Jewish Home LA 10-3-13

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A new six-week course by the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute

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odern medicine has brought us near miracles. It has also brought us some of the most difficult decisions we’ll ever have to face. Are we obliged to prolong life even at the cost of terrible suffering? Should we legalize the sale of organs, such as kidneys, to save the lives of transplant patients? When it seems that every available option is morally questionable, how do we decide?

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Jewish Perspectives on Everyday Medical Dilemmas

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LIFE IN THE BALANCE

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october 3, 2013

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AT T OR N

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october 3, 2013

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Sholom Chapels Mortuaries CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO A FREE PRE NEED FUNERAL PLANNING SEMINAR “Everything you wanted to know about funeral planning …..But were afraid to ask” Sunday, October 27, 2013 @ 10:00 AM Complimentary kosher brunch will be served

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Community Community Happenings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Dear Readers, With the sukkot disassembled, the shofars put away, and the hunger of Yom Kippur but a

Los Angeles Celebrates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

memory, we are left with the experiences of a beautiful beginning to a new year. The times

Call for Support for LA’s First Kosher Soup Kitchen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

spent with family, friends and even strangers, where barriers were down and we felt like one

7 Questions with Rabbi Abraham Cooper. . . . . . . 20

jewish thought To Shuckle or Not to Shuckle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Pining for Popularity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

tual highs and energy and bring it into the next few months and the rest of the year.

Interestingly, following our recent discussion about noticing the good, I was privy to a simple act of kindness between two total strangers: I was waiting in the checkout line at Ralph’s after picking up some last-minute items for the chag, and I heard the gentleman in front of me telling the cashier to check the following items first as he has a $15 spending limit. It soon became clear that his purchases would be going over the limit and that he would have to remove a couple of drinks, when the man behind me (I later found out his name is Ron) said, “Can

education Lessons Unforgotten 2 - Creation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Humor & Entertainment Centerfold. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

I help out with a couple of dollars?” The offer was graciously accepted, acquaintances were made, invitations for Yom Tov exchanged, and everyone left feeling a bit more positive about the human spirit. (I’m still dealing with why it didn’t occur to me to make the same offer, but we’ll leave that for a different time.) I guess the more we focus on something, the more it follows us into our daily lives…

Quotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

It’s unnecessary to provide another example from recent events to show that the world is

Moon Cap: A Novel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

heading more and more into a deadlock between those who value life, goodness and all that is positive, versus those who glorify death, killing and negativity. With one side unwilling to

News

compromise and the other unable to, all we can do is to win the parallel battle in our own lives:

Global News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

trouncing the forces of jealousy, anger and resentment with our joy, faith, inclusion and posi-

National News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

tivity. We’re told that just like a shofar, where the small hole leads to the large and loud sound,

That’s Odd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

the small ways we act in our personal lives has a direct effect on the world at large. Let us not

Government Shutdown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

give in on our end, even if the negativity is covered in pleasant packaging, and G-d willing the world will follow suit. Let us stand together as one people, supporting each other and getting

Israel

strength from each other, as we continue to fulfill our historic destiny of perfecting the world

Israel News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

one moment at a time.

As we are told in the Tanach “Do not fear sudden terror, nor the destruction of the wicked…

Lifestyles

Contrive a scheme, but it will be foiled; conspire a plot, but it will not materialize, for G-d is

Career Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

with us… I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you.”

Forgotten Heroes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Restaurant Review Two Dishes at Bocca Steakhouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Travel – South Carolina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Lite ‘n Tasty Suppers for the School Year . . . . . . . . 46

Amen.

Have a wonderful Shabbos,

Shalom

Shalom Rubashkin

Publisher & editor

editor@jewishhomela.com

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managing editor

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big, beautiful family. Now, it seems that the task at hand is to “unpack the presents” of spiri-

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A Kiddush Hashem in Seattle: YULA Senior Moshe Willner Presents Research at Prestigious National Photonics Conference Summer for most high school students usually translates to long, leisurely days and playing basketball with friends at camp. YULA Boys High School senior Moshe Willner spent the summer after his junior year a little bit differently; surrounded by PhD students, research textbooks, and optical engineering machinery, Willner spent three months enriching his mind instead of letting it languish in the summer sun. Moshe’s father, Dr. Alan Willner, a professor of fiber optic telecommunications at USC, encouraged Moshe to take advantage of his summer break by conducting research in his lab with PhD students. Willner, who is interested in biology and hopes to one day pursue a career in medicine, jumped at the opportunity to do research in a lab. “I loved the idea of discovering something new, something that doesn’t exist, that you can’t find in a textbook already”, Willner explained. “Working in the lab doing research on optical engineering provided me with that exciting feeling of discovery”. Willner admitted that although he knew little about the field initially and was intimidated by the prospect of being surrounded by experts in the subject, he took the transition in stride.

Armed with the strong math and science foundation that YULA Boys School provided him, Willner was able to delve into the new subject completely and make his contribution to the research. Working with a PhD student, Willner conducted experiments on the way light sends information, and studied how to find a switch between two different data-transmission systems.

Once the research was complete, Willner and his associates submitted a paper with their findings to the IEEE Photonics Conference. The Conference provides a premier global forum for reporting the latest developments in photonics, and Willner and his peers submitted their paper in the hopes of being able to share their findings at the conference.

Last week, while doing Sukkah building with his classmates, Moshe got a call from a fellow researcher informing him that their paper had been accepted to the conference. Following the exciting news, Willner was even more surprised to hear that he had been invited to travel to Seattle and present the findings of his paper. Willner travelled by himself and with a day’s notice, prepared a ten-minute presentation for 100 PhD professional scientists from various universities on his research. Needless to say, Moshe was the youngest person in attendance, and certainly the only presenter still in high school. He not only held his own among his experienced peers, but he presented the information clearly and with a full command of the subject. According to YULA Head of School Rabbi Dov Emerson, “Moshe truly represents the best of YULA. He is a member of our top Advanced Gemara Track program, a hard working student, a member of our varsity basketball team, and a well-respected student leader. He truly is a role model for his fellow students and for the greater Los Angeles community, and we are so proud of this incredible accomplishment.” Yashar Koach Moshe!

Community-Wide Sukkos Family Fun Day Event at Emek Hebrew Academy Nothing strikes you as ordinary when you drive up to the gates of Emek Hebrew Academy Teichman Family Torah Center for the community-wide Sukkos Family Fun Day event.

One is greeted by hundreds of colorful helium balloons and a few towering clowns on stilts. The kids know that this is going to be a fun day, and after a three day Chag, parents are overjoyed to let their kids run free to all the available activities organized by Rabbi Moshe Tropper, Emek’s Director of Family Programs.

“Not to let amusement park ride lovers down during Chol Hamoed, we rented our own roller coaster, a rotating and upside down spaceship ride, train rides and climbing mountain wall for kids of all ages to enjoy in a wonderfully warm Sukkot family environment,” says Rabbi Tropper, who’s been organizing such events for Emek for many years. His attention to detail really makes this event a safe and fun day.

Aside from the kosher barbecue, huge sukka, magicians, game booths, prizes, arcade games, and Jewish entertainment,

Chesed and community unity is the true goal of this event, which are core values held dear to Rabbi Mordechai Shifman, Emek’s Head of School. The event brought together families from both “The City” and “The Valley” in one amazing space, on one amazing day. Emek’s middle school girls sponsored a booth during the event to fundraise for Chai Lifeline So-

hacheski Family Center and successfully raised over $1,300, 100% of which will go to help families and children in need.

An Emek alumni booth was set up with yearbooks spanning the decades of Emek Hebrew Academy Teichman Family Torah Centers’ graduating classes. People came to take pictures with their yearbook pages and reminisced about how much Emek

contributed to their lives.

With over 1,600 people in attendance at the event Daniel Aharonoff, Emek’s newly elected board president, noted that he “found it particularly interesting how many of the first time visitors to our school were taken aback by the magnitude of our campus. May we only continue to grow in all our activities moving forward.”

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by Rachel Wizenfeld

and displaying children at work; and playing music like big band or jazz to give children exposure to different rhythms.

At snack, students wait to select their own bowl, then sit while snack is served family style, each kid waiting to choose three crackers, or apple pieces.

“They’re learning cooperation, patience and math skills, all in one snack,” says Ms. Wizenfeld.

Rabbi Elias chose to start the preschool because he saw a need in the area. While many of the major day schools have their own preschool programs and are doing quite well, he found that many kids were being sent to public school or weren’t finding the right place for them.

“We took a gamble - neither Cecilie nor I were sure that we would succeed,” he says.

Since operating for four years and adding a class level each year, the administrators now feel ready to launch their elementary school, starting with a first grade and hopefully finishing with a fifth grade, according to Rabbi Elias, who also serves as the head of school.

They hope to launch 1st grade with 15 students, and incorporate Ivrit b’Ivrit (Hebrew immersion) learning along with the Reggio Emillia philosophy.

While Rabbi Elias can’t say what tuition will be yet for 1st grade, he’s hoping to keep it to $10-11,000, significantly less than other schools in the area. He’s able to cut costs due to low overhead – currently all the classes fit in the synagogue facility, and administrative costs are still low, which might change as the school grows.

KMDECC has a loyal following, having basically grown through word of mouth since inception. The majority of families come from Modern Orthodox synagogues in the area, while many families have joined Mogen David itself and helped revitalize the synagogue.

Farnaz Barkhordar is one mom who joined the school right when it started, and has become an involved member of Mogen David since.

“I felt like it was homey and loving and that was what my daughter needed,” she says. “I see my daughter is ahead of her learning compared to other friends from other schools. She knows her letters, she knows how to write…they really are cre-

ative there, the teachers are extremely good.”

Barkhordar speaks for many of the parents, says Ms. Wizenfeld.

“Parents know this is a warm, nurturing environment where kids are going to have a lot of different experiences and exposures - not the typical stuff.”

october 3, 2013

Enter any classroom in the Kehillat Mogen David Early Childhood Center (KMDECC) and you’re instantly calmed with familiar scenes and inviting touches.

This is not a preschool of bright and shining plastic Playmobil. Instead, a small table is set with candlesticks and a menorah while a book of Chagall’s paintings beckons on the shelf. Wooden tables are filled with sensory objects like bubble wrap and bright cloths for two-year-olds to engage their senses, while a playroom houses a light table, and pipes and discarded guttering to build tunnels and tracks for cars.

Outside, students harvest strawberries and plant a “bracha” garden in a space enveloped by a mural of woods, streams and mountains, as if they’re playing in their own private forest It’s all part of the Reggio Emillia philosophy, which promotes curiosity in nature, respect for a child’s natural environment, cooperation, community and aesthetics. Here, through exposure to different themes, students are encouraged to explore different textures, materials, concepts and ideas and follow their curiosity.

Teachers weave English and Judaic study together, so that an art project on the six days of creation may lead into studying the solar system; or an architecture project, in which four and five-year-olds measured and glued cardboard planks and walls, turned into building the city of Shushan in time for Purim.

“It’s so rich,” says Cecelie Wizenfeld, principal of KMDECC which currently enrolls kids through age five, but is opening a first grade next year. “It gives the child so much more awareness of their surroundings, it lets them use their brains to expand, to think, to discuss, to talk… they’re able to create and become creative, and it’s a child’s world – it’s not the adults telling them what to do.”

Ms. Wizenfeld became inspired to create a Reggio environment while working at Shalhevet as the Early Education principal (previously she was the director of early childhood at Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy for 13 years) until the Shalhevet elementary school shut down. When she was approached by Rabbi Gabriel Elias, senior rabbi at Congregation Mogen David, to start a preschool there four years ago, she brought much of that philosophy with her, and has continued to evolve the unique curricula and programming since.

Reggio Emillia has its roots in wartorn Europe, when a group of townspeople banded together to build a school for their children. Local artisans and professionals taught students about their trades and livelihoods, light and natural aesthetics were valued in play and learning, and observing and documenting students was a critical part of developing the curriculum.

These themes are expressed at KMDECC by incorporating programs like Anamaly, which brings in different animals like tarantulas or bunnies each week to learn about animal life; photographing

The Jewish Home

Reggio Emillia Preschool at Congregation Mogen David Expands to 1st Grade

The Jewish Home

october 3, 2013

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Valley Torah High School Simchas Beis HaShoaiva and Pre-Party This year’s Simchas Beis HaShoiava was preceded by a pre-party in the Liberman’s backyard. In addition to swimming, basketball, football and

volleyball, there were other fun and games.

At 6:45 everyone transferred to the VTHS Beis Medrash and sukkah for dancing, pizza and sushi.

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by Chaim Gold

These types of casual conversation and occurrences are typical of any Dirshu event.

After all, learning with Dirshu becomes such an integral part of the participants’ lives that it becomes their sichas chulin, their normal conversation.

New, Larger, Central Location This year’s Shabbos Chizuk will be held at a new location, the DoubleTree Hotel in Somerset, NJ. The Somerset location is a central location less than an hour from any major Jewish center in the TriState area. The large Hotel and Convention Center is eminently suitable for gatherings of this sort. The combination of amenities offer harchavas hadaas in gashmius and the non-stop chizuk in ruchniyus promises to leave members of the extended Dirshu family inspired, enriched and newly en-

now and to daven and look forward to future hatzlacha. There is so much for which to be thankful. Day by day more Yidden are undertaking the yeoman task of becoming Shas Yidden; of mastering the areas of Shulchan Aruch needed for horaah; of incorporating daily halacha in their lives and knowing the 6 volumes of Mishna Berurah; and of participating in any of Dirshu’s other 23 programs of accountable Torah learning.”

“In addition,” Rav Hofstedter continued, “The guest Rosh Yeshiva from Eretz Yisrael will address the tremendous difficulty facing the bnei Torah of Eretz Yisrael and will create greater awareness of the situation in the North American Torah Community and thus strengthen the bond between chavrei Dirshu in North America

ergized to learn, chazer and be tested on even more areas of Torah!

In addition to several prominent American Roshei Yeshiva, Admorim and Rabbonim, the Shabbos will also be graced by a special guest Rosh Yeshiva from Eretz Yisrael and other international guests as well.

Three-fold Purpose: Chizuk Boost, Appreciation for Past Success and Tefillos for Future Hatzlacha “One of the primary purposes of the Shabbos Chizuk L’Lomdei Torah,” said Dirshu’s Nasi, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, “is for talmidei chachomim to gather and contemplate their profound accomplishments thus far while re-dedicating themselves with even greater alacrity. It is a time— to paraphrase the Gemara in Brachos-for “Hodaah al ha’avar and zaakaah al ha’asid, to give thanks for the extraordinary siyatta diShmaya and bracha that has been showered on the Dirshu family until

with that of their counterparts in Eretz Yisrael.”

Chizuk and Spiritual Booster for Those Behind the Scenes – the Wives!

Another important component in the Shabbos is to give chizuk and thanks to the quiet, unsung heroes of Dirshu who are always in the background; the Neshei Chayil, the ones who discreetly help facilitate their husbands’ learning. There will be special women’s programming that promises to be both enjoyable and inspiring. After all, when the wife of a Dirshu participant comes to an event such as the Shabbos Chizuk she is coming as a true shutaf, a true partner in her husband’s limud haTorah. She lives and breathes the same test schedule, willingly sacrificing her husband’s assistance in the home at some of the most important “rush hours” of the day so that he can learn. She also has that little pit in her stomach when her husband sets off to take his monthly test

and she also revels in his success when the long anticipated envelope arrives with his latest test results. The Dirshu wives will thus be able to come together with women from all walks of Klal Yisrael; perhaps they will look different; they may come from different cultures, but they will have so much in common! They will be bound together as one by the only true unifier of Klal Yisrael, the limud haTorah hakedosha in which they invest so much!

Learning from Dirshu, ‘Homework’ and ‘Test-taking’ Lessons for Life!

At last year’s Shabbos, Mrs. Hofstedter, wife of Rav Dovid Hofstedter shared a touching anecdote with one of the participants. She related how one of the women had handed her a letter from her eight-year old daughter, who wanted to share something with Mrs. Hofstedter. The letter described how the girl’s class had been studying presidential debates, and the teacher had assigned each member of the class a partner and a topic for them to debate. Hers was taking tests and homework; she had to defend its good qualities – hardly an easy task for an eight-year-old.

She returned home from school in a terrible mood. When her parents asked what was bothering her, she told them about her assignment.

“How am I supposed to defend studying for tests and doing homework?” she asked them. “I’ve lost before I even began!” “I’m not so sure,” replied her mother. “Do you see how much work Tatty puts into his learning at home? Do you see all the homework that he does, all of the chazara that he does to prepare for his Dirshu test? Have you observed all the tests that he willingly subjects himself to? Don’t you see how much more satisfying life is for him because of all his ‘homework,’ because he must take tests?” The daughter did see. And when it was her turn to debate in class, she won. Dirshu had taught her a lesson for life: that sometimes homework and taking tests is worth having, because it makes life worth living … and that’s why we’re here!

The Dirshu convention will take place this coming Parshas Vayeitzei. We are familiar with the Rashi at the beginning of Parshas Vayeitzei that explains, when Yaakov Avinu - whom Chazal teach us symbolized Torah - left Eretz Yisrael, its magnificence, splendor and grandeur left with him. Perhaps we can say that at this year’s Dirshu Shabbos Chizuk L’lomdei Torah, a microcosm of the magnificence, the splendor and the grandeur of so much limud haTorah in one place will be found at the DoubleTree Hotel in Somerset. You won’t want to miss it!

october 3, 2013

In approximately one month, Dirshu will hold its Second Annual Shabbos Chizuk L’Lomdei Torah, Shabbos Vayeitzei, November 8-10. The Shabbos will bring Dirshu participants from across the United States and Canada to the DoubleTree Hotel and Convention Center in Somerset, NJ. They will come together, be mechazek one another and celebrate the accomplishments of the thousands of participants in Dirshu’s myriad programs of accountable limud haTorah.

The Shabbos will be graced by numerous Gedolei Yisrael from the United States and across the world representing the entire cross-section of Klal Yisrael. During the course of the Shabbos the Gedolei Yisrael will address the North American members of the Dirshu community and impart chizuk as well as give them an enhanced appreciation of what they are accomplishing. The enthusiastic participation of so many Gedolei Yisrael from across the spectrum reflects the varied and diverse members of Klal Yisrael who are participants of Dirshu.

That diversity is what makes Dirshu a movement that so personifies the concept of achdus. Through the power of its participants’ dedication to limud haTorah, Dirshu unites Yidden from every walk of life, from every culture and from every geographic area.

Unique Achdus among Differences At last year’s Dirshu Shabbos held at the DoubleTree hotel in Tarrytown, NY, the numerous participants could not stop talking about the profound feeling of solidarity that they felt with other Dirshu members. It did not matter how they looked or from where they came.

Some not uncommon scenes from last year’s Shabbos Chizuk included a kollel yungerman from Lakewood discussing a difficult Tosafos in Masechta Shabbos with a Chassidishe Yid from Williamsburg.

It was perfectly normal to see a Daf HaYomi B’Halacha participant from Far Rockaway discussing the hotel’s eiruv with his counterpart - a businessman from Monsey.

It was almost a natural occurrence to hear a heated debate between a Gerer kollel yungerman from Boro Park, a participant in the Kinyan Halacha program and his counterpart, a Litvishe kollel yungerman from Kensington, on the various shitos on hagalas keilim relevant to commercial kitchens. Then of course, there was the talmid chochom engaged in his exercise regiment at the hotel’s fitness room with his Gemara firmly between the handlebars of the treadmill as he chazered another blatt in preparation for the upcoming test.

The Jewish Home

Dirshu Chizuk L’Lomdei Torah to be Held in DoubleTree Somerset, NJ on Shabbos Parshas Vayeitzei

The Jewish Home

october 3, 2013

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Feeling the Sukkot Simcha with YULA Boys School YULA Boys School was the place to be for all things Sukkot related this year. One of the highlights of the chag was YULA’s third annual Simchat Torah gathering. The exciting night is always highly anticipated by the student body, and this year was no exception. Over 100 students, parents and rabbis gathered together in the YULA beit midrash for the inspirational and fun night.

YULA was also privileged to host four students from Yeshiva University who helped enhance the ruach of the chag. Complete with leibadich dancing, high-energy singing, and of course, plenty of YULA spirit, hakafot with YULA was truly a night to be remembered.

The Sukkot spirit continued with nu-

merous Simchat Beit Hashoeva events that took place over chol hamoed. YULA students gathered in their respective rebbe’s sukkahs for beautiful learning and celebrations. Each grade had a separate Simchat Beit Hashoeva program where rebbeim and students connected in the sukkah over inspirational divrei Torah, ruach-filled singing, and delicious food. Additional Sukkot gatherings were hosted by Rabbi Abramczik in the Pico-Robertson area, Rabbi Sauer in Hancock Park, and Rabbi Schreiber in the valley.

In addition to the fun and excitement that the chaggim inspire, they also provide an opportunity to learn about the sources and meaning behind the practices. Rabbi

Sufrin’s 9th grade gemara shiur engaged in an extremely creative program, where the students learned all of the sources pertaining to the size and dimensions of a Succah, and then were presented with a unique challenge: design, plan, and build the smallest Succah possible that is still functional and kosher. Rabbi Sufrin’s students rose to the challenge with some incredible Succot that they built and presented in shiur.

Thank you to all the YULA students, parents and administrators who helped to create such a meaningful and memorable chag!

Orthodox Jewish Chaplaincy Board The Orthodox Jewish Chaplaincy Board (OJCB) conducted Sukkos programs for Jewish Inmates at Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail and Twin Tower Correctional Facility during Chol Hamoed Sukkos.

The Jewish Inmates were able to participate in the Mitzvah of Lulov and Esrog.

They heard divrei Torah from the OJCB Chaplains and they sang and recited tefilos and Tehilim. The Chaplains also distributed Jewish reading material to them. It was an uplifting experience for those who are experiencing difficult times.

During Rosh Hashono the Aleph Institute through Rabbi Zvi Bojarsky in Los Angeles and Rabbi Berel Paltiel in Surfside, Florida arranged to have 2 bochurim visit, blow Shofar and daven with Jewish Inmates in all the downtown L.A. Jails and prisons.

The L.A. County Jail System is not a ‘long term’ prison but a ‘temporary’ detention facility for those awaiting trial for

violating the law. It is not uncommon to find an inmate ‘locked up’ for thirty, sixty or ninety days for a traffic violation!

Many inmates are there for more egregious crimes and when convicted they will go to State Prison.

Sheriff Lee Baca and the LASD Religious & Volunteer Services Unit has always been extremely supportive of Inmates of all religions and their right to participate in religious services. The OJCB visits all Jewish Inmates and is there to help these unfortunate souls during this dark time of their lives and help rehabilitate them physically and spiritually.

The OJCB is in need of soft cover Siddurim, Chumoshim, Tehillim and reading materials in Hebrew, Farsi, Russian and English. All books must be new or in good condition. A tax deductible receipt will be sent to all contributors. Please send your tax-deductible contributions to: Orthodox Jewish Chaplaincy Board, P.O. Box 480454, Los Angeles, CA 90048.

L-R: Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, Chaplain Dara Abaei, California State Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg, Senior Chaplain Rabbi Shimon Raichik, Chaplain Gregory Metzger and OJCB Director/Senior Chaplain Howard Winkler in the executive/8th floor lobby of Twin Towers Correctional Facility immediately preceding visits to inmates with Lulov & Esrog.

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By Aliza Ganchrow

october 3, 2013

On Monday night, students of Bais Yaakov Los Angeles enjoyed a gala, student-planned Simchas Beis HaShoeva.

As students entered Bais Yaakov’s spacious auditorium, transformed by colorful lighting, a giant banner greeted them, proclaiming the night’s theme: “Arba Kanfos HaAretz,” or “the four corners of the earth.” The night’s cuisine fit into the theme: foods stood under jumbo flags of their country, with pizza at an Italian table and “French” fries representing France.

Menahel Rabbi Bursztyn and Rabbi Daniel Grama graced the young women with inspiring words of Torah about the concept of simcha on Succos—a message appropriate for the night’s joy. Afterwards, students expressed their happiness in true Sukkos spirit by dancing to the leibedig music of Naftali Finkel. The girls returned home invigorated by an evening of Torah, food, and simcha.

LA Jewish Leaders Kick Off Planning for the Largest Israel Independence Day Festival in N. America “Celebrate Israel” is expected to draw 20,000 people to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day this May Representatives from about 100 organizations gathered yesterday to kickoff the planning for the 2014 “Celebrate Israel” festival held annually in Los Angeles, the largest Jewish festival in North America. The meeting was held at the Beverly Hills home of Naty and Debbie Saidoff, board members of the Israel American Council (IAC) who together chair the Celebrate Israel festival.

This coming year’s festival, scheduled for May 18th, will be held in Rancho Park, a neighborhood in West LA, and is expected to draw 20,000 people. This is the third year that the IAC, together with Naty and Debbie Saidoff, will be the largest sponsors and producers of the Celebrate Israel festival.

Among those attending included David Siegel, Consul General of Israel in Los Angeles, Shawn Evenhaim, Chairman of the IAC, area rabbis, leaders of local Jewish organizations including several Hillel groups and youth movements.

“We want the festival to be everyone’s festival. That’s why we had so many organizations represented tonight. We

The Jewish Home

Bais Yaakov Simchas Beis HaShoeva

want to make a strong and clear statement that when we come together to celebrate Israel, we are all coming together as a community and as a city to make that happen,” said Shawn Evenhaim. “We want to give everyone an opportunity to contribute, strategize, and help provide a vision for the festival. We need to do it all together.”

At the meeting the various community leaders gave their input and feedback about last year’s festival including new ideas for performances and how young people can play a more central role in the event itself.

Last year, Machina, a popular Israeli band, performed alongside a mix of operatic, rap, DJ and other music shows. There were also drumming circles, exhibitions of Israeli spacecraft vehicles, a digital history of Israel and the classic favorite of Israeli folk dancing among dozens of cultural exhibitions and events.

“In a world full of divisions and lines, Israel is our common denominator as a community. When we unite around the idea of Israel and our support for it, we emerge inspired and stronger as a community,” said Naty Saidoff.

For more information about IAC please visit: http://www.israeliamerican.org

Harav Elyashiv Video a Big Hit

By Aliza Ganchrow

On Motzei Shabbos and Sunday night, the Los Angeles community beheld the life of a Torah giant, HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv, ZT”L. The video screened at Bais Yaakov, in separate rooms for men and women. The almost-two-hour film is framed by a grandfather walking the streets of Meah Shearim, showing his young grandsons the now-famous beis medrash Ohel Sara while telling them about the illustrious Rav Elyashiv’s life, spent mostly in that very beis medrash. The grandfather’s narrative interweaves with testimonials from R’ Elyashiv’s own sons and sons-in-law, as well as footage of R’ Elyashiv himself learning and interacting with visitors. Those present learned what it means to live a life of utter dedication to Torah and gained a greater understanding of the magnitude of R’ Elyashiv’s loss.

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The Jewish Home october 3, 2013

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october 3, 2013

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To Shuckle or Not to Shuckle – How to learn From Creation Rabbi Shlomo Einhorn

The Jewish Home

october 3, 2013

Rabbi Shlomo Einhorn

You’ll often hear the pop psychology trope “return to yourself” or “find the real you.” We even explored a variation of that previously when analyzing G-d’s command to Abraham “lechlecha,” go to you. But what does that really mean? What does it mean to “return to yourself”?

Have you ever watched a devout Jew in prayer? Their body often sways back and forth. This is called in Yiddish a “shuckle.”

When we pray should we shuckle or should we not shuckle? Rav Moshe Feinstein records that he himself stands perfectly still. He prays this way because he remembers in his youth the way the Russian soldiers would stand in front of their commander and they wouldn’t budge for hours; they would stand perfectly straight. Rav Moshe reasoned to himself that if this is how an officer stands in front of his general then certainly when we stand before G-d we should stand at attention. Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan, the Chafetz Chaim, explains why heshuckles. Psalms 35:10 says, “All my bones should speak of you G-d.” How do our bones praise G-d? They pay homage to G-d through their movement during prayer.

I’d like to develop this last idea that our bones sing G-d’s praises. The personification of our body in the service of the Creator is a commonplace idea in the Torah tradition.

The 613 commandments, according to the Kabbalah and many other ancient sources, are parallel to the limbs and sinews in our body. Why is a connection established between each mitzvahand our body? What’s the bigger idea?

On the holiday of Sukkos, we take in hand the 4 species, 4 plants mentioned in Leviticus 23:40. The Midrash teaches us that these 4 plants correspond to 4 distinct body parts: the mouth, the spine, the heart, and the eye. Why, again, does the ancient tradition link ritual performance with body parts?

In a previous discussion, we talked about how the Tabernacle, the holy abode built for G-d in the Wilderness, is described in the Torah in terms that are frighteningly similar to body parts. Why the constant use of this physical imagery?

Perhaps the Torah is teaching us that so much of what we need to know, so much of what need in order to live our best life, has already been embedded in our design. This

epiphany is exactly what happened with Abraham. He was raised in a culture that looked up to the stars for answers, the sun, the moon, worshiping all of these symbols and assuming that all of the mysteries of life are going to be solved out there. It’s precisely at that point Abraham asks, “How do I know I’m going to have any children?” G-d says, “Step outside, forget about your stars.”

We don’t believe that the constellations can dictate our life. The stars’ alignment may in some instances give us a clue of the trajectory of our life but we are not bound by its read. And for good reasons; the keys to a successful life are placed within us and that’s why G-d and the Sages keep referring back to the human body. Everything we need is right here.

When Avraham is told “lech lecha” - go to you – he is really being told by G-d, “Abraham, you’re a searcher. You’ve been searching all over the world, searching to find Me. Some people go to ashrams on top of a mountain and some people go to the end of the earth looking for spirituality. You want to find ‘It’? The answers you need to live your best life, most of them, are inside of you.”

Rav Bachya Ibn Pakuda, one of Judaism’s most important philosophers, once wrote that “we must investigate how a human is born, how all of their limbs are put together, and the function of each limb.” Why? What is he - a doctor? Why is this relevant? As a religious philosopher, shouldn’t his writings focus, as they always do, on a life of morality and Torah observance? Rab Bachya clarified that “[examining our body] is the way we come in contact with the Divine image inside all of us.” We are all looking for one more book, one more distinction or idea that is hopefully going to change the way we feel about ourselves or the world. At a certain point we need to just stop and understand the world G-d put inside of us. The Talmud tells us that a child is taught the entire Torah in the womb and as it is coming into the world, an angel taps it over the mouth. As a result of that tap the baby forgets all of the prenatal Torah that it learned. Why would G-d give us this entire body of wisdom just to take it away? Rav Yisrael Salanter explains that the information doesn’t simply vanish, it’s just pushed deep within our subconscious. Our work in this world is to access the info deep within our system and bring it out. There’s a spiritual déjà vu that comes with this concept. When we hear something life-altering we often have that feeling like we’ve heard it before. Perhaps we have! This is the DNA embedded within us.

The truth is that the whole world is embedded with the truth of greater G-d wisdom.

Maimonides writes, “What’s the way to come to love G-d and fear G-d? When a person

thinks about his actions and G-d’s creations and sees the great wisdom, with no end, he begins to appreciate G-d.” Meaning - look at this world; at yourself; at what G-d has done; a baby. And you appreciate. That’s how you find what it is you need to learn about this world. The beginning of the Zohar says that G-d opened up a Torah scroll and from that He created the world. What does that mean? This whole word is encrypted with the words of Torah. When the Baal HaTanya, Rav Shneur Zalman, of Liadi was on his deathbed, his students asked him what he was seeing now that he’s transferring into the next world. As he was lying down looking up, he responded that where once he saw a beam on his ceiling, he now sees the Hebrew letters: kuuf, vav, resh, hey - spelling the word “kora,” translating to beam. He was seeing what is really the metaphysical foundation of this entire world. The Hebrew letters stand as the basis, because G-d looked into the Torah and created the world.

Now we are ready to turn totally inward.

To make our point we will stay on the cellular level. For one, cells indicate that there is a higher purpose. Every cell in our body agrees to work for the welfare of the whole.

Many times cells know that it’s necessary to die in order for the body to continue to do what it needs to do. Skin cells, for example, will die by the thousands every hour to allow for the replenishment of the body, for the immunization of microbes to continue - that is the the cell’s function. What a powerful message our body is sending us. With a higher mission and calling almost all difficulties are traversable.

I once was officiating a wedding in Aventura, Florida. I quoted a statement from Pesikta D’Rebbe Kehana (a classic collection of Israel based teachings): “A person should make himself the captain of his ship.”

A prominent leader of another faith walked over to me after the Chupah and asked, “Isn’t that statement hubris?” Is it? No. It’s destiny calling upon us to seize our mission, and in the face of that mission, stay the course without flinching.

The second message of our cell life is communication. Our cells teach us about the power of communication. Messenger molecules will race everywhere in the body, to the farthest outpost of the body to get a message across to the rest of the body. Communication is a cornerstone of Jewish ritual observance. G-d left so much of the Torah unspoken. For example, men wear Tefilin when they pray. How do we know that these little boxes are supposed to be black? Another example, fasting on Yom Kippur – where in the Bible is that mentioned? A lot is left unstated because the key to ritual observance is communication. Judaism can’t be packaged in one book. No. It demands a dialogue be-

tween rabbi/teacher and student that has been maintained for thousands of years. One can’t simply Google all of their questions; human connection is necessary.

Third: Flexibility and creativity. Cells adapt moment to moment. Liver cells can perform over 50 tasks in order to get something done. And they can regenerate - the most amazing thing.

Fourth: Efficiency. The physics of cells dictate that they function with the least amount expenditure necessary. They are designed to be as efficient as possible.

Fifth: Deepak Chopra is fond of mentioning the concept of immortality of the cell. Cells reproduce to pass on their knowledge, so even when the cell dies the next cell already knows what it’s designed to do. It’s like the monarch butterfly which starts its migration from Canada, heads all the way down to South America, and then back to its place of origin. It’s not the same butterfly, rather it goes through 3-4 lifespans before it gets back. How did the last one know that it has a summer home back in Montreal? Who told the butterfly? That’s the eternity that G-d puts in all of us. Even when we’re no longer here, the message that we leave stays behind, whatever we’ve done, the influence, whether for big or for small, or perhaps one word we’ve said on behalf of somebody else, or for some gift that we’ve given to another struggling soul. That message stays on afterwards.

There is an ancient Rabbinic teaching which is usually hard for people to accept.

The teaching is that the forefathers and foremothers kept the Torah before it was even given. How could they possibly know what G-d wanted of them before any commandment was delivered? It now makes sense. If these colossal figures like Abraham and Sarah or Jacob and Rachel were so in touch with their inner being, with a high enough dose of clarity they were able to intuit what G-d wants from them by looking at their inner world and the DNA of the world.

What a mind-blowing concept. The divine nature of creation allows us to perceive much of what we need to know simply by listening. We’re typically not attuned to those messages. In fact, we fight the message that the human body is telling us. It’s screaming at us, and we ignore it. Abraham was told “lechlecha” – go to you. This wasn’t a mission; this was a blessing. May you find the wisdom to look within and grasp all the distinctions that you need.

Rabbi Shlomo Einhorn is the Rav & Dean of Yeshivat Yavneh in Los Angeles. He is the creator of WINGS; a synagogue consulting group for the Orhodox Union. He is also the author of 3 sefarim. For any comments, thoughts, or observations email the Rabbi at rabbieinhorn@gmail.com

17 The Jewish Home

Lessons Unforgotten—2

Creation

By Rabbi Harold Rabinowitz

to me that Professor Kolmar was extremely disturbed—something was bothering him and he found it difficult to lecture. Afterwards, I asked him if anything was wrong, and that’s the first time I heard about Gamma Ray Bursts—or GRBs. At that time, it had not yet been observed, but it had been a theoretical possibility that had been discussed for a few decades. When stars reach the end of their lives, having spent their Helium fuel, they collapse in a spiral under the gravitational pull of their heavy elements, and enormous amounts of energy are released like a shotgun blast in beams directed at right angles to the star’s rotation. The end result will be a Black Hole, but the burst of Gamma Rays (nothing more than very high-energy electromagnetic radiation; ordinary light is, in fact, pretty low-energy electromagnetic radiation) shot out into space will contain as much energy as our sun will produce during its entire 10-billion-year lifetime—all released in a few seconds! If any such a beam would even come close to a life-bearing planet like earth, the result would be devastating—a mass-extinction of all life (except for a few microbes living hundreds of miles underground).

Then in 1973, the first observations of Gamma-Ray bursts were observed, coming from all over the sky (indicating that they came from outside our galaxy. They were observed by satellites designed to detect such bursts from atom bombs the Soviets might be testing in violation of the Test-Ban Treaty.) It was not until the early 1990s that the x-ray residue afterglow of such bursts, already theorized, could be detected, and then it could be determined where they came from. They came from everywhere: It was estimated that a GRB occurred somewhere in the universe once every day—randomly distributed among those 170 billion galaxies—and the focused beam randomly distributed in direction. (We see them all, though, by observing the secondary radiation emitted to the side.) But if any of those GRB rays would hit earth spot-on (admittedly a long-shot), it would mean trouble for life on earth. Gone would be our ozone layer and perhaps our entire atmosphere; if the GRB occurred within the half of the universe closest to us (say within 30 Billion Light Years), even a glancing blow would fry all life.

The day the Professor was acting perturbed was the day he had learned that satellites had elevated the GRB from a theoretical possibility to reality. “So why is that so disturbing?” I asked him. “In any given galaxy, a GRB is likely to happen only once in a hundred million years, so the odds of it happening in our galaxy are miniscule— perhaps millions of years in the future.”

“You don’t understand. We see in the

Torah, that the attitude of G-d in creating the universe is to create a place that is ‘Good’— day after day of creation in the beginning of Bereishis the attitude of the Creator is to create a place that is good—Vayar Elokim ki Tov: “And Hashem saw that it was good”— ‘very good,’ in fact. And this was in stark contrast to the attitude the other ancients had about the creation of the world by their gods. Every myth—one after another—has the world created as an afterthought, a place where the gods could fight one another, with human beings being worthless servants, or worse, simply fodder in their battles. Bereishis alone sees humans as the ‘cream of creation’—the purpose for which the world was created in the first place.

“And you can’t blame those ancients for having such a negative view of the world, the gods, and our place in it. After all, life is tough and people have always had a tough time making it, given all the disasters and calamities human beings have to suffer. We alone—all alone—saw the creation as the world as a sign of G-dly love, of blessing and benevolence.

“And now comes this! All over the universe there are these things, also part of Creation—these powerful not-so-little explosions that happen in every galaxy at some point. And given the fact that a planet needs a few hundred million years to evolve into a civilization, he said, ruefully [remember that the Professor was still a scientist—a card-carrying member in that union, that “priesthood”], that means that any planet that bears life in any of the galaxies where a GRB takes place, which is every day—every day!—some civilization is being wiped out, fried to oblivion…” He choked for a moment, and then said with a tear, “What is so ‘good’ about that?”

I struggled to say something soothing to him, but all I could think of was this: “Maybe… Maybe that’s all part of the tension that needs to exist in order for there to be true Bechirah—true free will.”

He looked at me with a look that said, “Yeah, right!”

“No, seriously: in just the same way there has to be a struggle—against the Yetzer Hara, against

death, against famine and evil, even when we humans will reach the ‘End of Days’ in the days of Moshi’ach. Even then, we will have to struggle against something—and perhaps then it will be figuring out what to do about these GRBs. You know, I could see some distant planet on which some scientist figures out how to predict these GRBs and sees it’s pointing its lethal ‘death ray’ right at his world—and not having any way of preventing it and saving it—send a child to another planet in a distant galaxy with the knowledge at the ability to come up with a solution and save them.”

He looked at me, smiled, and then said something totally unexpected, which was his wont: “Still reading Superman comics… at your age?”—and we both laughed.

I answered his e-mails only once: “The world is still Tov Me’od,” I wrote, “…And I’m still reading Superman.”

He passed away in 2011. I remember him thankfully for giving me some insight into the beauty of creation (which I should write as, “the Beauty of Creation”), and something to think about for a long time, something to give me a reason not to take anything for granted. That was the quality of his teaching and of his life mentioned by every obituary. For that verse in Tehillim, says something more: Hashamayim mesaprim k’vod k-el: “The heavens proclaim the Glory of G-d.” _____________________________________ “Touro Corner” is edited by Rabbi Harold Rabinowitz, a product of Williamsburg, Yeshiva Torah Vodaas and Yeshiva University; former Rav of Cong. Beth Israel of Malden, Massachusetts; and producer-publisher of many books for leading publishers. He is also a member of the TCLA Faculty, teaching both secular subjects and Limudei Kodesh.

october 3, 2013

His name was Kolmar (approximately).

I always think about him when I hear Parshas Bereishis; this year was no exception.

He taught physics, graduate and undergraduate, and he was the only observant Jewish physics teacher I ever had or knew well. I’m sure there are others—many others. I always thought it strange that the Yeshiva didn’t attract or recruit more of them, given the fact that two-thirds of the department was Jewish (and that’s still only twice the national average). Perhaps the discipline had too many “stars” for the department to make religious observance a criterion. But Kolmar was the only Sabbath-observant, Kippah-wearing physicist in the school.

(When I once took him to the Satmar Matzah Bakery on Broadway in Williamsburg to get his Shmura Matzah for Pesach, he was downright giddy.)

I treasured my friendship with him over the years, grateful that early on, he had wanted to initiate me into the “Wheeler Multiverse Mafia” at Princeton (of which YU had more than its share of “capos”). I declined (for good reason, it turned out).

In recent years, our contact was only an intermittent e-mail every few years about the latest on a subject he knew I was interested in (which I’ll get to soon). I managed to take only one course with him—a graduate course in astrophysics. He was a great teacher and would wax poetic when discussing “the grandeur of the Cosmos.” In those days, we didn’t have the spectacular Hubble images we have now, so he did it with words.

I could still hear him say, “And the firmament showeth His handiwork,” citing the verse from Tehilim (19:2); sometimes, he’d even say it in Hebrew: “U’ma’asse yadav magid ha’rakia.” He’d say it when he had described, say, the Milky Way Galaxy.

“Imagine that in our little neighborhood, our own Galaxy that isn’t even important enough to be named after a Greek mythological figure, there are at least 100 billion stars, perhaps has many as 400 billion—and I’d wager,” he’d add as a conjecture (since that’s all it could be in the 1970s), “as many planets!” Billions? I was once introduced to a great Rosh Yeshiva after a Motzoei Shabbos Sicha (Saturday night talk), in which he had described (in Yiddish) the wonder of the universe, in which “every galaxy contains millions of stars.” The Rosh Yeshiva asked me how I had enjoyed his talk, and I said I enjoyed it very much. “But Rebbe,” I said, “the Milky Way Galaxy contains 100 Billion stars—not just millions.” He laughed derisively, as if only a fool could believe a galaxy could contain billions of stars. Billions of stars—and billions of galaxies—are difficult numbers to fathom.

During one class in particular, it seemed

18

The Jewish Home

october 3, 2013

Pining for Popularity

Motzoei Shabbos was one of the loneliest times of the year. As the decorations were peeled off and the sukkah was taken apart and put away, we suddenly felt exposed and removed from the comforting shelter in which we had been enveloped for more than a month.

From the first time we said “LeDovid Hashem ori” during Elul, we were drawn into a sublime world.

B’motzoei Menuchah, we felt the tremors increasing, as we ushered in the days of Selichos. The week reached a crescendo as we stood in awe upon hearing the piercing cry of the shofar that filled our hearts.

We soaked in the “behimatzo” of the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, using those propitious days to inch closer. Finally, we stood as angels dressed in white on Yom Kippur, emerging from Ne’ilah feeling reborn and reenergized.

Then we climbed the next rung, going from teshuvah to simcha, entering the sacred abode of the sukkah, betzilah dimehemnusah. We sang and ate, drank and celebrated, rejoicing with Hashem.

By the time Sukkos began, we felt that the barriers between us and Hashem had come down. Then Simchas Torah arrived and we felt one with the Torah and other Jews. We sang “Yisroel ve’Oraisah VeKudsha Brich Hu chad hu,” grasping the hands and shoulders of fellow Yidden and dancing round and round in circles, all of us equal, joyous and fulfilled, feeling the meaning and beauty of life.

And then, suddenly, it all came crashing down and we were thrust out of that cloud of sanctity and into the mundane world once again, with only echoes and happy memories to accompany us.

How is a Jew to cope?

Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt”l once pithily remarked to his talmidim that

this is the time of year “when the crutches come off.” Just as a patient undergoing therapy and walking with the aid of crutches must face the painful reality and walk without assistance as part of his recuperation process, so must we confront everyday life without the added Divine gifts of the shofar, lulav and sukkah.

We enter this new period with a fresh enthusiasm and burning desire to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Torah whose completion we just celebrated. We must find a way to take the message of the sukkah and what it represents with us on the road ahead.

We are a people who’ve been buffeted about through centuries of exile, moving from place to place, rarely feeling welcome or at home. The small wooden hut of Sukkos represents a place of refuge in the environs of golus.

In this week’s parsha, we are given the opportunity to learn the lessons of Noach and his teivah, with a perfect example of how it can be done.

The posuk states, “Es HaElokim hishalech Noach - Noach walked with Hashem.” Perhaps we can understand this posuk to mean that Noach walked with Hashem because he had no one else to walk with. Noach was essentially all alone. He had no one. No one other than Hashem. He had no one to converse with, so he spoke to Hashem.

For 120 years, Noach attempted to convince the people of his generation to right their ways, to no avail. He was unable to sway anyone to live a life of dignity, honor and respect.

We don’t know how great Noach would have been had he lived in a different period. All we know is what the Torah tells us about him. He was a tzaddik and a tomim, a righteous, upstanding person in a generation in which there were no others.

We study the parsha named for

Noach and discern that it is possible to stand out. The entire world may be living deceitful, dishonest, immoral lives, and we can still hew to Hashem’s creed of kindness and goodness.

We learn this week’s parsha and observe that we don’t have to be influenced by those around us. We can be strong, honest and moral in a time of depravity. And if we do, we will find favor in the eyes of Hashem.

The significance of the teivah that Noach built is that he found a way, in a generation of hedonism, immorality and wickedness, to create an island for himself. This is a lesson that is still relevant to us in today’s world.

While our physical situation at the present time is better than it was anywhere over the past 500 years and Torah is being studied around the world in a scope larger than anyone can remember, there are many dark clouds on the horizon and awful winds are blowing.

Enemies of Hashem, His Torah, and those who scrupulously follow His laws have gained power in the land of our forefathers. They are using that brawn and authority in a brazen attempt to stem the growth of the Torah community and starve it into submission.

The brilliant masmid, posek, talmid chochom and leader, Rav Ovadiah Yosef, lies perilously ill in a Yerushalayim hospital as Jews the world over pray for his recovery.

In this country, leadership wanes, crises loom, solutions are lacking, fiction replaces truth, glossy veneers substitute for depth, and ignorance is more popular than brilliance. Amateurs seem to be in charge wherever you look, and we all pay for their mistakes and failures.

The American president cannot be of the truth; instead, he empowers tyrants such as Russian President Vladimir

Putin, Syrian President Bashar Assad and, most recently, Iranian President Hasan Rouhani.

Obamacare threatens to upend the best medical system in the world, yet the opposition party is blamed in a clumsy exercise of finger-pointing as it seeks to protect the health of hundreds of millions of people. A president who sees the pursuit of diplomacy with the axis of evil as an end in itself, and begs for negotiations with tyrants who are changing the balance of power, refuses to meet, talk or negotiate with Republican representatives of the people he was elected to serve.

Spiritual threats abound. The air seems to have been poisoned and no one is able to find the proper antibodies.

The culture of this country, which was founded on - and led by - religious values, has sunk to unprecedented lows.

The assault on traditional family life is tangible. The deviation from the script of just a decade ago is very strong and is sweeping across the country without anyone even making an attempt to fight back.

New York City, home to so many of our people, is facing a November mayoral election that has the potential to do for the city what the 2008 election did for the country. The city risks being thrown back to the long-forgotten Dinkins days, when crime was rampant, unions and the likes of Al Sharpton had veto power regarding city policy, and businesses and taxpayers were depicted as mean and selfish. The economic climate and safety of New York are very important not only to the people who live in the city, and not only to mosdos located there, but also to Jewish institutions the world over supported by the generosity of city residents who prosper when the Big Apple is strong, healthy and safe.

Chazal say that had the people of

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What Do I Want To Be When I Grow Up?

Career Planning

Part I: Self-Assessment

by Jessica Yuz From pre-school playgrounds to college campuses we have all struggled with that daunting question, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” To save time, money and heartache consult with a professional career counselor to help you explore the answer. In this multi-part series we will look at the two main areas of Career planning: assessment and exploration.

Career planning begins by assessing ones values, interests, personality and skills.

Effective career planning cannot occur unless one has a clear and realistic understand of themselves. One of the best ways to gain this understanding is through the process of self-assessment. There are many areas of self-assessment but within the realm of career planning we focus on the following: Values, Interest, Personality and Skills.

VALUES Values constitute the backbone and who we are and what is important to us. With regard to career planning it is key to identify both your intrinsic and extrinsic values. Intrinsic values are related to the occupation itself and what it contributes to society. Extrinsic values, on the other hand, refer to external features, such as the jobs physical setting and earning potential. Identifying and understanding your unique values and whether or not they align with your chosen career goals is crucial to ensuring happiness in both your personal and professional life. This can be done by using any number of values assessments. To ensure the tool’s validity and reliability it is best to work with a professional career counselor with experience using the specific tool(s).

INTERESTS Believe it or not many of us have a difficult time identifying what we are interested in. For some it is easy to identify their interests. For others they have a difficult time identifying their interest but can tell you with certainty what they are not interested in. Still others have a difficult time with both. The most compressive tool we have, as career counselors for helping our clients understand their interests is the Strong Interest Inventory.

The modern version of this interest inventory is based on John L. Holland’s typology codes and essentially works on the premise that if your interests align with those of individuals who enjoy their work and do it in a typical way (e.g. a doctor who works in a hospital or private practice vs. a doctor who quit his practice and went on to become a freelance photographer) then you too will enjoy employment in this field. This is accomplishment by comparing your interest results with the interest results of individuals who already work in a specific career field. Understanding these interests in key to effective career exploration.

PERSONALITY The third area of self-assessment is personality. While there are many assessment tools that claim to provide accurate results

the widely used and studied personality assessment is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The MBTI is named after the mother-daughter duo who developed the assessment during World War II to help woman who were entering the industrial workforce for the first time identify which jobs they would be most comfortable and effective in.

Based on the Typological theories proposed

by Carl June the assessment helps individuals identify how one perceives the world and makes decision which helps one to better understand who they are and their motivation for working. This assessment has gone through many revisions since it was initially published in 1962.

Accurate personality assessment is an essential element of career exploration.

Without acquiring a clear understanding of your motivation for working it is difficult to make an educated decision about your career direction. My clients are often surprised to find out that not everyone is motivated by the same factors they are. For some personality types the motivation for working may be to help those in need or make the world a better place. For others the motivation for work may simply be the bottom line. These individuals may be comfortable working in any environment so long as they are bringing home the salary they aspire toward. Whatever your individual motivation is, one thing is certain, without understanding one’s personality and their motivation for work they cannot make an educated decision about how a particular career either does or does not align with these sentiments.

SKILLS The fourth area of assessment during the career exploration process is Skills Assessment. There are many ways to assess skills.

Formal analysis can be done using aptitude tests such as the ASVAB multi-aptitude test used by the military. It is important to consider not only one’s current skill set but whether or not you are willing to take the time to acquire new skills through education and/or training. While the importance of assessing ones skills may seem basic it cannot be taken for granted. I have worked with countless individuals whose skills sets were not in line with the careers they aspired to pursue. For example, if one has failed Introduction to Chemistry numerous times they should reevaluate their desire to become a Chemist.

As with all four areas of assessment it is most important to be honest with yourself and thorough in your research and evaluation.

About the Author: Jessica Yuz, MBA is the Founder of Yuz Career Advisers, dedicated to helping individuals identify their interests and set realistic goals so they can take control of their future. With nearly a decade of experience in higher education, Jessica works with high school, undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of career exploration, resume writing, interview skills, job search and placement, goal setting, time and stress management, and related fields. Jessica also specializes in assisting professionals of all ages’ transition between employment, finding fulfillment in their work and achieving a life-work balance. You can follow Jessica’s career blog at ycadvisers.blogspot. com or contact her at ycadvisers@gmail.com.

october 3, 2013

We are told that Noach, one of the less popular figures in his time, found chein in the eyes of Hashem.

The Sukkos weather was the best of the year, but we know that winter is fast approaching. We must prepare ourselves for the cold and the snow.

Though we have left the comforting walls of the sukkah, we can still maintain its protection if we preserve the levels we reached over the past months of Elul and Tishrei. If we stand tall, we will be blessed with the fortitude to weather the impending storms and not be swept away by the mabul of a world devoid of character, conscience and integrity.

In our personal teivos constructed and reinforced with Torah, we can breathe purified, rarified air and contribute to the spiritual warming of the global community.

Rav Ovadiah Yosef is known for his prodigious memory, yet, apparently, not everything came easily to him.

When a yungerman, who was learning Maseches Bava Kama, asked him for advice on how to remember his learning, Rav Ovadiah told him to open the Gemara to daf 77a, which has only two lines of Gemara and one long Tosafos which fills the rest of the page.

Rav Ovadiah proceeded to recite the Tosafos word for word by heart. The yungerman was puzzled. How was this to impart to him the secret of retentive learning? Rav Ovadiah then revealed it to him.

“I learned this Tosafos 200 times!” he declared. “Now tell me, after doing that, is there any way I could not know it by heart?”

One who constructs for himself a teivah of Torah and dedicates his life to its study and observance becomes blessed not only with unforgettable knowledge, but also with the dynamism, excellence, exuberance and leadership for which Rav Ovadiah has earned international and eternal fame as a beacon of light.

The few, the proud and the strong take succor in the story of Noach and his teivah. They freely and bravely walk with Hashem, ignoring the calls of the masses who have lost their way in the fog of life. They remain faithful despite being unpopular, for they know that their dream will never die. Their hope springs eternal. Their chein finds favor b’einei Hashem.

If we have emerged from the holiest days of the year with anything, it is the security and knowledge that His approval is the only one that counts.

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Noach’s time followed his example and heeded his admonitions, the Torah could have been given in their day [See sefer Pri Tzadik on this week’s parsha]. Instead of floodwaters, they could have had Torah, which is referred to as mayim. Instead of destruction, they could have had rebirth. Instead of desolation, they could have merited beneficence. Instead of kloloh, being cursed, they could had brochah and been eternally blessed. Because they preferred to follow the path of their desires, they were punished with infamy, shame and violent death.

We look around and take stock.

We wonder what we can do to stay afloat in a sinking world. We look to Noach as one who can provide us with inspiration and serve as a guide to us, reminding us not to feel lonely and not to give up, despite the odds being stacked against us.

Noach knew the secret of the sukkah.

Noach knew the secret of the teivah.

A mechanech in Bnei Brak related the story of a talmid, who as a young man faced incredible difficulty understanding his learning.

The bochur toiled, but he found that he was never able to reach the same levels of comprehension as his friends. Eventually, he fell into a deep depression.

The rebbi, pained by his talmid’s feelings of worthlessness and unable to convince the boy that his life had value, took the young man to speak to the Steipler Gaon. The boy shared his frustrations and grief. He described the difficulty he encountered in comprehending even the most basic ideas of the Gemara. The Steipler asked the bochur if there was any blatt Gemara that he felt he knew. “Yes,” said the boy. “The first blatt in Nedorim.”

“I promise you,” said the aged giant, whose every word was measured and who exuded truth, “that when you learn that daf in Nedorim, it is as important to Hashem as the chiddushim of the illui in Ponovezh or the lamdan in Slabodka.

He is listening to you.”

The young man was comforted as the Steipler repeated the assurance.

The mechanech attested that, armed with the knowledge that his efforts had value, the bochur succeeded in yeshiva.

The Steipler had given the boy a teivah of his own. He had taught him not to look at those around him. He taught him to look upwards. He taught the boy to walk alone with his Creator.

This is the lesson we received from the sukkah and this is the lesson we are reminded of this week. We aren’t here to win friends or popularity contests.

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7 Questions with Rabbi Abraham

Cooper

Associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center

By Alisa Roberts

You’re a longtime Jewish and Human Rights activist, most recently as associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. What brought you into this line of work?

Well, I’ve been with the Simon Wiesenthal Center since before we opened. I came to LA with Rabbi Hier to start the place.

How did I come to do the kind of work that I do? I was a native New Yorker. I had a very strong Jewish upbringing. Israel was always a centerpiece, but also, from a young age, I was involved in (what was at the time) the fledgling Soviet Jewry movement. I grew up in the generation of Martin Luther King Jr., Bobby Kennedy, and social change. We lost six million during World War II, and now there was a possibility of another three million disappearing through cultural genocide . That was just something that many young Jews found to be unacceptable. I wasn’t a leader at that time, but I was deeply influenced and went to demonstrations. Then eventually, just after finishing my BA at Yeshiva University in 1972, I spent four weeks in the Soviet Union. And that really changed my whole perspective. Because there I met, for the first time, Jews – many of whom didn’t know an alef from a bet – who were prepared to sacrifice whatever future they had in Russia, with no guarantee that they would ever get out, no guarantee that

they wouldn’t be thrown in jail.

People who just said, “I’m proud to be a Jew, and you can’t take that away from me. And I want to go to Israel.” Through the course of the month, in six cities, I met all sorts of courageous Jews. Some of them were everyday laborers, some of them were highly educated.

That was a source of tremendous inspiration for me, and it really guided my personal growth, my development, and my priorities.

My older brother is a wonderful and deeply respected pediatric cardiologist in New York. I was supposed to be the lawyer. I got into law school. My father-in-law was a respected lawyer in Chicago and my father was in chinuch, so I had great role models, and I had to decide what to do. And I decided not to go to law school. But I remember having met Rabbi Hier in my college days when he was the rabbi in Vancouver. I remember thinking, ‘If I ever go into Jewish community work, I’d want to be around a guy like him because he has a great sense of humor.’ So we went to Vancouver for two years and it was a great experience.

When Rabbi Hier came up with the idea of Yeshiva University for Los Angeles and the Simon Wiesenthal Center, he invited me to come along and help start those two wonderful institutions. So how I got involved in this work is, I helped start the place.

Is there a reason the Center is located in Los Angeles?

I’m originally from Flatbush.

Rabbi Hier is from the Lower East Side. But he was the senior rabbi of the Jewish community of Vancouver, Canada for 15 years, so he’s very familiar with the West Coast. Part of the reason that we started the yeshiva in 1977 was that there weren’t too many options for post-high school on the West Coast. There were growing Jewish populations on the West Coast, but they were not always matched, at that time, by the growth of Torah institutions. So that was Rabbi Hier’s goal in selecting LA for these projects. I learned how to swim in the Atlantic Ocean. I had visited here once after an NCSY seminar; I never thought I’d live here. But his idea was that there were plenty of institutions in New York, and there was a growing population here that needed to be serviced What can you tell us about working with Simon Wiesenthal?

When Rabbi Hier went to Vienna in the summer of 1977 to see Mr. Wiesenthal, he said to him, “Shlomo HaMelech says a name is more precious than riches. I’m here to take your good name.” And Mr. Wiesenthal asked him, “Well, what do you want my name for? If you’re going to build a place where people come to say kaddish twice

a year for victims of the Shoah, that’s a beautiful thing – I’ll give you a letter. But if you want my name, I’m an activist. I’m not only concerned with yesterday’s Nazis or yesterday’s anti-Semites. I’m very concer ned about what’s going to happen tomorrow. If you’re ready to be activists, I’m ready to give you my name.” For someone like me, who basically grew up as a New York Jewish activist, that was really music to my ears. I had the opportunity to know and work with Mr. Wiesenthal for nearly 30 years.

It was an incredible experience.

Can you tell us a little about the work you do?

It’s not only a matter of knowing when to raise the alarm – and we’re pretty good at raising the alarm when we have to – but also to be available to work with people of all backgrounds in trying to promote derech eretz and tolerance. When we began, there was no business model for something like the Simon Wiesenthal Center. But we came to understand very quickly than Mr. Wiesenthal was a great hero to the grassroots of the Jewish people, and also highly, highly respected by important non-Jewish leaders, including presidents. We had our first campaign against the statute of limitations on Nazi war crimes in Germany back in 1979, and that launched the direction of our institution. We’re a teaching

I think we’ve also earned the trust of many people. We have about 400,000 members. Most doors are open to us. We’re an independent entity. Our job is to be independent; to be an independent voice, but also to always be an informed voice. We try to do our share for the Jewish people, and to promote derech eretz for all humanity, not just the Jews.

What are the global issues Jews are facing today?

I’m in a growth industry; I deal with anti-Semitism. It is always morphing. The way in which people are being reached today is changing. The Internet is a very powerful multi-edged sword.

We also live in a country today and where if you want to exit from the community and from your Jewishness there is absolutely nothing stopping you. We see this in the devastating levels of intermarriage and the disconnect from Israel. This is a time in history when people need a positive reason

How should we be involved?

We’re blessed to have access to the State of Israel, while also living in the freest of all nations. It’s se the only thing that remains constant is that anti-Semites really don’t care what your level of Jewishness is. They hate us anyway. We should not allow the anti-Semites dictate our narrative. Our identity should not be dictated by people who want to do away with us. We need to understand those threats and stand up to them, but we should never let them dictate the narrative. The Internet creates a big void. If you don’t tell people what your values are, Al-Qaida will, Hamas will.

We have to stand up for our rights and not just assume that someone else is going to do it. And I’ll go a step further: I think it’s also reached a point in history where

to be the most effective defender of the Jewish people, you have to 21 be a knowledgeable Jew. We must be capable of explaining to our neighbors why we keep Shabbat and what it is about the Jews in Israel. To explain that today you have to have basic knowledge, and to have basic knowledge you have good education and a commitment.

We know that there are places in Europe now where core Judaic practices of brit milah and shechita are criminalized. And my feeling is that the idea that a democracy votes to criminalize or outlaw shechita is something that cannot stand. It’s something that delegitimizes every Jew, whether they keep kosher or not is irrelevant. So whether you want to talk about that or the State of Israel, even if you’ve never lived there, all of that is predicated on having some knowledge. I was lucky that when I was a teenager we had a unifying call of Am Yisrael Chai, of never again, of Soviet Jewry. Jews of every imaginable political orientation, and many wonderful non-Jews, stepped forward to work in solidarity to free Soviet Jewry. With an incredibly miraculous end which none of us could have predicted.

This generation does not have yet the kind of unifying theme. That is something that I think is important for us to collectively seek out. In order to defend the rights of Jews, in order to ensure that we don’t allow others to demonize us or deny our history as the Palestinians are trying to do, you can only do that if you have some knowledge. On the other hand, I think once you do have the knowledge… Tikun Olam.

It’s a core Jewish value people don’t realize. It’s not UNESCO that created it. It goes back to our sources. Actually see that is a wonderful potential opportunity to help bring Jews together without asking them to a show their own identities but to coalesce around some core Jewish values. And that’s what’s going to be this generation’s opportunity and responsibility to pursue. Because I know one thing: if the next generation can find its unifying principle, then the sky’s the limit for in terms of the growth of our future people.

october 3, 2013

You’ve met with presidents and world leaders around the globe. Do you have a moment you think of as your most influential?

I think of most things as part of my continuing learning experience.

Having been around some really great people, I think it’s very important to keep a sense of proportion and not get carried away with one’s perception of one’s alleged importance. On my first trip overseas, I read part of the Megillah at the Jewish memorial in Dachau on Purim Day in the presence of Simon Wiesenthal. That was an influential moment. The Jews of the Soviet Union, who I thought I was going to help, but who actually helped me better understand my responsibilities as a Jew – that was a transformative moment. One of my most memorable moments was the flight I took on El Al in the early nineties in which I left Moscow and was at the Kotel at 8:00 AM. Back in 1972, if someone had told me that someday I would be able to fly from Moscow and get off the plane and go daven at the Kotel, I would have told them to seek psychiatric help. So there have been many special moments

to continue to nurture their Jewish identity. It’s not like it was with Soviet Jewry, where people felt trapped and we’re ready to pay the ultimate price. The United States is a wonderful place, where you can choose your identity or lack thereof.

It’s a different kind of challenge.

And I see now in the battle against anti-Semitism a convergence from our enemies. The struggle that’s now underway is not about where Israel’s border should be; it’s about the battle against the very idea of Israel. They’re out to delegitimize Israel, to demonize Israel. You go on campuses and you have professors who say, ‘Oh, Israel?

That was a colonial mistake.’ You go to trade unions and you hear that Israel is an apartheid state. We must understand for ourselves, and teach our own children, the centrality of Israel in Jewish Life. That doesn’t mean you have to agree on, or even be involved in, political issues.

It’s really about understanding and embracing the special gift that Medinat Yisrael represents.

Obviously for the generation that went to through the Shoah, having a State of Israel coming into being three years after Auschwitz – they got it. They understood it. But now we are a new generation and the narrative of the Jewish people is not dictated any longer by the collective memory of the Shoah.

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institution. The original idea for the Simon Wiesenthal Center was a modest-sized museum. When it opened in 1979, it was the largest Holocaust museum in the Englishspeaking world outside of Yad Vashem. It wasn’t very large, but this was before the whole explosion of memorials. I guess we were inspirational. Our museums also have traveling exhibits. The film division of the Center too – Rabbi Hier has two Academy Awards in his office. Not one. The Museum of Tolerance, opened over 20 years ago, has had around six million visitors come through its doors.

We also have a project called Digital Terrorism and Hate, which I started about 15 years ago. We’re acknowledged leaders in the field, as we were in it early. I want to make it clear that I don’t know anything about technology; but I know a lot about hatred and bad guys and how they leverage social networking and other available technologies to find recruits, to raise money, to promote terrorism. I’ve been involved with North Korean human rights issues. We’re the only International Jewish Group that is headquartered in the Asian Pacific Rim. I go to Asia very often; I’ve been to Japan over 30 times. We’re going to be opening our Holocaust exhibit in Manila on November 12, and we just opened in Mumbai and in Bangkok, Thailand. We do work in China. It’s a very important part of the world with no history of antiSemitism, and we’d like to build closer relationships between these countries and societies and the Jewish people.

So my job is very diverse, and I consider it to be a great honor to have this kind of opportunity, and, of course, to be around a visionary mentor and friend like Rabbi Hier.

He is someone who, apart from being a great leader, also trusts the people around him, entrusts and empowers them. I’ve been with him 38 years, 36 of them at the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Most of the people who are here are here for decades, not only because the work is so important and so satisfying, but also because we realize that this is a unique kind of environment in which to grow professionally and personally. And

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Cover Story Susan Schwamm

Government Shutdown What does it Really Mean?

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n Tuesday, October 1, Americans woke up to their favorite morning TV hosts shouting about a government shutdown. Before Tuesday, rumblings about the shutdown were heard across the nation but no one believed that it would really take place. Hey, Toto, we’re not in Greece anymore, right? Wrong.

On Tuesday we were told that both the Republican and Democrat parties could not agree to terms and that nonessential government services and offices would be suspended and closed until further notice.

So what exactly does it all mean? How does a government, especially of a firstworld country, just “shutdown”? What does it mean for the average American?

How did we come to this? And why can’t those Republicans and Democrats just find a way to all get along?

Shutdowns: Nothing New

Believe it or not, this is not the first time that our government has (almost) ground to a halt. There have been 17 shutdowns since 1976. The longest shutdown occurred in 1995-1996 and lasted for 21 days when Bill Clinton fought with Republicans over budgetary matters. In the 1970s there were six shutdowns—all lasting longer than eight days—and in 1982, there was a one-day shutdown when Congress couldn’t agree on funding the Nicaraguan Contras.

Why does this keep on happening? The short answer is that Congress sometimes has trouble agreeing with itself, especially when it comes to funding. Every year, there are parts of the federal government that need to be funded in order to operate. If Congress can’t agree on how to fund them, they have to shut down.

Each year, the House and Senate are supposed to agree on 12 appropriations bills to fund federal agencies and set spending priorities. Unfortunately, due to

partisan bickering and priorities, it has become harder and harder to pass these bills.

In recent years, Congress has resorted to stopgap budgets to keep the government funded, also known as “continuing resolutions.” The last one passed on March 28, 2013 and ended on Monday, September 30, 2013.

The Beast in the Room

When the sun rose in the east on Tuesday, October 1, the Democrat-controlled Senate and the Republican-controlled House were still not able to come to terms to what a new stopgap should look like. The standard issues were present: What should be funded? Where should cuts be made? Why is this program necessary?

Too much spending helps our economy...too much spending hurts our economy, etc.

But on the morning of October1, it wasn’t just about funding federal agencies.

For two years, both Republicans and Democrats had the date of October 1 circled on their calendars: it is was the date that the essential provisions of Obamacare were to take effect.

Add Obamacare to the ever-present toxic concoction of partisan budgetary battles and it’s no wonder that the result was a government shutdown. Obamacare was the shadow lurking in the corner and was essentially the reason why both sides couldn’t come together.

So focused are they on Obamacare that Republicans were willing to pass a budget to fund all portions of the federal government except Obamacare. Over the weekend, they did just that. They passed a funding bill that would delay Obamacare for one year and would fund the rest of the federal government. However, the Senate rejected the measure. After a few back-and-forths, by 1am on Tuesday, both sides threw in the towel and a government shutdown was declared.

What is Shutting Down?

When the government shuts down it doesn’t exactly mean that all things grind to a halt. There are laws and regulations that separate federal workers as “essential” and “nonessential.” Once a government shutdown is implemented, essential workers are expected to stay on the job (although they won’t be getting paid until the shutdown gets lifted) and the nonessential workers are sent home after a half day of work, preparing for the closure.

Obviously, many government functions are important for ensuring the safety of Americans. The U.S. military, embassies, border patrol and federal prisons are all kept open. Air traffic control stays open as well, as do offices involved in law enforcement and emergency and disaster assistance. Agencies involved in benefits

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that are written into permanent law (such as Social Security and veterans’ benefits) stay open. For now, unemployment benefits and food stamps will continue to operate as will the postal service and Federal Reserve. Members of Congress will continue to see their paychecks, although their staffers will be divided into nonessential and essential workers.

Other agencies, though, are affected. The Justice Department will suspend many civil cases. The National Park Services closed more than 400 national parks and museums, including Yosemite, Alcatraz and the Statue of Liberty. Most passport agencies will be open, although some activities may possibly be interrupted.

The Department of Agriculture will cut off support for WIC (Women, Infants and Children program). Most states have the funds to continue funding the program, although funds may run out at the end of October.

It’s interesting to note the District of Columbia is the only city barred from spending funds during a government shutdown, save for select services such as the police, EMS and firefighter units. During the shutdown in 1995-1996, trash collection and street sweeping came to a halt in the nation’s capital. But this time around, Mayor Vincent Gray has vowed to label all city services “essential,” therebypassing the law.

In all, the government estimates that roughly 800,000 federal workers were sent home during the shutdown. Approximately, 1.3 million “essential” federal workers, 1.4 million active-duty military members, 500,000 postal workers and other employees are still on the job.

Who Will Blink First

It is impossible to say how long the shutdown will last and how it will end. But in a town in which politics reigns supreme, it is likely that the party that “blinks first” will lose. It is essentially a game of “chicken.”

President Obama has taken a hard line. In an interview with National Public Radio in the hours before the shutdown took effect, President Obama said, “I shouldn’t have to offer anything.” He further declared: “Let’s be clear, we’re not going to delay the Affordable Care Act.” The president’s strategy appears to be to try to get public opinion on his side. To that end, he has implicitly sought to pin the shutdown on the Tea Party. “Let me be more specific. One faction of one party in one house of Congress in one branch of government shut down major parts of the government all because they didn’t like one law,” he said in a Rose Garden address shortly after the shutdown began.

Some predicted that the shutdown would have a short and quick demise.

This, they said, depended on House Speaker John Boehner. If he intended to force the shutdown to prove to Tea Party conservatives that he stands by them in the Obamacare dispute, then his mission is now accomplished, and he can come to the table ready to end the shutdown.

But as of midday Tuesday, many saw that a quick end to the shutdown was improbable. The Democrat-controlled Senate rejected the House demand for a conference committee to discuss terms of continued government funding.

In response, prospective House conferees held a photo-op that consisted of them sitting across from some empty chairs. Obama, the adult in the sandbox, chided, “That’s not how adults operate” during his midday Rose Garden appearance.

Many are now predicting that the shutdown will last at least week and have pointed at the last government shutdown which began with a five-day federal work interruption in November 1995 and then followed with a shutdown from December 16, 1995 to January 6, 1996. “I’m projecting that the shutdown will last at least a week because it will take that long for the impact of the shutdown to start to be felt and, therefore, to make ending it more politically acceptable,” Stan Collender, a veteran federal budget expert, wrote on his blog. People won’t be frustrated until next Monday, when reality will hit and they’ll realize that some of their paychecks won’t be coming and their trips to national parks will be curtailed. “This is the point at which there will start to be real pressure on members of Congress as the impact of the shutdown finally hits home for many people and the prospect of lost wages and less business becomes a reality,” he concluded.

In fact, William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard, urged House Republicans to maintain their stance for at least a week or possibly until October 17 when Congress will have to raise the debt ceiling again. He said that in a political game of blackjack, House Republicans “have a hand they could easily make worse by panicking, and which could be good enough for a win or draw if they keep calm.”

Let members go home to their districts for a few days, he suggested, so they can hear what their constituents are saying. Certainly, a standoff on the debt ceiling will have more of a damaging effect on the economy than a government shutdown. “It would be far more dangerous than a government shutdown, as bad as a shutdown is,” said Obama.

Time Will Tell

The last government shutdown lasted for 21 days. During that time, President Clinton and House Speaker Newt Gingrich were in daily contact for more than a month, and both those politicians loved talking policy, even though they disagreed most of the time. This time around, President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner didn’t speak for the ten days leading up to the shutdown. On Monday, Obama did call Boehner and other congressional leaders—but Boehner said the president clearly wanted to highlight that he was unwilling to negotiate. “The ideological clash between House Republicans and the president is very deep,” William Galston, who was a White House adviser to Clinton during the shutdown, noted.

So when will this government shutdown finally end and what impact will it have on our economy and nation? Time will only tell which side will blink first to end the fighting between the parties and start the wheels of our government turning again.

25 The Jewish Home

If you live in Los Angeles, you’ve probably driven by Bocca Steakhouse on Pico Boulevard dozens of times and wondered how it compares to our older, more established high end restaurants. If you live in the valley, then not only do you drive by Bocca Steakhouse on Ventura Boulevard almost daily, but you’ve likely enjoyed a great meal inside as it’s one of the few fleishig possibilities in the West Valley. To clarify, Bocca Steakhouse has two locations: one in Encino, which has become an indispensable landmark for a good steak, and a newer location on Pico Boulevard that should become one. Both restaurants completely gutted previously non-Kosher restaurant locations, so many of their walk-in customers include non-Jews who wander into Bocca out of habit.

The Encino Bocca location was opened over 8 years ago and stood strong through a recession and the valley’s volatile Kosher restaurant landscape.

Three other Kosher fleishig restaurants opened and closed on Ventura boulevard during the same time period, but Bocca remained popular due to its good food, creative bar tender, and flexible terms for renting out the restaurant as a venue for parties. The owners of Bocca also brought us the much loved, and still lamented, high end milchig restarant Mocca. Mocca was a gorgeous bistro built right next door to Bocca.

Unfortunately, Mocca’s famous red velvet cupcakes and delectable cheese and veggie sandwiches weren’t enough to succeed in a tough economy. I wonder if Pico boulevard is ripe for a revitalized Mocca? Let the picketing begin.

The Pico Boulevard location opened about 1 year ago, bringing their signature dishes and much of their key kitchen and

serving staff, including their legendary bar tender, Eli Cohen, over the hill to the city. The city’s Bocca was formerly a Coco’s restaurant and is fast food sizedmassive. The tables are well spaced, making Bocca of the city perfect for a private meeting or clandestine date.

Because the room is so large, Bocca is hoping to pick up more business for private parties.

If it’s your first time in either Bocca, go with a uniquely Bocca dish like their Wild Mushroom Candy which is a won ton purse stuffed with mushrooms and faux cream cheese (sounds weird on paper, but is awesome) or Chicken Tandoori Brochette, a boneless and grilled chicken breast that has marinated so long that it melts in your mouth like a piece of chocolate.

I am familiar with most of Bocca’s menu, but this time I had two dishes that were new to me and that I highly recommend: Chimichangas and Tex Mex Steak. Chimichangas are actually not on the menu, so feel like a high roller and order this special; tell them the Jewish Home sent you, wink wink. Bocca’s Chimichangas are large and gezunt, more like a full burrito size than the appetizer it pretends to be. The dough is soft and flaky and it’s stuffed with high quality shredded barbequed brisket. The meat is plentiful and combined with sautéed onions and peppers. It’s a wee bit spicy, but pleasantly so, and the zest doesn’t overpower the barbeque flavor. So tasty and hefty it could be a meal on its own.

In general, Bocca’s steaks are fabulous. They are everything you want in a steak: superior beef, flavored with care, and grilled to your specifications.

The Tex Mex Steak is juicy and easy to chew, with the added bonus of abundant side dishes inspired by south of the border flavors. I most enjoyed the black bean and tomato salad and piquant avocado salad, but there is also a pair of chicken stuffed tortillas smothered in tomato sauce and rice. If you cut up the steak and mix it with the long grain rice and salads it becomes an authentic Mexican dish. Pleasant, comforting, and filling food.

One thing that differentiates Bocca

from most highend eateries is their honest, endearing wait staff. Chat it up with them and they’ll frankly tell you their opinions and are open to customizing an order for you by changing up the sauce or side dishes. You feel that they’re on your side, trying to ensure that you actually enjoy your meal instead of using complicated, fancy pants lingo to describe a piece of chicken. They’re excellent at remembering faces and names and you’ll be treated like a VIP if you eat at Bocca more than twice.

Bocca is also worth your time for just dessert and drinks. If you’re visiting the valley location, try to make it on a Thursday night or Motzei Shabbos when there is live entertainment. When the entertainment includes singers, they only have male singers- call in advance to see who’ll hit the stage. As mentioned earlier, their bartender Eli Cohen, is a rockstar and has an encyclopedic knowledge of mixed drinks. Two to try: Bocca Star and White Bocca. The Bocca Star was one of the first alcoholic beverages that I actually enjoyed. I’m more the sort to order a chocolate milk than shots, but Bocca Star is an exception. It consists of

tequila, coffee liqueur, grenadine, and a touch of Rockstar energy drink, a strange but addicting combination. White Bocca is equally superb, especially if you’re into coconut flavor. The White Bocca is very sweet, and includes vanilla vodka, coconut milk, caramel syrup, and almond liqueur; it goes well with dessert, or in place of dessert. If these are too girly for you, describe what you like and Eli Cohen will know what to do.

One more thing: Bocca does incredible catering, they are very reasonable and offer either a buffet or plated meals. I’ve been to a few bas mitzvahs, sheva brachas, and shul dinners there and they have all been memorable and enjoyable. The Pico location can hold up to 150 people.

Estee Cohen is a California native and goes out to eat more than is appropriate. She is a kosher food insider, has a patient husband and 3 little kids. She is passionate about restaurants, science education, and collects rooster figurines.

october 3, 2013

Bocca Steakhouse

The Jewish Home

october 3, 2013

26

Call for Support for LA’s First Kosher Soup Kitchen

by Rachel Wizenfeld

Tiferet Teman, located on Pico Boulevard near La Cienega, has been a quiet Yemenite synagogue for so many years; but now close to thirty little faces crowd the seats there each weekday afternoon, as children come to fill their stomachs at what has become LA’s first kosher soup kitchen.

Sometimes alone and sometimes accompanied by their mothers, these children and families come from a diverse group of backgrounds that share one thing in common - economic struggle, says Ifat Shlomi, who currently runs the soup kitchen.

“Each day there are more and more people, more new faces,” she says.

Intended to be a place for children to get a hot dinner, the soup kitchen, which

launched just a week before Rosh Hashanah, is open on weekdays from 4:307:00pm and serves hot meals including meatballs, schnitzel, chicken, potatoes, fish and soup. It opened under the auspices of Rabbi Moshe Yazdi, a rabbi in Israel who runs an anti-poverty organization there called Amude Hashalom. Rabbi Yazdi visits Los Angeles on occasion to fundraise and teach, and on his most recent visit in June, he observed that the poverty in the Orthodox community here was becoming unbearable for many families. Under his watch and using donated funds from American Friends of Amude Hashalom, Ifat Shlomi launched the soup kitchen. However she hopes that other organizations and individuals will step up to partner and allow the soup kitchen to flourish.

“This is not a project of Amude Hashalom only,” she says. “We’re the ones that came up front and did it, but we want the community to feel that this is their project, too.”

While the idea of a kosher soup kitchen in the LA community had been tossed around before, most people felt that Jewish hunger was being covered by organizations like Tomchei Shabbos or Sova, says Shlomi. However, sadly, the strong response to the soup kitchen in just its first month of operation shows the need for such a place.

While the kids who come are happy and excited to eat and play with their

friends, for the parents it can be uncomfortable.

One mother came to Shlomi and quietly asked if she could take the leftovers on her children’s plates home; another mother of four called before Sukkot to see if there would be meals during Chol Hamoed, say-

ing she didn’t know how else she would feed her kids.

“You can’t imagine things like that,” says Shlomi.

Families come from all religious and cultural backgrounds, whether Ashkenazi, Sephardic, American, Israeli or Persian.

While most are Orthodox, anyone is welcome. “It doesn’t matter what type of religious level you are and you don’t have to fill out forms. Here you can just come,” she says.

The soup kitchen is also a lifesaver for mothers of large families who have a hard time preparing and serving dinner to their multiple children. One mother of six kids has been coming daily with her children since the kitchen opened – they sit together and dine at a table each evening.

But should the kitchen be reserved for people in financial need, in contrast to those feeling overwhelmed or in crisis?

Shlomi says the philosophy of Amude Hashalom is that anyone who is coming to ask for help or dine at a free soup kitchen day after day is in need; otherwise he or she would feel ashamed. While sometimes the primary need may not be financial - a person may instead need attention, companionship, or has trouble taking care of himself – any person in need is welcome.

Kosher soup kitchens have been operating in New York for several years, and have been successful at supporting and nurturing the elderly, children and families. An organization called Masbia operates four kosher soup kitchens in Brooklyn and Queens, dubbing them “free restaurants,” and in addition to the hot meals, offers connections to local social services and companionship from caring staff and

volunteers.

Tiferet Teman would like to expand its capacity and offerings, but is in sore need of donations and volunteers. Nearly ev-

eryone staffing the soup kitchen is a volunteer, including Shlomi, who works fulltime as a physical therapist. More volunteers are needed who can be trained to prepare and serve food and commit to a consistent schedule, as well as volunteers to help publicize and fundraise for the kitchen and help fill other needs as well.

“The goal is to take care of people from A-Z,” says Shlomi, who has noticed that the clothing and shoes of children who come to the kitchen is often old and worn.

Clothing and toy donations are welcomed, as well as packaged food from local stores, and are distributed directly to the families.

While they don’t have storage space, if people drop off items in the beginning of the week, it will likely be taken by Friday, when the space has to be cleared out and organized for synagogue services.

“We need the help of the community to make it happen; more and more people are coming, and it looks like people really need this,” says Shlomi. “This is something that can happen to everybody, and we’re more fortunate to be able to give to them. ‘Im yirtzeh Hashem (G-d Willing) may we be the givers and not the takers.”

For those in need of a hot meal, the Tiferet Teman soup kitchen is located at 8589 Pico Blvd, entrance from the alley of Holt St. Hours are Monday-Thursday 4:30 to 7:00pm, not including holidays.

Food is provided by “Bazilikum Catering” under the kosher supervision of Rabbi Gavriel Hakohen.

Donations are needed to keep this initiative going. Please make checks out to American Friends of Amude Hashalom, and mail to 1041 S. Wooster St., #2, LA, CA 90035. To donate via credit card, call 323-449-8184. All donations are tax deductible.

Volunteers are also needed to help serve, clean up, and offer support to families. To volunteer or get involved, please contact Ifat Shlomi at Ifat08@ gmail.com.

by Shiffy Friedman ©

Chapter Eleven

Recap: After Tuvia finally starts to earn wages, Davie has mixed feelings that his hopes of saving up for rehab are slowly coming to fruition. Lisa is excited to start Project Heal on her own family.

Lisa Stein, 13 It’s cold today, on this November afternoon, as I take wide steps across the pavement, skipping over the grouted lines. Every time I take a tiny jump, my school bag hangs suspended in the air for short seconds giving the cold gusts just enough time to steal in to the momentary crevices.

I pull my duffel jacket tighter around my waist, its drawstring missing for some time now. It’s still on the sewing box in the laundry room. What can I do if my fingers just aren’t fine enough to weave it through?

One day, when Mom gets a chance, she’ll do it for me. These days, she’s too busy mixing juices in the kitchen for her new client. When I lay in bed last night, tracing the shadows of passing cars on the bedroom ceiling, I heard her say to some Rosie in her soft, soft voice, “Don’t worry, my dear. All will be well after you drink the rosemary tea I’m preparing especially for you.” She continued to sing the praises of some interesting-sounding flower, which reminded me of the musician Ms. Ridan always referred to with much awe in the good old days when Dad treated me to six music sessions—six sessions in all until he got angry at me for breaking his coffee mug.

As I listened with half-an-ear to Mom’s conversation, my mind drifting

in and out of cotton candy dreams, inside, somewhere in my chest, I felt an interesting sort of ache. Could rosemary really solve all problems? And if they could save the world for Rosie, a woman who is probably no more broken than me or Mom or Becca, why can’t I drink gallons and gallons of it until all I see is the sun and all I can do is dance to the music of the wind?

Was Mom privy to a secret she was too afraid to share even with her own flesh, even with her own shadow?

I look up toward the sky, just in time to catch the sun kiss its final goodbye to my side of the world.

She sets too early these days, too early for me to enjoy the outdoors after dinner. On the lovely summer afternoons, I spend countless happy hours in the Smiths’ backyard. They have the coolest crown-shaped basketball hoop their father built especially for them last summer. And their daughter, Jamie, already a junior this year, has the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. All the neighborhood kids feel so comfortable right there, with her, as we run after the ball and wrestle breathlessly, like boys, to win the round. Today, when I pass the Smiths’ front lawn, I take a peek into the yard through the alley.

Except for some stray orange leaves, it’s empty, deserted of all life.

green school shoes also remind me that very soon, my birthday’s coming up.

Which means I’m not a little girl-- not a little girl anymore.

Gone are the days when I stared out the window into the night, the huge trees outside like ghosts over my head, as I tried to find comfort in the light of the moon, the only promise of routine in my muddled life. When I was young, so young that I wasn’t yet embarrassed to let my tears freely fall, my heart beat in a perpetual succession of too-quick thumps. I was restless, always, never knowing what the morrow would bring.

Now that I’ve grown, now that I’ve aged and the years have come upon me like rings in the Russian Doll my history teacher made us memorize as the matryoshka, I’m stronger on the outside. The wooden rings nesting one inside the other have fortified my facade, their bright colors hiding my tears that never come, my heart that never stops to bleed.

Brr! I feel cold inside. I wish I could saunter in there, drink some lemonade on the wooden bench, and magically make the summer reappear. Winter for me means lots of time indoors, lots of time in my room, my fingers in my ears for so long that they come out yellow and sticky.

It’s good to be older, good to be forced to grow up, all on my own.

For how long can a little girl cry?

Oh, for how long can I let my father’s anger and unpredictable fits of rage eat me away? I need to move on, to make friends and laugh in the playground and shake my head ‘yes’ when I finally win their hearts and they ask me if they can come study at my house even if what I really want to do is turn around and run, screaming “nooooo!” until I reach my hiding place.

The crunch of the leaves under my

I hate when I have friends over at my

house. If I’d have to write a composition in English class of my most embarrassing moment (and then tear it apart and throw it into the wind so even the teacher won’t read it) I’d write about the time I had Riva and Shulamit over before the science bee.

I feared so much that Dad shouldn’t show up while they were there that I broke out into a fever that night. After all the hours of studying, I missed the bee, and with that, my chance at winning the trophy.

If only they would know, my friends, of what “home” means to me. It’s the coldest place in the Universe, the place where I feel most lost in the world. But they don’t know a thing.

I’m sure of it.

Because right now, as I walk toward this place that I can’t wait to outgrow, I can see through the split in my bedroom curtains that they’re hanging yellow and green streamers on my walls, Sara’s trademark red hair static against my window.

I stop for a moment to watch as Riva writes the number 14 on an oversized banner she probably printed at her father’s store.

A surprise birthday party. All for me.

I know I should be happy now, feeling lucky for these friendships that fill some tiny crevices of my life with joy.

But I open the front door with a heavy heart. Dad’s car is in the garage.

october 3, 2013

Part two

The Jewish Home

Shiffy Friedman is a Jerusalem-based freelance writer.

Her works have been published widely, primarily in Ami Magazine. She would love to hear feedback on her writing.

Feel free to contact her at passionforthepen@gmail.com.

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28 3, 2013 TThe h e JJewish e w i s h Home h o m e n october m ay 2 4 , 2012

78

You Gotta be

Riddle!

Kidding!

moshe was at his golf club and his car was in the shop being detailed. he sheepishly asked his nemesis yankel for a ride home. “sure,” says yankel, “i’ll give you a lift in my brand new rolls royce, parked right in the front.” as they’re driving along, moshe says, “yankel, what’s that thing on the dashboard ticking all the time?”

“That’s my digital clock.” a few minutes later, moshe asks, “and what’s that thing on the dashboard moving up and down?”

“That’s my tachometer,” says yankel.

Then a few minutes after that, moshe starts to ask, “But what’s that....” “hold on a minute, moshe,” says yankel, “i can see you’ve never been in a rolls royce before.” moshe responds, “never in the front seat.”

a family photo has one grandfather, one grandmother; two fathers, two mothers; six children, four grandchildren; two brothers, two sisters; three sons, three daughters; one father-in-law, one mother-in-law, and one daughter-in-law. what is the least number of people the photo can have?

Answer below

Now Brewing: Starbucks Facts • The first starbucks sold 8oz. cups of coffee. over the years, they have dropped the 8oz. size and have added 12oz., 16oz., 24oz. and 30oz.

• a grande coffee (320 milligrams of caffeine) has four times the amount of caffeine than red Bull.

in 2010, starbucks had 137,000 employees—that is twice the population of greenland.

• statistically, since 1987, starbucks has added two stores per day.

• There are 87,000 different drink combinations available at starbucks.

• starbucks uses over 93 million gallons of milk per year, which is enough to fill 155 olympic sized swimming pools.

• santa fe springs, california, wins the prize for the most stores within a 25-mile radius. They have 560 starbucks!!

• over a course of one year, starbucks uses 2.3 billion paper cups.

• The first owners of starbucks almost named the company after the boat in the book moby dick – pequod.

•

• starbucks spends more than $300 million on healthcare for its employees, which is more than what they spend on coffee beans.

G OT Fu N N Y?

Comm Let the ission er dec Send your s tuff

ide

• The largest size drink at starbucks is a trenta, which holds 916 milliliters. The

average stomach can only hold 900 milliliters.

• The average starbucks customer visits six times per month and the extreme starbucks customer visits sixteen times per month.

• in 1999, starbucks opened the first store in Beijing, china. since then, there are 376 stores in china. They are projected to have 1,000 starbuck stores by 2015.

• starbucks has a “10 minute rule” which requires stores to open 10 minutes before the posted opening time and to close 10 minutes after the posted closing time.

t

o fivetow centerfold@ nsjewis hhome. com

Answer to riddle: 8—four children—two boys and two girls; their mother and father; and one set of grandparents.

29

1. As one of America’s most iconic food joints, you’d think that Dunkin’ Donuts was started by one of the founding fathers, but it wasn’t. Who is the founder of Dunkin’? a. an irishman named duncan o’neil b. a christian named duncan smith c. an italian named giovanni gallo d. a nice jewish boy from massachusetts, the son of european immigrants, named william rosenberg 2. Kopi Luwak is the world’s most expensive coffee (up to $600 per pound).

How is it made? a. it is made from coffee beans that are eaten and then excreted by a sumatran wild cat b. The beans are cut and dried for 6 months in the sun c. it is made from extremely bold beans that are grown in the african tribal region of kopi. control of the bean fields is one of the major points of contention in the tribal conflicts. as such, they are rare and very expensive. d. its coffee beans go through a three step process where they are chopped up and replanted twice before being used to make coffee.

3. Which of the following is the only commodity that is globally traded more than coffee? a. gold b. oil c. steel d. wheat 4. Which country drinks the most coffee per capita? a. israel b. usa c. italy d. england e. finland f. Brazil 5. Why was the founder of Keurig once hospitalized? a. while working on an early prototype of the machine, he was testing out heating tubes and sustained severe burns. b. she was having her triplets delivered.

(The second year after she started the company.)

c. he drank too much coffee. d. he was skydiving and his parachute didn’t inflate (but his instructor’s did and he was able to evade serious injury).

6. All of the coffee in the world is grown in the area between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. What is this area known as? a. java line b. Bean Belt c. coffee circle d. roast circle 7. A single cup of coffee with nothing else in it (i.e. sugar, milk, etc.) contains approximately how many calories? a. 0 b. 20 c. 35 d. 70 8. How did the coffee drink called “cappuccino” get its name? a. it was made up by a goofy employee at starbucks who until this day claims, “uh, dude, the name just came to me in a dream... bro.” b. “cap” means light in italian and “puccino” means brown. since the drink is light brown it is called cappuccino. c. cappuccino means foam in italian and the drink is very foamy. d. The drink got its name because of its resemblance to the brown hoods worn by capuchin monks Answers: 1. d-due to poverty, william rosenberg was forced to leave school by eighth grade to help support his family that had lost their store in the great depression. he worked as a salesman for various food-related businesses. after world war ii, he started a company that delivered meals and coffee to factory workers on the outskirts of Boston, massachusetts. within a short time, he had 200 catering trucks, 25 in-plant outlets and a vending operation. noticing that forty percent of his revenues came from coffee and doughnuts, he started a retail shop that specialized in those products, opening his first coffee and doughnut shop, the “open kettle” on memo-

rial day in 1948, later renaming “dunkin’ donuts.” in 1955, upon opening his sixth shop, he decided on the concept of franchising his business as a means of distribution and expansion.

2. a-The the process is said to improve coffee through two mechanisms: selection and digestion. selection occurs because the cats choose to eat coffee berries containing better beans. once the beans are eaten, fermentation occurs in the cat’s digestive tract.

3. B-oil is the only global commodity which is traded more than coffee.

4. e- The average finn drinks 12 kilograms of coffee per year. americans consume 400 million cups of coffee per day, or equivalent to 146 billion cups of coffee per year; making the united states the leading consumer of coffee in the world. But we are not the per capita leader. (i guess we can’t always be #1 in everything.)

5. c- according to the Boston globe, one day in the spring of 1995, keurig co-founder john sylvan checked into Boston’s Beth israel hospital with heart attack symptoms. after numerous tests, doctors determined that he wasn’t having a heart attack and did not have a brain injury. eventually, he was diagnosed with caffeine poisoning. at the time, he was drinking approximately 30 or 40 cups of coffee a day.

6. B- Brazil is the largest producer of coffee.

7. a 8. d-cappuccino means “small hood” in italian. The coffee beverage has its name because it resembles the color of the hooded robes worn by monks and nuns of the capuchin order.

Wisdom key 7-8 correct: you are good. you should treat yourself to some good raw kopi luwak coffee!

4-6 correct: you are a “grande.” (Before you get excited, it doesn’t mean you are amazing and grand. in starbucks parlance it means you are in the middle.)

0-3 correct: you are totally decaf, dude.

The Jewish T h e JHome e w i s h hoctober o m e n m3, ay2013 2 4 , 2012

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE TRIVIA

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The 2013 T H E Jewish J E W I S HHome H O M E noctober M AY 2 4 ,3,2012

30 88

Notable

“Say What?”

This whole government shutdown thing comes down to who will blink first. Well, we know it won’t be Nancy Pelosi. We know that for sure because she hasn’t blinked since the last shutdown.

- Jay Leno If the government does shut down, nonessential White House employees will be sent home without pay — so more bad news for Joe Biden.

- Jay Leno

Now, I know Rouhani doesn’t sound like Ahmadinejad, but when it comes to Iran’s nuclear weapons program, the only difference between them is this: Ahmadinejad was a wolf in wolf’s clothing.

Rouhani is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. A wolf who thinks he can pull the wool over the eyes of the international community.

- Prime Minister Netanyahu addressing the U.N. General Assembly Rouhani thinks he can have his yellowcake and eat it, too.

- Ibid.

Since 1976 there have been 17 government shutdowns.

The longest was during the four years that Jimmy Carter was president.

- Jay Leno Even if the government shuts down, Americans don’t care.

The last time Americans cared about anything was when they shut down the Twinkie factory.

- David Letterman

The permanent political class is handwringing and howling that if there’s a government shutdown the media will blame Republicans for it.

Here’s a little newsflash, GOP establishment: Whenever anything bad happens, the media blames Republicans for it. That’s not an excuse to roll over and play dead. It’s a call to follow the advice I give my daughters: Woman up, stand your ground, and fight like a girl!

- Sara Palin The shutdown will affect some national parks and museums. They’re going to close the Smithsonian. So if you have tickets, forget it.

You’re not getting in. They’re going to close the National Air & Space Museum. They’re closing the Hillary Clinton Pantsuit Museum.

- David Letterman The post office is raising the price of stamps again.

I heard that and said to myself, “If only there was an inexpensive electronic way of communicating.”

- David Letterman The post office wants a three-cent increase to 49 cents. They say fewer and fewer people are using the post office and they’re losing money. See, that’s government thinking. Only the government would think, “Hey, I know how to attract more customers. Let’s raise the price.”

- Jay Leno

Quotes

Compiled by Nate Davis

Uh, yes, ma’am, you’re probably not going to believe this, but I’m a prisoner in a van, and I’m here with a couple of these other cats.

A couple of the guys that were in the van jacked the van...We’re in Oklahoma somewhere. I don’t know because we’re not on a road and I’m not from here...I just don’t want to get shot by no cops or nothing.

- Portion of 911 call made by prisoner Joshua Silverman when a prisoner transport van he was in was left unattended by guards and driven away by one of the prisoners. (The prisoners broke a partition in the van and gained access to the front section and drove away.)

Home Depot just announced that that it will cut health insurance for its parttime workers because of Obamacare. Home Depot’s CEO said he had a hard time breaking the news to employees. That’s because it took him three hours to find one.

- Jimmy Fallon O.J. Simpson has been arrested in prison. He was caught stealing cookies from the prison cafeteria. Do you get the feeling that O.J.’s not even trying anymore? But O.J. is vowing to find the real cookie thief.

- David Letterman That’s right, O.J. was caught stealing cookies from the prison cafeteria.

Unfortunately, officials blew the case when they had him stick his hand in the cookie jar and it wouldn’t fit.

- Jimmy Fallon O.J. Simpson has been caught stealing cookies from the prison cafeteria. Just when you think you know a guy, huh?

- Jay Leno Today’s the annual grand opening of the U.N... At every U.N. session there’s a special promotion. Tomorrow it’s Angela Merkel bobblehead day.

- Dave Letterman

President Obama is now making his case for raising the debt limit. He said raising the debt limit does not increase debt. You know, like raising the speed limit does not increase speed.

- Jay Leno In his effort to try to stop Obamacare, Texas Senator Ted Cruz spoke for 21 hours and 19 minutes nonstop.

That’s impressive, but still eight hours short of the record held when somebody asked Joe Biden, “Hey, what’s new?”

- Jay Leno

Tea Party Senator Ted Cruz gave a 21-hour speech on the floor of the Senate. During his protest, Cruz actually read from the book Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.

Democrats were like, “When will this end?” But then Chris Christie said, “When do we get those eggs and ham?”

- Jimmy Fallon

I wonder what President Obama will do when he retires. I bet it will involve giving back somehow. He’ll make sure those in the developing world have the most important things they need to succeed — like a fake Hawaiian birth certificate.

- Craig Ferguson

The U.N. General Assembly is here in New York City. Today, President Obama gave a big speech on the Middle East.

The leaders from the Middle East said, “You have touched our hearts, and from now on we shall have peace.” And Obama said, “Really?” and they said, “No, but the look on your face was priceless.”

- Jimmy Fallon Russian President Vladimir Putin just revealed he may run for a fourth term in 2018.

In fact, he already came up with a few campaign posters.

One says, “I will put middleclass families first — on a bus to Siberia.”

- Jimmy Fallon

Scientists here in California have discovered a rare species of legless lizards.

Now don’t confuse that with spineless snakes; those are called congressmen. That’s totally different.

- Jay Leno

I hope you quit smoking.

I haven’t had a cigarette probably in six years. That’s because I’m scared of my wife.

- President Obama to U.N. Special Rapporteur Maina Kiai at the U.N. General Assembly in New York Yes, he has...It’s been almost a year.

- First Lady Michelle Obama on February 8, 2011, when asked by a reporter if it is true that her husband quit smoking

A show on plants on the Discovery Channel said that plants have a way of signaling danger to each other. When there’s danger, the plant releases a gas that other plants can sense. Well, here is my question. What good is a plant warning another plant about danger?

What’s the other plant supposed to do, run?

- Jay Leno

Republicans in Congress this week attempted to defund Obamacare before it begins open enrollment October 1.

Because you know the old saying, “If you can’t beat them, kick the ball into the woods.”

- Seth Meyers Kobe Bryant because he steals all of my moves.

- Michael Jordan, when asked in an interview by Ahmad Rashad which current NBA player would be able to beat him in a one-onone matchup

Pundits say President Obama is starting to lose support from his own party. To give you an idea how bad it’s gotten, today Jimmy Carter compared him to Jimmy Carter.

- Jay Leno I wasn’t really having a good time playing football. It wasn’t fun for me. It wasn’t a blast for me. Making that much money — that was fun.

But money is still a material thing. You can always make money.

- Former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Christian Ballard, 24, explaining why he quit the NFL

It looks like the federal government could be shutting down. The legal definition of a government shutdown is when Congress continues not to work, but they do it from home.

- Jay Leno

Starbucks announced they don’t want customers bringing guns into their stores. Meanwhile, Dunkin’ Donuts said there is nothing you can bring in here that’s more dangerous than what we serve.

- Conan O’Brien

A day will yet come when I will join the resistance and participate in the intifada.

Palestine is my way, and I am full of determination and will. I will draw my blood in the West Bank; I hope to die in Gaza.

- Tweet by Egyptian Mona Seif who is a finalist for the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders set to be bestowed next week in Geneva

Joe Biden’s niece was arrested. The hardest part about arresting a Biden is convincing them they have the right to remain silent.

- Conan O’Brien Global warming is “unequivocal,” and since the 1950s it’s “extremely likely” that human activities have been the dominant cause of the temperature rise.

- From a recently released report by the U.N.’s International Panel for Climate Change I just broke down in boarding area at SFO while on phone with my wife. I’ve never cried because of a science report before.

- Tweet by meteorologist Eric Holthaus in response to the U.N. Climate Change report

We have a rule at home that they [my daughters] get to pick the books. For whatever reason, they don’t pick Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham all that often. I don’t get to read it that often because I tell them, “Go pick the books you want to read,” and I read to them. But since tonight, girls, you aren’t here, you don’t get to pick the book, so I got to pick Green Eggs and Ham. I love this story, so I am going to read it to you. “Sam I Am. That Sam-I-am! That Sam-I-am! I do not like that Sam-I-am! Do you like green eggs and ham? I do not like them, Sam-I-am...”

- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) during his 21 hour speech on the Senate floor, taking a break from talking about Obamacare to read a bedtime story to his daughters (who were watching on TV)

The cupboard is bare...There’s no cuts to make.

- Minority Speaker Nancy Pelosi on CNN, discussing the federal budget that runs in excess of $4 trillion each year Exchange between a caller and liberal talk show host Stephanie Miller after the government shutdown began

CALLER: I don’t appreciate them [the GOP] holding my children hostage. I don’t appreciate them holding myself hostage.

MILLER: May I correct you?

They are not holding your children hostage; they are trying to blow your children up. There is a difference.

CALLER: What’s that?

MILLER: They are suicide bombers they are no longer hostage takers. They are no longer just regular terrorists; they are suicide bombers.

TheT HJewish E J E W I Home S H H O M Eoctober n M AY 23,4 2013 , 2012

I had my first encounter with the IRS this year, unsurprisingly after the Prayer Breakfast.

- Dr. Ben Carson who made headlines for eviscerating Obamacare at last year’s Prayer Breakfast in the presence of President Obama

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The T h eJewish J e w i sHome h h o m e october n m ay 2 3, 4 , 2013 2012

70

Forgotten Heroes Avi Heiligman

The Failure of Operation Restore Hope

S

(Rocket Propelled Grenade launchers).

Much of the humanitarian assistance was not being distributed to the starving civilians; it was hoarded by the militants and terrorists.

The lead group overthrew the government in 1991 and now their leader Mohamed Farrah Aidid was about to become the new president. Aidid was an enemy of the U.S. who treated him like a terrorist and by the summer of 1993 had several Special Forces units in country to capture or kill him. The U.N. played a role in the peacekeeping efforts with troops from Pakistan, Malaysia and Italy having a strong presence in Mogadishu.

The Italians were extremely devious and gave away many secrets about the Americans to the enemy.

The mission, called Operation Restore Hope, started under the presidency of the Bush Sr. administration and incoming President Bill Clinton did not want it to escalate into an all-out war. Special Forces General William Garrison was appointed to lead the American-led coalition as they switched from a humanitarian role to a Patroling the streets in southern Mogadishu in October 1993 military function. Aidid

ince the Vietnam War, the United States military has mainly played a police role in global conflicts.

Most of the time its objectives are reached and these battles are a show of forces of America demonstrating its prowess. There was one battle, however, that was lost not due to the incompetence of the soldiers (these were Special Forces that were fighting) but because political intervention handicapped them. Twenty years ago this week, the Battle of Mogadishu, the capital of wartorn Somalia, was fought.

The background to the United Nations involvement in Somalia is complex. To make a very long story short, there were several militant factions that destabilized the government and created widespread starvation especially in the capital. The UN was quite concerned for the starving Somalis as the once popular tourist destination was now riddled with bullets and buildings were torn down by grenades from RPGs

was the target of several raids but the and 160 men involved on the Americrack units kept on missing him. Part can side. There was also soldiers form of the reason of the 10th Mountain Division that formed him being able to a quick reaction force as well as U.N. elude capture was troops that could hopefully be counted that their infor- on if things got hairy. At first the mismants, also called sion went almost as planned. The first agents, were sec- casualty was Ranger Private Blackburn ond rate. In fact, who missed the rope while jumping the lead agent from a helicopter and fell about 70 feet shot himself in to the ground. The Delta operators capthe head playing tured Salad without too much trouble Russian roulette and were waiting for the convoy to pull.

The operation was going accordand others lost the nerve as they ing to plan until reports came in that a Black Hawk helicopter was shot down. neared the target.

The American force, called Task While trying to figure out the location Force Ranger, consisted of Army Rang- of the crash site, another Black Hawk ers, Delta Force, Para-jumpers, Combat was shot down by a RPG. What startControl operators, elite helicopter crews ed out as a “snatch and grab” mission called the Night Stalkers and four Navy turned into a rescue mission in which all SEAL Team Six snipers. Some were involved were fighting for their lives.

Evacuating Private Blackburn besent to a safe to be on the lookout for Aidid and his henchmen. Once it was came a primary mission for three Humestablished that Aidid was too slippery vees. All three came under intense fire, to be caught, the focus turned to his and Sergeant Pilla was killed when he lieutenants who were just as evil as he was hit by a bullet. The rest of this conwas. Before October 3, five raids were voy reached the base safely.

The first helicopter to get shot down conducted with varying degrees of success. The negative part about these raids went by the call sign Super 6-1. Both piwas that the Somalis saw how the task lots were killed immediately; the crew force operated, and on the afternoon of chiefs were severely wounded, and the October 3, 1993, that proved disastrous two Delta operators onboard began defending the crash site. A search and for the Americans.

On that day, American intelligence rescue (SAR) team came in to secure had received word of the location of the site despite that their Black Hawk, Aidid’s lieutenant, Omar Salad. The Super 6-8, was also hit by a RPG. Sutask force’s plan was to use two he- per 6-8 made it back to base safely while the men on licopters to fast the ground awaited rope in the Delta evacuation from operators to apthe ground conprehend Salad and voy. In a display of others inside the miscommunication compound. Army that would make Rangers would fast Congress look like rope in to provide they knew what perimeter security. they were doing, A convoy of nine the convoy waited HMMWV’s (milifor the call to move tary hummers) with out towards the more Rangers and site. During this an assortment of time, another Black other Special ForcHawk, Super 6-4 es personnel inpiloted by Michael cluding the SEALs Durant, was shot would arrive to down. The convoy extricate the priswas sent around in oners back to base.

A US soldier and a Somalian boy circles trying to loAltogether, there on January 6, 1993 in Mogadiscio during Operation Restore Hope cate either site but were 19 helicopters

on October 4 but it wasn’t over yet.

Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden Several Rangers and Delta operators details most of the battle and hardships realized that there was no room for that the American soldiers faced. Later them on the convoy and made a mad made into a movie, there are some indash back to the Olympic Stadium and relative safety. Known as the Mogadishu Mile, only one soldier was hit, and he was successfully evacuated.

America paid a terrible price for trying to restore peace in Somalia. 18 men were killed and about 80 were wounded. The number of Somalis killed is unknown but thought to be in the thousands.

Instead of reinforcing their troops and allowing them to finish the US President George H. W. Bush with Brigadier General Thomas Mikolajcik in Somalia fight, President Clinton got cold feet and ended combat operations. If the American troops had been accuracies but it tells the story of the allowed to use tanks or have captured brave men who fought to keep the Aidid when he was spotted several days world free. Soldiers don’t make poliearlier, the result probably would have cies but are tasked with upholding them been very different. It wasn’t the sol- even in the face a brutal enemy. The diers who lost the battle; it was the poli- American soldiers in Somalia on Octoticians and high brass who cared more ber 3 performed their mission in highest for promotions than American lives. of standards that the American nation Pilot Michael Durant was released after has ever seen. eleven days in prison.

Aidid eventually became president Avi Heiligman is a weekly contributor to of Somalia but didn’t last long as he was The Jewish Home. He welcomes your comassassinated by rivals. Somalia today is ments and suggestions.for future columns a lawless nation that remains a danger and can be reached at aviheiligman@ gmail.com. for anyone to visit.

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october 3, 2013

inserted anyways. A mob of hundreds of angry Somalis descended on the site while the two snipers, now using assault rifles, inflicted major casualties. Gordon was killed first and Shugart held out for another ten minutes before he was shot and killed. Durant was about to be murdered by the angry mob, who mutilated the bodies of the downed crewmen and the snipers, but Aidid’s militia came in the nick of time and took him prisoner. Gordon and Shugart were posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their bravery on the battlefield.

Back at the first crash site, things were looking a little better for the Americans. Little Bird helicopters were holding back the crowd from a US Marine of the Special Command Forces advances in the bush in December 1992 in Somalia overrunning the defenders. Finally, a relief conReports came in that while Super voy consisting of soldiers from the 10th 6-4’s copilot and crew chiefs were dead, Mountain Division and U.N. troops Pilot Durant was alive and needed res- rolled up on scene. The two mile long cue. Another helicopter came on scene convoy snaked back to the American and requested twice to insert two Delta base while under intense fire. Several snipers. These requests were refused Americans and one Malaysian soldier but Master Sergeant Gary Gordon and were killed.

The battle had rolled into daylight Specialist First Class Randy Shugart

The Jewish Home

under intense fire couldn’t manage to find them. Several Rangers and SEALs were wounded or killed in what became known as the Lost Convoy. They finally made it back to base with the prisoners and casualties. They came within half a block of the crash sites but managed not to find them due to faulty communications.

TThe h e JJewish e w i s h Home h o m e n october a u g u s T3,22013 9 , 2013

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Leisure & Travel

From Sea to Shining Sea: South Carolina

S

outh Carolina is not just about Myrtle Beach, juicy peaches and tobacco farms. There’s a lot to see and enjoy in this glorious state. For one, the Palmetto State has the largest gingko farm in the world, located in Sumter. The Upper Whitewater Falls is the highest cascade in eastern America; it descends for nearly 411 feet. And, at times, “monsters” are seen in the town of Irmo, where residents sometimes say they see the Loch Ness Monster’s cousin swimming in Lake Murray. But don’t stay away from Lake Murray because you’re scared of some mythical creature. Bomb Island on Lake Murray is home to thousands of Purple Martins who fly home to roost every spring and summer. Visitors flock here (pun intended) to see the birds return every day around sunset.

So make sure to spend some time there on your next vacation.

Speaking of things to see in the spring, Summerville is known as the Flower Town in the Pines, and tourists come there religiously in the early spring to enjoy the millions of spring blossoms that dot the town’s private and public gardens. Orangeburg is also a town with strong floral scents. The “Garden City” is home to the Edisto Memorial Gardens and displays past and current award-winning roses from the All-American Rose Selections. But visitors be warned: if you stay long enough in South Carolina, you may not want to leave. There’s an old saying in Marion that anyone who drinks water from Catfish Creek becomes infatuated with the area and wishes to stay there. Make sure to carry enough Poland Spring for you and your family or you may end up settling in the Palmetto State.

Things You Won’t Want to Miss Myrtle Beach Boardwalk One of the state’s most popular destinations is Myrtle Beach.

Its boardwalk stretches a mile long, and day or night, it draws visitors of all ages and places. Walking along the boardwalk, make sure to check out the SkyWheel, the largest Ferris wheel on the East Coast, and the zip line at the Adrenaline Adventure Zip line.

During the summer months, concerts, fireworks and carnivals abound as hundreds join in the fun.

Grand ol’ charleston Charleston is the oldest city in South Carolina and its history and age-old homes are something to marvel at.

Here, visitors can visit Magnolia Plantation, the 17th century estate that features America’s oldest gardens which bloom year-round. Fort Sumter tours can take tourists to the Fort Sumter National Monument, where the Civil War began, and then to the harbor, where they will be privy to the picturesque harbors of Charleston. The Boone Hall Plantation, Drayton Hall and Middleton Place will bring visitors back to the past.

South carolina Apple Festival If you’re visiting South Carolina now, you’re in for a real treat. The annual apple festival begins the day after Labor Day and runs through the following weekend. Thousands of visitors have been visiting Westminster since the festival started in 1961. Whitewater rafting, shopping for crafts, browsing the antique stores and enjoying the kiddie rides are great activities for everyone in the family. The Apple Festival Parade, a highlight of the festival, is held on Friday afternoon—make sure to stay for the festivities!

For the Young and Young at Heart Edventure Children’s Museum is the perfect place to explore with both the young and old on your trip. More than 90,000 square feet of space is set aside for climbing, exploring, painting and building—it’s all hands-on fun! The centerpiece of the museum is the 40-foot statue of Eddie that can be climbed on. Check out the Body Detectives exhibit and the Wags & Whiskers room. Your little firefighter or newscaster will love the costumes and love pretending to be acting out the weather.

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35

The Jewish Home october 3, 2013

The Jewish Home

october 3, 2013

36

Global

Netanyahu to UN: Rouhani is Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the United Nations General Assembly and urged them to beware of the warm words of the new president of Iran. He compared the Iranian leader to a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” who was set on building a nuclear bomb to terrorize the world.

In previous jobs, Netanyahu pointed out, Rouhani had masterminded a strategy for an Iranian bomb behind a “smokescreen of diplomatic engagement and very soothing rhetoric.” The new leader of Iran has insisted that his country has no designs on nuclear weapons. But the West suspects and Israel is adamant that it does.

The former leader of Iran, Ahmadinejad, terrorized the world with his menacing tone. But, Netanyahu warns, the soft, inviting words of Rouhani are just a “ruse, a ploy” to lull unsuspecting western leaders into complacency. “Now I know: Rouhani doesn’t sound like Ahmadinejad,” the Israeli prime minister said. “But when it comes to Iran’s nuclear weapons program, the only difference between them is this: Ahmadinejad was a wolf in wolf’s clothing. Rouhani is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

A wolf who thinks he can pull the wool over the eyes of the international community.”

In a reference to the seed material for enriching uranium, a critical step for building a bomb, Netanyahu said: “Rouhani thinks he can have his yellowcake and eat it, too.” He vowed: “Israel will not allow Iran to get nuclear weapons. If Israel is forced to stand alone, Israel will stand alone. Yet in standing alone, Israel will know that we will be defending many, many others.”

Last Friday President Barack Obama placed a call to Rouhani, the first direct conversation between the leaders of the United States and Iran in 34 years. And

Obama directed Secretary of State John Kerry to work with European allies, China and Russia to pursue a deal with Iran on the nuclear ambitions.

Netanyahu met with Obama on Monday in the Oval Office. He encouraged Obama to maintain economic sanctions against Iran, and strengthen them if Iran keeps pursuing nuclear capability during talks with the West.

In his speech to the U.N., Netanyahu said that the lesson of the 20th century was that a fanatical regime must not be left to gain unchecked power. “Sooner or later, its appetite for aggression knows no bounds. That’s the central lesson of the 20th century,” he said. “The world may have forgotten this lesson. The Jewish people have not. Iran’s fanaticism is not bluster. It’s real. This fanatic regime must never be allowed to arm itself with nuclear weapons.”

Greek Politicians Arrested in Conjunction with Neo-Nazi Organization Greece’s government is swarming with corruption.

Last week, the leader of the ultra-conservative Golden Dawn party and four other government officials were formally charged with membership in a criminal organization with intent to commit crimes.

This is the first time since 1974 that serving members of Parliament have been arrested.

The government began the investigation after the suspicious fatal shooting of Pavlos Fyssas on September 18. The suspect arrested for involvement with the death of Fyssas admitted to police that he had stabbed the 34-year-old and identified himself as a supporter of Golden Dawn.

Police investigated his cellphone records as well as those of more than 300 other people connected to Golden Dawn.

Golden Dawn leader Nikos Michaloliakos, party spokesman Ilias Kassidiaris, Yannis Lagos, Nikos Michos and Ilias Panayiotaros were arrested by counterterrorism police. Michos and Panayiotaros turned themselves in voluntarily and a sixth parliamentarian, Christos Pappas, is still wanted by authorities. Another 15 people, 13 Golden Dawn members and two police officers,

were also arrested on the same charges and are due to appear before a prosecutor and an examining magistrate soon.

Police spokesman Christos Pagonis told the media that the counterterrorism unit was still searching for the 12 suspects at large, including the missing deputy.

“It is an unprecedentedly dynamic response to a neo-Nazi organization,” government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said. He suggested that the arrests were a long time coming and a culmination of a strategy to deal with Golden Dawn as a criminal, not a political, force.

“The prime minister and the government were determined to deal with Golden Dawn solely through the justice system ...

We have succeeded in stripping them of their political cover and deal with them as what they really are, a criminal organization,” Kedikoglou said.

Citizen protection minister Nikos Dendias said, “The state has proven it is not helpless in the face of organized violence ... Greek society will not tolerate any storm troopers.”

Upon searching Michaloliakos’ home, police found two pistols, an unregistered shotgun, large amounts of ammunition and over €43,000 ($58,000) in cash.

Iranian Foreign Minister: Holocaust was Heinous Crime For years, the former leader of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, repeatedly and empathetically denied the Holocaust, calling it a myth. But just this week, Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif admitted the reality of the Holocaust, calling it a “heinous crime” and a “genocide.” He said that the appearance of the word “myth” regarding the Holocaust on the Iranian Supreme Leader’s English website was due only to a poor translation.

“The Holocaust is not a myth. Nobody’s talking about a myth,” Zarif told George Stephanopoulos on “This Week” on Sunday when asked about the quote.

“If it’s there … it’s a bad translation, and it’s translated out of context… This is the problem when you translate something from Persian to English, you may lose something, as the film goes, ‘Lost in Translation,’ you may lose some of the meaning.”

Of course, an interview with an Iranian leader undoubtedly will lead to criticism of their enemy, Israel. “We condemn the killing of innocent people, whether it happened in Nazi Germany or whether it’s happening in Palestine,” Zarif said. “[The] Holocaust was a heinous crime, it was a genocide, it must never be allowed to be repeated, but that crime cannot be and should not be a justification to trample the rights of the Palestinian people for 60 years.”

Zarif, who is serving as Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, met with his American counterpart Secretary of State John Kerry in New York last Thursday. Both sides agreed the meeting was constructive, with plans for further talks next month in Geneva. Zarif said resolution of the nuclear issue “will be a first step, a necessary first step, towards removing the tensions and doubts and misgivings that the two sides have had about each other for the last 30some years.”

“There has been 34 years of the building up of this mutual distrust,” Zarif told Stephanopoulos. “We need to move in that direction of removing some of that mistrust, true mutual steps that each side needs to take in order to convince the other side that its intentions are positive and for a better future for all of us.”

Zarif told Stephanopoulos that Iran is “prepared to start negotiating” on its nuclear program, while maintaining that the country is not seeking nuclear weapons.

“We know that Iran is not seeking a nuclear weapon,” Zarif said. “Having an Iran that does not have nuclear weapons is not just your goal. It’s first and foremost our goal.” The foreign minister maintained that his county has a “non-negotiable” right to enrich uranium for nuclear power purposes but will stop before building nuclear weapons. “We do not need military grade uranium. That is a certainty and we will not move in that direction,” Zarif said.

Zarif also hit back at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dismissal of Iran’s diplomatic efforts at the U.N. General assembly as “a smile attack.” “A smile attack is much better than a lie attack,” Zarif said. “Mr. Netanyahu and his colleagues have been saying since 1991… that Iran is six months away from a nuclear weapon. And we are how many years, 22 years after that? And they are still saying we are six months away from nuclear weapons.”

“We are not seeking nuclear weapons, so we’re not six months, six years, sixty years away from nuclear weapons,” Zarif added.

70 Years since Rescue of Danish Jews On October 1, 1943, Hitler ym”sh or-

37

‫מדוע ביכר יצחק את עשו‬ ?‫על פני יעקב‬ Why did Yitzchak choose to bestow his blessing on Eisav rather than on Yaakov?

Exchange Rates Having Strange Effect in Venezuela

In this unique work, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Nasi of the internationally acclaimed Dirshu Torah organization, addresses these questions and so many others.

Every maamar in Dorash Dovid on the Torah begins with several questions, then develops an in-depth approach, opening new vistas that enable one to truly grasp the messages that the Torah and our Sages impart.

It is almost impossible to get on a flight out of Venezuela but not for the reason you may think. Thanks to a banking loophole, Venezuelans can take advantage of the rights a traveler has to cash in on American dollars at a special exchange rate.

The currency has for a very long time been controlled by a system set in place by the late Hugo Chavez.

The difference between official and black-market rates for the local bolivar currency is higher than ever. Greenbacks now sell on the illegal market at about seven times the government price of 6.3 to the dollar. Normally, there are strict limits on how many dollars are available at the 6.3 rate. But, with a valid airline ticket, Venezuelans may exchange up to $3,000 at the government rate.

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Many people are using their credit cards abroad to get a cash advance, bringing the dollars back into Venezuela and selling them on the black market at seven times the original exchange rate. The profit made even has a nickname: “El Raspao” or “the Scrape.”

Some are not even flying, leaving many planes half empty. As a result of the high level of unused seats, some airlines are beginning to overbook at much higher rates than usual.

“It is possible to travel abroad for free due to this exchange rate magic,” said local economist Angel Garcia Banchs. Some Venezuelans do not even bother leaving the country, but merely send their credit cards to friends overseas who swipe the cards and send the cash back home.

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What is the connection between the mitzvos of the Torah and the narrative of creation?

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‫מהו עומק הקשר‬ ‫שבין סיפור הבריאה‬ ?‫ובין מצוות התורה ומהותן‬

dered the deportation and arrest of all Danish Jews.

But members of the resistance in Denmark heard of the order and at great personal risk collectively evacuated about 7,300 Danish Jews by sea to neutral Sweden.

The rescue included many Danish citizens who risked their lives to save their Jewish neighbors. As a result of their efforts, over 99% percent of the Jews living in Denmark were saved from the Nazis’ crematoria.

This week, a ceremony was held in a Copenhagen synagogue to commemorate the evacuation of the 7,300 Jews 70 years ago. On Sunday, Jewish community leader Finn Schwarz told several hundred people it was “almost a miracle” that the October 1943 operation in Nazi-occupied Denmark dodged German patrol boats to deliver the Jews across a waterway to neutral Sweden.

On Tuesday, a light show on a bridge between Denmark and Sweden commemorated the escape as well.

sition leader Aung San Suu Kyi. However, fugitive U.S. intelligence analyst Edward Snowden is in the running for a European human rights prize that has been awarded to both of them.

Only seven people are nominated for the prize. Members of the European Parliament put the names forth for consideration. The nod is likely to upset Washington officials who wish to try Snowden for espionage. Snowden is currently hiding in Russia.

most advanced weaponry, including a cruise missile capable of surgical strikes on the North Korean leadership.

“The situation on the Korean peninsula...is very grave,” Park warned in her speech at the event marking the 65th anniversary of the founding of South Korea’s armed forces. “North Korea adamantly continues to develop and upgrade its nuclear weapons,” Park said, adding that the South had no option but to boost its military deterrent in response.

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South Korean Display of Strength This week, during a visit from U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, South Korea staged its largest military display in a decade. Hagel was there to underscore the United States commitment to South Korea and take account of the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed there.

President Park Geun-Hye warned of the “very grave” threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear weapons program during the display. 11,000 troops and 120 aircraft took part in the event at an air base south of Seoul, which showed off the military’s

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According to U.S. Census figures, some 414,000 Iranians live in the United States, most of them in the California area.

On the last day of the Iranian leader’s five-day trip to the U.S., Rouhani addressed a gathering of Iranian expatriates in New York where he also hinted at plans at making greater connections with larger groups of Iranian expatriates worldwide.

Last week, the Iranian president and Pres-

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The Iranian news agency, Tansim, has reported that President Hassan Rouhani has his sights set on direct flights between the United States and Iran. “The president issued an order to study how it would be possible to establish direct flights between Iran and the United States of America, in order to resolve the transportation problems of the [Iranian] compatriots residing in the U.S.,” caretaker of the supreme council for Iranian expatriates’ affairs, Akbar Torkan, was quoted as saying in the report from Tehran on Monday.

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Snowden was nominated by the Greens in the European Parliament who said he had done an “enormous service” for human rights and European citizens by disclosing secret U.S. Internet and telephone surveillance programs. “Edward Snowden has risked his freedom to help us protect ours and he deserves to be honored for shedding light on the systematic infringements of civil liberties by U.S. and European secret services,” Rebecca Harms and Dany Cohn-Bendit, the leaders of the left-leaning Greens, said in a statement.

Revelations that the U.S. National Security Agency monitors vast quantities of email and telephone data of both Americans and foreigners and a report that Washington spied on the European Union has caused outrage in European capitals.

The other nominees include Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban last year for demanding education for girls, and Russian former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a critic of President Vladimir Putin who has been convicted of money-laundering, tax evasion and fraud.

October 10 is the day when the winner is announced. Not exactly the Super Bowl but we will still tune in…

She specifically cited the development of sophisticated missile interceptor systems capable of neutralizing a North Korean strike. “I believe that the true purpose of the military lies not in fighting a war but preventing one,” she said.

Concerns remain over the North’s nuclear program with signs that it is expanding its production of weapons-grade fissile material. South Korea has cited the growing nuclear threat from Pyongyang to back its request for extending U.S. command of combined U.S. and South Korean forces in the event of war with the North.

Admi

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For tickets call 310.203.0755 or email yulacomedy@yula.org

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october 3, 2013

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ident Obama shared an historic phone call where they both agreed on the need for understanding between both nations.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged President Obama not to loosen sanctions against Iran as it is apparent that despite Rouhani’s pleasant outreach to western nations, the country is still forging ahead with its nuclear weapons program.

Kindergarten Kidnappers Caught Organized crime took a big hit this week in China. 92 children were successfully rescued from a gang of kidnappers operating all over the country. According to statement from the Ministry of Public Security, two women were also rescued in the operation against child trafficking.

According to Xinhua news agency, the investigation uncovered a gang operating with “clear divisions of work” where kidnappers would seize children in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces for deliverymen who would then drive them to other regions and into the hands of sellers.

Gangs specializing in the kidnap and sale of young children have been popping up all over the country for some time. Police enquiries were initially sparked by a child abduction case in Henan province, central China, according to the ministry statement, and later snowballed into an investigation across 11 provincial-level regions.

The arrests were made on September 11 but only became public knowledge with the release of the ministry statement.

Abductions and trafficking in China have caused huge public concern, but despite regular government vows to crack down hard on the crime, incidents still emerge on a regular basis.

Many place the blame for such crimes on the government itself. Trafficking of children is blamed in part on the “onechild” policy, which has put a premium on baby boys, with girls sometimes sold off or abandoned. Under the policy aimed at controlling China’s vast population of more than 1.3 billion, people who live in urban areas are generally allowed one child, while rural families can have two if the first is a girl.

South Korea Rejects Boeing’s Jets Boeing Co.’s bid to supply 60 fighter jets to South Korea was recently rejected.

Had the sale went through, it would have marked the country’s largest weapon purchase ever.

Boeing pitched its F-15 Silent Eagle to the country, but South Korean leaders said the warplane does not have the state-ofthe-art stealth capabilities they were hoping for. They feel that the jet would not be able to combat North Korea’s increasing nuclear threats.

Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said officials decided at a meeting on Tuesday to delay naming a winning bidder for the 8.3 trillion won ($7.7 billion) purchase. He said South Korea is seeking better air power and “fifth generation” fighters.

Boeing said in a statement that it was “deeply disappointed” by Tuesday’s decision, adding it “rigorously” followed the South Korean arms procurement agency’s instructions throughout the entire process.

Initially, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and EADS’ Eurofighter Typhoon competed in the bidding process but were quickly eliminated for exceeding Seoul’s budget cap.

North Korea has hundreds of thousands of combat-ready troops along a heavily armed border. Its air force is relatively old and ill-prepared, but has a large number of aircraft that could be a factor if a conflict were to break out.

One extremely conservative cleric, Sheik Saleh bin Saad al-Lohaidan, formulated an absurd conclusion in an attempt to sustain the male-only driving law. He claims that women who drive can be at greater risk for have children with disabilities.

Muallem said he was “worried” that opposition groups have chemical weapons.

Earlier this week, Obama told the UN General Assembly that Assad must quit.

The UN is also hoping to organize a Syria peace conference in mid-November to negotiate a transitional government. However, Muallem signaled that there is absolutely no chance that Assad will resign despite demands of western countries. “There can be no discussion of the future of President Assad. It is in the constitution,” Muallem said.

Muallem said Assad is determined to carry out his complete term and is considering running for re-election in 2014.

He said, “If a woman drives a car, not out of pure necessity, that could have negative physiological impacts as functional and physiological medical studies show that it automatically affects the ovaries and pushes the pelvis upwards … That is why we find those who regularly drive have children with clinical problems of varying degrees.”

The cleric cited no medical studies to support his claims.

Kenyan Mall Massacre

Syria Agrees to Surrender Weapons, Assad Refuses to Resign Syria’s foreign minister, Walid Muallem, told reporters this week that Syria is “comfortable” with a UN Security Council resolution on destroying its chemical weapons but will not discuss the future of President Bashar al-Assad.

Muallem told the media that the resolution, voted by the 15-nation council late on Friday, meant the opposition could be the target of UN sanctions. “I am comfortable with the resolution,” Muallem said. He spoke to the press at the UN headquarters where he was scheduled to give Syria’s address to the UN General Assembly on Monday.

The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, therefore the potential of war is highly possible between the Koreas.

Saudi Arabian Cleric: Women Who Drive Have Children with Disabilities Saudi Arabian women continue their fight for equal rights. One of the key missions of activists is to change the law that now prohibits women from driving.

The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons will begin collecting and destroying Syria’s arms this week. The UN maintains that chemical weapons were used in an August 21 attack in Damascus that left hundreds dead. The U. S. pointed an accusing finger at the government but Assad’s government insisted that opposition rebels were responsible for the attack.

Shoppers at Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, found themselves in middle of a horrific, terrifying nightmare when terrorists stormed the shopping center on Saturday, September 21st.

For the last year, one of the 80 shops concealed a dark secret. It was rented by the Al-Shabaab terrorists or their associates. It is believed that the Somalian terrorists had been planning the attack for the last year. The group of terrorists had been collecting their weapons and ammunition in the store. Investigators are currently examining how the terrorists were able to bring weapons into the mall so easily.

There have been 67 people reported dead and the Kenya Red Cross said on Friday that 61 people remain unaccounted for. Many are concerned that some of the missing are buried in the rubble of the partially collapsed mall.

Five of the terrorists were killed when Kenyan forces forced their way into the mall after a four day siege. The remaining eight suspects are currently being questioned. Authorities are concerned that some of the attackers may have escaped during all the chaos.

On a Twitter account believed to be run

by Al-Shabaab, the group promised more attacks. “The mesmeric performance by the #Westgate Warriors was undoubtedly gripping, but despair not folks, that was just the premiere of Act 1,” a tweet posted on Thursday predicted.

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I seem to be the only one without a Twitter account these days...Even terrorist organizations feel the need to tweet.

Al Qaeda just joined the social network site. An official al Qaeda website, the Shamukh al-Islam website that is intended exclusively for members of the terrorist group, opened its first Twitter account last Tuesday. The site is used as a portal for al Qaeda members to communicate and issue propaganda statements.

U.S. officials see this move as an effort to resolve a major split over Syria’s Islamist rebels.

The very first tweet focused on divisions between two al Qaeda rebel groups in Syria, al Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The account, @shomokhalislam, issued 29 tweets, followed one account, and attracted 1,532 followers as of Friday afternoon.

Several high-profile digital jihadists were among its followers.

By Sunday, just 5 days after its birth, the account was suspended by Twitter.

Israel Israel Arrests Iranian Spy On Sunday, Israel’s Shin Bet agency announced that it arrested a Belgian citizen of Iranian origin who was sent by Iran to spy on Israel. Ali Mansouri was posing as a windows and roofing salesman and admitted to interrogators that he was recruited by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force last year for the mission.

He was sent to Israel to set up business contacts as a front for spying on Israeli and Western targets. Mansouri was promised $1 million for his espionage role.

On September 6, Mansouri entered Israel on a Belgian passport under the name Alex Mans. He was arrested five days later at Israel’s international airport before

Although there was no official Iranian comment on the spy, Iranian state TV called the arrest an attempt at “anti-Iranian propaganda” by Israel before Netanyahu’s meeting with Obama.

Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders told the Belga news agency in an interview Sunday that Ali Mansouri married a Belgian woman in 2002, quickly obtained Belgian citizenship, and had changed his name to Mans as allowed by law. The couple later divorced and he remarried an Iranian woman who lives in Tehran. In 2012, he asked to be stricken off the list of Belgians living abroad — even though he kept up contact with the Belgian Embassy in the Iranian capital.

iPhone Leaves Jerusalem Homeless Recently, millions of Apple customers updated the software on their Apple devices to the new iOS 7 operating system. It only took a few days for bloggers to notice that the new world clock options do not give the city of Jerusalem a country. While other cities are listed as a part of their country like “Johannesburg, South Africa,” or “Jakarta, Indonesia,” the capital of Israel has been left open to interpretation.

There are two other cities that are listed by themselves without their home country: Taipei and Vatican City. While Apple Maps does put Jerusalem in Israel, the new world clock takes into account that Palestinians claim Jerusalem to be their capital as well.

Other entities have also left the country that is Jerusalem’s home unspecified. The State Department continues to refuse to denote Israel as the place of birth on the passports of U.S. citizens who were born in Jerusalem. A federal appeals court in July ruled in favor of the State Department in the case of Zivitofsky v. the Secretary of State. The parents of eleven-year-old

Menachem Zivitofsky, a U.S. citizen born in Jerusalem, took the U.S. government to court after being denied a request to name “Israel” as the birthplace of their son. By contrast, Americans born in other cities like Tel Aviv do receive the Israel designation on their passports.

In 2000, the Anti-Defamation League criticized CNN.com for listing on its weather map Jerusalem without a country designation. When CNN later corrected the map, placing Jerusalem in Israel, it also added a qualifying political explanation on its weather map, writing, “The status of Jerusalem, the seat of Israel government, is the most contentious issue in the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Palestinian and Arab leaders consider part of Jerusalem the capital of the prospective Palestinian state.” It appears that today, CNN.com lists Jerusalem as in Israel with no asterisk or explanation.

Last year, the website for the London Olympics placed Jerusalem in Palestine, leaving Israel with no capital. The official website later reversed course and noted Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. “It’s a shame a nonpolitical body makes the most absurd political statements,” a foreign ministry spokesperson commented at the time. .

occupation.

“The idea for the film is above all motivated by the desire to strengthen the Palestinian national identity,” said a spokesman for the Hamas ministry. Furthermore, Hamas hopes the film will be used in social and cultural activities to emphasize a “culture of resistance and the spirit of sacrifice among the Palestinian population.”

Hamas claims that the Shalit abduction was an “important event in the history of the Palestinian people and its resistance,” and should be highlighted and used as encouragement.

The film is expected to cost around $100,000, the bulk of which was donated

by Iran.

New Report on Israeli Nukes Israel has never officially commented on whether or not it has nuclear weapons.

However, a new report recently published by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists concluded that Israel possesses 80 functional nuclear warheads, and has enough fissile material to at least double that number if the need arises. Previous assessments by the American intelligence community agree with the estimation.

Hamas Produces Shalit Film Hamas has come up with another way to exploit the Gilad Shalit saga. In 2006, Shalit became world famous when he was captured by Hamas terrorists and held captive for five years. After much negotiation, Hamas traded Shalit for over 1,000 jailed Palestinian terrorists in October 2011.

While many felt the price paid was dangerously high, all of Israel rejoiced in Shalit’s safe return home.

This week, the Hamas Ministry of Culture in Gaza has announced it will be making further use of Shalit to further fuel its propaganda agenda. A film about the capture of Shalit will be produced in order to spread the idea that “violence is the correct form of resistance” to the so-called Israeli

The report has been published as the threat of a nuclear Iran takes center stage in world politics. By comparison, India and Pakistan are both estimated to have between 100-120 nuclear warheads.

For the time being, the researchers believe Israel is content with its current nuclear arsenal, and that the Jewish state ceased building additional warheads in 2004. Of note in the report is that the country’s nuclear arsenal is listed as “De-

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Al Qaeda Creates Twitter Account

boarding a flight to Europe. He was found with photos of sites throughout Israel “that interest Iranian intelligence,” including the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, the Shin Bet said. Some of the photos were released to the media; they included photos of the U.S. Embassy in Israel.

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The authenticity of the tweet was not confirmed.

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42 ployed Warheads” rather than “Stockpiled Warheads,” suggesting that the weapons are poised and ready for use at a moment’s notice.

Most Israelis Don’t Trust Rouhani A poll released on Sunday found that the majority of Israelis do not believe the words and gestures the new Iranian president has made recently to the United States and the western world. The poll found that 78% of Israeli citizens believe that Rouhani’s recent statements on wanting a dialogue with the United States are not genuine.

12% of those polled responded that they believe that Rouhani’s remarks are genuine and that he truly wishes to be flexible on his country’s nuclear program in order to gain eased economic sanctions for his country. 10% responded that they don’t know if he is genuine.

Additionally, 59% of Israelis believe that the diplomatic rapprochement between Iran and the West will not lead to an agreement on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program. 29% believe that the United States will be able to reach an arrangement with Rouhani; 12% could not answer the question.

The survey also found that 58% of the public supports Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordering the Israeli delegation in the United Nations to leave during Rouhani’s speech last week. 30% said they believe that having the Israeli delegation walk out was the wrong decision and 12% did not know how to answer.

The poll was conducted as Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in New York. The Israeli leader is scheduled to meet with President Obama, Vice President Biden, and Secretary of State Kerry on Monday. He is set to speak to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.

As he left for New York, Netanyahu pledged “to tell the truth in the face of the sweet talk and charm offensive of Iran.”

“Telling the truth at this time is essential for world peace and security and, of course, for Israel’s security,” noted Netanyahu.

Yad Vashem Recognizes Egyptian National as Righteous Gentile This week, the Holocaust memorial center, Yad Vashem, recognized Egyptian national Dr. Mohamed Helmy as a “righteous gentile” for the assistance he gave Jews during the Holocaust. This is the first time the museum gave the honor to an Egyptian national.

Helmy was born in Khartoum in 1901 to Egyptian parents. In 1922, he went to Berlin to study medicine and ultimately worked in the Robert Koch Institute there.

In 1937, he was dismissed from the public health system because he was not of Aryan race. He was also prohibited from marrying his German fiancée. In 1939, Helmy was arrested along with other Egyptian nationals but was released a year later due to health issues.

when the Wehrs were caught in 1944, and during their interrogation revealed that Helmy was helping them and that he was hiding Anna. Helmy immediately brought Anna to Frieda Szturmann’s home, and it was only thanks to his resourcefulness that he managed to evade punishment by showing the police a letter Anna had allegedly written to him, saying she was staying with her aunt in Dessau.

Dr. Helmy remained in Berlin and was finally able to marry his fiancée. He died childless in 1982. Frieda Szturmann passed away in 1962.

On March 18, Yad Vashem recognized Dr. Mohamed Helmy and Frieda Szturmann as Righteous Among the Nations, and has been searching for the rescuers’ next of kin in order to present them with the certificate and medal of the Righteous.

Meanwhile, their certificates and medals were put on display Monday in the “I Am My Brother’s Keeper: 50 Years of Honoring Righteous among the Nations Exhibition” at Yad Vashem.

National Government Shuts Down Even though Helmy was targeted by the Nazi regime, he spoke out against their policies and risked his life to help his Jewish friends. He brought Anna Boros (Gutman after she married) to a cabin outside of Berlin to help her hide from the Nazis.

When he was under police investigation, Helmy would arrange for Boros to hide elsewhere. “A good friend of our family, Dr. Helmy…hid me in his cabin in Berlin-Buch from 10 March until the end of the war. As of 1942 I no longer had any contact to the outside world. The Gestapo knew that Dr. Helmy was our family physician, and they knew that he owned a cabin in Berlin-Buch,” Anna Gutman wrote after the war.

“He managed to evade all their interrogations. In such cases he would bring me to friends where I would stay for several days, introducing me as his cousin from Dresden. When the danger would pass, I would return to his cabin….Dr. Helmy did everything for me out of the generosity of his heart and I will be grateful to him for eternity.”

Helmy helped Anna Gutman’s mother, Julie, stepfather Gerog Wehr, and her grandmother, Cecilie Rudnik. He provided for them and attended to their medical needs. He arranged for Cecilie Rudnik to be hidden in the home of Frieda Szturmann. For over a year Szturmann hid and protected the elderly lady and shared her food rations with her.

A moment of great danger occurred

On Tuesday, the wheels of government screeched to a halt when Congress adjourned without renewing funding for the federal government and the White House issued orders to shut down “nonessential” services across the nation.

The Senate retired soon after midnight on Tuesday morning and the House adjourned at 1am, with both sides refusing to negotiate over changes to Obama’s new health care laws. “It is now midnight and the great government of the United States is now closed,” Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY-Dem) said on the House floor as the ignominious deadline passed.

Approximately 800,000 federal workers were furloughed and many government programs that were deemed nonessential were closed. National parks, the Smithsonian, the IRS, NASA and other offices were closed. President Obama blamed the closure on Congress as he addressed American troops via a video message. “It has failed to pass a budget and, as a result, much of our government must now shut down until Congress funds it again,” he said.

Both sides are pointing fingers as to whose fault it is that no conclusion was reached. Americans are tired of the infighting and only wish that both sides can compromise with one another. Until then, they will be missing out on services and programs that they have often relied upon.

Mob of Bikers Assault Man in Manhattan A terrifying video taken by a biker went viral on Monday. The footage shows a pack of motorcyclists swarming around an SUV and then, when the video comes to a close, some of the bikers start mobbing the car. Most frightening about the video is that it took place in broad daylight in Manhattan.

On Sunday afternoon, around 30 motorcyclists took part in an unauthorized daredevil rally called Hollywood Stuntz on the West Side Highway of NYC. The video shows the pack zooming around a Ranger Rover. The car was driven by Alexian Lien, 33; his wife and two-yearold daughter were in the car. At one point, one biker slows down in front of Lien and gestures to him. In an effort to get away from the menacing pack, Lien clips one of the motorcycles. And that’s when things get scary. All at once, the mob of motorcyclists surrounds the car. “They take their helmets and start to dent his car, and apparently his tires are slashed there with a knife,” Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

Members of the crew tried to yank open Lien’s car, but he sped away. After the 50-block pursuit, Lien finally gets off the highway, but the gang catches up with him and one motorcyclist smashes his window with a helmet. The mob then pulls Lien out of his car and assaults him in front of his terrified wife and child, slashing his face and chest.

Police arrested one member of the pack and charged him with reckless endangerment. Another member of the pack was critically injured in the chase. Officials say the investigation is ongoing as they look for the rest of the motorcyclists.

The rally was not authorized and police only heard about it through social media.

This is the second year that the rally took

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It has been a rocky start for the new online insurance marketplaces that have been created for Obama’s healthcare laws. Several states have reported crippling glitches in their systems and users have been been kicked out of portals multiple times.

Hasanoff’s lawyer, Joshua Dratel, portrayed his client as a family man who was “psychologically lured” into extremism.

Hasanoff, 37, apologized to the court and his friends and family. “I’m very sorry for my conduct,” Hasanoff said. “I should have known better and I don’t have any excuse.”

Prosecutors said Hasanoff cased the NYSE in 2008 and sent a one-page report back to a co-conspirator in Yemen. He also acquired items at al Qaeda’s request, including a device that could be used to remotely detonate explosives.

New York-born Wesam El-Hanafi, who was arrested along with Hasanoff in April 2010, is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18.

Hasanoff, who was born in China, said he was a member of the Islamic ethnic minority group called Uighurs. His family moved to Australia when he was a child in 1980 as part of a refugee program.

18 Years for NYC Accountant who Aided Al Qaeda The website for accessing federally run marketplaces, www.healthcare.gov, froze when some consumers tried to create accounts, the first step in selecting a health plan. Officials said the site got 1 million visits in the last day, five times more visitors than have ever been on the federal Medicare.gov site at one time. And the phone lines were not much better. Callers seeking information from a federal call center had to wait 20 minutes or more to get help.

In Maryland, which is running its own online marketplace, officials delayed opening the website until noon and reported problems with their call center. Similar problems prevented consumers from getting information on health plans in Kentucky for a while. Other states, including Oregon and Colorado, have already delayed some enrollment systems.

President Obama and his allies have warned that there would likely be glitches in the new systems for enrolling in health plans. They have reminded Americans that they have six months to select a plan under the Affordable Care Act. Health and Human Services Department spokeswoman Joanne Peters said in a statement: “We have built a dynamic system and are prepared to make adjustments as needed and improve the consumer experience. This new system will allow millions of Americans to access quality, affordable healthcare coverage – without underwriting. Consumers who need help can also contact the call center, use the live chat function, or go to localhelp.healthcare.gov to find an in-person assistor in

On Monday, Sabirhan Hasanoff was sentenced to 18 years in prison for scoping out the New York Stock Exchange as a potential target for al Qaeda. Hasanoff is a dual U.S. and Australian citizen who was living in New York. He provided financial support to al Qaeda and conducted surveillance of the Stock Exchange for the terrorist organization in 2008. He also sought to travel overseas to receive military training to fight Americans.

In June, U.S. intelligence officials said that Hasanoff’s arrest was indirectly the result of monitoring by the U.S. National Security Agency of a “known extremist in Yemen.”

Hasanoff, who had previously worked at accounting firms including KPMG and PricewaterhouseCoopers, pleaded guilty in June 2012, nearly two years after he was arrested on charges of conspiring to provide material support to al Qaeda.

U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood said on Monday that Hasanoff appeared to be “a charitable, loving, good family man” before he became radicalized. “None of that, however, deterred him from planning to leave his family and die fighting jihad against Americans,” Wood said.

U.S. Sues North Carolina On Monday, the Justice Department announced that it would sue the state of North Carolina to block a voting law that requires identification at the polls and restricts early voting. Attorney General Eric Holder maintained that the department would prove that the law was aimed at making it harder for minorities to vote.

More than 70 percent of black voters in North Carolina voted early in last November’s election. “This is an intentional step to break a system that was working,” he said. “And it defies common sense.” The Justice Department has also filed a suit against a similar law in Texas.

go into effect until 2016, and that the state would begin issuing free voter IDs on Jan. 1, 2014.

He pointed out that the state requires identification to buy tobacco and Sudafed, and said that the state’s ballot boxes deserve the same protection. “I firmly believe we did the right thing,” he said. “This is good law.”

Holder said that the North Carolina law is “inconsistent with our ideals as a nation.” Proponents of North Carolina’s law have said that it is essential in preventing the rampant voter fraud in the nation.

American Journalists Investigate Assassination Program Jeremy Scahill announced that he will be working with Glenn Greenwald to produce a report on the National Security Agency’s role in Washington’s assassination program. The two American journalists are known for their investigations into the U.S. government.

Scahill is a contributor to The Nation and Greenwald is based in Rio de Janeiro and has written articles about U.S. surveillance programs based on documents leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden. Scahill is also the author of Dirty Wars, a book also about the assassinations program.

Scahill said their joint project focuses on “how the National Security Agency plays a significant, central role on the U.S. assassination program.”

No further details were provided.

How Americans Spent their Money in 2012 North Carolina passed the law after the Supreme Court struck down a provision of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The provision required some jurisdictions, including parts of North Carolina, to get federal approval before changing voting laws. The North Carolina law also blocks same-day voter registration and the counting of provisional ballots that are cast in the correct county but the wrong precinct. Civil rights groups sued immediately after North Carolina passed it in August.

Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, said that the voter ID requirement would not

The Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed a report that listed all of American spending in the year 2012—rich and poor alike.

The Bureau presented the information in a color wheel that showed that poor Americans spent 60% of spending on food, clothes, and housing. The bottom 20% spent more on housing, health care, and food in percentages than the top 20% of the population. Since the top 20% spent less of their income on the basics, they had more left over for leisure and entertainment.

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Obamacare Hits Glitches on Its First Day

their community.”

Administration officials were hoping to minimize problems at a time when the 2010 Affordable Care Act is under increasing scrutiny and heightened attacks from critics. Some states were reporting successes on Tuesday. Connecticut announced mid-morning that a family of three were the first people to enroll in health coverage on its state marketplace.

The law is designed to allow Americans who don’t get coverage through an employer to shop for health plans on new state-based insurance marketplaces.

Insurers for the first time must meet new basic standards and are prohibited from turning away consumers with pre-existing medical conditions. Millions of lowand moderate-income Americans who make less than four times the federal poverty level – or about $46,000 – will qualify for government subsidies to help with their premiums.

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place. After this attack, Police Commissioner Kelly said police fanned out around Manhattan looking for trouble and arrested 15 bikers and confiscated 55 motorcycles that were unrelated to the attack.

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44 Another 17% was spent on transportation, 7% on healthcare, and another 11% on other types of insurance.

When looking at the pie chart one can’t help but notice a huge void…where’s the huge piece of pie spent on tuitions??

Lack of Communication in Arizona Forest Fire that Claimed 19 Lives

Forbes’ Richest Americans List It’s that time of year again…Time for Forbes to rank America’s richest.

It’s no shock that Bill Gates is America’s richest man for the 20th year in a row.

With a net worth of $72 billion, he reclaimed the crown of world’s richest from Mexico’s Carlos Slim.

After a three-month investigation into the deaths of 19 hotshot firefighters killed in Arizona while fighting a forest fire, it was revealed that there was poor communication between the men and support staff.

The 19 men were a part of the Granite Mountain Hotshots. All but one member of the crew died while at battle with a blaze on June 30 while protecting the small former gold rush town of Yarnell, about 80 miles northwest of Phoenix, from an erratic lightning-sparked wildfire.

The investigation also revealed that an airtanker carrying flame retardant was hovering overhead as the men died.

The 120-page report was released on Saturday to the men’s families ahead of a news conference in Prescott, Arizona.

The report found improperly programmed radios, vague updates, and a 30-minute communication blackout right before the flames overwhelmed the brave men. Otherwise, the report noted that all procedures were followed properly.

The fire destroyed more than 100 homes and burned 13 square miles; it was not fully contained until July 10. This is being regarded as the worst firefighting tragedy since September 11, 2001.

“Nobody will ever know how the crew actually saw their situation, the options they considered or what motivated their actions,” the report said.

For some family members the investigation served as a sense of closure from the tragic experience but others say it did nothing to ease their deep pain. “No matter what the report says, it won’t bring him back,” Colleen Turbyfill said of her son, Travis. “I miss him, and it’s unbearable pain. It doesn’t go away. Sometimes I can’t breathe, but this report isn’t going to help that one way or another.”

In second place was Warren Buffet who added another $12.5 billion to his wealth this year.

In a big comeback, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg made it to the top 20 this year after not making the cut last year. The biggest percentage earner was Workday’s David Duffield, whose fortune more than tripled to $6.4 billion.

The combined worth of the 400 wealthiest Americans is a record $20.2 trillion.

The average net worth of list members is a staggering $5 billion. There are 20 newcomers to the list and only 30 people were knocked off the list from last year.

If you’re wondering what it takes to make the cut…the minimum net worth needed to make the Forbes 400 list was $1.3 billion. The last time it was that high was in 2008, right before the financial crisis began to unravel.

The 10 richest people in America are: 1. Bill Gates ($72B) 2. Warren Buffet ($58.5B) 3. Larry Ellison ($41B) 4. Charles Koch ($36B) 5. David Koch ($36B) 6. Christy Walton & Family ($35.4B) 7. David Walton ($33.8B) 8. Jim Walton ($33.8B) 9. Alice Walton ($33.4B) 10. Michael Bloomberg ($31B)

It was unclear if an equipment flaw, medical emergency or weather conditions caused the death on Friday, said Bureau of Land Management spokesman Ken Frederick. It is the first fatality in 13 years for the smokejumpers.

Urban was one of a team of highly skilled federal firefighters jumping from a plane about 45 miles east of Boise in an exercise designed to maintain their parachuting proficiency. He was the second firefighter to jump out of the aircraft during the practice “when something – we don’t know what – went wrong,” an official said. An investigation of the incident

by U.S. fire managers is underway.

This incident is the thirty-third death of U.S. wild land firefighters this year. Urban was a 10-year veteran and trainer based in Boise with roughly 80 other smokejumpers. The 450 smokejumpers with the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service are seasonally required to parachute from planes at least once every two weeks to hone their skills.

Urban had tallied 324 jumps, including 102 into fires, since joining the Great Basin Smokejumpers in 2003. “It’s tragic.

He was a very popular and well-respected member of the crew and everyone has been hit hard by his death,” Frederick said.

Malala Yousafzai Honored

by Harvard University Harvard University’s Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award has been given to a Pakistani girl who survived a Taliban assassination attempt. Malala Yousafzai, an outspoken proponent for girls’ education, was at Harvard on Friday to accept the award. Harvard President Drew Gilpin Faust said she was pleased to welcome Malala because of their shared interest in education.

Smoke Jumping Exercise Ends Tragically In a tragic accident, Mark Urban, 40, of Boise, Idaho, a veteran smokejumper for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, has died. Smokejumpers are trained to jump out of airplanes and parachute into wild terrain in order to fight wildfires.

Malala was shot in the head last October. Militants said she was attacked because she criticized the Taliban, not because of her views on education.

The 16-year-old spoke nostalgically about her home region, the Swat Valley, and said she hopes to return someday. She called it a “paradise” but described a dangerous area where militants blew up dozens of schools and sought to discourage girls from going to school by snatching pens from their hands. Students, she said, reacted by hiding their books under their shawls so people wouldn’t know they were going to school.

“The so-called Taliban were afraid of women’s power and were afraid of the power of education,” she told hundreds of students, faculty members and well-wishers who packed the Sanders Theater for the award ceremony.

Malala highlighted the fact that very few people spoke out against what was happening in her home region. “Although few people spoke, the voice for peace and education was powerful,” she said.

Malala said she hopes to become a politician because politicians can have influence on a broad scale.

That’s Odd Millions of Miles: Man Drives 3 Million Miles in 1966 Volvo In 2002, Irv Gordon made headlines when he put a world-record 2 million miles on the odometer of his cherry red 1966 Volvo. Now he’s back making news with another million miles and another milestone. The retired science teacher from Long Island has put 3 million miles on his odometer—a distance that is equal to six round trips to the moon and back.

“It’s just terrific,” Gordon told the TODAY anchors alongside his Volvo in Rockefeller Plaza on Tuesday. “I’m getting used to it.

It’s the third time around.”

On Sept. 15, Gordon’s trusty Volvo passed the 3 million-mile mark during a road trip on Seward Highway in Alaska, one of only two states Gordon had not yet visited. Gordon, 74, set a world record in 1998 for most miles driven by a single person in a noncommercial vehicle at 1.69 million, and he hasn’t stopped since.

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CEO Lives on $4.50 a Day

Is Fast Food No Longer Fast?

A qualifying American receives an average of $4.50 a day for food from food stamp programs, according to The New York Times. Can you survive on less than $5 a day? Recently, Panera Bread CEO Ron Shaich announced that he is challenging himself to live on that budget. As he experiments, he is blogging about his self-induced restrictions on LinkedIn. He took on this challenge in an attempt to raise hunger awareness.

Shaich set out to shop for food for the week with his weekly budget of $31. He couldn’t afford coffee, fruit, yogurt, or milk so he will be having cereal without milk for breakfast every day. His lunch will be lentils and chickpeas and dinner will be pasta. For snack, he bought carrots.

After three days of this diet, Shaich reported that he felt “bloated and weak.”

By the fourth day, Shaich said his thoughts were “consumed by food.”

“When is my next meal? How much food is left in my cabinet? Will it get me through the week? What should I spend my remaining few dollars on? What would I eat if I had no budget at all?” Shaich wrote.

Shaich also noticed that his hunger was affecting his relationship with his wife, Nancy: “I snapped at her for over-portioning my spaghetti. I felt so much anxiety about the possibility of running out of pasta that I completely overlooked my wife’s good intentions in helping to prepare my dinner. I have to imagine that this is a

According to Business Week, in the fiscal year 2012 Ron Shiach earned more than $4.4 million in compensation for his position as Chief Executive Officer of Panera Bread Co. I wonder if he could get a free lunch (or two) at one of his restaurants.

Could it be that fast food is getting slower?

A recent performance study released on Monday shows that the average wait time for customers at drive-thrus at major chain restaurants rose to over three minutes, a speed that is eight seconds longer than a year ago.

The study was conducted amongst six major chains including Burger King, Chick-fil-A, McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Wendy’s. Wendy’s proved to be the speediest chain, while McDonald’s posted its slowest showing in the history of the 15-year study. Burger King was the only participant in the study to actually speed things up for customers.

So what exactly is holding up the fries for the fast-food patrons? “Driving this increase in speed of service time is these more complex menu items,” said Sam

Oches, the editor of QSR, which covers quick-service and fast-casual restaurants.

“Consumers are demanding more fresh, upscale menu items from fast-food restaurants and as these chains are answering that demand, the new menu items take a little more time to assemble.”

More complex items such as the McDonald’s Premium McWrap and Taco Bell’s Cantina Bell require employees to use additional ingredients and require additional procedures before reaching the customers’ plates. Another factor in longer wait-times is busier drive-thrus. The average number of vehicles in line rose 9 percent this year to 2.82 cars. Chick-fil-A had the longest average line at about six cars.

Longer wait-times may mean better service. In the early 2000s, only about 60 percent of some chains’ orders were filled accurately. This year, accuracy was about 87 percent, with Chick-fil-A being the chain filling the most accurate orders.

Oches says that companies should keep on keeping their eye on their bottom line. For their customers, it’s all about the experience. “The experience is what’s important and going into that is accuracy and customer service, because if the drive is slower by 20 to 30 seconds, customers will forgive you as long as they get a good experience,” he said.

Yes, I’d like a double burger with onions, peppers and tomatoes. Oh, and hold the bun, please.

knowledge, I would have been extremely upset,” the car owner said.

When she did pick up her car, Sheila noticed an extra 750 to 870 miles on it, but unfortunately it could not be proven because the shop did not note the mileage on her invoice. She was told that another Honda Boyd had in the shop was scheduled for subcontracting hail repair work done by a company called Hail Specialist.

The hail specialist picked up the wrong vehicle, only realizing the mistake when they were at their shop, and they eventually returned Sheila’s car to Boyd.

Tip to consumers: if your auto shop needs two weeks to fix your car, they may just be using it for their next road trip.

Rivera Leaves Personal Note in Fenway Park Mariano Rivera made one of his last games count. The baseball player played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees.

Rivera announced on March 9, 2013 that he will be retiring at the end of the season. Between innings during his last game against the Red Sox, Rivera spoke with fans in the Fenway Park bleachers and signed autographs. This was his last time playing in Fenway Park.

Slow Down! If You’re Driving, That Is… Sometimes we speed through a red light camera and don’t notice the ticket we get. And sometimes we park in the wrong place and come out to find an orange envelope on the windshield. But it’s very difficult (though not impossible, apparently) to get a speeding ticket while your car’s in the shop.

Canadian resident Sheila Taschuk took her Honda Element into a repair shop that needed to keep the car for two-and-a-half weeks. She was very surprised when she received a speeding ticket for a violation that occurred when the car was supposed to be at the shop.

Sheila said that the shop, Boyd Autobody & Glass, “denied that the vehicle had left the shop at all. And I said, ‘Well, it’s a little bit hard to argue when I have a photo of my vehicle in the opposite end of the city.’” Boyd asked Sheila to fax a copy of the ticket for review, and a rep from Boyd’s Accounts Payable department called promising to reimburse her for the ticket but claimed that they did not know what happened to the vehicle at the time.

However, Sheila’s main concern was that someone was driving her car around in an unsafe manner. “If my vehicle had been involved in an accident or hit a pedestrian or anything like that without my

Rivera didn’t get to pitch at all during the three-game set, which the Red Sox swept by beating the Yankees 9-2 on Sunday night. The Yankees, winners of the past two AL East titles and 13 of 17, were eliminated from winning the division.

Rivera and the Red Sox exchanged an emotional goodbye. The team gave him several gifts including a heartfelt poem. In return, Rivera inscribed a message on the inside of the visitor’s dugout. He wrote: Mariano Rivera Last to wear #42 Thank you for everything Including playoffs, Rivera was 15-7 with 64 saves and a 2.59 ERA in 127 games against Boston in his 19-year-career, starting with two innings of scoreless relief on Sept. 10, 1995.

Before the game, Rivera said, “Hopefully, it’s not the last time.’’

october 3, 2013

common source of conflict in households marked by food insecurity.”

Panera Bread is a chain of bakery-cafes, with more than 1,650 in the U.S. and Canada. The company’s non-profit foundation, Panera Cares, is a collection of five cafes that offer free food and operates on donations. Currently, it is estimated that each location serves 3,500 people each week.

The Jewish Home

Remarkably, the car still has the original engine from when he bought it. “It’s got a lot of memories, you bet,” he said.

“You buy a quality car to begin with, and then you just follow the owner’s manual.

The people that wrote the book are the people that built the car.”

Gordon bought the red coupe brand new in 1966, reaching 500,000 miles in only 10 years, helped by a 125-mile roundtrip commute to work every day. The first two times Gordon hit a million-mile mark came on trips to New York City. The Volvo hit seven digits on a drive to Central Park in 1987, and reached the two-million mark in 2002 on another trip to the Big Apple.

When asked how much would it take for Gordon to give up his trusty travel companion, he joked, “A dollar a mile (on the odometer), you can take it home tonight.”

Gordon has also driven in five European countries with the car, and the only state he has yet to drive in is Hawaii. “The best way to explore America is by car,” Gordon said in a news release from Volvo. “I challenge everyone to go out and see as much as possible. Find your own journey and reason to believe because you only have one life to live. No matter how many roads I’ve been on, there’s always one I haven’t taken. That’s what makes it exciting.”

Time to hit the road.

e J e w iHome s h h o m eoctober n m ay 23,4 2013 , 2012 TheT hJewish

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In the Kitchen

Lite ‘n Tasty Suppers for the School Y ear Crunchy Salad with Roasted Chicken Ingredients Roast Chicken 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts Olive oil Salt and pepper Spring Salad 2 cups butter lettuce 2 cups fresh spinach 1 cup flat leaf parsley ½ cup yellow pepper

½ cup thinly sliced radishes ½ cup sugar snap peas ¼ cup fresh peas 2 carrots Vinaigrette 2 TBS white wine vinegar 2 TBS minced shallot 2 tsp honey 1 clove garlic 2 TBS olive oil

Preparation Preheat the oven to 400°. Rub chicken with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes, or until cooked through.

If you like to blanch your sugar snaps and peas, bring a pot of water to a boil.

Add the sugar snaps for 2 to 2 ½ minutes. Add the peas for about the last minute.

Drain and immediately put the veggies into a bowl of icy cold water.

Add the lettuce, spinach, parsley, pepper, radishes, sugar snaps, peas, and carrots into a large salad bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, shallot, honey, and garlic. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Drizzle salad with dressing and toss well. Top with roasted chicken.

Tilapia and Spinach Parchment Packet Ingredients Four oz. tilapia fillet 1 cup fresh spinach ½ cup carrot sticks, julienned 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tsp olive oil ¼ tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper 2-3 slices lemon 1 piece parchment paper (not waxed paper)

Preparation Preheat oven to 400°. Line a rimmed baking sheet or jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Place spinach in center of parchment paper. Top with carrots. Scatter garlic on top of vegetables and then place tilapia fillet on top of vegetables. Brush fish with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taster. Lay lemon slices on top of fish.

Bring long ends of paper together. Fold down 3 times to make a seam. Place on baking pan and tuck ends underneath. Bake for 15 minutes. Open packet to check for doneness. If fish isn’t opaque in the center, reseal packet and return to oven for five more minutes. Serve with rice of couscous.

Note: this recipe is for one serving of tilapia. It doubles, triples, quadruples very well for as many people as you need to serve. Each fish gets its own parchment packet and you can even serve it to your family in the packet on their plates. Just be careful when opening the packet, as it is very hot inside.

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Ingredients 2 medium Italian eggplants, cut lengthwise into 10 slices Kosher salt and fresh black pepper, to taste 1½ cups marinara sauce 1 large egg

TheT hJewish e J e w i sHome h h o m eoctober n m ay 23,4 ,2013 2012

Lite Eggplant Rollatini with Spinach ½ cup ricotta cheese ½ cup grated Pecorino Romano or mozzarella cheese 8 oz. frozen spinach, heated through and squeezed well 1 garlic clove, minced 1 cup shredded mozzarella

Preparation Cut the 2 ends off the eggplants. Cut the eggplants lengthwise, into 1/4-inch thick slices until you have a total of 10 slices about the same size. Sprinkle the eggplant with kosher salt to help remove excess moisture. Set aside for about 10 to 15 minutes. Pat dry with a towel.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Season the eggplant with a little more salt and pepper, then arrange on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Cover tightly with foil and bake until eggplant is tender and pliable but not fully cooked, about 8 to 10 minutes.

Spread ¼ cup marinara sauce on the bottom of a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.

In a medium bowl, beat the egg, then mix together with ricotta, Pecorino Romano (or mozzarella), spinach, garlic, ¼ tsp salt and 1/8 tsp pepper.

Pat eggplant dry with paper towels. Divide the ricotta-spinach mixture (about 2 generous tablespoons each) evenly and spoon onto one end of each eggplant slice, spreading to cover. Starting at the short end, roll up slices and arrange them each

seam side down in the prepared dish. Top with remaining marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese and tightly cover with foil.

Bake until the eggplant is very tender, about 60 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before serving with additional cheese if desired.

Hoisin Chicken Ingredients 2 TBS dry sherry ¼ cup hoisin sauce ½ cup light soy sauce 2 TBS dark soy sauce 2 TBS light brown sugar

2 TBS peanut oil 1 piece (2 inches) fresh ginger, peeled and grated 2 pounds chicken thighs and drumsticks 2 scallions, thinly sliced (for garnish)

Preparation In a large bowl, combine the sherry, hoisin and both soy sauces, brown sugar, peanut oil, and ginger. Add the chicken pieces and toss well. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes and up to several hours.

Set the oven at 350°. In a roasting pan, arrange the chicken in one layer, skin side up (reserve the marinade). Roast for 30 minutes, or until cooked through and the skin is crisp.

In a saucepan, bring the marinade to a boil. Let it bubble for 1 minute. Drizzle the hoisin mixture over the chicken and sprinkle with scallions. Serve with rice and broccoli.

Pasta with Garlic and Broccoli Ingredients 1/3 cup olive oil 2 cloves garlic, smashed ¼ tsp red pepper flakes ¼ head broccoli, sliced thinly Kosher salt and black pepper 2 TBS red wine vinegar 2 cups penne pasta or angel hair pasta, cooked Parmesan cheese, to taste Preparation In a large saucepan, heat olive oil, garlic and pepper flakes for a few minutes.

Once the garlic has turned golden, remove it from the pan. Add the broccoli to the pan and toss with oil. Season with salt and pepper and sauté over medium heat for five minutes. Do not over-cook, as broccoli will become limp. Turn the heat up high and deglaze the pan with the red wine vinegar. Add water, if needed. Add pasta to pan and toss to cook with oil. Crumble parmesan cheese on top prior to serving.