.

Shabbat shalom.

From the Fire

Parshas Ki Savo A Whole New World

By Rav Moshe Weinberger

Adapted for publication by

Binyomin Wolf

This parsha is all about beginnings. It starts (Devarim 26:1-3, 5-6), “And it will be when you come to the land that Hashem your G-d gives you as an inheritance and you take possession of it and dwell in it, you shall take from the first of the fruits of the ground... You shall come to the kohein... and you shall say... ‘An Aramean [attempted to] destroy my father, he went down to Egypt and dwelled there, few in number... And the Egyptians treated us cruelly and afflicted us...’”

Why, when we bring first fruits, bikkurim, must we rehash all of these ancient bad memories? Those first making this recitation after our conquest of the land would have just endured the suffering of fourteen years of the deprivation and trauma of war. After all of their recent pain and sacrifice, what is the point of reminding them of our people’s much older suffering?

A second question: Rashi (on ibid. 2), quoting the Mishnah (Bikkurim 3:1), explains the process for separating bikkurim. “A man descends into his field and sees a fig that has ripened. He wraps a reed around it as a sign and says, ‘Behold, this is bikkurim.’” Why do Chazal and Rashi focus on the fig as their paradigmatic example of bikkurim? There are six other species with which Eretz Yisroel is praised. According to most opinions, the fig was the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil eaten by Adam and Chava! Why would they choose that fruit specifically? Why do we have this repeated focus on bad memories from the past at the time of the joyous mitzvah of bringing our first fruits to the Beis HaMikdash?

Perhaps there is one simple message in all of this. No matter how many difficulties we have endured, no matter how bad the past was, no matter whether we have a reminder of the first sin sitting in our own field, Hashem is telling us that we still have

bikkurim – first fruits. We can make today the first day of an entirely new existence. And by “entirely new existence,” He means that today will not simply be a continuation from yesterday, but with certain improvements. It will be an entirely new existence.

Chazal say that “In the beginning” –i.e., the creation of the world itself, was in the merit of the mitzvah of bikkurim (Bereishis Rabbah 1:4) and in the merit of the Jewish people (Rashi on Bereishis 1:1). What is the nature of this connection between the Jewish people, first fruits, and the creation of the world, all of which are associated with the word “beginning”? Perhaps Hashem is trying to show us that the Jewish nation in general, and every single Jew in particular, have a wondrous ability to move beyond all of the mistakes, sins, pain, and suffering of the past and start again from the beginning.

25 Elul is the anniversary of the creation of the world. Rosh Hashana is “Yom Haras Olam ,” the anniversary of the creation of man. This is the time of new creation. It is no coincidence that Rosh Hashana is also called “The Day of Remembrance.” We want to call to mind the difficulty and suffering of the past year in order to remind ourselves that these very things will be turned around in the coming year. Hashem wants us to dip an apple in honey and say with simple faith, love, and optimism, “May it be Your will that this be a good, sweet year!” He wants us to know the exact nature of the pain and troubles which are being pushed into the past with the beginning of the brand-new year.

It is the same with bikkurim. That is why the one who brings them recalls the first sin that began all of our troubles, the suffering of Yaakov Avinu at the hands of Lavan, and our slavery and oppression in Egypt, as well as his own mistakes and suffering. The performance of the mitzvah,

standing in the Beis HaMikdash, and enjoying the blessings of Eretz Yisroel show the one bringing bikkurim that Hashem has given him the power to recreate himself. And learning this parsha reminds each of us that we all have the power to look at whatever mistakes we made before and say, “Behold, this is bikkurim!” and rejoice before Hashem with the knowledge that we are living in a whole new world unencumbered by the past.

We know we have this power because the seforim hakedoshim (Arizal, Ateres Rosh and others) teach that every new year is a brand-new reality which never existed before – with no connection to the past. Elul and Rosh Hashanah are the bridge, the pathway, to this new existence. The Maharal (Gevuros Hashem 51) says that the word for year, shana, is from the same root as the word for change, shinui, because every new year offers the opportunity for a complete change from what existed in the past. And Rav Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, zt”l, the Ramchal, says (Derech Hashem 4:8), “On this day [Rosh Hashana], He renews the entirety of reality with the changing of the month, i.e., the new year.” Our whole effort as we cry out, “The King!” on Rosh Hashana is to ask Hashem to create this new beginning again for us in the coming year. This, along with the mitzvah of bikkurim, is the source of our ability to start again, to renew ourselves.

The last public address ever given by Rav Gedaliah Schorr, zt”l, the rosh yeshiva of Torah Vodaath, was at the sheva brachos of a close student several days before the he passed on into the next world. Because Rav Schorr was very ill, his family begged him not to attend, but he insisted. They brought him in a wheelchair, and, with every bit of

strength he could muster, the rosh yeshiva told the bride and groom, and everyone else present, the following:

There is a custom to give the bride and groom a gift at their wedding. We know that Hashem observes the Torah just as we do on earth. So what is Hashem’s gift to the bride and groom? If it comes from the infinite G-d, the gift must be the most perfect gift in the world. And what is this most perfect gift? What is the most valuable thing a bride and groom and receive? This gift is forgiveness. The husband’s ability to forever his wife and a wife’s ability to forgive her husband. No other commodity is more precious in a marriage than forgiveness.

Forgiveness comes from one’s ability to tap into the power of Rosh Hashana, the power of bikkurim. It means recognizing that one can put the mistakes and pain of the past, whether self-inflicted or endured because of another person, and start again from scratch.

May Hashem grant us the ability to connect to the power Hashem has given us to renew ourselves. May we merit to remember that nothing that came before can drag us down or hold us back because they existed only in a previous world. In the world Hashem creates this coming year, those things never happened.

May we merit to journey together into this new world and in this new year to Yerushalayim with Moshiach, where we can physically bring bikkurim to the rebuilt Beis HaMikdash, may we see it soon in our days.

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

Delving into the Daf

A Standout Moment

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

It was an electric moment. The 50th Anniversary Dinner for Yeshiva Darchei Torah was already underway, but a buzz suddenly rippled through the room: HaRav Reuven Feinstein, shlita, had just arrived. Accompanied by Naftali Solomon, he made his way toward the dais. The band struck up appropriate music to welcome the distinguished guest, and the crowd broke into song. The videographer wisely focused on his entrance, projecting it on all the screens. But there was something else on those screens that caught everyone’s eye besides the venerable gadol…

To properly appreciate what they saw, some background is necessary.

A new student once walked into the beis midrash of Novardok for the very first time. He heard the students chanting together: “I am a nothing, I am a nothing.” Wanting to join in, he sat down, opened a sefer, and proclaimed:

“I am a nothing, I am a nothing!”

One of the older Novardokers looked at him and quipped: “Chutzpah! He just arrived, and already he declares he’s a nothing!”

This classic joke highlights a common misunderstanding of what Novardok truly represented. The stories are well known: students entering a hardware store to ask for cheese or walking into a bakery to request nails; others deliberately wore their clothing inside-out. My great-uncle, who studied in Novardok, confirmed that these stories were real. Someone once recalled that their grandmother, raised in a Novardok home, even carried a raw fish through Times Square. (One wonders if that would even raise an eyebrow today…)

The popular assumption is that these behaviors were simply exercises in humility. But in truth, Novardok’s mission ran far deeper.

The roots lie in a striking halacha from

the very first Mishnah in Horiyos. The Mishnah discusses what happens when the Sanhedrin issues an erroneous ruling. Those who follow the mistaken ruling are exempt from liability. But if someone knows the ruling is wrong, he cannot excuse himself by saying, “I only followed what the Sanhedrin said.” This holds true even if he is too unlearned to rule on his own. If he studied the sugya and concluded that the ruling was mistaken, he is forbidden to rely on the Sanhedrin’s psak. Should he do so, he bears full responsibility.

The Rashash raises the obvious question: how can this be? The Torah explicitly commands, “Be careful to do as Hashem has commanded you. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left.” Chazal explain this to mean that even if the Sanhedrin tells you right is left and left is right, you must obey them. How, then, can the Mishnah obligate an individual to resist their ruling?

The Rashash answers: such a person must go directly to the Sanhedrin and present his case. He must explain what he learned, share his reasoning, and show them where he believes their ruling is mistaken. Imagine – a young man of twenty, still wet behind the ears, standing before seventy-one of the greatest sages of the generation and declaring: “Rabbosai, I believe you are wrong.” It takes extraordinary audacity. Yet the Torah demands it. If, after hearing him out, the Sanhedrin maintains their ruling, he must accept it. But if he remains silent and simply follows them, and their ruling later proves erroneous, he is held responsible.

This is the awesome responsibility of every Jew: not to hide in the comfort of the crowd. Even if all of Klal Yisrael follows the court’s ruling, if one individual knows – through his rebbe or his own learning –that it is wrong, he must resist. He must step forward against the tide, confront au-

thority, and stand alone if necessary.

This, in essence, was Novardok’s mission. They believed that the greatest stumbling block in avodas Hashem is the fear of public opinion. People shrink from being the odd man out. They crave acceptance, and that craving leads them to compromise their convictions. The Novardokers trained themselves to be utterly indifferent to the comments, stares, and laughter of others. Whether by asking for nails in a bakery or by wearing their clothes inside-out, they were not practicing silliness for its own sake. They were forging spiritual steel – the ability to go against the world when truth demanded it.

True Novardok was never about making yourself into “nothing.” On the contrary, it was about becoming something so solid that ridicule, scorn, or the pull of the crowd no longer held sway. Their exercises were not meant to crush the self, but to free it – to create people who could stand firm in avodas Hashem even when the entire world thought otherwise.

Still, there were other great Mussar yeshivos, such as Slabodka. Why didn’t their students conduct themselves in the same way? Slabodka believed the strongest path to avoid sin and advance in avodas Hashem was to strengthen one’s knowledge in Gadlus HaAdam. If a person truly understood his tremendous self-worth, he would declare, “I am created in the image of G-d! It is beneath me to commit this lowly aveira.” Wearing inside-out clothing might strengthen one against ridicule, but it could

also undermine his sense of dignity. Would a prince walk around with his clothing reversed? Would a president act like a fool? While there was something to be gained by Novardok’s methods, Slabodka felt the price was too high: it risked eroding the exalted view of man that was central to their philosophy.

Still, is there a path that can satisfy both schools of thought?

Enter Naftali Solomon. With the entire audience watching the large screens, everyone saw Rav Reuven Feinstein, shlita, surrounded by a sea of black as he made his way to the dais where the honorees sat. But then, a lone figure stood out – a man in an electric blue suit. Its brightness could nearly blind the eyes. He wore stylish, fashionable clothing that in no way diminished his dignity. Indeed, like the well-dressed students of Slabodka, he was sharply turned out. Yet, at the same time, he stood out from the crowd – and he didn’t care one iota.

In that moment, he embodied both schools of Mussar: Slabodka’s emphasis on human dignity and Novardok’s fearless indifference to public opinion.

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.

Naftali Solomon with Rav Reuven, shlita, quite a number of years ago

Headlines Halacha

May One Use Zip Stitch on Shabbos?

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

It is almost Sukkos, so join me for a thought adventure, if you will. Imagine for a moment that a Sukkos zip tie (or a few of them) got married to a Band-aid or two. What would happen, and can you use it on Shabbos?

Well, you don’t have to imagine any further because they are already in existence.

Zip Stitch and ZZip are new medical devices that many doctors and rabbanim have never heard of. These “zipper” devices are a completely different way to close wounds after surgery or injury. Instead of using needles and thread like regular stitches, these devices work like medical tape that sticks to the skin on both sides of a cut. They are sterile (completely clean), adjustable, and use a special adhesive that sticks well to skin. The device pulls the edges of the wound together evenly without ever piercing the skin with needles.

Shockingly enough, a major medical study published in 2020 looked at eight different research studies that included 1,207 patients. The results showed that zipper devices are actually better than regular stitches in several important ways: 37% fewer infections: Patients who got zipper devices instead of stitches had much fewer wound infections

Much faster to apply: Doctors could close wounds much quicker with zippers than with stitches

Better-looking scars : The wounds healed with nicer-looking scars when zippers were used

Why do these devices work better? The study explained that regular stitches create tiny holes in the skin where bacteria can get in and cause infections. The zipper devices do not make any holes; they just stick to the top of the skin. Additionally, because no needles are used, there’s less trauma to the tissue, which helps with

healing and makes for better scars.

The Halachic Problem with Regular Stitches on Shabbos

When doctors need to stitch wounds on Shabbos, there are two main halachic issues:

Sewing (Tofair): Stitching might be considered a type of sewing, which is forbidden work on Shabbos.

Tying knots (Koshair): Each stitch requires tying a knot, and this creates questions about forbidden knot-tying.

The big machlokes regarding the matter is whether the knots in stitches are considered permanent knots (Kesher Shel Kayama) or temporary ones. The Nishmas Avraham (Siman 317) brings two major opinions:

Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l, ruled that it is permitted to suture on Shabbos because the stitches will eventually be cut and removed, making them temporary. Rav Elyashiv, zt”l, ruled that it is forbidden because even though the thread gets cut, the actual knot stays intact, making it a permanent knot

The Sefer Minchas Ish (30:62) suggests using staples first, if possible, then switching to stitches after Shabbos. But if that’s not practical, you can rely on the lenient opinions and stitch on Shabbos.

What About Dissolving Stitches?

Some stitches are made from material that dissolves in the body over time. You might think these would be better for Shabbos since they disappear. But Rav Nissim Karelitz, zt”l, (in his Chut Shani, Shabbos 34, page 220) argued that even dissolving stitches create permanent knots because the knots stay tied for the entire

life of the thread. He brings a proof from the Mishnah Brurah (317:34) who writes that if someone ties a belt to their pants and does not plan to remove it until it wears out, that is considered a Kesher Shel Kayama, a permanent knot.

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, shlita, in his (Chashukei Chemed, Shabbos 157b) disagrees. He points to a debate between early rabbinical authorities (Rishonim). The Ra’avad (Hasagos on Rambam Hilchos Shabbos 10:3) says that tying a knot in a wet reed is not a permanent knot because it will fall apart when the reed dries. This suggests that dissolving stitches might be permitted since they will eventually break down.

Bandages and Restraints

For bandages, the rules are as follows:

• If the knot will be untied soon, it’s temporary and allowed.

• Avoid double knots, as the Rema (317:1) considers them too permanent.

• Use a single knot with a bow, which is definitely temporary

• For sick people, you can even use loose double knots since we often allow d’Rabbanan, rabbinical prohibitions, for medical needs

The Shemiras Shabbos k’Hilchasa (35:23) says bandages that get undone daily can use a loose double knot.

Why This Author Thinks Zip

Stitch Would Be Permitted

Of course, one should consult with his own rav or posek, but based on the above, this author believes Zip Stitch and ZZip devices would likely be permitted on Shabbos for several reasons:

1. No knots at all: These devices completely eliminate the Kosheir (knot-tying) concern since they use sticky strips instead of tied knots.

2. No needle holes: Since there’s no piercing of the skin, this may avoid certain aspects of the Tofair (sewing) prohibition.

3. Clearly temporary : Like bandages, these devices are designed to be removed after healing, making them obviously temporary.

4. Better medical results:Since the research shows these devices reduce infections and heal better, they may actually be preferable from a pikuach nefesh (saving life) perspective.

And it is for a choleh. But remember the warning: Don’t cut off the excess part of the zip tie until after Shabbos.

While the Minchas Ish suggests using staples when possible, the non-invasive nature of zipper devices and their superior medical outcomes suggest they may be a far better solution for Shabbos wound closure – providing excellent medical care while potentially avoiding the halachic complications entirely.

As always with medical questions involving halacha, consult both with your rav or posek and your doctor.

This author would further recommend having some on hand in case of emergencies. They cost about ten dollars or so. Don’t forget, however, to clean the wound, too. But definitely do consult with your doctor.

Israel Today The Wallet

By Rafi Sackville

Ramya has been with us for almost half a year, though honestly, at this point it feels like she runs the household and I just rent space in it. She came to Israel from Sri Lanka with nothing but her suitcase, her courage, and the kind of determination that makes you feel guilty about your own life choices. Back home, she left behind her children, the tropical hills, and the comforting smell of curry wafting through the air – basically everything she loves. And she did it so her young daughter could go to school.

And to think I get stressed when I get caught in a traffic jam.

In Jerusalem, she’s built a new rhythm. She lives behind Machine Yehuda market. In the morning, she walks to Zalman Shazar Blvd from where she takes Bus 15 to us. She looks after my wife with a warmth that makes our home feel lighter, as if she sneaks in a bit of Sri Lankan sunshine every morning along with her bag. She’s gentle, polite, and utterly reliable. Truth be told, I’m getting a little tired of eating curry and rice, but when Keren turns on the gas-top flame for Ramya to cook, I’m not going to say no.

But what impresses me most is’’t her caregiving – it ’s her honesty. Because honesty, I’ve discovered, is not just “telling the truth.” It ’s also about returning things you find, even when those things might contain enough cash for hundreds of curry and rice dishes.

One morning, Ramya walked in holding a wallet.

“I found this,” she said, as casually as if she were telling me she ’d bought Sri Lankan spice from the International food store at the top of Agripas Road. No drama. Just a wallet.

“Where?” I asked, already bracing

myself for a detective story.

“Gan Sacher,” she replied.

Of course. Gan Sacher – the grand park of Jerusalem. Families picnic there, joggers torture themselves around its paths, and teenagers pretend they’re studying on the grass while really scrolling TikTok. Ramya has a large group of friends who all work in similar fields as hers. They often congregate there on Saturdays, where they make barbecues and dance to music from their homeland.

I opened the wallet. Inside was cash, a few cards, and – jackpot – an identity card. The owner ’s name: Yoel Amedi. His address? Not far from the park. I patted myself on the back. This was going to be easy.

Later that day, I met one of my oldest friends for coffee on Emek Refaim.

I told him the story. He smirked. “I don ’t doubt Ramya ’s honesty,” he said. “I doubt your eyesight. Did you actually look properly?”

I bristled. “Of course I looked! Thoroughly!”

Without asking, he grabbed the wallet, fished around for three seconds, and pulled out a dentist’s business card.

”See? Call the dentist. Mystery solved.”

I hated that he was right. I phoned. The dentist answered mid-surgery, probably with someone’s molar halfway out. She promised to call back. Great. So now I was carrying a stranger’s wallet while a dentist had my number.

Not wanting to waste time, I headed across the city. Past the golden walls of the Khan Theater, I caught a bus. The bus lumbered past Liberty Bell Park, where we used to take our kids roller skating back in the late ’80s.

Just then, my phone rang. An un -

familiar number. Probably the dentist. I answered, trying to sound professional.

Instead, an animated female voice nearly burst through the phone: Yoel’s wife. She was practically hyperventilating with joy. I explained I was on the way to deliver the wallet. She told me they were already headed to the Ministry of the Interior to replace the ID. Bureaucracy was about to win, but I was determined to beat it.

solve. Within 10 minutes, a young boy was knocking at our door thanking me for finding his card.

I jumped off the bus at Jaffa and King George, Jerusalem’s chaotic intersection where everyone looks lost but insists they know exactly where they ’ re going. And there, in the middle of the crowd, I saw him. Yoel himself. I recognized him instantly – not because I’m Sherlock Holmes, but because I’d seen his ID photo.

The handoff was quite emotional. He shed tears of joy. He thanked me warmly. His wife said that she had a feeling that today was going to be the day a stranger returned the wallet.

But the real hero wasn’t me. It was Ramya. She could have ignored the wallet. She could have pocketed it. Instead, she brought it to me without a second thought.

My wife and Ramya were out walking when I got home. As soon as they were through the door, I showed them the photo. All my wife Keren could do was laugh.

“Ramya’s been at it again,” she said. Ramya instantly handed me a bus card she’d found outside.

Woohoo! Another detective case to

Jerusalem is full of drama – ancient walls, holy sites. But the truest beauty is in the small, quiet acts: a wallet returned, a caregiver making curry (again).

Ramya reminds me of that every day. She cares for my wife with the same honesty and respect she showed to the wallet she found. She left her own children an ocean away, and yet she still finds the strength to mother us all in her own way.

And so, whenever I think of the Great Wallet Caper, I don ’t remember my friend ’s smug grin or the dentist who probably still has my number. I remember Ramya, strolling through Gan Sacher, spotting the wallet in the grass and picking it up with the calm certainty that honesty is never negotiable. If Jerusalem had more people like her, we wouldn’t just be the Holy City – we ’d be the Lost-and-Found Capital of the World. Then again, maybe we are.

Rafi Sackville, formerly from Cedarhurst, teaches in a prominent yeshiva in Yerushalayim.

Rafi with Yoel -- and the lost wallet

Tarticle is a continuation of my previous article covering the many trips that Pesi and I took to the cities and towns located near the Hudson River. Some were day trips, while others included an overnight stay. From the riverbanks of these towns and from the gardens of the nearby stately mansions, the Hudson was always charmingly visible. This I am writing about the places that we traveled to in alphabetical order and hope to pique the interest of my read-

The Wandering Jew

Hudson River Travels Part II

By Hershel Lieber

ers to the diverse delights that can be enjoyed along the way.

BEACON

Both Pesi and I are not generally hikers. We would have liked to be more physically active and it would definitely be a heathier way of living, but we are more walkers than hikers. Nevertheless, in October of 2010, we took a trip to Mount Beacon which, at over 1,600 feet, is the highest peak in the Hudson Highlands

and hiked up to its summit. The hike is considered challenging due to its steep and rocky sections, but we did it in just over an hour. The views from above the Hudson and the surrounding valleys were breathtaking.

We sat on a large rock at the edge of the peak with our feet dangling from above while relishing the landscape below. Surprisingly, the trip down was more difficult, but we picked up some sturdy branches to help us navigate our descent.

HUDSON

In July of 2009, we spent a rather overcast day at Blythewood Garden. It did not matter, as the beauty that surrounded us well compensated for the light drizzle that was falling. In fact, the rain added an element of mood and attraction to our visit. The Garden is small, yet intimate with a grand backdrop of the Hudson River and the Catskill Mountains.

In October of 2010, we had an unexpected treat when we toured the Olana

Climbing Mount Beacon in 2010

Our son Mechel with daughter Tzipi on the Hudson River cruise from Kingston in 2009

Overlooking the Hudson from Mount Beacon in 2010

State Historic Site. Both of us have a keen interest in art. My mother, a”h, was a renowned artist, and Pesi is very talented in that capacity as well. Olana was the home of Frederic Edwin Church, one of the major figures of the Hudson River School of landscape paintings. The villa is an eclectic collection of artifacts as well as paintings which he acquired over a span of forty years of global journeys. Of course, many of Church’s landscapes are on display. The house is intricately stenciled inside and out based on his Middle East travels. Church’s artist studio was

education that opens the door to a career in food preparation and operating a restaurant. They gave a one-hour tour which brought us to the backstage of ongoing classes in cooking, baking and food preparation. Food presentation is a major part of the education that students learn to master, and watching the classes and the students experimenting with all aspects of this instruction was nothing short of fascinating.

also left intact. In their gift shop, they had items from around the world. In fact, we found a beaded placemat from India which we bought and converted to a challah cover which we still love and use weekly.

HYDE PARK

One of our most enjoyable outings was our trip to Culinary Institute of America in October of 2010. At this college, one can obtain a first class culinary

teresting facts and humor. We followed this cruise with a visit to the Forsyth Nature Center, a perfect place for children with animal exhibits, gardens and ponds and a well-equipped playground.

POUGHKEEPSIE

KATONA

Sixteen years after we were first introduced to Caramoor, we returned in July of 2008. This 90-acre estate with an art-filled Mediterranean-style villa is the site for weekly summer concerts featuring a variety of music concerts with musicians and/or singers. We love classical music as well as folk music and chose a concert that satisfied our tastes. I do not remember the name of the string quartet group that performed that night, but we walked away very pleased and were gratified that we came.

In July of 2009, we visited the county seat of Dutchess County. The city was historically a hub for industry, like brewing, shipping and paper mills. The neglected downtown was in the process of gentrification with the main focus on the newly opened Walkway Over the Hudson. This old bridge spanning the Hudson was built in 1889 as a railway connecting the east and west sides of the river. It was reopened as a pedestrian walkway just before we arrived. Walking over the span with its spectacular panoramic view was the highlight of our trip.

In June of 2012, we toured John Jay Homestead. This was the home of Founding Father and statesman John Jay, one the authors of the Federalist Papers and the first Chief Justice of the United States. The edifice is not that large but has very important artifacts and period furniture.

KINGSTON

In August of 2009, we took a Hudson River Sightseeing Cruise from Kingston up and down the Hudson River. Our children, Mechel and Leah Lieber, joined us with their three-year-old daughter Tzippi. This ninety-minute cruise highlighted many of the towns, cities and estates along the river. The informative guide was quite knowledgeable and presented the history of this region with lots of in-

Kykuit. This was the estate of four generations of the Rockefellers. The first one was the noted philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, the founder of Standard Oil. In his day, he was the richest man in America. The beautiful mansion, the terraced gardens with its fountains, the numerous sculptures, and the panoramic views of the Hudson River are truly unparalleled. The main floors of the villa feature period furnishings, Chinese ceramics, and family portraits. The basement has a modern art gallery with famous paintings by Picasso, Warhol, and others.

YONKERS

After an eleven-year absence from trips along the Hudson, we returned for a visit in August of 2024. We have passed Yonkers many times when we went upstate for the summer, but never thought we would find anything of interest there. We were dead wrong. We

During the same trip, we visited the Locust Grove Estate. This historic Italianate mansion sits on 200 acres of landscaped grounds. The building was designed for Samuel F.B. Morse, the inventor of the Morse Code used for telegraph communication. There is also a museum with thousands of pieces of fine and decorative art.

In August of 2013, our children, Mechel and Leah Lieber, joined us with their children to the Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum. The museum is strictly geared for children with a variety of science-based exhibits, toys and a play area. In reality, it was a bit disappointing with few attractions that would intrigue most children.

SLEEPY HOLLOW

One of our most enjoyable tours was in July of 2008 when we visited and toured

discovered Untermeyer Gardens, a gem of a landscape just north of New York City. This garden is a remnant of Samuel Untermeyer’s estate rising from the eastern bank of the Hudson. The inspiration of this Walled Garden was ancient Indo-Persian gardens. A small Grecian-style amphitheater with two opposing sphinxes and Ionic columns are just some of the unusual features that this garden possesses. We spent almost two hours oohing and aahing at the serene beauty that met our eyes.

We have seen and experienced much of the sights adjoining the Hudson River, yet I am sure that there others that we haven’t discovered. I invite my readers to respond with other suggestions so that we can continue to travel and enjoy the pleasures that are offered along the glorious Hudson.

and develop rela-

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

Overlooking the Hudson at the Locust Grove Estate in Poughkeepsie, 2009 (note the railroad tracks of Metro North)

Challah cover we made from gift shop item in Olona

Elaborate details at Olana State Historic Site in Hudson, 2010

John Jay Homestead in Katonah, 2012

The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, 2010

Hershel Lieber has been involved in kiruv activities for over 30 years. As a founding member of the Vaad L’Hatzolas Nidchei Yisroel he has traveled with his wife, Pesi, to the Soviet Union during the harsh years of the Communist regimes to advance Yiddishkeit. He has spearheaded a yeshiva in the city of Kishinev that had 12 successful years with many students making Torah their way of life. In Poland, he lectured in the summers at the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation camp for nearly 30 years. He still travels to Warsaw every year – since 1979 – to be the chazzan for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur for the Jews there. Together with Pesi, he organized and led trips to Europe on behalf of Gateways and Aish Hatorah for college students finding their paths to Jewish identity. His passion for travel has taken them to many interesting places and afforded them unique experiences. Their open home gave them opportunities to meet

tionships

Kykuit, the Rockefeller Mansion in Sleepy Hollow

A LIfe of KIndness & ConneCTIon

RemembeR ing Racheli n isanov, a”h

b y eliyahu Rosenberg

ITwas one of the last moments Rebbetzin Ora Nisanov shared with her 13-year-old daughter, Racheli. And it was also one of their most tender experiences together. On the morning of their jet ski trip, Racheli asked her mother to make her a braid.

“Of course, I’ll make you a braid,” her mother replied.

There, the mother and daughter stood together quietly, with Ora gently brushing Racheli’s hair. “No bumps, please,” the young girl said. Then, her mother separated three strands and lovingly twisted them into what Ora calls “the best braid ever.”

“My daughter was very beautiful, inside and out. She had long, beautiful, thick hair. And I was so happy that Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave me the opportunity to brush her hair, pull out three strands, and make a very special braid for her,” Rebbetzin Ora Nisanov says. “She saw how much I was doing it with love. And we just had a connection that I never experienced with her before.”

In a photograph taken later that day — shortly before the jet ski accident that tragically took Racheli’s life — the young girl can be seen with her older sister Aviva, wearing that same braid, loosened up and tossed to the side. “That’s the last picture we took of them together,” Rebbetzin Nisanov says.

A few days after the tragedy, Ora’s daughter-in-law

shared an insight about the braid during shiva.

“Mommy, I have to tell you something about the braid,” her daughter-in-law said. “Did you know that Hashem made Chava a braid before He showed her to Adam at Creation, to beautify her?”

“Hashem very much wanted to beautify Chava,” Rebbetzin Nisanov explains. “And I felt like, now, Hashem gave me the opportunity to beautify my daughter before she goes to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. And the fact that it happened in the water — I felt like she was dipped into the mikvah, purely, and then kissed up to Hakadosh Baruch Hu — in beauty, with her braid.”

Racheli’s parents, Rabbi Shlomo and Rebbetzin Ora Nisanov, are the rav and rebbetzin of Kehillat Sephardim of Ahavat Achim in Queens and have eight children.

“We have a very busy lifestyle. People come in and out. And we have a very open home, open door policy,” the rebbetzin shares.

But during their short vacation in Boca, Florida, the environment was very different. The couple and their two daughters stayed at the beautiful home of a family friend, enjoying a sense of tranquility that they rarely encountered in their day-to-day lives.

“There was a lake in the back of their home. And I was happy that I was able to give that opportunity to my daughter to enjoy that serenity and peace — because

that’s what she resembled,” Rebbetzin Nisanov recalls.

“She loved tranquility, she loved peace. Any time her siblings would argue, she would run to the back and start crying. She didn’t like conflict. She actually promoted peace; she promoted them to be happier together. Her living essence was all about making everyone happy and finding peace in the world. She was always sweet, soft, quiet, gentle, just knowing her place. She never gave me a hard time. She was just a good kid.”

When it was just the two of them alone, late at night, Ora and Racheli, her youngest child, would sit together, drink tea, and talk about life.

“She was my fashion designer, and she was my confidant,” Rebbetzin Nisanov says. “We would talk about any struggles I had. You would think, why would I talk to my 13-year-old? What does she know? But she was the one I could talk to. And she would give me proper hadracha, like, to the next level.”

Racheli had a rare love for life. She loved dancing, music, and laughing with her friends. She knew how to make even the most mundane tasks fun, taking before and after pictures and recording time-lapse videos when she would empty out the dishwasher, prepare the Shabbos candles, and clean up the house. Along with her sister-in-law, she worked with kids during the summer and came up with her own little ways to bring them joy, including giving them special snacks.

“In class, she was called ‘Rebbetzin Rach,’ because she was the one who, for example, reminded them to daven Mincha,” her mother shares. “When a girl didn’t

get into the high school that some of them got into, Racheli said, ‘OK, we have to do something. Let’s not listen to non-Jewish music, and it should be in that zechus that she should get into the yeshiva.’”

Just a month before she passed away, Racheli committed to a self-improvement contract, which was a list of physical and spiritual goals she sought to accomplish in 30 days. But she was so humble that she never even told her parents about it. She was, in her father’s words, “an influencer without the social media.”

Racheli had one device: an iPad with a filter that she would use to FaceTime her friends.

“I would hear her, in her room, laughing with her friends and making cute jokes. That was just her essence: connecting,” her mother says.

Whereas technology disconnects many people from the world, she used technology only to cultivate her friendships. She was always present with her friends and family. In fact, Racheli inspired one of her babysitters to refrain from texting on the job. “Her presence next to me when I was once texting made me realize that it’s not nice to text with kids around,” her former babysitter recalls. “This spurred my growth in the area and, now, I don’t even have texting on my phone anymore!”

“Rachel, a”h, was a mevakeshet,” one of her teachers shares. “She didn’t keep the inspiration for herself. She shared it with others.”

Her science teacher remembers her as a “quiet leader in the classroom” and a “source of joy and positivity” who got along with everyone.

“Rachel was someone who made me a better teacher, a better parent, and a better person, as a whole,” another teacher of hers recalls. “The one word that sums up who Rachel was is ‘growing.’ I don’t mean that she wasn’t already a special person. All you needed to do was watch the way she interacted with others for five minutes in order to see that her middos far exceeded what you would expect from a typical eighth grade student.

“But she was never satisfied with where she was. She wasn’t afraid to do things differently from others if she felt it was necessary for her personal growth. She really understood that we are here for a reason. It is our loss that her time here was so brief.”

Her mother notes that Racheli rarely spoke about the future. Rather, the young girl was always hyper-focused on the present moment. She had a poster on her bedroom wall that read, “Don’t count the days. Make the days count.”

In fact, the one time she spoke about the future was when she made the out-of-theblue declaration –just a week or two before her

passing — that she wanted to marry a talmid chacham. She also often spoke about her yearning for Moshiach. She felt an intense connection to her grandfather, whom she never met, and desperately wanted the geulah to come so that she could have the privilege of meeting him.

“She passed a week before his yahrtzeit,” Rebbetzin Nisanov says. “And now, she’s with him in a better place.”

Through their unbearable loss, Racheli’s bereaved parents choose to see the nishikot — the little kisses from Hashem — in their tragedy. While trying to save Racheli and Aviva from the water, their father got an awful cut on his hand.

“The paramedics saw and said, ‘You better take care

of your hand. I know that this is the last thing on your mind, but you have to take care of it, because it could get infected from the seawater,’” Rebbetzin Nisanov recalls. She sees that as a chessed because, while waiting to hear about what happened to their daughters in the hospital, they were distracted getting his stitches done. It kept them busy for an hour — an hour that, if spent idly, would have otherwise been unbearable.

“While we were waiting by the hospital, there was a Chabad couple who came to give us support,” Rebbetzin Nisanov shares. “And the rebbetzin’s name was also Rachel. And I remember holding her and feeling like Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave me what I needed at that moment: to hold another woman named Rachel. And that was also a nechama for me.”

The lead-up to the tragedy was also filled with little moments that now mean so much to Racheli’s parents. Right before leaving for the trip, Racheli turned to her mother and asked, “Mommy, can I sit

in the front seat?”

Though Racheli’s mother or 16-year-old sister would typically sit in the front, Rebbetzin Nisanov nevertheless said, “Of course, you could sit in the front.”

“My older daughter made some food, and we basically gave the job to Racheli to feed Abba in the front seat while he was driving. So, we gave her a napkin with chicken nuggets and sweet potato fries,” Ora Nisanov recounts. “And I was just so thankful that Hakadosh Baruch Hu gave us the opportunity to allow Rachel to do kibbud av v’eim in such a special way. She didn’t put up a fight of, ‘Oh, why do I have to feed him?’ She was just happily feeding him. But that’s Racheli. She was born with such a chein.”

The night before the tragic accident, her parents got her sushi and a special drink with two cherries on top — specially for her.

“I was just so happy that I was able to give her that sense of, ‘Wow, I’m actually getting things I want,’” her mother shares. “And a week before our trip, we were thinking of doing some renovations in our home, and Racheli asked my husband, ‘Abba, can we do something in my room?’”

“What do you want done?” Racheli’s father asked her.

“I want to reface these cabinets,” she said, pointing to the yellow, oakwood cabinets in her bedroom.

The refacing was finished one day before the trip.

“That morning, he refaced the cabinets. And now it has this white refacing, and I felt like the Shechina was in her room. For one night, she got to sleep in that room with the refaced cabinets,” Rebbetzin Nisanov says. “She said, ‘I don’t know what hit Abba in the head to do this.’ And we didn’t fix anything else in the house but her room. And that was something that we were very happy we gave her.”

Perhaps most comforting of all for the grieving parents was the nechama that came after Racheli’s passing.

“We never imagined that my daughter would be buried in Eretz Yisrael. First of all, my husband’s passport was three months away from expiring. If you want to travel to Israel, you need a passport that’s good within six months. So, the fact that we had a passport in Florida with us, and he was able to get an appointment for a rush passport, go the very next morning to get his passport, get Hatzalah Air to fly Racheli’s body to New York and to Israel, and back before Shabbos to New York was a miracle in it of its own,” Rebbetzin Nisanov declares. “So, all these nissim, I know, are because of her zechusim. It wouldn’t have happened with anybody else.”

Thirteen-year-old Racheli tragically left this world just a short month ago. Her funeral, which was attended by thousands of people, was on August 13. Her shloshim is this Thursday, September 11.

“She was mevater even her own life for her own sister to live, which didn’t make sense at all because my older daughter was the one in front on the jet ski, and you would think that the impact would hit her. But my younger daughter took the bullet, and she was mevater,” Racheli’s mother says. “Now, people are tak-

Racheli with her sister Aviva on erev Shabbos in Florida

ing on so many things l’lui nishmas Racheli and in the zechus for a refuah sheleima for my other daughter, Aviva Bracha bas Ora. It’s like a gadol hador just passed away. The funeral was unusually huge. And even people who didn’t know her just felt this real connection.”

Racheli was very close to her only sister, Aviva, who miraculously survived the accident but sustained injuries, required surgery, and still needs physical therapy and a complete refuah sheleima. Racheli, who was almost 14, was about to join the same high school as Aviva.

“She was so excited. They were going to do everything together: walk to school together, buy school supplies together, and take videos together. They would always be together,” Rebbetzin Nisanov shares. “And now she sees what happened to her sister, and she very much believes that this was already predestined at Rosh Hashanah last year, that Racheli’s life was going to be taken. And Aviva’s very, very sad about it. But I really applaud her for her strength. She’s just really, unbelievably positive, and I’m very proud of her.”

Racheli also connected to her six brothers, each in a unique way. A month or two before her passing, her 17-year-old brother wrote her an apology letter for something he did that upset her. After that, they started really connecting. Before he went away to summer camp in July, Racheli gave him what he calls “the best hug ever.” A few months ago, her relationship with her 30-year-old brother, Yona, the oldest in her family, also began to flourish. “He was so happy that he had that time to connect to her before she left him,” their mother explains.

“And even though she’s not here and we’re missing her, I see the chassadim , even after her petira — there have been so many engagements, brisim, blessings in our family that are, like, to the next level,” Rebbetzin Nisanov adds. “There’s clarity. My son, who wasn’t so happy in the high school he was in, all of a sudden goes

“HeR LIvIng essenCe wAs ALL AbouT mAKIng eveRyone HAppy And fIndIng peACe In THe woRLd.”

to school now, and he’s like, ‘Mommy, I feel like the school changed. I feel like Rachel’s davening for me. I actually like it now.’ We’re seeing so many brachos.”

Ora Nisanov attributes her ability to see the good in her life despite her challenges to her upbringing and life experiences. When she was five, her and her future husband’s families immigrated from Uzbekistan, in the former Soviet Union, to the United States. Five years later, her family moved from Cincinnati, Ohio, to New York. The lessons she learned along the way,

including while becoming a marriage coach through Marriage Secrets, have strengthened her emunah tremendously.

“I realize that if Hashem put me in this situation, there must be a reason, and I must be strong enough to handle this nisayon,” she declares.

Racheli was, in her mother’s words, an “old soul.” She did things that no 13-year-old does. While packing for the jet ski trip, Racheli wrote a list of everything she wanted to take along with her. The list started with “B’siyata Dishmaya,” followed by the word “list” with an exclamation mark. And then, the first thing she wrote was, “Don’t forget Racheli.”

Then, she wrote out a list of your run-of-the-mill necessities: jewelry, chargers, phone, headphones, toothbrush, shoes, siddur, Tehillim, sweater, notebook, pen, money, among other items. Everything was checked off, except for the last line. On the very bottom of the list, Racheli wrote the following: “Hashem, everything is going to be okay, right?”

And then she signed: “I think so.

“Racheli.”

IR’ Yoni Fischer To Walk Together in Darkness

By Eliyahu RosEnBERg

s there such a thing as a “bad” child? Is there something wrong with a kid who misbehaves all the time? Are some children just selfish?

A few hundred years ago, the Rizhiner, Rabbi Yisroel of Rizhin, answered those three questions with a famous parable: Imagine a diamond covered in grime. It looks awful — so filthy that you could barely see it sparkle. But pick up the gem, scrub it, shine it, and place it in a beautiful case with other diamonds, and suddenly, it’s gorgeous. So, too, with every Jew: A Jew may be in the wrong environment, they may have sinned, they may have struggles — but all that dirt is only skin deep. Beneath it all, every Jew

In His Words…

shines. They just need to be in the right setting. And, as Rabbi Yoni Fischer explains, the same applies to children.

“The reason children don’t shine is because they’re not in the right environment. They don’t have the right teacher, they don’t have the right friends, they don’t have the right school system. They’re beautiful!” Rabbi Fischer exclaims. “No kid is wild — kids have energy, kids have excitement. A kid just wants to be himself. He wants to be heard, he wants to be listened to. No kid is evil or wrong. It’s the system he’s in that’s the problem.”

According to Rabbi Ronnie Greenwald, z”l, the reason so many kids go off

in our house, we don’t use the words, ‘charedi,’ ‘Modern orthodox,’ ‘chiloni,’ ‘secular.’ We don’t label. a Jew is a Jew.

The lubavitcher Rebbe had an amazing quote. he said, ‘ l eaders create followers. great leaders create leaders.’

Everyone says, ‘Be the best you.’ i don’t like that. Don’t be the best you. Just be you.

one of my favorite quotes is, ‘ it’s better to walk with someone in darkness than to be alone in the light.’ We have to be there for each other in the darkness, in our pain.

the derech is because the derech is too narrow. For many young adults, it’s like walking a tightrope — one wrong move and they tumble to the ground. To them, being frum feels like all or nothing, as if they must choose between Judaism and freedom.

So, when the derech becomes too narrow, what could you do? It’s simple. According to Rabbi Fischer: “You gotta widen the derech.”

* * *

It isn’t selfishness or defiance that drives kids to misbehave. Rather, children act out because of deeper, more painful issues — unfulfilled needs, incompatible environments, and the like. And the same applies, to a certain extent, to adults.

As the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Matisyahu and the head of a rehab center in Yerushalayim, Rabbi Yoni Fischer often deals with bochurim with drug problems. But when he works with them, Rabbi Fischer doesn’t look at them that way.

“When someone does drugs, I don’t see a guy doing drugs,” he says. “I see pain. I see someone running away from pain.”

Indeed, one of the goals of his yeshiva is to encourage students to work through their pain by sharing it with others.

“When we hold things inside and we don’t share, then we suffer,” Rabbi Fischer explains. “We suffer in silence. And it’s terrible.”

Rabbi Fischer speculates that the silence, the loneliness — the inability to share one’s problem, whether it be mental health, emunah, or trauma-related, or anything in between — is often more

painful than the problem itself. And that’s why Rabbi Fischer places such an emphasis on togetherness. Because even our worst problems become bearable when we’re not alone.

Take Iyov from Tanach, for example. He lost everything — everything, except for his friends. The meforshim explain that, had he lost his friends as well, he wouldn’t have been able to survive his tribulations. Our ancestors in Egypt, too, were only able to cope with their harsh slavery because, every Shabbos, they would get together, talk, and give each other chizuk. The moment Paraoh forced them to work on Shabbos as well, thus taking away their one chance a week to be together, was when the slavery went from torturous to unbearable.

“There was an experiment with rats, where they injected them with drugs. So, they became drug addicts. Then, they took one rat and left it alone to detox, and the rat died. Then, they did the same thing with another rat, but they put it with other rats, and it survived. And that’s a rat. So, you could imagine how much more so for a human being,” Rabbi Fischer shares. “One of my favorite quotes is, ‘It’s better to walk with someone in darkness than to be alone in the light.’ We have to be there for each other in the darkness, in our pain.”

As Rabbi Yoni Fischer stresses, one of the worst parts of any painful experience is the loneliness factor — when someone feels as though they’re alone in their struggle. Many young people have huge questions about life. Many struggle with their belief in Hashem. And who doesn’t

look at tragedies and ask “why?” But tragically, those who wrestle with these questions often feel like they’re alone in their doubts and that there’s something wrong with them for being curious. But, for one, they’re not alone. And also, in truth, it isn’t the questions that bring unhappiness, Rabbi Fischer explains. Rather, it’s the burning desire for answers.

Having questions is beautiful, but we must see value in our questions — value in curiosity and contemplation — without insisting on finding answers, Rabbi Fischer says. Humans can ask why this and how that, but ultimately, many of our questions can only be answered by G-d.

The Gemara, for

example, places more of an emphasis on questions than answers. The Gemara has a question, we get several answers, and sometimes we’re left with no answers whatsoever. And that’s because it’s not about the destination — the answer. It’s about the journey — the question — and how it transforms us.

“If you’re struggling with something, first of all, it means you’re alive.

“Second of all, I always like to say that the problem is usually not the problem; it’s usually the fact that you don’t like that you have the problem,” Rabbi Fischer explains. “The Yetzer Hara wants to say, ‘You’re not supposed to be here, you shouldn’t be struggling with this, you’re supposed to be struggling with that instead.’ Hashem gave you

the Yetzer Hara. Whatever challenge you have is what Hashem gave to you, for you. Wherever you are, whatever struggle you have, don’t reject it.”

It’s easy to think that Hashem is furious with us every time we do an aveirah. But Rabbi Fischer says that isn’t the case. Hashem isn’t angry when He sees us fall; He’s pained. He’s pained because He wants us to live great lives, He wants us to be free. And yet, when a person sins, they’re sabotaging themselves, they’re stunting their own growth. And G-d hates to see us like that, just as any parent would hate to see their child fail to live up to their potential.

L’Havdil, Rabbi Fischer feels the same when a student of his is suffering and refuses help.

“It’s like putting your arm out to someone, and they can’t even reach out to it,” Rabbi Fischer says. “That’s pain.”

Ultimately, Rabbi Fischer has one agenda with his students — and it’s not for them to wear white shirts or grow long peyos

“My goal is for them to be a good husband,” Rabbi Fischer declares. “After I die, I hope my students will say, ‘All Rabbi Fischer wanted was for every one of us to be a good husband, a good father, and a good person.’”

And most of all: Rabbi Fischer wants his students to be themselves.

“Everyone says, ‘Be the best you.’ I don’t like that. Don’t be the best you. Just be you.”

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.

Dating Dialogue What Would You Do If…

Moderated by Jennifer Mann, LCSW of The Navidaters

Dear Navidaters,

Thank you for your intriguing column.

I’m 33 and have never been married. Dating has been one big rollercoaster. In my younger years, I was really not ready for marriage and dated all the best guys.

Now, though, I’m dying to get married, but there is nobody I want to date. I’m also not interested in moving out of state or traveling for dating. I feel like I missed the boat and am feeling very upset by my situation.

I would really like advice for moving forward successfully.

Thank you, Maya*

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.

Maya, you are generalizing. You also sound very negative and discouraged. “There is no one I want to date” is one clue. There are others in your query. Find a good professional and commit to several sessions to lift your mood and attitude as well as identify some actionable steps to find people to date. This will be a process.

Wishing you hatzlacha and a successful new year!

The Shadchan

Michelle Mond

I’m so sorry for the pain you are going through now. One of the most intense feelings are those of regret. It sounds like you regret giving up many good opportunities when you were younger. You mention that now, when you are “dying to get married,” the guys that you want are no longer around. I wonder if there is something deeper to this.

There is a concept in psychology that when something is too accessible or when someone comes too close ( in your case marriageable men in your younger years), people with specific attachment styles pull back, specifically avoidant attachment styles. It’s scary to think about getting married; one must be vulnerable, emotionally open, flexible, trusting. So

instead of settling for one of these great men, people with these attachment styles keep dating with a heavy dose of excuses. You will hear things like, “He’s too short,” “He’s too tall,” “His nose is too big” – whatever it takes to go on to the next. However, eventually, all those men get married. What happens when someone like this no longer feels that she has options? She then decides with such a strong conviction that she finally wants to get married, and that she is finally ready. But, is she really? Or is it just the lack of options which is her biggest fear weighing her down?

Stating that you are “dying to get married” yet also stating you refuse to travel for dating or relocate from your hometown is all the proof I need to tell me you are not yet free from the shackles of this attachment style. Your situation is different than it used to be, but you still need to work through the same issue.

Get a great therapist and learn to break through this attachment style that is hindering you and creating a fear of change. You will learn to broaden your horizons, trust others, and be vulnerable, and with that will come an openness you have never possessed. You will learn to be open to take chances, such as traveling to new towns and getting to know people in other communities.

Once you work through this internally, you will see how quickly doors will open up for you.

Your bashert can be anywhere in the world, however, you have boxed yourself into one room due to these fears. I can’t wait to see what happens once you get the key and open the door.

The Zaidy

Dr. Jeffrey Galler

Trying to find a suitable life partner is, unfortunately, very challenging for many of our wonderful young women. And, sadly, as singles get older, the search can feel even harder.

But Maya, here’s the good news: your past experiences dating “all the best guys” give you a huge advantage. You’ve learned how to navigate different situations, and, more importantly, how to recognize what you truly like, and don’t like, in a partner. These skills will serve you well when the right person comes along.

Here are a few thoughts for you to consider:

First, be proactive. Don’t wait at home for the phone to ring.

• Join social events at work.

• Attend programs and lectures at your synagogue or Jewish community center.

• Volunteer at chessed and charitable activities.

• Reach out to friends who are married and ask if they know a good single guy.

Even if you don’t meet “the one” right away, you’ll be building connections, making yourself known, and creating opportunities. Someone who knows someone could have the perfect recommendation waiting.

Second, consider expanding your horizons. You wrote that you “aren’t interested in traveling” for dates, but there’s a little contradiction here: you’re “dying to get married,” yet you’ve ruled out seeing people who aren’t right in your backyard. Your perfect life partner could be just a city, or a state, or a time zone away.

That said, flexibility doesn’t mean forcing yourself on dates you’re not genuinely excited about. Only travel for dates that feel promising and fun. Otherwise, it can create more stress than success.

Third, avoid future regrets. You may feel some frustration that, ten years ago, you didn’t date with marriage in mind. But you still will have plenty of opportunities. Don’t put yourself in a position where, 10 years from now, you will have regrets about not being more proactive and not being more flexible about travelling for a date.

I can’t wait to see what happens once you get the key and open the door.

Finally, please don’t feel that you have “missed the boat.” You’ve merely weathered some rough seas. And, the perfect harbor, and the perfect first mate, is still waiting for you.

Reader’s Response

Isaiah Cox

The Curmudgeon

Maya,

You feel like you missed the boat. But you live in a landlocked area, and instead of being willing to go where the boats are, you choose to complain. Do you really think that is going to work?

The only way to get – and stay – married is to change yourself. At 33, that is not easy to do: if, as you say, you don’t want to move or even travel for dating, then you are not even willing to try to see things from a different perspective. What would you call a wife or mother – or husband or father –who does not care about others?

You need an enormous mental shift if you want to get married before the door slams shut and you mutate into a crazy cat lady. Whatever the outcome, you will have nobody to blame but yourself.

A man is not (merely) an accessory; a husband is meant to be a partner. And partnership requires a mutual willingness to change and grow.

You need to re-adjust yourself, and re-adjust your expectations. You are not who you were ten years ago – and neither are the men. If you truly decide to make it work, then you will. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You already knew the answer to your question before you wrote in. You just don’t want to put in the work to make it happen. Sheesh.

Pulling It All Together

The Navidaters

Dating and Relationship Coaches and Therapists

Dear Maya,

First, I want to say that your feelings are so valid. It sounds like you’ve been carrying a lot of grief around this, almost like you missed some invisible train that everyone else seemed to catch. That’s such a heavy feeling. And yet, here you are, brave enough to name it and ask for guidance. That in and of itself says so much about your readiness and your heart.

Here’s the truth: you haven’t missed the boat. You’re still very much here, very much alive, and very much worthy of love. What may have shifted is the

stage of life you’re in and the dat- ing pool around you. That can feel discouraging, but it also opens space for a more intentional approach— one where you’re clearer on what you want and what truly matters.

I hear that moving out of state or traveling for dating doesn’t feel right for you. That’s OK. But then the key becomes: how do you expand opportunities while staying grounded in your world? It might look like letting friends and community know you’re open to introductions, join-

ing spaces where people in your stage of life gather, or even shifting how you show up on the apps (sometimes small tweaks really do change who shows up).

Also, and I say this with so much compassion, there’s often a layer of grief that needs tending before moving forward. Grief for the years that passed, grief for the “best guys” you weren’t ready for, grief for the timing not matching your heart. Allowing yourself to feel and honor that may open up fresh energy and hope.

The boat hasn’t left—you just may need to let go of the image of what the boat was “supposed” to look like. Sometimes, the life raft, the ferry, or the unexpected rowboat ends up being exactly what carries us where we need to go.

Sending you encouragement, hope,

You need an enormous mental shift if you want to get married before the door slams shut and you mutate into a crazy cat lady.

and a reminder: love is not behind you. It’s still ahead.

Warmly, Jennifer

Jennifer Mann, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist and certified trauma healing life coach, as well as a dating and relationship coach working with individuals, couples, and families in private practice at 123 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst, NY. To set up a consultation or to ask questions, please call 718-908-0512. Visit www.thenavidaters.com for more information. If you would like to submit a dating or relationship question to the panel anonymously, please email JenniferMannLCSW@gmail.com. You can follow The Navidaters on FB and Instagram for dating and relationship advice.

Shmooze & Muse Where Money Grows on Trees

By Mordechai Schmutter

Dollar Tree is not a great store, but what’s great about it is that it makes everyone who walks in feel like a gvir.

You tell your kids, “Help yourself to literally any item in the store. If you don’t like it, we can just throw it out later!”

You go through the store saying, “We’ll take one of these, one of these…” You’re not counting.

I don’t go often, because it’s too much gashmiyus.

It’s the ultimate “I went in for one item and came out with 20” store.

Particularly snacks. Every time you go, you look through every snack in the store, scouring for anything that’s kosher, so you can show up at Shabbos party and go, “Look at this variety we got here! They don’t sell these in the other stores!” with flavors you’ve never heard of before, because they’re the off flavors, like (this is a real item) Fruity Pebbles popcorn or chicken flavored crackers.

This is one thing the store specializes in: things you can’t find anywhere else, sometimes for good reason.

I was in the seasonal aisle at the end of the summer, and they had this wooden sign you can hang in your kitchen that says, “Oh my gourd.” Get it? Me neither. I always wondered what OMG stands for,

and now I know.

There was also a large wooden sign with a recipe for pumpkin pie. Who’s hanging this on their wall? I understand if it’s a good recipe, so if your guests say, “This is great! What’s the recipe?” you can just gesture at it with your mouth full. But you don’t know it’s good when you buy the sign. It’s in the dollar store, so maybe it isn’t. Maybe there’s a typo.

Also, who makes pumpkin pie so often that it needs to be on a huge sign on the wall? If I had to hang one sign on the wall, it would be either salad dressing or cholent. Or banana muffins.

If anyone wants to get in on this, it’s like a ten-dollar idea.

But they definitely sell certain things that shouldn’t be in a dollar store, like oven mitts. I would not trust oven mitts that I bought at the dollar store. Unless I’m two-plying them. And I’m someone who happily uses my yarmulke.

And some of the items are scams. I saw a package that read, “Chocolate-chip flavored cookies.” So there aren’t even real chocolate chips in it? It’s chocolate-chip flavored ?

I also saw “kosher dill pickles” without a hechsher.

And some of the items are totally useless. When I was in yeshiva, I bought a

package of 300 Q-tips from the dollar store. I stuck the first one in my ear that night, and it came back out without the cotton.

And their tweezers were not useful in getting it out.

A lot of the items they sell are probably fine; they’re just unfortunately named.

For example, they sell a hand cream called “Udderly Smooth.” Is that supposed to be a pun? Oh my gourd.

I don’t get it. Will your hands be as smooth as a cow’s udder? Is it made out of cow udders?

The package says, “Does not contain any milk or bovine ingredients.” Clearly people were asking questions, yet they decided they’re going to keep the name but also write this on the package.

And then sometimes they have legitimate items, but in ridiculously small packages. For example, you can buy a package of one permanent marker. Although permanent is probably relative.

Surprisingly, they do sell brooms. Though they sell the broomstick and the bottom part separately, so it’s $2.50. It’s definitely convenient, because most of the time when you replace a broom, the stick is actually fine.

But I’m not sure how the dollar store makes money. Because at any given time,

there’s only one cashier working. And nothing they ring up costs more than $1.25. How many items can one cashier scan in one hour that pays for the overhead and the employee and so on? Assuming the scanner works every time. Though they don’t really need scanners, do they? There should be just one big button in the middle of the cash register, that says, “$1.25.” But even so, how are they breaking even? Is this a front for some mob business? Like you buy just the right combination of items, and the cashier opens a door behind the freezer?

There’s a freezer! That’s overhead, too. Though I’ve never bought anything out of that freezer, because there’s no way they leave it plugged in overnight.

And they’re not making money through word of mouth, either. It’s not a store that people talk about: “You like it? I got it at Dollar Tree!”

It never really comes up anyway, because everything breaks the day after you get it. But you don’t care; you just buy another one. It’s the gvir mentality. You’re emptying the car of all the loose bags of potato chips, and your wife asks, “How many did you buy?” and you’re like, “I don’t even know.”

You lose count of how much you bought, and you get to the front, and you

realize, “Oh, I don’t have bags.”

So with most stores, if you forget bags, you say, “I’ll just dump the items in the back of my car, loose. I’ll have chips for days. Find them under the seats while I’m cleaning for Pesach, like, ‘Yum! Garlic raspberry!’”

With Dollar Tree, though, you can’t get the cart out the door. They have these shopping carts with a pole sticking up so they can’t get through the doorway. That’s another way they save money. That way, they don’t have to send the one employee out into the parking lot to collect the carts.

You just realize you have no bags when you’re at the cash register, and all the customers in the store are waiting behind you, so you can’t run out to get bags from your car, and you can’t wheel the cart out, and they don’t care. It’s like, “Just pick up your pile so it’s not in the way of the next person’s pile.” Like at airport security. They do sell cloth bags, but those are the one thing in the store you would not buy. You have never paid for a cloth bag, and you’re not about to start now.

I bought one. It says on it, “Do what makes you happy.” What makes me happy is not paying for a bag. Who passive-aggressively gives someone a bag that says

this? It sounds like what a wife says when she’s not thrilled with what her husband’s going to do, but he’s going to do it anyway. And she packs him a lunch in this bag, so he feels guilty about it all day.

But you always need bags, because you walk into the store and think, “Anything here I can buy. Anything. I’m limited only

makes you happy.”

And you say, “That’s what it says on my bag!”

“You bought a bag?!”

The annoying thing is that everything in the store has to be $1.25. Nothing’s less. Even things that should be less. If they have something that’s normally 50

What am I going to do with 12 combs?

I don’t have 12 heads. Should I go in on this with 11 of my friends?

by what I can carry out of the store.” And everything you buy is fifty percent air. Or 100%, if you buy balloons.

You also lose track of what the prices are everywhere else. You come home and say, “Look at what I bought at the dollar store! And your wife says, “I got that for less money last week.”

“Oh. Well, it was $1.25. I don’t care.” You don’t let that ruin your simcha.

And your wife says, “Okay, whatever

cents, they say, “We can’t sell it for 50 cents. There’s one button on the cash register!”

“I know! We’ll put them in packages of 2½!”

So some packages have way too many of something. Like the other week I wanted to buy a comb, but any comb I found on Amazon was $6. So I went to Dollar Tree. The only combs I could find came in packages of 12.

What am I going to do with 12 combs? I don’t have 12 heads. Should I go in on this with 11 of my friends?

I can come home, like, “Guess what! Chanukah came early this year! You get a comb, you get a comb…!”

So all in all, I don’t know if anything they sell is quality, but it’s an amazing store to go to if you’re the type of person who loses things.

“What happened to my comb? I just had it!”

Why shell out for something nice that will last? In fact, this way you’ll be happy you forgot it somewhere. This way you don’t have to store it. Not to mention school supplies that your kids are going to lose on day one, before they even need them.

It’s also THE go-to place to run out and get posterboards the night before your kid’s project that he just told you about.

This is not a sponsored article.

Mordechai Schmutter is a freelance writer and a humor columnist for Hamodia and other magazines. He has also published eight books and does stand-up comedy. He can be contacted at mschmutter@gmail.com.

Parenting Pearls Menuchas HaNefesh, Especially When Busy

By Sara Rayvych, MSEd

It’s a busy time of year. Families are adjusting to a new school schedule and trying to give their children the best start. As these changes are being made, parents are simultaneously preparing for the upcoming yomim noraim – cooking and baking, purchasing clothing and arranging guests along with shul seating. This is all happening before the first esrog hits the market.

The busier the schedule, the more we push aside our own needs. There is so much to do and not enough time to do it – running out the door without eating, staying up late to finish last minute items, and pushing ourselves to do more than possible in the allotted time.

We may forget we’re not invincible. We may not notice it chip away at our mental health. We may not hear our voice getting a little louder or harsher when speaking to our child. Everything comes at a cost, and parents need to carefully weigh that cost.

Yes, the tasks mentioned above are necessary. We can’t wake up erev Rosh Hashana without a place to daven and lacking a machzor, nor can we light candles without food in the oven. We can’t send the kids to shul in their school uni-

form, nor in their baseball league jersey. But the way we make those preparations will differ, with some families entering the new year with love, and others with anger. Some will have parents who are smiling and others less than pleasant.

Balancing the needs of our family with our own emotional health is also a way to give back to our family. Children need love and an emotionally available parent. This is crucial all year, but it’s the busiest times of the year when we often need the biggest reminders.

Importance of Mental Health

Baruch Hashem, today the average person is rather aware of the importance of mental health. It’s discussed in articles, with medical providers and among general conversation. Even with all this general awareness, we still tend to underestimate its importance and overestimate our abilities to push those limits.

Despite this awareness, many still fail to realize that we really can’t do anything without being emotionally healthy first. Our physical health, ability to function and interactions with others are all dependent on our emotional health. We may think we

are doing fine otherwise – even if we’re emotionally a mess – but we’re usually fooling ourselves.

We work more effectively and efficiently when we are emotionally strong. Only with our emotional health can we be there for ourselves. Even more importantly, only then can we be there for those around us. We may not realize how poorly we are functioning, and how dismal our behavior has become, but our loved ones can see it. It’s a different world when one has menuchas hanefesh.

Importance For Parents

As parents, we are responsible for all areas of our child’s growth and development. Babies are born fully dependent on their loving adults. They are adorable but a full-time job. Toddlers are only slightly older but very mobile. They often need to be protected from their own silly antics. As they become older, we do begin stepping away, allowing them the freedom to make decisions and become independent adults, but we still provide for their main needs and step in, as needed. We can only do all this if we’re in a good place ourselves. The stress of parenting makes it harder. With

sleep deprivation a constant companion as we balance the needs of multiple family members, it’s only natural that we will make less time for ourselves and struggle to maintain our own mental health.

It can never be overstated how dependent children are on their parents’ emotional support. They need us there for them and to be able to support them even when they themselves don’t know what they need. They may not appreciate our efforts. They may push us away to test us or out of frustration. No matter what, they still need us to be present for them. We are their safety and security in a frightening and new world.

It can also never be overstated how upsetting it is for a child to be pushed away by their adults. When adults don’t guard their own emotional health, they are likely to yell at their children – and everyone around them. They may act like their child is a nuisance and not someone they want around. A child’s world starts to feel less safe and less secure.

Our children also learn more from us than we realize. They pick up on our nuances and learn our habits. That’s one reason why kids are often so funny when

they (respectfully) imitate their parents. It’s often the details they pick up on that we least expect. If we don’t prioritize our own emotional health, they will learn to do the same. They will run themselves ragged, ignoring their physical and emotional needs until they don’t function. They, too, will become short-tempered and unavailable for those closest to them.

Suggestions

If we’re not working, then nothing is working. Our entire family depends on us being emotionally available for them –something we can only do if we have our own reserves. We are each unique and need to manage our emotional health in ways that match us. What works for one person may make another feel worse. Keep only what works for you!

More important than calming down after being stressed out is avoiding stress in the first place. Prioritize and do what’s most important. Many things are not as crucial as we make them out to be, and there is so much we do that is truly unnecessary. If “the extras” can be done with simcha and menuchas hanefesh, then go ahead. If they will detract from our ability to be there for our families, we may want to reconsider. When possible, try to get things done in ad-

vance when time is less pressured. If time is never less pressured, then it may be worth skipping, when possible. One less errand, but one more smile.

Even items that are important can often be simplified. For example, we can make an easy dessert or one with multiple layers and steps. The simplified version

perienced about how to do so kindly. This is a middah worth working on.

Even with prioritizing, simplifying and an already filled freezer, life can still get hectic. Take time routinely – not just when you’re ready to explode – to prioritize yourself. This may be going for a walk, reading a book or doing a puzzle. We need

Balancing the needs of our family with our own emotional health is also a way to give back to our family.

may take fifteen minutes or less, while the complicated one may take hours to get everything right.

Many people have trouble asking others for help. Learning to politely ask for assistance and delegate to others is a skill on its own. Humans were never meant to be perfect. Others may not do it our way – or how we like it – but it’s better than feeling overwhelmed and like screaming at those around us. There are people who are great at giving out jobs but not as ex-

to keep calming activities in our schedule. Many may argue they don’t have time for “extras,”but I’d say this isn’t extra. A clear mind will function better than a stressed one, and it takes a lot of time to mend the feelings of those we can inadvertently hurt when we’re stressed, chas v’shalom. Truly, we don’t have time to not make time for ourselves.

Some people are naturally more prone to feeling overwhelmed than others. Hashem made us with different temperaments,

and that’s OK. The important thing is to know ourselves and do what we need, not what others require.

Life is stressful. Life is overwhelming. Some times are harder than others. Anyone who finds they are struggling should reach out for professional assistance. A professional can teach techniques and help a person learn to better regulate themselves. Baruch Hashem, our community has become more open to the mental health field, and seeking assistance no longer carries a stigma.

As in all areas, daven for siyata dishmaya in this worthy goal. All our efforts only become successful when we have Divine assistance.

While often discussed before yomim tovim and other lifecycle events, our emotional health and maintaining menchas hanfesh is a life-long priority. Taking care of ourselves is a personal benefit, but it is also giving a gift to our spouse, children and all those who surround us.

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.

Relationships Rewired Copy, Paste, Compare: The Trap We Fall Into

By Bassy Schwartz, LMFT

You walk into the children’s clothing store, excited to pick out a few outfits for the new school year and the upcoming holidays. But before long, the excitement dips. You look around and notice how polished everyone else seems – sleek sheitels that fall perfectly into place, manicures that look freshly done, glowing skin, long lashes that somehow look effortless. Suddenly, you’re all too aware of your oversized workout shirt, the black skirt that’s seen better days, and the sneakers that don’t bear a fancy label.

And then, just like that, the sinking feeling. The woman across from you isn’t just another shopper anymore; in your mind, she’s become a symbol. She represents “togetherness,” “perfection,” “what you’re supposed to be.” Meanwhile, your brain starts its familiar play-by-play of inadequacy, and no amount of reasoning with yourself can quiet the noise.

Maybe you try to shrug it off. It’s fine. I don’t need all that. I know what really matters. But then, maybe, you catch yourself wondering: do you? Wouldn’t it feel good to walk in somewhere and not feel like the underdog? To stop measuring yourself as “less than”? The next thing you know, you’re booking a full gamut of “self-care” appointments – nails, new wig, shopping trips, maybe even lash extensions – because this time, you’re going to level up, even if it’s going to cost you.

If you’ve had a moment like this, let me reassure you of two things: 1) You are extremely normal. We are wired to want to fit in. That ache of comparison? It’s deeply human; 2) You’re more in control than you think.

Here’s why: Most of us are walking around town tweaking, masking, and editing our looks because we’re secure and happen to “prefer the style.” More often than not, we’re patching over a bigger void. The parts of ourselves we alter on the outside are stand-ins for the intan-

gible parts we’re terrified the world will see on the inside. The messy parts. The scared parts. The parts that feel small, or not enough, or broken in some way.

So we mask our humanness at all costs. We put on armor disguised as a “look.” And for a little while, yes, it works. That trendy wig style, that new pair of shoes, that little nip or tuck of our ap -

ty and inadequacy are baseline parts of being human. Everyone feels them, even the woman with the perfect lashes. But it doesn’t have to rule our lives.

The hamster wheel of perfection will never stop turning on its own. We have to choose to step off. And stepping off doesn’t mean neglecting yourself or deciding appearances don’t matter at all.

While being put-together feels nice, your worth isn’t hanging in the balance of your next purchase or appointment.

pearance makes us feel invincible. We stand a little taller, we smile a little more confidently, and for a moment we believe we’ve closed the gap between us and everyone else.

The catch is, underneath that armor, the same feelings are still there. We may look shinier, but the insecurity hasn’t gone anywhere; it’s just dressed up differently. And that’s the real truth: insecuri-

It means putting yourself together in a way that reflects care, not desperation. It means getting dressed because you value yourself, not because you can’t stand yourself unless you look a certain way.

Stick with me on this: life moves so quickly. We’re barely finished growing up before we’re thrown into the thick of adulthood – marriage, kids, careers, homeownership, community responsibil-

ities. Most of us never get a real chance to sit down and ask: Who am I, really? What are the stories I tell myself about being enough? Where did those stories even come from?

Instead, the inner void remains strangers to us. We don’t know how to handle the wounds, the insecurities, the messy “non-parts” of ourselves, so we run from them. We bury them. And when they inevitably creep out, we panic and rush to cover them again, with makeup, with clothing, with appointments, with “all the things.”

But here’s the hope: you can get to know your inner self. You can learn to sit with your humanness instead of running from it. And you can discover that while being put-together feels nice, your worth isn’t hanging in the balance of your next purchase or appointment.

The next time you feel that clothing store spiral, the comparisons, the pressure, the urge to upgrade yourself, take a breath. Notice what’s happening inside rather than rushing to cover it up. The real work isn’t about keeping up; it’s about catching up to yourself. The put-together image might look superior, but it’s your honest, imperfect, growing self that actually has depth and potential for true stability.

That’s the part worth investing in.

Bassy Schwartz, LMFT, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy, brings a compassionate and unique approach to her practice – focusing on couples and individuals dealing with conflict and disconnection due to childhood emotional neglect and complex family dynamics. Bassy empowers clients to harness their inner strength and authentic selves to achieve meaningful relationships beyond what they could have ever imagined. Reach her directly at bassy@corerelationships. com or WhatsApp (347) 309-5362.

Have you ever felt like arguments with your loved ones get stuck on repeat? Often, it’s tied to our underlying needs. This article, following up on the previous article, explores those “raw spots” (the core needs that we all have in relationships like feeling wanted, successful, and loved that we are more sensitive to) and our responses that can inadvertently create distance, offering practical ways to foster deeper connection.

When something brushes up against a tender spot inside us, especially in our relationships, it can feel painful. In those moments, most of us automatically try to protect ourselves, and in some ways, protect the relationship, too. The trouble is, the ways we try to protect ourselves often create distance with the person we most want to be close to.

For some people, this protection looks like protesting. Protesting behaviors include raising their voice, pushing harder, arguing, or criticizing. The goal of any type of protest is the hope that if they show how badly they need connec -

Wired for Connecti n

Understanding Protective Responses in Relationships

By Michal Goldman, LCSW

tion, their partner will finally respond. For others, protection looks like pulling back . These individuals may stay quiet, change the subject, or retreat emotionally when they feel a raw spot being touched. Underneath the pulling away is the hope that if they lower the intensity, the relationship will stay safe and peaceful.

Both partners genuinely want the same thing: closeness and security. But when our protective systems are up, both partners end up feeling more alone.

The good news is that underneath these protective moves, we’re all very similar. We all long to feel loved, respected, and successful in our most important relationships. We all have the same fundamental needs, though their intensity might vary depending on the situation. Because of this, when we open ourselves up to see the hurt underneath our partner’s protection, compassion comes naturally instead of defensiveness and anger. That, in itself, can set up a whole new cycle of connection instead of disconnection.

Practical Steps You Can Try

• Share from a softer place. If you want to bring up a topic which touches a raw spot for you, wait until the strong anger or resentment has settled. Sharing from a vulnerable place makes it more likely your partner will be able to hear you, instead of either protesting or pulling back. (Note: This is most effective in safe, communicative relationships. For situations where a partner is unwilling or unable to listen, professional support may be beneficial.)

• Listen for sense. Instead of arguing back, make a conscious effort to listen for how your partner’s reaction makes sense from their perspective. Then tell them what you heard. When people feel fully listened to and taken seriously, they usually feel less angry and more collaborative.

• Match the energy wisely. If your partner is getting animated when they are explaining their perspective, you don’t need to shut down or react angrily. Try to listen with the goal of seeing how their perspective makes sense, while meeting the energy with similar, understanding

energy. On the flip side, if they’re going quiet, gently drop your energy too, so it makes it easier for them to open up. When we feel mirrored in energy, it helps us feel understood and conversations flow more smoothly.

By recognizing our own and our partner’s protective behaviors as attempts to meet our needs, we can transform cycles of disconnection into opportunities for empathy and intimacy. These shifts, while challenging to begin with, pave the way for a relationship built on greater security and understanding.

Michal Goldman is a licensed clinical social worker in Queens specializing in helping individuals and couples navigate relationship challenges. She can be reached through her website at www.michalgoldmanlcsw. org, via email at michalgoldmanlcsw@ gmail.com, or by phone at 917-590-0258. If you have questions that you would like answered here, you can submit them to the email provided. This content is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a replacement for therapy.

Parenting Pearls Why Your Brain Pulls the Fire Alarm at Midnight

By Sorah Coriat, LMHC

Ahh, that cozy feeling. All snuggled in bed, the moment you’ve been waiting for all day. You finally got the perfect pillow placement… close your eyes… Wait, did I really say that?

And – scene.

Now you’re lying in bed, wide awake, replaying a conversation you had earlier. You wonder if you said the wrong thing, if you should have handled it differently. Your chest feels tight, your thoughts racing, and suddenly this moment – something you barely noticed at the time – feels urgent, even monumental.

Yep, that’s anxiety.

Anxiety’s pretty trendy these days, and most of us think of it as the problem to solve, the knot in the stomach we’d rather untie and forget. It’s gotten a bad rap, and the truth is, when it’s loud, it can be debilitating.

But what if anxiety isn’t just a nuisance to get rid of – what if it’s also a messenger?

So, there you are, lying in bed when suddenly your mind decides something matters. You didn’t even know you cared so much until that alarm went off. And now your whole WhatsApp group knows you care, not to mention ChatGPT and your Google search history.

Anxiety isn’t something to joke about. But it is something to lean into. Worry happens when your mind decides something matters. You worry – so it becomes urgent. Nervousness kicks in – so you suddenly care. Anxiety, for all its discomfort, is the body’s way of saying: pay attention here.

It’s worth noting that anxiety shows up on a spectrum. At one end, it’s the normal human response to stress or danger, the inner alarm that tells you to protect or pay attention (like when you’re walking alone late at night). At

the other end, the alarm goes off too often or too intensely for things that aren’t really dangerous. That’s when it tips into disorder and starts running your life instead of protecting it.

Here’s the catch: anxiety isn’t al -

I care” and “my body might be exaggerating the risk.”

One way to test this is to hit pause.

A few deep breaths, some fresh air, a moment of grounding lets you see the difference

Anxiety, for all its discomfort, is the body’s way of saying: pay attention here.

ways a trustworthy narrator. It points to what matters – but it also tends to blow things out of proportion. Your worry about what you said may reflect that you value kindness. But the racing thoughts, the pounding chest? That’s your nervous system pulling the fire alarm when all that’s really burning is the challah you forgot in the toaster. The work is noticing both “this tells me

Most of the time, you’ll notice that you’re uncomfortable, but you’re not actually in danger.

From a clinical perspective, this isn’t just poetic – it’s biological. Anxiety is rooted in our survival system, designed to detect threat and mobilize action. Thousands of years ago, it kept us alive by sharpening our focus when danger lurked. Today, that same system gets

triggered by safe but stressful moments – job interviews, parenting decisions, unread emails, or the possibility of disappointing someone we love. The signal isn’t always accurate, but it is pointing us toward something we value.

So instead of only asking, “How do I make this stop?” we might also ask, “What does this tell me about what matters to me?” Maybe it’s safety. Maybe it’s belonging. Maybe it’s love or competence.

And rather than ride the worry train, try labeling the thought instead:

• “I’m having the thought that…”

• “This matters to me because…”

• “What’s one grounded action I can take that honors this value?”

This doesn’t make anxiety pleasant, but it reframes it: not just as a storm to be weathered but as a signal of care and meaning. Instead of being swallowed by it, you get to respond to it.

Seen this way, anxiety becomes less of a flaw and more of a reminder: you are invested in your life. You are awake to what matters. And sometimes, that reminder is worth listening to.

So back to you, lying awake, clutching your once-perfect pillow. You’re having the thought, “I shouldn’t have said that comment.” And that matters to you because “I care about how other people feel, and it’s important for me that people feel good around me.” Maybe this alarm is signaling something true – that you value kindness. And that’s not such a bad reminder to have.

Sorah Oppen-Coriat, LMHC, is a psychotherapist in Hewlett, NY. She helps teens, adults, and couples navigate life’s ups and downs — with tools that work and humor that helps. She can be reached at 516-2849347 or at sorah.coriat@gmail.com.

School of Thought

By Etti Siegel

Q:Dear Etti,

My 8-year-old daughter is very sensory, especially to irritating and scratchy items of clothing, and lots of noise and bright lights. What can you advise us to help make this school year smoother, with less meltdowns? Last year was rough.

- Mother of Easily Overwhelmed

A:Dear Mother of Easily Overwhelmed, I remember that issue well! One of my children needed to wear her tights inside out so that the seam would not irritate her. I never even noticed that the seam stuck out! And when she was in lower elementary school, she had to wear tights all year, even in the summer, because she liked the feeling.

When a child has strong sensory sensitivities, the school year can feel like a gauntlet of potential overloads: itchy uniforms, noisy hallways, flickering lights, and unpredictable disruptions. But with some thoughtful planning and support, you can absolutely help make the school year smoother and more manageable for her.

Sensory meltdowns often start first thing in the morning, with the dreaded getting dressed routine. To minimize stress, use what occupational therapists I spoke with call the “3 S rule”: Softer, Simpler, Seamless.

• Choose soft, tag-less clothing made from breathable cotton or bamboo.

• Avoid zippers, seams, or buttons that might irritate the skin.

• Stick to clothes your daughter already finds comfortable, especially in the first few weeks. Now is not the time to introduce new uniforms or shoes unless they’ve been broken in slowly.

If a uniform is required and causes discomfort, many schools will allow soft undershirts, leggings, or shorts beneath to ease the sensory strain. If your school or community has a lightly used uniform gemach, get those! They are already worn in, and you can take them to the cleaners to get a fresh-pressed look.

Children with auditory and visual sensitivities often struggle in the classroom, lunchroom, or gym, not because they don’t enjoy learning or socializing, but because the sensory load is just too much.

In one of the schools I visit weekly, the children are visibly more agitated and rowdy after lunch. Lunchtime has no programming, and the level of noise is high. Even the staff find the lunch period a tad overwhelming! The school is experimenting with ways to bring the sensory overload

down a few notches.

You can equip your daughter with soft silicone or foam earplugs or noise-reducing headphones. Choose neutral colors to avoid drawing attention. Teach her when and how to use them. Walking around with headphones might draw unwanted attention.

If she’s bothered by bright or flickering lights, try lightly tinted (non-dark) glasses or transition lenses that block harsh glare while still allowing eye contact.

Have her “test drive” these supports at home and then in short outings before sending them to school.

A small, unobtrusive sensory kit can empower your daughter to self-regulate throughout the day. Depending on her needs, you might include:

• A stress ball, fidget stone, or stretchy toy, if she can be discreet.

• A chewy necklace (with teacher approval).

• A soft fabric swatch or piece of velvety ribbon to keep on hand for tactile soothing.

• A visual schedule to help her anticipate transitions.

• A small protein snack to prevent dips in blood sugar, which can intensify sensory overwhelm.

Pack the kit in a zippered pouch she can keep in her desk, cubby, or backpack, all arranged with the teacher’s permission.

Children with sensory sensitivities often thrive on structure. The more predictable her school days and transitions are, the safer she will feel.

• Establish consistent home routines for waking up, dressing, breakfast, and after-school decompression to help her with her school days.

• Preview the school day together each morning (and review the next day’s plan each evening), even if they are the same day to day, until she does not seem to need it anymore.

• Ask the school to notify you of any schedule changes, assemblies, or fire drills in advance so you can help her prepare and explain why.

You can also create a “transition checklist” with pictures or icons she can check off, reinforcing both routine and independence.

Your daughter’s teachers can be powerful allies – but

they need to understand her sensory profile to support her well, so partner with the school.

• If you can, set up a meeting before the first day of school to explain her sensitivities, needs, and what helps. If not, try to meet within the first few weeks.

• Ask if the school can create a “calm space” for her to go to or use when she feels overwhelmed.

• Work with the teacher to create a nonverbal signal your daughter can use to request a break.

Some other accommodations might include permission to wear earplugs or tinted lenses, seating away from noisy doors or vents, scheduled sensory breaks, and extra transition time.

If you approach the teacher with sensitivity, knowing she has a whole class of students to care for, and explain how these accommodations make her experience with your daughter easier, then you might have more buy-in. These aren’t “special treatments,” they’re essential supports, and the teacher should want to consider them when a sensory issue is impacting educational access.

Last but never least: support your daughter’s emotional needs around all this. Let her know that her brain works differently, and that’s okay. She should understand that she is not “too sensitive.” She is sensitive, and you’re here to help her learn how to manage that and you are working with her teachers to make school a place she can thrive.

Encourage her to help choose strategies and tools that work for her. Even small amounts of choice (like picking out her earplugs or the color of her sensory kit) build ownership and resilience. Keep your eyes open so that she does not use her sensory issues to curry favors, demand attention, or make it become her identity, all things that would be unhealthy for your daughter in the long run.

You’re already doing so much right. You’re paying attention, you’re advocating, and you’re planning ahead. With the right tools and support, your daughter can grow to feel safe, capable, and confident, even in a world that sometimes feels like “too much.”

Wishing you both a smoother, more sensory-friendly school year,

- Etti

Mrs. Etti Siegel holds a MS in Teaching and Learning/Educational Leadership and brings sound

ence. Etti is an Adjunct at the College of Mount Saint Vincent/Sara Shenirer. She is a coach and educational consultant for Catapult Learning, FACTS Education Solutions, Brienza Academic Advantage, Yeled V’Yalda; is a sought-after mentor and workshop presenter around the country; and a popular presenter for Sayan (a teacher-mentoring program), Hidden Sparks, and the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools. She is a frequent contributor to Hamechanech magazine

In The K tchen

Simanim Chicken

By Naomi Nachman

For the first evening meal of the holiday, I am serving a variety of dishes, each featuring one of the simanim (i.e., symbolic foods that one eats on Rosh Hashana which we hope will bring about a prosperous and healthy new year). This chicken recipe is a combo of the traditional tzimmes, which includes chicken, carrots, honey and dates (all of which are simanim) and making it a perfect simanim dish to serve on Rosh Hashana.

Ingredients

Carrot Mixture

◦ 2 tablespoons canola oil

◦ 2 medium onions, sliced into ½ moon rings

◦ 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

◦ 3 10 oz. bags shredded carrots

◦ 1 teaspoon cumin

◦ ½ teaspoon cinnamon

◦ 1 ½ cups dried dates pitted and quartered

◦ 2 cups white wine

◦ 1/3 cup honey

◦ 8 pieces chicken leg quarters

Chicken Spices

◦ Cumin

◦ Smoked paprika

◦ Garlic powder

◦ Honey

◦ Olive oil

◦ Kosher salt

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Prepare two 9x13 pans and set aside.

In a sauté pan on medium heat, add oil till it gets hot. Add onions and cook until they are translucent. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt to the onions, followed by the carrots.

Sautee the carrots and onions for several minutes on low until the carrots are soft. Add in the dates, wine and honey. Mix well and cover. Let simmer on low for 10 minutes. This process will plump up the dates and release their flavor.

After 10 minutes, divide the carrot mixture into the two prepared pans.

Place four pieces of chicken per pan and season with spices.

Rub with a small amount of oil and drizzle with honey, smearing all over each piece of chicken.

Cover each pan with foil and bake for 40 minutes.

After 40 minutes, baste the chicken. Uncover and cook for another 30 minutes.

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?!”

After fierce criticism, the LAPD withdrew its officers from guarding Kamala Harris. And already she is missing her favorite officer: Captain Morgan - Greg Gutfeld, Fox

The White House plans to deport [Kilmar Abrego Garcia] to Eswatini. It’s a tiny nation in Africa that sounds completely made up— like Narnia, Atlantis, or Palestine.

– ibid.

Last week, Trump obliterated 11 narco terrorists, turning them into a finer powder than the drugs they were shipping. I’m surprised Hunter didn’t swim to the blast site with a snorkel up his nose.

– ibid.

Oh gosh, I think it’s going to be something like, I don’t know, at least $600 billion through 2028 in the U.S., yeah.

- Mark Zuckerberg responding to President Trump asking him how much he plans on spending on technology in the U.S. over the next few years

Sorry, I wasn’t ready…I wasn’t sure what number you wanted me to go with.

- ibid., on a hot mic, talking to Trump a few minutes later

If I must choose between victory over our enemies and bad propaganda against us, I choose victory.

- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Everyone wants the hostages home. Everyone wants this war to end! The Israelis have accepted my terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well. I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning; there will not be another one! Thank you for your attention to this matter.

- Social media post by Pres. Trump two days before Israel blew up members of Hamas leadership in Qatar

I’d love to keep climbing forever, but I guess I can’t anymore.

- Kokichi Akuzawa, 102, after setting the Guinness World Record for the oldest person ever to climb to the summit of Mount Fuji, which is 12,388-feet high

I’m not even sure Hamas is actually a radical jihadi organization. It seems more like a political organization.

- Israel hater Tucker Carlson

Something is wrong with Tucker Carlson.

- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), in response

For a guy who is very vocal about the slave history of the United States of America, he is certainly able to overlook the slave life still going on in China.

- Former sports reporter turned conservative pundit Michele Tafoya commenting on LeBron James writing an op-ed in a Chinese state-run newspaper touting the relationship between the NBA and China

No secret coaching, just years of midnight bathroom trips dodging Lego landmines left by her kids.

- One social media response to Gabrielle Wall of New Zealand earning a Guinness World Record for running a 100 meter dash barefoot on LEGOs in 24.75 seconds

One thing I’ve learned kind of working with him every day, he doesn’t have an off switch.

- Vice President J.D. Vance on Fox News talking about working with Pres. Trump

Sometimes, the president will call you at 12:30 or 2:00 in the morning, and then he’ll call you at 6:00 in the morning about a totally different topic. It’s like, “Mr. President, did you go to sleep last night?”

- ibid.

I think they’re so addicted to Trump...I mean he’s the most ubiquitous president in American history... If he goes missing for more than 30 seconds...they’re like... “maybe he’s dead.”

- Ben Shapiro on Greg Gutfeld explaining why a rumor spread last week that Trump died

It was like the second worst thing that happened to them. They were at a Coldplay concert.

- Ben Shapiro addressing the viral video of Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin telling Israeli concert-goers that they are “equal humans” even though they are from Israel

Many of the journalists in this room spilled plenty of ink, trying to smear Daniel Penny for defending a subway car from a deranged lunatic in New York City. But none of those same reporters lift a finger to write stories about an actual murderer.

- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressing the media ignoring the senseless stabbing of 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina, by a thug who screamed afterwards, “I got the white girl!”

Look at that video that chills our very souls out of Charlotte. That beautiful, young woman stabbed to death, murdered savagely on a subway just trying to get home from work, fleeing war, only to run into a Democrat war zone here in our country. That monster, 14 prior arrests in and out, in and out. The Democrat policies of catch and release for barbarians and savages is truly an act of terror…against the American people. It cannot be explained unless you deeply, fundamentally hate America.

- White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller

Moral of the story: Felonies do not come with a side of fries.

- Social media post by police in Auburn, Massachusetts, after they arrested two criminals who stopped off at a drive-thru after shoplifting more than $2,000 of merchandise from a T.J. Maxx

These individuals are terrorists responsible for smuggling deadly drugs into the United States. Next question.

– Vice President J.D. Vance when asked by a reporter what “legal authority” Trump had to blow up 11 narcos on a boat who were transporting narcotics into the U.S.

Law enforcement isn’t to prevent crime. They are there to solve crime, not necessarily prevent them from happening per se.

- Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX)

I know you’ve taken $855,000 from pharma companies.

- Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a Senate hearing responding to Sen. Elizabeth Warren screaming at him that he should not make certain vaccinations optional

What Russia and Ukraine Each Think Happens Next in the War Political Crossfire

President Donald Trump’s peace initiative for Ukraine – with its empty threats and fuzzy deadlines – has all but collapsed. What’s left is the battlefield, where Kyiv and Moscow keep slugging it out in a bloody war of attrition.

What lies ahead, then, in military terms, in Europe’s biggest war in nearly a century? For answers, I turned to commentary by top military strategists on both sides, who offered surprisingly detailed accounts of what they’re planning. The simple summary is that we’re likely to see more death and destruction without a decisive breakthrough by either side.

To live with this reality, Ukraine is quietly embracing a new doctrine described as “strategic neutralization” by Andriy Zagorodnyuk, the country’s former minister of defense. The concept, as he explained it in a Zoom call Friday from Kyiv, is to paralyze Russia’s forces on the ground and in the air, just as Ukraine has done in the Black Sea. Russia may keep fighting, but if this model holds, it won’t win.

We recently got a window into how Russia sees the war from Gen. Valery Gerasimov, the Russian chief of staff. On August 30, Gerasimov gathered his top commanders to “sum up the results of hostilities for the spring-summer period and clarify the tasks for the future.” His comments, published in Russia last week, were translated for me by Brig. Gen. Kevin Ryan, a retired U.S. Army officer who teaches at the Kyiv School of Economics.

“Today the strategic initiative is completely with the Russian forces,” Gerasimov told his commanders. He congratulated them for establishing buffer zones this summer in Kharkiv and Sumy in the northeast and pushing west in Dni-

By David Ignatius

propetrovsk. He urged them to continue “offensive operations” in all areas.

But even by Gerasimov’s account, Russia’s vaunted summer offensive has made only marginal advances. It hasn’t even conquered the four Ukrainian regions claimed by Russia in 2022, when the war began. Three years later, by Gerasimov’s calculation, Russia holds 79 percent of Donetsk, 74 percent of Zaporizhzhia, 76 percent of Kherson and 99.7 percent of Luhansk.

Russia’s modest gains have come at the immense cost of more than 1 million Russian dead and wounded, U.S. officials estimate. According to one U.S. assessment, Russia is suffering at least five casualties for every Ukrainian. In some battles, the ratio is said to be as high as 12 to 1.

Gerasimov knows that Ukraine’s most potent threat is missile and drone attacks against the Russian homeland. He reported “massive airstrikes” against facilities that make Ukrainian missiles, as well as factories that pro -

duce engines, warheads and fuel for these missiles. Russia also targeted control systems for drones, he said.

The Telegram post that reported Gerasimov’s briefing didn’t provide specifics about future operations. But a map visible behind him showed a dark boundary line that included all of Odesa in the south, together with all districts east of the Dnieper River, which he evidently sees as part of Russia’s future occupied territories.

How will Ukraine halt this slow but persistent advance? Zagorodnyuk described the strategy in Friday’s call, which expanded on an article he published recently. “The objective should not be to defeat Russia outright … but to systematically deny it the ability to achieve its military goals,” he argued. Victory means learning to thrive “under constant military pressure.”

The model is Ukraine’s success in neutering Russia’s mighty Black Sea fleet with drones and missile strikes. Zagorodnyuk told me that Ukraine can

so the same thing on land by expanding the “kill zone” for Russian forces from the current 12 miles behind the front line to between 80 and 100 miles. He said Ukraine is producing “mid-strike” weapons to do just this – at some of the plants Russia is trying to destroy.

The hardest part of a neutralization strategy is air defense, Zagorodnyuk said. Ukraine is striking Russian airfields and using electronic warfare to disable Russian glide bombs. To defeat big Shahed drones, it has developed an interceptor drone that detonates near the attacker. The biggest danger is Russian ballistic missiles. The only good defense now is U.S. Patriot missiles, but they’re too expensive and in short supply. Ukraine is developing alternatives, he said.

Ukraine, heroically, is embracing what might be described as “strategic pessimism.” The cavalry isn’t coming. Trump isn’t going to end the war in a day, or a year, or ever. Europe is commendably filling the gap as Trump retreats. But Europe is unlikely to provide any “security guarantees” until after there’s a ceasefire – which won’t happen anytime soon.

“If it is impossible to dissuade Putin,” writes Zagorodnyuk, “then the question is how to systematically obstruct his efforts. Ukraine’s strategy must now shift from trying to deter attacks to actively preventing Russian operational success, no matter how long the war continues.”

Ukraine may not win this war, Zagorodnyuk concedes, but neither will Russia. And for the defenders, that’s a kind of victory.

Political Crossfire

Jerry Nadler and the Moral Collapse of American Jewish Liberals

There was a time when Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) could be counted on as a stalwart defender of the Jewish state. I know this because I heard him speak at a street-corner, pro-Israel demonstration across from the United Nations in the late 1980s. Those were during the dark days of the First Intifada, when it was becoming clear that fashionable liberal political opinion started turning on Israel as it coped with violent Palestinian demonstrations within and around its borders. Even though The New York Times editorial page and other outlets popular in his Manhattan constituency were denouncing Jerusalem’s efforts to cope with the situation, Nadler turned up to express his solidarity.

That was a long time ago. But as the 78-year-old announced this week that he won’t run for a 17th term in Congress, it is difficult to square the sentiments I heard from him that day with the political figure he eventually became.

That was made obvious in July when, rather than showing up to support the Jewish state, he joined a protest against Israel’s just war of self-defense, outside the Israeli consulate in New York City, organized by the viciously anti-Israel group T’ruah.

Nadler is best known to most Americans because of his four years as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2023 and for stage-managing two separate impeachments of President Donald Trump. His truculent attitude during his time in the spotlight seemed to embody the hyper-partisan spirit of the moment for both liberals and conservatives. A knee-jerk opposition to Trump and the Republicans on every conceivable issue played well among Democrats, especially at home on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. He’s even garnering applause from liberal pundits for

By Jonathan S. Tobin

his retirement announcement because of his recognition that his party’s tradition, in which geriatrics hold onto power at the expense of younger people, and, as with the example of President Joe Biden, past the point where they are competent, is something that needs to end.

Cowardice

at a Moment of Peril

His relinquishing of a safe, deep-blue House seat where the GOP barely exists has set off a feeding frenzy among Democratic politicians and celebrities, including Chelsea Clinton, eager to succeed him. But the graceful manner in which he is exiting the office may be the best thing that can be said about the end of his career. While he may have been willing to stand up for Israel three and a half decades ago, at the moment of greatest peril for American Jewry and the Jewish state, he has deserted their cause.

In the two years since the Hamas-led Palestinian attacks on Israeli communities on Oct. 7, 2023, Nadler has provided a troubling example of how prominent liberal Democrats have chosen to side with the Jewish state’s foes.

He showed that his priority was staying in sync with the leftist base of his party and not in defending Jews during the unprecedented surge in antisemitism post-Oct. 7. He defended prominent Jew-haters like Mahmoud Khalil, organizer of the pro-Hamas mobs at Columbia University, in his own district. He opposed administration efforts to force Columbia and other universities to end their toleration and encouragement of antisemitism on their campuses. And, even as he declared himself to still be a supporter of Israel, he joined those who were mainstreaming Hamas propaganda about the current war, as well as echoing the blood libels about the Jewish state and its government being guilty of mass slaughter and war crimes, even supporting an arms embargo on it.

On top of that, this summer, Nadler endorsed New York state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist and virulent antisemite, after he won the Democratic mayoral primary in June. While many of his neighbors in what some wags call the “People’s Republic of the Upper West Side” fear for

their futures in the world’s greatest Jewish city, Nadler was smoothing the path to victory for a man who thinks there’s nothing wrong with chants advocating for Jewish genocide and the destruction of Israel (“From the river to the sea”) and terrorism against Jews (“Globalize the intifada”).

Why did Nadler go down this path?

Unlike many of his colleagues in the current Democratic caucus, Nadler had tried, as The New York Times noted, “to stake out space for a politics that was both pro-Israel and progressive.” While that may have worked in an earlier era when talk of a bipartisan pro-Israel consensus was more descriptive than aspirational, Nadler’s career arc demonstrates that the two categories are no longer compatible. In fact, they are now mutually exclusive.

The Shift on the Left

Nadler and others blame this on Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Of course, the leader of the Jewish state and its government are not exempt from criticism; however, what’s happened within the Democratic Party has very little to do with the actions of either. The so-called explanation for their alienation is their becoming disillusioned with Israeli policies. But the truth is that they are following the lead of progressives who have always been against Israel’s existence. That is the product of the left’s embrace of the toxic myths of critical race theory, intersectionality and settler-colonialism that branded Israel and Jews as “white oppressors,” who are always in the wrong and must therefore be brought down.

As we saw in the days, weeks and months since October 7, the rationale of those opposed to Israel’s just war to eradicate Hamas had more to do with a

belief that Israel must simply accept the continued presence on its southern border of an Islamist terrorist entity pledged to repeat those unspeakable atrocities. Their criticisms of efforts by the Jewish state to root out these genocidal murderers were untethered to any actual evidence of war crimes, let alone “genocide,” based on repetitions of the lies told by Hamas operatives and their enablers. Even worse, this stand involved a willingness to rationalize and excuse the way the pro-Hamas movement in the United States was engaged in acts of blatant antisemitic intimidation and violence. At a time when more and more Jews felt themselves under attack, even in institutions like Columbia, where they felt most at home, some Democrats, such as Nadler and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), claimed to be their defenders. But rather than helping to stem the tide of hate, they were still primarily focused on attacking Trump, even as he was doing more to combat antisemitism than they had ever done.

Perhaps not even a great man could have reversed the trend. But an independent thinker might have stubbornly sought to oppose the way his party’s base had succumbed to the far left in a way that would have been unthinkable back when Nadler was speaking in Israel’s defense on New York street corners.

The Arc of a Career Politician

For all of his obvious skill in holding onto office, no one has ever accused Nadler of independent thinking, let alone greatness.

Nadler is a classic example of a career politician. First elected to the New York State Assembly in 1976 at age 29, he spent the next decade and a half in a dogged pursuit of higher office, losing races for Manhattan Borough President and New York City Controller before finally winning a House seat in 1992. Since then, he has never faced serious opposition, though it was clear that he might be vulnerable to a younger, even more leftist primary challenger in 2026. His story, though, is more than that of a typical political hack. His journey from being a stalwart pro-Israel liberal to his current stance, in which he cowardly follows the political fashion of the day, even if it means mimicking pro-Hamas talking points, provides insight into a similar path being pursued by many American Jews.

If many liberals are now distancing themselves from Israel, it is not so much

a result of their horror at the spectacle of Israel being forced to fight a war against a foe determined to sacrifice its own population on the altar of their perverted cause. Rather, it is a product of the way partisanship has overwhelmed all other concerns for them and so many other Americans.

When being pro-Israel was seen as compatible with being a Democrat or even a natural position for someone in the

rent political framework since they are among those elements of the population most likely to be college-educated and therefore leaning left.

A Jewish Dilemma

But the events of the last two years have also created a dilemma for American Jews. Some longtime Democrats now recognize that, as much as they have differences with Trump and most Republicans,

For all of his obvious skill in holding onto office, no one has ever accused Nadler of independent thinking, let alone greatness.

party to take, there was no cost in doing so. But once the voices on the intersectional left became the loudest on that side of the aisle, politicians like Nadler began to back away from their former stances.

That was accelerated once Trump came down the escalator and into American lives in 2015. So great is the antagonism to the 45th/47th president that it became impossible for liberal Democrats to make common cause with him, even when he did things that they had long advocated for, such as moving the U.S. embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Nadler was a longtime supporter of the move; nevertheless, when Trump finally did it, he joined with the Israel-haters of J Street to oppose it.

Even worse, Nadler switched positions on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)’s widely accepted working definition of antisemitism. Initially, a sponsor of the Antisemitism Awareness Act enshrining it into American law, he eventually opposed it. His disingenuous protestations notwithstanding, he did only so because Trump had embraced it, and to make it safe for fellow Democrats like Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), as well as Mamdani, to avoid being properly labeled as the Jew-haters they are. Trump’s rise has set off a general realignment in American politics where working-class voters of all races are leaving the Democrats for the GOP, with credentialed elites moving in the opposite direction. The overwhelming majority of Jews have been a dependable voting bloc for Democrats for the last century. Such partisan loyalty fits neatly into the cur -

on the one issue that is most directly connected to their safety and that of their fellow Jews here and in Israel, they are outside of their party’s new consensus. That presents them with a difficult choice in which they must decide which is their priority: staying loyal to the Democrats and prioritizing their hatred

for Trump, or holding their noses and stepping away from a party that is more and more on the side of those seeking Israel’s destruction and enabling antisemitism in the United States.

Those who choose the latter exemplify the moral collapse of a brand of American liberalism that is incapable of defending its values against illiberal and antisemitic progressives who are willing to consign Jews to the status of an unprotected and despised “oppressor” minority.

We know what choice Jerry Nadler made as he put his finger up to the wind in recent years. He abandoned a principled pro-Israel position to pursue the favor of a party base that swallowed the big lie about the Palestinian war to destroy the only Jewish state on the planet being the moral equivalent of the struggle for civil rights in America. While a significant number of Jewish liberals are beginning to understand that their political home is rejecting them, many others, like Nadler, have chosen their party over the fight against antisemitism.

Jonathan

S. Tobin is editor-in-chief of JNS (Jewish News Syndicate).

Doha Airstrike Narrows Israel’s Options in the Gaza War Political Crossfire

Israel’s attack on Hamas’s political leadership in Qatar’s capital on Tuesday signaled that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making an allout blitz to force the group to surrender in the Gaza war.

The strike seemed likely to destroy Qatar’s role as a mediator in the conflict, eliminating one of the channels Israel has used to pass messages to Hamas leaders in Gaza. It followed an ultimatum Sunday from President Donald Trump, which the Hamas leaders in Doha had been planning to discuss on Tuesday, according to an Arab source.

This Israeli drive toward an endgame in Gaza shows that Netanyahu is now so determined, and arguably desperate, to destroy Hamas that he’s busting previous norms and restraints. If you’re looking for a literary analogy, think of the moment in “Moby Dick” when Captain Ahab destroys his quadrant and goes all-in on his pursuit of the White Whale.

Qatari officials reacted with shock and a sense of betrayal – and private warnings to Washington that their mediating work is now impossible. The Qataris called Trump soon after the attack, but officials didn’t provide any details about the conversation.

On Sunday, Trump had warned that events in Gaza were coming to a head. He posted on social media that he had proposed a final deal that would include the release of all hostages and the exchange of all Palestinian prisoners. “The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well,” he wrote on Truth Social. “I have warned Hamas about the consequences of not accepting. This is my last warning, there will not be another one!”

An Israeli official detailed Trump’s proposal: On day one, Hamas would release all 48 hostages, 20 alive and 28 corpses.

By David Ignatius

Israel would withdraw from all of Gaza and begin to release about 1,000 Palestinians. On day two, Trump would personally take charge of negotiations for a political transition and reconstruction in Gaza.

The Doha attack targeted Hamas officials who had gathered in a villa in a

of events. Qatar’s prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, had met with Hamas representatives on Monday to share a proposal that Trump envoy Steve Witkoff delivered last week in Paris. The Hamas representatives, perhaps including some who had just arrived

and well-protected air base at al-Udeid in Qatar, it’s unlikely that the U.S. military would have failed to detect Israeli air activity preceding the attack.

Early reports from Arab sources suggested that the Israeli strike hadn’t killed the intended targets, Hamas senior leaders Khaled Meshal and Khalil al-Hayya, but had killed al-Hayya’s son. Precise details of the Israeli strike weren’t immediately available.

For Qatar, the attack was a breach of what its leaders thought was an understanding with Israel and the United States to protect their position as an intermediary with Hamas and in other conflicts. Qatar helped broker hostage exchanges with the Biden administration in November 2023 and January 2025. When Trump was elected, Qatari officials continued to help with Hamas – and became intermediaries in Trump’s efforts to resolve the Rwanda-Congo conflict and the bitter standoff between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Qatar was also Trump’s intermediary with Iran in the truce that ended Iran’s 12-day war with Israel.

This Israeli drive toward an endgame in Gaza shows that Netanyahu is now so determined, and arguably desperate, to destroy Hamas that he’s busting previous norms and restraints.

busy area just north of the city center. Qatar, which tries to maintain a mediating role among the warring combatants in the Middle East, now has the distinction of having been attacked by both Israel and Iran in the convulsive war that has swept the region.

An Arab source described the chain

from Turkey, decided to meet again on Tuesday to discuss the proposal. Israel, presumably knowing the group had gathered in Doha, chose to attack.

The White House was warned of the Israeli attack shortly before the missiles hit their target, an Arab source said. Because the United States maintains a huge

For Netanyahu and Trump, the question is: What’s next? Both demand a Hamas surrender. But how will they negotiate it with the Qatari channel shattered and a parallel Egyptian path probably also obstructed? By undermining diplomatic options for ending the conflict, Israel has narrowed its path forward. Its only choice now might be military reoccupation of most of Gaza –something that Israeli officials say they badly want to avoid.

The Gaza war has redrawn the map of the Middle East. Tuesday’s actions risked obliterating one of the few pathways toward a negotiated settlement of this devastating conflict.

© 2025, Washington Post Writers Group

Political Crossfire

Hamas’ Refusal to Give Up Is Grounded in Ideology

By Adam Rasgon

JERUSALEM — Israel has killed thousands of Hamas’ fighters, taken out most of its senior military command, and destroyed much of its arsenal and underground tunnel network.

The country’s relentless military campaign has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, cities have been reduced to rubble, and people have struggled daily to find enough food, water and electricity.

And yet Hamas has refused to surrender. The group wants to secure its future in the Gaza Strip, but its unwillingness to give up to Israel and disarm is also rooted in its ideology.

Since the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which ignited the war in Gaza, the group’s leaders have acknowledged that the resulting Israeli counterattack has caused enormous destruction. But they have said it is a “price” Palestinians must pay for their ultimate freedom.

In interviews, some Hamas leaders have said that the group’s calculation was less about defeating Israel on the battlefield and more about drawing the government into an intractable conflict, one that isolates it diplomatically and undermines its international support. Eventually, they say, Israel will be compelled to realize that its policies toward Palestinians are not sustainable.

“Surrender, as Israel and America are calling for it, is not in Hamas’ dictionary,” said Khaled al-Hroub, a professor at Northwestern University in Qatar who has written books about the group.

Izz al-Din al-Haddad, the leader of Hamas’ military wing, said recently that if he cannot get what he described as an

honorable deal to end the war with Israel, then the conflict would become a war of liberation or the group would face “martyrdom,” according to a senior Middle Eastern intelligence official familiar with al-Haddad’s thinking.

What Hamas considers to be an “honorable deal” is an agreement that could lead to the end of the war and enable the group to continue wielding power in Gaza.

Hamas has previously agreed to temporary ceasefires with Israel in part to provide relief to people in Gaza. But it has firmly rejected ending the war on terms set by Israel, which has demanded the group disarm and send its leaders into exile, and has shown a willingness to tolerate the ongoing suffering of civilians in pursuit of the deal that it wants.

There are no suggestions that Hamas’ position is shifting. This week, it released a statement reiterating that it was ready to accept a deal that would see the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza in exchange for a number of Palestinian prisoners, an end to the war and a withdrawal of Israeli forces.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas by force or dismantle it through negotiation, and has rebuffed any deal on the end of the conflict that would leave the group intact.

Civilians in Gaza have paid the highest price for the continuation of the war.

“Have Hamas’ weapons stopped Israel from killing us?” said Abdullah Shehab, 32, who has been staying at his sister’s home in Gaza City since he was forced to leave his hometown, Jabalia, at the end of May.

“Have they stopped Israel from invading our cities? The only thing Hamas’ weapons

have done is given Israel a justification to continue the massacres.”

During the October attack, some 1,200 people were killed and about 250 others were abducted, according to Israeli authorities. While Hamas has celebrated the attack, more than 60,000 people in Gaza have been killed in the ensuing war, said the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The seemingly irreconcilable positions of Hamas and Israel on how to end the war suggest that the fighting will continue until one side is forced to compromise.

And Hamas believes that Israel will eventually come to terms with an agreement that does not require the group to give in, Palestinian political analysts say.

“They know that the continuation of the war is very costly, but they’re hopeful that they’ll get a deal they can live with, if they remain patient and steadfast,” said Esmat Mansour, a Palestinian analyst who spent years in Israeli prisons with several top Hamas leaders.

“They see the internal and external pressure on Israel to end the war and they know that Israel can’t free the captives without them,” he added. “So they’re saying to themselves, ‘Why should we surrender when we can get something better?’”

Still, Mansour said, Hamas may conclude that to maintain some power it needs to make difficult concessions, like suspending military recruitment and training and putting its weapons in storage, potentially overseen by a third party.

Ibrahim Madhoun, a Palestinian analyst close to Hamas, said the group needed “an exit” from the war. “The problem is Israel has closed all the exits,” he said. Hamas, at least publicly, has refused to entertain discussions about abandoning its weapons or sending its commanders into exile. Husam Badran, a senior Hamas offi-

cial, framed the group’s refusal to surrender as safeguarding Palestinians.

“We’re dealing with an extremist government that carried out massacres at the expense of our people and that is still plotting the killing, slaughter and expulsion of our people,” he said in a text message. “We can’t stop defending ourselves and our people in light of the impotence of the international community and the clear American complicity.”

“Without a clear political agreement that protects the Palestinian people and its land, the resistance will continue its fight,” Badran added.

Another Hamas official, Taher El-Nounou, recently suggested that the war could ultimately turn in Hamas’ favor, a result that appears unlikely given Israel’s military advantage. Asked on Russia Today’s Arabic-language channel whether carrying out the 2023 attack had been the right decision, he said nobody could judge the results of the war while it was still ongoing.

“Before the Normandy landing, Germany was occupying almost all of Europe,” he said, referring to a costly but decisive battle during World War II. “After that landing, the situation changed.”

Residents of Gaza are facing the reality that the war could drag on into a third year. Though outraged by Israel’s continued bombing campaign, many are also frustrated with Hamas.

Conceding defeat, Shehab, the displaced man in Gaza City, said, would be the least Hamas could do to take responsibility for “the catastrophic error” of the October 2023 attack — one that “caused plunder greater than the Nakba of 1948,” the dispossession and displacement of Palestinians after Israel’s founding.

But he had little hope Hamas would agree to step aside. “We’re trapped,” he said.

© The New York Times

Political Crossfire As Syria Tries to Move Away From Dictatorship, Signs of Authoritarianism Linger

By Raja Abdulrahim

Syria’s new leaders have taken steps to steer the country away from dictatorship, with plans to overhaul the prison and security systems that were central to the rule by fear under the old Assad regime. But their handling of waves of sectarian violence, their lack of inclusivity and the concentration of power in the hands of a few have raised concerns that their evolving style of governance remains rooted in authoritarianism.

For more than five decades under the Assad family, Syria was a security state ruled by terror, where the prison system stood as a grim instrument and symbol of intimidation. Torture and executions were rife in prisons that were used to detain and disappear tens of thousands of people and keep the population under oppressive control.

In May, the Interior Ministry announced that it would overhaul the security and prison systems, with the goal of upholding human rights and preserving the dignity of inmates. This could entail building entirely new prisons or renovating existing ones to meet humane standards, the ministry said.

The “tyranny of security forces” is over, Nour al-Din al-Baba, an Interior Ministry spokesperson, told The New York Times.

Still, there are a number of signs that those who ousted President Bashar Assad in December have not completely abandoned the old ways.

The new president, Ahmad alSharaa, an Islamist former rebel leader, has governed by keeping power concentrated in his hands and those of a small group of loyalists, including his brothers.

“Structurally, it’s still very much a strong presidential system similar to Assad,” said Mona Yacoubian, director of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “There is resistance to decentralizing power” and allowing various communities to have a say in governance, she added, even though that is essential for Syria given the country’s diverse array of religious and ethnic minorities.

Lara Nelson, the policy director at ETANA Syria, a research organization, said there are “worrying signs of continuity.”

That said, the differences between the past and current governments are

substantial, experts said. Human rights groups have welcomed efforts to overhaul Syria’s police state style of governance, though they say it is too early to fully assess the success.

When the Interior Ministry announced changes to the security branches in May, it said it would create government offices to receive complaints and maintain accountability. That idea is a far cry from the Assad days, when Syrians feared even going near security buildings.

“These are important moves,” Yacoubian said, which suggest Syria’s leaders are determined not to go back down the same path as the previous government. “And that is encouraging.”

The choosing of a new parliament, planned for later this month, was initially welcomed as a step toward a more democratic system. It has instead become a point of contention.

Of the 210 seats, a third will be directly appointed by the president. The remaining parliamentarians will be selected through local electoral bodies formed by the government, with a fifth of all seats reserved for women.

And last week, the elections commission indefinitely postponed voting in three provinces where the government does not have control, instead appointing candidates to represent the areas, according to state media. It was a stark reminder of the challenges that al-Sharaa faces in uniting a country fractured by nearly 14 years of civil war.

A Kurdish-led autonomous government that still controls much of northeast Syria had been in negotiations with the central government in Damascus to unify and integrate into the national political and military structures. Those negotiations have now stalled.

The Kurdish leadership criticized the elections as “an attempt to reproduce the exclusionary policies that have governed Syria for decades” and said they do not reflect the will of the people.

The lack of inclusivity in decision-making has led to a distrust of the government among minority communities such as Christians, Alawites, Druse and Kurds, posing what is perhaps the biggest challenge to unifying the country. Members of minority groups appointed to government positions have been dismissed by some experts as tokens.

“The most concerning for me is not

Members of a committee involved in the choosing of a new Syrian Parliament attend a training session, in a hall of the Parliament in Damascus, Syria, Sept. 6, 2025

being inclusive or open to those with different political affiliations,” said Dima Moussa, a lawyer and opposition activist during the Assad regime.

The chasm has been underscored by three waves of bloody sectarian violence in the past six months involving government forces or their supporters. In the latest outburst, hundreds of people were killed in July in the southern province of Sweida after clashes erupted between armed Bedouin tribes and the Druze religious minority.

Human rights groups said that in all three outbreaks, forces affiliated with the government were implicated in extrajudicial killings and other violence, motivated by revenge or sectarianism.

The government condemned the killings by its forces, which it said were acting outside the law, and launched investigations.

“The country remains deeply fragile,

particularly on issues like the economy and security, as well as restructuring of the armed forces.”

Al-Sharaa’s government does include some ministers with professional experience from the Syrian diaspora, as well as members of minority groups and one woman. That went some way toward his stated commitment to an inclusive administration.

But he appointed close allies to the most powerful ministries such as defense, foreign affairs and interior, relying on a small circle of loyalists who were with him during the years when he led Islamist rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

The interior minister, Anas Khattab, oversaw internal security for the rebel group, which was once affiliated with al-Qaida. He now oversees the rebuilding and organization of security and police forces.

The

lack of inclusivity in decision-making has led to a distrust of the government among minority communities such as Christians, Alawites, Druse and Kurds

and the transition remains on a knifeedge,” the U.N. special envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, told the U.N. Security Council recently.

“Syrians need to feel that this transition is not a series of ad hoc arrangements and isolated institutions, but a clear and comprehensive path, based on inclusion and transparency,” he said. Without credible reforms and stronger government institutions, Syria risked squandering critical international support, he added.

Revenge-fueled and sectarian violence has undermined what government officials have said are their priorities: establishing security and stability, promoting domestic peace and uniting the country.

The true test will be in the implementation of the planned overhauls and discipline of security forces, Yacoubian said.

“There is still a lot of room for improvement,” said Moussa, now a women’s rights activist. “And we think at this point, it should be further along than where it is in terms of achievements,

After the rebels swept into power, they dismissed all police and security officers, who were seen as tools of Assad’s oppressive regime. Some of the police have since been allowed to return to their jobs, while thousands of new officers have been recruited over the past nine months, going through a fast-track training regimen with the aim of getting them on the streets quickly.

The foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, has also been with al-Sharaa for years and previously handled external relations for Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS. His role now extends far beyond Syria’s foreign relations and is akin to that of prime minister, with many other ministers reporting to him, according to foreign officials who interact with the government.

“What we have seen is only the symbolic inclusion of some token ministers, and they haven’t been given any power,” said Nelson, the ETANA policy director. “HTS still holds the main levers of power across government.”

Political Crossfire

How a Top Secret SEAL Team 6 Mission Into North Korea Fell Apart

By Dave Philipps and Matthew Cole

Agroup of Navy SEALs emerged from the ink-black ocean on a winter night in early 2019 and crept to a rocky shore in North Korea. They were on a top secret mission so complex and consequential that everything had to go exactly right.

The objective was to plant an electronic device that would let the United States intercept the communications of North Korea’s reclusive leader, Kim Jong Un, amid high-level nuclear talks with President Donald Trump.

The mission had the potential to provide the United States with a stream of valuable intelligence. But it meant putting American commandos on North Korean soil — a move that, if detected, not only could sink negotiations but also could lead to a hostage crisis or an escalating conflict with a nuclear-armed foe.

It was so risky that it required the president’s direct approval.

For the operation, the military chose SEAL Team 6’s Red Squadron — the same unit that killed Osama bin Laden. The SEALs rehearsed for months, aware that every move needed to be perfect. But when they reached what they

thought was a deserted shore that night, wearing black wet suits and night-vision goggles, the mission swiftly unraveled.

A North Korean boat appeared out of the dark. Flashlights from the bow swept over the water. Fearing that they had been spotted, the SEALs opened

Trump administration did not notify key members of Congress who oversee intelligence operations, before or after the mission. The lack of notification may have violated the law.

The White House declined to comment.

The SEALs would ride immersed in 40-degree ocean water for about two hours to reach the shore, using scuba gear and heated suits to survive.

fire. Within seconds, everyone on the North Korean boat was dead.

The SEALs retreated into the sea without planting the listening device.

The 2019 operation has never been publicly acknowledged, or even hinted at, by the United States or North Korea. The details remain classified and are being reported here for the first time. The

This account is based on interviews with two dozen people, including civilian government officials, members of the first Trump administration and current and former military personnel with knowledge of the mission. All of them spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the mission’s classified status.

Several of those people said they

were discussing details about the mission because they were concerned that Special Operations failures are often hidden by government secrecy. If the public and policymakers become aware only of high-profile successes, such as the raid that killed bin Laden in Pakistan, they may underestimate the extreme risks that U.S. forces undertake.

The military operation on North Korean soil, close to U.S. military bases in South Korea and the Pacific region, also risked setting off a broader conflict with a hostile, nuclear-armed and highly militarized adversary.

The New York Times proceeds cautiously when reporting on classified military operations. The Times has withheld some sensitive information on the North Korea mission that could affect future Special Operations and intelligence-gathering missions.

It is unclear how much North Korea was able to discover about the mission. But the SEAL operation is one chapter in a decades-long effort by U.S. administrations to engage North Korea and constrain its nuclear weapons programs. Almost nothing the United

Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump walking in the DMZ that divides North Korea and South Korea

States has tried — neither promises of closer relations nor the pressure of sanctions — has worked.

In 2019, Trump was making a personalized overture to Kim, in search of a breakthrough that had eluded prior presidents. But those talks collapsed, and North Korea’s nuclear program accelerated. The U.S. government estimates that North Korea now has roughly 50 nuclear weapons and missiles that can reach the West Coast. Kim has pledged to keep expanding his nuclear program “exponentially” to deter what he calls U.S. provocations.

Blind Spots

The SEAL mission was intended to fix a strategic blind spot. For years, U.S. intelligence agencies had found it nearly impossible to recruit human sources and tap communications in North Korea’s insular authoritarian state.

Gaining insight into Kim’s thinking became a high priority when Trump first took office. The North Korean leader seemed increasingly unpredictable and dangerous, and his relationship with Trump had lurched erratically between letters of friendship and public threats of nuclear war.

In 2018, relations seemed to be moving toward peace. North Korea suspended nuclear and missile tests, and the two countries opened negotiations, but the United States still had little insight into Kim’s intentions.

Amid the uncertainty, U.S. intelligence agencies revealed to the White House that they had a fix for the intelligence problem: a newly developed electronic device that could intercept Kim’s communications.

The catch was that someone had to sneak in and plant it.

The job was given to SEAL Team 6 in 2018, military officials said.

Even for Team 6, the mission would be extraordinarily difficult. SEALs who were more used to quick raids in places like Afghanistan and Iraq would have to survive for hours in frigid seas, slip past security forces on land, perform a precise technical installation and then get out undetected.

Getting out undetected was vital. In Trump’s first term, top leaders in the Pentagon believed that even a small military action against North Korea could provoke catastrophic retaliation from an adversary with roughly 8,000 artillery pieces and rocket launchers aimed at the approximately 28,000 U.S. troops in South Korea, and nucle -

ar-capable missiles that could reach the United States.

But the SEALs believed they could pull off the mission because they had done something like it before.

In 2005, SEALs used a mini-sub to go ashore in North Korea and leave unnoticed, according to people familiar with the mission. The 2005 operation, carried out during the presidency of George W. Bush, has never before been reported publicly.

The SEALs were proposing to do it again. In the fall of 2018, while high-level talks with North Korea were underway, Joint Special Operations Command, which oversees Team 6, received approval from Trump to start preparing, military officials said. It is unclear whether Trump’s intent was to gain an immediate advantage during negotiations or if the focus was broader.

Joint Special Operations Command declined to comment.

The plan called for the Navy to sneak a nuclear-powered submarine, nearly two football fields long, into the waters off North Korea and then deploy a small team of SEALs in two mini-subs, each about the size of a killer whale, that would motor silently to the shore.

The mini-subs were wet subs, which meant the SEALs would ride immersed in 40-degree ocean water for about two hours to reach the shore, using scuba gear and heated suits to survive.

Near the beach, the mini-subs would release a group of about eight SEALs who would swim to the target, install the device and then slip back into the sea.

But the team faced a serious limitation: It would be going in almost blind.

Typically, Special Operations forces have drones overhead during a mission, streaming high-definition video of the target, which SEALs on the ground and senior leaders in far-off command centers can use to direct the strike in real time. Often, they can even listen in on enemy communications.

But in North Korea, any drone would be spotted. The mission would have to rely on satellites in orbit and high-altitude spy planes in international airspace miles away that could provide only relatively low-definition still images, officials said.

Those images would arrive not in real time, but after a delay of several minutes at best. Even then, they could not be relayed to the mini-subs because a single encrypted transmission might give the mission away. Everything had to be done under a near blackout of communications.

If anything awaited the SEALs on shore, they might not know until it was too late.

The Operation Unravels

SEAL Team 6 practiced for months in U.S. waters and continued preparations into the first weeks of 2019. That February, Trump announced that he would meet Kim for a nuclear summit in Vietnam at the end of the month.

For the mission, SEAL Team 6 partnered with the Navy’s premier underwater team, SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1, which had been doing mini-sub espionage for years. The SEALs boarded the nuclear-powered submarine and headed for North Korea. When the submarine was in the open ocean, and about to enter a communications blackout, Trump

gave the final go-ahead.

It is unclear what factors Trump weighed when approving the SEAL mission. Two of his top national security officials at that time — his national security adviser, John Bolton, and the acting defense secretary, Patrick M. Shanahan — declined to comment for this article.

The submarine neared the North Korean coast and launched two mini-subs, which motored to a spot about 100 yards from shore, in clear, shallow water.

Mission planners had tried to compensate for having no live overhead video by spending months watching how people came and went in the area. They studied fishing patterns and chose a time when boat traffic would be scant. The intelligence suggested that if SEALs arrived silently in the right location in the dead of night in winter, they would be unlikely to encounter anyone.

The night was still, and the sea was calm. As the mini-subs glided toward the target, their sensors suggested that the intelligence was correct. The shore appeared to be empty.

The mini-subs reached the spot where they were supposed to park on the seafloor. There, the team made what may have been the first of three small mistakes that seemed inconsequential at the time but may have doomed the mission.

In the darkness, the first mini-sub settled on the seafloor as planned, but the second overshot the mark and had to do a U-turn, officials said.

The plan called for the mini-subs to park facing the same way, but after the second sub doubled back, they were pointing in opposite directions. Time was limited, so the group decided to release the shore team and correct the parking issue later.

Sliding doors on the subs opened, and the SEALs — all gripping untraceable weapons loaded with untraceable ammunition — swam silently underwater to shore with the listening device.

Every few yards, the SEALs peeked above the black water to scan their surroundings. Everything seemed clear.

That might have been a second mistake. Bobbing in the darkness was a small boat. On board was a crew of North Koreans who were easy to miss because the sensors in the SEALs’ night-vision goggles were designed in part to detect heat, and the wet suits the Koreans wore were chilled by the cold seawater.

The SEALs reached shore thinking they were alone and started to remove

Members of Navy SEALs training in the water.

their diving gear. The target was only a few hundred yards away.

Back at the mini-subs, the pilots repositioned the sub that was facing the wrong way. With the sliding cockpit doors open for visibility and communication, a pilot revved the electric motor and brought the sub around.

That was probably a third mistake. Some SEALs speculated afterward in briefings that the motor’s wake might have caught the attention of the North Korean boat. And if the boat crew heard a splash and turned to look, they might have seen light from the subs’ open cockpits glowing in the dark water.

The boat started moving toward the mini-subs. The North Koreans were shining flashlights and talking as if they had noticed something.

Some of the mini-sub pilots told officials in debriefings afterward that from their vantage point, looking up through the clear water, the boat still seemed to be a safe distance away and they had doubted that the mini-subs had been spotted. But the SEALs at the shore saw it differently. In the dark, featureless sea, the boat to them seemed to be practically on top of the mini-subs.

With communications blacked out, there was no way for the shore team to confer with the mini-subs. Lights from the boat swept over the water. The SEALs didn’t know if they were seeing a security patrol on the hunt for them or a simple fishing crew oblivious to the high-stakes mission unfolding around them.

A man from the North Korean boat splashed into the sea.

If the shore team got into trouble, the nuclear-powered sub had a group of SEAL reinforcements standing by with inflatable speedboats. Farther offshore, stealth rotary aircraft were positioned on U.S. Navy ships with even more Special Operations troops, ready to sweep in if needed.

The SEALs faced a critical decision, but there was no way to discuss the next move. The mission commander was miles away on the big submarine. With no drones and a communications blackout, many of the technological advantages that the SEALs normally relied on had been stripped away, leaving a handful of men in wet neoprene, unsure of what to do.

As the shore team watched the North Korean in the water, the senior enlisted SEAL at the shore chose a course of action. He wordlessly centered his rifle and fired. The other SEALs instinctively did the same.

Compromise and Escape

If the SEALs were unsure whether the mission had been compromised before they fired, they had no doubt afterward. The plan required the SEALs to abort immediately if they encountered anyone. North Korean security forces could be coming. There was no time to plant the device.

The shore team swam to the boat to make sure that all of the North Koreans were dead. They found no guns or uniforms. Evidence suggested that the crew, which people briefed on the mission said numbered two or three people, had been civilians diving for shellfish. All were dead, including the man in the water.

Officials familiar with the mission said the SEALs pulled the bodies into the water to hide them from North Korean authorities. One added that the SEALs punctured the boat crew’s lungs with knives to make sure their bodies would sink.

brief meeting yielded little more than a handshake.

In the months that followed, North Korea fired more missiles than in any previous year, including some capable of reaching the United States. Since then, the United States estimates, North Korea has amassed 50 nuclear warheads and material to produce about 40 more.

Uneven Track Record

The aborted SEAL mission prompted a series of military reviews during Trump’s first term. They found that the killing of civilians was justified under the rules of engagement, and that the mission was undone by a collision of unfortunate occurrences that could not have been foreseen or avoided. The findings were classified.

The Trump administration never told leaders of key committees in Congress that oversee military and intel -

The SEALs believed they could pull off the mission because they had done something like it before.

The SEALs swam back to the minisubs and sent a distress signal. Believing the SEALs were in imminent danger of capture, the big nuclear submarine maneuvered into shallow water close to the shore, taking a significant risk to pick them up. It then sped toward the open ocean.

All the U.S. military personnel escaped unharmed.

Immediately afterward, U.S. spy satellites detected a surge of North Korean military activity in the area, U.S. officials said. North Korea did not make any public statements about the deaths, and U.S. officials said it was unclear whether the North Koreans ever pieced together what had happened and who was responsible.

The nuclear summit in Vietnam went ahead as planned at the end of February 2019, but the talks quickly ended with no deal.

By May, North Korea had resumed missile tests.

Trump and Kim met once more that June in the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. It made for dramatic television, with Trump even stepping across into North Korea. But the

years, the SEALs have had a number of major successes, including hits on terrorist leaders, high-profile rescues of hostages and the takedown of bin Laden, that have built an almost superhuman public image.

But among some in the military who have worked with them, the SEALs have a reputation for devising overly bold and complex missions that go badly. Team 6’s debut mission, which was part of the U.S. invasion of Grenada in 1983, is a case in point.

The plan was to parachute into the sea, race to the coast in speedboats and plant beacons to guide assault forces to the island’s airport. But the SEALs’ plane took off late; they jumped at night and landed in stormy conditions, weighed down by heavy gear. Four SEALs drowned, and the rest swamped their speedboats.

The airfield was later seized by Army Rangers who parachuted directly onto the airfield.

Since then, SEALs have mounted other complex and daring missions that unraveled, in Panama, Afghanistan, Yemen and Somalia. During a rescue mission in Afghanistan in 2010, Team 6 SEALs accidentally killed a hostage they were trying to rescue with a grenade and then misled superiors about how she had died.

ligence activities about the operation or the findings, government officials said. In doing so, the Trump administration may have violated federal law, said Matthew Waxman, a law professor at Columbia University who served in national security positions under Bush.

Waxman said the law has gray areas that give presidents some leeway on what they tell Congress. But on more consequential missions, the burden leans more toward notification.

“The point is to ensure that Congress isn’t kept in the dark when major stuff is going on,” Waxman said. “This is exactly the kind of thing that would normally be briefed to the committees and something the committees would expect to be told about.”

Many of the people involved in the mission were later promoted.

But the episode worried some experienced military officials with knowledge of the mission, because the SEALs have an uneven track record that for decades has largely been concealed by secrecy.

Elite Special Operations units are regularly assigned some of the most difficult and dangerous tasks. Over the

In part because of this track record, President Barack Obama curtailed Special Operations missions late in his second term and increased oversight, reserving complex commando raids for extraordinary situations like hostage rescues.

The first Trump administration reversed many of those restrictions and cut the amount of high-level deliberation for sensitive missions. A few days after taking office in 2017, Trump skipped over much of the established deliberative process to greenlight a Team 6 raid on a village in Yemen. That mission left 30 villagers and a SEAL dead and destroyed a $75 million aircraft.

When President Joe Biden succeeded Trump, the gravity of the North Korea mission attracted renewed scrutiny. Biden’s defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, ordered an independent investigation, conducted by the lieutenant general in charge of the Army inspector general’s office.

In 2021, the Biden administration briefed key members of Congress on the findings, a former government official said.

Those findings remain classified.

Forgotten Her es The Heroes of the National Guard

By Avi Heiligman

In recent weeks, President Donald Trump has deployed National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., on a mission to help curb the out-of-control crime in the nation’s capital. Earlier in 2025, Trump sent 2,000 California National Guardsmen to Los Angeles in response to the violence perpetrated upon ICE and other law enforcements agents. These domestic deployments are just two of the more recent in the many National Guard missions in their long and significant history.

The National Guard serves both federal government and the state in which it represents. The men and women who serve in the National Guard or the Air National Guard do so part-time and are often called citizen soldiers due to their status as militia. They can be used on a state level to respond to disasters like floods or hurricanes, provide security and law enforcement during civil unrest, or offer support to the general public when called upon. National Guard units can be federalized, and when that happens, their duties include overseas combat roles, homeland security, border defense, training foreign troops and air support both for defense and combat operations.

Organized militias, a military force that fills its ranks with civilians, date back to the pre-revolutionary days. The first American military was based in Massachusetts in 1636 with three regi-

ments to defend the colony. They drilled once a week, and a few were on duty at night. All three of these regiments are still active today, having evolved into the 101 st Engineer Battalion, the 101 st Field Artillery Regiment and the 182nd Infantry Regiment. Militias continued through the Revolutionary War and provided much needed manpower to General Washington and the Continental Army.

During the 1790s, Congress passed two acts allowing states to form militias and for the president to have the power to

State militias and the National Guard were important parts of the military in almost every American conflict.

Prior to the American Civil War (18611865), the standing U.S. Army was small and during the war relied heavily on volunteers from the states for manpower. When the war began, President Abraham Lincoln called upon 75,000 militiamen to serve for three months in the army.

As the months dragged into years, more men were needed, and the duration of their service was extended.

State militias and the National Guard were important parts of the military in almost every American conflict.

take control of them during an invasion or rebellion. The Militia Act of 1862 allowed for all males, regardless of race, to join the militia. In 1903, Congress passed another act, this time laying the groundwork for the modernization of the militia. This act also recommended the use of the term National Guard for all militia members. Previously, only New York had used the name National Guard for its troops.

During the Spanish American War in 1898, President William McKinley asked for 125,000 volunteers from the states to help boost the small numbers in the regular army. The men from the state militias were organized into volunteer regiments and also served with the U.S. Navy. The Rough Riders under future President Theodore Roosevelt were from the First Volunteer Cavalry Regiment

which included members of the New Mexico National Guard. The regiment is most known for its charge up Kettle Hill during the Battle of San Juan Hill.

The National Guard was very active during the 20th and 21st conflicts and were major parts of the military during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm, and the global War on Terror. After World War II, the aviation units, which up until that time had been a part of the Army Air Corps, became a reserve element for the Air Force called the Air National Guard. Following the September 11 attacks, Air National Guard planes were sent to patrol the skies for any additional threats.

Domestically, the National Guard has been called upon many times from missions ranging from restoring order to disaster relief. In 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas National Guard to desegregate a school in Little Rock. National Guard units are often used to help restore peace during riots. National Guardsmen were also activated in 2020 during the George Floyd protests. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, 50,000 National Guardsmen from all states were sent to Louisiana and Mississippi to assist with search and rescue, disaster assistance and the overall cleanup effort. They were also used during the COVID pandemic for a variety of missions that included distri-

Members of the Massachusetts militia in 1636

George W. Bush served in the Air National Guard

Harry S. Truman as a member of the Missouri National Guard

bution of vital supplies, medical support in hospitals, virus testing and operating vaccine sites.

Many famous people were members of National Guard units, including several presidents. Abraham Lincoln served in the Illinois State Militia during the Black Hawk War. Two future presidents served in the National Guard after the Militia Act of 1903. Harry S. Truman enlisted in the Missouri National Guard in 1905. As an artillery commander, Truman was the sole president to have seen combat during

World War I. His unit engaged in heavy fighting without losing a single soldier, and his effective leadership in the field prepared him to be a strong president during a time of war. The other National Guard president in the 20th century was George W. Bush, who served with the Texas Air National Guard as a pilot flying in an F-102 Delta Dagger.

Francis Scott Key was part of the DC Militia as a lieutenant in the Georgetown Field Artillery during the War of 1812.

In September 1814, he boarded a British

ship during the Battle of Baltimore to help secure the release of Dr. William Beanes. While successful in the overall mission –the doctor was set free – Key was forced to spend 25 hours on the ship while it bombarded Fort McHenry. As they watched the battle unfold eight miles away, they couldn’t tell who was winning. On the morning of September 14, the smoke began to clear and “at the dawn’s early light…our flag was still there.” Key put his thoughts down on the back of a letter, and his poem became our national anthem.

Over 120 National Guardsmen have been awarded the Medal of Honor for their bravery in action. In a future article, we’ll delve into their stories of heroism on the battlefield.

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.

Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard responding to flooding, 2022

Members of the National Guard patrolling during the George Floyd protests

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