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VOL. 15 NO. 1

2 TISHREI 5775

‫פרשת האזינו‬

‫שנה טובה ומתוקה‬

SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

FROM THE EDITOR

See Pages 6B & 17

BY LARRY GORDON

A Sweet, Safe New Year Three days of no cell phones and no automobiles for strictly observant Jews in these parts is a change of pace that has local police and other security agencies paying close attention to our communities. The concern is about security over the

Practicing shofar in Meah Shearim See Page 72

No Child Left Behind

Continued on Page 6

HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE

BY RABBI YAIR HOFFMAN See Page 22

Flash90

BY LARRY GORDON

Halachic Musings

They are the true heroes behind our yeshivos and day schools. They work 50, 60, or even 80 hours a week to ensure that the teachers, rabbis, and staff get paid. They are the yeshiva administrators, whose job it is to seek philanthropists Continued on Page 14

Tommy Harpaz

220 YEARS IN COLD CUTS

What you see is what you get: “A Health Ministry official didn’t believe that our only raw material is meat,” says Marcel Hess, award-winning fourth-generation salami maker. See story at right.

September 24 – 6:30 PM September 25 – 7:33 PM* September 26 – 6:27 PM * or later See Luach, Page 12

Features Index, See Page 8

Taking Stock There are more than a few things going on that need to be addressed as 5774 dissolves into history and we look to the coming year. In no particular priority, let it first be known that this week marks the 15th anniversary of the Five Towns Jewish Times.

That’s a lot of newspapers, a great deal of hard work, and

a lot of words squeezed out onto this computer screen staring back at me.

Believe it or not, one of the obstacles to starting this newspaper at least a year earlier than that was my comfort level with being able to work effectively on a computer. At

THE SALAMI’S ROAR

THE BACHELOR

BY TAL MILLER Sometimes, a moment before he falls asleep, Marcel Hess sees a new type of salami before his eyes. The beginning is not necessarily sensational.

Entrecote, for example . . . but then, inside his head, the meat is matched up with the group of seasonings that has yet to

Generally speaking, the path to teshuvah is a relatively easy one; if one really and truly wants to repent, Hashem will surely help him. However, sometimes it is not so easy.

This is the story of someone’s difficult return . . .

Any reference to the year 1935 immediately arouses my interest. I was born in that

Continued on Page 24

Continued on Page 89

Continued on Page 20

BY IRWIN BENJAMIN

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FROM THE EDITOR Continued from Front Cover yamim tovim, specifically during these upcoming two days of Rosh Hashanah followed immediately by Shabbos. That’s three days of shul and an increased presence on the streets of this and many other similar communities.

At a meeting for community leaders held at Lawrence Village Hall last Friday, Mayor Martin Oliner opened by saying, “We live in troubled times” and that he is plainly concerned about our safety, particularly over the next few weeks. Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice was present, as was interim Police Chief Thomas Krumpter, to discuss steps being taken to keep the community safe during these trying times when terror threats seem to be on the rise.

Both agreed that law enforcement cannot do the job alone. “The people are the first line of defense,” the commissioner said, reiterating the wellknown campaign to keep citizens safe, saying, “Be suspicious of anything left unattended,” and, “If you see something, say something.”

Legislator Howard Kopel conferring with Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder at the recent safety meeting in Lawrence. Behind them are DA Kathleen Rice and Avi Fertig.

DA Rice said that her office has been vigilant on the matter of hate crimes and has been working closely with the JCRC on Long Island, which has increased the rewards for information

about those seeking to perpetrate hate crimes.

Commissioner Krumpter said that rabbis and Jewish leaders need to urge their congregants not to be compla-

cent. He also said he is more concerned about the possibility of a terror attack in this country at this time than at any time in the last decade. The commissioner assured those assembled— and through them, the community at large—that this year there would be unprecedented security measures. He listed some of the steps being taken, but not all the details can be published.

In addition to increased patrols, there will be a significant increase in the number of unmarked cars and plainclothes police officers in the area over the holidays.

The Nassau County Police Department is working hand-in-hand with the New York City Police Department, the NYPD Intelligence Division, the Department of Homeland Security, and the FBI’s Joint Terror Task Force, as well as Nassau County’s own 100-person Special Investigation Unit. One of the local officials present asked about the stationing of a police officer at every shul but was told that the department simply does not have the personnel to provide that kind of service. Nassau County has the twelfth-largest police force in the U.S., with 2,200 officers. New York City currently has 35,000 police personnel, followed by Chicago with 12,000 and Los Angeles with 10,000.

At one point, a discussion ensued about how Europe is handling the threat of terror at synagogues and other Jewish institutions there. One meeting participant said that every shul in Europe either has a police officer or a member of the military present outside. It was suggested that if there are not enough police personnel in the county, we should contact the governor’s office about assigning National Guardsmen to our streets over the holidays. The consensus was that such a measure is not called for at this time.

Others countered that we do not want to wait for something drastic to happen in order to take these additional security steps.

Several other interesting issues were discussed privately amongst those present at the meeting. For example, the police urge residents who think they see something suspicious to call either 911 or a special police number that will be answered 24 hours a day by a Nassau County police detective—516-573-7720.

The matter raised internally, especially in the Orthodox community, is that we do not carry our cell phones on yom tov or Shabbos and are prohibited from using any kind of phone or electrical device unless there is a life-threatening or medical emergency.

On this issue, one of the meeting attendees turned to one of the rabbis present and said the rabbinical leaders had to issue a decision on the use of phones in non-medical matters, to clarify what is permitted and what is not.

The discussion involved whether there should be people—other than doctors who usually carry cell phones—designated to have a phone at the ready in case of an emergency. This is a matter on which it is doubtful that the rabbis will be able to reach a halachic consensus by the time yom tov arrives. There is little hesitancy to use phones when it involves a medical situation concern-

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6A

6B

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FEATURES Aliyah Chronicle 84

Shmuel Katz

Business Halacha R’ Meir Orlian

63

Classified Ads A Clever Title Goes Here

96

Mordechai Schmutter

34

Community News 78 106B

Around The Five Towns Around The World

Daf Yomi Insights 106

R’ Avrohom Sebrow

Dating Forum 57

Baila Sebrow

Deficit of Attention 33

Doni Joszef, LMSW

Insights on the Torah Five Towns Marriage Initiative R’ Jonathan Sacks R’ Yossy Goldman

Letters to the Editor Luach/Calendar Machberes R’ Gershon Tannenbaum

45 52 56 105 12 40

MindBiz Esther Mann, LCSW

48

News from the Hills Chanita Teitz

68

Puzzle Yoni Glatt

36, 46

Real Estate Anessa V. Cohen

32

Slice of Life Eileen Goltz

58

Sports Center Judah Rhine

82

That’s The Way It Is! Hannah Reich Berman

30

Travel Section

60

Look for the next issue of the 5TJT on newsstands Thursday, October 2

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FROM THE EDITOR Continued from Page 6

P.O. BOX 690 • LAWRENCE, NY 11559 editor@5TJT.com ads@5TJT.com 516-569-0502 LARRY GORDON Publisher/Editor

ESTA J. GORDON Managing Editor

YOSSY GORDON • YOCHANAN GORDON • DOVI GORDON Sales Managers CHANA ROCHEL ROSS Assistant Editor SIDI BARON • DAVID FOX • YAAKOV SERLE Sales Representatives SHMUEL GERBER Chief Copy Editor

MICHELE JUSTIC • RACHELI GLASS Copy Editors

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Hannah Reich Berman • Anessa V. Cohen Rabbi Yitzchok D. Frankel • Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg Yoni Glatt • Rabbi Yossy Goldman • Toby Klein Greenwald Rabbi Yair Hoffman • Ron Jager • Doni Joszef Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky • Shmuel Katz Rabbi Mordechai Kruger • Phyllis J. Lubin • Esther Mann Rochelle M. Miller • Rabbi Meir Orlian • Elke Probkevitz Mordechai Schmutter • Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow Baila Sebrow • David J. Seidemann • Samuel Sokol Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum • Chanita Teitz ELISHEVA ELEFANT Graphic Artist

IVAN NORMAN • IRA THOMAS Photographers

ing one person; in this case, in this day and age, the matter to be considered entails scores of people potentially in danger.

Surprisingly, the one thing not suggested or recommended was for individual shuls to hire private security per-

personnel work in some instances with teams of shul members who are really the only ones who have the best sense of who belongs in the shul and who is a stranger that might not belong there.

Today, the overall state of affairs requires that, more than anything else, we come to grips with the reality of a situation that has drastically changed, not only over the last year, but over

Commissioner Krumpter said there would be unprecedented security measures being taken. sonnel to monitor nearby activity over the next few days. Several larger shuls in town have private security in the form of off-duty Nassau County or New York City police officers, not just on special holidays but on every Shabbos and yom tov of the year. These security

the last few months. Police in Nassau County and New York City are convinced that there is a greater chance of some kind of terror attack taking place at this point than at any other time since 9/11. Police intelligence sources tell us that at this time there

are no credible threats of anything of this nature taking place. What they fear more is a “lone wolf” type of incident, committed by a person who is not necessarily affiliated with a known terror group but is just crazy enough to pull off one of these stunts on his own. It is precisely this type of situation that requires all citizens to be vigilant and on alert. Police emphasize that while it is human nature to think that what you see is not worth reporting to authorities, if you witness a suspicious matter or an individual who looks like he or she might not belong, do not hesitate to report it.

Rest assured that the police are out there even if you don’t see them. They are in unmarked cars and on the streets in plainclothes. They understand well, at every level, that the job at hand is to provide protection, and they are working diligently to make that a reality.

Here is to a good, sweet, and safe New Year for all.

Comments for Larry Gordon are welcome at editor@5tjt.com.

Design by DESIGN2PRO.COM Design & Production MICHAEL KUROV – Art Director 5TJT.com site by DAVID HAIRONSON of NDH Web Design © 2014 by the Five Towns Jewish Times The Five Towns Jewish Times is an independent weekly newspaper. Opinions expressed by other writers in these pages are not necessarily those of the publisher.

The 5TJT is not responsible for the kashrus of any advertised or featured product or establishment.

All submissions become the property of the 5TJT and may be edited for publication. Pictures may be modified (such as by cropping or filling) at our discretion to conform to standards of modesty in dress.

READ THIS WEEK’S ISSUE ONLINE AT 5TJT.COM!

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CALENDAR

LUACH September July24–September 1–July 9 28 ZIP Code: 11516 29 Elul – Erev Yom Tov Wednesday, September 24 Erev Rosh Hashanah Candle Lighting

6:30 pm

1 Tishrei – Yom Tov Thursday, September 25 1st day Rosh Hashanah Candle Lighting

7:33 pm (or later)

2 Tishrei – Yom Tov Friday, September 26 2nd day Rosh Hashanah Daf yomi: Chagigah 18 Earliest tallis:

5:53 am

Sunrise:

6:47 am

Latest Shema: M. Av.

9:10 am

Gr’a

9:46 am

P’lag ha’minchah:

5:30 pm

Candle Lighting

6:27 pm

3 Tishrei – Shabbos Saturday, September 27 Parashas Haazinu Shabbos Shuvah Shabbos ends**: 7:30 pm 72 min.

8:01 pm

4 Tishrei – Ta’anis Sunday, September 28 Tzom Gedalyah (postponed) Dawn: 5:27 am Fast ends 7:16 pm / 7:23 pm * All times from MyZmanim.com ** includes 5 minutes for tosefes Shabbos

Look for the next issue of the 5TJT on newsstands Thursday, October 2

Catch up on the latest breaking news at www.5TJT.com 12

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HALACHIC MUSINGS Continued from Front Cover to pay for student scholarships, to keep down expenses, and to nudge parents for tuition.

Theirs is a thankless task. It is hard work, both in terms of the nature of the job and in terms of the impact on their social lives. At times they must refuse employees’ requests for raises.

At other times they have to be tough on parents who have fallen severely behind on tuition.

But may they avail themselves of the ultimate weapon? Can they actually bar entry? Can they wield and act upon the threat of “No tuition, no readmission”?

Case In Point Two brothers were in two of our local schools. The father told the yeshiva of the older boy that he needed a major reduction in tuition or he would be pulling the boy out.

The yeshiva told him, “Sorry, we don’t do that.” The boy was yanked out and placed in public school.

That boy’s younger sibling was in another institution. That school understood the family’s precarious finances and the administrators were as accommodating as can be.

The final outcome? The older boy married a gentile. The younger sibling studied in Eretz Yisrael and now, after returning to the United States, teaches in a yeshiva. Hundreds of our local students have been inspired by the latter, and it all could have turned out differently, just by virtue of the tuition policy of an executive director.

This is a true story that has unfolded recently.

Halachic Sources The Gemara in Sanhedrin (91a) states, “Whoever denies halachah from the mouth of a student, it is as if he has robbed him of the inheritance of his fathers, as it states, ‘morashah kehillas Yaakov’—it is an inheritance of the Congregation of Jacob.” The Gemara further writes that even the fetuses in the wombs of their mothers curse such a person who denies people their Jewish heritage.

The Maharal, comparing the Torah to a bride, writes in his Drush Al HaTorah (p. 109) that the Torah is engaged not just to select individuals within the nation of Israel, but to all of Israel equally. Thus, denying the poor the chance to learn Torah is tantamount to the greatest of sins. Indeed, the Maharal further explains that the Torah belongs more to the poor than to the wealthy, as the Gemara in Nedarim says (81a), “Take heed of the poor, because through them will come Torah.” His explanation is that the Torah was given in a wilderness with no worldly materials—the equivalent of an atmosphere of complete indigence.

Rav Meir Shapira, zt’l, the founder of the daf yomi, gave a different explanation of the Gemara in Nedarim regarding taking heed of the poor. He explained that it is because the parents, who paid even a minimal tui-

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HALACHIC MUSINGS Continued from Page 14 tion, paid whatever they could with dearly earned money. They gave up their hard-earned funds with mesirus nefesh, immense dedication, in order that their children should be able to learn Torah. It is impossible for such mesirus nefesh to yield anything but Torah.

The Ruling In Shulchan Aruch The Rema in Choshen Mishpat (163:3) rules that in a city where there is a melamed tinokos, a rebbe for children, and the father or fathers cannot afford to pay, the obliga-

tion rests upon the community to collect funds based upon the wealth of each individual. He rules likewise in regard to the hiring of a chazzan, referencing the Shulchan Aruch’s chapter in Orech Chaim (53:23). This ruling of the Rema is based upon a Rabbeinu Yerucham (Nesiv 29 Vol. III).

Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, zt’l, ruled that this Rema, which formed the basis of the cheder payment system in Europe for many centuries throughout the European exile, still applies in today’s age with the modern yeshiva system (see Mechitzas Rabbeinu, p. 106). If, however, the father is wealthy enough that

he can adequately pay, then the yeshiva may refuse the child entry until the father does so. Otherwise, however, it may not do so.

Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein in Shailos U’Teshuvos b’Hilchos Chinuch (responsum #61) rules that it is absolutely forbidden for a yeshiva to actually refuse admission to a child based upon nonpayment. Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky ruled the same way (see footnote 106 in Emes L’Yaakov to Y.D. 245:4).

May A Yeshiva Threaten?

In recent years, a system has evolved to ensure that parents settle previous obligations before they can reg-

ister their child for classes.

This system is based on an admission card—without which one cannot receive a schedule, be placed on the attendance sheets, or receive books and materials. It is said from Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky, zt’l, that one may threaten not to admit, but actually carrying out the threat is not permitted.

What happens if a parent receives such a letter, does not get an admission card, and actually does not register his child as a result? Poskim have ruled that there is an obligation upon the school to follow up with the parent and ensure that things can be worked out. It is forbidden to

issue such a threat without ensuring that everyone who received such a letter is contacted.

But what is a school to do when faced with no payments? Most philanthropists are tapped out already on more exotic tzedakos rather than the local yeshiva. Some communities have worked out a special scholarship fund that each school can go to when the parent has no funds to pay. This is the situation in Chicago, for example.

Other communities have not had such innovative developments. As a result, many Jews are lost to their people.

Indeed, in our times, the situation might be significantly worse than the case of the Rema in Choshen Mishpat. Within the great melting pot that is America, it is highly likely that attending a public school will directly lead to shedding one’s Jewish identity—no matter how strongly affiliated the family is at home. Poskim have ruled that such a move could directly lead to abandonment of Shabbos, kashrus, and all of Judaism. As in the local case cited above, it can also lead to intermarriage. It is thus, by far, a greater obligation than that which was discussed in the Shulchan Aruch.

By virtue of this latter ruling, the halachos of denying a yeshiva education apply to both boys and girls.

Within recent weeks, this author became aware of fifteen such cases of children who were in yeshivos last year. Four are within our community, and eleven in a community nearby. Clearly, we need to follow the Chicago model.

The situation has entered into a crisis mode. There are children in our communities who are now in public schools by reason of financial hardship of the parents.

In out-of-town communities, too, the crisis is reaching epic proportions.

The Rema in Choshen Mishpat continues that even those who no longer need the particular resources of the community must still be forced to contribute. The Rema further indicates at the end of paragraph three that those who are older and have no need for a wedding hall or mikveh must still contribute. We need individuals to step forward in the yeshivos and schools with which they are affiliated and form just such a scholarship fund. We need our own “No Child Left Behind” program.

The author can be reached at Yairhoffman2@gmail.com.

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BAGEL STORE Continued from Front Cover the time, I wrote an editorial introducing the concept of a newspaper emanating from the sovereign Five Towns and, from time to time, when I had a chance, I would review the idea and debate internally whether or not this was possible. The essay remained dormant inside the mechanical circuitry of my computer’s hard drive until one day I just decided not only that it had to be done, but that I had to do it.

At the time, I was not the only one in transition; the entire Five Towns was experiencing a metamorphosis

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that has made this Diaspora community what it is today.

We were becoming a metropolis, not just another suburban community subservient to the five boroughs of New York City. Frankly, if we are indeed taking stock, I would have to estimate that it was a combination of three things that moved me in the direction of creating this media entity.

The first was the fact that my father, who came from Russia to this country as a teenager, had an inexplicable talent to lay words down on paper, which, in those decades lacking in sophisticated electronic communica-

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

tions, made an extraordinary impression on a flourishing generation of Orthodox Jews.

The second thing was the delivery every morning, without fail, of the New

of that size and could not get enough time alone with it.

We still have the Times delivered to our home every day, even though I rarely read it. I peruse certain key Times col-

murders all her children, or a car drives off a cliff, and so on down the line. Knowing what is going on in our world is important, but then when I hear the same stories being

This year, we did not seem like much of a bright light unto the nations—a dim bulb was more like it.

York Times to our Brooklyn home. I recall being so impressed with the consistent output of a daily paper

umns on my iPad in the early hours of the morning, usually long before the delivery guy’s muffler-challenged car speeds down our block, those tightly wrapped blue bags tossed from its passenger window. Sometimes, as the unwrapped papers pile up, my wife asks why we are still getting the Times. My response is usually an astute and glib “I don’t know,” which, by the way, is a blanket response to an assortment of queries. Perhaps it is just a “z’chirah,” a tribute to what once was. Or maybe it’s just that online access to the Times is free with daily delivery.

The third thing that moved me in this direction may have been the fact that those old Superman episodes I used to watch when I came home from yeshiva on most days, before doing my homework, revolved around the Daily Planet newspaper that seemed to be published without too much effort. That seemed like a cool thing to do someday.

So let’s look back at the last year—more or less—in review. For some reason, and perhaps things have always been this way, it seems that humanity exists from one piece of bad or shocking news to the next. And our collective thirst for stories along these lines seems unquenchable. Listening at times to radio news in my car or late at night, I sometimes ask myself why I subject myself to this assault on my senses of nonstop depressing news.

In one moment someone drowns going for a swim in the Rockaways late at night, then a woman somewhere

retold every 10 or 12 minutes, I cannot help wondering whether one can indeed form an addiction to these bad-news tidbits.

Here in New York as well as in Israel, the fact that we might be our own worst enemies may have been more pronounced than it has been in a long time. Without resorting to the tactics of those above-mentioned media outlets offering titillating news, let’s just say that there was a lot of disappointing news. There is infighting among Jewish leaders, rabbis driven from their pulpits, extraordinary financial and other misdeeds, divorces, purported violence, arrests, and on it goes. This year, more than in quite a while, we did not seem to be setting a great example communally or serving as a bright light unto the nations—a dim bulb was more like it.

Then there was the summertime Gaza war, the deaths of young soldiers and injuries to many other soldiers and citizens. But there was also the miracle of the “Kipat Barzel”—the Iron Dome that quickly became incorporated into the daily vernacular and developed into an expected everyday miracle. That the vicious, cold-blooded killers of Hamas fired almost 4,000 rockets and missiles into all areas of Israel without causing hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries is a miracle that we may take seemingly in stride only because it so profoundly defies our comprehension.

Another story that keeps on developing and may become

Continued on Page 22

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BAGEL STORE Continued from Page 20 even more dramatic in the near future is what I like to consider the ten plagues being visited upon Barack Obama. The story, as you well know, begins with an extreme leftist and socially liberal president determined to change the fabric and fundamental underpinnings and priorities of America. Whether it’s government involvement in industry, domination of health care, or the growing rolls of those on public assistance, Mr. Obama, from the outset, was determined to bring our troops home from what he considered unnecessary wars and focus on the internal matters of the United States.

That was indeed his goal, but with one foreign-policy obsession. And that was and still might be (we will see) coaxing Israel into withdrawing from Judea and Samaria as well as East Jerusalem and creating another Arab state in Israel’s heartland.

That this policy, attitude, or approach does not jibe with nation-building at home did not seem irreconcilable to the president.

The president has had a tension-filled and contentious relationship with Israel’s prime minister from the start of his administration.

Amongst the low points—and there were many this year— was this past summer’s war, as Israel sought to protect its citizens from the killers in Gaza. The president’s desire that there be “some daylight” between the U.S. and Israel, which was never meant to help America as much as it was to upset Israel, seems to be part of many of his policies.

As missiles and rockets were steadily being fired at Israel, she sought to defend herself by utilizing the Israeli Air Force to a cautious but effective degree. Unfortunately, there were civilian casualties in Gaza, not unlike those inflicted by American forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, or Pakistan in the hunt to defeat al-Qaeda and now ISIS. All that President Obama, Secretary Kerry, and the State Department could do was warn Israel to be more vigilant about not harming so-called innocent civilians in Gaza. When asked what the U.S. wanted Israel to do, Press Secretary Josh Earnest would only say, “Israel should do more.”

Perhaps as a result—not a direct or even discernible result—of his often hard and difficult positions when

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it comes to Israel, Mr. Obama, if one can trace these things in any logical manner, seems to be dealing with failure and disappointment wherever he turns. There was the shabby Obamacare rollout, the tragic fiasco in Benghazi, the ongoing IRS scandal, the VA hospital difficulties, the retreat from the warning to Syria on chemical weapons, the rough economy, consistent mistruths, constant deception, and the promise that there would be no boots on the ground in Iraq just as those boots are setting down on Iraqi soil. Every time one of these disgraces occurs, it seems that the Obama response is to harden his heart.

As 5775 arrives, the Jewish world has a plethora of issues to deal with. There is the failure of the talks with the Palestinians, the Iranian nuclear threat, anti-Semitism in Europe, Israel–Turkey relations, the BDS movement, anti-Israel activity on American campuses, the plight of Jews in Ukraine, and so on.

At the same time that we are faced with these crises, there are also a number of positive developments to be grateful for. Amongst those is Israel’s cooperative relationship with Egypt, aligned against jihadist Muslims along with Jordan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, and other Arab countries. These are odd and once unimaginable twists and turns in the ever-changing lives of Jews and Israel.

Israel’s economy is booming, and despite the derailment of tourism this summer, the industry is once again picking up and expected to thrive over the coming chagim. The past summer was so worrisome, with each day filled with concern about how Israel would navigate its way through extraordinary difficulties.

As we move into an American election season, we really do not know where this will all go. But as I am sitting here, wondering how to conclude this essay, my phone rings. It’s my buddy Steve Litton from Sukkah Builders, who wants to know when would be a good time for him to put up my sukkah for the chag. I ask, “You mean the sukkah that we put up outside our home to remind us that whatever we do and wherever we go we are recipients of Divine protection from above?”

“What?” he asks at first, probably wondering what I’m talking about.

“Yeah, that one,” he responds. “Anytime you want to put that sukkah up is fine with me,” I say. We set a date for right after Yom Kippur.

Comments for Larry Gordon are welcome at editor@5tjt.com.

Remember that article?

Visit our archive section and find any issue of the 5 Towns Jewish Times online @ www.5TJT.com 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

September 26, 2014

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Continued from Front Cover encounter entrecote in this cumulative state, and Hess knows that he has cracked it.

He takes his sharpened pencil waiting beside the bed especially for these moments of inspiration, and he writes.

The next day, at his plant, he begins work. Sometimes it takes months until the salami enters the world, but Hess is a patient man. One needs patience for art, and as far as he is concerned, this is what he does: art.

“It suddenly hits me,” says Hess, 63; “I start to fall asleep, and then a thought suddenly pops up: What if I take veal and add cognac and pistachio nuts to it? That is how chicken liver pâté was born, which is something extraordinary, simply perfect for a first course with seasonal fruits on the side. You need to understand—this is salami that is much more than salami. It is salami that makes a dream come true.”

He dreams his dreams in bed in Jerusalem and produces them at a small plant in Givat Shaul, and they are ulti-

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mately sold in Hess’s salami and hotdog stores in the city. But the roots of these dreams come from Switzerland, with more than 200 years of family experience in the charcuterie business, from the time that Nathaniel Hess, Marcel’s great-grandfather, produced the first salami in 1795. Marcel himself began working in Switzerland and was also a member of the district parliament there; then he arrived in Israel and became one of the most esteemed and decorated manufacturers here, with medals from a wealth of leading international salami contests.

Tommy Harpaz

SALAMI

79 Shekels For A Slice Of The Soul Marcel Hess treats his salamis with the same respect and sense of mission with which he regarded his position in the Swiss Parliament. This is quite different from the approach that characterizes salami production here, those that are based on skin, bones, soy flour, potato flower, preservatives, and water.

“People think that salami is grounding spices and intestines and putting it all together. They are wrong. You need to

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Marcel and Doron Hess at their plant

respect the meat. It is not respected here. ‘Processed meat’ is printed on everything. It is small print, and a huge catastrophe is behind it. Almost everyone here injects water into meat to increase its weight and the result is that you get a product at a much lower quality and lower net weight. With us, you

will see only meat, with no water and with no supplements.

“When I had just arrived in Israel, someone from the Ministry of Health came to inspect the plant. He went through the meats and spices and then asked to see the room with the raw materials. I told him: ‘You have seen everything; there is nothing more, this meat is the only raw material.’ He didn’t believe me: ‘Where is the soy and potato flour? How do you make salami without that?’ He decided to call the Health Ministry and told the food engineer that Hess did not want to show the raw materials storage area. The engineer knew me, and she tried to explain to him that I have no raw materials. What you see is what you taste, and what you taste is meat, seasoning, and tradition—a tradition that does not include the words ‘soy flour’. Today people are more aware, but not enough; they continue to buy things that are not meat.

They want cheap, and anything goes; they are willing to accept that they’ve injected water into their meat.”

“Cheap” is the key word in the local attitude toward salami. Hess has rejected it from the beginning. Although he has salami that can be bought for 18 shekels per 100 grams, most of it costs much more, up to 79 shekels per 100 grams. It was not easy to get the Israeli gourmet public accustomed to these prices, but Hess successfully built a clientele. “You need to understand,” he says, “this entrecote was five kilos when I bought it. Seventy percent of it evaporates into the air while drying, so that all the water is removed. As is the body of the beast, so is the body of a person: Most of it is made up of water, so I lose money on weight that is lost. Whoever buys it knows that the price is high, but he gets real meat. It doesn’t get more real than that.” And he adds: “I have a sentimental attachment to salami. For me it is a piece of history and tradition, a piece for which I have given my soul.”

Why four months of drying? What is the difference in taste between four months and two months? “After four months, you feel that the taste created for you here is different. And it could not be like that if you were not patient with the salami. When I eat the entrecote salami after four months of aging, if I close my eyes I feel that I am in the mountains of Switzerland. Here are the cows walking along, here are the rocks and boulders. And here is the salami that I sliced from inside the landscape.

It has a taste of childhood. It is the cleanest and purest meat experience that a person can imagine.”

Frankfurt, Basel, Jerusalem Nathaniel Hess was a cattle trader from the village of Bad Zwesten in the Frankfurt area. He began soaking beef leftovers in brine and spices and selling them as salami—kosher salami to boot, the only one in the area. “The Jews would come from Frankfurt, as well as the gentiles. It was a boutique plant and a boutique plant it will remain,” says Marcel Hess.

Not much would have remained of the German Jewish boutique plant during the 20th century if Hermann Hess, Marcel’s father, would not have been elected to direct the Swiss Jewish community and transfer the plant to Berne. The business was almost wiped out in World War II because of regime restrictions on slaughter, but Hermann withstood that. After the war, relates his son, he sold salami very cheaply to Holocaust survivors. “Dad was not a businessman. He was a butcher. If he had an extra penny, he gave it away.”

Marcel was born in 1951, and at age 15 he had already prepared his first salami, from veal. “I started learning the business when I was 12. I took butchering courses that included one day a week at a slaughterhouse, two days a week at the plant as an intern, and two days at school. You learn to take the cow apart, clean the intestines, separate the heart from the liver, detach the bones from the meat, and learn which parts are for cooking and which are for roasting, how to cut steak, how to blend spices . . . but I did my real learning with my dad. I’ll never forget how proud he was of the first tasting. And he knew that it was in the genes. I loved the tradition and creativity. I knew that this is a true mission.”

Hess majored in cooking (among other things, at his mother’s kosher restaurant) and wines, and he studied hotel management at Cornell University in the U.S. Meanwhile, his only brother distanced himself from the field and worked in banking, and in 1974 Marcel took over the family business. “I hate the word ‘businessman,’ but business pressure demanded it of me. It is not enough to be an artist; you need to know how to do accounts.”

In 1979 he began public activity, first as a judge from the workers’ federation in the labor court, and later as a member of the Basel District Parliament from the Democratic-Liberal Party. “I thought that this is an opportunity to make a change both in my life and in others’ lives,” he explains. “One member of parliament died, and they asked me if I’d like to join their list for Parliament. I had to give a quick answer, within 2 hours, and my wife said: ‘Go, I’ll take your place in the business.’” But Hess did not leave the business. In the morning he manufactured and sold, and in the afternoon he attended parliament sessions, returned to the plant in the evening, and over the years he was also in charge of amnesty in the Basel district and served as the chief regulator for management of the private hos-

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SALAMI Continued from Page 25 pitals. “Swiss politics allows you to deal with things that are really close to your heart,” he says. “When everyone has another job, people don’t come to Parliament to look for a job; they come to really contribute from themselves. And yes, it’s clear that in Switzerland, relatively speaking, the problems seem less substantial.”

What did they say in Parliament about your salami?

“I didn’t mix meat and politics. I didn’t try to get business through my contacts or vice versa. There was a clear separation.”

In 1988, with a sense of rising anti-Semitism in Europe, Hess left the Swiss Parliament and arrived in Israel with his wife Susan and children Doron, Dalia, and Chantal. “One time Martin Judi, the Swiss Justice Minister, visited here and met with Ehud Olmert. He asked him: ‘What is Marcel Hess doing in your country?’ Olmert answered, ‘He is a Zionist. Just like that.’ And he was right. I understood this is not our place

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any longer. For Jewish children in Europe, maybe the present is OK, but it is clear that there is no future. The community is shrinking—15 years ago there were 2,000 Jews in Basel; today there are less than 1,000. It is impossible to say that there is no anti-Semitism there, even

water should flow in the right direction, and here this simply doesn’t exist. Beyond that, in Switzerland I had a reputation for generations and here I started from scratch. It took the Israeli consumer time to realize that just as he has whole-wheat bread with nuts

“It was a boutique plant, and a boutique plant it will remain.” if they feel it less. Even if they accept the Jews, they don’t like them, and they surely don’t like their success and the place that Jews occupy on the list of the richest people in the country. In these senses, you will always remain a stranger.”

When they arrived in Israel, they settled in Raanana first, and Hess had to adapt to quite a few things. “I’m a ‘yekke.’

Eight is eight and August 15 is not November 24. Everything should go straight, and the

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and raisins, he also has salami that is not a string of things that are barely innards.”

A turning point was recorded in 2002, after Hess had been the Israeli to win a medal at the Salami Olympics in Austria, and he returned with three gold medals. He was invited for a visit at the President’s Mansion and also started to build himself a political circle of customers that over the years included Abraham Burg, Gideon Saar, and

primarily Ariel Sharon. When part of the transcripts surrounding the Greek Island affair was revealed in the press, it emerged that Apel and Sharon also spoke, among other things, about Hess’s salamis.

He well remembers what the former Prime Minister ate— “mostly Polish and sosiso salami and pressed salami.

Maybe because he liked lamb.”

Teenage Revolt?

‘I Added Hot Spices’ Son, Doron Hess, dreamed of being a veterinarian. He got over it. Today, at 28, he is also into salami. “Dad always told me that I have a choice, that I don’t have to be in the business, but I have that option if I wish. And I was attracted to it at a young age, I wanted to take part. One sister is a fashion designer, and another sister works with me here in sales, and I produce.”

There wasn’t any kind of vegetarian revolt? Or simply a desire never to see salamis ever again in life? “No. If I had had enough of one salami I would switch to another salami for a time. I love it.”

Today, this skinny guy says he eats at least 1.5 kg of meat per day, most of it produced by him. “I eat the first salami at five or six in the morning.

I get up, heat up some water, put the salamis in the water, go back for a shower, get organized, take the salami out, and eat. It’s like that every day.”

Yet, within the boundaries of salami, he rebelled. “I’ve always wanted to produce on my own, but Dad didn’t want me to. He was afraid that we would need to throw large quantities of meat into the garbage. My mom was stubborn and told him that he has to give me one time, and if I make a mistake that is the price of learning. When I was 26, he agreed on condition that I write down on paper the full process of what I was going

to do and he approves it without deviations. I said OK, but it wasn’t exactly like that. One day I took 30 kilos of meat out of the freezer. I decided to do something by myself. I wanted to make salami, but something different, a spicy salami that would suit Israeli tastes.

I started to season, taste, and add more seasoning. Two weeks later, Dad came into the plant and saw a salami that he didn’t recognize in the refrigerator. He got really upset and started screaming. He was sure that we’d now have to throw out everything. He said to me: ‘You’ll destroy our reputation.’

I told him: ‘Dad, we can always throw it out. Let’s try selling it, what do you care?’ Two-anda-half weeks later, everything was sold out. Afterwards he asked me about the recipe.

This salami, Hungarian salami, has been our most successful salami to date.”

“I believe that whoever likes spicy food should season it himself. I don’t like tasting the spices first and then the meat,” the father said, trying to explain his opposition. “But listen, this is a new generation that needs to get its own way, and I don’t mix in.” Marcel is getting used to it. Among other things, he accepted Doron’s desire to close the restaurant that they opened in Jerusalem. “We were the first deli in Jerusalem, and afterwards all kinds of places were opened,” says Doron, “But it didn’t suit us. I love eating salami, love making salami, and love sharing what I make with others.

At a restaurant, you experience that less; there are many other things keeping you busy.”

Doron wants to “open a farm, make salami, and sell it in a big house with guest rooms and a live animal area.

To live as we once did, from what the earth provides.” Marcel would like to feed “King

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that’s the WAY IT IS

By Hannah Reich Berman

It’s All About The Spot There is no mystery about gym membership. Everyone knows that people join gyms to get healthy and to feel good. Health care providers say that it helps prevent and treat conditions such as arthritis, insomnia, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, hypertension, and even cancer. Could anything be better than that? And, if that isn’t enough of an incentive, in addition to the medical benefits, people feel good mentally

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and emotionally after exercise. No wonder there are so many gym rats around!

However, as with everything in life, there is a downside here. Despite the fact that exercise is said to lower blood pressure, going to the gym has been known to do the exact opposite—it can raise one’s blood pressure.

There is an unwritten law involved in gym membership, and it relates to what a member thinks of as “her spot.” Most

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of us are creatures of habit, and the gym rat is no exception. She wants to stand in the same spot every time she exercises. Some females are positively obsessed about this. There are those who prefer the right side of the room and others who like to be on the left.

Some gals insist upon being in the front of the room while others are uncomfortable unless they are in the rear. The point here is that nobody ever wants somebody else to take her spot. And Hashem should just be good to anyone who does! More than one disagreement has broken out over this issue. Obviously, one can exercise anywhere in the room, but, to many gym members, that fact is irrelevant.

Going to the gym is not like going to a movie. In a movie theater, if one has a visual problem, it might mean that it is best to sit close to the screen. My personal preference is to sit in the rear, but there are those who take that too far. There are people who sit so far back that they might as well save themselves the price of a ticket and just watch the movie from the lobby. Some moviegoers prefer the center section and eschew the side ones, and others don’t care if they sit on the side just so long as they can get an aisle seat. Aisle seats are a big draw in the movies. But fights don’t often break out in a theater because it is simply a question of first-come, firstserved. It should be like that in a gym.

But it is not. In a movie theater, things don’t often get heated because people want to be in a general area but don’t necessarily insist upon being in a specific row.

Seat choices are also a big thing when attending a school honors ceremony or a graduation. In those situations, it is less about seat choices and more about choice seating! Each kid’s mother wants to be sure that she and every other family member is able to see her child and she wants him to be able to see the family. What is the big deal? The relatives already know what the kid looks like and it should be enough just to know that he is up there getting his award or his diploma.

And regarding what the student sees, that’s also ridiculous since the kid already knows that his family is there and, as anyone who has ever been on a lighted stage knows, it is a near impossibility to see out into the audience.

Yet everyone fights to get a seat in the first row. And nobody ever tries to get just one or two seats. Mothers usually arrive before fathers do and are determined to save seats for two grandmothers, two grandfathers, assorted siblings, and, occasionally, even an aunt or two. The prevailing philosophy seems to be ‘the heck with everyone else, I want ten good seats and I intend to get them.’ This has, on occasion, led to a fight and has been known to result in people not speaking to one another forevermore.

Movie theaters and school auditoriums are not the only places where spots are an issue. Saving a spot or two is a daily activity for those traveling on the LIRR. People like to stand in a specific place on the platform because they know (or they think they know) where the door to the train will be

when the train grinds to a stop. Commuters race inside the train and hunt for the spots they want. It might be a two-seater, a four-seater, or even a five– seater, as it is called by the regulars!

Saving seats for commuter buddies is a big thing. People place briefcases, handbags, newspapers, and anything else that is handy on nearby seats in order to save them for friends in the hope that this will prevent a stranger from sitting down.

As silly as all of this is, it does not compare to how foolish it is to save a spot in the gym, a place where the only important thing is the exercise.

Still, people do just that. And there is a strategy to getting what one wants.

It begins with a race to pick up the gym equipment and then make a mad dash to one’s favorite spot. It’s something like the gym makom kavua. A makom kavua is what some shul members think of as their own designated spot to speak with Hashem. However, it is doubtful that anyone is communing with G-d in the gym! Still, it is all about the spot! And to further complicate matters, as with school graduations and morning train rides, people do not want just their own spot.

They also want to save a few others.

The method for doing that is the same as in a school assembly or on a commuter train, but here a gal uses gym equipment to get the job done. After claiming her own spot by standing in it for a few seconds, she will then put her mat, her ball, and her step in those spots closest to her, thereby marking them as off-limits to anyone but those she has in mind. Unfortunately, should her friends not show up, which has been known to happen, the “saver” will often earn some angry stares and possibly even some enemies. But this does not mean everybody! Some people are ‘cool’, or what we used to call classy. Cool ones don’t fight. The ‘un-cool’ ones will fight for what they want. Arguments might also be about the fans or the air conditioning because some enjoy a bit of a chill when they exercise and others need warmth.

So, while exercise might help with arthritis, insomnia, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and even cancer, it may not do much to lower blood pressure. The stress involved in racing to one’s coveted spot probably negates any possible benefit to blood pressure.

Even if one is ‘cool’ enough to avoid these self-created problems, there may be other issues to deal with. Occasional injuries such as a shoulder separation, a torn meniscus, a stress fracture, or a sprained ankle have been known to occur. Between the occasional argument and any possible injury, it is clear that things can go wrong while trying to get healthy at the gym.

Author’s Confession: I do not belong to a gym. I have never belonged to one and the likelihood is that I never will. But, like most reporters, I have my sources of information. And that is really just the way it is!

Shanah Tovah to you and your families.

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Hannah Berman lives in Woodmere and is a licensed real-estate broker associated with Marjorie Hausman Realty. She can be reached at Savtahannah@aol.com or 516-902-3733.

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real estate & mortgage financing

By Anessa V. Cohen

Rosh Hashanah Back When Each year I look forward to returning to Jerusalem for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Those of you who have been reading my column for a while have come along on my trip as I describe how exciting it is to be there.

I find that there is always something new to talk about that is different than the year before. I guess that is how it should be—new year, new observations!

My husband’s family members are residents of the Old City in Jerusalem since the early 1700s. The stories from the late 1800s and early 1900s that the elders of his family tell of the Old City are fascinating to listen to over and over again.

Life in the Old City for Jews prior to 1948 was very different than anything we are accustomed to. Even food preparations for yom tov began weeks before the chag because of the intricate types of dishes that were prepared.

Back then, people did not have a stovetop to cook on as we know it today—or even as we remember from our childhood. Most people in Old Jerusalem cooked on a p’tilliah—an old kerosene-fed, free-standing, castiron burner about 2 feet high. This burner had a large iron grate in a flat intricate design with many openings for the fire to come through. It doubled as a heat source in the winter.

The p’tilliah could be adjusted somewhat to achieve a low, medium, or high flame. You had to learn the knack of accomplished cooking by using it properly.

The food that was cooked on this p’tilliah tasted better than the same food cooked on a modern stove. I have seen many an accomplished cook in Jerusalem descended from these Old

in their childhood years. I have visited many restaurants that continue cooking their food offerings both on modern stoves and on a p’tilliah in their kitchens.

The p’tilliah took care of cooking that needed to be done on a stovetop. It also served on Shabbat, on low with a plata on top of it, as a place for slow-cooking foods such as cholent (or

I have visited restaurants that continue cooking their food both on modern stoves and on a p’tilliah.

Jerusalem homes who, even today, with all their modern kitchen equipment, continue to cook on these p’tillios. They keep them as an integral part of their kitchen equipment in order to achieve the exact tastes and flavors of those special dishes cooked from back

hamin) and perhaps some other dishes that could be left overnight to stay warm.

There were still those dishes that needed to be made in an oven. Some cooks did not leave their cholent on a p’tilliah but preferred putting their cholent (or hamin) in an oven to cook all night. For these people, it was a luxury to have an oven in their homes, even a makeshift kind of oven box that would have to be placed on the p’tilliah and certainly could not be used on Shabbat or yom tov.

It was a more usual custom in the Old City to utilize a larger oven at the bakery. The baker, a shomer Shabbat man, would leave his bakery oven on for Shabbat and yom tov, and the area residents would bring their pots and dishes with the foods needing to be baked and place them in his communal oven. Then on Shabbat or yom tov, they would remove their items from the communal oven after shul when they were ready to sit for the family meal.

This year we will be joining Haim’s 95-year-old aunt for Rosh Hashanah.

She still makes all the old-time dishes that her mother and grandmother used to prepare in the Old City of Jerusalem.

She still prepares some on the p’tilliah.

Some of the most interesting items she serves are the minim. The custom in Haim’s family—he is Sephardic, descended from Spain—is to prepare the minim into actual creations (my terminology) as opposed to just putting out the individual items to use for the berachot. Meatless forms of meatballs (or ketzitzot) are made from the minim, such as leek meatballs, pumpkin meatballs, spinach meatballs, etc.

A casserole-type dish of “lubya” (black eyed peas) is another example. By the time we finish with the minim, there is hardly any room for the sumptuous dinner that she prepares for us afterwards. But this is an experience I would not miss for anything!

Shanah Tovah and a Happy New Year to all!

Anessa Cohen lives in Cedarhurst and is a licensed real-estate broker and a licensed N.Y.S. mortgage broker with over 20 years of experience, offering full-service residential and commercial real-estate services (Anessa V Cohen Realty) and mortgaging services (First Meridian Mortgage) in the Five Towns and throughout the tri-state area. She can be reached at 516-5695007 or via her website, www.AVCrealty.com.

Readers are encouraged to send questions or comments to anessa.cohen@AVCrealty.com.

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The Modern Marriage

BY DONI JOSZEF Remember the good old days? When families were functional. When children were respectful. When marriages were blissful.

Sorry to burst this bubble, but the “good old days” were probably not as rosy as we like to imagine. Hindsight has a funny tendency to glorify the past and demonize the present.

But be that as it may, modern living bears certain unique challenges. Today’s marriages are struggling with different issues than yesterday’s marriages were forced to face. Here I’d like to explore some of these contemporary casualties which hit the home front at its core.

Role Reversal Progress has emancipated modern woman from her traditional cooking, cleaning, and child-rearing role, transferring her station from the kitchen to the business office. As a result, modern man is on baby duty, dinner duty, and laundry duty a lot more often than he’d be proud to admit. While this arrangement is only fair, it can create some degree of frustration and resentment when husbands are unprepared or unwilling to pitch in where they were

once absolved. Time and patience will help men adapt to their new roles, but the novelty of this transition adds unexpected stress and tension to the mix of modern matrimony.

Hooked On Hollywood Our generation was raised under the influence of Hollywood’s “happily ever after” mantra. As a result, we expect marriage to be a never-ending

and massage come after the workout, not in place of it.

Divorce De-Stigmatized The stigma of divorce is gradually fading, which makes it that much easier to exit the arrangement. Don’t get me wrong—divorce can be a blessing for those who feel cursed. But the systematic de-stigmatization of the “D” word has made a last resort into a quicker escape route. Some marriages are meant to expire, but some are meant to perspire. What was once a commitment

Face-to-face has been replaced with Facebook-to-Facebook. dance of romance and fluff. Intellectually, we may know this to be bogus, but emotionally we still cling to the images impressed upon our consciousness from childhood. Marriage is not a final destination, but the beginning of a journey. When millennials expect marriage to solve their problems instead of challenge them with new ones, the result is always a devastating disappointment. Marriage is not a painkiller or a pacifier; signing up for marriage is like signing up for the gym—the sauna

often struggle to adapt to a life of compromise and self-sacrifice. It’s certainly a rude awakening for the pampered.

to lifelong growth has become more of a tentative test-drive than a long-term investment.

Mr. & Mrs. Entitled As I’ve written numerous times in the past, my generation is a particularly self-centered, self-absorbed, self-serving bunch. We were born and raised under the false impression that the world revolves around us. But marriage requires an entirely opposite attitude. When Mr. Spoiled marries Ms. Brat, the Spoiled Brats

Spouse Tracking We can’t talk about modern maladies without discussing social media and digital technology. When marriages go mobile, the course of constant contact wields a double-edged sword. Spouses are always keeping track of each other, but never engaging with one another.

This turns the relationship into a robotic tab-keeping exchange instead of an intimate bond built on emotional validation and face-to-face communication. As a result, the modern marriage feels more estranged and less engaged.

Eye-to-eye has been replaced with iPhone-to-iPhone. Face-to-face has been replaced with Facebook-to-Facebook.

These are some of the forces that create tension and turbulence for the modern marriage. I’d elaborate more on the matter, but I have a sink full of dishes to wash.

Doni Joszef, winner of the 2014 Cedarhurst “Best in Mental Health” award, works in private practice with individuals, couples, and families. Trained as a cognitive-behavioral therapist, he is completing his Ph.D. in media psychology. Doni presents innovative workshops at schools and organizations on a variety of psychosocial topics. For more information, visit DoniJoszef.com or e-mail DJoszef@Gmail.com.

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The Ark Is Opened

BY MORDECHAI SCHMUTTER For the past 15 years or so, I’ve been davening on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at a vasikin minyan, which is my teshuvah for what time I wake up for Shacharis the rest of the year.

I also happen to be the gabbai pesichos at this minyan. The rav, who is also the chazzan, chose me the very first year because he was looking for someone to do it (he couldn’t very well be the rav, the chazzan, and the gabbai pesichos), and I was standing closest to him.

But I take the job seriously. It’s not a big minyan, mostly because of how early it is, and there are about 60 pesichos to go around, so basically everyone gets pesichah, some people more than once. It’s an equal-opportunity pesichah minyan.

But I have a lot to juggle, because as it turns out, it takes all different types to make a minyan. For example, some people come because we start early,

and some people come because we end early. I come because there’s minimal singing, and I tend to space out. A lot.

Not just in shul. I’m talking about all the time. Spacing out is how I come up with my articles.

So even if I can rein it in and not space out while I’m davening—even if I can focus on the meaning of the words and all that they symbolize—it’s hard to keep that focus when the chazzan is going, “Aye aye aye” and neither of us is saying any words. When he sings, I space out. Even if I’m singing along, it’s just my mouth that’s singing along.

It’s not like my brain can be mechaven to the explanation of “Aye aye aye.” (It means yes, yes, yes.) But then the chazzan stops singing and moves on, and my head is still going “Aye, aye, aye.” And by the time I reenter the atmosphere, it’s 25 minutes later. And we’re on the next page.

I know that not everyone has this issue, and some people enjoy the singing. But my ideal minyan is one where I can spend at least 95% of the time either saying or listening to actual words.

But my point is that it doesn’t really matter who you are—you get pesichah.

It’s not a big enough minyan that I get

ple than me. I wouldn’t even know what to do.”

Um, it says in the Machzor. You just open the aron. It’s not like pesichah on a regular Shabbos, where you have to stand there and figure out which Torah to take out based on the frantic hand signals of 38 people.

“Welcome to the minyan!

Have a pesichah.” to give it to whoever is most chashuv, and it’s not really my place to decide who’s the most chashuv. It’s Rosh Hashanah. This is not the time to judge people.

So, for example, I give it to people who are new to the minyan, to say, “Welcome to the minyan! Have a pesichah.” Frankly, most of them are surprised to even get it, and they’re like, “No, no. There are more deserving peo-

But this brings me to another issue, which is that we daven in a venue that’s wider than it is deep. Most of the year, this minyan davens in the shul.

On Rosh Hashanah, we don’t want the other minyan to hear our shofar before they’ve made a berachah on theirs. It’s not like we can keep it down. So we daven in someone’s dining room/living room/kitchen/entranceway/front porch. My point is that to get to the people I want to give pesichah to, I have to squeeze through the crowd and plan my routes around the people who are still davening.

So thanks. You saying, “No, no,” to be nice makes my work twice as hard, because now I have to either find someone in this immediate area, or I have to plunge back across the shul to find someone else.

But Mussaf of Rosh Hashanah is the biggest challenge, because I can’t talk because of shofar. So how do I get people up there? Do I walk them? Do I point at the aron and hope they get it?

Do I point and then mime opening a curtain and a set of doors? And why is it that every time you ever try to mime opening a set of doors, you have to lean back, so your imaginary doors don’t hit you?

So what I generally do is I have an ArtScroll Machzor. I show someone the page, and I point to the words, “The ark is opened,” and I point to him, and then I point back to the words, “The ark is opened.” And then I wait for it to register.

Usually, he smiles and nods. Though I don’t know if that means anything.

A lot of times they nod, and then I go back to my seat, and when pesichah comes along, they’re nowhere to be found.

Maybe it’s a grammar thing. The Machzor doesn’t say, “Open the ark”; it says, “The ark is opened.” Okay, so the reason ArtScroll says that is that they don’t want everyone stumbling forward at once. But my point is that’s not really a command. It’s a statement.

“The ark is opened.” So the guy looks at the ark and look at me and thinks, “No it’s not.”

Or maybe the guy is smiling and nodding because he thinks I think I’m trying to show him something funny in my Machzor. He doesn’t really understand my joke, but when someone says something you don’t understand and you don’t have the luxury of asking him to repeat himself, the general minhag is to smile and nod, and hope he goes away. Which I do.

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Solution To Previous 5TJT Puzzle: Torah Greats 1

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The Ark Is Opened And then he doesn’t show up.

So maybe I should give out those pesichos before Mussaf, right? No dice.

When I give it out even a few minutes too early, people miss their cue. Never mind if I give it out before Mussaf altogether.

And I don’t blame them. I forget pesichah during the year. Whenever I get pesichah for leining, I open the aron and take out the Torah. After leining, when they’re ready to put it back, suddenly everyone stops and waits, and I’m like, “What are we all waiting for? Oh.” So my goal is to give out any given pesichah as close as possible to when it has to be done. But not everyone realizes I’m doing that. Sometimes the guy looks through his Machzor to see which pesichah I’m signaling about and finds that it’s around 20 pages from where we are. So he settles back in. But what he doesn’t realize is that a lot of those pages are small words that the shul doesn’t say. Not to mention that, if he has an ArtScroll, half the pages are in English, and all the bottoms are explanations. So what do I do? I can’t exactly tell him. There’s no sign language for, “It’s really much sooner. Those are all peirushim.”

Or sometimes, they wait a couple of minutes to start coming up, but they can’t get through the crowd in time, nor can they say, “Excuse me,” and it turns out they didn’t factor in travel time. And everyone’s staring at the aron, waiting for it to open by itself, because they’re

standing smack in the way of the guy who’s trying to get through to open it, whom they can’t see coming because they’re staring at the aron. Like someone’s going to open it from the inside.

Ideally, everyone would sit right next to the aron. That would make my job easier.

But I am learning things as I go. For example, I learned the hard way that the pesichah for Hayom T’amtzeinu (at the end of Mussaf) has to go to a kohen, because they’re all still up there blocking the aron, and anyone else going up there would have to squeeze by them and try not to step on anyone’s toes. I learned this the first year, when I decided to give the kohanim the first few pesichos, and then I tried to give Hayom T’Amtzeinu to someone else.

With boots.

But there’s a serious learning curve. If I give out pesichah too late, they don’t make it. If I give it too early, they forget.

And the right time for each pesichah is different, based on which pesichah it is and how far each person sits from the aron.

It’s tough. This is what I think about during chazaras haShatz. Instead of spacing out.

I have a smart rabbi, apparently. But seriously, what do I do?

Well, I’ve been doing this for 15 years.

I’ve tried some things. Tune in next week to find out what they were.

Mordechai Schmutter is a weekly humor columnist for Hamodia and is the author of four books, published by Israel Book Shop. He also does freelance writing for hire. You can send any questions, comments, or ideas to MSchmutter@gmail.com.

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Preparing For Rosh Hashanah Machberes: Inside The Chassidish And Yeshivish World

BY RABBI GERSHON TANNENBAUM The Mateh Ephraim (69) and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (128:63) direct that we should inspect our tefillin and mezuzos during the Hebrew month of Elul in preparation of the coming new year, so as to have checked them at least once a year. Sefer Yesod v’Shoresh Avodah, chapter 4 and page 310, advise that we should limit our speech, absolutely not to speak an unnecessary word, from Rosh Chodesh Elul until after Yom Kippur. The sefer notes that no better mechanism other than silence exists to purify our souls.

Rabbi Shimon Sofer, zt’l Hy’d (1881-1944), Erlau Rav and author of Hisorerus Teshuva (Responsum 373) echoes may other sefarim in directing that we do not eat nuts from the beginning of Selichos until after Hoshanah Rabbah. Beis Hayotzer 43; Yad Yitzchok 1:208; Ach Pri Tevuah, Parashas Vayechi; Siach Yitzchok on Erev Rosh Hashanah; and Kitzeh Hamateh 583:16 all advise the same timeframe in limit-

ing the eating of nuts. The reason is that eating nuts causes one to cough, which would interfere with one’s tefillos and hearing of the shofar. This is especially so for one who will be a sheliach tzibbur, ba’al makreh, and ba’al tokeah. However, from Rosh Chodesh Elul until the beginning of Selichos, the prohibition of eating nuts, as suggested by other poskim, seems not applicable. Most likely, because Sephardim begin reciting Selichos from Rosh Chodesh Elul, limiting the ingestion of nuts from that time would be applicable only to Sephardim.

Nuts that are cooked in other foods and are not discernable would be permissible, since cooking and baking nullifies the taste and properties of the nuts. Nevertheless, some are strict in limiting their use until after Rosh Hashanah. Peanut butter and other nut butters are permissible because the properties of the nuts are lost in their processing.

During the Yamim Nora’im until after Hoshanah Rabbah, the custom has been accepted to use only round challos. Reasons given are that the round shape implies a continuum, without an end.

So too, we pray for our lives to continue (Chasam Sofer, Toras Moshe, 4th edition, page 356). Interestingly, Minhag Beis Alik 174 describes the challos being used for the Yamim Nora’im until after Hoshanah Rabbah as being works of art. Of the two challos being used for lechem mishnah, one is in the shape of a ladder, so that our prayers ascend to Heaven. The second challah is made in the shape of a bird to convey that as birds fly, so too Heaven soars above us and protects us.

Eating before the blowing of the shofar has generated controversy throughout the ages. The Shulchan Aruch, from where we derive virtually all of our halachos and modes of behavior, does not prohibit eating before shofar-blowing. However, the Shulchan Aruch prohibits eating before the fulfillment of the mitzvah of esrog and lulav (652:2). Rabbi Yom Tov Asevilli, zt’l, (1250-1330), renowned as the Ritvah, interprets the same rule as applying to shofar. The Mateh Ephraim, 588:2, con-

curs. The Kitzeh Hamateh, ibid, bemoans the leniency that is practiced by the many who do eat before shofar.

Regardless, today’s almost universal practice is that many eat before shofar.

Originally, only people who were weak were allowed to drink some water, tea, or coffee and to take a small bite of food. One doing so was advised to make kiddush for himself as well as for others who had to eat. The permission granted by hearing the kiddush seems to have spread, and healthy persons, having heard kiddush, also partook of what was on the table in front of them. Since Torah scholars did not respond negatively to the weak person making kiddush, others assumed that the kiddush applied to them too.

Some have offered a reasoning for the lenient practice. Ordinarily, we fear that if one begins eating, he will miss tefillah in its proper time. However, if one appoints someone to remind him to pray at the proper time, he may eat. A shamas who calls everyone to tefillah would be considered an acceptable agent. On Rosh Hashanah, before the blowing of shofar, many Poskim agree that the holiness of the day cannot be forgotten and one who begins eating will not forget the obligation to hear the shofar. This is similar to one who awaits delivery of an esrog and lulav and is permitted to eat since as soon as the esrog and lulav are brought, he will not ignore the mitzvah but will rather attend to it immediately (Chasam Sofer 652). The Mishnah Berurah, ibid, concurs.

The Rema at 232:2 accepts a prescheduled calling by a shamas as an acceptable reminder. This is all very much so on Rosh Hashanah when we anticipate returning to shul for shofar and Mussaf.

Whether to make kiddush on the snack eaten before shofar is another topic of extensive discussion, since what is eaten before shofar is never a formal meal. Arguments for leniency also dwell on the obligation for kiddush at night being mi’d’Oraisa, while the obligation of kiddush during the day is mi’d’rabbanan. Thus, since we have proclaimed the holiness of the day during tefillas Shacharis, the kiddush obligation may have been obviated.

According to Rabbi Yechezkel Shraga Halberstam, zt’l, (1813-1898), Shiniva Rav and author of Divrei Yechezel, another reason for leniency is derived from the original timing of shofar-blowing having been in tefillas Shacharis. At different times in history, the blowing of shofar was suspected of being a signal to enemies to attack. Usually, military actions begin early in the day. So as to avoid such suspicions, the blowing of shofar has been rescheduled to after Shacharis.

According to Pri Migadim (286) and the Chayei Adam (32:7), a Kohen who made kiddush before shofar and drank most of a revi’es (3 to 4 liquid ounces) of wine is permitted to perform Birkas Kohanim.

If the second day of Rosh Hashanah is on a Friday, as it is this year, we complete our tefillos somewhat earlier in honor of the approaching Shabbos. The custom amongst Belzer Chassidim is to announce this out loud before chazaras haShatz so that the mitzvah of honoring Shabbos is included in our favorable balance of good deeds.

Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum is the rav of B’nai Israel of Linden Heights in Boro Park and director of the Rabbinical Alliance of America.

He can be contacted at yeshiva613@aol.com.

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The National Council of Young Israel’s (NCYI) executive board traveled to the nation’s capital on September 10, 2014 for its leadership mission to Washington, DC. Hailing from California, Florida, and various cities up and down the East

Coast, the Young Israel leaders spent the day interacting with White House officials and key lawmakers in Congress.

Participants in the mission included NCYI President Farley Weiss, Chairman of the Board Bob Levi, 1st Vice President Yosef Poplack, Recording Secretary Bea Seinuk-Ackerman, and Associate Vice

N. Aaron Troodler

BY N. AARON TROODLER

N. Aaron Troodler

Young Israel Goes To Washington, DC

Senator Robert Menendez

Senator John McCain

Presidents Asher Miller, Stanley Treitel, and Baila Weiss.

The day began with a special White House briefing that was organized by Matt Nosanchuk, director of Outreach for the National Security Council and the Obama administration’s liaison to the Jewish community, at which time the Young Israel mission participants were updated on a number of important issues.

Two senior staff members from President Obama’s National Security Council (NSC), Maher Bitar, director for Israeli and Palestinian Affairs at the NSC, and Nitin Chadda, director for Iran at the NSC, provided timely information relating to Israel’s security needs in the wake of Hamas’s attacks on Israeli citizens, continuing peace discussions between the Israeli government and the Palestinian Authority, the status of negotiations over Iran’s nuclear capabilities, the troubling situation with regard to Turkey,

and the emergent threat posed by ISIL. In addition, Stacy Bernard Davis, senior advisor for the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism at the U.S. Department of State, made a presentation about government-to-government discussions relating to the shocking rise in anti-Semitic attacks on European Jewish communities, as well as engagement with the Jewish communities themselves.

The Young Israel mission participants then traveled to the U.S. Capitol, where they were addressed by senators and representatives who play a formative role in constructing legislation to enhance the relationship between the United States and the State of Israel.

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, discussed his efforts to impose new sanctions on Iran in order

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Young Israel Continued from Page 41 to keep the Iranian government honest and curtail its illicit enrichment program. “Under no circumstances can Iran be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon,” said Senator Menendez.

Senator Menendez also spoke about his staunch support for the State of Israel. “I believe that Israel has the right to defend itself, just like any other country in the world,” he said. “I will continue working to keep Israel safe and secure.”

The senator decried Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s marriage to the terrorist group Hamas and noted that he is exploring the imposition of financial consequences in response to the PA’s actions.

Referring to his feelings about the BDS movement, Senator Menendez made his position extremely clear. “Any talk about boycotts of Israel is condemnable by me,” he said.

Senator John McCain (R-AZ), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was unequivocal in conveying his sentiments about a nuclear Iran.

“We cannot look at Iran in a vacuum,” he said. “It’s not just about nuclear weapons; they pose threats all over the region.”

“Iran remains the single greatest threat as a nation, as far as I am concerned,” added Senator McCain.

Senator McCain also expressed his strong support for Israel and noted his disappointment in the European reaction to the conflict in Gaza. “We’re seeing neo-fascist activity in Europe,” he said.

In addition, Senator McCain spent

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some time discussing ISIS and the threat that ISIS poses to the United States and Israel.

Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, emphatically stated, “[T]here is no moral equivalency between what Israel was doing to protect innocent lives and what Hamas was doing to kill innocent lives.” Senator Cardin told the Young Israel leaders that he wants the United Nations to investigate Hamas’s actions and stop focusing all of its attention on Israel.

Noting that “Iran does not want to give up their nuclear weapons ambitions,” Senator Cardin declared that Israel is absolutely right to say that they have no confidence in Iran. On the issue of sanctions against Iran, the senator noted that sanctions brought Iran to the table. “They are critically important and they must be strengthened,” he said. “We need to keep the pressure on Iran.”

Senator Cardin also discussed the recent rise in anti-Semitism around the world. “There are governments that are encouraging anti-Semitism and governments that are supporting anti-Semitism and that’s very scary,” he said.

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), chair of the Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia, discussed the U.S.-Israel relationship and noted that the recent situation in Gaza is exactly why the U.S.-Israel relationship must grow even stronger.

“I feel a natural affinity and connection to the State of Israel,” said Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen. “I will always voice my support for Israel’s right to defend itself.”

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The congresswoman denounced Hamas’s use of civilians as human shields in an attempt to have the world condemn Israel. “Israel warned people in Gaza to get out; Hamas ordered them to stay,” she said.

“We need to show Israel’s enemies that the United States stands steadfast with Israel and our support for Israel is strong and unwavering,” said Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen. “As long as America is strong, Israel will be strong.”

The National Council of Young Israel also heard from Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), the Ranking Member on the House Foreign Relations Committee, and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) about the terrorist group ISIS in advance of President Obama’s address to the nation about ISIS that was to take place later that evening.

“ISIS is a direct threat to U.S. national security,” said Congressman Engel. “If we don’t get them, they will get us.”

Congressman Schiff noted the important role that Arab countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait can play in combatting ISIS. “They need to tell the Muslim world that this is not Islam; it’s savagery,” he said.

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) discussed the issue of Iran and talked about the ramifications of a nuclear-armed Iran.

“You get terrorism with impunity from Iran,” he said.

Congressman Sherman also offered his thoughts on Hamas’s actions during its latest conflict with Israel. “Hamas’s goal is the maximum number of deaths on either side,” he said. “They ask, how many funerals can we throw? Body-bag counting is not a moral substitute for

sound analysis.”

“Every rocket fired by Hamas at an Israeli city is a separate war crime,” said Congressman Sherman.

The Young Israel mission participants were also visited by Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and long-term activist within the Chicago Jewish community, who discussed the unbreakable bond between the U.S. and Israel. “Congress stands together with a single voice for support for Israel,” said Congressman Schneider. “We need to hold the Palestinian Authority and Hamas accountable,” he added.

On the issue of Israel’s security, Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ) told the Young Israel mission, “Israel has the right to defend itself.” Referring to Iran, Congressman Salmon said, “We need to eliminate the possibility of developing a nuclear weapon in Iran—to me, that’s nonnegotiable.”

“In light of the numerous challenges facing the State of Israel and Jewish communities across the globe, it is critical that the American Jewish community make its concerns known on Capitol Hill and take steps to ensure that our voices are heard by the decision-makers in our nation’s capital,” said NCYI Chairman of the Board Bob Levi. “The National Council of Young Israel is greatly appreciative to the Obama administration and the members of Congress for meeting with us and engaging in an honest and constructive dialogue on the issues that matter most to our constituents and our brothers and sisters in the State of Israel.”

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insights on THE TORAH Proper Respect

BY FIVE TOWNS MARRIAGE INITIATIVE As we begin Rosh Hashanah, followed by Shabbos Shuvah, and then head into Yom Kippur, there is a thought from the Chofetz Chaim on the parashah of Shabbos Shuvah, Parashas Ha’azinu, which is worth contemplating. The verse in the song of Ha’azinu says, “Yeshurun became fat and kicked.” Rashi explains that this describes how the nation became exalted and then kicked away Hashem and the Torah. The Chofetz Chaim quotes Yechezkel, who says, “They turned their backs on Hashem’s sanctuary and there is nothing more despicable than that.” What the Chofetz Chaim then says has direct implications with regard to repentance, marital harmony, and glorifying Hashem, which all tie in beautifully with this time of year.

There were two sisters. One was poor and one was wealthy. The poor sister went to visit the wealthy one.

Even before she entered the palatial mansion, she was approached by ushers wearing beautiful uniforms, asking her who was she and what the purpose was for her visit. When she entered her

sister’s home, she was entranced by the décor. Her sister, too, was a sight to behold, bedecked in so many precious jewels, wearing gorgeous clothing, and with maids scurrying to and fro at her beck and call. She stood there open-mouthed, feeling unsure if this wealthy lady, who seemed to put any queen to shame, was really her sister.

nutritious and fattening food, could he not provide you with it? And why do you not have laughter on your lips?

It’s such a wonder to me!”

The wealthy sister responded, “Believe me, my sister. My husband might be wealthy, and he might be respected amongst the greatest men in the country, and he does not withhold anything from me. The best clothing and jewelry are all mine, along with food fit for kings. But it’s all worthless to me! My husband cares less about my opinion. To him, when it comes to what I think, I am just as good as any of the lowly maids. He’ll degrade me in front of everyone and scream at me in public. My sister, your lot is better than mine! Even though you are poor and you might not have the jewels, maids, and fancy clothing, at least

The Torah calls out, “Remove from me all the gold, pearls and jewels.

Just please don’t step all over me!”

The two sisters discussed their current lifestyle, and then the poor sister noticed her wealthy sister’s gaunt face and the sadness embedded in it, which seemed so at odds with the surroundings. “Tell me, my sister,” she said, “why do you look this way? You look so sad; what can you possibly lack? If you asked your husband for the most

your husband honors you. He cares about your opinion and respects you publicly and privately, and that’s why you look so joyful. You are happy with your place in life because you are not a maid—you are a geveret, a lady. For me, what is all my wealth worth if I can’t even share my opinion about the house or the business?”

So it is with the Torah and with our attitude towards Hashem. There are those who adorn the Torah with the best jewels and the finest fabric. They place it only on a table of gold and decorate its aron, its home, and they place a gold crown upon it. All this, though, is worthless to the Torah, because they then go ahead and mock it, pain it, and anger it at every opportunity. They don’t listen to its voice and they don’t respect it. They eat forbidden foods, desecrate Shabbos, and mock all that is holy. The Torah calls out, “Remove from me all the gold, pearls, and jewels. Just please don’t step all over me!”

There are simple communities that might not have the wherewithal to adorn the Torah the way others can, but they give it great honor and respect.

They seek it out and don’t sway an inch from its words. Those who respect what’s in the Torah and what Hashem commands are more of an adornment to the Torah than any material adornment that comes from those who scorn Hashem and His word.

With wishes for a year of health, happiness, peace, and joy. May this year be one about which the Torah can say that we adorned her properly, and may we all be inscribed in the book of life for a happy, sweet new year.

Five Towns Marriage Initiative provides educational programs, workshops, and referrals to top marriage therapists. FTMI will help offset counseling costs when necessary and also runs an anonymous shalom bayis hotline for the entire community Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings, 10:00–11:00 p.m. For the hotline or for more information, call 516-4305280 or e-mail dsgarry@msn.com.

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5TJT Puzzle: A Love-ItOr-Hate-It New Year

1

BY YONI GLATT

20

Across 1. Zebras 5. Upcoming MLB competition 9. Caribbean cruise stop 14. Juice berry 15. Dashed 16. Went white 17. It’ll probably be crowded this week 18. Laugh-a-minute 19. Pub orders 20. Some love it, some hate it 23. Moshe, Aharon, Miriam, e.g.

24. Instagram item 25. Some love them, some hate them 31. Gets promoted 32. States of despair 35. Little troublemaker 36. Cinematic legend, familiarly 38. Fresh 39. Tree Pocahontas sang about 42. Island west of Maui 44. Some love it, some hate it 47. Wood-shaping tool 48. Words of denial 49. Some love it, some hate it 56. King David wrote them, technically 57. Small buffalo 58. Blue-ribbon 59. Everglades bird 60. She dated Kent, once 61. They are cast in Tanach 62. Coach’s replacement on Cheers

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63. Words of understanding 64. Kind of receiver Down 1. Impetuous 2. Canyon feature 3. Mythology figure 4. It’s ideal for prayer 5. Not out 6. Tunes for Taz? 7. Gator cuz 8. Third son 9. Tried 10. Part of a train 11. Arm bone 12. ___ Israel 13. Plugs 21. Talks a blue streak 22. Rosh Hashanah staple 25. Morning party, usually 26. Like Sprite 27. Pet protection org.

28. Just beat 29. “And how!”

30. Certain Muslim 33. Statistics calculation 34. Draft 36. Kind of monk 37. Dot follower 40. Fearful 41. Tznius 42. Jared who recently won an Oscar 43. Seahawks and Broncos, e.g.

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45. Whoever 46. Big trip 49. Like some pizza orders 50. Sandwich for Captain America 51. Mustachioed artist

52. Santa ___ (hot winds) 53. Hammer or sickle 54. Able to see right through 55. Suit piece, at times 56. Nave bench

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MINDBIZ

By Esther Mann, LCSW

This week’s letter is being answered

by Jennifer Mann, LMSW. Dear Jennifer, My 16-year-old daughter Shira has always been a creative, out-of-thebox girl. She is the artsy type and has never fit the mold in school or camp.

As a toddler, while my older daughter was playing princess dress-up, Shira would create all sorts of interesting looks for herself. I would tell her how beautiful she looked but secretly I just didn’t get it. Not much has changed, and today she is using her clothing to make some type of statement about herself. I think it is important to her that people know she is different.

This is a source of friction between the two of us, and she has become

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more of an adversary than a daughter in the last year or so.

I happen to have great taste in clothing and have dabbled in different areas of fashion since my twenties. My home is impeccably designed. I take pride in my appearance and understand trends and fashion. You can imagine how difficult it is for me to allow Shira to walk out the door looking so odd. She is always in her long, flowy skirts and chunky sweaters. My mother once said that she looks like a head mounted on a pile of fabric.

My other children appreciate my style and ask me for my input. I take pride in their appearance because the truth is that your children are a reflection of you.

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Fast-forward to my current situation. Since the start of school, Shira has been moping around the house.

We got into a terrible fight and she shouted horrible expletives at me complete with “I hate you!” and a character assassination. This hurts me, and now I mope too. It is also unacceptable in my house, so she is being punished until she apologizes.

Her best friend’s mother, who is my good friend, told me that Shira has confided in her about what is going

a happy camper right now, and with the chagim approaching I want to get this sorted out. Thank you.

A Mom Dear A Mom, Conflict is painful. I am sorry you find yourself in turmoil with your friend and, more importantly, your daughter. Anyone can understand your wanting to sort this out with the chagim right around the corner.

Hearing “I hate you,” complete with

She will probably never get “into the box.” on at home. I was shocked that she is mixing in to my relationship with my daughter. Completely inappropriate!

Knowing that my daughter and friend are in cahoots with each other sickens me. It is such a betrayal. I am not

a “character assassination” and expletives from a daughter is like a knife in the heart. From one mother to another, I feel your pain. Beneath the layers of the specifics of your story lies what I think is a fairly common parenting hurdle—when a child’s behavior, personality, choices, etc. are disappointing.

Every mother has a dream for her child or a vision of who that child will be. The dream may be to be an A-student, a doctor, an athlete, the prettiest girl in school, a talmid chacham, etc.

Yet another parenting hurdle (they are endless, aren’t they?) is learning when to let go. The only body of knowledge I have is the e-mail you wrote me, so I imagine there is much I don’t know.

Solely based on what you wrote, I think it may be time for you to let go of your ideal Shira and practice acceptance of the real Shira: chunky sweaters, flowy skirts, and all.

Perhaps you agree with what I suggested. In that case, skip the rest of my response. If you do not agree and are having an adverse reaction—i.e., Jennifer does not understand, or this is just plain wrong—keep reading.

While respect for parents in non-negotiable, allow yourself to step into your daughter’s shoes for a moment.

This was a one-time offense, so perhaps she reached her boiling point.

I wonder why she is boiling. Where are these words and feelings coming from? What are her feelings regarding this issue? Have you ever wondered what it must feel like for Shira to be a disappointment to her perfectly dressed mother? Taking a genuine interest and stepping away from judgment may allow you to connect with your daughter. I imagine she feels judged and unable to please her mother, which is a recipe for a rocky mother–daughter relationship.

I don’t gamble, but I would bet you aren’t changing your style anytime soon. I would put just as much money (if not more) on the notion that Shira isn’t changing her style anytime soon. As she gets older, her style may evolve more and you may disagree about other choices she makes.

You can remain stuck, locking horns with your teenage daughter at every turn— every time she gets dressed for school, or goes out with her friends, or when she gets older and gets dressed for a date. That would be your

choice and you can continue choosing it, as you have done this past year. In making that choice, you are missing out on getting to know Shira for who she is, not her fashion choices. There is more to her than her wardrobe. She has interests and aspirations, fears, and an entire life that you will be excluded from if you continue squabbling about her clothing. I wonder how much of this is about your concerns about what others think of your daughter and, consequently, of you.

You have another choice.

In the words of Elsa from Disney’s Frozen, “Let it go!

Let it go!” We don’t choose our children. Hashem gave you a creative, out-of-thebox child. She will probably never get into the box. All that is left for you to do is figure out how to coach her in maximizing her unique set of interests and talents. If your biggest battle with this child is a Bohemian-chic wardrobe, count your blessings and keep it moving. You may want to explore this button of yours that is pushed by your daughter’s taste.

It must have felt awful for your friend to have intervened in the way she did about such a personal matter. You can choose to remain angry with her or you can reframe and think, “That was probably uncomfortable for her and yet she cared enough about me and my daughter to say something. Maybe they are not plotting against me.

Maybe my child was suffering and I was unable to see it.” It takes a village to raise a child, and as a parent there are often things we do not see about our children or ourselves. Perhaps this uncomfortable situation with your friend is the catalyst for a better relationship with Shira in the new year.

Wishing you and all readers a happy and healthy sweet new year.

Sincerely, Jennifer Jennifer Mann is presently working as a psychotherapist at Ohel. She also works as a relationship coach and can be reached at 718-908-0512.

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Kollel Dirshu Of Baltimore Makes Historic Siyum On Seder Moed

BY CHAIM GOLD “In today’s world, everyone is running around helter-skelter. You lomdei Dirshu have it right! You are running every morning to learn Torah. It is simply mind-boggling to see a group of more than 70 ba’alei batim coming together each morning and now making a siyum on the entire Seder Moed!”

Those were the heartfelt words of Rav Aharon Feldman, shlita, rosh yeshiva of Yeshiva Ner Yisrael of Baltimore at a unique siyum held last Sunday, 19 Elul/ September 14 at the Shaarei Zion shul in Baltimore.

The Dirshu Kollel in Baltimore is one of Dirshu’s largest ba’alei batim kollelim, comprising more than 75 people who come each morning at 5:50 a.m. to learn an amud of Gemara with a chavrusa. “It is like a mini-yeshiva of ba’alei batim. Upon entering the Mesivta of Baltimore, where the kollel meets, one hears a thundering kol Torah. It is the largest gathering in America of lomdei Torah in one place at that time of the morning,” says Reb Daniel Ely, the kollel’s indefatigable coordinator. “It is a large group, but we feel as close as family,” continues Rabbi Ely.

Rav Dovid Hofstedter, Rav Shalom Weingot, and Rav Zvi Dov Slanger

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Celebrating the siyum on Seder Moed

The kollel, which began in 2004, has been learning an amud a day ever since.

Monthly tests on the material learned are taken by many of the participants.

Thus, with Dirshu’s classic accountability, ba’alei batim who spend a large part of their day working are still able to achieve great accomplishments in limud haTorah. Rav Aharon Feldman highlighted the fact that this group have remained bnei yeshiva, despite pursuing varied careers during the day. “What defines them is their love of Torah that they absorbed in yeshiva. That love of Torah carries over into their lives.”

The event began with a siyum made by the rosh kollel, Rav Shalom Weingot, a prominent mechanech in Baltimore.

After the siyum, the entire assemblage erupted into an enthusiastic dance

together with the president of Dirshu, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, who came especially to take part in the siyum.

Rav Hofstedter pointed out, “To have a group of more than 75 ba’alei batim coming together every morning, before davening, for years, who then make a siyum on the entire Seder Moed with tests—has never been done. It is truly a historic accomplishment!” exclaimed Rav Hofstedter.

Rav Hofstedter related that once upon a time in America, ba’alei batim who were koveia ittim l’Torah were not the norm. “Decades ago, my father, shlita, a Holocaust survivor who rebuilt everything from scratch, began a pre-Shacharis learning seder in his shul. There were many who ridiculed him: ‘You are spending time on a working day learn-

ing Torah?’ Setting aside time to learn was not understood back then, and now look at what we have. Seventy-five people coming every day before Shacharis to learn with accountability and culminating in this wonderful siyum on an entire seder. Just amazing!”

Rav Hofstedter went on to ask, “There is so much Torah being learned in the world. Why, then, has Mashiach not yet arrived? Furthermore, when we look at the difficulties that Klal Yisrael has experienced over the past months it gives us pause. The vaunted Israeli army fought in a stalemate with a band of terrorists. According to teva, nature, they should have easily won. However, as we see from the Ramban in Parashas Shoftim, we should not rely on our strength and the prowess of our army but rather do teshuvah, trust in Hashem’s salvation, and realize that Hashem does not want our strength.

He wants us to fear Him and hope for His chesed.”

To answer the above questions, Rav Hofstedter quoted the Ramban in this week’s parashah. In speaking about the final geulah, the Ramban writes, “[It will arrive] when the Bnei Yisrael will return to Hashem with all their hearts and souls and accept upon themselves and their future generations to do what I have commanded them” (Devarim 30:2).

The Ramban is teaching us that we have to accept Hashem’s commandments upon ourselves. But how can we even know what Hashem’s commandments are if we do not regularly learn halachah l’ma’aseh?

While Rav Hofstedter hailed the phenomenal accomplishment of finishing Seder Moed, he called on the assemblage and all Yidden to also take upon themselves an accountable daily seder in halachah such as Dirshu’s daf hayomi b’halachah. “Adding a daily seder in halachah l’ma’aseh is the key to great berachah and yeshuah. The Gerer Rebbe, shlita, recently told me that a person must learn and know Mishnah Berurah just to be able to live like a Yid according to halachah.” Now, when the program’s scheduled learning is the halachos of Sukkos, it is an especially auspicious time to join.

The Baltimore siyum was attended by nearly 100 men and 70 women, who reveled in their husbands’ accomplishments. A window into the importance of the siyum could also be gleaned from the prestigious guests. In addition to the rosh yeshiva, Rav Feldman, numerous local rabbanim were in attendance, including Rav Yosef Berger, Rav Eichenstein, Rav Mordechai Frankel, Rav Moshe Hauer, Rav Yaakov Hopfer, Rav

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insights on THE TORAH

Continued from Page 51 Nesanel Kostelitz, Rav Jonathan Seideman, and Rav Tzvi Weiss.

The last speaker was Rav Zvi Dov Slanger, shlita, rosh yeshiva of the Mesivta of Baltimore. Rav Slanger, who is one of Baltimore’s most venerated rabbanim, a survivor of the Holocaust, and subsequently one of the early talmidim of the Ponovezh and Slabodka yeshivos in Eretz Yisrael, commented, “The famed mashgiach Rav Elya Lopian would arise early to learn every morning. He explained that the first se’if in the Shulchan Aruch enjoins us to wake up early before the day starts. After 120 years when they ask me if I kept the Shulchan Aruch, I don’t want to strike out on the very first se’if!”

As the crowd dispersed, there was a rushed sense of purpose. One misayem explained, “I have to get to sleep so I can be at the Dirshu kollel at 5:50 a.m.

We are starting Seder Nezikin. Dirshu never stops. Come visit in the pre-sunrise darkness and the resounding kol Torah will be music to your ears.”

From The Chassidic Masters: Words Of Closeness And Distance The Sidra of Ha’azinu begins with Moshe’s great oration, “Give ear, ye heavens . . . and let the earth hear.”

The Midrash, with its usual sensitivity to the nuances of language, notes that Moshe seems to be talking in terms of intimacy towards the heavens, and of distance towards the earth. There is an almost exactly opposite verse in Yeshayah, “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth,” in which Yeshayah expresses closeness to earth and distance from heaven. Which path is the Jew to follow? Is he to strive towards heaven and keep himself aloof from worldly events? Or is he, like Yeshayah, to find his spiritual home in the

things of the earth? And what bearing does this dilemma have on the time in which the sidra is usually read, the Ten Days of Repentance, and the days immediately following Yom Kippur, the supreme moments of self-examination in the Jewish year?

The Midrash tells us that Moshe was “close to heaven” and “far from the earth,” and this is why he said, “Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth” (Sifri, beginning of Ha’azinu.

Cf. Zohar, Ha’azinu 286b.) “Give ear” speaks in the tone of closeness; “let the earth hear” bears the accent of distance.

In the same way, the Midrash says that Yeshayah was “far from the heavens . . . and close to the earth,” for he said, in exact opposition to Moshe, “Hear O heavens, and give ear, O earth” (Yeshayah 1:2).

But this opposition is a surprising one. “Torah” means “teaching,” and all its words are words of instruction for every Jew (Zohar, Part III, 53b). When Moshe said, “Give ear, ye heavens . . . and let the earth hear,” the implication was that every Jew should strive to be close to heaven, and to liberate himself from the constraints of earth.

If Yeshayah, the greatest of the prophets (Yalkut, Yeshayah, Remez 385), could not reach this, how then can the Torah demand it of every Jew? And if closeness to heaven is, in fact, within the reach of every Jew through the inspiration of Moshe which is “within” every Jew (Tanya, Part I, ch. 42), why had Yeshayah failed to reach this level?

The matter is all the more strange since—as the Midrash (Sifri; Yalkut, Ha’azinu, Remez 942) says—Yeshayah’s words were spoken as a continuation of Moshe’s address. Speaking as he was under the direct inspiration of Moshe, it should have been all the easier for Yeshayah to rise to his heights.

We are forced to conclude, then, that Yeshayah was not outlining a lower level, but an even higher one, than that of which Moshe had spoken.

It was in this sense that he was continuing where Moshe left off. Reaching upwards to Moshe’s heights, “close to heaven,” he was able to strain to a yet greater achievement, of being “close to earth.” And since Yeshayah’s words, too, are part of the Torah, they form a universal message to the Jew. We must also realize that, since every teaching of the Torah has a special relevance to the time of the year when it is read (cf. Shaloh, beg.

Vayeshev; Or Hatorah, beg. Nitzavim), these words of Moshe and their continuation in Yeshayah are of particular significance to the time between Rosh Hashanah and Sukkos, during which they are always read.

Days of Weeping Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, the Ari , said, “Whoever does not shed tears during the Ten Days of Repentance—his soul is imperfect” (Pri Etz Chaim, Shaar Hashofar, ch. 5). The simple meaning of this is that during these days G-d is close to every Jew (Rosh Hashanah 18a, explaining Yeshayah 56:6; Rambam, Hilchos Teshuvah 2:6) with, in the Chassidic phrase (Derech Chayim 13d; 21b; 91a), “the closeness of the luminary to the spark.”

If even in such a time of grace a Jew is not moved to the tears of repentance, there is an imperfection in his soul. Nothing wakes it to return to its source. It has moved far indeed from its destiny.

But the Ari suggests, by saying “Whoever does not shed tears,” that this applies to every Jew, even to the perfectly righteous. And yet repentance, certainly when accompanied by tears, is about sin, transgression, wrongdoing, of which the righteous man is innocent. How can we expect that

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CHASSIDIC MASTERS Continued from Page 52 he repent, and so much so that there must be some imperfection in his soul if he is not moved to penitential tears?

We could understand the Ari ’s remark if it referred to the beinoni, the Jew who has never sinned, even in thought, but who has not yet removed the desire to do wrong, even though it is kept in continual suppression (Tanya, Part I, chs.

12, 13, etc.). For in him there is always the possibility of sin, and this alone is enough for tears in these supreme days of self-examination.

But the completely righteous, whose nature is unstirred by even the trace of misguided desire, would seem to have no need, no cause for tears.

Humility may lead him to them.

Even the great Rabban Yochanan ben Zakkai wept and said, “When there are two ways before me, one leading to Paradise and the other to Gehinnom, and I do not know by which I shall be taken, shall I not weep?” (Berachos 28b). In their fervor, the righteous may mistakenly think themselves unworthy. But why should the Ari suggest not that they can sometimes weep, but that they should? For self-knowledge is a virtue, and it is no duty to think oneself worse than one is.

Tears Of Joy And Bitterness The Alter Rebbe explained (Likkutei Torah, Tetze 37d) that the tears of which the Ari spoke are not tears of bitterness and self-recrimination, but

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tears like those which Rabbi Akiva shed when he penetrated the secret mysteries of the Torah—tears of intense joy (Midrash Haneelam, Vayera 98b).

But these cannot be the only tears which the righteous shed, or it would transpire that the Ari was using one word to denote two opposites—the joyous tears of the righteous and the bitter tears of other Jews. The first would express a closeness to G-d, the second a sense of distance.

The Spirit Shall Return The explanation is that teshuvah is not merely repentance, something which comes only where there was sin. It means the return of the soul to its source (Likkutei Torah, beg. Ha’azinu). “And the spirit shall return to G-d who gave it” (Koheles 12:7).

Even the righteous man who serves G-d with love and fear and the totality of his being has not yet reached that stage of complete closeness to Him which the soul experienced before birth (Tanya, Part I, ch. 37). Earthly existence creates a distance between the soul and G-d which not even righteousness can wholly bridge, and this is the grief of the righteous and the source of his tears. He senses, even in the highest human life, a descent of the soul from its heavenly enthronement. His tears, like those of the ordinary Jew, are born of a consciousness of distance from G-d.

Tears Of Effacement But even this answer will not suffice. For the righteous would then

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be grieving over the inevitable: The fact that bodily existence sets a distance between G-d and the soul. This is a fact that man cannot change. And what man cannot alter, he cannot blame himself for.

If the righteous man were thinking about his own spiritual satisfaction, he might feel embittered that birth was a loss to the soul. He might, without feeling guilty, feel aggrieved. But the righteous do not think of themselves.

They think instead of the Divine will (ibid., ch. 10), which is that their soul should live within the world’s narrow boundaries. Why, then, should they weep over their situation?

Perhaps it might be that the righteous weep because they have not (yet) fulfilled their mission. For the descent of the soul is not an end in itself; it is a means to a yet greater ascent, a complete self-effacement as the soul recognizes its nothingness and the all-embracing reality of G-d.

And since the righteous man has some reality in his own eyes (ibid., ch. 35), he is not yet at his journey’s end. He still has cause for tears.

And yet, if even the greatest man cannot reach this stage, how can we say he ought to? We cannot demand the impossible.

The truth is that the Jew is a part of G-d. He can rise above the ordinary spiritual possibilities of the world.

And he sheds tears at his human limitations, because this is the way to overcome them.

“From my confinement I called upon the L-rd: The L-rd answered me

with enlargement” (Tehillim 118:5). It is the sense that, after all the achievements of a righteous life, one is still in a “confinement” that brings about the “enlargement” which is the loss of man’s self-consciousness and his assimilation into the Divine.

Oneness With G-d Within The World This is the significance of the Ten Days of Teshuvah, the time when G-d is at His closest to man, although teshuvah is always important (Rambam, Hilchos Teshuvah 2:6). For these days not only accord it special favor; they elevate it to a new degree. It becomes more than repentance for sin; it becomes the returning of the soul to G-d, the end of spiritual alienation. This sudden possibility allows man to see his human limitations as no longer inevitable. They can be transcended. And therefore they can be wept over—by every Jew. When man achieves this self-transcendence, he has made a breakthrough which is possible only to the soul in its earthly existence. He has become one with the Infinite in the very midst of the finite. He thus reveals that the soul’s union with G-d has no limitations whatsoever, for he has reached union with G-d without forsaking the world. “From my confinement I called upon the L-rd,” and within this body, this narrow world, “the L-rd answered me with enlargement.”

The Shofar This explains the meaning of the shofar blown on Rosh Hashanah. Through

the shofar (whose physical shape indicates “confinement” at one end and “enlargement” at the other), we evoke the kingship of G-d. And as the Talmud (Rosh Hashanah 16a, 34b) reports, G-d says, “Recite before Me on Rosh Hashanah verses of kingship, remembrance and the shofar. Kingship—so that you may make Me king over you . . . and through what? Through the shofar.”

The statement is puzzling, because the natural order would be first to proclaim G-d as our king, and then to obey His decrees (cf. Mechilta and Yalkut Shimoni, Yisro 20:3). How can we evoke G-d’s desire to be our king through performing one of His decrees, which assumes that He is already our King?

The explanation lies in our prayer before the shofar is blown: “From my confinement I called upon the L-rd . . .”

Our “confinement” is not simply our sins, but our very existence as beingsin-ourselves, as people who feel that we are separate from G-d, and as long as this is true, we have not admitted G-d as our king. But when we stand in this “confinement” and yet “call upon the L-rd,” we reach the very Essence of G-dliness, and bring G-d’s “enlargement” into the heart of human life.

This is the making of G-d’s kingship. He is king within the world, not above it.

The Confines Of The World And Its Enlargement The relation between the sidra of Ha’azinu—of Moshe’s call and Yeshayah’s completion of it—and the Ten Days of Teshuvah (as well as the four days following Yom Kippur) is now

clear (cf. Preface of the Lubavitcher Rebbe to Kuntres 97, in Sefer Hamaamarim 5709).

Throughout the year, our religious life is concerned with things of the “earth,” the study of the Torah and the practical performance of the commandments. Even the “duties of the heart” belong to our human personality, our intellect, our temperament.

But during the Ten Days, “the spirit shall return to G-d who gave it.” Every Jew must become aware of the “confinement” which the world represents— aware to the point of tears. He must

ence within the earth, which reveals the true Essence of G-d, as above. The Infinite enters his human habitation.

And then he finds G-d “close to the earth” and “far from heaven.”

The Lesson Of Yeshayah This is true throughout a Jew’s life.

“Heaven” is the Torah, the word of G-d. “Earth” is the commandments, the actions of man (Torah Or, beg. Bereishis; Likkutei Torah, Ha’azinu 74b).

Through learning Torah, a Jew draws close to G-d (Tanya, Part I, ch. 23; cf. ibid., ch. 5). Through the command-

Earthly existence creates a distance between the soul and G-d which not even righteousness can wholly bridge. “call upon the L-rd,” with a thrust and desire to become one with G-d.

A man is where his will is (cf. Likkutei Sichos, Vol. VI, p. 24, note 29).

And by this very act of shedding tears over his “confinement,” he takes himself beyond it. He becomes “close to heaven” and “far from earth.” His overpowering desire is to be “close to heaven”; and that is where he is.

G-d’s response is to “answer me with enlargement,” that is with His pres-

ments, he draws G-d into the world (ibid., ch. 37).

At first, he must be “close to heaven.”

Though he must keep the commandments, his heart must be in the study of Torah.

But this is only the first stage. He must come in time to know that “not learning but doing is the essential thing” (Pirkei Avos 1:17), for the real task of man is to change the world, to make it G-d’s dwelling.

It needed Yeshayah to give us this second stage. For the Torah was received

by Moshe. But to Yeshayah fell the prophecy of the future redemption (cf. Bava Basra 14b), the time when the world will be G-d’s dwelling-place, when “every form shall know that You have formed it” (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur prayers), when the form of the world will be fused with the Infinity of G-d.

Adapted by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks from the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Likkutei Sichos, Vol. IX pp. 204-214). © Kehot Publication Society. Find more Torah articles for the whole family at www.chabad.org/parshah.

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insights on THE TORAH

Teshuvah Fallacies From Where I Stand

BY RABBI YOSSY GOLDMAN Parashas Ha’azinu is usually read between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, on Shabbos Teshuvah, also called Shabbos Shuvah. The title of the Shabbos will depend on whether we focus on the calendar (the season of teshuvah) or the Haftarah, which begins with the words “Shuvah Yisrael,” “Return O Israel.” At any rate, it is a Shabbos dedicated to the theme of teshuvah, repentance.

There are two popular misconceptions about teshuvah, and they come from opposite ends of the spectrum.

The first is “I’m too good,” that is, repentance is for sinners, and since I’m no sinner and am basically a good guy and a good Jew, this whole process is irrelevant to me. No need for it on my agenda.

In other words, if I’m okay, I’m exempt from teshuvah. Right? Wrong!

That’s the first fallacy. No one is exempt. Even the wholly righteous klop Al Cheit (beat their chests in penitence)—either for their own fail-

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ings on a more subtle level, or for the members of their community whose lives they have not yet succeeded in transforming to a Torah lifestyle. Only those who are 100 percent perfect are exempt from teshuvah. All others

bumped into a well-known baalebus, a prominent shul-going businessman.

I said to him, “Nu, you really felt Elul during the davening, didn’t you?” He shrugged his shoulders and said, “Elul is for sinners. I don’t need Elul.” How wrong he was. Oy, did he need it! People with overinflated egos can sometimes fool themselves into believing everything they think about themselves.

But there is another teshuvah fallacy, too. This fallacy belongs to the overly humble, the fellow who puts himself down so low that he really believes he is beyond salvation. “I’m too bad for teshuvah. Too far gone, there’s no hope, I’m a lost case. Give up on me, Rabbi, I’m too old, too tired, too lazy, too sinful, or just too set in my ways.”

He shrugged his shoulders and said, “Elul is for sinners.

I don’t need Elul.” must get to work. So who is perfect?

In fact, there is no one as imperfect as one who thinks he is perfect.

I remember going, many years ago, to the Berea Shul in Johannesburg to hear a famous chazzan daven on Shabbos Mevorchim Elul. Indeed, the melodies and nusach were evocative of the High Holy Days. Afterwards, I

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There are numerous true stories of some of the worst sinners in history who found G-d, Torah, and themselves in an instant and returned with a full heart. The renowned Talmudic sage Reish Lakish was previously a robber chieftain. Eliezer ben Durdaya was infamous for his immorality (he once boasted that there wasn’t a

woman of ill repute he hadn’t patronized), and yet in a moment of inspiration he returned and was accepted, gaining eternal life then and there.

And don’t we all know people today who have turned around their lives in a most beautiful way?

This is the Shabbos of teshuvah in the week of teshuvah. Please G-d, we will all embrace this mitzvah that applies to every one of us, from the holiest to the humblest. It is a great equalizer. May our Return be sincere, genuine, and well received up where it counts.

Rabbi Yossy Goldman was born in Brooklyn and was sent in 1976 by the Lubavitcher Rebbe as an emissary to serve the Jewish community of Johannesburg, South Africa. He is Senior Rabbi of the Sydenham Shul and president of the South African Rabbinical Association. His sefer “From Where I Stand: Life Messages from the Weekly Torah Reading” was published by Ktav and is available at Jewish book shops or online at www.ktav.com.

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Question I am a single, never-married gentleman in my early fifties. I am baruch Hashem very successful and handsome.

Some people even take me for being in my thirties. Up until recently, I tried to be honest about my age. But I realized that my honesty is working against me in finding the shidduch of my dreams.

When I am not asked about my age, girls who are in their late twenties to mid-thirties go out with me. When I tell them my age, even though they are disappointed that I am older, they still continue to date me. The truth is that a girl in her thirties should feel lucky to get a guy like me.

The problem I have is that when I speak to shadchanim and they hear my age, they only set me up with women who are 50. I try telling them that I don’t want to marry an old lady, but they either do not listen or they stop setting me up.

I am ashamed to admit it, but a few months ago, I went to a new shadchan and told her that I am 39. She believed it and introduced me to a very nice girl who is 35.

We have been dating ever since, but I feel that I have to tell her the truth if we get more serious. I am scared that she

will break up with me. But I am even more scared that my future does not seem promising.

Why can’t people respect that an older guy has the right to date a younger woman? Why can’t a shadchan ask which range of ages I’m looking to date, rather than how old I am?

Response

By Baila Sebrow I will begin by saying that under no circumstances can I ever condone acts of lying, whitewashing, or withholding information when it comes to shidduchim. No matter how you carve it, at the end of the day, a lie is still a lie. At the same time, I can appreciate how you feel. You want what you feel rightfully entitled to: “the shidduch of your dreams.” That the shidduch of your dreams means marrying a woman 20 years your junior appears to be only a tiny hitch, in your view. Now, if only everyone else in society—namely, the younger women—would think the way you do, this discussion would not even be taking place.

It is not easy being over 50 and never having experienced sharing your existence with a wife and children. Although you are successful in the career aspect of

your life and additionally blessed with a handsome, youthful appearance, it still sounds like you are experiencing deep anguish about that missing piece—your soul mate.

There is no point in speculating about why you have remained single all these years. The fact is that time did move on; and, just like every person alive, you got older. However, your mindset regarding what you are seeking in a spouse never changed. You still desire that which you did 20 years ago. The reality, my friend, is that you, like many other single men (divorced or never married), still hold on to the same attractions of the past. And that is why you cannot fathom dating a woman closer to your own age.

There may be other reasons you yearn for a much younger spouse. Being with someone younger may in some way give you a grip on youth. Or you might be concerned about fertility and the health of mother and baby. If that is the case, understand that there is considerable positive medical advancement in those areas.

It is very easy to place blame on shadchanim, saying that they refuse to set you up with women who are in their twenties and thirties. Did it ever occur to you that perhaps the women these shadchanim deal with may not be amenable to dating a much older guy?

Conversely, women in their thirties are constantly complaining to me that shadchanim are trying to suggest men in their fifties to them. You may not be aware of this, but a woman finds it hurtful when a shadchan suggests a man 20 years her senior. In her mind, it is like

saying that she can never get someone her own age. Whether that is true or not is not the issue. The suggestion itself is taking any semblance of hope away from her. I understand that you may not see it that way, because as you state, “a girl in her thirties should feel lucky to get a guy like me.”

As a shadchan, I frequently face the same challenge that you complain about: men your age seeking a much younger woman. While I respect where they are coming from, at the same time, I also need to respect the desires of the women who are seeking shidduchim.

Their needs also matter!

Bear in mind that there are younger women who find the idea of dating an older guy distasteful. Some describe it as feeling as though they are on a date with their father. Moreover, my heart aches for the 50-year-old woman who, although close to your age, is brazenly referred to as an “old lady.”

Your situation occurs not only when shadchanim try to set couples up, but also frequently at singles’ events. Men who are much older than the marketed age for the event oftentimes show up expecting to be allowed entrance. And when the organizers of the event, be it shadchanim or singles, refuse to let them in out of sensitivity to the younger attendees, these guys, instead of respecting the rules of the venue, become irate. There have been times when a few have managed to gain entry anyway, disregarding the feelings of others.

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Continued on Page 58

September 26, 2014

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DATING FORUM Continued from Page 57 With all that you find fault in with the shidduch system, nevertheless it sounds like you are not having much difficulty finding women as young as in their twenties to date you. And as it stands, you are currently dating a 35-year-old.

If the circumstances regarding what you have disclosed to the shadchan and the woman were different, I would be thrilled for you. But the problem is that your relationships, past and present, are not based on honesty.

A shidduch is a very personal decision, and you deserve to marry the woman

will initially respond with shock when she discovers that her young friend is really a much older man. However, there is no way to predict the decision she will come to after she has had time to absorb how she was deluded. There is the possibility that she might be so crazy about you that she will forgive the deception.

But I sense that you are also bracing to face the likelihood that she will ultimately terminate the relationship. That is why you are expressing even greater fear for future relationships.

Should you find yourself back in the dating pool, I recommend that you reassess your priorities in attaining a healthy marriage. Accept that youthful feminin-

As your relationship with this younger woman is intensifying, so are the strings of your conscience tugging. you feel will make you happy—but not at the expense of deceiving anyone. I am sensing that deep down you also believe that. As your relationship with this younger woman is intensifying, so are the strings of your conscience tugging.

While you know that this relationship would never have reached this point had you been truthful from the beginning, you also realize that sooner or later this woman will find out your true age. As expected, you are scared of the outcome.

It is a no-brainer to predict that she

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ity fades to a degree. Remember that the young get older. Most importantly, focus on the essential qualities that will ultimately build the strong foundation for your future marital home.

Baila Sebrow is president of Neshoma Advocates, communications and recruitment liaison for Sovri-Beth Israel, executive director of Teach Our Children, and a shadchanis. She can be reached at Bsebrow@aol.com.

Questions and comments can be submitted to 5townsforum@gmail.com.

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Layered Salads Slice Of Life

BY EILEEN GOLTZ Summer is over. Not officially over, but rather in a “school has started, all the pools are closed, and High Holy Day items are in the grocery aisles” kind of way. The temperature still hasn’t gotten the memo that it’s supposed to drop to a tolerable level, and I still want to eat cool meals without heating up the kitchen. (I’m also thinking about what to serve in the sukkah.) This is when I start making layered salads. Great veggies are available, they don’t take long to throw together, and I can whip them up in the morning so they are ready to go when I’m ready to go—when we get home from shul and I need to feed my horde of hungry guests.

The standard ingredients in most layered salads are lettuce or spinach (or both!), hard-boiled eggs, meat or smoked fish, grated cheese (if it’s a fish dish), green onions, and green peas, layered in a pretty glass bowl so the layers can be seen in all their glory.

But the true sign of a great layered salad is the dressing: an incredibly simple topping spread over all the goodies to “seal in” the flavor of the ingredients below. After that, it’s covered, refrigerated for at least 1 hour and preferably 6 to 12 (you can make it the night before for lunch the next day), and then tossed just before serving. It’s a perfect dish for Shabbos or yom tov, or just for an eve-

ning when making dinner in the morning is ideal for someone on the go.

Note: One 10-ounce bag of salad greens yields 4–5 cups; all the salads can be tossed and eaten immediately, but all of them taste better if they are chilled for at least one hour before serving.

Classic Layered Salad Meat. Serves 8–10.

Ingredients: 2 heads lettuce (iceberg, romaine, or a combination), chopped 8 oz. baby spinach, torn salt and pepper, to taste 2 cans sliced water chestnuts, drained 8 hard-boiled eggs, chopped 1 lb. crisp cooked kosher breakfast beef, crumbled; or pastrami or salami, chopped 4 large tomatoes, seeded and chopped 10 green onions, green and white parts, sliced thin 1 bag (10-oz.) frozen peas Dressing: ½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup pareve sour cream 1 Tbsp. sugar up to 2 Tbsp. fresh dill, chopped, or 1 Tbsp. dried Directions: In large glass bowl, combine and mix the lettuce and spinach. Sprinkle the

water chestnuts on top of the greens.

Sprinkle the eggs on top of the water chestnuts, then the crumbled meat on top. Spoon the tomatoes over the top of the meat. Sprinkle a little salt and pepper over the tomatoes, then add a layer of the green onions. Sprinkle the peas on top.

In another bowl, combine and mix the mayonnaise, pareve sour cream, sugar, and dill. Spoon the dressing over the top of the peas and cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

Modified from a Bon Appétit article

Seafood Layered Salad Dairy and Fish. Serves 8–10.

Ingredients: 8 cups mixture of torn romaine and bib lettuce and spinach 2 8-oz. cans sliced water chestnuts, drained ½ cup chopped red onion 2 cups (about 7 oz.) fresh snow pea pods, halved 4 stalks celery, chopped 2 cans baby corn, drained and cut into pieces 1 lb. kosher imitation crabmeat chopped into bite-sized pieces Dressing: ½ cup mayonnaise ½ cup sour cream (or pareve sour cream) 1 Tbsp. prepared white horseradish 1 tsp. Dijon mustard 1 tsp. lemon juice Directions: In large glass bowl, combine and mix the lettuce and spinach. Sprinkle the water chestnuts on top of the greens.

Sprinkle the red onions on top of the

water chestnuts, then the snow pea pods. Sprinkle the chopped celery, then add the imitation crab. Place the baby corn on top.

In another bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, horseradish, mustard, lemon juice, and dill, and mix to combine. Spoon the dressing over the top of the baby corn and cover the bowl with plastic wrap.

Submitted by Lois Rose, Glenview, IL

Tex-Mex Layered Salad Meat. Serves 6 for lunch and 4 for dinner.

Ingredients: 6 cups torn romaine lettuce 2 cups shredded cooked chicken 11-oz. can corn, drained, liquid saved

chicken, then the chopped peppers, celery, and jalapeño. Drizzle the dressing over the top. Just before serving, spoon the salsa over the dressing and then top with the crumbled corn chips. Mix to combine, and serve.

Submitted by Marcie Flickenger, Chicago, IL

Smoked-Salmon Layered Salad Dairy and Fish. Serves 6.

Ingredients: ¾ cup plain yogurt 2 Tbsp. olive oil 2 Tbsp. lemon juice 1 Tbsp. honey 1 tsp. minced garlic ¼ tsp. salt

Directions: In a small bowl, combine the yogurt, olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic, salt, and ½ teaspoon of the pepper. Whisk to combine, and set aside.

In another bowl, combine the lemon zest, parsley, and remaining pepper, and set aside. In a glass bowl, place the shredded lettuce on the bottom. Next, place the cantaloupe on top of the lettuce, then layer the fennel, blueberries, salmon, and honeydew in that order.

Sprinkle the parsley mixture over the top of the honeydew. Cover for at least 1 hour and up to 12; just before serving, spoon the dressing over the top and toss to coat.

You can substitute 8 ounces of imitation crabmeat for the smoked fish. © Eileen Goltz

The true sign of a great layered salad is the dressing.

2 Tbsp. taco seasoning mix 1 red bell pepper, chopped 2 stalks celery, chopped 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded, chopped ½ cup pareve ranch dressing 1 cup corn chips, crumbled 2 Tbsp. salsa Directions: In a bowl, combine the chicken and taco seasoning. Mix to coat. Set aside. In another bowl, place the lettuce on the bottom. Place the chicken on top of the lettuce. Spoon the corn on top of the

¾ tsp. pepper ⅓ cup parsley, chopped 1 tsp. lemon zest 1 cup shredded romaine lettuce 2 cups fennel, thinly sliced 2 cups blueberries or seedless red grapes 8 oz. smoked salmon (not lox) or whitefish if you prefer, broken into bitesized pieces ½ medium-sized honeydew, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 medium-sized cantaloupe, cut into chunks

Eileen Goltz is a freelance kosher foods writer.

She graduated from Indiana University and the Cordon Bleu Cooking School in Paris. She lectures on various food-related topics across the U.S. and Canada and writes columns for the CJN in Chicago, kosherscoop.com, and the OU Shabbat Shalom website, www.ou.org.

She also wrote the Perfectly Pareve Cookbook (Feldheim).

Remember that article?

Visit our archive section and find any issue of the 5 Towns Jewish Times online @ www.5TJT.com

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

September 26, 2014

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DAFYOMISHIURIM In the 5 Towns Far Rockaway Area 4:30 am 5:00 am 5:15 am 5:30 am 5:45 am 6:00 am

6:10 am 6:15 am 6:30 am

6:40 am

@ Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv – Mishnah Berurah: Rabbi Shmuel Grossman @ Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Shmuel Grossman @ Y.I. of Woodmere – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Rafael Fink @ Chofetz Chaim Torah Center – Cedarhurst @ Rabbi Neiman’s Shul – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Yossi Schonkopf @ Agudah of L.I. (Rabbi Reisman) – Magid Shiur: Rav Shmuel Witkin @ Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi (the Red Shul) @ Agudah of L.I – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Dr. Mermelstein @ Aish Kodesh – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Sholom Fried, Rabbi Daniel Fink @ Rabbi Blumenkrantz’s shul @ CBEY- Island Ave., Woodmere – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Shalom Rosner @ Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Dovid Greenblatt @ Beis Medrash of Cedarhurst – Rabbi Spiegel @ Cong. Beis Avraham – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Henoch Grumet @ Beis Haknesses of North Woodmere @ Agudah of West Lawrence – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Moshe Brown @ Young Israel of Law./Cedar. Maggid Shiur: Yale Fishman/Yaakov Shalev @ Y.I. of Oceanside @ Rabbi Katz's Shul in Far Rockaway – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Pinchas Birnhack @ Y.I. of Woodmere – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Aron Glatt

@ Congregation Beth Shalom – Maggid Shiur: Rabbi Yechiel Weberman

6:45 am @ Shaaray Tefila – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Kalish @ The White Shul – Magidei Shiur: Rabbi Kanner @ Agudah of the Five Towns – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Ephraim Edelstein @ Agudas Yisroel of Long Island – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Tzvi Flaum 7:00 am @ Agudah of L.I. – Sunday ONLY – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Dr. Mermelstein @ Congregation Beth Avraham – Sunday ONLY @ Yeshiva Gedolah of 5 Towns – Magid Shiur: Rav Yitzchok Knobel @ Young Israel of Law./Ced. – Sunday ONLY – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Yale Fishman 7:09 am @ Far Rockaway LIRR 3rd car from the end – Direct to Penn Station Magid Shiur: Rabbi Kodesh

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7:10 am @ Agudah of Bayswater @ Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, 131 Washington Avenue 7:15 am @ Aish Kodesh – Sunday ONLY @ Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi (the Red Shul) @ Chabad – Maple Avenue, Cedarhurst 7:30 am @ Agudah of L.I. (Rabbi Reisman) In Library – Magidei Shiur: Rabbis S. Kohn, N. Schweid, R. Flegman @ Congregation Heichal Dovid – Sunday ONLY 7:35 am @ Y.I. of Woodmere – Sunday ONLY – Magid Shiur: Rabbi R. Fink 7:45 am @ Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi (the Red Shul) – Sunday ONLY @ Beth Sholom – Sunday ONLY – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Yale Fishman @ Rabbi Blumenkrantz’s shul - Shabbos ONLY 7:50 am @ Far Rockaway LIRR front section of the last car – Direct to Penn Station 7:55 am @ Lawrence LIRR – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Pesach Lerner 8:00 am @ Shaaray Tefila – Sunday ONLY – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Kalish @ Agudas Yisroel of Long Island – Sunday ONLY – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Tzvi Flaum @ Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, 131 Washington Avenue (Shabbos Only) 8:10 am @ LIRR Far Rockaway Branch, in the last car of the train, which makes stops at Inwood, Lawrence, Cedarhurst and Woodmere at 8:22 am Magid Shiur: Rabbi Menachem Adler 8:15 am @ Beth Sholom – Shabbos ONLY – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Yale Fishman 8:45 am @ Agudah of L.I. – Sunday ONLY in library @ Sunday mornings at Beis Tefilah – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Shaya Richmond 10:15 am @ The White Shul – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Matt Cohen 12:50 pm @ Cedarhurst Center – Ground Floor Conf. Room – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Lichtenstein 8:00 pm @ Agudah of L.I. – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Nochum Katz @ Aish Kodesh – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Simcha Weingott @ Y.I. of Far Rockaway – Magid Shiur: R’ Daniel Martin and R’ Avraham Bachrach 8:15 pm @ Cong. Beis Medrash of Cedarhurst – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Dovid Spiegel 8:30 pm @ Y.I. of Oceanside @ Congregation Heichal Dovid 8:45 pm @ Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Dovid Metz @ Rabbi Blumenkrantz – Magid Shiur: Rabbi Yosef Friedler 9:00 pm @ Agudah of L.I. – Magid Shiurim: Rabbi Lichtenstein/Rotating Chaburah @ Agudah of West Lawrence – Rabbi Brown’s Shul @ Agudah of Bayswater @ Beis Tefilah – (Tues.– Thurs.) Maggid Shiur: Rabbi Ephraim Edelstein

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Kosher Casas: An Exciting Vacation Concept

BY ROCHELLE MARUCH MILLER Kosher Casas has raised the bar in kosher vacation travel. Daring to tread where no one has before, cofounders Bryna Landes and Eve Berman, both successful in their respective marketing and real-estate careers, decided to pool their experience and business acumen to launch an endeavor that would revolutionize kosher travel as we know it.

Thus was Kosher Casas created.

As seasoned travelers, Bryna and Eve and their families have shared many of our own vacation experiences and frustrations. “When a person keeps strictly kosher, traveling and eating well don’t always go hand in hand,” Bryna explained. “Travelers tend to vacation in well-traveled areas where kosher food is readily available, or else they have to carry the equivalent of a grocery store or a kitchen in their luggage.

Because it is complicated to bring meat across a border, kosher travelers tend to frequent the same destinations time after time.” She adds, “We have traveled extensively with our families and we know what it takes to ensure that your vacation is easy and worry-free.”

Determined to find a truly unique vacation destination, they ventured to Costa Rica, a tropical paradise. Far removed from the pressures of a frenetic-paced lifestyle, this gorgeous country offers an abundance of vacation possibilities for the kosher traveler. Enjoy the pristine beaches and watch sea whales and dolphins play. Nature enthusiasts will delight in the wide variety of exotic wildlife and tropical plants. Butterflies and orchids, crocodiles and sharks, turtles and toucans abound.

Life is good in Costa Rica—a friendly, democratic, and peaceful country that welcomes its visitors with gracious hospitality. The ideal travel destination, Costa Rica offers something for everyone. Whether you favor beaches, volcanoes, hot springs, rain forests, monkeys, or outdoor sports such as spectacular horseback riding, zip-lining, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing, surfing, and biking, Costa Rica has it all.

“Affording our clients customized and attentive service is a key component to Kosher Casas,” says Eve Berman. “We will tell you which region and property best suits your needs. We recently advised a family with several boys to book a property that featured a jungle gym. They had such an incredible time; the parents told us that the children were kissing the furniture and didn’t want to leave.”

She adds, “We founded Kosher Casas to fill a niche. Due to our own traveling experience, we have a handle on what it takes to make a great kosher vacation.

We’ve both known what it means to pack several suitcases filled with pots, pans, and groceries and have to worry about transporting meat across the border. We’ve been there, done that, and we wanted to bring an exciting new alternative to kosher travel.”

With meticulous attention to detail, this dynamic duo is deeply committed to making people happy—which is why

they are generating so much buzz. Little wonder that they are highly recommended by their clients for creating the ultimate kosher vacation—easy and devoid of stress.

“We have personally chosen beautiful homes and villas to fit every need,” Bryna said. “We travel to Costa Rica to view each property to ensure that it is exactly as represented. Each property has a full kitchen that has been koshered and filled with meat, chicken, fish, and cheese. As well, each property has a private pool and a concierge who will arrange trips, grocery, pharmacy, and other needs from your arrival and all throughout your stay.”

Choose a villa from Kosher Casas’ menu or click on one of their three regions. Guanacaste features beaches with some of the best surfing, boogie boarding, scuba diving, windsurfing, and jet-skiing that Costa Rica has to offer. And if you’ve always secretly harbored the desire to catch the perfect wave but have never set foot on a surfboard—no worries! Guanacaste is the ideal place to learn how to surf.

Looking for more action sports? Try sport fishing and kayaking in the estuaries that meander through the nearby mountains.

Take a sailing tour where you can snorkel, swim, and relax on the beach.

There is mountain hiking and horseback riding through some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful country areas.

ATVs will take you from the local beaches to the tropical dry forest coast; roam through mountains surrounded by the magnificent views of the North-

west Pacific Coast. Play some tennis and golf at the Hacienda Golf Club, a 6,900-yard, par 71 course that some golfers consider one of the greatest in the world. Enjoy zip-lining through a tropical dry forest—the possibilities are endless. And if the mere thought of engaging in all of these activities is making you just a tad tired, worry not. Prepare to be pampered as never before in any of the luxurious spas that await you, each one affording you a bit of heaven on earth in this tropical paradise.

Costa Rica’s northern region, Arenal is the ideal choice for vacationers with a passion for active sports. Here you will find some of the country’s most striking lakes and mountains.

One of the main attractions of the northern region is the Arenal Volcano, which last erupted in 1968, after being dormant for centuries. Although you may not see lava spewing from the volcano, it is still considered active, as lava from the volcano continues to heat the bubbly hot springs.

Whether you favor beaches, volcanoes, hot springs, rain forests, monkeys, or outdoor sports, Costa Rica has it all.

Manuel Antonio is the perfect mix of jungle, beach, and nature and has a stellar array of activities for adults and children of all ages. Located in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific Coast, the region’s many beaches and national park, rich in wildlife, are its highlights. If you and your family are wildlife enthusiasts, enjoy the beach, and are active adventurers, and if you’d like to be entertained by the most adorable and friendliest monkeys while having breakfast on your patio, Manuel Antonio is the ideal venue for you.

The Arenal area of Costa Rica is a nature lover’s paradise. Located in

Now you can focus on the amazing experiences Kosher Casas has to offer. “We’ve never been on a vacation where we didn’t have to pack two suitcases filled with pots and pans and food,” is how nearly every new client recalls their past kosher travel experience. Happily, Kosher Casas has made all the packing and schlepping of past vacations a thing of the past, redefining kosher travel by making it flawless, fun, and fascinating. Upon your arrival, your personal concierge will facilitate shopping, transportation, groceries, and pharmacy needs—ensuring a truly

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memorable vacation for every member of your family.

Imagine the pleasure of enjoying a barbecue on the deck of your lovely Costa Rican villa. And should you feel the need to be pampered, their personal chefs will prepare gourmet meals for you. If you prefer, you can order delicious prepared meals from Kosher Casas’ menu.

If you are planning a wedding or other celebratory event and are looking for a gorgeous and unique venue, we highly recommend you consider Kosher Casas’ breathtaking options for a happily-ever-after experience. “We have beautiful properties which are ideal for magnificent weddings and feature beautiful accommodations for guests,” says Bryna. “We will help clients bring their dreams to fruition in an exquisite setting. Kosher Casas offers highly personalized service in orchestrating an unforgettable event. Our kashrus is impeccable; we are under the strict rabbinical supervision of Rabbi Yitschak Prober, chief rabbi of Costa Rica.”

With unparalleled customer service and integrity as its hallmarks, Kosher Casas has already earned a sterling reputation and is eliciting an enthusiastic response. Early booking is recommended to ensure availability of the villa of your choice, as many properties are booked well in advance.

For further information, please see the Kosher Casas ad on page 60 of this issue and call 866-613-3618. Bryna and Eve look forward to helping you plan a fantastic kosher vacation that is accessible and easy.

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September 26, 2014

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Annual Rambam Shabbaton: Unprecedented Ruach Over the Shabbos of Parashas Ki Savo, the talmidim at Rambam Mesivta attended the school’s annual Shabbaton at Camp Seneca Lake for a weekend that featured chevrah, learning, sports (including a home-run derby/ Gold Glove tournament and a flag-football tournament), and unprecedented ruach!

As always, the freshman class is composed of boys from many elementary schools, so Rambam arranges for them to arrive in camp a day early to have an opportunity to bond with their new classmates. Following a delicious lunch, the boys were free to swim and play basketball, hockey, football, and softball.

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In the second annual home-run derby and Gold Glove tournament, freshman Dovid Rabinovich was crowned 9th-grade champion, with Yoni Grossman a close second. The two also qualified to compete in the schoolwide home-run derby, which was held postmelaveh malkah.

After a day of sports (plus the music room and spin room) and another delicious meal, the boys were introduced to an activity on perspective and individuality. Assistant principal Mr. Hillel Goldman asked them to “zoom” in and out when making decisions. The night culminated with a competitive and friendly game of “Crazy Dodgeball: Senior Advis-

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

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ers (and Mr. Goldman!) vs. Freshmen.”

Despite the best efforts of the senior team, the dozens of freshmen overwhelmed them on their way to a dramatic victory . . . the first time in school history the freshmen have prevailed!

On Friday, Mr. Goldman led another session, this time on the importance of maintaining individuality in the face of adversity. A few hours later, the rest of the school arrived and the Rambam freshmen now had an opportunity to cement the kesher with the upperclassmen. One of the hallmarks of Rambam Mesivta is that the school is closeknit, and freshmen, sophomores, and even juniors and seniors can know one another by name and forge friendships.

Soon the camp was filled with talmidim, rebbeim, teachers, and advisers playing Frisbee, softball, football, roller

hockey, floor hockey, and basketball in the spirit of achdus. The flag-football tournament, this year featuring eight teams and participation from over 60 students, also kicked off at this time with the finals set for a Motzaei Shabbos Super Bowl.

Kabbalas Shabbos, highlighted by new rebbe Rabbi Noam Singer’s davening and a dvar Torah concerning the importance of achdus shared by Mr. Goldman was followed by another outstanding meal filled with booming zemiros. The beautiful zemiros were so lively and effervescent that the entire yeshiva was standing on benches with interlocked arms.

Senior Chezky Frieden delivered a dvar Torah and the singing and dancing continued at a post-meal tisch led by Rabbi Yossi Ziskind and Rabbi Singer.

Shabbos morning davening featured

a special dvar Torah from rosh mesivta Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, who elucidated the parashah’s key themes. A hot Kiddush was then served, and “Happy Birthday” was sung to freshman Elly Honig. Rabbi Yotav Eliach, Rambam’s principal and noted Middle East expert, discussed his eyewitness accounts of achdus displayed in Israel during the war. During lunch, the momentum established during Kabbalas Shabbos continued as thunderous singing ensued.

Rabbi Yaakov Wiesenberg discoursed on the parashah during lunch, which was followed by even more singing.

After some Shabbos menuchah, talmidim reassembled in the shul for optional learning, and then, an hour later, everyone participated and engaged Rabbi Friedman in a spirited discussion on the topic of lashon ha’ra.

The achdus seen at seudah shelishis epitomized the weekend’s theme of achdus. Led by Rabbi Aryeh Young, who shared a personal story about achdus, the crowd was deeply moved. Rabbi David Block, Rambam alum, former Maccabeat, and now Rambam rebbe, gave a dvar Torah. Seniors Ephraim Fruchter and Ben Silverstein also discussed the parashah and its connection to achdus.

Rabbi Avrum Haar then questioned the mesivta about the true definition of the word “achdus.” Through spirited discussion it was eventually understood that real achdus is unselfishness and giving.

The boys sang into “overtime,” davened Ma’ariv, and heard Rabbi Singer make Havdalah. The entire school then broke out into dancing as all were still clinging to the spirit of Shabbos and chevrah

that had been created over the previous few days.

Motzaei Shabbos continued with the talmidim once again engaging in sports activities. The Flag Football Super Bowl almost went into overtime as the Fighting Fruchters battled the Frieden Fanatics under the lights and with color commentary from freshman Charlie “Garrulous” Grill. In the end, Team Frieden won and Chezky “the Architect” Frieden was named Tournament MVP. Everyone then eagerly headed toward the dining room for a melaveh malkah with pizza, ice cream, and ruach, provided by world-class guitarist and 9thand 12th-grade rebbe Rabbi Ari Boiangiu.

Rabbi Boiangiu’s band included an amazing keyboardist and premier drummer, Mr. Halbfinger, father of senior Shmuel Halbfinger, who himself took the mike.

The night ended with the final round of the home-run derby, as freshman Dovid Rabinovich took home the firstplace trophy, with senior Yitzy Laster a close second. Last year’s Gold Glove winner, Daniel Petrikovsky, was this year’s Gold Glove runner-up, as freshman Akiva Schuck was crowned the Gold Glove champion. The seniors then retreated to a late, late barbecue and bonfire by the lake under the careful gaze of Mr. Shmuli Goldner.

The Rambam Mesvita Shabbaton promoted learning, achdus, and new friendships. The year is already off a great start; the echoes of the singing and learning of the Shabbaton will surely reverberate throughout the halls of Rambam as the memories of time well spent will only grow fonder upon reflection.

BUSINESS WEEKLY Restoring the Primacy of Choshen Mishpat

By Rabbi Meir Orlian

Along For The Ride Aryeh and Dov were planning to attend a conference at a remote convention center. “How are you getting there?” Aryeh asked him a few days beforehand.

“I’m not sure yet,” replied Dov. “My car is not available, so I’ll probably order a car service. Are you interested in sharing it?”

“I can’t afford a car service,” said Aryeh. “If I can’t get a ride, I’ll go by public transportation.”

“Good luck,” said Dov. “Let me know if you change your mind.”

The morning of the convention, Aryeh met Dov. “Did you find anybody driving?” Dov asked.

“No,” replied Aryeh. “I’ll have to schlep on public transportation. Three trains and a bus. But what can I do?

How are you going?”

“I ordered a car service,” said Dov. “He’s picking me up at 4:00 p.m.”

“Is anyone else going with you?” asked Aryeh.

“No,” replied Dov, “just me.”

“Since there’s plenty of space in the car,” asked Aryeh, “maybe you’ll let me come along for the ride?”

“What!” said Dov. “I should pay everything and you come for free?”

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“What’s it to you?” argued Aryeh.

“You’re paying for the cab anyway!”

“Why should I be the only one paying?” replied Dov. “If you want to come, chip in your share!”

“It’s not worth it to me,” responded Aryeh. “If I don’t get a ride, I’ll have to take public transportation. It doesn’t cost you anything to allow me to come; it just helps me.”

“But if I let you come for free, you certainly won’t pay,” said Dov. “This way, maybe you’ll decide to chip in. I’m willing to cover two-thirds of the cost. “ “I just can’t afford it,” said Aryeh.

Aryeh called Rabbi Dayan. “Dov ordered a car service to a conference and refuses to allow me to join without paying, so I’ll have to go by public transportation,” explained Aryeh. “Is there any reason to require Dov to allow me to come along for the ride?”

“Dov should allow you to come along, especially if you’re adamant about taking public transportation rather than paying,” answered Rabbi Dayan, “but he cannot be forced to do so, according to many authorities.”

“What is this based on?” asked Aryeh.

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ALONG FOR THE RIDE Continued from Page 63 “This question relates to a concept known as kofin al middas S’dom,” explained Rabbi Dayan. “In S’dom, people refused to let others benefit from their property even when it did not entail any loss to them. This behavior is frowned upon. Sometimes, we even force people not to act this way but to allow others to benefit.”

“Isn’t that exactly what Dov is doing?” exclaimed Aryeh.

“Not exactly,” replied Rabbi Dayan.

“Middas S’dom applies when the owner cannot gain at all from his property, yet withholds benefit from others. There is a dispute, however, whether it applies when he withholds the benefit as leverage to make the other party pay. For example, if you asked to join a ride to work on a regular basis, the car owner could, according to the lenient opinion, refuse—even if it didn’t cause him any hardship—with the hope that you might agree to carpool or chip in significantly for gas.” (Rema, C.M. 154:3; 174:1; 363:6) “But here Dov can’t really gain,” insisted Aryeh. “It’s a one-time ride and he can’t hang out a sign ‘car ride for rent’!”

“Indeed, the Rema (C.M. 363:6), based on the Mordechai, indicates that if the person cannot benefit at all, we would force him to benefit others,” replied Rabbi Dayan. “However, the Noda BiYehudah (C.M. 2:24) and Beis Ephraim (C.M. #49) explain that we apply kofin al middas S’dom only to force someone to

allow others indirect benefit from his property. However, we can never force someone to allow actual use of his property without payment, even if he cannot earn from it. Here, also, Dov hired the car service. Thus, we cannot force him to allow you to come along without payment.” (Pischei Teshuvah, C.M. 170:1; Pischei Choshen, Geneivah 8:3) “It is strongly recommended, though,” concluded Rabbi Dayan, “that you reach an agreement that will benefit you both.”

Payment On Iska Q. A friend wanted to borrow $30,000 and we drafted a heter iska that obli-

accrued. He is prepared to repay me $20,000 but wants that payment to be applied to the principal to lower the amount of “interest” that continues to accrue. Should the money be applied to the outstanding principal or to the “interest”?

A. Shulchan Aruch (C.M. 83:2) addresses the circumstance in which there are two outstanding loans and the lender and borrower disagree which loan should be repaid first.

For example, if one loan has a guarantor and the other does not, the lender prefers to apply the current payment toward the non-guaranteed loan so that if the borrower ultimately

In S’dom, people refused to let others benefit from their property even when it did not entail any loss to them. gated him to pay 7% on the loan until the loan is repaid. Our agreement was that he has one month to repay the loan from the time that I call the loan due. Ten years have passed and he owes $51,000 in principal and “interest.” I contacted him and explained that although I realize he does not have the means to repay the entire owed amount, I want him to pay me the “interest” that has

defaults on the other loan, he will be able to collect from the guarantor. The borrower, on the other hand, wants this payment to cover the guaranteed loan so as to remain on good terms with the guarantor. The halachah favors the lender. Rema adds that even if the lender was silent when he took the payment, he can subsequently claim that his intent was to apply the

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money he received to the non-guaranteed loan. The rationale behind this ruling is that the borrower becomes “subservient” to his lender (eved loveh l’ish malveh) and thus the lender has the upper hand (Tur).

There is a disagreement whether this principle applies to other types of debts (e.g., unpaid rent) so that a landlord could apply payments to the oldest debts (Shaar Mishpat 83:1), or whether it is limited to loans that create obligations of “subservient” character to the lender (Kesef Kodashim and Mishpetei Tzedek 148).

It would appear that your case, in which the disagreement is whether the payment should be applied to the principal or the “interest,” is subject to the above dispute. Meaning, since the lender does not want the money to be applied to a “loan” and is seeking to collect the “profit” he earned on his investment (iska), he loses his leveraged position and is subject to the dispute regarding who has the upper hand.

It seems that in your case all opinions would agree that you, as the lender, have the leveraged position. Even though a “heter iska” is drafted using investment terminology rather than loan terminology, the purpose of this arrangement is to avoid ribbis-related issues, but in character, it is understood that it will be treated as a loan.

Therefore, it is logical that, similar to the structure of repaying a loan to a bank, the borrower first pays the inter-

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Good Fun, Good For You!

ALONG FOR THE RIDE Continued from Page 65 est before payments are applied to the principal; so too when using a heter iska, the borrower pays the “interest” before paying the principal. Consequently, you are correct that the $20,000 that the borrower is prepared to pay is applied to the “interest,” and the principal that is owed remains due, so that “interest” will continue to accrue on that amount.

Completing The Transaction

On Sunday, September 14, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital held a Back-toSchool Community Health Fair.

The event featured face-painting, clowns, exercise and healthy-eating demonstrations, book and toy giveaways, music, DJs, kosher pizza and burgers, and lots more fun for the entire family. Enrollment for Child ID programs, Medicare and Medicaid, health insurance, and Food Stamps was also offered. Health screenings were offered for pediatrics, body mass index, pharmacist and nutritionist consults, eyes, mental health, foot health, HIV/AIDS testing, and more.

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Q. I bought a bedroom set secondhand, paid the seller cash, and arranged to come by the next day to collect the items. Does either side still have the possibility of backing out?

A. In a famous statement, Rabbi Yochanan teaches that according to Torah law, cash payment finalizes the transaction (B.M. 47b). However, for transactions between Jews, the Sages revoked the effect of cash payment, and enabled retraction until an act of transaction (kinyan) is performed, as stated in the Mishnah (B.M. 44a). In the case of a bedroom set, this would require pick-

ing up or dragging the beds out of the seller’s property (C.M. 198:1).

Thus, both sides still have the legal ability to back out before the items are collected. However, the Sages strongly discouraged doing so and imposed a curse (mi shepara) on one who does not uphold his commitment. The sale can easily be made binding though performing a kinyan sudar, whereby the buyer hands his handkerchief or pen to the seller in exchange for ownership of the beds (C.M. 204:1,4; 195:1). Nowadays, cash payment might be considered a kinyan based on the concept of situmta, a common business practice.

This article is intended for learning purposes and not to be relied upon halacha l’maaseh.

There are also issues of dina d’malchusa to consider in actual cases.

Rabbi Meir Orlian is a faculty member of the Business Halacha Institute, which is headed by HaRav Chaim Kohn, shlita, a noted dayan. For questions regarding business halacha issues, or to bring a BHI lecturer to your business or shul, please call the confidential hotline at 877-845-8455 or e-mail ask@businesshalacha.com. To receive BHI’s free newsletter, Business Weekly, send an e-mail to subscribe@businesshalacha.com.

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? E-MAIL US AT editor@5TJT.com

The Kol Torah Throughout The Five Towns PHOTOS BY IVAN H NORMAN

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Summer, winter, day, and night—the learning never stops in our community.

1. Yoel Kramer, Elchonon Messner, Chaim Feller, Nechemya Bornstein, Yeshaya Shonek, Yosef Dovid Musheyev, Emanuel Yushuvayev, and Eli Slansky, talmidim of Yeshiva of Far Rockaway, recently made a siyum on the Gemara Gittin which they learned over the summer.

2. Rabbi Yitzchok Frankel, mara d’asra of the Agudath Israel of the Five Towns, giving a daf yomi shiur at Central Perk in Cedarhurst.

3. Rabbi Shmuel Braun, educational director of Congregation Aish Kodesh, spoke of “Our Nearness to the King’s Love: Preparing for the Rosh Hashanah Encounter” at the monthly Rosh Chodesh shiur.

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News From The Hills

BY CHANITA TEITZ I read a lovely post this morning about American tourists who were eating in a restaurant in Israel when some chayalim came in. When the chayalim were ready to pay their bill, they were told it was already paid and the tourists had left them a lovely letter thanking them and blessing them with safety and hatzlachah.

All summer long, I’ve read many similar posts of chizuk and achdus.

It is heartwarming and sometimes moves me to tears. We feel so good

lege students partying so much that they don’t know what is going on in the real world?

This Rosh Hashanah, as always, daven like your life depends on it— yours and the lives of all of Klal Yisrael. We are fighting the war with our tefillos as much as the chayalim are protecting us on the ground. Ceasefire notwithstanding, the war continues on the streets of Belgium and England and France, in Miami, and even New York.

May we all be inscribed in the book of life and peace.

If only we could sing and dance and smile all the time, life would be perfect. inside when we read these messages that I sometimes forget that a war is raging and that watching soldiers dancing and Jews breaking down barriers that separate us is really only a momentary joy—a fleeting, almost magical, oasis in the reality of world upheaval, anti-Semitism, terror, and war.

It’s a welcome feeling because otherwise we would obsess with worry and fear. It allows us to go about our daily lives with hope. If only we could sing and dance and smile all the time, life would be perfect.

Travel warnings have been posted for Rosh Hashanah travelers, because secular Israelis like to vacation chutz l’aretz for the chagim. This year it is not just the Middle East that is dangerous; European locales and even Australia are also on the list.

This morning Fox News showed a clip of a journalist who was sent to a college campus asking students to sign a petition in support of ISIS. It was one of those spoofs to see who would sign and if any of the students would object. At least 12 or 13 students signed. Some asked questions, but it seemed that many of them didn’t even know what ISIS is or they just didn’t care. How is that possible?

Do they really think that by supporting the terrorists, we can get them to stop?

Haven’t they studied about Chamberlain’s appeasement of Hitler and how it didn’t stop him? Are these col-

Upcoming Events Parenting Classes. Join together weekly to view the parenting course of Rabbi Leib Kelemen. This is a 28-hour lecture series on child-rearing from a Jewish perspective based on Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe’s teachings, presented by Rabbi Leib Kelemen. Meet each week on Wednesdays, 2:15–3:15 p.m. from September through April (approximately) at the home of Miriam Solomon, 138-37 78th Road. Next class is October 1 (continuing after Sukkos).

Rav Keleman is the author of many books, among them Permission to Believe: Four Rational Approaches to G-d’s Existence; Permission to Receive: Four Rational Approaches to the Torah’s Divine Origin; and To Kindle a Soul: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Parents and Teachers. He is also the translator (from the original Hebrew) of the classic text on Jewish pedagogy Planting and Building: Raising a Jewish Child, by Rabbi Shlomo Wolbe, and the author of dozens of journal articles. Please contact Miriam at solomonmiriam@yahoo.com with any questions.

Annual Tea of the Erna Lindenfeld Hachnosas Kallah Fund of Queens.

Monday, November 10. Hold the date!

Chanita Teitz is a real-estate broker at Astor Brokerage in Kew Gardens Hills, serving the entire Queens vicinity. For all your real-estate needs, call her at 718-263-4500 or e-mail chanita@astorbrokerage.com.

After the death of the two sons of Aharon who came close to G-d and died (Vayikra 16:1) They approached the supernal light out of their great love of the Holy, and thereby died. Thus they died by “Divine kiss” such as experienced by the perfectly righteous; it is only that the righteous die when the Divine kiss approaches them, while they died by their approaching it. . . . Although they sensed their own demise, this did not prevent them from drawing near to G-d in attachment, delight, delectability, fellowship, love, kiss, and sweetness, to the point that their souls ceased from them.

(Or HaChaim)

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The Day The Earth Stood Still Reflections Of A Teacher Before Rosh Hashanah

BY TOBY KLEIN GREENWALD On the morning of June 12, my heart was ripped out of my chest.

It was the Friday that, as a teacher in Makor Chaim (“Source of Life”) yeshiva high school, I received an SMS that two of our students had been kidnapped. Later we heard that there was a third boy, from Yeshivat Shavei Hevron.

Friday afternoon we received an SMS asking that any of us who live in a community that includes students from Makor Chaim meet with those students on Shabbat afternoon. We were sent a chart listing the names of the synagogues and the time. It’s a dorm school and they had come home for Shabbat.

We let them talk. Several of the boys who came were in the same class as Naftali and Gilad (Sha’ar). They spoke about how they had heard what happened and what they knew so far. We added our own words of faith and encouragement and finished with the reciting of Psalms. The boys in Makor Chaim come from all over, so similar meetings took place throughout Israel.

I never forget a face, but I’m challenged when it comes to remembering the names of all of my former students.

So as we left the synagogue, I asked one of the other teachers to describe the boys who were kidnapped. “You know Naftali,”

At the funeral of Naftali Frenkel, a’h

Students writing haikus

she said. “He was your student two years ago. Tall, lanky, quiet.” Tall and lanky was irrelevant because he was neither when I taught him at 14, but the “quiet” jogged my memory, as that had been a class filled with some of the brightest and funniest boys I’ve ever taught. They would sometimes call out a certain phrase that they knew threw me into a fit of laughter.

When that happened, Naftali would just sit there, with a wry smile I had grown to love, doing his work calmly.

On the Saturday night and Sunday following the kidnapping, there were emergency staff meetings with rabbis, education ministry officials, social workers, and trauma experts. In the days that followed, there were prayer events and visits to the yeshiva from the newly elected president of Israel and the chief rabbis.

Learning In Nature This rustic yeshiva, consisting of caravans in the heart of Kibbutz Kfar Etzion— where I “discipline” a student by telling him to take a ten-minute meditation walk in nature (within the kibbutz security fence)—was suddenly at the eye of the storm, the focus of attention from all over the world. Teachers were asked, at the time, not to give interviews to the media, and we honored that request.

As the days following the kidnapping slipped seamlessly, sleeplessly, one into the next, and the country united in its anxiety and prayer as never before, so grew the apprehension that the end might not be a good one.

The night I got the SMS from my daugh-

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Reflections Continued from Page 69 ter that an announcement had been made on TV that they found the bodies, I was in the audience of our local community center, watching an amateur production of Prince of Egypt. I slipped out of the hall, and in the lobby saw the mayor of our small town hunched, with others, around a smartphone, imbibing the tragic details.

The next day, my husband and I were among the tens of thousands who attended the funerals. We went to Naftali’s and, while waiting for it to begin, we sat in silence among other teachers and students from Makor Chaim. There was nothing to say, just bottles of water to pass in the heat, and silent thoughts.

Of all the heart-wrenching and eloquent words we heard that day, one line stands out in my memory. It was when Racheli Frenkel said she was grateful for the chesed that the boys had been found, “and that is no small thing.” I understood what she meant because in 2009 I had interviewed Miriam Baumel, the mother of Zecharia Baumel. Zecharia and five other soldiers were missing during the war “Peace for Galilee” in 1982, after the chaotic battle in the village of Sultan Yakoub, marked by a Syrian ambush of the Israeli forces. Soldiers Hezi Shai and Arye Lieberman were returned in controversial prisoner exchanges several years later; Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman, like Zecharia, like pilot Ron Arad, have not been heard of since then.

Horrific as the death of the three teens was, it would have been so much more

terrible for them to have remained missing forever, their fates unknown. Nevertheless, for a mother to call the finding of their bodies a “chesed” was a level of acceptance and greatness I found astounding, unfathomable.

A Small Country What followed is known.

Hamas operatives were routed and arrested—even before the finding of the teens’ bodies—by the scores. And then the ground exploded beneath our feet as rockets exploded in the heavens above, as our soldiers went into battle to keep our people safe.

Israel is a small country. Everybody knows somebody who died in the war, and we’re no different. The cousin of our new son-in-law. The son of our daughters’ high school literature teacher. The grandson of a neighbor in Efrat. The fiancée of a young woman whose mother was the librarian in Gush Katif.

No Jew here is an island.

As our grandchildren in Ofakim, down south, huddled in their safe room, the family of another daughter, in Shomria (north-east Negev), almost escaped the sirens, but once. She was napping so soundly when the siren went off that her seven-year-old son had to wake her up.

They ran to crouch down in a hallway, away from windows, as there is no safe room in the pre-fab house in which they dwell, where the residents of Atzmona, Gush Katif were sent after the Disengagement. Her other children were out of the house. Her 14-year-old daughter was with the three-month-old baby at the local library, also without a safe room,

so she took the baby and joined the others in a corner of the room with no windows. Another daughter had taken her younger siblings to a “gymboree,” thankfully located in one of the few bomb shelters in Shomria.

On the personal front, I sank into the darkest writer’s block I have ever known, at a total loss for how to capture grief in words.

Return To The Fountain At the beginning of September, I returned to the rustic caravans of Makor Chaim, to the dusty pathways packed hard beneath my sandals, the trees moaning in the autumn wind, and the slightly creaky caravan doors. It was still warm and the air conditioner, far across the room from my desk, wasn’t quite doing its job. But I looked into the faces of a new crop of ninth graders, who come from the south and the north of Israel, from Jerusalem and from kibbutzim, from settlements and small towns. I saw faces filled with curiosity and expectation.

What messages or wisdom will I bring them today?

Before I entered the class, I met a colleague and asked her, “How are the older boys doing?”

“They’re trying to move on,” she says.

In addition to Naftali and Gilad, Major Benaya Sarel, a graduate of the yeshiva, was one of the last soldiers to die in Operation Protective Edge.

In an ironic and prescient twist, my students at another local yeshiva high school—Neve Shmuel—had entered a film in a Ministry of Education contest last May; the assigned topic was “The

Other Is Me.” Their film, a James Bond parody, was about a man who was kidnapped and then rescued by four agents with diverse personalities and backgrounds, who had to learn to get along in order to accomplish their mission. They succeeded, but lost an agent in the process. These are just a few of the messages that permeate our children’s lives: that sometimes good men die and that we need to stick together.

On my first day back at Makor Chaim I spread out photographs on the floor and had each student choose one and talk about how it connected with his summer. More than half the students had fathers, brothers, or cousins who had fought in Operation Protective Edge. The boys talked about the holy and the mundane—hiking and summer jobs, snappling (rappelling) and campfires, prayer and the study of Torah, sorrow and unity.

I gave them a homework assignment— to write short poems or one-line stories based on the idea that emerged from the exercise. One of them came up to me at the end of class and said, “I’m done.”

“Already?” I asked.

He handed me a piece of paper with one line—“Am Yisrael Chai.” The people of Israel live.

On that day, though my heart was still shattered, my writer’s block broke.

I am sometimes asked why I teach. I feel that I have been handed a gift, for I know that the belief and courage of these young men will one day move the foundations of the world.

When she isn’t teaching, the author is an award-winning theater director and editor-inchief of WholeFamily.com.

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Enhancing The New Year With HaTov v’HaMeitiv

BY ANNA HARWOOD The Rosh Hashanah meal is a festive affair. Traditions abound as to how the evening meal can bring good tidings for the year ahead. While some stick to apple and honey for a sweet new year, others recite a full array of blessings over different symbolic food types—from increasing in numbers like the seeds of a pomegranate to hopes of being the head, not the tail, akin to the lamb’s head that adorns the table. When reflecting on wishes for the upcoming season, one Rosh Hashanah tradition that continues throughout the year is that of the HaTov v’HaMeitiv blessing, recited when switching from one style of wine to another.

As wine flows throughout the night, there is a custom to celebrate the abundance of this joyful beverage which symbolizes wealth, happiness, and success.

In addition to its centrality for sacramental purposes, in ancient Israel wine was

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cleaner and tastier than water, and it continues to be a focal element of Jewish culture. Given wine’s special power to “gladden the heart” and the uniqueness of each wine varietal, the sages instituted a blessing that is said when moving between different types of wine. As opposed to regular blessings, which, once recited, “cover” all similar food types, adding this special blessing kept people aware of the risk of mindlessly drinking intoxicating wine and proclaimed gratitude for the abundance of this most sought-after beverage.

The blessing praising Him who “is good and bestows good” (HaTov v’HaMeitiv) is most commonly recited when switching between a white and a red wine, but it can be said when partaking in a wine of a different varietal, quality, or style. It is said only when the second (or third, fourth, or fifth) wine is of equal or better quality and when the wine is being drunk in company. The sages were clear that drinking alone could lead to

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sin or impropriety and that only when one is in the company of others could true joy be experienced; thus the blessing is said when two or more are present.

Celebrating the good and enjoying superior-quality wines are wonderful ways to enhance the Rosh Hashanah table and raise the spirits of all the celebrants. During

a festival when people try to increase their “blessings,” adding many different wines provides the opportunity to keep proclaiming HaTov v’HaMeitiv. In time for the festive season, there are a number of high-quality Israeli wines that are hitting the shelves, yielding the chance to keep blessing good (and better) offerings.

From white to red. The Galil Viognier is a pleasant change from the more traditional white-grape varieties. The Viognier is a challenging wine to perfect, but the Galil Mountain Winery, on the border of northern Israel, produces a flawlessly dry, yet extremely fruity and floral offering. Move from this more unusual white to an everloved red, the Gilgal Cabernet Sauvignon.

Produced by the Golan Heights Winery, this classic red wine is a treat for any Cabernet fan. Full-bodied and with an exquisite finish, the Gilgal Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits blackcurrant and cherry notes rounded out by earthy, spicy, and oaky characters. While it is eminently drinkable upon purchase, recently wine experts in Israel have been opening decade-old bottles and have been surprised by its aging potential.

Novel blends: From fruity to complex.

The Mount Hermon Indigo, named for its signature indigo color provided by a blend of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, set new standards for affordable kosher wine when it was released last year. Now in its second vintage, it is a medium-bodied, fruity wine combining a deep plum flavor with hints of herb and a subtle smokiness. Move from the Mount Hermon Indigo to the Yarden 2T for a richer and fuller-bodied blended red wine. The Yarden 2T, like the Mount Hermon Indigo, shows off plum and cherry characters, but this blend of two Portuguese grapes has been aged for 18 months in French-oak barrels. The lengthy aging period enables the wine’s deep flavors to flourish and produces a richer, blackberry flavor coupled with Mediterranean spice and deep chocolate notes. The Yarden 2T stole the show this year at the Citadelles du Vin, France’s biggest wine award, and raises the bar when looking for wine to top that which has been previously tasted.

Whites: From young to aged. Moving from a fresh wine to a richer and aged wine normally implies moving from a white to a red wine, but it is possible to do the switch with two white wines. The Gilgal Riesling resembles the traditional Rieslings emanating from the Alsace and Germany regions.

The Gilgal Riesling showcases the Riesling’s familiarly high acidity balanced with tropical and fruity aromas. It is a young and easy-to-drink wine that underwent a short, cold fermentation and makes a great accompaniment to the first course of your Rosh Hashanah meal. Move from this easyto-drink white to a richer, barrel-aged Chardonnay such as the Yarden Odem Chardonnay. Produced entirely from grapes grown in the Odem organic vineyard on the slopes of the Golan Heights, this delicious, aged Chardonnay combines a melt-inyour-mouth buttery flavor with aromatic pear, quince, apple, and tropical notes. The Yarden Odem Chardonnay is aged sur lie for seven months in French-oak barrels, giving it a rich and full body and one which will improve for a number of years to come.

When saying the HaTov v’HaMeitiv blessing, it is preferable to have the previous wine still open and remaining. This Rosh Hashanah, keep the wine flowing all evening and toast l’chaim to a “good and better” year ahead!

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The sixth-grade students were also treated to the Tzivos Hashem shofar factory. The students learned the halachos of what makes a kosher shofar and then each student was able to saw, sand, and blow their very own shofar!

A shanah tovah u’metukah from all at HANC.

AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS JCC’s ‘Play Golf,’ September 28 The Woodmere Club proudly hosts “Play Golf”—golf lessons for children and young adults with disabilities. The goal is working together to increase participation of people with disabilities in the game of golf.

On Sunday, September 28, 3:00–4:00 p.m., the JCC of the Greater Five Towns, in coordination with the Woodmere Club, will provide a golf clinic/ lesson for children and young adults (must be 10 years old) with disabilities. This will be a great recreational and socialization activity for your child with special needs. The golf lessons will be held at the Woodmere Club’s driving range and putting green. Proper golf attire is recommended. Please dress appropriately for the weather.

Volunteers are also needed, either as community service

or those who simply want to share their love of the game.

To register to participate or volunteer for this one-day clinic, please contact David Weingarten at 516-569-6733, ext. 215 or david.weingarten@ fivetownsjcc.org.

Going The Distance With J. Mark Interiors

SKA: Breaking The Ice, Making The Ice Cream The first year of high school can be intimidating for freshmen. The administration of the Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls is constantly working to ensure that the ninth-graders are comfortable in their new surroundings. The annual Big Sister/Little Sister program pairs freshmen and juniors to create special connections between upper and lower classmen, with the goal of building strong relationships both inside and outside school.

The program on Tuesday, September 16, was a wonderful opportunity for the girls to mingle in a relaxed venue.

Rather than just eating ice cream, the girls made their treats. Each pair put ingredients into a freezer bag and, while tossing it back and forth to make the ice cream, got to

know each other in a fun and casual way.

The program made the freshmen feel welcome and an integral part of the school. Every SKA ninth grader now has a “sister” as a friend, role model, and shoulder to lean on.

HANC Gets Ready For Rosh Hashanah The students at HANC’s Samuel & Elizabeth Bass Golding Early Childhood Center and Elementary School in West Hempstead have been busy getting ready for Rosh Hashanah.

Students prepared by learning about the many mitzvos and traditions of the day, including the special tefillos that are said, blowing the shofar, giving tzedakah, dipping apples in honey, and wishing friends and family a “Shanah tovah.” Elementary School principal Rabbi Yaakov Sadigh starts off each day by blowing the shofar!

How do you decorate your home from 6,000 miles away?

You hire the design firm that goes the distance for you.

Jeffrey Mark of J. Mark Interiors is always on the move.

From his New York headquarters to the hills of Jerusalem to trade shows throughout Europe, Asia, and North America, Mr. Mark travels the world to accommodate the growing needs of his discerning clients.

The dream of owning a home in Israel is now becoming a reality for many Americans and Europeans. With the recent increase in vacation home ownership in Israel, Mr. Mark has developed a specialized market. Currently, several of his largest design projects are under way in Israel. Mark’s international clients often

HANC students listening to the shofar

Students are very proud of their hard work on their many hands-on projects. Students painted with apples, made honey dishes and applethemed napkin holders, wrote shanah tovah letters to their families, baked round challahs to take home, and tasted yummy apples dipped in honey.

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turn to him for advice even before taking the leap. His constant presence in both countries allows his clients to feel at ease with their new home purchase.

After the purchase is complete, Mr. Mark and his J. Mark Interiors team get to work developing and mapping out a unique design that’s tai-

lor-made to the client’s individual needs.

His designers in New York can be found on daily conference calls with the Israel office, discussing details of every international project. The goal is to ensure that each new home surpasses the client’s expectations.

As he blends Old World tradition with innovative design, Mr. Mark’s love for the land of Israel and passion for his craft are evident in all of his projects.

In Israel, he oversees all aspects of the building, renovation, and design. After the project is officially completed, Mr. Mark makes sure to follow up throughout the year to ensure that every last need is met. He typically forms long-lasting relationships with his clients and considers them friends.

“Nothing makes me happier than helping my clients create the home of their dreams,” Mr. Mark says. “That goes for any client, but when it’s somebody fulfilling a lifelong dream, it’s beyond exhilarating.”

Some of Mr. Mark’s notable projects are in Jerusalem’s most desirable locations. He recently completed work at the King David’s Crown Jerusalem, the prestigious residence adjacent to the world-famous King David Hotel. The J. Mark Interiors New York showroom has also been designated as the U.S. sales office for the King David’s Crown.

J. Mark Interiors is still as committed as ever to providing its local clients with the same attention to detail and customer service they have come to expect over the past 20 years. Now located at the Five Towns Design Center in Cedarhurst, the 6,500-square-foot showroom

features ever-changing displays that represent the latest interior-design trends and the finest-quality products.

With all of their global resources and staff in place, Jeffrey Mark and J. Mark Interiors can accommodate any project, big or small, at home or abroad.

September Is Busy Season At JCCRP Thanks to the ongoing support of the UJA-Federation of New York, the Jewish Community Council of the Rockaway Peninsula (JCCRP) has been busy serving the community in many areas.

Krasnovsky children packing up knapsacks for distribution

School knapsacks. As part of a generous donation from the Federation, the JCCRP distributed 250 school knapsacks filled with supplies to families in need.

The knapsacks are brand new and were distributed in an array of assorted colors. Packed with grade-appropriate qual-

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AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Continued from Page 79 ity school supplies, it is hoped they will be helpful to many families in our community. These knapsacks have made a sizable impact on what can typically be a time of stress and financial strain for families in the beginning of the school year.

Basketball program. On Sunday, September 14, the JCCRP was proud to kick off the sixth year of its flourishing basketball program. The basketball program was initially funded by a grant from UJA-Federation of New York, and Jodi Mackoff has been its driving force ever since. The program has grown by leaps and bounds. It is operated out of Beach Channel High School and runs through November. Under the leadership of Coach Brett Tawil, the basketball program has developed into a full basketball clinic that is open to boys and girls ages 6–14. Coach Tawil has lived in this community for 40 years and grew up playing organized basketball locally.

Mr. Tawil, who is also the coach at Scholars’ Academy, brings along his student athletes from Scholars’ Academy to help coach the youth. Coach Tawil stated that he has “learned many lessons on how to work with young people from various backgrounds and that this program has thrived at a time where community togetherness and physical movement is in demand, with the focal point being basketball.” Nathan Krasnovsky, executive director of the JCCRP, commented, “The JCCRP is proud to sponsor such an amazing program. I thoroughly enjoyed

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seeing the smiling children on opening night, learning different basketball skills and, most importantly, valuable life lessons from the coach and his dedicated staff.”

The uniqueness of the JCCRP’s setup is that unlike many food pantries, people can select their items in a manner similar to shopping in a supermarket, allowing for the privacy and dignity that they

cials on site assisting with the distribution, including State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder, and Councilmember Donovan Richards. The JCCRP appreciates their willingness to get involved and the constant support they provide to our community.

The JCCRP is a proud affiliate of Met Council and a beneficiary agency of UJA-Federation of NY. The JCCRP provides a range of services for any clients who need assistance in social services or resource directing within the community. For further information, please contact the JCCRP, located at 1525 Central Avenue (entrance on Foam Place), Far Rockaway, NY 11691. Call the JCCRP at 718-327-7755 or visit www.jccrp.org.

Joy Rochwarger Balsam Israel Guidance Program At YUHSG

L–R: Pesach Osina of the NYC Comptroller’s office, Assemblyman Phil Goldfeder, Senator Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., and Nathan Krasnovsky, executive director of the JCCRP, assisting with food distribution

Kosher food pantry. On Wednesday, September 17, the JCCRP Kosher Client Choice Food Pantry ran a Rosh Hashanah food distribution subsidized

by Brach’s Supermarket. The JCCRP arranged for extra items to be included to suit the Jewish community’s needs for yom tov, including Rosh Hashanah staples such as apples, honey, pomegranates, chicken, rice, and much more.

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deserve. With individualized attention, the clients are able to walk through the pantry, one or two at a time, and select various items on their own. Additionally, local yeshivas and kollels picked up packages for their rebbeim and moros, prepackaged according to each family’s needs. In total, more than 500 families were assisted for Rosh Hashanah. The JCCRP is proud to have dedicated offi-

Samuel H. Wang Yeshiva University High School for Girls (Central) recently dedicated its Israel guidance program in memory of Joy Rochwarger Balsam, a’h, a beloved teacher who touched the lives of hundreds of students in Israel and the United States. The program will now be known as the Joy Rochwarger Balsam Israel Guidance Program, thanks to funds donated by Joy’s family.

“Joy’s relationship with Central, her devotion to the State of Israel, and contributions to Jewish education were remarkable,” said Mrs. CB Neugroschl, head of school at Central. “Her cheerful disposition, tremendous faith, love of Israel, and infectious devotion to learning lishmah [for its own sake] inspired

Rabbi Lew works together with Michal Davis-Savitsky, the Israel guidance coordinator, to steer students in the right direction. After consulting with faculty advisers, meeting representatives from the different seminaries, and attending an Israel fair to learn more about the schools, close to 75 percent of the students choose to spend a year in Israel—a unique opportunity to learn, do chesed, tour the country, and forge a deep connection to their homeland.

“The Israel Guidance Program is integral to Central,” said Neugroschl. “It is the belief of the school that a year in Israel will further inspire a student’s commitment to learning Torah and their connection to Eretz Yisrael and Medinat Yisrael.

Joy Rochwarger Balsam, a’h

countless students, making it particularly appropriate that the Israel Guidance Program be dedicated in her memory. I know our students’ learning will continue to honor her memory.”

Joy Rochwarger Balsam graduated from Central in 1984 and attended Barnard College. Following her graduation, she moved to Israel and taught at the post-high-school program at Midreshet Moriah in Jerusalem for over a decade. While living in Israel, she completed her master’s degree from Touro College and wrote her thesis, “Sefer Pa’aneah Raza and Biblical Exegesis in Medieval Ashkenaz,” under the supervision of Dr. Ephraim Kanarfogel, E. Billy Ivry University Professor of Jewish History, Literature, and Law and chair of the Rebecca Ivry Department of Jewish Studies at Stern College for Women.

Joy Rochwarger Balsam was also a protégée of the renowned scholar Nechama Leibowitz and acted as her personal assistant during Leibowitz’s later years. She paid tribute to her mentor in an essay written for the collection Torah of the Mothers (Urim Publications, 2000).

In 2001, she returned to the United States, where she served as a program officer for the Avi Chai Foundation. Her commitment to Jewish education also included 12 years of devoted volunteer work in Poland, where she worked with the Lauder Foundation to help Jews reconnect with their heritage. She was often consulted, both in Israel and the United States, for advice on women’s Torah education.

Joy Rochwarger Balsam passed away at the age of 37 on May 21, 2004, Rosh Chodesh Sivan, just one year after she got married to Jerry Balsam. Her impact on her family, friends, and students was profound, as evidenced by the 16 children who have been named after her.

Now a new generation of students at Central can be the beneficiaries of her kindness and love for Israel. Every junior and senior at Central uses the Israel Guidance Program, which is designed to help each student and her family find the right seminary.

“Central guides each student to consider learning in Israel as a transformative opportunity to further develop her personal commitments to Israel and Torah study,” said Rabbi Zvi Lew, the Israel guidance adviser at the school.

DRS Welcomes Freshmen With Shabbaton This past Shabbos, the freshman class of the DRS Yeshiva High School for Boys spent an exciting Shabbat together on the gorgeous grounds of Ohel’s Camp Kaylie in Wurtsboro, N.Y. The annual freshman Shabbaton takes place at the beginning of the school year and is

geared to helping new students acclimate to their new experience and forge friendships with new classmates.

On Thursday night, the 90 members of this year’s class, hailing from 12 elementary schools, arrived at Camp Kaylie, where they immediately competed in a shiur vs. shiur Wacky Olympics competition. Following the competition, the students were treated to a latenight barbecue. The night was far from over, as many students joined DRS menahel Rabbi Kaminetsky in the gym and played ball until well past midnight.

On Friday morning, following davening, a short shiur, and a hot breakfast,

the freshmen were divided into teams for the annual flag-football tournament.

Each team received a DRS T-shirt in its own color.

The Shabbat meals, tefillos, zemiros, and “DRS-style” tisch were lively and spirited, as students bonded with their rebbeim and classmates over singing and bowls of cholent. Students had the opportunity to hear divrei Torah from some of their classmates and all of the ninth-grade rebbeim throughout Shabbos, focused primarily on the topic of new beginnings, and how the new high-

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AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Continued from Page 81 school experience relates to the beginning of a new year as Rosh Hashanah approaches.

DRS prides itself on the strong sense of achdus felt throughout the school, and by the time the weekend retreat was over, it was obvious that the new grade will return to school with an elevated feeling of camaraderie.

Making The Most Of Elul With Chabad

of Judgment Hashem is “in the fields,” at His most open and compassionate. But with it coinciding with the end-of-summer and back-to-school rush, the spiritual significance of the time can be lost.

Chabad of the Five Towns has been conducting engaging activities throughout September for all ages and backgrounds. At Smile on Seniors, Rebbetzin Hadassah Geisinsky gave a moving shiur about how to best prepare ourselves for this important time. At a weekly ladies’ Navi shiur, Dr. Annett Labovitz spoke about the message of Maftir Yonah. On Shabbos of September 13, a farbren-

The Magen David preseason basketball tournament has been an annual event for the last 20 years. Traditionally it is the opening game for teams in the yeshiva league, and it creates a great deal of excitement and anticipation for the upcoming season. Opening night at the 2014 Magen David preseason varsity tournament started off with Ramaz defeating Derech Hatorah and host Magen David defeating JEC.

sented the most exciting game yet. In a thrilling overtime “nail-biter,” Magen David defeated Hillel by 53–48. There was a great crowd on the edge of their seats as they witnessed this fantastic game. What a great evening this was for high-school sports, as both teams played their hearts out in the true spirit of competitive sportsmanship.

A shout-out to Ed Mills and his fantastic referee crew for doing a great job.

“You are never a loser until you stop trying.”

Elul represents a time of “VIP access” to Hashem, the King of all creation, and Chabad of the Five Towns is engaging the community to take full advantage.

Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi taught that while Hashem is always accessible, in this final month leading to the Day

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gen was held to celebrate Chai Elul, the birthdays of the Baal Shem Tov and the Baal HaTanya. On Sunday, September 14, the Jewish Discovery Program Hebrew School began. In addition, a sofer came

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Day two of the MDYHS preseason tournament featured four more teams.

In the opening game, HAFTR defeated Flatbush by a score of 56–46. HAFTR started off strong with an early double-digit lead, but Flatbush stormed back to cut the deficit to 1 just before halftime. In the second half, HAFTR took back control to secure the victory.

In the nightcap, North Shore defeated SAR in a defensive battle by 36–24.

The third day of the tournament pre-

Day four of the Magen David preseason tournament featured the first semifinal game. HAFTR defeated Ramaz in a close contest that wasn’t decided until HAFTR had a late run with about two minutes to play in the fourth quarter. The final score was HAFTR 46, Ramaz 38. The defensive intensity of this game was fantastic.

The fifth day of the tournament produced the other semifinal team, as North Shore defeated Magen David,

HAFTR champions with the trophy

46–35. It was an intense defensive battle as North Shore took a commanding lead in the first half, but Magen David came roaring back to get within 1 point in the fourth quarter. North Shore had a quick run at the end to secure the victory and create an allLong Island championship game between HAFTR and North Shore.

Since both teams are on Long Island, all involved decided to hold the game at HAFTR for the convenience of parents, players, and the student body of both schools.

In the championship game of the 2014 Magen David preseason varsity basketball tournament, between

HAFTR and North Shore, North Shore jumped out to an early 4–0 lead and maintained that lead by playing tenacious defense. They cruised to a 9–3 advantage after the first quarter. In the second quarter, aided by foul trouble on North Shore’s Cody Cohen, HAFTR made some adjustments and forged a furious comeback to tie the score at halftime 17–17. At the half, the leading scorers for HAFTR were Jon Greenberg and Max Rosner with 5 points each, and Cody Cohen led North Shore with 8 points.

The third quarter was a seesaw battle, with neither team leading by more than 4 points and the score still tied,

Playing the championship game

now at 31–31. Throughout the fourth quarter, the lead kept changing hands and each possession proved to be more critical. Down by 1 with 0.9 seconds left, HAFTR’S Abie Perlow was fouled and sank both ends of a 1-and-1 to seal the victory as HAFTR emerged as champions.

Abie Perlow led HAFTR with 14 points and Cody Cohen led North Shore with 12 points. Looking ahead, these two teams have established a competitive and spirited rivalry that they will carry through during the season.

Congratulations to all the coaches and players for the great sportsmanship throughout the tournament. Special thanks to Jeff Bieder, athletic director at Magen David, for all his hard work in putting together this tournament in such a short time.

Shanah tovah to all.

Quote of the week: “You are never a loser until you stop trying.”

Judah Rhine is co-director of MVP Boys Basketball Camp and has been coaching youth basketball for 30+ years. He can be reached at mvpbasketballcamp@gmail.com.

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OUR ALIYAH CHRONICLE

By Shmuel Katz

‘V’Shavu Avot Ligvulam’ One of the challenges of being an immigrant is the loss of your family.

Maybe loss is the wrong word. With modern technology, we are in almost constant contact with our loved ones throughout the world. Yet contact is not the same as being together.

We live in a world where it is much easier than it used to be. Go back 75+ years and imagine what a move to

and video calls are all tools we can use to keep in active touch, even though it is not really like being there.

We try, on both sides. But there is no question that economic and other factors make it simply impossible for us to be there for all those family events we used to enjoy in the U.S. Smachot, get-togethers, milestones—we prided ourselves as family-oriented and made every Mishpachat Katz

This move was several years in the making.

Israel would have meant for an American Jew. It meant that you might see your relatives once more in your life— if you were lucky. You had a working mail system, so news got through— but an 8,000-mile move across an ocean meant almost total familial isolation.

So we are lucky to live in a modern world that keeps communication at our fingertips. Cell phones, e-mails, chats,

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effort to show up.

Even though I have had all my siblings here in Israel and Goldie’s niece joined us this summer, family is still something that we have lost a bit of. Which is a big part of why we celebrate each new arrival so joyfully. Each arrival simply means so much.

So we headed back to the airport last Thursday with that familiar sense of excitement to be greeting more family

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members who had come on aliyah. Yet this one was not the same.

With my older sister having lived in Israel since 1982, my parents completed the Katz Family circle of aliyah by (finally) making aliyah and (almost) completing a clean sweep of Israeli Katzes (yes, our Chaim being the lone holdout—living in Israel for three years does not count, he is still not an Israeli).

This move was several years in the making. After all, it is not so simple for seniors to reorganize their lives. Letting go of a house you’ve lived in for 40 years.

Finding new doctors. Dealing with a new language and new society. It is a major effort.

So they started small. A couple of months at a time. Then a couple of extended several-month trips. And then, renting an apartment long term and spending only a couple of months in the U.S. (which was one factor that brought them a psak to switch to keeping one day of yom tov). Each step taking them a bit closer.

And then last spring they made the final decision. They would return to Chicago and try to close up shop there, and if things all fell into place, they would look to make aliyah. Well, things fell into place, and they are now here.

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ALIYAH CHRONICLE Continued from Page 84 Sure, they have been coming here for all our family smachot anyway. And they’ll also be wintering (at least a part of the time) in Florida. So they could have not made aliyah, and still lived essentially the same life. But the difference is all the difference in the world.

So we were proud to welcome Zaidy and Bubbee at the airport. And it was a definite treat to sing V’Shavu vanim ligvulam (although my boys and I all sang “V’Shavu Avot Ligvulam”) for my father in shul. We are gratified that the Israeli part of our family has grown yet again. V’chein yirbu.

••• A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about our daughter Chaya’s forthcoming graduation from the Shaare Zedek Hospital School of Nursing. I did not know it at the time, but she was recognized at graduation as the top-scoring student in the class (both in classroom grades as well as in clinical rotations).

She is an amazing young woman and really proved something to us. She was

ranked number one at the end of each year. And she is proof that a teen, one who has no Hebrew skills and has to overcome language, social, and societal barriers, can succeed at the highest levels. We are incredibly proud of her.

••• As we enter the Yamim Noraim, it is time for us to wish you all a shanah tovah u’metukah. May the coming year be a year in which we finally merit the Geulah (and I look forward to helping you bring your korbanot in the rebuilt Beit HaMikdash). May it be a year when we see continued quiet and safety for all Klal Yisrael and Am Yisrael. May it be a year in which our enemies see failure after failure and ultimately are destroyed. And may it be a year in which we all grow closer to G-d and His chosen land, and where we see you join us here as we continue living our aliyah dream.

Shmuel Katz is the executive director of Yeshivat Migdal HaTorah (www.migdalhatorah. org), a new gap-year yeshiva. Shmuel, his wife Goldie, and their six children made aliyah in July of 2006. Before making aliyah, he was the executive director of the Yeshiva of South Shore in Hewlett. You can contact him at shmu@migdalhatorah.org.

Remember that article?

Visit our archive section and find any issue of the 5 Towns Jewish Times online @ www.5TJT.com

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AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Continued from Page 82 to Chabad for everyone to bring in tefillin and mezuzos for inspection. Later in the day, Friendship Circle began with a hands-on holiday program for children with special needs. Mrs. Leah Muller began her program, Connection to the Source, on Monday as well. Chabad’s many youth clubs and the Gan Chamesh preschool have also been excitedly preparing for this auspicious time.

As Rabbi Zalman Wolowik, director of Chabad of the Five Towns, explains, “As we enter our 20th year in the Five Towns, we at Chabad are happy that,

baruch Hashem, so much has been done for our community for people of all ages and walks of life. We are looking forward to doing more, as the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of blessed memory, taught by example to always be happy but never satisfied. We thank our community for their ongoing support.”

There is still time to join Chabad of the Five Towns for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Services, led by Chazzan Shalom Jacobs, at HAFTR High School.

Reservations are encouraged but not required. All are welcome. Visit www. chabad5towns.com/seats or call 516-2952478. Shanah tovah u’metukah.

And he shall bathe his flesh in water, and clothe himself in them (Vayikra 16:4) On that day, the Kohein Gadol immersed (in a mikveh) five times, and washed his hands and feet from the kiyyor (basin) that stood before the Sanctuary ten times: each time he changed his clothes, he was required to immerse once, and wash twice (once before removing the first set of clothes, and again after dressing in the second set).

For there were five sets of services performed by him on that day: 1) The regular morning services, performed in the “ golden garments” (worn by the Kohein Gadol throughout the year). 2) The special services of the day (reciting the confession over the Yom Kippur offerings, casting the lots, entering the Holy of Holies to offer the ketores and to sprinkle the blood of the Yom Kippur offerings)—performed in the linen garments. 3) The two rams brought as “ascending offerings” and the day’s musaf offerings—in the golden garments. 4) Returning to the Holy of Holies to remove the pan of burning incense—in linen garments. 5) The regular afternoon services—in the golden garments.

(Talmud, Tractate Yoma)

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SALAMI

THE BACHELOR

Continued from Page 26

Continued from Front Cover

Abdullah of Jordan, with his wife, for dinner. He is a model democrat with European opinions and education who knows how to appreciate culinary culture. I would be happy for him to eat my salami.”

They say that they do not feel expanding veganism. “It doesn’t affect us,” says Marcel. “The market is headed in this direction, but also simultaneously in the direction of strictness about the quality of salami and meat, and that is to our benefit. Whoever would buy salamis of other companies might go in the vegan direction, but whoever buys from us is a faithful client. And even a few vegetarians who had a stroke and had to start eating meat have come to us—it’s easier for them to eat salami rather than steak because of its shape and form.”

What about the health issue? “For anyone with a cholesterol problem, meat is not healthy. But all we have is meat and spices, not skin and bones of ground chicken, and we have no more than 9% fat. So my salami is indeed healthy salami. And my personal cholesterol condition is excellent. It’s genetic; my dad would eat meat with 30% fat, and he had no problem. True, I had gastric band surgery, but that’s because of the quantities of carbohydrates and mayonnaise that I ate. Meat is not fattening; the additives are fattening.”

year, and the mere mention of it evokes my excitement and curiosity. That happened last year on erev Shabbos when I picked up one of the Torah-sheet giveaways that were piled high on the bima of my shul. Included among interesting vertlach on the week’s parashah were the yahrzeits of the past greats in Torah Jewry. One of them was a Reb Yechezkel Bachur, who died on the 15th of Shevat in the year 1935.

What further spiked my interest was the name. “Bachur” means an unmarried man or bachelor, and to have it used as a surname was odd.

Another anomaly occurred when I researched that date. On that day, in 1935, there was an unusual blizzard in Jerusalem, covering the entire city with snow. It was interesting that last year, at that time, in the year 2013, Jerusalem was also unusually blanketed with snow.

Aside from the date and the few coincidences, my research led me to a most fascinating story that I thought

was worthy of sharing during the month of Elul.

••• On the frigid night on the 15th of Shevat, when venturing outdoors was deemed foolish or even outright dangerous, R’ Yechiel Eckstein, the night watchman of the Batei Ungarin section of Jerusalem, could not imagine who

that R’ Yechezkel was looking for people to make a minyan in his room.

R’ Yechezkel had always been considered a bit eccentric, but this was a little too much. However, when the watchman looked at R’ Yechezkel’s sincerity and the tears in his eyes, he reluctantly agreed to gather a minyan and go with him.

His hands shook as he began reading. A stream of tears cascaded down his cheeks. would be knocking on his guard door.

To his surprise, it was R’ Yechezkel Bachur, the old bachelor who lived off the hallway in one of the Batei Ungarin homes. R’ Yechezkel stood in his ragged clothing with snow covering his beard.

When the watchman inquired what it was that he wanted so late and on such a frigid night, he was surprised to learn

All the ten men who had gathered in his cold, meager room were about to express regret for listening to the pleas of this apparent meshuggener.

But as soon as that thought crossed their minds, R’ Yechezkel washed his hands and made a berachah on a freez-

Continued on Page 94

“I eat the first salami at five or six in the morning.”

They are both members of the Butchers Guild in Switzerland, the occupation’s hall of fame, which had already been founded in 1248. Until 1900, it was closed to Jews, and today there are only 70 members, including both Hesses.

Over the years they have accumulated 30 medals from prestigious salami contests in Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Austria, and others, and Marcel Hess is satisfied overall. “I’m sure that my ancestors are proudly watching the plant from paradise,” he says.” “They would have been proud to know that he is continuing to produce and prosper, and no less important, that he is doing this in Israel. I would like to see the place continue growing under Doron. I am counting on him to succeed and trust that he will also have a generation of successors.”

Somehow, they always have a generation of successors. “We don’t force anyone, and somehow, everyone eventually comes in. Call it family democracy.

Everyone gets a choice—and chooses to stay.”

This article originally appeared in Calcalist Supplement, July 24, 2014. To learn more, visit www.hess1795.ch.

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THE BACHELOR Continued from Page 89 ing glass of water, to which the minyan answered “Amen.” He then lay down on his wooden bed, straightened out his body, and attempted to smooth out his straggly beard. Then the shocker came. With deep sincerity and flowing tears he recited the viduy, the prayer for someone who is about to die. He said “Shema Yisrael,” motioning to the minyan to join him. When they finished davening, all eyes turned to R’ Yechezkel, who was now lying motionless on his bed. After observing him for a few minutes, they all gasped, because it was then that they realized that he had breathed his last. Reb Yechezkel Bachur was dead.

The village was in shock. As the events of the night before became known, the entire city tried to make sense of it. The fact that R’ Yechezkel was able to predict his own petirah, even gathering a minyan for that event, had transformed him overnight from a “meshuggener” to the status of someone very special; some went so far as to assume he could

very well have been one of the 36 hidden tzaddikim.

As a result, almost all of Yerushalayim attended his funeral. The minyan stayed in his room during the shivah period as hundreds learned mishnayos in his memory.

Stories abound in Jewish folklore about such unusual happenings.

Someone who seemed to be a mean or unkind individual his entire life is revealed to be a real tzaddik, or a person who was a stingy miser all his life is surprisingly given tremendous honor normally afforded to a great philanthropist and tzaddik, with people later discovering that during his lifetime he had quietly distributed enormous sums of money to the poor without letting anyone know. Similar stories are told of selflessness and kindness that no one knew about until the very end of the person’s life.

What was it that made this poor, odd bachelor so highly honored? Aside from predicting his own demise and fortuitously gathering a minyan at the time of his death, what supposed greatness did this seemingly strange, unassuming

person possess that propelled him into the hierarchy of Jewish prominence?

You will discover, as the story unfolds, that the appellation “Bachur” was a misnomer. Not only had he been married, but he had children as well. However, to fully understand who Yechezkel Bachur was and how he came to this end we must start at the beginning. We must begin with his father.

••• Among the many talmidim of R’ Yisroel Salanter was a poor orphan boy named Efraim Nachman Radiner. Early on, R’ Salanter noticed Efraim Nachman was blessed with exceptional talent.

He had several unusual gifts. He had an extraordinarily beautiful handwriting, which unquestioningly qualified him to become an excellent sofer. In addition, his steady hand and discerning eye for detail gave him the credentials and ability to become a top-flight shochet or mohel.

On a visit to Kovna one spring, he met a girl whom he eventually married. His wife’s family was from America, and her father happened to be one of America’s leading industrialists.

Eventually, Efraim Nachman joined his father-in-law’s company and worked in his plant in America. Because of his exceptional natural gifts he not only advanced quickly, but through his involvement with the products that his father-in-law’s company produced, he invented a considerable number of tools and industrial equipment, for which many patents were taken in his name. It is even reported that the famous Thomas Edison consulted with him prior to his invention of the light bulb! (Wikipedia) Several years later, Efraim Nachman moved to Toronto to establish his own company. Enormously successful, he became one of the few Jewish multimillionaires at the time.

Despite his great wealth and prominence, he still adhered to a strict learning schedule, continued doing mitzvos, and distributed enormous amounts of money for tzedakah, including large monthly sums to the rabbanim of Yerushalayim to be distributed to the city’s institutions and poor talmidei chachamim.

R’ Efraim Nachman visited Yerushalayim many times and formed close ties with many of the Torah luminaries like R’ Yehoshua Leib Diskin, the Gaon of Brisk, and R’ Akiva Yosef Schlesinger.

On Tu B’Shevat of 1899, R’ Efraim Nachman became ill and died.

••• Efraim Nachman’s son, Yechezkel, followed in his father’s footsteps. He was just like his father: devout, G-d fearing, and sending huge sums of tzedakah to Yerushalayim. Yechezkel married a girl who was also wealthy who bore him two sons and two daughters.

At that time, the Reform movement in America and Canada was on a non-stop campaign of luring Orthodox Jews away from the Torah. Their PR was daunting. They went into areas where frum Yidden lived, inundating them with their distorted literature, attempting to show the archaic nature of Orthodoxy as well as the supposed or perceived cruelty and barbaric laws that are found in the Talmud. They were well-skilled in ignoring all of the great benefits that the purity and beauty of adherence to a Torah life yields, and focused instead on points they thought they could distort and disparage.

One method of entrapment was to produce cleverly arranged theatrical productions ostensibly to raise money for charity, while their true intention was to mock and disparage traditional Judaism and to encourage adapting the Reform way of life.

At first R’ Yechezkel maintained a firm vigil over his household and refused to allow his family to attend these places. One evening, however, his wife and daughters convinced him that there certainly would be no harm in attending an opera that had a nice Jewish theme. The opera was titled “The Sale of Joseph,” which was sponsored by a charitable institution that had all the trappings of Orthodoxy.

Being well-known and extremely wealthy, they were excited to have the opportunity to wear their fancy clothing and to bedeck themselves with

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SERVICES PROVIDED “Kosher” Yoga & Licensed Massage Therapy The Peaceful Presence Studio 436 Central Avenue, Cedarhurst Separate men/ women Martial Arts, Prenatal Yoga www.peacefulpresence.com, 516-371-3715 Live-out housekeeping available P/T or F/T in Manhattan or Queens. 8-years’ experience in Kosher homes.

Has great references. Call 646-836-1283 Piano lessons — Qualified piano teacher with 10-years’ experience offering music lessons in your own home. For children of all ages. Beginners and advanced welcome.

Contact Gila 347-362-0447

Boro Park Ladies Hat Gemach accepting your gently used weekday and Shabbos hats. Woodmere and Kew Gardens Hills drop-offs. 718-972-3211

HELP WANTED

Playgroup 9 AM- 3 PM with hot lunch in Far Rockaway.

20-years' experience. References available.

Call 917-376-7155

Preferred Services of Queens seeks Paraprofessionals to work in yeshivas throughout NYC during the 20142015 school year. 718-831-7979

Experienced Rebbe available to learn any limudei kodesh subject with you or your son. References available.

917-842-2587, PrivateRebbe@gmail.com

Help wanted dental assistant 5 Towns office.

Fax resume to 516-239-4330

“Used or Abused” Before you buy a used car, come in for a free frame (structural) check. Precision Auto Body 691 Burnside Ave, Lawrence. 516-371-1137.

Friends don’t let friends drive junk!

Boro Park Ladies & Children Coat Gemach accepting gently used coats in excellent condition. Woodmere drop-off.

718-972-3699 Simchas Naava Share your simcha flowers! Be m’sameach other simchas! Donate your fresh flower arrangements! We will match your simcha date with simchas following yours or deliver them to nursing home residents. To donate or obtain flower arrangements call 516-239-6066 In memory of a special friend, Naava Wassner Katlowitz

Small beginners Siddurim, and Shabbos guidebooks, both in Russian, are available for you to distribute.

Please call Tashbar Publications at 718-438-9025 (leave message with address, IY”H we will mail them to you for free.)

New Table and Chair Gemach for shortterm simchas. 740 Mador Ct., Far Rockaway.

Call 718-471-0368 G’Mach Chasdei Yisroel — Lending money to people in Klei Kodesh & for Klei Kodesh purposes. In the Far Rockaway-Five Towns area.

Please call 917-822-9910 for more info.

Or email shaimag@gmail.com.

In Memory of R’ Yisroel Ben Binyamin, a”h.

Personal Chavrusa available for learning and growing understanding the beauty of our Torah. Experience of many years in delivering shiurim to Baalei Batim and all those interested in learning. Reasonable hourly rate. This is a project of Kollel Tiferes Avos. Call 718- 316-3874 or call Rabbi Dov Bressler 718- 327-8903. (Payments are tax deductible.)

Retired public school teacher available to tutor men and boys in Hebrew, English, and/or Yiddish in the 5 Towns.

Recession buster. Call 718-552-5525 Study with Steve. One-on-one tutoring. SAT Math prep, regents, high school and elementary math, high school physics.

Call 516-371-5522

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Menadvim — Furniture and Appliances. Like new to Donate and Receive. Call 718-MEN-ADVIm (718-636-2384) We deliver.

Driver wanted to take child to and/or from yeshiva.

Queens to Long Island (morning) and Long Island to Queens (afternoon). Call 347-932-9627

Beautiful business-size cards with Kiruv websites, are available for free (to give to not-yet-Frum people).

Please text or call 718-501-2110

September 26, 2014

SBG Moving — Prompt, professional, and reliable moving service available for local & long distance moves. Lowest rates between NY and Lakewood. Small jobs welcome! We are insured! 347-276-7422

Violin lessons In your home All ages and levels 30-years’ experience Call Eric 516-359-3801

Gemach special for simcha. We provide for you excellent speaker plus MP3 full of Jewish music, plus excellent mike system. Call 718-600-4559

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SERVICES PROVIDED

Community Hab: HASC Center looking to hire males/females 16 and older to work 1-on-1 with individuals with developmental disabilities in their homes and in the community. Immediate Job opportunity in North Woodmere. Hours are weekdays 4pm-7pm; Sundays 3:307:30; Shabbos after 2pm. Good pay! Contact Penina 718-535-1987, psauber@hasccenter.org BYQ P/T, P.M. teacher, 4th grade general studies, 8th grade science, licensed and experienced, e-mail resume byqapplicants@gmail.com

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE Five Towns Jan Kalman Rlty Open Houses, Sun. Sept. 28th Hew 178 E. Rockaway Rd (2-3) 4BR, 2.5Bth H/R. Nu EIK, Guest qrtrs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$519K Wdsb 890 Ivy Hill (12-2) Eleg updtd C/H Col. IGP. 6BRs, huge EIK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.35M Hew Bay Pk W/F Contemp. 5BRs, 3.5Bths, Every Amenity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2.498M N.Wdm Beaut 4BR, 3Bth H/R. Red!! Motiv! Want to hear offers! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$649K Wdm New! Fab 5BR, 3Bth H/R w/2-story extension. 2 Dens, Game rm. A gem! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$875K JanKalman.com 516-569-5651 Healthy and Happy Shanah Tova!

Lawrence —New exclusive, key here! Presidential C/H on exquisite scenic property. 2-story and opulent staircase, 8BR, 6+bth, massive entertaining rooms, very large EIK. Rare find at an amazing price! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,875M Esther Walfish 516-476-7764, Jessica Silver Realty Far Rockaway— Open House Hicksville Rd. Location! Location! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$799K Multi-level home on oversized property 165 deep . . $1M+ Renovated 5BR Tudor. Location!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1.050 Woodmere, N. Woodmere — Open House by appt.

1010 Northfield Rd. Charming exp. ranch . . . . . . . . .$499K Traditional C/H col., in prestigious Old Woodmere . .$605K Renovated 6BR home, magnificent water views . . .$700’s Cedarhurst — For Rent. Renovated 3 rm apt .$1500 Cedarhurst — 424 Broadway. Grand Victorian col . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$699K Lawrence New construction — Palatial 6BR, brick col. on park-like property, grand entry foyer, gourmet EIK, banquet FDR, luxurious MBR and bths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2M+ Milky Forst Properties 516-239-0306

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE L’Shanah Tova Umetukah! Warmest Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year Lawrence — New Exclusive — The Regency — Open House Sunday Sept 28th 11:30 - 4 PM. Please Call Irene. Magnificent, Newly Built Condominium Building With Full Concierge Service, Doorman, Personal Parking Valet, Indoor/Outdoor Heated Pool & Jacuzzi, Full Gym, Card Room, Banquet Room, Wine Cellar That Doubles As A Second Banquet Room, and Separate Storage Room. Regal, Elevator Building With Heated Circular Drive. Beautiful 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom Apartments Available With Wood & Granite Kitchens, Living Room, Dining Room, & Private Terraces . . . . . . . . . . . .$POR Irene Steiner Direct — 516-652-7099 Pugatch Realty Corp Email — isteiner@pugatch.com L’Shanah Tova Umetukah! Warmest Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year Lawrence — New Exclusive — Fabulous All Renovated Contemporary Home On Almost An Acre Of Property. Grand Entrance With Soaring 25 Ft Ceiling, 8 Bedrooms (Master Suite Has His & Her Baths), 6.55 Bathrooms, Huge Rooms Throughout, Granite & Wood Eat In Kitchen, Large Finished Bsmt, Heated In Ground Pool And New Hartrue Tennis Court W/Lights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2.950M Irene Steiner Direct — 516-652-7099 Pugatch Realty Corp Email — isteiner@pugatch.com L’Shanah Tova Umetukah! Warmest Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year Lawrence — Spectacular 8,000 Sq Ft Colonial On 2 Acres In Back Lawrence. Huge Elegant Rooms. 8 Bedrooms, 5.55 Baths, Wood and Granite Gourmet Eat In Kitchen With Butler’s Pantry, Full Finished Multi Room Bsmt Plus 3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bath Guest House On Beautifully Landscaped Property With In Ground Gunite Pool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2.690M Irene Steiner Direct — 516-652-7099 Pugatch Realty Corp Email — isteiner@pugatch.com L’Shanah Tova Umetukah! Warmest Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year Lawrence — New Exclusive! Open House By Appointment Sunday Sept 28th. Please Call Irene. Palatial CH Colonial on XLg Property. Large Eat In Kitchen, Banquet Sized Formal Dining Room & Formal Living Room, Den, 9 Bedrooms, Full Finished Bsmt, Wall Of French Doors Leading to Stone Patio. Garage and Carriage House On Private Driveway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.199M Irene Steiner Direct — 516-652-7099 Pugatch Realty Corp Email — isteiner@pugatch.com

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE L’Shanah Tova Umetukah! Warmest Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year Lawrence Co-Op — Open House By Appointment Sunday Sept 28th. Please Call Irene. Spacious 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Second Floor Apt. Newly Carpeted and Painted, In Prime Location & Close To All. Priced To Sell.

Reduced!! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $89K Irene Steiner Direct — 516-652-7099 Pugatch Realty Corp Email — isteiner@pugatch.com L’Shanah Tova Umetukah! Warmest Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year Woodmere — Over 3,000 Sq Ft Traditional & Beautifully Updated Center Hall Colonial. Wood Floors Throughout. 5 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms, 2 Dens, Eat In Kitchen, Finished Bsmt. Reduced! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $830K Irene Steiner Direct — 516-652-7099 Pugatch Realty Corp Email — isteiner@pugatch.com L’Shanah Tova Umetukah! Warmest Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year Hewlett — Open House By Appointment. Please Call Irene.

Beautiful Garden Town Location, Spacious First Floor, Center Hall 2 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom Apt, Large LR, Formal DR, EIK, W/D in Apt, Beautiful Back Private Terrace. Shows Beautifully And Priced To Sell! Reduced To Sell! . . . . . . $138K Irene Steiner Direct — 516-652-7099 Pugatch Realty Corp Email — isteiner@pugatch.com L’Shanah Tova Umetukah! Warmest Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year Lawrence — Elegant Hampton Style Colonial Built In 2006 With 6 Bedroom, 2 Dens, Gourmet Cherry Eat In Kitchen, 5 Decks, With Golf Course Views, Lush One Acre Property W/LG Gunite Pool, Stone Patios & Cabana. Estate Area . . . .$POR Irene Steiner Direct — 516-652-7099 Pugatch Realty Corp Email — isteiner@pugatch.com

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

L’Shanah Tova Umetukah! Warmest Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year Bayswater/Far Rockaway — Open House By Appointment Sunday Sept 28th. Please Call Irene. New Exclusive. Extra Large 8/9 Bedroom Center Hall Colonial On Huge Property. Updated Eat In Kitchen, Den, Huge 2 plus Car Detached Garage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$739K Irene Steiner Direct — 516-652-7099 Pugatch Realty Corp Email — isteiner@pugatch.com Inwood — Excellent income! Mixed used building.

High traffic area 1st floor offices 2nd floor 2Apts. Rental +basement . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$899K Includes lot next door 212-470-3856 WinZone Re Cedarhurst — Co-op. First show, new to market, ours alone. Large 1BR apt in White House. Very spacious LR, DR, kitchen, 1bth, terrace facing gardens, walk all . . . . .$159K Call Joan 516-319-4482, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710 North Woodmere — New to market, ours alone. Col. in SD#15, large LR, FDR, EIK, den, 5BR, full finished basement on oversized property. Low taxes, walk all shuls. . . .$799K Call Joan 516-319-4482, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710

Bayswater/ FR, Large Corner Property Well-built home, Spacious layout, Large rooms, 3BR (Master suite +2 large BR) LR, DR, EIK, Huge finished basement, Many storage closets, Closed porch, Attic, Attached garage, Walk to Shuls, Well maintained. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $444,900K Owner: 917-434-2220 Woodmere — Absolutely mint classic 4BR/ 3.5 Bath Center hall colonial. Grand 2 story entry foyer. LR with bay window, FDR, Den w/ FP and doors to rear deck. Oversized EIK, MB Suite with FP and dressing room, full fi nished basement.

Located in tree streets off Central Ave . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.2M South Shore Estates 516-569-4980 Woodsburgh — Magnificent Totally Renovated 7+ BR Classic Colonial On 1+ Acre. Lush Grounds With Guest House And Pool. Every Amenity. Must See. Walk To IP Minyan. Call For Appointment & Price.

South Shore Estates 516-569-4980 Cedarhurst — Quality new construction — Six Bedroom, Full Basement, Located On Oversized Lot With Huge Yard. Best Location in Cedarhurst. Come See The Plans And Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.2M South Shore Estates 516-569-4980

Continued on Page 98

L’Shanah Tova Umetukah! Warmest Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year Woodmere — Beautiful Woodmere Park Location! 6 bedroom, 3.5 Bathroom Totally Rebuilt Center Hall Colonial With Cathedral Ceilings, Granite Floors, Large Formal Rooms, Large Gourmet Eat In Kitchen, Den, Bedroom, And Master Bedroom Suite on First Floor With Four Additional Bedrooms And 2 Full Bathrooms Upstairs . . . . . . . . . . $1.499,500K Irene Steiner Direct — 516-652-7099 Pugatch Realty Corp Email — isteiner@pugatch.com

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CLASSIFIED ADS

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Continued from Page 97

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE Woodmere — “New Construction” Walk to all. Classic custom built center hall colonial. Grand two-story entry foyer.

5 Bdrms/4.5 Bths. Nine foot ceilings. Huge open flow. Full Basement. Too many features to mention. See the plans & specifications. If you are dreaming of the perfect home, call Susan for all the possibilities.

South Shore Estates 516-569-4980 Cedarhurst — Classic 5+ Bdrm colonial w/ full bsmt on oversized property. Grand 2-story entry foyer, master bdrm suite & huge kosher kitchen. Too many features to mention.

Call for appt to see the plans and specifications . . . . . . POR South Shore Estates 516-569-4980 Lynbrook Special — Classic 5br/ 2.5 bath colonial on oversized lot with full attic and full basement. Living room with fireplace, large EIK, master bedroom w/bth. 2-car garage.

SD#20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$545K South Shore Estates 516-569-4980 North Woodmere — Spectacularly renovated 5BR, 3bth, pool home, EIK, FDR, Jacuzzi, gas heat. Low taxes, SD#15. Walk to all shuls . . . . . . . . . . . $689K, priced to sell.

718-812-8260 Lawrence — Co-op for sale. First show, ours alone.

Beautiful, spacious, first floor, bright, 2BR, 2bth, large sunken LR, FDR, new granite kosher kitchen, high ceilings in prestigious elevator building, walk all. . . . . . . . . . . .$389K Call Joan 516-319-4482, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710 Cedarhurst — New to market. First show. Ours alone.

Grand C/H col. in MIC, 9’ ceilings, large gourmet kosher kitchen, banquet-sized FDR, large LR & den, radiant heated floors, crown moldings, 4+BR, full finished basement. A must see! On quiet tree-lined street, great location, walk all shuls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . POR Call Joan 516-319-4482, and/or Edy 516-728-2977, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710

Woodmere — Open House by appointment. New to market. Split ranch, renovated, 6BR, LR, FDR, large den, great for large family in SD#14. (Can be mother daughter with proper permits) Walk all. Priced for quick deal!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 579K Call Joan 516-319-4482, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710

Hewlett — New to market. Ours alone. Spacious apt in private house with separate entrance. LR w/ fireplace, kitchen, DR, 2BR with bth (Jacuzzi), parking and use of backyard.

SD#14. Near shopping, transportation, and houses of worship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1900 Call Joan 516-319-4482, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710

Hewlett — New to market. First floor Co-op. Updated 1BR, LR, DR, EIK, patio, bright and sunny w/d, storage and parking included. Great location. walk all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $95K Call Joan 516-319-4482, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710

Woodmere — Open House by appointment.

New to market. Beautiful large col. magnificent Kosher gourmet granite EIK, top of the line appliances, LR, DR, den, 5+ BR, full finished basement, on oversized parklike property, igp. SD#14.

Low taxes. Walk all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $869K Call Joan 516-319-4482, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710

Woodmere — 4 Apts For Rent — Two 2BR Renovated Kitchen & Bath 1st Floor Heat & Water Incld, Close to All, SD#14, Laundry Rm In Bldg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,750/Mo Two 1BR Renovated Bath, Heat & Water Incld, Close to LIRR & Shopping, Laundry Rm In Bldg, SD#14 . $1,375/Mo www.pugatch.com 516-295-3000

North Woodmere — Open House by appointment. Beautiful col. in pristine condition. Totally renovated, LR, FDR, EIK, den, 4BR (1 level), 3.5bths, full finished basement, all systems, great location on tree-lined street, walk all shuls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$769K Call Joan 516-319-4482, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710 Hewlett—Open House by appointment.

New to market. Spacious split level in SD#14, granite kitchen, large LR, FDR, 2 dens, 4+BR, gas heat, central a/c, full finished basement, needs TLC. Owner listening to all offers .$469K Call Joan 516-319-4482, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710 North Woodmere—Open House by appointment.

Beautiful spacious 3,000 sq. ft. brick col. prime location, on quiet treelined street, 5BR (1 level), 4.5bths, Kosher granite EIK, large FDR & LR with designer moldings, den, full finished basement, great for large family, walk all shuls.. . . .$875K Call Joan 516-319-4482, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710 Woodmere— Open House By appointment. Split level, LR, FDR, EIK with skylights, 4BR, den, SD#14, prime location. Walk all Owner motivated.

Present all offers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$449K 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710 or call Joan 516-319-4482

WOODSBURGH

516-239-0306

LAWRENCE OPEN HOUSE

Sun Sept 28th

OPEN HOUSE

3-4:30pm 95 Harbor View W.

Sun Sept 28th

BY APPT

Waterfront Col. With Panoramic Views In Park Like Location, New Kitchen And New Bths, 6 Bdrms, Huge Den, Full Finished Basement SALE OR RENT

OLD WOODMERE

LAWRENCE

OPEN HOUSE

OPEN HOUSE

Sun Sept 28th

Sun Sept 28th

BY APPT

Charming & Gracious C/H Col On Quiet Country St, Lg Flr Fdr Main Level Den Eik Sunrm Overlooking Beautiful Garden, Lg Mbr Suite, High Ceilings, Moldings & More House Has An Addt’l 47X39. Lot

Owner will listen to offers

WOODMERE

BY APPT

Grand Stucco 6 Bdrm C/H Col In Prestigious Sutton Park. Spacious Entry Lg Flr Banquet Fdnr Gourmet Eik W/ High End Appliances , Den, Lux Mbr Suite, Main Level Guest Suite, 10Ft Ceiling. Immaculate!!!!

$1.652M

LAWRENCE OPEN HOUSE

OPEN HOUSE

Sun Sept 28th

Sun Sept 28th

BY APPT

BY APPT

Woodmere New Construction custom c/h col. mbr suite with luxurious bth and closets, +5 bdrms, chefs kosher eik, banquet fdnr, flr, main level den, hardwood flrs, 9ft ceilings,quality finishes, oversized property $1.350M

Renovated 9 Bdrm Col. With Magnificent Water Views, Flr, Banquet Fdnr, Gourmet Eik W/ High End S.S. Appliances, Den W/ Many Beautiful Built Ins Luxurious Mbr Suite, Full Finished Bsmnt, Mother/Daughter Suite On 1st Flr $1.695M

www.Milkyforstproperties.com

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September 26, 2014

FOR RENT

Cedarhurst — New to market. Co-op Ours alone First floor, spacious, 2BR, 1bt, updated kitchen and bath, terrace, w/d, low maintenance, great location, walk all. Best priced 2Br apt in Cedarhurst. Asking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$195K Call Joan 516-319-4482, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710

516-512-3862

Mint Home With Architectul Beams And Beautiful Fpl Fpl, Pegged Oak Flooring, Luxurious Mbr & Bth, + 4 More.

Park Like Property, Beautifully Landscaped $1.29M

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

FOR RENT

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Oceanside — Huge 4BR house, 3bths, close to temple, semi-furnished, MIC, lots of closets, use of driveway and patio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $2700, includes all.

Broker 516-764-6060

Island Park — Urgent Care/Office/Retail 7,000+/- SF on Two Floors, Beautiful Free Standing Elevator Building, Totally Refurbished, Handicap Accessible, Adjacent to LIRR Station, For Lease/For Sale…Call For Details info@pugatch.com, 516-295-3000

L’Shanah Tova Umetukah! Warmest Wishes for a Happy, Healthy, and Sweet New Year Bayswater Rental — New Exclusive. Please Call Irene.

Won’t Last! 3 Bedroom Home For Rent, Living Room, Formal Dining Room, Eat In Kitchen, 2 Full Baths, Garage, Private Driveway, Washer/Dryer Hookup, Storage, Beautiful Water Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1850 mo Irene Steiner Direct — 516-652-7099 Pugatch Realty Corp Email — isteiner@pugatch.com Cedarhurst — House for rent. First show, ours alone.

Spacious 5BR, 3bth, LR, FDR, large Kosher EIK, huge den, central air, prime location, walk all. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$3500 Call Joan 516-319-4482, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710 Far Rockaway — New to market, first showing. Newly renovated 3BR apt in prime location. Call for details. Joan 516-319-4482, 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710

Valley Stream — Minutes From JFK Airport, 400+ Amp Electric, High Ceilings, Ample Parking, Great Location for: Light Manufacturing, Construction, Home Improvement, Freight Forwarding, Inventory or Storage. For Sale…Call For Details info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000 Valley Stream — 7500SF +/- Industrial Building, 2 OH Doors, 400+ Amps, 20’ Ceilings, For Sale…Call For Details info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000 Cedarhurst — 2 Buildings Combined, 5,600SF +/- W/ Private Parking Lot In Rear, 1 Block To LIRR, Income Producing With Vacancy For User/Buyer, For Sale…Call For Details. info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000 Valley Stream — 5,500SF +/- Warehouse W/Offices, 2 Separate Offices, Kitchenette, Conference Rm, Warehouse Space W/OH Door, Private Parking, Great Location, For Sale…Call For Details 516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

Woodmere — New Construction!! 4,300SF +/Office Building With Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Call For Details info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000

Valley Stream — Free Standing Office Bldg, Corner Lot, 2000SF, For Sale Only . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$245K Call For Details. Randy Green 516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com

Lynbrook — Office Space!! 2200SF or 1500SF, Built to Suit, Mins From 5 Towns, Great Parking, Everything Is All New. For Lease. Call For Details.

Call Barry 516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

Woodmere — 800SF Store on Irving Place, Clean Office With Nearby Parking, Price Reduced For Lease . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1,475/Month info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000

Inwood — Warehouse/Office 12,000SF Building With O’H’ Door & 16 Car Private Parking, Mins to JFK, Ready to Deal, For Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.395M info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000 Cedarhurst — 2 Buildings Totaling 5600SF With A 12 Car Private Parking Lot, Steps To LIRR For Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$1.350M 516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com E. Rockaway — 5000SF Office Bldg, Main St, Great Income W/1st Flr Available For User/Buyer, 24 Car Parking, 5 Minutes From The Five Towns Call For Details 516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com

Cedarhurst — Across The Street From Bay Harbor Mall, 1,500SF Take Out Restaurant…For Lease . . $4,500/Mo. info@pugatch.com, 516-295-3000 Cedarhurst — 1, 2, &3 room offices for rent, prime location on Central Avenue, elevator building.

Call 347-247-5540

East Rockaway — 7200SF Office/Warehouse Combo, 5 Minutes from the 5 Towns, 20-car parking, will lease or sell, call for details.

516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com

Valley Stream — 6,000SF +/- Commissary Space, Fully Sprinklered, 3 Walk-In Freezer Boxes, Available For Lease, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$15PSF…Call For Details info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000

Woodmere — 4400SF Brand New Office Building With 24 Car Parking For Sale 516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com

Cedarhurst — 2 Office Suites Available, Opposite the Cedarhurst Post Office, Prime Location, Well Maintained Building, Great Parking, For Lease…Call For Details. info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000

Woodmere — 2 Story (Retail/Office & A 3BR Apartment), Just Off Central Ave, Needs TLC… For Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$400’s 516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com Hewlett — 2000SF Medical Building, With Parking, Call for Details. For Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$629K Call Barry 516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com Lawrence — Professional Suite In The Plaza building, Central Ave, 24hr Doorman, 3 Treatment Rms, Reception & Waiting Area. For Sale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$329K Call Barry 516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com Lynbrook — 6,100SF Warehouse, Fully Built Out Offices, 2 OH Doors For Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$895K info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000 Lynbrook — 6,000SF Warehouse, With office, Kitchenette, & Bathrooms, 3 OH Doors For Sale . . . .$899K 516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front St., Room 230, Second Floor,, Hempstead, New York on 10/01/2014 at 9:30 A.M., and 2:00 P.M. if necessary to consider the following applications and appeals: -----------------------------------------------------------------------THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M. 728/14. BELLMORE - Steven Brown, Renewal of grant to store landscaping trucks (3) in “Bus.” zone., E/s Bellmore Ave., 93.07’ N/o Natta Blvd., a/k/a 1961 Bellmore Ave. 729/14. WEST HEMPSTEAD - Thomas Donolli & Mary Jane Joyce-Donolli, Renewal of grant to maintain 6’ high fence., N/E cor. Mayfair Ave. & Groton Pl., a/k/a 180 Mayfair Ave. 730/14. OCEANSIDE - Joan Niece, Renewal of grant to maintain 6’ high fence larger than pool installation area & with less than required setback., S/W cor. Bunker Dr. & Slice Dr., a/k/a 481 Bunker Dr. 731/14. N. BELLMORE - Patricia Wagner, Renewal of grant to maintain 6’ high fence., N/E cor. Smith Ave. & Haff Ave., a/k/a 1339 Smith Ave. 732/14. WEST HEMPSTEAD - Joan A. Ciervo, Renewal of grant to maintain 2-family dwelling., E/s Sycamore St., 320’ N/o Fairlawn Ave., a/k/a 35 Sycamore St. 733/14. EAST MEADOW - Craig & Renee Grimes, Renewal of grant to maintain pool in side yard & 6’ high fence larger than pool installation area., S/W cor. Nancy Dr. & Plymouth Pl., a/k/a 225 Nancy Dr. 734/14. NR ROCKVILLE CENTRE - June Perry, Renewal of grant to maintain 2-family dwelling., E/s Woodfield Rd., 100’ N/o Pershing Blvd., a/k/a 1239 Woodfield Rd. 735/14. - 736/14. UNIONDALE - Yuan Chun Realty Inc., Renewal of grants: Special Exception to maintain addition to existing coin-operated laundromat (31 washers & 34 dryers); For a variance in off-street parking, insufficient back-up space, insufficient maneuverability & permission to park in Res. “B” District., S/W cor. Front St. & Newport Ave., a/k/a 998 Front St.

Cedarhurst — Retail Store on Central Ave, 1000SF +/with Full Basement. Won’t Last!! For Lease…

Call For Details. info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000 Lynbrook — 2,150 & 2,750 SF +/- Office/Retail Spaces Available, Can Be Combined, Renovated “Vanilla Box” Condition, High Ceiling, High Visibility, High Traffic Location, For Lease…Call For Details. info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000 Lawrence — Up to 8,000SF Space with Parking, Great Exposure, High Traffic For Lease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Call For Details. info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000 Valley Stream — 1700SF Office Space, Full Service, Build to Suit, Underground Parking, Near LIRR StationFor Lease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30/SF info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

Lawrence — Central Ave, 1,650SF + Basement, Very Close To Rockaway Turnpike, Great Location, For Lease Call For Details. info@Pugatch.com, 516-295-3000 Lawrence — Office Max Shopping Center, 1000 Or 4000SF Available, Join Office Max, Sherwin Williams, AutoZone & More, Great Parking, Corner Store On Rockaway Tpke & Burnside Ave For Lease Call for details.

516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com Cedarhurst — 3,000SF Building For Rent, Good For Day Care/Medical/General Offices Call for Details. For Lease . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25/SF Randy Green 516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com Valley Stream — Former dental office all plumbed great location Central Ave. For Lease . . . . . .$3700 per mo.

516-295-3000, info@Pugatch.com Cedarhurst — 2 stores available, 600SF, Cheapest Stores in Town . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . For Lease $1,200/Mo. www.pugatch.com, 516-295-3000 Rockville Centre — 3,500 sq. ft., fully wired for Web, partitioned, will divide. Call 516-322-3555

MISCELLANEOUS Jewish Village Inc, is looking for 500 families to join us at our 1000+ acre campus. All ages. Interested?

JewishVillageInc.org fill out our survey. 402-302-0494

MISCELLANEOUS Hospital bed available with side rails and table to a person or family who can use it.

Joseph 917-841-9905 Yeshiva of South Shore has some membership openings in its burial society. By purchasing an individual, couple or family membership, you will be ensured of select plots in one of several New York area cemeteries. For more information on burial society membership, please call 516-374-7363 or e-mail: societies@yoss.org

Deadline for Classified Advertising in the next issue is Monday, September 29, at 5:00 PM Call 516-569-0502

area & not permitted in front yard on Park Ave., S/W cor.

Park Ave. & Hamilton Rd., a/k/a 533 Park Ave. 739/14. FRANKLIN SQUARE - Marie Andreacchio & Thomas Andreacchio, Mother/Daughter Res. (2nd Kitchen)., S/s Third Ave., 1,860’ E/o Franklin Ave., a/k/a 885 Third Ave. 740/14. - 741/14. BALDWIN - Ceasar A. Manrique & Rebeca Rodriguez, Mother/Daughter Res. (2nd Kitchen); Maintain 4’ high fence forward of dwelling which may substantially obstruct line of sight., W/s Browning St., 100’ S/o Emerson Ave., a/k/a 1834 Browning St. 742/14. WANTAGH - Kenneth McPartlan, Variance front yard average setback on Southview Ave., construct 2-story addition attached to dwelling., S/s Southview Ave., 135.24’ W/o Wantagh Oaks Gate running thru to Jerusalem Ave., a/k/a 3586 Southview Ave. 743/14. - 744/14. POINT LOOKOUT - William & Helen Camera, Variances, lot area occupied, front yard average setback, side yard, maintain garage addition & roofed over open porch both attached to dwelling; Variances, lot area occupied, front yard average setback, side yard, construct 2nd story balcony & roof over open porch both attached to dwelling., E/s Inwood Ave., 300’ S/o Beech St., a/k/a 116 Inwood Ave. 745/14. BALDWIN - Black Pearl Pub, Inc., Special exception to maintain premises for place of public assembly & amusement (cabaret with d.j.)., N/E cor.

Grand Ave. & N. William St., a/k/a 1299 Grand Ave. (SEQR determination not made) 746/14. - 748/14. MERRICK - Chipotle Mexican Grill of Colorado, LLC., Variance in off-street parking (proposed restaurant in existing building); Use variance to install dumpster with enclosure with rear yard variance (not permitted in Res. “A” District); Install double-faced, illuminated, detached ground sign; overall size 144 sq. ft.

(72 sq. ft. per face); overall height 16’; 18” clearance from grade to bottom of sign & setback 2’ 2” from Merrick Rd., S/s Merrick Rd. between Lindenmere Dr. & Merrick Ave., a/k/a 1968 Merrick Rd. 1456/14. - 1457/14. WEST HEMPSTEAD - BAR Properties, Inc., Special exception for proposed laundromat in existing building (33 washers & 42 dryers); Special exception to park in front yard setback on Woodfield Rd. & to park in Res. “B” District; variance in off-street parking., N/E cor. Woodfield Rd. & Cedar St., a/k/a 169 Woodfield Rd. (SEQR determination not made) ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.

737/14. NR FLORAL PARK - Varughese Joseph & Deenamma Varughese, Renewal of grant to maintain 2-family dwelling., W/s 241st St., 256.17’ S/o Jamaica Ave., a/k/a 94-12 241st St.

Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.

738/14. MERRICK - Brandon Hillman, Install pool & equipment in front yard on Park Ave. (not permitted); maintain 6’ high fence greater than pool installation

By order of the Board of Appeals, David P. Weiss, Chairman Richard M. A. Regina, Secretary

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Sign Of The Times: Like Fathers, Like Sons PHOTO BY MECHUTAN PRODUCTIONS

On Monday, September 22, more than 400 Rambam and Shalhevet students joined over 1,000 demonstrators opposite the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center to vigorously protest the production of the pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic opera The Death of Klinghoffer. At center of Rambam students are Rosh Mesivta Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman and his son Aaron, director of operations; Dr. Paul Brody of the Coalition to Stop the Terrorist Opera with his son Rambam freshman Joey Brody; and Rabbi Yotav Eliach, principal, with his son freshman Itai Eliach. Hillel Goldman, assistant principal, is behind them.

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THE BACHELOR Continued from Page 94 expensive jewelry, so they could properly fit in with the recently established enclave of the up-and-coming religious elite. That turned out to be the first step that led to their steep spiritual decline.

From then on they always found some excuse to attend performances such as the Chanukah play of “Judith” and the Purim performance of “Queen Esther.” Soon no excuses were necessary as they attended the more lurid plays as a matter of course.

Yechezkel made peace with this because he did not want to be thought of among his associates as a fanatic who would not allow his family to mingle with their friends. The matter, after all, did not affect his own shiurim, davening, and giving of tzedakah.

Little by little, though, the Yiddishkeit and the morality of the Radiner household began to deteriorate. His wife and daughters began to dress more liberally to fit in with the circles they now mingled in. Off-color literature, which had heretofore been absent from his home, was now common reading. The literature at first was only allowed in the house to inform them of the upcoming performances, but then it became open season— every type of paper was allowed, perverting the sanctity of their once hallowed home.

When the boys returned from yeshiva for Pesach, they joined their mother and sisters at the theater. As

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an afikoman present, one son asked for a movie camera so he could capture the thrilling stage life. Like a good and kind father that he thought he was, Yechezkel consented. (My mother, a’h, used to say, “Ah gutta Tatta iz ah shlechter Tatta.)

Finally, on Chol HaMoed Pesach, Yechezkel’s defenses broke down and he joined his family at a satirical performance named “The Jerusalem Jews and the Monthly Stipend.”

It was so critical of people learning Torah and being supported by others that most of the theater even booed during the performance itself. The vicious satire had such a profound and deleterious effect on Yechezkel that he returned home a changed man. Eventually, he stopped his Torah learning, his davening, and giving tzedakah. His sons were removed from yeshiva and enrolled in the university. His wife removed her sheitel and bared her head in order to resemble other contemporary women.

Yechezkel had to transfer to a Reform temple, as he was too embarrassed to appear in the same shul he had always belonged to. Soon he began driving to his new temple on Shabbos, adorned in his silver-collared tallis.

As the years passed by he forgot his past, he forgot his father’s home, and he forgot his origins.

••• During World War I, the Jews of Yerushalayim suffered terribly from hunger and privation, as the income from abroad on which they so sorely depended was cut off. The leaders

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established a communal kitchen, but that, too, ran dry. Desperate and not knowing where to turn, they rummaged through their old receipt books in the hope of renewing ties with former benefactors who might be able to help them financially and to especially help them to fund the kitchen. In the process they came across the name of one of their old benefactors, R’ Yechezkel Radiner of Toronto. They had wondered what had happened to him; had he died? Was he sick? They blamed themselves for not keeping in touch with this big tzaddik.

They composed a beautiful letter, which had flowery and laudatory titles: “To the Honorable, Rabbinic, Philanthropic Reb Yechezkel, shlita, son of our dear friend, the Munificent, Gracious, True Supporter of Yerushalayim, R’ Efraim Nachman of blessed memory.”

The letter reached Yechezkel on a Shabbos morning. He was by now accustomed to opening his mail on Shabbos, as he was an open violator of Shabbos. When he saw the names of the senders, he gasped. It triggered something within him, taking him by surprise. All of a sudden it seemed he could not get enough air into his lungs. For some unexplainable reason, the letter shook him to the core. He hid the letter until after Shabbos, but remained fitful and restless the entire day.

His family asked him why his sudden and extreme change, but he would not reveal the reason behind it. They wanted to summon a doctor, but he refused. The doctor arrived despite his

refusal, having been summoned by his wife. The doctor said all his vital signs were normal, but was seemingly suffering from an inexplicable bout of depression, which Yechezkel laughed off.

After canceling his evening business appointments, Yechezkel secluded himself in his private office and only then opened the letter. His hands shook as he began reading. A stream of tears cascaded down his cheeks. He felt enormous pain. He could not believe how such a drastic change occurred in his life. He felt that he had fallen from a once beautiful, clean, fine life of goodness, simcha and kedushah, to what he now perceived himself to be: a no-good, pretentious, boastful, irresponsible, and vacuous individual.

How could he have allowed himself to fall so far? He was so utterly devastated as the reality set in that he even begged Hashem to take his life. He wailed like a baby, feeling deeply remorseful for his sins, and for the undeserved righteous impression which the Yerushalayim rabbanim still had of him.

He heard his wife and children on the other side of the door. They had apparently heard his moaning and were further convinced that he needed serious psychological help. Like the doctor said, he was extremely depressed. They then left to attend another theatrical performance.

After they left, Yechezkel put on his hat and jacket, found a Siddur, and after a silence of 15 years, davened a

Continued on Page 104

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THE BACHELOR Continued from Page 102 heartfelt and emotional twohour Ma’ariv.

That was the beginning of his long and difficult road of return to Yiddishkeit. Yechezkel Radiner became a true ba’al teshuvah, changing his mode of dress, and asking his family to do likewise. However, it all fell on deaf ears.

His family tried to influence him to enter a hospital, while he tried to convince them to change their ways. It appeared that there was no resolution in sight.

To make matters worse, as far as his family was concerned, he neglected his business to spend his days learn-

ing Torah. He slowly sold off his vast assets, and transferred them to the rabbanim of Yerushalayim for distribution.

Naturally, this move greatly worsened his family situation.

But the simcha that was felt in Yerushalayim was indescribable! The money he sent literally breathed life into thousands of Yidden. On the other hand, the Reform movement was struck a severe blow that took them a long time to recover from, because for years Yechezkel was their major benefactor.

Obviously, Yechezkel’s transformation created a great deal of friction in the Radiner household, especially with his wife. The irreconcilable nature of his marital situation

finally ended in his divorcing his wife.

In the year 1918, four years after receiving the fateful letter from Yerushalayim, Yechezkel left the Diaspora for Eretz Yisrael. None of the communal leaders in Yerushalayim knew anything of Yechezkel’s former life.

During the first few weeks in Yerushalayim, Yechezkel slept in a hostel, visiting the Kotel each day to pour out his heart to Hashem—begging forgiveness and offering thanks for having enlightened his eyes before his death. He davened to Hashem mainly that He instill the spirit of teshuvah in his family.

On the first night of Sukkos, Yechezkel’s father appeared to him in a dream for the first time since his death. R’ Efraim Nachman informed him that his teshuvah had been accepted and told Yechezkel that he should make himself known to the rabbanim of Yerushalayim, especially to his good friend, R’ Akiva Yosef Schlesinger. R’ Yechezkel did so, but begged R’ Schlesinger not to reveal who he was, nor reveal his past history, as he wanted to live in obscurity like one of Yerushalayim’s poor people without anyone knowing of his former wealth and status. R’ Akiva Yosef did not convince him otherwise, and even helped him find a small room off a corridor in one of the rows of three houses of Batei Ungarin.

Here Yechezkel spent his last years alone and unknown. The neighbors took to calling him “Yechezkel Bachur.”

Two years before his death, Yechezkel heard of his children’s return to Yiddishkeit from one of the Yerushalayim meshulachim who was in Toronto collecting for the Eitz Chaim Yeshiva. As a result, he died a happy man.

R’ Yechezkel’s grave still stands near the section of Nevi’im on Har HaZeitim. The engraved letters have become rubbed out with the passage of years. But if someone strains himself, he can still make out the words.

“HERE LIES BURIED THE RIGHTEOUS RAV WHO GAVE BOUNTIFULLY TO THE POOR, REB YECHEZKEL RADINER, A’H (KNOWN HERE IN YERUSHALAYIM AS YECHEZKEL BACHUR)” Died on the 15th of Shevat 5695 (1935).

The story of the Radiner family was printed many years ago in another Jewish publication, and the author has used that as a basis for this version.

Irwin Benjamin can be reached at Irwin.benjamin@rcn.com. Irwin Benjamin’s new book, To Climb the Mountain, can be purchased at Z. Berman’s or other fine local Jewish bookstores.

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letters to THE EDITOR Insult To In-Laws Dear Editor, I write in response to Doni Joszef’s article “Adding Insult to In-Laws” (September 12). In describing in-law issues that can put stress on a young couple, he includes gifts with “strings attached.” I certainly agree that parents or in-laws who give time or money with the expectation that they will be held in higher esteem than the other set of parents are wrong and this creates a problematic situation for the young couple.

Mr. Joszef goes on to include within “conditional” giving the expectation by the donor parents for some gratitude on the part of the recipients. He admits that as a spoiled, entitled millennial (his words) it’s difficult for him to give a sincere thanks to his parents or in-laws. He goes on to state, “It’s hard to be appreciative when that very sense of appreciation is a conditional part of the deal.” Many of us in our 50s, 60s, and even 70s are working harder and more hours at a time when we thought we’d be slowing down. However, in addition to ensuring a financially secure retirement, we wish to help our children who are dealing with the myriad expenses of our Orthodox Jewish lifestyle. One would like to think that by the time young couples reach their 30s (or sooner) they have viewed firsthand the difficulty of making a living and would have new appreciation for their parents’ hard work and sacrifices. Apparently, to Mr. Joszef, parents helping out is a given and should be done with minimal acknowledgment by the children.

I’m fortunate to know many young couples who are contemporaries of Mr. Joszef’s who don’t hesitate to manifest genuine appreciation for the help they receive from their parents. I thus don’t feel that the only thing to be done is spend car rides back from family functions complaining about the older generation as advised in the conclusion of the article. This would have been a perfect opportunity to encourage some hakaras ha’tov for parents and in-laws instead of validating entitled attitudes.

Perhaps this article is meant to be satirical or tongue-in-

cheek, but the humor was totally lost on me.

E.M.

Doni Joszef Responds Dear E.M., Firstly, thank you for your comments. Feedback is always appreciated, even (especially!) if it comes in the form of critique.

Secondly, I would like to

agree with your assertion that parents and in-laws deserve genuine respect and appreciation for their support.

Thirdly, I would like to inquire where and how I gave the impression that my sarcastic depiction of spoiled entitlement is something to be endorsed or encouraged. The adjectives I used in describing this attitude include the following: ingrate, pathetic, disingenuous, helplessly entitled, and ungracious. Hardly flattering. As you seemed to intuit, my writing style can sometimes carry a tonguein-cheek tone, so if the sarcasm wasn’t as obvious as

intended, I apologize for the misunderstanding.

While your interpretation of my message may have been mistaken, your premise is certainly a valid and relevant one.

People my age need to grow up. We need to be more gracious and appreciative of the good we’re so freely given. We need to be less resentful and more respectful. I could have delivered the message directly, but I chose to sugarcoat it in sarcasm and self-deprecating humor because people tend to digest criticism best when they see it displayed for them rather than directed at them.

At least that’s what I’ve come to believe.

Doni Joszef

Catch up on the latest breaking news at www.5TJT.com

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DAF YOMI INSIGHTS

By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow

Every Bit Counts “Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves G-d and one who does not serve Him” (Malachi 3:18). The Gemara in Chagigah (9b) raises the following point: The verse seems to make two separate distinctions: Between the righteous and the wicked, and between one who serves Hashem and one who does not. Yet aren’t they really two ways of expressing the same idea?

The Gemara explains that both the one who serves Hashem and the one who doesn’t are purely righteous individuals. The one who serves Hashem reviews his learning 101 times, and the one who doesn’t serve Hashem is conferred that moniker for reviewing his learning only 100 times. Apparently, the Gemara is establishing that the optimal number of times to review the same piece of Torah learning is 101.

Rav Itzele Peterburger explains that obviously this individual referred to in the pasuk was capable of reviewing his learning 101 times but chose not to. Therefore he is given this derogatory title of “one who does not serve Hashem.”

Yet the title seems rather harsh. After

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all, this righteous person reviewed the Torah subject 100 times. He was only lacking one additional review. Why should he be referred to as someone “who doesn’t serve Hashem”?

Rav Itzele answers that sincere Torah study brings a deep sense of joy to the soul. The level of satisfaction one

euphoric experience. Hence, the harsh moniker of “not serving Hashem” is applicable, because in essence he was not serving Hashem properly during the first periods of learning.

The Chofetz Chaim has an altogether different approach to answer the above question. He suggests that while it is true that the righteous individual is lacking only one review, it has the significance of being the final one. The Gemara suggests that 101 is the optimum number of times to review a subject. This individual is more than 99% of the way there! Why did he stop early?

If someone is capable of completing a mitzvah yet leaves it unfinished, he deserves the moniker of “not serving Hashem.” Would anyone suggest that

How can one consider even the tiniest part of avodas Hashem insignificant? has while learning is indicative of his application. How could anyone who thoroughly enjoyed his learning and the first 100 reviews forsake the final review? If he could make a conscious decision to skip the final review, it must be that there was something lacking in his study during all the previous times.

He wasn’t learning with the proper concentration and focus that should have resulted in his Torah study being a

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a smartphone that is only lacking one wire is acceptable? It’s 99% complete!

But until it is finished, it’s not a functional product. The Chofetz Chaim likewise felt that 99% of a mitzvah and 100% are worlds apart.

A third approach was offered by Rav Avrohom Kalmanowitz, zt’l. It can be suggested that this individual forsook the last review because he failed to recognize its significance. He reasoned

that it’s only one time out of 101. What difference does it make if he learns it or not? Yet this cavalier attitude towards avodas Hashem demonstrates there is something fundamentally lacking in his entire attitude. How can one consider even the tiniest part of avodas Hashem insignificant? If someone truly appreciated avodas Hashem, then his attitude would be to view every mitzvah opportunity as a precious gem.

The realization that even the smallest part of avodas Hashem is immensely significant can help us overcome the yetzer ha’ra as we approach the Yamim Nora’im. The yetzer ha’ra may say, “Even if you change, can you really change that much? So you didn’t do an aveirah one time, what about the countless other times?” The answer to this is that even the smallest improvement in avodas Hashem is precious and must be treasured.

Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow leads a daf yomi chaburah at Eitz Chayim of Dogwood Park in West Hempstead and is a rebbi at Mesivta Kesser Yisroel of Willowbrook. He can be contacted at ASebrow@gmail.com.

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? E-MAIL US AT editor@5TJT.com

Should You Give Your Child An Allowance?

PROVIDED BY AVI ASHKENAZY

Childhood is full of milestones. First step, first word, first day of school, first job, first date. These milestones are important not only in and of themselves but for what they say about the family’s focus and values. Are we paying attention to each of these milestones, proudly recording each one of our child’s “firsts”? Are we sitting down with our children and discussing our expectations for each new stage of their lives? Are we making the commencement of each stage a teachable moment?

Some consider the age of seven to be the “age of reason”—the time when a child is capable of acting responsibly. At some point thereafter, parents have to decide if they want their child to be responsible for handling money.

Should you give your child an allowance?

An allowance can help your child learn money-management skills. It’s an opportunity to learn budgeting and delayed gratification. Perhaps best of all for parents, an allowance can reduce nagging and whining: children don’t have to beg for toys and treats, because they’re in control of their own spending. But all these wonderful results can only be achieved if time is taken at the outset to lay down some ground rules.

If you decide to give your child an allowance, sit down with him or her and go over a few simple points. Even better, write down the rules in the form of a contract and have your child sign it. If disagreements arise, just refer to the contract!

Here are some points to consider: When should you start? Your child should be able to understand what money is for and have had a little experience with purchasing things.

The beginning of the school year is a good time to start, or perhaps on the child’s birthday.

How much should be given? The amount depends on the child’s age, the family’s budget, what the allowance is supposed to cover, and what’s usual in the community. A potential rule of thumb is a dollar for each year of the child’s age.

What does the allowance cover? For young children who don’t have a lot of

experience with money, an allowance should be mainly for discretionary spending: items like toys and treats.

An eight-year-old can’t be expected to budget for a year’s worth of school clothes, for example. Be sure to discuss with your child whether he or she is expected to pay for lunches and snacks at school, movies, gifts, and so on.

Should kids be expected to save?

Give to charity? Encourage your child to save at least 10 percent of the allowance in order to be able to afford larger purchases down the road. As an incentive, consider matching dollar for dollar whatever your child decides to save. Also discuss giving to charity.

Explain which causes are important to you, and why. They may choose to follow your lead or support a personal interest.

Should you pay for chores? Some families tie allowances to chores in order to show youngsters that money needs to be earned. Others feel that certain chores are a child’s responsibility as part of the family, and that kids should not expect to be compensated for them any more than parents are compensated. You might consider giving your children an allowance with no strings attached but occasionally giving them the opportunity to earn extra money by doing your chores for you or helping with big jobs like spring cleaning or leaf raking. If you don’t like the idea of paying cash for these bigger jobs, consider some kind of reward at the end, such as a family outing.

Whatever rules you decide on for your child’s allowance, it’s important to be firm and consistent in enforcing them. Don’t cave in to every plea— allow your child to make small mistakes and suffer the consequences.

Periodically review the allowance contract you’ve drawn up—once a year, perhaps—and make adjust-

ments befitting your child’s age and increased responsibility. As your child approaches the teen years, consider a separate clothing allowance. Whatever you do, remember the thrill of having your own money when you were younger. Take the time to teach your child good spending habits, and you’ll instill that same pride and enjoyment.

Short- and long-term finances for children—and adults. As your children learn to make choices with the money available to them, consider thinking about the choices—both short and long-term—you are making regarding to your household’s finances. To learn more or to access helpful materials, speak with a local financial professional or visit www.massmutual.com/ family. © Massachusetts Mutual Life lnsurance Company, Springfield, MA. Avi Ashkenazy is a financial representative with Lee, Nolan & Koroghlian, LLC, a MassMutual Agency. He can be reached by telephone at 646-867-8311, 917-767-9053 (mobile) or e-mail: aashkenazy@financialguide.com.

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Community News From Around The World El-Al Reunites Parents With Lone Soldiers For Rosh Hashanah

By Anav Silverman In a special initiative to enable families to spend the Jewish New Year together, 21 flights from El Al Airlines flying from ten international locations are bringing parents of lone soldiers serving in the IDF to Israel.

Flights are taking off from New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, St. Petersburg, Kiev, Moscow, Paris, London, Brussels, and Amsterdam.

On Thursday, September 18, a flight from Moscow with the first group of parents landed in Israel.

El-Al Airlines, the Israel Hotel Association, the Association for the Wellbeing of Israel’s Soldiers, and the IDF’s Manpower Directorate are all part of the unique project to reunite parents with their sons and daughters who took part in the recent Operation Protective Edge against Hamas.

An event of this scope has never taken place before as 125 parents to 77 soldiers will arrive in Israel in the upcoming few days. “We initiated this project in order to show our appreciation to the lone soldiers, who bravely decided to leave their home country and protect Israel,” said David Maimon, chief executive officer of El Al Airlines, which provided the parents of lone soldiers with the free flights.

At Ben-Gurion Airport on Thursday, the lone soldiers waited eagerly for their parents, who are also receiving free accommodations for a five-night stay in hotels that are part of the Israel Hotel Association.

One mother of a lone soldier, Dovrat Ifis, commented that the most meaningful part of the trip was to spend the Jewish New Year with her son. “The best part is that we get to celebrate Rosh Hashanah together. I can’t put into words how happy I am right now. My heart is pounding with excitement,” she stated.

Ifis is also very grateful for the generous initiative. “The time is just perfect and our soldiers truly deserve it—the time has come to hug them and spend quality family time with them.”

Eli Gonen, president of the Israel Hotel Association, noted that his organization has been helping lone soldiers for many years, offering accommodations especially during the Jewish hol-

idays, including Rosh Hashanah and Passover.

“We are supporting the army and soldiers throughout the year,” Gonen stated.

“We are opening our hotels and our hearts to the lone soldiers and their families, providing them with a feeling of home and comfort during the holidays.”

Avigdor Kahalani, chairman of the Association of the Well-being of Israel’s Soldiers, added that lone soldiers will always be supported. “The lone soldiers are not alone—AWIS, El-Al Airlines, the Israel Hotel Association, and the IDF’s Manpower Directorate are there to embrace them after Operation Protective Edge, and just before the New Year, we managed to bring them their loved ones from home.” (Tazpit News Agency)

A Taste Of Jewish Memphis, October 31–November 2 Faced with an uncertain national economy plus skyrocketing costs of housing and education, an increasing number of young Jewish families are choosing to move to the vibrant, affordable, and friendly community of Memphis, Tennessee.

Sensing an opportunity to welcome a skilled, talented cohort of active Jews looking to establish roots, the local Orthodox Jewish community has just initiated a three-year campaign to publicize the benefits of their city and to welcome those who are considering the move. The first big event will be their “A Taste of Jewish Memphis” weekend, where the Memphis ReJEWvenation Committee is preparing for dozens of families from around the country to spend a weekend learning about and enjoying the attractive lifestyle package that the city has to offer. The organizers are already well on their way to meeting their goal of 100 families joining the Memphis Jewish community.

The venerable Memphis community—founded over 150 years ago—

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has emerged as a viable way for young families to escape the onerous costs of suburban living while remaining in an environment that is favorable to raising children.

First-class jewish infrastructure. Featuring a superb Orthodox day school, the Memphis Jewish Community Center (including a preschool), four Orthodox synagogues with dynamic rabbis, and wide availability of kosher food.

Superior lifestyle. A friendly atmosphere and a less frenetic urban pace translates into shorter commutes, smoother human interactions, and an opportunity to enjoy Jewish life to its fullest. Housing is attractive and gracious—costing less than half of other Jewish metro areas. For children, the environment is a throwback to the idealized neighborhoods of 50 years ago.

Economic advantages. Tethered to a low cost of living is a solid range of jobs and careers in growing fields. In particular, Memphis is known for health care, logistics, and software. With no city or state income tax, young families making the move learn that in Memphis, they can do more than “survive” economically—they can actually build a stable financial foundation.

For prospective transplants, some of the most profound selling points are the personal stories of families much like their own who have recently made the move.

“It is the rare city where one can experience both small-town perks and an exceptional Jewish community, complete with choices of schools, synagogues, and activities,” says Dr. Lindi Vanderwalde, who, with her husband Ari, moved their four children here just a year ago from Los Angeles. Both physicians, they see a wide range of excellent opportunities, in particular within the Memphis health-care sector. But beyond the attractive facts and figures, their opinions are a reflection of the benefits of the Memphis lifestyle.

“The pace of life is slower and easier and it is much more family-friendly,” Lindi adds. “People are nice and accommodating, and care about each other. Protecting family time is a cultural value in the city—work ends comparatively early for even the busiest professionals.”

Rachel and Steven Schwartzberg moved to Memphis three years ago from Washington Heights and were overwhelmed by the support and hospitality they received from their new friends. Rachel, a writer at the fundraising arm of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, is pleased with their decision.

“This is certainly not the experience of most of our friends when they moved to communities in Long Island or New Jersey. An added plus for Memphis is that the winters are relatively mild and our commutes are less than a half-hour by car.”

Steven, who is in marketing at FedEx, notes that the timing of their move was just right: “We were ready to leave New York . . . we were done with the high costs of living, of never having the time or money to take advantage of all it had to offer. Also, we noticed that every Shabbos-meal

discussion among our friends and neighbors revolved around when people would be moving away and where they would go.”

At the November 1 “A Taste of Jewish Memphis” weekend, visitors will enjoy full Southern home hospitality including a communal Shabbat dinner and Shabbat lunch with host families.

They will have multiple opportunities to interact with local Orthodox families and speak with employment and real estate experts.

For further details about the weekend, please contact movetojewishmemphis@gmail.com or call 901-2199794. Generous subsidies are available for travel to Memphis for the recruitment weekend, as well as for relocation costs.

Full information is available at www.100NewFamilies.com.

The Call Of The Shofar At Har Torah

Yeshiva Har Torah welcomed Rabbi Zalmanov from the Chabad of Eastern Queens this past week to demonstrate the process of shofar-making.

Rabbi Zalmanov came with a life-

size display of rams and deer, along with the various types of shofros used around the world. The fourth grade had the unique opportunity to receive their own individual unfinished shofar, which they sanded down and later shellacked. Seeing and making a mitzvah come to life was a great experience for the students.

Agudath Israel’s Kapparos Kol Korei Reissuing a rabbinic statement (Kol Korei) that was first published seven years ago (see translation below) and that remains relevant today, Agudath Israel of America is calling upon the community to exercise care regarding the custom of kapparos before Yom Kippur. Given the size of the community and the large number of chickens that will be handled in the upcoming days, the practice of kapparos needs to be conducted in a manner that ensures that proper standards of kashrus, cleanliness, and humane treatment of animals, as defined by halachah, are met. This can be achieved by patronizing only those establishments that

are under appropriate rabbinic supervision.

••• To all our Jewish brethren, Hashem’s blessings upon you!

As the yemei ha’rachamim v’hadin rapidly approach, and as Jews will soon be fulfilling the minhag of kapparos during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, we wish to emphasize the need for all public kapparos centers to be under the exacting hashgachah of a competent rav ha’machshir to ensure that all aspects of this “minhag vasikin” (Rema, Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 605) are done properly in accordance with halachah.

Halachic authorities have long pointed out the need for special care to be taken during the kapparos process that the chickens be slaughtered and processed properly, especially on erev Yom Kippur, when many shochtim spend long hours shechting large volumes of chickens (as discussed in Mishnah Berurah, ibid., se’if koton beis). A proper hashgachah will oversee all aspects of kashrus throughout the entire process, including the proper handling of the chickens prior to shechitah so as to avoid fractures or other defects that would render the chickens treif; the validity of the shechitah itself, including the necessary periodic checking of the knife used for shechitah; the post-shechitah internal bedikah; and the proper kashering of the chickens (soaking, salting, and rinsing).

In addition to these kashrus matters, the hashgachah will also ensure

that all other relevant halachos are carefully adhered to throughout the kapparos process, including such matters as health and safety concerns (both those that concern the well-being of those who handle the chickens, as well as those that concern the safety of the food); scrupulous compliance with the Torah’s laws of tza’ar ba’alei chayim throughout the entire process of storing, transporting, and handling the chickens, which should be done by responsible adults, not children; ensuring that a live chicken that has already been used for kapparos by one individual should not be reused for kapparos by another individual; and sensitivity to tzniyus concerns, to avoid improper mingling to the extent possible.

We have enlisted the assistance of a group of distinguished local rabbanim to work together with the proprietors and sponsors of kapparos centers and with mashgichim to implement proper standards, and to oversee the centers to ensure that nothing improper transpires in the kapparos process.

We therefore call upon the entire tzibbur to patronize only those kapparos centers that are under the exacting hashgachah of expert rabbanim.

In the z’chus of carrying out this minhag vasikin properly, in full compliance with halachah, may we all be zocheh to kapparas avonos, and to be inscribed in the Book of the Righteous for a good and blessed year.

To this we have placed our signatures, for the benefit of the community, these final days of Chodesh Elul 5767.

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