YOUR RIDE TO HEALTH ON US!
No car? No problem!
Your well-being is our priority.
Enjoy our complimentary pickup and drop-off service.
Don’t let transportation stand in your way. Call today to schedule your ride & focus on your health!
LETTER EDITOR from the
The month of Tammuz is approaching, with Rosh Chodesh on Shabbos and Sunday.
Our chachamim tell us that the word Tammuz is, in fact, the name of a Babylonian deity.
A Babylonian idol. Avodah zarah, in other words.
Several Jewish months are of Babylonian origin, but Tammuz is the only month named after an actual avodah zarah.
Why, of all things, is that what our four month is named after?
The Rambam tells us that ‘Tammuz’ was the name of a false prophet who a certain king tortured to death. After the prophet died, his followers said that on the night of the prophet’s death the gods had all come to him and crowned him king. In the morning, the story continued, the gods all flew away.
The Navi (Yechezkel 8, 14) states that the women of Yerushalayim wept over this story. The story was turned into a show, a precursor to a genre known as the ‘Greek tragedy’, and the women of Yerushalayim would watch it and weep.
Those tears were crocodile tears, obviously, and the women of Yerushalayim shed them willingly.
Over an avodah zarah.
How many times do we shed tears, willingly, over the perceived tragedies in our lives? Over the washer that doesn’t work, the friend who insulted us, and the child who wrecked our plans and our living room?
Granted, there is always room for us to stop, take stock, and swallow hard after we encounter one of the smaller disappointments of life. There is room to do the same after we encounter the larger disappointments in life. But to give those disappointments more credence than they deserve, and to turn them into “tragedies”…
That’s quite a leap, and when we do take that leap then what makes us any better than the women of Yerushalayim who wept crocodile tears, publicly, over a made-up story about a deity?
The gemara teaches that when someone loses his temper, it is as if he worshipped idolatry.
When we cry over the things that don’t go the way that we wanted them to, we turn our needs, wants, and desires into mini deities. Into The Right Way for Things To Work Out. And when we do that, our own ego increases, and Hashem’s presence, desires, and wants start to feel like matters of merely secondary importance.
In other words, focusing on “me”— the precursor to feeling badly when things don’t work out the way that I want them to— is a subtle type of avodah zarah. Of worshiping strange and foreign gods.
I think the parallel to the Tamuz ‘tragedy’ is clear. The taavah for avodah zarah has been obliterated from the world, but in subtle form it still exists. In the minutiae of our day. In the choice that we get to make every time that a minor (or not so minor) disappointment crops up.
Not for naught is the correctional faculty of Tammuz, as per the Sefer Yetzirah, the sense of sight. Seeing the good in our days connects us to the Source of the Ultimate Goodness—Hashem—and is a powerful counteraction to the perverted belief that life is one big tragedy. To see Goodness is to see Yad Hashem, and at times it takes work and effort.
May it be a month of revealed goodness and kindness.
The Lakewood Vibes Editorial Team
Contact the renowned Rebetzin Aidel Miller from Yerushalyim Kein Ayin Hora.
Removing Ayin Hora through “Blei Gissin” is a known Segulah to aid with issues of health, Shidduchim, child bearing, Parnassa, anxiety and other difficulties.
Rebetzin Miller is blessed with tremendous Siyata Dishmaya and has had the Zechus to be the right Shliach to help and be Mechazek Klal Yisroel for close to 40 years.
“A year ago a lady came to the Rebetzin as she did not have children.
Rebetzin Aidel Miller is a granddaughter of the known Rabbi Yakov Yosef Herman ל״צז, who did much to strengthen Yiddishkeit in America. The Rebetzin became known over the years for helping people with difficulties through special Segulos and prayers from holy sources, to fortify the faith and Bitachon of those in need of a Yeshua Rebetzin Miller is also an expert in using the segula of “Blei Gissin” (pouring of lead).
This Segulah is mentioned in the Sefer קדצ חמצ and other Seforim. This Segulah is known in Klal Yisroel for many generations and Mekubalim have given their approval of this Segulah May Hashem grant her much Siyata Dishmaya to continue her work, and may Hashem the healer of the broker heart, heal all those in need of help.
The Rebetzin gave her a big brocha, did the blei gissen and told her she will have twins.
A year later she gave birth to twins. ”
“A man called the Rebetzin as his daughter had to go to the emergency hospital. The Rebetzin calmed the father down and did the blei gissen with tefillahs, and said she has nothing and will be going home the same night safe. It happened that the doctors found nothing and sent her home safely. ”
“A girl from Brooklyn NY called and was having a terrible time finding her soul mate. The Rebetzin did the blei gissen and told her to daven certain tehillims.
A month later she became engaged and is today happily married. ”
• All I Can Do
• Amazing Facts
• Contest Vibes
• Editorial
• Fun Vibes
• Puzzle Vibes
• Torah on Fire
• The Guy Next Door
• Vibes of Greatness
• Vibes of Gratitude
• Vibes of Humor
Deadline:
Next Deadline: Volume 1 / Issue 42
Cover + Special Placement: Monday, July 15, 12:00PM
Premium & Regular Full Page: Tuesday, July 16, 2:00PM
Classifieds: Monday, July 15, 4:00PM
Phone: 732-930-2500
Email: info@lakewoodvibes.com
Disclaimer:
The Lakewood Vibes reserves the right to edit or reject any advertisement or advertisers at its discretion. Furthermore, Lakewood Vibes shall not be held liable for any typeset errors that may inadvertently occur.
Lakewood Vibes does not assume responsibility for the kashrus of any advertisements, ads, products, or articles featured within its pages. Any claims, representations, or warranties made by advertisers are solely their own.
EXCLUSIVELY BY THE RIGHT CONTACT! RECEIVE UP TO A $200 REBATE
Timetoorderyour prescriptiongoggles!
VISIO N = GRANDSUMMER
STOCK UP ON YOUR SUMMER LENSES TODAY!
EXCITING NEWS! JOIN US AT OUR EXCLUSIVE MEGA MEGA SALE!
DISCOUNTS AS HUGE AS 50% OFF
EUROPEAN VIRGIN HUMAN HAIR SKIN TOP WIGS AND FALLS
PROFESSIONAL WIG STYLISTS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON-SITE TO HELP YOU CHOOSE, CUT & STYLE.
ESTREIA - 978 RIVER AVENUE
JULY 8 - JULY 10 10AM-6PM (MONDAY TILL 5PM)
JULY 15 - JULY 17 10AM-6PM AUGUST 19 - AUGUST 21 10AM-6PM
Jo i n A m u d HaYo m i a n d
AMUD HAYOMI IS
Shab b os has the p ower to save Klal Yisrael from its enemies … when we all learn hilchos Shabbos and Masechta Shabbos, we are neutralizing the middas hadin and bringing rachamim on Klal Yisrael!
From the words of HaGaon HaRav Shimon Galai, shlita shared at the Dirshu Kinnus Olam HaTorah at Prudential Center
The Don’t Mess Policy
Throughout the Jewish people’s sojourn in the desert, there have been many a time when a Jew or group of Jews sinned and were subsequently punished. Whether it was those Jews that complained about the lack of water or the lack of food variety or lack of meat; whether it was those that committed the chet haegel (the Golden Calf), or the Meraglim (spies). Or whether it was those that committed adulterous acts with the women of Midyan during the Bilaam episode. They all committed sins. All were punished. Some were even killed.
But not a single punishment allotted to any Jew by God in the entire Torah comes close to the uniqueness and unusually unnatural punishment that was handed to Korach. The very earth standing beneath Korach’s feet opened up and swallowed him whole! He and everything he owned. The earth did something it had never done prior and has never done since.
Why the strange death? Why were virtually all other Heavenly decreed punishments actualized in a more “run-of-the-mill,” natural, form, while Korach had a bizarre, earth-splintering one? What made him different than all the other power-hungry, misguided or lust-seeking sinners? What did he do differently that made him the recipient of the strangest death?
To add to the question, Moshe’s response in almost all instances in the Torah involving those who sinned was to beseech Hashem and daven for Him to spare their lives. Moshe would often take an unapologetically defensive stance while defending the Jewish people, advocating for even those who were clearly in the wrong. In that light, Moshe’s behavior in the Korach episode seems awfully strange. He deviates from his normal mode of operation and instead of defending Korach, he does the opposite. He actually calls upon his demise.
What happened to the boundlessly compassionate Moshe who, with endless mercy on his fellow Jews, lovingly calls for their safety and welfare time and time again? Why did Moshe suddenly shift from being the ultimate advocate in God’s court for anyone who sinned, to playing the role of harsh prosecutor?
The Goodness Conveyor Belt
Reb Moshe Sternbuch, a leading rabbinic figure in Israel, formerly in Johannesburg, beautifully articulates an answer that several give. Hashem is often referred to as the erech apayim, remarkably patient and forgiving. Every creature on earth is the constant beneficiary of Hashem’s infinite patience and love, and a sinner is no different. But there is one sin that stands out. There is one sin that Hashem has no patience for. There is one sin that merits quick and harsh punishment from God. That sin is the public attack on the validity of the Torah sheba’al peh, the Oral Torah.
Korach
Hillel Eisenberg
Why is this? Because Hashem created the world as a medium to give goodness to humanity. The Torah is the roadmap to attain that goodness. Hence, it is entrusted to the rabbis and teachers of each generation to safeguard it and ensure that the goodness is attained by all. Those who publicly attack its authenticity aren’t merely sinning, they are clawing other Jews away from the Torah world of unparalleled beauty. They are causing scores of people to miss out on the goodness the world has to offer. Hashem does not have patience for that. Hashem will stop that in its tracks. To disregard the Oral Torah and label it as replaceable, unreliable rabbinic folklore is sinful. But to attack it publicly is a whole different thing. It makes the world’s creation pointless.
The world split open in dramatic fashion. Why? To teach a lesson: you don’t mess with the validity of the Oral Torah, and those who do will have to deal with God’s wrath. Wrath that can do anything. Wrath that can split the world in half.
Earth is like one big hard drive. The Torah is the computer chip that gives it functionality. To take the real Torah away from people is like handing someone a phone without a SIM card. Worthless and insignificant. The very earth would not tolerate this.
Therefore, a normal death would not suffice. It would not drive the message home enough. Hashem wanted drama to show us that this is serious. The heritage of the Torah rests squarely on our belief in our teachers that teach us. Hashem will do whatever it takes to ensure that those who start up with it are shot down.
The Odd Commandment
The ten commandments were split between the two luchos (tablets). The common explanation for the two separate groups is that the first five are bein adam laMakom (between man and Hashem) and the second five are bein adam lachaveiro (between fellow men). The odd one out is kibud av v’eim – honoring our parents. It is seemingly a commandment between fellow men, and yet it finds itself on the first set of five. Why?
Reb Shamshon Rafael Hirsch explains that when we honor our parents, we are doing more than merely giving back to them by serving them coffee and tea. We are ensuring that the heritage and Torah that they received from their parents and teachers are internalized in us. We are ensuring that the link connecting us to Sinai remains firmly in place.
Without proper respect towards our parents and teachers, the magnificent oral tradition we hold so dear will be lost. Therefore, more than a commandment between man and his fellow, kibud av v’eim is between us and Hashem, for through honoring our parents we are in turn standing up to the authenticity of the Torah, which is the ultimate bond between us and God.
Moshe was the most compassionate and selfless leader possible. Time and time again he would attempt to defend the defenseless. He would knock on Heaven’s doors, beseeching Hashem to show pity on the wrongdoers. He dug up mercy when it was buried under a heap of sin.
Yet Korach was different. He wasn’t a mere sinner. He wasn’t like the others. He was threatening to throw water on the oral Torah’s fire. He was threatening to dismantle the heritage of Torah that Moshe so painstakingly built. Korach had to be disposed of before other Jews lost their trust. Korach had to be rid of, for the preciousness of our sacred Torah was too important not to. Precisely because Moshe was so compassionate, he refused to allow the rest of his brethren to be potentially led away from the beauty that is Torah.
December 1988
In December of 1988, a delegation of thirty-three chassidim traveled from Brooklyn to London to attend the wedding of their Rebbe’s son. After spending several days in the chassidic enclave of Stamford Hill, learning, dancing and singing with the Rebbe, they packed their bags, ready to board their flight back home the following day.
The next morning, although short on time, the chassidim decided to say one last goodbye to the Rebbe and receive a final blessing to bring back with them to America. They walked into the house the Rebbe was staying in, and the Rebbe’s secretary asked what he could do for them. They said they wanted to wish the Rebbe farewell and were wondering if the Rebbe had a moment or two for them to do so.
The secretary said, “Of course. The Rebbe has nothing scheduled for this morning, let me go and tell him you are here.” A moment later the secretary returned and said, “The Rebbe is free now but would like to wait a few minutes before seeing you.”
The chassidim said, “No problem,” and took a seat. After a few minutes passed, the chassidim asked the secretary again to go in and ask if they could see the Rebbe now, being that they needed to catch a flight.
The secretary went to the Rebbe and came back saying, “The Rebbe said you should wait several more minutes and that there is no need to worry about missing the plane.”
Ten minutes passed and there was no word from the Rebbe. The chassidim began getting nervous. They were running out of time to make their flight. Should they leave despite the Rebbe telling them to stay? With families to return to and businesses to attend, how could they miss their flight? But then again, how could they disobey the Rebbe? They decided to stay.
Ten nerve-racking minutes later, the Rebbe called them in. He looked up at them with tremendous warmth. He told them that he understood that he
SUNDAY - THURSDAY | 10:30 AM TO 6 PM FRIDAY | 10:30 AM TO 1 PM
had made them wait, but assured them that it would all work out. He shook their hands, giving them warm blessings, and walked them out to their waiting chartered bus.
Anxious to try and still make their flight, the chassidim wanted to jump in and speed off. The Rebbe didn’t allow it. He calmly walked them to the car and almost deliberately slowly gave each one a lengthy and time-consuming beracha.
When he was finally finished, they hopped onto the bus, sped to the airport, and ran through the terminal directly to their gate… only to learn that their plane had left without them. The last flight to New York had lifted off and left, leaving them stranded behind. Flustered and aggravated, they sat down in the airport, wondering what to do next.
A few minutes later, there was a commotion in the airport. Hundreds of passengers began running to the small TV screens broadcasting horrific breaking news. A Pan Am airplane flying from Heathrow Airport had just blown up over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all on board as well as 11 people on the street at the site of the crash. The chassidim ran to get a closer glimpse of the screen. They squinted
Korach
Hillel Eisenberg
to make out what the flight number was. What they saw made their hearts stop beating. The flight number was Pan Am 103, the exact plane the chassidim were supposed to travel on. The very same plane the chassidim had been intent on boarding. The same plane that the 33 chassidim were supposed to be on at that very moment, but had missed by a few minutes.
A terrorist named Mohammad Kheir Al-Marimi had convinced an unwitting passenger to carry a suitcase onto the plane. In it was a bomb. The plane had 243 passengers. All died. Yet in the back of the plane, there were exactly 33 seats that had remained empty. Empty, because their would-be occupants chose to listen to their Rebbe. Empty, because the people who should have been sitting in them bowed to the greatness of their leader. Empty, because the chassidim who had reserved those seats humbled themselves to the link in their chain that connected them to Sinai.
The word rabbi, rebbi, rav, and rebbe all share the same etymological root: r-a-v. The word rav means to increase or make great. Our rabbis, rebbes and spiritual leaders take, with their holy hands, the
heritage their teachers gave them and delicately give it to us. With it, they make us great. With it, they increase our sacredness. Those who disparage them live with a heavenly target on their backs. On the other hand, those that revere them with the respect they properly deserve have heavenly angels protecting them. To those who respect God’s word, Hashem looks out for them. But to those who don’t, they should watch out; the punishment is immense, as we see from Korach’s demise.
Hillel Eisenberg, originally from Rochester NY, teaches courses on the fundamentals of Judaism at Princeton University as well as in Torah Links Yeshiva in Lakewood NJ. He is the author of the newly published book THE PARSHAH ON FIRE as well as the host of a podcast with the same name. His dynamic and passionate style of teaching the joy of Judaism has made him a sought-after teacher and lecturer throughout the United States. Feel free to reach out to Hillel by email Hilleleisenberg613@gmail.com or phone 585-414-9729.
Reb Avraham Twersky
The Maggid of Trisk (1806 – July 1, 1889)
Two Jews were traveling through Trisk on their way to Eretz Yisrael. While there, they heard a story which two men from Trisk relayed to an audience gathered before the beis midrash of the Maggid of Trisk. This is the story that they heard:
Two men, those telling the story, were wealthy and prominent business partners, They’d once gone on a business trip together and took with them a sack with bundles of money to buy merchandise.
Along the way, they saw a poor Jew walking on the road. He was on his way home after having worked as a melamed for a few years to support his family.
“Where are you going?” The wealthy men asked.
The man responded and the men said, “We’re going in the same direction. We’ll give you a ride.”
They were still in the middle of their journey when Erev Shabbos came around. The wealthy men stopped off at an inn. “Come in with us,” they told the poor man. “You’ll eat and sleep here with us, on our tab.”
On Motzei Shabbos, before continuing their journey, the wealthy men counted their money. One bundle— with 200 silver coins — had disappeared.
They searched high and low, but they couldn’t find the missing money. Maybe the poor melamed took the money, they each thought.
The men asked the melamed about the missing, but he denied all involvement.
Still, when the wealthy men saw that the money was nowhere to be found, they assumed that the poor man must have taken it.
“Can we search your clothing and pockets?” they asked.
“Search all you want,” the melamed said. “I didn’t take a grush that wasn’t mine.”
The wealthy men searched and found a bundle of money sewn into the melamed’s coat. The bundle contained exactly 200 silver coins!
“I didn’t steal anything!” the poor man said. “That’s my money!”
But the men didn’t think that such a poor man would have so much money on him. They started to yell and hit the man in their rage.
The innkeeper’s wife heard the ruckus and came into the room. “Was the bundle of money sewn with red thread?” she asked, after the two men explained what had happened.
It was.
“What a trickster!” she exclaimed. “On erev Shabbos your guest, the melamed, asked me for thread to repair his clothing. I believed him and gave him red thread. But now I see that he only wanted my thread to be able to steal your money and sew it into his coat!”
The innkeeper’s wife’s words only added fuel to the fire, so that the infuriated men beat the melamed even more.
Eventually they calmed down enough to traveled onwards. They left the melamed at the inn, hurt from the blows and deeply embarrassed.
The next day the men received an urgent telegram from home: “200 silver coins needed urgently before your trip. Took from sack. Don’t worry when you count and find missing.”
The wealthy men realized that the money had been taken by one of their wives before their trip, and they felt terrible.
They immediately returned to the inn
to try to recompensate the melamed. But when they arrived, they saw that the melamed was sick. He had been a weak man to begin with, and his body couldn’t withstand the blows that they’d rained upon him.
They immediately summoned a doctor and gave him the best care possible.
But the melamed didn’t recover. His health continued to deteriorate, until he eventually died.
The wealthy men were besides themselves for having caused the death of an innocent man!
They came before their rebbe, the Maggid of Trisk, to ask for a tikkun.
The Maggid replied, “Your deep anguish and regret is already a kapparah. But it’s not enough. You must support the melamed’s wife and children at the same standard that you provide for your own wives and children. You must marry off his children exactly as you marry off your own children. And you must also go into exile for a full year.
Additionally, you must gather all the people of the city, men women and children, to publicly recount your story. In this manner everyone will learn how critical it is to be dan lekaf zechus — even when it seems almost certain that the other person is guilty. This, together with the terrible embarrassment that you will face, will be your kapparah and tikkun.”
(The story was recounted by the grandchild of one of the men who’d traveled through Trisk and overheard the story.)
. ***
The Maggid of Trisk’s yahrzeit is Beis Tammuz.
(Adapted from Nifla’os HaTzaddikim by Reb Yaron Amit)
Shira Yael Klein
Reb Meir ben Yitzchak Eisenstadt
The Panim Meiros
(c. 1670 – June 7, 1744)
Reb Meir Eisenstadt is also known as the Panim Meiros, after his sefer. In 1717 he was appointed rav of Eisenstadt and the Sheva Kehillos. [This was a group of seven Jewish communities, namely Kismarton, Mattersdorf, Kobersdorf, Lackenbach, Frauenkirchen, Kittsee, and Tzeilem, which were under Hungarian control at the time. They are located in present-day Austria.]
Reb Meir had a large yeshiva in Eisenstadt which attracted students from far and wide, but his best-known student is probably Reb Yonasan Eibshitz, an orphan whom Reb Meir took under his wing.
Rabbi Dr. M. Horowitz, rav in Eisenstadt and later in Frankfort am Main, found the following incident recorded in the ledger of kehillas Eisenstadt:
On a Thursday night in 1723, six years after Reb Meir had become rav of Eisenstadt, . Reb Meir was sitting and learning when two men burst into his house. “We just stole the Duke’s treasures and decided that you, as rav, will be the one to divide the treasures evenly between us. You must swear not to tell anyone what we did or to turn us in! If you don’t cooperate — you’re a dead man!”
Reb Meir, seeing that his life was on the line, had no choice but to divide the stolen treasures and to swear not to reveal the matter.
But Reb Meir knew that the Duke would soon discover his empty treasury, and then, one way or another, his involvement would come back to bite him.
There was only one thing he could do. Flee.
Before the sun rose, Reb Meir fled for his life to a nearby village where he spent Shabbos.
On Motzei Shabbos he fled to Vienna and hid there for some time in the home of his friend, Reb Shimshon Wertheimer. From there he continued his escape to the German cities of Hanover and Worms [where he’d previously served as rosh yeshivah].
Reb Meir then fled westwards, to his native Poland. [Reb Meir had been born in Posen, where he later served as a dayan. However, his communal obligations kept him so busy that he was barely able to learn, prompting
his decision to move to Germany/ Ashkenaz.]
The Shabbos after the theft, the Duke sent a messenger to Reb Meir to request that the rav put in cheirem anyone with information about the theft who would not come forward to the Duke.
The messenger went to Reb Meir’s house but did not find him there.
Matters grew even more complicated when people slandered Reb Meir to the Duke accusing him of involvement in the heist.
The Duke overturned Eisenstadt and the surrounding areas in search of his missing treasure, or the thieves that took it. To no avail.
Two years later, however, one of the thieves cracked under the pressure and turned himself in to the Duke. He returned his share of the treasures and explained why Reb Meir had fled the country.
The Duke pardoned the thief and even managed to reclaim the other half of his treasure.
Then the Duke summoned Reb Yaakov, Reb Meir’s oldest son, who’d been filling in for his father.
“I know that your father is innocent,” the Duke said, “and that he only fled to save his life. Please ask him to come home. I promise that I bear him no illwill, and that I will grant him many favors and privileges if he returns to live in my dukedom.”
Reb Yaakov passed the message on to Reb Meir, who indeed returned home. The Duke was very happy to see him back, and requested that he settle permanently in Eisenstadt.
Echoes of this incident appear in Reb Meir’s sefarim Panim Meiros and Kotnos Or on Chumash (Parashas Shemini). Furthermore, when Reb Meir returned to Eisenstadt, he instituted a special Yehi Ratzon to be said every Monday and Thursday after krias haTorah against “those who harm klal Yisrael with their tongues and destroy the state and stature of the communities.”
The Panim Meiros’s yahrzeit is Chof Zayin Sivan.
(Adapted from Nifla’os HaTzaddikim by Reb Yaron Amit, Hebrew Wikipedia)
Shira Yael Klein
The Guy Next Door
Chapter 39
After the initial lack of enthusiasm on my family’s part, brought on by my less than sterling attempts to climb the ladder and attach the camera inside of twenty seconds, I somehow got a surge of adrenalin and was determined to “show ‘em”. And I did.
Well, once anyway.
I managed to affix the camera within ten seconds one time. The rest of the time it took nearer to twenty seconds. But that was pretty amazing, if you think about how at the first try, I took over two minutes. I was glowing and preening. Surely twenty seconds was fine. Maybe I would time myself getting a glass of water and see how long that took me — surely it would take me longer, and I promised myself I wouldn’t deliberately dawdle at the fridge.
In the meantime, I had to prove my genius at doing the camera installation in as fast as twenty. My family had drifted away, bored out of their minds from watching their Dad dash up and down a ladder, clipping a hapless camera to our light fixture.
But no worries, that’s what selfies are for. And my
family would have to believe the evidence that I’d present them with, as there was no way they’d accuse me of doctoring any video — I wouldn’t have had the first idea of how to do so.
Eventually, I stopped practicing, convinced that I was as good as I was going to get. I didn’t stop preening, however.
Well, until Xavier Roberts came knocking on my door about a minute and a half after my last camera affixing that is.
“Nu, show me!” were his opening words.
“Nu?” I questioned. “You’re not Jewish. Isn’t ‘nu’ a quintessential Yiddish expression?”
Xavier Roberts threw back his head and laughed uproariously.
“You Jews think everything started with you! Nu is a word in Russian. I’m Moldavian, but we speak Russian, and I can tell you, the Jews stole the expression from the Russians, not the other way around!”
I didn’t believe him of course. I mean ‘nu’ is Yiddish.
Recap: Nachman practices affixing a camera to a light fixture under Mr. Yamamoto’s careful watch. He then comes home to show his family his new skill.
Ruthie Pearlman
End of story. But I humored him.
“Nu,” he said again. “Show me!”
So I clambered up and down the ladder a few times, with Xavier clocking me on his stopwatch.
“Hm, 18 seconds, 20 seconds, 15 seconds. I suppose it will be good enough… Just about…”
“I think it’s plenty fast!” I insisted.
“Always better to err on the side of caution,” he said. “Plenty of erring has been going on, and will continue to go on,” I promised him.
“You will only have one chance,” Xavier warned me. “So let there be less joking. One chance, and it’s all over for you if you fail. Do you get that? Now concentrate on getting things right the first time. Geddit?”
“Goddit,” I said, suitably humbled. I hadn’t thought of the “one chance and it’s all over” part. My mind followed more of a “if at first you don’t succeed, give up,” line of thought. Which might sound similar, but wasn’t actually similar at all.
Xavier softened a little after seeing my obvious distress. “Look,” he said. “Let’s sit down and work out a plan of action for how we get into Mr. Nakamura’s house.” He took himself at his word and sat down on the sofa, inviting me to sit with him. I chose to sit on a dining chair opposite.
Xavier started his new tutorial. “You’re the key here; his new BFF.”
“Not that I want to be…” I put in, just to make clear my innermost feelings at being best buddies with a North Korean illegal arms dealer.
“Well, obviously,” Xavier said. “No one said this has to be a lifelong friendship. You get in there, cozy up to him, install the camera when he isn’t in the room, and then play it cool as if nothing happened. No glances up at the light fixture to make him suspicious.”
“Well, obviously,” I said, even though this was the first time this point had been mentioned to me, and I probably would have sneaked a peek if he hadn’t said anything.
Xavier Roberts beamed at me. “There! I knew you were a natural at this!”
“Now,” he said, getting down to business. “Mr. Nakamura, aka Jeong San-Hoon, thinks he has given a large donation of cash to your shul and your school. We, however, have impounded that money as funds likely involved in a crime.”
“The school and shul must be delighted,” I said sarcastically.
“They’ll never know,” Xavier said. “The money has been replaced with “kosher” money. But he must still think it’s his money, and the school and shul must also think that. Only we know the truth. So, Mr.
Nakamura is supposedly due a big thank you gift from the institutions. And when I say a big thank you, I mean Big. Like a gift that will require a workman with a dolly to wheel in and give you the opportunity to do your up the ladder act. Don’t worry about who will bring the gift in, we have people. Good guys.”
“What kind of a big present do you have in mind?”
“Something that needs installing, or at least plugging in,” Xavier said. “A new freezer or fridge maybe.”
“He’s probably got one,” I suggested. “ I can’t imagine he’s been living in that house all this time without one of those. Or both.”
“Yeah, but this will be super high tech,” Roberts said. “He’ll love it. All those far Eastern types love high tech.”
“I think Debbie would have a cow, or at least kittens, if someone gave her a new big appliance like that,” I frowned.
Roberts frowned. “A cow? Kittens? What is that?”
“Oh, just a stupid British saying,” I said, metaphorically brushing the saying away. “Back to business. Presuming he’ll love it.”
“Right,” Xavier looked relieved. His English, once he’d abandoned the faux-Russian accent, was pretty much perfect, but there were obviously holes in his knowledge. And cows and kittens were a part of those holes.
“So who will be the man with the dolly?” I asked.
“I have someone, don’t worry,” Xavier said. “He works for us, that’s all you need to know.”
I was left wondering if the man with the dolly would be another Moldavian. I wasn’t sure I trusted everyone from that part of the world. Maybe Xavier Roberts, but everyone? That was a stretch.
As if he could read my mind, Roberts exhaled and said: “Okay, okay, okay. He’s Israeli. Happy now?”
I sighed in relief. “Yes, very. Thank you.” Then I paused. “No one Nakamura has ever met before, I presume?”
This time Roberts gave me the full benefit of an eye roll. “Nachman Feld. What do you take us for?”
I hung my head in suitable shame.
“It’s okay,” Roberts said. “You’re a greener at this. I know. Don’t worry.”
“So, when is this all kicking off?”
“Very soon,” he said. “Very, very soon.”
“What? Like tomorrow?”
“How about this afternoon?” Roberts said.
Well, he did say very soon… To be continued…
STRATEGIES FOR OPTIMUM SUCCESS S S
Rifka Schoenfeld
THE STRUGGLES OF GIFTED CHILDREN
Q: My eight-year-old daughter is always at the top of the class – getting A’s and excellent educational evaluations from her teachers. I have never had a problem with her academically, but lately, I have been noticing some social issues. She’s compassionate and idealistic; however, she doesn’t seem to interact with other children her age. She spends her free time in school talking to the teacher or kids in older grades. Also, she expects so much from herself and seems to fall apart when she doesn’t do things exactly as she expects to. Should I be worried about her?
A: In the past, there was a lot of discussion concerning intellectually advanced children and their stunted emotional development. Today, however, it is clear that gifted children are not underdeveloped emotionally. Rather, recent studies in The Gifted Child Quarterly have revealed that gifted children show better emotional adjustment than non-gifted children.
Still, this advanced social development can lead to disadvantages (and corresponding advantages):
•A tendency to gravitate towards their “mental age peers.” Like your daughter, gifted children tend to enjoy speaking to people who are on their mental level. This often means that they will have trouble communicating with children who are not as bright as they are. Therefore, it makes sense that your daughter spends her time with her teachers or children of different ages.
o The upside: It’s true that your daughter might have trouble relating to children her own age, but as she gets older, she will be comfortable in all sorts of situations. Once she enters high school, her peers will have caught up with her and she will do equally well at interacting with her classmates as well as adults.
•An inclination towards perfectionism and self-criticism. Children who are extremely smart will often be hypercritical of themselves. Their minds envision an amazing final product that their bodies might not be able to accomplish. For instance, a gifted five year old might picture a storybook, replete with illustrations; however, his fine motor skills might not be developed enough to create his vision. This can be frustrating and exasperating for children whose intellectual abilities do not match their physical capabilities.
o The upside: Your daughter’s perfectionism will inspire her to keep trying and eventually to succeed. As long as you continue to encourage her and applaud her efforts, she will gain skills through trial and error. Eventually, through her desire for perfection, she will succeed.
•A dominant, forceful personality. Gifted children can sometimes seem overbearing and bossy with their peers. Frequently, they will enter a roomful of children and create elaborate games that they want others to follow. If the other children are not interested, a gifted child might be left playing by herself.
o The upside: While it’s true that forceful personalities might have negative effects on social interaction, assertive children are also the leaders in the classroom. With time and a little finesse, a gifted child’s ability to imagine and organize games will make her the one everyone turns to for advice and entertainment.
As a parent, the best thing you can do for a child who is intellectually gifted is to create a supportive family environment. Just because your daughter is bright, it does not mean she will have an easy time with her peers. However, to every downside there is a significant upside – embrace those challenges and turn them into triumphs.
CHAPTER 9
Devorah Talia Gordon
“Zaidy got off the freeway, followed a long, winding street, and then made a left onto a quiet cul-de-sac with tall sycamore trees and perfectly mowed, green lawns.
Ari sat up straighter and looked out the window. “Zaidy, maybe you made a wrong turn? This isn’t…”
I knew exactly where we were. I pointed out the window. “Oh, wow. Look!”
Zaidy eased the car to a stop in front of the two-story, white house with the brick fireplace on the side and the bright yellow door.
Yellow?
The door had always been a shabby grey, with old paint we loved to peel off while knocking on it. Now though it was a super shiny almost neon yellow. But the stainedglass window in the center of the door, with the three blue and red hummingbirds gave it away as the same And the house itself was also similar enough with the same row of trimmed rose bushes along the front window and the huge lemon tree with branches hanging low with fruit.
Ari stuck his head out of the car’s back window. “Hey! The old house. But, Zaidy, why are we here?”
I squinted at Ari and held a finger to my lips. Zaidy’s
Recap: Miri is annoyed at Liora for suggesting a shidduch for Tovi with a boy who wants to move to Australia. Liora tells Miri that the boy also wants to start a farm. On the home front, Liora and Avi go shopping with Zaidy and are baffled at some of his choices.
eyes were closed, and he held the steering wheel tightly, head bent.
I stared at the front porch where there used to be a wornout, beige porch swing. That was where I’d always sat with Bubby, watching her knit and crochet. I wanted to run into the house to ‘my room’— the guest bedroom with the twin beds and fluffy comforters. It was close to my grandparents’ room and was where Ari and I would sleep when we were little and my parents were out of town for a simcha, or on one of Tatty’s school Shabbatons. On Friday night, after the seudah, Bubby was never too tired to play Rummikub with me while Zaidy learned the parashah with Ari. We’d drink cup after cup of chamomile tea with too much sugar as we played.
“Well, kinderlach.” Zaidy finally looked up and smiled at the house. “At least they’re taking care of my lemon tree.” Zaidy had planted the tree when Bubby and Zaidy’s youngest, Aunt Shuli, was born. He’d also planted an orange tree when my mother was born, and a tangerine tree when Uncle Yonasan was born. But those were in the backyard.
Ari cleared his throat. “Umm…are we going to get ice cream?”
“Ice cream?”
I swallowed and stared at Zaidy. He rubbed his eyes very hard with one hand, then ran his hand along his jaw, scratching his beard.
“We could do that, yes! Ice cream sounds marvelous. It sure is hot today!” Zaidy looked at me and his blue eyes got very big. “Yes, we said we’d go for ice cream.”
“I think you made a wrong turn, Zaidy,” Ari said quietly. Zaidy nodded and let out his breath, looking as relieved as I probably do when Mommy asks Ari to fold the laundry instead of me.
“Well, now that we’re here anyway … I wanted to tell you both something important.”
Ari leaned forward and squeezed himself in between Zaidy and me in the front seat. Zaidy adjusted his yarmulke over his thick, silver hair and smiled.
“Your Bubby, my Faige, always wanted one thing, just one thing. She wanted her children and grandchildren to go b’darchei Hashem. She was such a pure neshama. This house was important to her; it was where we raised our children, and these walls heard her tefillos. And that’s all that got us anywhere. Her tefillos.”
I pictured one of the walls in the kitchen sprouting gigantic ears, listening as Bubby davened while kneading her challah and babka dough. It felt like if we sat there long enough, Bubby would walk right out of that front door, with her short grey sheitel, pearl stud earrings, and black sneakers.
“So, it’s important for you to know that one day, one of you, or your siblings, will be able to live here again.”
“What do you mean, Zaidy?” I said. “I don’t think it’s your house anymore. Right?” I held my breath and thought of getting home, quick, to tell Mommy that Zaidy wasn’t making any sense.
Zaidy shook his head. “We didn’t sell this house. The people who live here are renting from us.”
Ari shrugged. “Well, it’s a nice house and all, but it’s kinda far from everything.”
“When we bought it, the community was just starting out. Everyone was here…”
“I’m not sure how many mezuzos you’ll find on the block now, Zaidy.” I said, which is exactly what Mommy had said when we drove past the area on Chol HaMoed on our way to a nearby park.
Zaidy frowned. “You see that red house? That was Deutsch. And that one, with the birch trees in front, that was Friedman. We had more than a minyan just on our street.”
“And that corner house, was Coopersmith, right Zaidy?”
“How’d you know, maidele?” Zaidy tousled my hair and I grinned. I’d only heard about those neighbors a
bazillion times.
Zaidy started the car and pulled away, driving fast, like he usually did, toward the freeway. He hummed as he held the steering wheel with one hand and used his other hand to reach behind my headrest.
I tried not to think of how we’d ended up at Zaidy and Bubby’s old house. Instead, I thought of Bubby’s sweet little smile and the way she sang my name, Li-or-a! Lior-a! as if it was the most exciting word in the world.
**
When we finally got home, Mommy was already giving supper to the little kids at the kitchen table. “It’s late, I was getting worried,” she said as we walked in. We’d left almost everything in Zaidy’s car, except what needed to go into the refrigerator. Zaidy had said he’d take the rest to his apartment. “Your phone just went to voicemail, Tatty.”
Zaidy West checked his phone. “Ah, battery died. Sorry, Raizy.” He smiled at me and Ari. “The kids were great. I’ll go wash up.”
When he left the room, Ari and I both started talking at once.
“Ma, Zaidy West bought a ton of stuff!”
“Boxes of granola bars!”
“A case of pretzels!”
“Four times 24 sponges! Tons of toothpaste!”
My mother put down the forkful of chicken she was feeding Shaya and shook her head at us. “Slow down. Liora, what happened?”
I came close to my mother, and she put her arm around me. I realized that I was breathing really fast. “Take a breath,” my mother said, patting my shoulder.
“Zaidy bought tons of weird stuff that he never buys. It’s all in his car.”
My mother sighed and looked from me to Ari.
Ari leaned against Mommy on the other side. “He was walking around the store really fast with a whole big list.”
“What?”
“Hello, everyone!” Tatty called as he walked in the front door. Mommy stood up and straightened her skirt, but she didn’t smile as Tatty came into the kitchen. Dini jumped off her chair and ran to him and he picked her up and kissed her forehead.
“Tatty,” Mommy looked at my father with wide eyes. “We have a problem. We need to talk to Zaidy.”
To be continued…
Devorah Talia Gordon is a freelance writer, editor, and creative writing teacher. Her first book, The Impossible Project, a middle-grade novel, has recently been published by Menucha Publishers.
Show-Stopper Shoppers
It can happen on a Thursday afternoon, when just after you finish putting your conveniently delivered groceries away, your cousin calls to ask for a last-minute Shabbos invitation. For herself, her husband, and her eleven children — four of whom are gluten-free.
It can happen on a Friday morning, when you finally open your child’s knapsack to find a pretty sheet of paper announcing your daughter’s Shabbos-Mommy status. The note includes a list of all snacks prohibited: those grown in the same country as peanuts. At the bottom, in fine print, are three permitted items, none of which are in your pantry.
It can happen mid-sourdough-recipe, when your teenager opens the pantry and shrieks, making it sound as though she encountered a drooling octopus, when really all that she spotted was an empty flour canister.
Or it can all happen at once.
Too few items for an online order, too many items for your eleven-year-old to carry, and your teenager at home mid- incomplete sourdough. Left with no choice, you change into your shopping-day finest and clamber tiredly into your minivan, hoping s someone will realize they’ve been temporarily crowned babysitter.
here called Tarragon. I see salt, garlic, pepper… Oh! Here it is! Turmeric, right...”
You toss the flour into your cart and turn the left corner to the candy aisle, practically carrying your cart so that it doesn’t turn right instead.
There you hear it. Nail-to-chalkboard whining in its rawest form, coming from a cart with five small children hanging onto it.
“But Mommy! Everybody has Gushers for Shabbos party! We can’t just have the Luigi’s and Bissli and Sour Lips and Mike and Ike’s!”
Your nerves grate with off-the-cliff tenacity as you prudently notice that this Mommy isn’t just any Mommy. No, she’s Super Calm Mommy, and she smiles agelessly at her offspring while gently gliding with her cart toward the produce section as a slew of little boys join the candy aisle.
“We’ll need sodas!” says one boy. “Asher, grab me a case of Dr. Peppers, will you?”
“A case?” asks Asher. “Leave some drinks for the rest of us!”
When you finally enter the overcrowded grocery, your mental shopping list has expanded to minimum-online-order proportions. You grab the very last shopping cart, with wheels that only move to the right, and scan your immediate surroundings for potential schmoozers to derail you from your mission.
Pulling your snood over your eyes, you discreetly make your lopsided way to the flour section. Passing the spices, you can’t help but overhear Frazzled Husband map his way through the selection. “Raizy, I don’t see anything
“Where are the Powerades? Rebbi said we should bring, like, three Powerades!”
“Don’t forget the candy!” squeaks another boy. “You don’t wanna starve on the trip!”
“Dovid, I doubt you’ll need that whole case of Hot Sauce Chips just for a baseball game in the park across the street.”
You grab the peanut and tree-nut free Sour Sticks and elegantly shove your cart in the direction of the gluten-free aisle where you bump into your pathic Neighbor. “Hi, Esther!” You hail, as you desperately toss a box of oat bran over the sour sticks in your cart. “How are you?”
Humor Vibes
“Never been better!” She says, reading the ingredients on the bag of kale chips in her hand. You almost miss the sidelong glance she casts at your cart. Almost. “Oat bran,” she says. “I need that, too!”
The grin that almost breaks your face settles somewhat after you brave a glance into her cart. Maybe I should add cashew clusters to my cart, too? You wonder. Nah, it might get the Sour Sticks all nutty. Maybe next
“You have got to try these quinoa crisps!” She advises as you empty the gluten-free shelf into your cart.
Turning once again, you almost crash into Hungry Husanother loyal customer. “Relax, Simmy,” he says into his phone. “I’m only getting what’s on the list!” But as he gleefully fills his one-pound container with steaming cholent, you notice four kids of various sizes tossing boxes of donuts and chocolates into the shopping cart behind him. Poor Simmy.
“You should give it another shot.” You hear from behind the celery, where Dating Coach Diva is sharing her wisdom with a lucky client. “So what if his glasses are missing lenses? Try to prioritize, Shira…”
Just as you pass the freezer, you stop in your tracks, your cart short-stopping with motor-worthy force, complete with tire screech and all. Because there, smiling at you from the freezer, is a single pack of imitation-cholent-flanken with the orange 20% discount sticker you’ve been dreaming about. You wonder, briefly, if your story qualifies for the hashgacha pratis column of Vibes, or Gratitude, as you gracefully stretch your arm toward the meat.
But just as suddenly, a hairy hand comes from seemingly no place, snatching it before your very eyes, as you whirl around, flabbergasted, to face your son’s rebbi, the one who you requested for your next son for the upcoming school year. He’s smiling congenially over the rim of his glasses. Oh dear, you think, as you snap your mouth closed and twist it into what you hope resembles a smile. mesiras nefesh we have for Torah!
Feeling magnanimous, you toss a pack of chocolate chip muffins (your husband’s favorite) and a single Torino bar
(because you deserve it!) into your cart and continue onward to the register.
It’s a tough choice of where to stand. You can stand behind a cholent-bearing batch of bachurim slurping the free smoothie samples a worker distributed in aisle 4, or behind an Alte-Bubby with four items in her cart. You choose the Bubby because she seems less rowdy, and you can use a less-rowdy environment before you head to your very rowdy home.
But when Bubby finishes placing her egg kichel, rye bread, leben and unflavored seltzer onto the conveyor belt, everyone breathes very slowly and loudly as she begins counting change from her purse and places coins, one by one, into the cashier’s hand.
You wake up to the sound of “Excuse me, Miss!”, and quickly wipe the corner of your mouth as you begin to empty your cart onto the belt. The cashier gives you a funny look when she notices your last-minute Quinoa Crisps, and you decide against them, too, due to the price.
When you finally pull into your driveway, bearing all the items you came for and more, your daughter flies through the door to greet her flour, leaving you with the rest of your purchases and a frown. But, you tell yourself as you carry the grocery bags, it was all worth it if you’ll get that chocolate bar, your welcome friend at the end of the day.
“Ma,” your kids wonder too loudly. “What are you searching for?”
“Nothing!” You bark, as you sift wildly about for the chocolate bar you thought you placed on the register but didn’t.
Then you remember. Super Calm Mommy. Unearthing a smile from the secret stash of mind. “Nothing,” you repeat. “We’re good.”
is EXPANDING
Now Hiring:
Daycare Director
Leadership skills, organizational ability, adminstrative experience a must.
High level Executive Assistant Resourceful, implementer to move projects forward for the CEO.
Assistant Director TorahMates
Be responsible for daily operations. Great communication skills, program management, team building required.
Director of Shteigers Leadership position! Oversee Shteigers from beginning to end, liaise with departments across the board, recruit, process and coordinate while managing an amazing program.
Executive Assistant
For the resourceful, self-motivated implementer to assist a kiruv director.
Kiruv Office Assistant
Multitask in a vibrant and busy Kiruv environment. Detail oriented problem solver with computer proficiency needed.
TorahMates Coordinators
Set up learning partnerships! Assist with challenges arising during the Kiruv journey.
Controller
Nonprofit experience preferred, budget management, auditing expertise, compliance oversight.
Bookkeeper
Attention to detail, quick learner! Experience preferred, training provided, financial knowledge a plus.
Web Designer
Team collaborator, Figma proficiency, UX/UI expertise, creative and analytical.
PR/Content Writer
Strong communication skills, go-getter personality, creative storyteller, take your passion for Kiruv and create amazing content.
Titles Clerk
Be part of a large and cohesive team, working to clear vehicle titles. Training provided.
Retail Associate
Detail oriented person who will be involved in donor interaction via customer service (mainly ebay donors).
Frontend/Backend Engineer
Tech stack Includes Scala, java, VB.NET, SQL, React and AWS. Min. 3 years exp. required, team player is a must.
Morahs/Babysitters
Warm loving environment. Teach in a place you will love!
Lakewood Vibes News
At the Felsenburg-Jacobowitz Wedding-Both from Lakewood
At the March-Lider Wedding-Lakewood to England
At the Marcus-Munk Vort-Both from Lakewood
At the Ungar-Septimus Vort-Both from Lakewood
Misameach Cruise
1) When does the Torah write Yaakov’s name when talking about Korach?
2) Why did some people from ןבואר טבש join Korach?
3) How many brothers did רהצי have?
4) What were the three תוריבע that the Yidden did before Korach’s תקולחמ?
5) Why did Moshe tell Korach and his people that they should wait until the morning to see who is the chosen one?
6) How did Moshe explain to Korach that he can’t change Ahron from being the לודג ןהכ?
7) Where do we see how bad תקולחמ is?
COURSE Led by talented instructor Baily Biederman, this course
This week’s questions are until זי קרפ If you would like to submit answers and be entered into a raffle for a $25 gift card, please call 848 373 5489. To get this Parsha sheet emailed to you every week, send a request to torahshleimah@gmail.com.
Sponsored ה”בצנת
Last week’s winner: Boruch Eliyahu Wenger Initiative for boys ages 8-13
Yeshiva: Cheder Bnei Torah
Writing Contest Writing Contest
I was going away for shabbos so on Friday afternoon I was packing I took out stockings to pack one was for right then to wear on Friday night and one was for shabbos day I put one in my suitcases and one I was putting on right then as I was putting it on I decided that I want to wear the other one I don’t know why they looked exactly the same and were the same color but I switched with the one in my suitcase once it was one I realized that it had a huge hole and a run so I got a new pair of stockings and then I realized what would of happened if I didn’t switch the stockings I wouldn’t of had stockings on shabbos day what hashgacha pratis.
One week, my family went to my grandparents for Shabbos. After Shabbos, my grandmother told my mother that she had made an extra potato kugel and offered it to my mother. My mother said she doesn't need it but my grandmother insisted that we take it home. When we arrived home, we unloaded the car and my mother put the kugel in the freezer and promptly forgot about it. Two weeks passed by. The following week, my class was making a siyum and I was asked to bring in a 9x13 tray of potato kugel. When I got home from school, I totally forgot to tell my mother about the potato kugel. The night before my siyum, I suddenly woke up at 11:00 pm and remembered that I needed to bring in a potato kugel for the siyum the next morning.I quickly jumped out of bed and ran downstairs, thinking how embarrassed I will be if I come to school without it! I went into the kitchen and told my mother that I needed to bring in a tray of kugel for the next morning. My mother said she is so sorry but she did not have enough potatoes and she was too tired to start the process of making kugel at this hour. Then she remembered about the kugel sitting in the freezer that my grandmother had given her! She quickly put it in the oven on a low temperature and by the next morning I had hot, overnight kugel to bring in for my siyum! It was hashgacha pratis that my grandmother gave us kugel and that my mother forgot to use it! Hashem perfectly orchestrated this so that I was able to bring a kugel for my class siyum!
Menachem G.,12
Kids, tell us your stories of hashgacha pratis in 300 words or less and have your story featured in Lakewood Vibes!
B.G. 12
Congratulations to our winner!
$50
Parashas Korach
Down:
1. What swallowed Korach and his congregation?
3. Who ran around the camp with ketores to stop the plague after Korach’s death?
4. When Korach came to complain, Moshe told him to come back__________.
7. Who flattened Korach’s pans?
10. What was in Korach and his cohorts’ pans?
11. When Moshe heard Korach’s complaints, he fell on his __________.
13. Moshe Rabeinu said he never took an item from anyone, including even a single _________.
15. What type of metal were the original shekels made of?
17. What type of metal were Korach’s pans made of?
Across:
2. Who was Korach’s father?
5. A shekel is worth _________ gerahs?
6. Who was Dasan’s brother?
8. How many staffs were placed in the Ohel Moed by the shevatim?
9. What grew on Aharon’s staff?
12. How many shekels are used to redeem a firstborn?
14. __________ thousand Yidden died in the plague.
16. Korach’s pans were flattened and used as an overlay for the ________ in the mishkan.
18. Who was On’s father?
19. Which shevet was Korach from?
20. What did the 250 people who joined Korach die from?
21. Which shevet was On from?
Lakewood Vibes News
Welcoming the Gedolei Yisroel on their Historic visit to Establish the Keren Olam Hatorah
Dear Lakewood, Toms River, Jackson, Howell, and Manchester community members, Did you attend a local event or anything exciting happening in your shul? We’d love to feature your photos in Lakewood Vibes Magazine! Please share your captivating event snapshots with us at info@lakewoodvibes.com
A phone line for women and girls, providin g chizuk and hope, along with emunah an d bitachon, infused with a taste of Shabbo s all week long, and updated daily
Parenting Q&A
Mrs. Rachel Brezel, MSE, LMHC
For updated weather and Tefillas Haderech Press 7 Ashira on the go!
Tap into your Tefilla h
Mrs. Devoiry Streiche r
Shabbos Hayom LaHashe m
Reb. Chaya E. Streiche r Be Healthy ! Nutrition by Tany a
Erev Shabbos Divrei Brach a
Rabbi Paysach Kroh n
DAILY INSPIRATION
Coach Sara B. Deutsch
We want to hear from our listeners !
Join our summer
Do you have a personal story of inspirationA growing experience you want to share Let us know how you overcame your challenge with
and
1.PRESS 2007#
2.INTRODUCE YOURSELF
Speak clearly and share your story with Ashira! (Duration - 5-8 minute audio recording)
3. HEAR YOUR STORY LIVE ON THE ASHIRA HOTLINE
Mrs. Maryam Gertner Press 15# Mega Music Sectio n
SAFETY ALL YEAR ROUND
One lucky winner will receive a $180 gift certificate in the shoe store of their choice!
PARSHAS KORACH
DID YOU KNOW?
We can learn from the story of Korach how important each person is. Some people might think that they are more important as they have a higher position than other people, but really, we are all needed and we are all essential, in making this world a better place.
IMAGINE
There were a group of builders who decided to refurnish a house together, they wanted to work quickly so each builder was designated a specific job. One worked on the beds while the other build the light fixtures and another built the Cabinets. Happily, they all got to work, though pretty soon something started bothering one of the workers. He felt like his job, building the doorways, was insignificant. He wanted to do something more important, maybe the tables and chairs! He disregarded the first assignment and went to work on the chairs. Another worker also felt unhappy with his job, putting the light fixtures in and he decided to work on the tables and chairs as well. By the time the house was supposed to be finished, everyone realized that they couldn’t put up the doors because there were no doorways and the lightbulbs couldn’t go in because there were no fixtures to put them in.
DELVING DEEPER
BRING IT HOME
What are 2 things that you do regularly (that you might think are not important) but actually make a difference to your family, friends or those around you?
Korach felt the same way, he didn’t like that there were levels of importance, some are leaders and others followers. He felt that everyone should be on the same level with no one leading and no one following. What Moshe tried to explain and what Korach didn’t understand, is that in order for this world to exist we need levels and we need each and every one of them. Just like the sun rises in the daytime and the moon in the night, just like some days are ordinary and some are holy like Shabbos and Yom Tov, each are necessary. The ordinary day must be there just like Shabbos. the moon and sun must switch off, neither can be without the other. Us too, each person, the Rabbi, the teacher, the janitor and the garbage collector are all needed and are all important in making the world complete.
Pour glue into a container.
Pour baking soda into mixture and mix well.
Once it is too difficult to mix with a popsicle stick, start kneeding with your hands.
Pour sand onto the glue. Mix well until sand is fully mixed into the glue.
Pour in water and mix.
Your Slime is now ready to strech squish and enjoy!
Pour contact lens solution into container and start mixing.
SUPPLIES
1 Tsp Contact Lens Solution
1/4 Cup Clear Glue
1 Tsp Baking Soda
Popsicle Stick
2 Tbsp Water
1/4 Cup Sand Container
*We would love to see how your Parsha Studio Project came out!
Send us pictures to, info@jcm.museum
The Rock Wallaby is closely related to the Kangaroo and Wallaroo. All of them share one distinctive characteristic: the mother carries her children in a specialized pouch positioned on her abdomen which Hashem created her with.
The wallaby family is a large one with over 50 family members. There are 18 kinds of the rock wallaby itself. Originally they were found only on the Australian continent and some small surrounding islands. Today they spread to a few more locations.
Rock Wallaby
The rock wallaby ,true to it’s name, is found primarily in rocky areas (see picture left and top right). Unlike other wallabies that have sharp long nails to enable them to dig into the earth, Hashem equipped them with special foot soles that attach securely to the rocks, like the wild goats that climb on mountainsides.
Since the heat in their habitat can be scorching (sometimes over 110 degrees!), they will always make an effort to remain protected: in the cracks between rocks, in caves or even under bushes.
They are very social creatures and live in large groups comprised of several 100 wallabies. They stick together and stay close to home. Even when venturing out in search of food, they won’t wander more than 2 miles away.
Like their bigger relatives, the kangaroos, they are very skilled at jumping (picture top left). It’s a common occurrence for them to give a huge leap of 16-20 feet!
They are born tiny, as small as a bee! The baby remains in the mother’s pouch for months, where it eats and grows (see picture left and top left). Even after emerging, the mother will hide them in caves, or deep in cracks of the rocks, otherwise they can easily be captured.
What does the wallaby eat? Their diet consists mainly of vegetation and Hashem, Who sustains all creatures, created them with special teeth and a strong stomach to be able to eat and digest the hard grass and twigs.
Most of their diet is comprised of a wide array of grass and leaves, but they will also eat fruit, roots and even twigs. They will also search for water sources, and thousands will gather at designated areas where water is located, on the hot days when water sources are hard to come by.
The rock wallaby has many predators in search of prey. Including: wild dogs, foxes, and wild cats. In many location they are in danger because other animals feed on the same food as them and don’t leave enough for the wallabies. However, their population is stable and they keep proliferating.
1. A group of rock wallabies being fed nutritional food in a zoo where they are kept.
2. A rock wallaby preparing to jump from a stone to the stone below.
3. A captivating picture: a photographer snapping a close-up picture of a small rock wallaby.
4. 2 rock wallabies protrude out of the special pouch in which the mother is carrying them around.
5. A rock wallaby in a crack between 2 stones, in search of relief from the sun.
6. A group of rock wallabies eating grass in a field.
TIDBITS
Habitat: Australia
Weight: between 2 and 17 lbs.
Length: between 12 and 32 inches
Tail: between 10 and 28 inches
Offspring: usually 1; seldom twins
Food: grass, leaves, fruits & vegetables
Predators: fox, wild cats & wild dogs
Lifespan: in the wild: unknown; in zoo: up to 14 years
Population: in the very high thousands
Levayah of the Kosov Rebbe Zt”l in Boro Park
רעשעלפ ןיא רעדניק
?טרעוו זיא ליפיוו :37
לטיפאק
יד ןלאָמעגפיוראָ
יירד יד וטסאָה אָד" .טאָטשטפּיוה םענופ ,ןזיוועגנאָ םהרבאָ טאָה ",ןלאָנאָק
SLEEP CONSULTING
BUILDING HAPPIER FAMILIES ONE NIGHT AT A TIME
Infant sleep plan - $349
Toddler sleep plan - $399
PACKAGES INCLUDE: Preliminary Consultation, 2-3 Week Sleep Plan, Phone & Messaging Support.
WONDERING WHY YOUR CHILD WON’T SLEEP?
Expert sleep consulting for blissful nights & brighter days!
Call/Text: 732.994.3934
E: chana@cgsleepconsulting.com | W: cgsleepconsulting.com
Memory
Memory
What color is the hot air balloon all the way to the right?
Join the biggest bikeathon in the country for boys ages 8 & up!
HAVE YOU JOINED YET?
Joining is easy as 1-2-3!
1.REGISTER (see how below)
2.RAISE AT LEAST $100
3.COME TO THE R4R BIKEATHON EVENT with your family!
Don’t miss out! Join the more than boys already registered for R4R 2024!
TOP 3
Fundraisers
Yisroel Stein
$2,220
Ali Weinreb $1,810
Boruch Goldberg $1,707
Can YOU make it to the top?
Regesh Best Raisers $6,263
Achdus Riders $4,176 Teams
Bridgewood Boys $4,629
PRIZE SPOTLIGHT
and you can be the owner of a Gotrax GXL V2 Series Electric Scooter!
This awesome folding electric scooter is for older kids and adults, and can go up to 15.5 mph!
Bicycles were originally called “velocipedes”!
The Regesh helpline has been helping kids & teenagers in our community (and their parents, Rebbeim and teachers) who feel they need a listening ear for a question, struggle or problem - for over 10 years! DID YOU KNOW?
1.833.R4R.BIKE *Press6forYiddish BRIGHTERfor a TOMORROW BIKE TODAY Sunday, July 21 @ BlueClaws Stadium
Strawberry, Banana, & Pineapple Ices
1 cup Strawberries
1 Banana (medium)
4 fl ozs Pineapple Juice
Add all of the ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. 1. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze for five to six hours or until completely frozen. Enjoy! 2. directions
Trueyounourishment.com
Liatt Ehrman is a Certified Nutrition Coach, Certified Prenatal/Postpartum Nutrition Professional, and Certified Transformational Life Coach. Her passion is to support and empower women with the physical, emotional, and spiritual tools to thrive during pregnancy, postpartum, and the years after. Bringing out the best version of themselves so they can be better wives, mothers, and Ovdei Hashem. She can be reached by email at liatt@trueyounourishment.com or 732-276-0276
FOR THOSE WHO TAKE THEIR COFFEE SERIOUSLY
HOUSE BLEND
FRENCH ROAST
BREAKFAST BLEND
CARAMEL
CINNAMON DOLCE | MOCHA | VANILLA | HAZELNUT
Seriously, you know there’s no such thing.
BUT IF YOU’RE DETERMINED AND SERIOUS TO GET RID OF THOSE, UH, HANDLES, SLENDR WILL WORK AS HARD AS YOU TO MAKE SURE YOU REACH YOUR GOAL.
At Paragon Flooring, we know quality – and quality knows us. Tiffany & Co. entrusted us with the flooring in their flagship boutique in Manhattan. (And so did Louis Vuitton.) Our extraordinary attention to detail and outstanding customer service are the reasons our clients are constantly referring new clients to us. Regardless of budget, every client gets the personalized luxury shopping experience they deserve.
Now that’s white-glove service.
Sales and Installation of Hardwood, Vinyl, Carpet, Rubber, and Cork Many carpet remnants in stock!
Repair and refinishing services available
Want a professional’s opinion?
Schedule a free consultation with our in-house interior designer to select your flooring.
Servicing NY, NJ, CT, and PA
Gift certificates available
848.290.0863
info@paragonflooringnj.com paragonflooringnj.com
2275 West County Line Road, Jackson
S 9:30 - 5:00 M - T 9:30 - 6:00 F 9:30 -1:00
Formerly Zenger Flooring
Seasonal Aergies
GET RID OF SEASONAL ALLERGIES AND ITS SYMPTOMS FROM THE SOURCE
Wear a special gem combination that targets the emotional and physical cause of seasonal allergies.
Acute situations are paired with a potent combination of homeopathic drops for external application and/or additional stones.
First choice, even for
At Paragon Flooring, we know quality – and quality knows us. Tiffany & Co. entrusted us with the flooring in their flagship boutique in Manhattan. (And so did Louis Vuitton.) Our extraordinary attention to detail and outstanding customer service are the reasons our clients are constantly referring new clients to us. Regardless of budget, every client gets the personalized luxury shopping experience they deserve.
Now that’s white-glove service.
Sales and Installation of Hardwood, Vinyl, Carpet, Rubber, and Cork Many carpet remnants in stock!
Repair and refinishing services available
Want a professional’s opinion?
Schedule a free consultation with our in-house interior designer to select your flooring.
Servicing NY, NJ, CT, and PA
Gift certificates available
848.290.0863
info@paragonflooringnj.com paragonflooringnj.com
2275 West County Line Road, Jackson
S 9:30 - 5:00 M - T 9:30 - 6:00 F 9:30 -1:00
Formerly Zenger Flooring
Strawberry/Blueberry Smoothie
Serving
ingredients
1/2 cup Frozen Blueberries
1/2 cup Strawberries
1 1/4 cups Unsweetened Almond Milk
1 tbsp Chia Seeds
1/4 cup plant based Vanilla Protein Powder
directions
Add all of the ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a glass and enjoy!
Trueyounourishment.com
Liatt Ehrman is a Certified Nutrition Coach, Certified Prenatal/Postpartum Nutrition Professional, and Certified Transformational Life Coach. Her passion is to support and empower women with the physical, emotional, and spiritual tools to thrive during pregnancy, postpartum, and the years after. Bringing out the best version of themselves so they can be better wives, mothers, and Ovdei Hashem. She can be reached by email at liatt@trueyounourishment.com or 732-276-0276
Smash Burgers
Instructions:
Reinvent Taco Tuesday with a fantastic smash burger! This dish merges the rich flavors of a classic burger with the ease of a taco and promises an exciting flavorful spin to your dinner lineup.
Yield: 2 servings
Ingredients:
1 patty ground beef (approximately 4–6 oz.)
1 tbls BBQ sauce
Montreal seasoning, to taste
Soft tortilla
Cooking oil for frying
Pico de gallo, to taste
Iceberg lettuce, shredded
Pickled jalapeño, sliced
Spicy chipotle sauce, to taste
Dried parsley for garnish
1. In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, BBQ sauce, and Montreal seasoning. Mix until well incorporated.
2. Take the meat mixture and pat it down onto the center of the soft tortilla until it sticks. Leave an edge all around the tortilla.
3. Preheat a skillet over medium-high heat and add cooking oil. Carefully place the tortilla in the skillet, meat side down and allow the meat to cook and form a crispy crust, about 3-4 minutes.
4. Flip the tortilla carefully, ensuring the meat remains attached. Fry with the tortilla side down until it‘s warm and slightly crispy, about 2 minutes.
5. Remove from the skillet and place on a plate.
6. To assemble: On the meat side of the tortilla, add shredded iceberg lettuce with a generous spoonful of pico de gallo ontop. Add slices of pickled jalapeño, and drizzle with spicy chipotle sauce.
7. Garnish with dried parsley.
Sheva Bruches in Courts of Amshinov and Aleksander
Pasta Bolognese
Get into comfort mode with this easy pasta Bolognese. This recipe is perfect for those busy nights when you’re still getting back into the swing of things, and it’s a meal both kids and adults will enjoy. It’s simple, hearty, and always a hit.
Ingredients:
1 Onion, finely chopped
1 lb. Ground beef
Salt, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
1 tsp Garlic powder
1 tsp Paprika
½ tsp Chili flakes
(adjust based on heat preference)
¼ tsp Turmeric
1 tsp Oregano
2 tbls BBQ sauce
½ cup red wine
1 jar Marinara sauce
Water, as needed
1 package of Pasta
Instructions:
Yield: 4 servings
1. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat, sauté the finely chopped onion until translucent and soft.
2. Add the ground beef to the onions and break it apart. Cook until browned.
Season the beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, chili flakes, turmeric, and oregano. Stir well to ensure that the seasoning is evenly distributed.
3. Pour in the BBQ sauce and red wine. Stir, letting the mixture simmer for about 2 minutes so that the alcohol evaporates slightly.
4. Add the marinara sauce. Stir to combine all ingredients. If the sauce is too thick, add water to achieve the desired consistency. Reduce the heat to low and let the Bolognese sauce simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. The longer the mixture simmers, the richer the flavor will become.
5. While the meat is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to the package instructions or until al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and set aside.
6. Add the cooked pasta to the Bolognese sauce and stir to combine. Alternatively, serve the sauce over the pasta.
7. Plate the pasta Bolognese. Garnish with parsley. Serve hot.
CLASSIFIEDS
Real Estate
Offices for Rent
2 Rooms With Closets, $500/Month Each Oak & Vine / Edgecomb Tel 917-246-7793
Warehouse For SALE OR LEASE
675 Prospect ST. Trenton NJ
25,000 sf Single Floor Building Clearance 14’ -24’
3 Acre land Asking $2,800,000 Financing available. Call/text (917) 468-5040 Office@davcony.com
Business Opportunity
Quality Bookshelves, 38 years in the business, very low rent, Lakewood South - Tel 718.974.0505
Job Opportunity
Attention women!
Create a successful retail business from the comfort of your home! Help others while earning an income. Full training and support. No risk
Lve msg or txt 845-5792069
Executive Assistant/Travel Agent
Join our luxury travel team! If your passionate about travel and detail-oriented this is for you. Travel industry experience is a plus. Office experience
a must. Reach out for more details. WhatsApp 718.414.7036 / Email sales@jettatravels.com
Looking for a Certified Electrologist to work part time. Well paid. Pls text (718) 637-1259
Come work for an exciting children’s brand
Two F/T positions available - Looking for motivated and detail-oriented team players. Will train.
1. AP, AR, Bank Recs, Shipping, Invoicing etc. – knowledge of Quickbooks and Microsoft Office.
2. Customer support / Accts Executive whatsapp/text 917-7717425, jobgflakewood@ gmail.com or call 732905-4980 ext 102
Merchandise For Sale
Beds for Sale:
Selling 2 x 48” beds - very good condition - comfortable mattresses including covers - $785 for everything - Please call 917-635-1169 (No text)
OLIVIA JEWELRY RENTAL
Gorgeous selection of fine costume jewelery for your simcha or special occasion. $25 for the first piece and $15 for each additional piece. Located in prospect square 35 lewin ave. Contact 773-5039132
Weight loss products: Amazing weight loss
product will help you look good and feel good! The results speak for itself, safe and healthy. Call Esty Meyer 732-806-0895.
Grey velvet look (microfiber) washable couch. less than a year old. Great condition. selling for $1200 paid $2k. pls txt 347-790-7185
Almost new moonwalk for sale
Paid $470 selling for $375 or b/o. 732.966.2806
Selling Schwinn exercise bike in excellent condition, ($850 value) Solid frame, Has 99 resistance levels, Displays calories, distance and speed, has extra comfortable seat, the seat and handlebars are height adjustable, selling for $425 If interested or for more details please call or text
347-486-2240
Selling brand new china!!! Service for 8 + (Still in the box) $400. includes main ,salad & entree plates, Soup, dessert bowls. Lorren home trends by Lorenzo C/T 848-223-1904
Korg keyboard for sale: Korg pa-900 (preloaded with jewish beats) with the following accessories: soft keyboard case, z-style keyboard stand, samson rs115bt speaker, pyle pro speaker, 1 speaker stand, 2 4-ft LED lights selling $1,835 OBO
call 508-292-8589
SELLING STUNNING IVORY GIRLS GOWNS
Matching size 10 and size 2 (size 2 is short)
Call/text 646-484-0648
Selling “BRAND NEW” fabric seat replacement for Bugaboo Bee 6 color GREY, 917-609-3507
Gorgeous dress, Exquisite Gowns worn once size 4/6 - color pink/ cream w/black embroidery. 917-609-3507
Selling $700 gift card to Abecasis Jewelers for $650.call/ text 848.986.6966.
Full set of Frankel Rambam with mafteach never used -older edition
For sale $275.00, Text to: 848.223.2481
2 brand new Honeywell 18 inch dishwashers, scratch and dent sold on Amazon for about $400 Selling for $175 each Call only 872 223 1831
For sale Cole Haan zero grand shoes size 11 $95 call only 732-228-2103
For sale 500 gift card to Fino custom, call only 732-228-2103
Chicks for sale
$5 each, 848-222-9148
Sell & Consign your Evening & Simcha-Wear with us:
Local Boutique Now accepting high quality, new/lightly worn women and teens simcha-wear for bar mitzvas, family
CLASSIFIEDS
simchas, vorts, sheva brachos etc.
Items must be fully cleaned and laundered to sell also accepting high quality dressy maternity Aleeza’s Boutique: 848-243-0927
Summer/ Camp Essential : Natural toothpaste (Fluoride free), deodorant (aluminum free), shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, aloe gelly for burns , and more. Please call: 732-806-1324
Pidyon haben silver dollar coins 30 $ 5 for 145 call text 347-790-7967
Van/Car For Sale
2016 Toyota camry silver se model.
94k- well maintained asking $14.3 Call/text (848)525-6633
Services
Female Lifeguard Available
One time or steady. Many years of experience, call or text 732-961-0395
Music Lessons
Professional Music Lessons by Mr Wertzberger now for just $10 per week, limited time special. Tel: 718-435-1923
ez ride transport: Airports, nyc, upstate. Luxury suv.
Reasonable prices. Call/text 848-251-4736
DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY!
Get a 20-30% discount on your electric bill! 100% FREE and easy to sign up! text 845-600-0430
Lost and Found
Found
Pocket size hardcover Tehillim in Canterbury Park Rosh Hashana time. Call: 732-370-4602
Found
Gave a hitch & someone lost ear pods in our car, please call 347-683-8181
Found
Borrowed Umbrella Sunday June 23 Across From Bais Aharon 718-8534297, 929-253-0960
Library
Book library-adult & children’s book library. Over 1,000 books. Located near Segull Square plaza. Call /text(848) 525-5909.
Gemachs
New tznius hospital gowns in Oak and Vine. Please call: 347-4862994 or 347-633-6329
Vort Dress Gemach
If you have a perfect condition Simcha dress that you would like others to benefit from, please call/ text (848) 245-2633.
The Pickup Gmach-Picking up your current last season’s kids clothing in good condition and passing it on to local Lakewood families who appreciate it and wear it right. We keep outfits and matching together as sets. For pickups email pickupgmach@gmail. com
Deja New Clothing Home Pickups. We pickup your excellent clothing so others can enjoy them too! Text ‘pickup’ to 732702-3352.
Zichron Naftali jewish dvd gemach for challenging times. Men/ women/kid dvds -2week, provide dvd player. 917628-1785
Beautiful current style and current season children, teen, infant dresses avail for a Simcha, such as brothers bar mitzvah or cousins wedding... Call\text 7326911666 to inquire Lzchus r’s refael Moshe Chaim ben chana
Huge buckets of lego and duplo for your shabbos simcha. Call 732 370-2572 to reserve
New tznius hospital gown gemach in Oak and Vine. At no cost. Please call: 347-4862994 or 347-633-6329
Speaker System for Small Events (with mic) 7320-510-3917 call/text Jackson, Bates Area
Gemach Zichron Feige Stunning childrens gowns- matching collection from sizes 9 months untill size 18
for appt call 908-4610058
If you have up-to-date, beautiful childrens gowns in all sizes you’d like to donate to our gemach please call 908-461-0058
Gemach zichron Gittel ladies gown gemach. Beautiful gowns size 0-20 (732) 908-8263
Simcha Toy Gemach Keep children busy, happy so the adults can enjoy the Simcha! Borrow toys for yourSimcha, Phone:732-730-9127 (notext)
Email:GemachNefeshChaya@gmail.com
Free Giveaway
Brand new bumper for a Toyota Camry 20022004, no fog lights please text 908-9438537
Misc.
Many of those killed on Simchas Torah and during the current war may not have ppl to learn Mishnayos/say Kaddish for them. Please learn a perek/mesechta Leili Nishmas text 201241-2875
