Image Magazine August 2026

MDY LEARNING, CONNECTING, & Growing All Summer Long TIMELESS RULES OF INVESTING From the Torah EDUARDO FARHI From Aleppo to Brooklyn

KOREAN ANTIAGING CREAMS Breakthrough or Too Good to Be True FOUR GREAT QUESTIONS TO Ask Your Kids

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TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURES COVER STORY

PROFILE

PERSONAL GROWTH

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54

74

The Special Children’s Center A Community That Believes in Every Child

Returning to My Roots A Family Journey Through Greece and the Enduring Legacy of Greek Jewry

Seven Pearls of Wisdom from a 102-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor

By Sofya Tamarkin

By Ben-Gurion Matsas

DEPARTMENTS 96

BEAUTY Korean Anti-Aging Creams Beauty Breakthrough or Too Good to Be True?

84

BOOKS The Stories We Carry

123

CALENDAR

28

36 40

121 122

80

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CLASSIFIEDS COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS COMMUNITY EVENTS Community Photo Album Summer Smiles and Camp Memories COMMUNITY NEWS The Jewish Community’s Push for Universal School Meals

FOCUS ON A Community Without Borders MDY Learning, Connecting, and Growing All Summer Long DSN Men’s Over-40 Softball League Wraps Up Successful Season The Skin Questions I Hear Most

By Dr. Loren Franco

64

The New York I’m Fighting For

78

Why Choose the State of Wyoming to Form an LLC

32

44

66

Ten Timeless Rules of Investing from the Talmud

By Menachem Katz

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Undecided: Six Rules to Help You Make Decisions

By Dr. Leslie M. Gutman

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PROFILE Eduardo Farhi From Aleppo to Brooklyn The Journey of a Beloved Hazan

By Sarina Roffé

IN MEMORIAM My Aunt Rachel

By Mary Halawani

MARRIAGE 10 Things Your Mother-in-Law Wishes She Could Tell You

The Fireman Trap Why Smart Leaders Get Stuck in a Cycle of Constant Urgency

By Jeff Sitt

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70 88

PERSONAL GROWTH Forgiveness Demands Real Change on the Part of Two People

By Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt”l

60

By Rabbi Meyer Laniado

RECIPES Summer Wraps with a Twist Fresh, Flavorful Handhelds for Easy Summer Meals

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RESTAURANT GUIDE: NY

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WRITERS’ THOUGHTS The Handcuffs Were Never the Story

By Sarah Pachter

By Ari Baum, CFP®

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By Ben-Gurion Matsas

INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS Rabbi, No Halakha Today?

On What We Celebrate, and the Culture It Creates

PARENTING Four Great Questions to Ask Your Kids

By Debbie Gutfreund

By Bruce Blakeman

By Eddie Esses

FINANCE The Cost of Waiting Waiting Feels Safe Until It Isn’t

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NUTRITION Back to School, Back to You

By Laura Shammah, MS, RDN

By Linda Argalgi Sadacka

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From The Editors

VOLUME 36 ISSUE 3 AUGUST 2026 AB - ELUL 5786

August is here, and summer activities are filling our days. The warm weather brings families together for vacations, camp, outdoor gatherings, and plenty of fun in the sun.

Yet summer in our community is about more than relaxing. It is also a season of action, as hesed initiatives bring people together to raise funds for institutions and organizations serving our community locally, in Israel, and around the world.

Our cover story features the Special Children’s Center and the remarkable work it does for children with special needs and their families. Its dedication, compassion, and warmth reflect the values that make our community so special.

Ben-Gurion Matsas PUBLISHER/EDITOR Rachelle Fallas Matsas EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As we enter the month of Elul, our thoughts begin turning toward Rosh Hashanah and the work of teshuva. Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt”l reminds us that genuine forgiveness requires more than words. It demands responsibility, remorse, and real change. Rabbi Meyer Laniado asks us to consider what we choose to celebrate, because those choices reveal what we truly value and help shape the culture of our homes and communities.

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This issue also shares the remarkable life of Eduardo Farhi, whose journey took him from Aleppo to Beirut, Brazil, Mexico, and finally Brooklyn, where he served as hazan at Congregation Shaare Zion for 43 years. We also follow publisher Ben-Gurion Matsas as he returns to Greece, the country of his birth, with his wife Rachelle, his son Steven, and his grandson Ben. Their journey through Athens, Salonika, Ioannina, Arta, Preveza, and Patras connects one family’s history with the enduring legacy of Greek Jewry.

Throughout the magazine, you will find highlights from MDY’s summer programs and DSN’s Men’s Over-40 Softball League. The Morris I. Franco Community Cancer Center also presents important guidance from dermatologist Dr. Loren Franco on skin cancer risks, warning signs, sunscreen, prevention, and the importance of regular skin screenings. You will also discover pearls of wisdom from a 102-year-old Holocaust survivor, practical help with decision-making, Korean anti-aging creams, recipes for easy summer wraps, and 10 things your mother-in-law may wish she could tell you.

May the remaining weeks of summer bring your family joy, connection, reflection, and meaningful preparation for the year ahead.

Ben-Gurion Matsas and Rachelle Fallas Matsas

Advertising Inquiries ads@imageusa.com Editorial Inquiries editor@imageusa.com Published Monthly.

Digital editions available on our website www.imageusa.com.

Deadline for advertisement is the 15th of the month, prior to publication.

Subscriptions available for $24 a year for 12 issues, email image@imageusa.com.

© 2026 JEWISH IMAGE™. All rights reserved. No material may be reproduced without the express written permission of the publisher. All advertising is subject to the applicable advertising agreement or insertion order. Advertisers are solely responsible for their content. The publisher does not independently verify advertising content. Advertisers agree to indemnify, defend, and hold the publisher harmless from any claims, liabilities, damages, and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising from such content, including claims of copyright or trademark infringement, false advertising, or defamation. All articles and letters reflect the opinions of their authors and not necessarily those of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, or omissions in editorial or advertising content. JEWISH IMAGE™ does not certify or guarantee the Kashrut of any product or establishment and does not endorse any products or services. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the publisher shall not be liable for any damages arising from the use of this publication or its content. The publisher reserves the right to edit, reject, or cancel any material at its discretion. This publication is governed by New York law, with exclusive venue in New York courts. If any provision is held invalid, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect.

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P E R S O N A L

G R O W T H

FORGIVENESS DEMANDS REAL CHANGE ON THE PART OF TWO PEOPLE RABBI LORD JONATHAN SACKS ZT”L

In 2011, it was reported that Rupert Murdoch had offered to donate a million British pounds to charity on behalf of the murdered teenager Milly Dowler. A few days later, Jews began the special prayers we say before Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. One word connected these two events. The word “sorry.” That’s the word Rupert Murdoch used when he met Milly Dowler’s family. And we call our prayers Selichot, meaning saying sorry to G-D, as we prepare to say sorry to those we’ve offended.

But there are two different ways of saying sorry. Last year an American classics professor, David Konstan, published a fascinating book called Before Forgiveness. In it he argued that though reconciliation is as old as humanity, repentance and forgiveness are not.

In the classical world of ancient Greece and Rome, if you wanted to placate someone you had harmed, you had to argue it wasn’t really your fault. Please, sir, it wasn’t me.

And if it was me, I didn’t really mean it. And if I did mean it, I couldn’t really help it. That, plus some rituals of selfabasement, might just appease the other person’s anger.

That’s saying sorry as a gesture of regret.

Judaism and Christianity, says Konstan, brought something new into the world: the idea of repentance and forgiveness. Forgiveness is not about denying responsibility. It’s about accepting it. Yes, I did it. Yes, it was my fault. And I now see that I was wrong. That’s saying sorry 12 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

not as a gesture of regret but of remorse. Remorse cuts deeper than regret. And it seeks not just appeasement but forgiveness.

Forgiveness demands real change on the part of two people. The perpetrator needs the courage to acknowledge his or her wrong. And the victim needs the courage to let go of animosity and revenge. It’s the supreme test of human freedom, and it’s one of the greatest gifts Judaism and Christianity brought to the moral imagination of humankind.

Think of what could happen in some of the most intractable conflicts of the world if both sides could acknowledge the pain they’ve caused one another, if they could accept responsibility instead of saying, “It was your fault,” if they could truly face and forgive one another. Improbable, yes.

But impossible? No. To say sorry to those we’ve harmed and to forgive those who’ve harmed us is the most difficult moral challenge in the world. But they alone have the power to heal the wounds of the past and build a better future together.  Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks ZT”L was an international religious leader and philosopher. The author of over 30 books, Rabbi Sacks received multiple awards in recognition of his work. Sadly, he passed away in November 2020.

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C O M M U N I T Y

N E W S

THE JEWISH COMMUNITY’S PUSH FOR UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS HOW A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN TEACH NYS, AGUDATH ISRAEL, SENATOR SUTTON, AND GOVERNOR HOCHUL IS HELPING NEW YORK’S NONPUBLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES EDDIE ESSES

NEW YORK’S HISTORIC EXPANSION OF UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS IS PROVIDING FREE BREAKFAST AND LUNCH TO MORE THAN 42,000 ADDITIONAL NONPUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS WHILE SAVING COMMUNITY FAMILIES TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

S

ometimes the most meaningful victories are measured not by headlines, but by the thousands of families whose daily lives become just a little easier.

For three years, Teach NYS, founded by the SCF and Sam Sutton, advocated for a universal school meals program for nonpublic school students. Teach NYS continuously engaged with numerous elected officials, effectively rallying key support for the proposal.

Agudath Israel also played an instrumental role in the campaign. Agudah brought scores and scores of Yeshivot to lobby elected officials on behalf of tens of thousands of students and write letters directly to the governor in support

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of expanded universal free meals for nonpublic school students. A year ago, the vision of Teach NYS, Agudath Israel, and Senator Sutton became a reality.

Now, one year after Governor Hochul signed New York’s universal school meals program into law, the impact is undeniable. More than 42,000 additional nonpublic school students are receiving free breakfast and lunch each school day. The program is helping families save money, eliminating the stigma of “lunch shaming,” and ensuring that every child, regardless of where they attend school, has access to nutritious meals.

For New York’s Jewish community and the broader

nonpublic school community, this represents one of the most significant education victories in recent memory.

A PROMISE FINALLY FULFILLED For years, Teach NYS, Senator Sutton, and other advocates pushed for New York to recognize a simple principle. Every child deserves access to healthy meals at school, regardless of family income or whether the child attends a public, charter, or nonpublic school.

Governor Hochul helped make that vision a reality by securing $340 million in the FY2026 State Budget to establish truly universal free school meals across New York.

Today, every participating public, charter, and nonpublic school can offer free breakfast and lunch to every student, with New York State covering the remaining cost for students who were not previously eligible for free meals.

The result is exactly what supporters hoped for. More students are participating, children have access to healthier meals, and families are receiving meaningful financial relief.

A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN NONPUBLIC SCHOOL PARTICIPATION The numbers tell the story. In March 2025, 163,080 students in New York State nonpublic schools participated in the program. By March 2026, that number had risen to 205,232, an increase of 42,152 students.

Participation among students in New York State yeshivas and day schools also rose sharply. The number increased from 145,008 students in March 2025 to 178,012 in March 2026, an increase of 33,004 students.

More than 42,000 additional nonpublic school students are now benefiting from the program statewide, demonstrating both the demand for and the success of universal school meals. The increase includes approximately 33,000 children attending yeshivas and Jewish day schools in New York State. Within that figure are approximately 4,000 children attending Sephardic yeshiva schools.

MORE THAN MEALS, REAL FINANCIAL RELIEF Universal school meals are also delivering substantial savings to working families. Analysis has estimated that nonpublic school parents are collectively saving approximately $60 million annually through the program.

A family with one child can save an estimated $1,440 each year. A family with two children can save approxi-

mately $2,880, while a family with three children can save approximately $4,320 annually.

For families already making significant sacrifices to provide a Jewish or other faith-based education for their children, these savings are meaningful. Every dollar families no longer spend on school meals is a dollar that can instead go toward tuition, housing, childcare, or other household expenses.

SENATOR SAM SUTTON’S ADVOCACY WITH THE GOVERNOR Long before taking office, Senator Sam Sutton championed universal school meals as president of the Sephardic Community Federation, SCF, and founder of Teach NYS. He recognized that thousands of middle-income families were falling through the cracks. Many earned too much to qualify for traditional meal assistance but still struggled with the rising cost of living and private school tuition.

SCF also fought to end the harmful practice of lunch shaming, a problem that affected children across every community. Although New York City had been legally authorized since 2017 to provide universal school meals, including kosher and halal options, implementation stalled for years despite persistent advocacy.

After being elected to the State Senate, Senator Sutton continued making funding for nonpublic schools a top priority. He worked closely with Governor Hochul and legislative leaders, including Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, to continue bringing additional funds to our Yeshivot.

Senator Sutton has developed a close and producAUGUST 2026 JEWISH IMAGE 15

C O M M U N I T Y

N E W S

tive partnership with Governor Hochul that has consistently translated into meaningful investments for New York’s Jewish communities. Whether securing increased security funding, expanding educational support, or advancing initiatives that ease the financial burden on families, that working relationship has delivered tangible results.

ANOTHER MAJOR WIN FOR NONPUBLIC SCHOOL FAMILIES Governor Hochul and Senator Sutton’s partnership and commitment to New York’s nonpublic school community extend beyond universal meals. Just this past month, the governor committed New York to opting into the new Federal School Choice Tax Credit. The program will allow donors to nonprofit scholarship organizations to receive a $1,700 federal tax credit for eligible contributions.

For New York’s Jewish community, this represents another landmark achievement. Once implemented, the program is expected to generate tens of millions of dollars in scholarship funding that will directly help families offset the cost of nonpublic school tuition. Combined with universal school meals, these initiatives represent one of the most significant reductions in the cost of nonpublic education that New York families have seen in decades.

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BUILDING A STRONGER FUTURE Universal school meals demonstrate what is possible when government works collaboratively with community leaders to address real challenges facing working families.

Thousands more children are receiving nutritious meals, parents are saving millions of dollars, and schools are seeing greater participation without the burden of determining which students qualify.

Most importantly, every child is treated equally. These are the kinds of practical, bipartisan accomplishments that improve everyday life. They show what can happen when committed advocates, effective legislators, and a governor willing to listen work together to deliver meaningful results for New Yorkers.

Senator Sutton said, “A free breakfast and lunch for every schoolchild in New York State is now a reality and is showing impressive results. NYC and NYS nonpublic school children are saying goodbye to lunch shaming and hello to a nutritious breakfast and lunch, regardless of income.”  Eddie Esses has been civically engaged in the community for many years, alongside Joey Saban. He is an active board member of the SCF, senior advisor to Senator Sutton, and owns multiple retail franchise stores.

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W R I T E R S ’

T H O U G H T S

THE HANDCUFFS WERE NEVER THE STORY LINDA ARGALGI SADACKA

THE DEBATE THAT FOLLOWED ZOHRAN MAMDANI’S DECLARATION THAT PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SHOULD BE ARRESTED IF HE CAME TO NEW YORK MISSED THE POINT ENTIRELY. FOR DAYS, LAWYERS ARGUED OVER WHETHER A MAYOR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ARREST A VISITING FOREIGN LEADER. CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS DEBATED JURISDICTION. COMMENTATORS PARSED INTERNATIONAL LAW. THE DISCUSSION BECAME A SEMINAR ON LEGAL PROCEDURE. BUT THE LAW WAS NEVER THE STORY. THE SYMBOLISM WAS.

P

oliticians choose their words carefully because they understand that words are more than expressions of opinion. They are signals. They communicate priorities. They tell voters who deserves sympathy, who deserves condemnation, and what causes should occupy the public conscience.

That is why the real question has never been whether a mayor could arrest Israel’s prime minister. Mamdani knew he couldn’t. The question is why Zohran Mamdani elevated an arrest he knew he had no legal power to carry out into a defining political statement.

Every September, world leaders from across the globe gather in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. They include presidents, prime ministers, kings, and dictators. Among them are leaders whose governments

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have been accused of imprisoning dissidents, persecuting religious and ethnic minorities, and committing some of the world’s most serious human rights abuses. Yet the foreign leader Zohran Mamdani chose to single out repeatedly in his public rhetoric was Benjamin Netanyahu, the democratically elected prime minister of Israel. That choice deserves scrutiny.

This is not an article about whether one supports Benjamin Netanyahu. Israelis debate him with extraordinary passion. They criticize him, vote for him, vote against him, protest him, and defend him. That is what democracies do.

Nor is this an argument that criticism of Israel is somehow beyond the bounds of legitimate political discourse. It is not. The concern is something different.

There is a profound difference between criticizing a

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government’s policies and making the criminalization of its elected leader into a defining political symbol. One invites debate. The other communicates something far more consequential. That distinction matters because New York is not just another American city. It is home to the largest Jewish population outside the State of Israel.

For Jewish New Yorkers, discussions about Israel are rarely confined to foreign policy. Unfairly, the distinction between Israel and Jews often disappears in public discourse. Jewish students find themselves questioned about Israeli military operations. Jewish professionals are expected to defend decisions made by a government they did not elect. Jewish institutions become targets whenever conflict erupts thousands of miles away. This is the reality in which Mamdani chose his rhetoric. And it is a reality that cannot be ignored.

Words do not merely reflect culture; they shape it.

Political leaders decide which prejudices are stigmatized and which are legitimized. At a moment when antisemitism is already surging across New York, Zohran Mamdani has repeatedly chosen language and symbols that, in my view, embolden hostility toward Jews and deepen the sense among many Jewish New Yorkers that their fears are being minimized rather than confronted.

No responsible person should claim that one speech explains one assault. Criminal responsibility belongs to those who commit crimes. But it is equally irresponsible to pretend that political rhetoric exists in isolation. Leadership is not exercised only through legislation. It is exercised through moral language. Public officials influence what becomes fashionable, what becomes acceptable, and what society increasingly tolerates.

That is why context matters. Jewish schools throughout New York invest enormous resources in security.

Synagogues employ guards and hardened protections that would have seemed unimaginable a generation ago. Many visibly Jewish New Yorkers think twice before displaying outward signs of their faith. These are not abstract fears. They are daily realities. Against that backdrop, political symbolism carries extraordinary weight.

Questions about judgment did not end with rhetoric alone. Mamdani’s administration faced scrutiny after his commissioner for international affairs, Ana María Archila, arranged a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations that was later canceled following intervention by the U.S. State Department. Mamdani said he had not authorized the meeting and described it as an internal mistake that led to new procedures. Readers can judge that explanation for themselves.

But leadership is measured not only by speeches. It is measured by priorities, by appointments, by the judgment exercised inside an administration, and by whether those choices inspire confidence among the communities a mayor is sworn to serve. That is why this debate is bigger than Benjamin Netanyahu. It is about whether New York’s 22 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

political leadership appreciates the reality confronting one of its oldest and largest communities.

When Jewish New Yorkers hear the leader of the Jewish state repeatedly portrayed as uniquely deserving of arrest, they do not hear those words in a vacuum. They hear them while walking past armed security at their children’s schools. They hear them while attending synagogues protected by concrete barriers and security personnel. They hear them in a city where antisemitic incidents have become a persistent concern rather than isolated exceptions. Their concerns deserve to be taken seriously, not dismissed as political overreaction.

But this article is not ultimately about Zohran Mamdani.

It is about us. For years, I have argued that we misunderstand how New York politics works. We pour our energy into general elections while treating primaries as an afterthought, even though, in many districts and citywide races, the primary effectively decides who will govern.

We discuss politics around our Shabbat tables, share articles across WhatsApp groups, and lament the direction of our city, yet too often fail to show up when our votes have the greatest influence. Democracy does not reward outrage after Election Day; it rewards participation before it.

If we believe that public rhetoric matters, if we believe leadership shapes the civic culture of our city, then our responsibility begins at the ballot box, not only in November but in the primaries that so often determine November’s choices. We cannot continue acting surprised by outcomes that reflect elections in which too many people chose not to participate.

The next chapter of New York will not be written by those who complain the loudest after the votes are counted. It will be written by those who understand that the most important election is often the one too many people ignore.  Linda Argalgi Sadacka is a writer and strategist whose work explores Jewish life, culture, and public affairs. She is the founder of Shabbat 250, a grassroots initiative strengthening Jewish identity through the shared experience of Shabbat, and the host of The Silent Revolution podcast.

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C O V E R

S T O R Y

A Community That Believes in Every Child

T

he Special Children’s Center continues to stand as a shining example of what can happen when love, vision, and community come together. For nearly 30 years, the Center has been a lifeline of support, compassion, and joy for children with special needs and their families.

Today, with the help of a devoted and generous community, the Center is proudly serving more than 1,000 families—each one embraced with warmth, dignity, and understanding.

Through its life-changing programs, the Center has transformed the lives of countless families—offering relief when it is needed most, providing unwavering support every day of the year from birth through adulthood.

Stimulating programs geared to children with all types of challenges are open every afternoon, Sundays,

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Safra Family Ribbon Cutting at the New Brooklyn Center

Weekends and every day school is closed. At the heart of the Center’s mission is a simple but powerful belief: every child is precious, every child has purpose, and every child deserves to be surrounded by compassion, love, and opportunity.

As Jenine Shwekey, founder says “special kids deserve the best, they are fully good”. It is deeply heartwarming to see how strongly our community believes in this mission. The continued generosity, involvement, and dedication of so many families and friends allow the Center to keep growing, reaching more children, and making an even greater impact.

“...everyone present felt the chills of witnessing a dream become reality.” rely on the Center every day. “Realizing where these families would be without The Center makes me want to help even more,” -Harry Adjmi.

A NEW HOME FOR CENTER This past May, a new and unforgettable chapter began when The Safra Family Special Children’s Center opened the doors of the Marylin & Jack Chehabar Building in the heart of Brooklyn.

The ribbon-cutting was a moment filled with emotion. As the founders, board members, and dedicated partners stood together to cut the ribbon, everyone present felt the chills of witnessing a dream become reality. It was more than the opening of a building—it was the opening of new possibilities for the children and families who

YOUNG LEADERSHIP One of the most inspiring developments has been watching the children of longtime community members step forward and take leadership roles. Through the Young Leaders Initiative, a new generation is helping carry the mission forward. These young leaders have built an incredible team, creating programs, raising

AUGUST 2026 JEWISH IMAGE 25

C O V E R

S T O R Y

awareness, and bringing fresh energy to the Center’s work. Their involvement is already making a tremendous impact on the children and families they serve, and their dedication shows that the future of the Center is in passionate and capable hands.

SPECIAL RIDE 2026 Another powerful expression of community support came through The Special Ride.

What began as one dedicated family’s desire to help—a few friends riding from Deal to Lakewood—has grown into a remarkable statement of unity and commitment from the Brooklyn community.

On Sunday, June 28, more than 100 riders took to the road in honor of our children. The generosity and dedication of the Sutton

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accomplish. As Reene, Arlene’s mom shared, “Seeing my daughter truly happy—that is everything.”

That happiness is what the Center creates every day. Whether through the animals, the gardens, the activities, the friendships, or the devoted staff who understand each child so deeply, every moment is designed to help children feel capable, valued, and loved.

“Seeing my daughter truly happy—that is everything.” family moved us deeply, and this incredible day brought the entire Center family together in a way that will long be remembered.

A SUMMER LIKE NO OTHER As summer began, the Special Deal Camp opened with tremendous excitement and warmth. Every child is nurtured as an individual, with thoughtful attention to his or her unique needs, strengths, and goals.

The 30-acre farm, with its animals, gardens, open space, and hands-on learning, creates a welcoming and therapeutic environment where children can grow, explore, shine and have fun!

They are building confidence, discovering purpose, and experiencing the joy of giving back—helping others, participating, contributing, and feeling proud of all they can

From the Brooklyn building to the Young Leaders Initiative, from The Special Ride to the Special Deal Camp, every accomplishment reflects the same message: The Center is not just a place. It is a family. It is a movement. It is a community that sees the beauty in every child and works tirelessly to provide each one with love, encouragement, and opportunities to thrive.

As Founder, Chaya Bender says “I don’t think there is anyone who has come into the building and not become part of the family”

AN ELECTRIC EVENING And now, with hearts full of gratitude and excitement, we are gearing up for the highlight of the summer— the Yaakov Shwekey Electric Concert at Casino Beach in Deal, NJ on August 19. Together, we will celebrate the children, the families, and the extraordinary community that makes it all possible.

Save the Date August 19 thecenternj.org

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A COMMUNITY WITHOUT BORDERS MDY LEARNING, CONNECTING, AND GROWING ALL SUMMER LONG

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ven when the school doors are closed for the season, our vibrant MDY community never stops coming together. This summer, through the warmth and generosity of host families across Deal and beyond, we proved that learning, unity, and shared values aren’t confined to the school year. They are a year-round way of life.

SUMMER TOURNAMENT AND AUCTION Our MDY PTA hosted the annual Summer Tournament and Auction, bringing hundreds together for an unforgettable day of connection and style. Guests enjoyed a gourmet lunch, spirited card tournaments, inspirational classes, and an exclusive pop-up shopping experience featuring Roxanne Assoulin. A heartfelt thank you to our gracious hosts, Ester and Joey Jerome and Ruth and Joseph Hamway, for opening their doors for this beautiful event.

FIRST GRADE “COFFEE AND CONVERSATION” Incoming first-grade parents gathered on Mrs. Helene Palacci’s beautiful porch for an insightful “Coffee and Conversation” session focused on setting our newest students up for long-term success. The discussion, led by our esteemed administration and team of first-grade teachers, 28 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

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centered on building independence, practical readiness tips, and healthy habits for the academic journey ahead.

Thank you to Helene for hosting and to all the parents who brought such thoughtful questions and energy to the morning.

HIGH HEAT The summer heat had nothing on the energy at High Heat, our annual flagship fundraising event! Under perfect summer skies, athletes of all ages showcased their hard work, competitive drive, and team spirit across every sport imaginable. Alongside the high-stakes games, the community stepped up for our annual Blood Drive, proving once again that our strongest muscle is our shared commitment to helping others.

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NIGHT OF LEARNING AND UNITY During the Nine Days, a season dedicated to reflection and togetherness, our annual Night of Learning and Unity brought the community together for a series of uplifting classes led by MDY faculty and rabbis. It was truly inspiring to see so many students choose to spend a summer evening engaged in Torah study, with their teachers. We extend our deepest gratitude to Marshall and Jeannie Mizrahi for opening their magnificent home for this meaningful evening.

TUESDAY LADIES’ CLASS POP-UP IN DEAL Rabbi Cohen-Saban’s weekly Tuesday Ladies’ Class made a special summer pop-up stop in Deal, NJ, bringing together dedicated regular attendees and eager new faces alike. Drawing timeless wisdom from the weekly Parasha, Rabbi Saban offered a profound Torah perspective on modern parenting and guiding our children according to their own instruction manual. Thank you to Reggie Tawil for hosting such a warm and inspiring gathering.  AUGUST 2026 JEWISH IMAGE 31

F I N A N C E

THE COST OF WAITING WAITING FEELS SAFE UNTIL IT ISN’T ARI BAUM, CFP®

THERE IS A MOMENT IN EVERY LONG RACE WHEN YOU KNOW A DECISION NEEDS TO BE MADE. YOU FEEL THE SHIFT BEFORE YOU SEE IT. YOUR LEGS ARE HEAVIER THAN THEY SHOULD BE. YOUR PACE IS SLIPPING. THE NUTRITION YOU SHOULD HAVE TAKEN TWENTY MINUTES AGO IS STILL IN YOUR POCKET. YOU TELL YOURSELF YOU’LL HANDLE IT AT THE NEXT AID STATION. THEN THE NEXT ONE. BY THE TIME YOU FINALLY ACT, THE DAMAGE IS ALREADY DONE, AND THE LAST TEN MILES BECOME A VERY DIFFERENT RACE THAN THEY NEEDED TO BE.

I

have thought about that feeling often in my work because the same thing happens in financial planning.

The decision we postpone is often the one that ends up costing us the most. One of the most expensive financial decisions I see people make isn’t choosing the wrong investment. It isn’t buying at the top of the market or selling at the bottom. More often than not, it’s deciding to wait.

Financial setbacks rarely stem from one dramatic mistake. More often, they grow from delayed decisions, important conversations, thoughtful planning, or simple actions that were pushed off until “later.” The challenge is that 32 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

“later” has a way of arriving much sooner than we expect.

Waiting often feels like the safest choice. Ironically, it can be one of the riskiest. When markets are volatile, tax laws seem uncertain, or life is unusually busy, delaying a decision can feel responsible. But doing nothing is still making a choice, and every choice carries consequences.

WAITING IS STILL A DECISION Many people believe waiting is the safe choice. In reality, doing nothing is still a decision, and every decision carries a cost. I remember a client who held a highly

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F I N A N C E

appreciated stock position for years because he didn’t want to trigger capital gains taxes. Avoiding the tax felt responsible. What he didn’t see was that the position had quietly grown to represent more than half of his net worth. The tax he was trying to avoid became a much larger risk than he ever intended to take.

I also worked with a family who meant to update their estate documents “someday.” Then an unexpected illness arrived first, and difficult decisions had to be made in a hospital hallway rather than at a kitchen table. Neither of these outcomes came from a lack of intelligence or resources.

They came from underestimating the cost of waiting.

PROGRESS BEATS PERFECTION One of the biggest misconceptions in financial planning is that every decision must be perfect before it is made. Very few decisions are actually permanent. Investment allocations can be adjusted. Insurance can be revisited. Estate plans should evolve as families grow and circumstances change.

A thoughtful decision made today, based on the best information available, is almost always more valuable than the perfect plan that never gets implemented. The families I have watched build lasting wealth are rarely the ones who made flawless choices. They are the ones who made steady choices, and revisited them over time.

COMPOUNDING GOES BEYOND INVESTMENTS Most people associate compounding with investment returns. But compounding reaches far beyond a portfolio.

Tax efficiency compounds. Healthy financial habits compound. Consistent investing compounds. Honest family conversations compound across generations.

Each small decision builds on the last. And the earlier those decisions are made, the more room they have to grow. The reverse is also true. Delay compounds.

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Uncertainty compounds. Avoidance compounds. Every year a decision is postponed, the ground you need to make up gets a little steeper.

SMALL STEPS CREATE LASTING RESULTS One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned from endurance sports is that success rarely comes from one extraordinary effort. It comes from consistently making small, intentional decisions day after day. Building wealth follows the same principle.

You don’t need to predict the next market move. You don’t need every answer before taking action. And you certainly don’t need the perfect financial plan before getting started. You simply need to take the next thoughtful step.

At Endurance Wealth Partners, we believe financial planning is about more than growing wealth. It’s about helping families make informed decisions, adapt as life changes, and create a framework that supports the future they envision. The hardest step is rarely finding the perfect answer. It’s deciding to begin. Because when it comes to protecting your family, preserving your wealth, and building a lasting legacy, the cost of waiting is often far greater than the cost of getting started.  The content is developed from sources believed to provide accurate information. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal.

No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Consult with a financial professional regarding your specific situation.

Ari Baum, CFP® is the Founder and CEO of Endurance Wealth Partners, with over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services industry. He brings his in-depth experience to Conceive. Believe.

Achieve. for his clients. Securities and Advisory services offered through Prospera Financial Services Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Brokerage and Advisory accounts carried by Wells Fargo Clearing Services LLC.

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DSN MEN’S OVER-40 SOFTBALL LEAGUE WRAPS UP SUCCESSFUL SEASON DSN’S ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUE CONCLUDED ITS EXCITING SEASON WITH THE WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, BRINGING ANOTHER MEMORABLE YEAR OF COMPETITION, CAMARADERIE, AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT TO A CLOSE.

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unning from May through early July, the league featured four teams of 12 players each, creating the perfect balance between friendly competition and a welcoming atmosphere. The league continues to provide adults with an opportunity to stay active, connect with friends, and enjoy the game alongside family members and fellow community members.

Each season, DSN adds a fun twist by selecting a creative theme for its team names. This year, with a playful nod to the players’ ages, the teams were named after popular pain relievers. They were the Magic Motrins, Advil Avengers, Tylenol Titans, and IbuPROfens. The lighthearted theme added to the fun and helped make the season even more memorable.

Leading the league is Commissioner Eddie Anzarouth, who has been organizing successful adult leagues in the community for more than two decades. In addition to overseeing the men’s league, Eddie also runs women’s leagues,

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helping provide quality recreational opportunities for adults throughout the summer.

This year’s championship belonged to the Magic Motrins, captained by Charlie Cytryn. The Motrins defeated Jon Entel’s Tylenol Titans by a score of 10 to 4 to capture the title. The championship game drew an incredible turnout, with family members, friends, and supporters filling the sidelines to cheer on the teams and celebrate another successful season.

Charlie reflected on the experience, saying, “Joining the over-40 men’s league reminded me that while we may not run as fast as we used to, we can still play the game, and have a blast doing it! The best part was reconnecting with teammates and friends I hadn’t shared a field with in years. Being the captain of our championship team made the season one I’ll never forget!”

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Sports continue to play a vital role at DSN, and the adult softball leagues are no exception. While DSN is widely recognized for its outstanding youth programming, its adult leagues have become a thriving part of the organization’s offerings. The league reflects DSN’s commitment to serving all ages by creating opportunities for exercise, recreation, and meaningful community connections.

DSN Executive Director Sammy Sitt praised the players and the continued growth of the league: “One of the greatest strengths of DSN is our ability to create meaningful experiences that bring people together at every stage of life. The success of our over-40 adult softball league is a testament to the commitment of our players and staff who make these programs so special. Congratulations to all of the players on an outstanding season, and a special congratulations to the Magic Motrins on their championship victory.” 

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THE SKIN QUESTIONS I HEAR MOST DR. LOREN FRANCO

AN EVIDENCE-BASED GUIDE TO SKIN CANCER, SUNSCREEN, AND WHAT ACTUALLY MATTERS, FROM A BOARD-CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST

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kin is the body’s largest organ. It’s also the only one we walk around showing to the world, the one that gets the most photographs taken of it, and the place where most cancers in the United States are diagnosed. As a dermatologist, the questions I’m asked most often haven’t really changed in years: What should I look for? What’s the deal with sunscreen? What about my kids? Can I really get melanoma if I tan easily? Here are the honest answers, the ones I’d give in the exam room.

two patterns of exposure: intermittent, intense sun, such as beach days and vacations, and cumulative, long-term exposure, such as outdoor work, gardening, daily walks, and sports.

Most of what we catch is treatable when found early. The challenge is finding it. Most patients I treat with significant skin damage tell me the same thing: They didn’t know. So the real answer isn’t to be worried. It’s to be checked.

Dr. Loren Franco

WHY SHOULD I BE WORRIED ABOUT SKIN CANCER? Because I see it every single day. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, with more cases each year than all other cancers combined. It comes from 40 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

WHO IS MOST AT RISK? There’s a common assumption that only people with very fair skin, blond hair, and light eyes need to worry.

That’s wrong. People of every skin tone, including darker, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern complexions, can develop skin cancer, including melanoma. People with darker skin often catch their cancers later because neither

they nor their doctors are expecting it. If you have skin, you can get skin cancer.

WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR WHEN CHECKING MY OWN SKIN? Use the ABCDEs of moles: • Asymmetry: one half doesn’t match the other • Border: irregular, scalloped, or blurred edges • Color: multiple colors or uneven coloration • Diameter: larger than a pencil eraser, about six mm • Evolving: changing in size, shape, or color over weeks or months Any new or changing mole that doesn’t look like your others, the “ugly duckling,” is worth getting checked. When in doubt, get it looked at. That’s exactly what we’re here for.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I SEE A DERMATOLOGIST? For most adults, an annual full-body skin check is the right baseline. If you have a personal history of skin cancer, a strong family history, many moles, or significant past sun exposure, more frequent visits may be appropriate, and your dermatologist will guide you. Many of the cancers I find are on patients who came in for something else entirely, often something they were almost embarrassed to mention.

The visit takes about fifteen minutes. The value of finding something early is real.

AT WHAT AGE SHOULD I START PROTECTING MY CHILDREN’S SKIN? From day one. Most of the sun damage I treat on adults was done when they were children and teenagers,

and the data on this is sobering: five or more sunburns as a teenager roughly doubles the risk of melanoma later in life.

Your skin has a long memory. For babies under six months, shade, hats, and clothing are the priority. For children over six months, use mineral sunscreen on exposed areas, apply it generously, and reapply it every two hours.

As your children grow into teenagers, the message has to keep being said: A base tan is sun damage, and the choices made at sixteen show up decades later. They will roll their eyes. Tell them anyway. We were teenagers too.

We get it.

WHAT’S THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING I CAN DO FOR MY SKIN? Daily, broad-spectrum sunscreen. Nothing else comes close. It prevents most skin cancers, prevents most premature wrinkles and sunspots, and helps keep conditions like melasma and rosacea under control. If you only do one thing, wear sunscreen every morning. Even on cloudy days.

Even in winter. Even if you’ll only be inside, near a window.

Yes, the kitchen or car window counts. UVA passes through glass.

MINERAL VS. CHEMICAL SUNSCREEN: WHAT SHOULD I USE? Both work. If you have no concerns, either is fine.

If you’re worried about chemical sunscreens absorbing into the body, a question we haven’t fully resolved in the research, use mineral: zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.

These sit on top of your skin, physically block UV, and have decades of safety data.

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The most important thing is that you actually wear sunscreen and apply enough: about a teaspoon for your face and neck, and a shot glassful for the whole body. Most people use about a quarter of that, which is why patients walk into my office tan or burnt and tell me, “But I put on sunscreen.”

I KEEP SEEING CLAIMS THAT SUNSCREEN CAUSES CANCER. IS THAT TRUE? No. Sunscreen prevents skin cancer, including melanoma. The internet has gotten a little weird about this lately.

The misinformation circulating online comes largely from misreading studies about chemical sunscreens absorbing in small amounts into the bloodstream. What that means long-term is still being studied. What is not in question: UV radiation causes skin cancer, and sunscreen blocks UV. If you’re concerned about chemical filters, use mineral. But not using sunscreen at all is the worse choice by far.

IS THERE A SAFE WAY TO TAN? No. A tan, any tan, is your skin’s reaction to UV damage. The skin produces melanin to try to protect itself after the fact. There is no “safe” tan from the sun or a tanning bed.

The “base tan” myth, the idea that getting a tan first will protect you later, is also wrong. A base tan gives you about SPF 3, which is not meaningful protection. What worries me most are the trends I see among teenagers tracking the UV 42 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

index to plan tanning sessions at peak hours. Because skin has a long memory, those choices show up decades later.

The teenagers chasing UV 9 now will be the patients I see in twenty years.

If you want color, self-tanner is safe and effective. If you want protection, that is sunscreen. Both are at the drugstore. Neither requires a prescription.

WHAT IF I JUST WANT TO TAKE CARE OF MY SKIN WITHOUT A 25-STEP ROUTINE? Good news: You don’t need one. Your wallet will thank you. For most people, real dermatologic skin care comes down to four things: 1. A gentle cleanser, morning and night 2. A moisturizer suited to your skin type 3. Broad-spectrum sunscreen every morning 4. A retinoid at night, added gradually once your skin tolerates it If you have a specific concern, such as acne, melasma, hair loss, or a stubborn rash, see a dermatologist. The 25-step routine isn’t dermatology. It’s marketing. Excellent marketing, but still marketing.

To connect with a dermatologist and schedule a skin cancer screening, call the Morris I. Franco Cancer Center - MedStar Medical Referral Service at 718-787-1800.  Dr. Loren Franco is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Sage Dermatology & Aesthetics in Eatontown, NJ, opening fall 2026.

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T H O U G H T S

RABBI, NO HALAKHA TODAY? ON WHAT WE CELEBRATE, AND THE CULTURE IT CREATES RABBI MEYER LANIADO

A FEW MONTHS AGO, AS I WAS WALKING OUT OF SYNAGOGUE, I MENTIONED TO A MEMBER OF OUR CONGREGATION HOW EXCITED I WAS ABOUT OUR UPCOMING COMMUNAL SIYYUM ON SHULHAN ARUKH, ORAH HAIM. I THOUGHT HE WOULD SAY SOMETHING LIKE, “YES, THAT IS EXCITING,” OR “WHAT A BEAUTIFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT.” BUT INSTEAD, HE ASKED ME A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION: “WHY?”

I

was not expecting that, and I was honestly a little taken aback. I had not really thought much about the “why.”

To me, the excitement was intuitive. I had not fully articulated it, even to myself, so I did not yet have a full answer. My gut reaction was that this was not done through hour-long classes, but rather through a few minutes every day at minyan, on Shabbat before we take out the Torah, and at Seuda Shelisheit.

As I thought more about it, I realized that was one aspect, but not the core of my excitement. The scope and content of Shulhan Arukh, Orah Haim, make its completion a real accomplishment. It comprises 697 simanim (sections) and covers the halakhot from the moment a person opens their eyes in the morning through tefillah berakhot, Shabbat, holidays, and the entire rhythm of daily and yearly Jewish life.

But I have finished sefarim before, both on my own and with others, without making a siyyum. Usually, when I finish 44 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

something, I move on to the next, without much celebration.

So, why was this so uniquely exciting for me? Because I was watching a culture take shape.

I realized this one morning when our minyan was running a few minutes late. I was preparing to wish everyone a great day and respect their time. Then a member of the minyan stopped me and said, “Rabbi, no halakha today?”

This was from a person who, just a year or two ago, had not been coming to daily minyan. And yet, the daily halakha had become part of his daily rhythm.

It was not only that we had learned halakhot. It was that the learning had become anticipated. It had become missed when it was absent. This was the cultural shift I had been watching unfold over seven years, Torah study becoming part of the rhythm of our minyan, day after day, Shabbat after Shabbat. That is what I wanted to celebrate. And I think that is what a siyyum is really about.

One of the earliest sources that gives us a window into

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T H O U G H T S

the meaning of a siyyum is the statement of Abaye in the Talmud (Shabbat 118b). His statement appears in a series of teachings in which different rabbis describe the misva they were especially careful with, and for which they hoped to receive reward. The list includes Seuda Shelisheit, tefillin, and sisit.

Then Abaye says, “May reward come to me, for when I would see a young Torah scholar complete his masekhet, I would make a yom tov for the rabbis.” Abaye does not say, “When I finished learning.” He says, “When I saw someone else finish learning.” And, as Rashi notes, the “rabbis” for whom he made the celebration were his students. He was teaching the whole yeshiva what deserves to be celebrated.

Why? Because what we celebrate, what we prize, what we platform, and what we rally around in joy and excitement teaches people what to aspire to, what to value, and what to cherish. That is why we have a siyyum.

That is why the celebration of a siyyum can exempt those in attendance from fasting during the Fast of the Firstborn on the eve of Pesah, and why it can override the practice of not eating meat during the Nine Days. A siyyum takes Torah learning, which could remain behind the scenes, and brings it into the center of communal life.

It says, this is not only something someone learned.

This is something we honor and celebrate together. And that is how culture is created, by what we visibly celebrate.

We see this in schools all the time. When a team wins a championship, the excitement in the building can be palpable. When the Knicks were in the playoffs, for example, some schools encouraged students to wear jerseys or team colors. It is because schools understand that shared excitement creates energy, a sense of belonging, and culture.

When something is celebrated publicly, students absorb that it matters.

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So if Torah study and Torah observance are among a school’s central values, if those are the values the school wants to become part of its students’ inner world, then it has to create visible excitement around them too. What happens when a child comes back from summer vacation and says, “I finished a book of Tanakh,” or “I completed a masekhet,” or “I went to minyan every morning”?

Does the room recognize that something significant happened? Does the school, or the student body, celebrate the win? I have seen this done beautifully. I will never forget seeing a class erupt in joy when they completed a book of the Humash, as if they had just won a championship.

And that is exactly the point. What we celebrate makes an impression on people. It teaches them what to admire.

It teaches them what to strive for.

The same is true in our families and in our personal lives. What we celebrate, what we honor, and what we schedule everything else around, those are the values we actually express. Those are the values that shape the culture of our homes. And those are the values by which we will be remembered.

As we enter Elul, on the road toward the High Holidays, we are asked to make an honest accounting, not only of what we believe or what we say we value, but of what actually receives our time, our attention, our energy, and our excitement. We should ask ourselves, what do we celebrate?  Rabbi Meyer Laniado is an associate rabbi at Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun and leads its Sephardic community on New York City’s Upper East Side. He teaches at Ramaz and is a growing voice in the broader conversation on Sephardic history, ideas, and culture, having shared perspectives at UJA, the Maimonides Fund, and the Bronfman Fellowship.

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P R O F I L E

EDUARDO FARHI ALEPPO TO BROOKLYN, THE JOURNEY OF A BELOVED HAZAN SARINA ROFFÉ

EDUARDO FARHI, UNCLE OF RABBI ISAAC FARHI, WENT FROM SYRIA TO BEIRUT TO RIO DE JANEIRO TO NEW YORK. NOW ALMOST 90, HE KNOWS SIX LANGUAGES AND SERVED AS HAZAN (CANTOR) AT CONGREGATION SHAARE ZION FOR 43 YEARS.

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he son of David and Sarah Farhi, Eduardo was the fifth of their seven children. David Farhi was the only Jewish lawyer in Aleppo. Eduardo grew up in Aleppo attending the Talmud Torah and later the Alliance de Israelite School. In high school he attended the Lycée Franco Arab school.

Although he was never persecuted himself, he felt that conditions were not good for the Jewish community and he had no future in Syria. He managed to escape to Beirut in the summer of 1955.

ESCAPING SYRIA Eduardo left his home at 5:30 a.m. and, with a Catholic acquaintance, took a bus to Homs. He did not tell his family he was leaving. From there they walked several hours to the border where they waded through a dirty river and crossed into northern Lebanon. After walking a few more hours, they took a taxi toward Tripoli (Treblos). The taxi driver wanted to be paid in Lebanese money but he had only Syrian lira. The driver threatened to report him and he begged the driver not to turn him in. Finally, out of desperation, when the taxi slowed down, he jumped out of the car and ran. He had to walk another hour to get to Tripoli.

There he met the Catholic friend and they walked a few hours and got tickets to go by bus to Beirut. They arrived at midnight. Eduardo knew he couldn’t go to a hotel as the authorities would catch him. He hid in the hotel attic until

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Eduardo as a young man in Beirut

morning and went to Maghen Abraham Synagogue for 8 a.m. prayers. He told them his name and that he had escaped Syria. There, Eduardo as a child in Aleppo he met fellow Jews from Aleppo, including his friend Mark Shasho, who welcomed him into his home, gave him a place to sleep, and provided him with fresh clothing. He quickly got a job as a salesman at a bargain store and made a good salary.

Eduardo remained in Beirut for six months. He wrote to his uncle Leon Farhi in Brazil. His uncle sent money to the community for him to get a visa to go to Brazil and paid for his ship ticket from Beirut. The first leg of the trip was from Beirut to Marseille. In Marseille, he waited a week for the ship to take him to Rio de Janeiro. The hotel manager was Jewish and helped him get food. Then he bought cans of sardines and tuna to eat on the 15-day ship voyage to Brazil.

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P R O F I L E

RIO DE JANEIRO Eduardo arrived in Rio de Janeiro on December 24, 1955, and two of his aunts were waiting on the dock for him. He went to his uncle Leon Farhi and lived with him for two years. Leon Farhi was wealthy and president of the Aleppo Jewish community there and helped them build the Tui Synagogue (Templo União Israel) in the Tijuca neighborhood. While in Rio, Eduardo taught himself Portuguese by buying an Arabic-Portuguese dictionary.

Then he went to live with his uncle Jacobo Haber (his mother’s brother) who taught him to sell clothing door-to-door as a peddler. His uncle wanted him to marry and he was introduced to a woman. Although her mother allowed them to get engaged, she canceled the marriage as Eduardo still did not have enough income.

David Farhi

Sara Farhi

day. He also taught Spanish and Hebrew in the yeshiva, was MEXICO CITY a mashgiach (kosher supervisor) at the kosher supermarket, In July 1965, Eduardo got a visa to visit New York. He and served on the Hebra Kadisha (burial society). went to Congregation Shaare Zion and saw many friends In 1970, he went to Caracas and was the High Holiday from Syria. He stayed with Maurice hazan. Back in Mexico City, his Zafrani for six months and then second daughter Denisse was born rented a room for $100 a month and a few years later his son David with breakfast. He went to work was born. for Eli Tobias on Fifth Avenue as For more than 20 years, he a salesman to tourists because he had no contact with the family left knew so many languages. behind in Syria. Eduardo had conHe studied music and became tact with a brother and two sisters a hazan because he had a magnifiwho had escaped Syria in 1958 cent voice. In 1966, he was hired and gone to Israel. Over the years, to go to Panama to be the High Eduardo acted as a conduit for Holiday hazan. From there he went letters between family members in to Mexico City to see his family.

Israel and Syria. People would send He had a 30-day visa and stayed him letters and photos, and he sent with his uncle Moises Haber. While them to Syria. Then people sent in Mexico City, he was introduced return letters from Syria to him, and to Rose Harari and they dated for he sent them to Israel. This contintwo weeks. He really liked her but ued for years. in order to stay in the country he In 1976, he was able to get had to marry. Although her parents a visa to go to Syria and see the Rose and Eduardo’s wedding photo, 1967 objected, Rose insisted on marrying remaining family. In Damascus, he him. The couple had a civil marriage, asked for a visa for his mother to which allowed him to remain in the country past the 30 come to New York and she was able to come with his days. A few months later, a Jewish marriage was performed brother Selim. From Damascus, Eduardo went to Istanbul on January 29, 1967. Their first child Sara was born nine and then to Israel. From the airport, he was taken to the months later.

Knesset to testify about conditions in Syria and the Jewish Eduardo remained the hazan for the Magen David community there. community (Aleppan community) for four years. Then he was offered a job by the Monte Sinai community (Damascus MAKING A LIFE IN NEW YORK Jews), where he remained for a decade. He sang at all Eduardo stopped in New York on the way home. weddings and helped bar mitzvah boys prepare for their big Shaare Zion President Abe Cohen offered him a job as 50 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

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P R O F I L E

Eduardo and Rose Farhi with Sara, Denisse and baby David, May 1972

Raphael was born in 1984 and is the only one of his children born in the United States.

Eduardo served as cantor at Congregation Shaare Zion for 43 years. He also taught in Magen David Yeshivah and later in Yeshiva of Flatbush. He taught in the hazanut program at Yeshiva University for 16 years.

He worked with over a dozen prominent rabbis at the synagogue including Rabbi Jacob S. Kassin, Rabbi Shaul Kassin, Rabbi Abraham Hecht, Rabbi Baruch BenHaim, Rabbi Sion Maslaton, Rabbi Zevulun Lieberman, and many, many others.

Now retired, Eduardo and Rose are proud of their children and their large extended family.  Shari, Edward and Raphael Farhi (the youngest son)

hazan at Shaare Zion. His wife in Mexico City agreed, and he resigned his position in Mexico City, sold his apartment in Polanco, and moved to Brooklyn. His youngest son 52 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

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P R O F I L E

Ben-Gurion and Rachelle Matsas inside the historic synagogue in Salonika, Greece.

RETURNING TO MY ROOTS A FAMILY JOURNEY THROUGH GREECE AND THE ENDURING LEGACY OF GREEK JEWRY BEN-GURION MATSAS

THIS SUMMER WHEN I RETURNED TO GREECE WITH MY WIFE, RACHELLE, MY SON STEVEN, AND MY GRANDSON BEN, I WAS NOT SIMPLY VISITING THE COUNTRY WHERE I WAS BORN. I WAS BRINGING THREE GENERATIONS OF MY FAMILY BACK TO THE STREETS, HOMES, AND COMMUNITIES WHERE MY STORY BEGAN. TOGETHER, WE VISITED PLACES WE HAD PREVIOUSLY KNOWN ONLY THROUGH FAMILY STORIES AND MEMORIES.

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was born in Patras, a port city with deep ties to the Mediterranean. Although my life later took me to Israel and the United States, my connection to Greece never disappeared. Its food, music, language, traditions, and landscapes remained a part of me. I carried those memories quietly for many years.

We began our trip in Athens, where we met cousins and other relatives who still live in Greece. Spending time with family in the present gave us a natural starting point before we began exploring the past. From Athens, we traveled through Salonika, Ioannina, Arta, Preveza, and finally Patras, following both our family’s history and the broader story of Greek Jewry.

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The Jewish presence in Greece is among the oldest in the world outside of Israel, reaching back more than two thousand years. Romaniote Jews developed distinct customs and religious traditions through centuries of life in Greece. After the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492, many Sephardic Jews settled in Salonika, bringing Ladino and their own cultural and religious traditions.

In Salonika, we encountered traces of what had once been one of the great centers of Jewish life in Europe.

Before World War II, the city was known as the Jerusalem of the Balkans and was home to the largest Jewish community in Greece.

We visited Liberty Square, where thousands of Jewish

Ben-Gurion’s parents Isaac Matsas and Rachel Iohanas on their wedding day in Patras, Greece in 1939.

men were forced to gather in July 1942. They were publicly humiliated, beaten, registered, and assigned to forced labor. Standing in that square made the history feel immediate. It was no longer simply an event described in a book.

We were standing where it had happened.

We also visited the port, which was largely run by the Jewish community and closed on Shabbat, reflecting how central Jewish life was to the commerce of Salonika. We then visited the Holocaust memorial honoring the city’s murdered Jews.

At the Jewish Museum of Thessaloniki (Salonika), we saw the names of members of the community who were taken away and murdered. Among them were members of the Matsas family, distant relatives of mine. Seeing the names of my own family on that list made the loss deeply personal. Each name represented a person, a family, and a part of a thriving community that was almost completely erased.

At the time of the German occupation, about 50,000 Jews lived in Salonika. Between March and August 1943, the Germans deported more than 45,000 of them to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where most were murdered shortly after arrival. Approximately 96 percent of Salonika’s Jewish community was murdered during the Holocaust, one of the highest rates of destruction suffered by any major Jewish community in Europe. Fewer than 2,000 Jews lived in the city after the war.

Ben-Gurion Matsas as a child in Patras, holding a letter from Israeli Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion thanking his parents for naming their son after him.

The Matsas brothers, from left, Abraham, Ben-Gurion, Yochanan, Daniel, and Joseph, inside the synagogue in Patras, Greece.

The destruction was not limited to Salonika. Jewish communities across Greece, including Ioannina, Arta, Preveza, Athens, Patras, and many other cities and islands, faced arrest, deportation, and death. Some Jews escaped to the mountains or survived in hiding. Members of my own family hid in attics and basements in Athens, in barns in the countryside, and in forests, while others were deported and never returned. Traveling through these places made the history deeply personal. We were walking through communities where our relatives had lived, hidden, fled, and been lost.

AUGUST 2026 JEWISH IMAGE 55

P R O F I L E

Ben-Gurion, second from left, with his brother, cousins, and mother in the front yard of his childhood home in Patras, Greece.

Ben-Gurion and Rachelle Matsas outside Ben-Gurion’s childhood home in Patras, Greece.

Starting their new life, Ben-Gurion Matsas and Rachelle Fallas on their wedding day in New York.

From Salonika, we traveled to Ioannina, where the Romaniote tradition felt especially close. The Jewish community there preserved customs reaching back nearly two thousand years, connecting it to one of the earliest Jewish communities in Greece.

That heritage continues in New York through Kehila Kedosha Janina on Broome Street. Descendants of Greek Jews still gather there and preserve the Romaniote traditions their families carried to America. The synagogue remains a bridge between the historic community of Ioannina and the Jewish life its descendants built in New York.

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Ben-Gurion Matsas, center, with his son Steven, left, and grandson Ben, right, finding the names of Matsas family members on the memorial wall at the Jewish Museum of Salonika.

We continued to Arta, where my mother, Rachel Iohanas, was born, and then to Preveza, the birthplace of my father, Isaac Matsas. These towns were no longer only names mentioned in family conversations. Standing in the places where my parents began their lives gave new meaning to the stories I had heard about them and their families.

The Matsas brothers (left to right): Abraham, Ben-Gurion, Yochanan, Daniel, and Joseph, with their mother, Rachel Matsas, shortly after arriving in Israel in 1960.

Along the way, we spoke with residents and community members who shared stories about Jewish families, merchants, synagogues, and neighborhoods. Some reflected the richness of Jewish life before the war. Others carried the sadness of communities that were lost.

Our final stop was Patras, the city where my own life began. It was the most emotional part of the journey. I stood in front of the home where I was born and walked through the neighborhoods where my family once lived. We visited the sites of the stores where my father, grandfather, and uncles sold textiles and fabrics. We also spoke with people who knew the area and remembered how it had changed.

The streets seemed smaller than I remembered.

Buildings had changed, businesses had come and gone, and many years had passed. Still, something felt familiar.

Looking toward the Mediterranean Sea, where I once swam as a child, I imagined my parents and grandparents walking through those same streets, visiting neighbors, gathering in cafés, and going about their daily lives.

For a brief time, the distance between past and present seemed to disappear. I was no longer visiting Patras only as a traveler. I was showing my wife, son, and grandson where our family’s journey began.

Patras was also the setting for some of the most difficult chapters in my parents’ lives. Rachel gave birth to their first son, Joseph, at the beginning of World War II while German forces were bombing the city. As the war progressed, news

reached Patras about what was happening to the Jews of Salonika. My parents understood that they were in danger and needed to flee.

They hid in mountain villages where partisan forces were active and the Nazis were less likely to find them.

While the family was in hiding, Rachel gave birth to their second son, Daniel, alone in a barn. Daniel’s brit milah was delayed until after the war, when he was three years old.

My parents eventually had five sons, Joseph, Daniel, Yochanan, me, and Abraham. I was born in 1948, only a few months after the establishment of the State of Israel. My father was a committed Zionist and named me Ben-Gurion in honor of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister.

The Jewish life of Patras also remains connected to Athens. As the Jewish population declined after the war and community members moved away, the Jewish Community of Patras was eventually dissolved. In 1984, the interior furnishings, textiles, and ritual objects from the former Patras synagogue, where I prayed as a child, were transferred to the Jewish Museum of Athens and incorporated into a permanent exhibit.

Among the items on display are the bench where I sat with my brothers each Shabbat and on holidays, and the oil chandeliers and wall sconces my father and I filled with oil and lit before each Shabbat. The exhibit also includes the synagogue’s bimah, the ark, and the Torah scrolls. I AUGUST 2026 JEWISH IMAGE 57

P R O F I L E

Ben-Gurion Matsas, right, with his son Steven, center, and grandson Ben, left, at the Holocaust memorial in Arta, Greece.

Ben-Gurion Matsas visiting the former site of his father’s textile shop in Patras, Greece.

Steven Matsas sitting on the bench where his father once sat in the Patras synagogue, now preserved as part of the synagogue exhibit at the Jewish Museum of Greece in Athens.

remember my brothers reading their bar mitzvah portions from those Torah scrolls, and as a child, I danced with them on Simchat Torah.

Seeing these objects preserved in Athens is deeply personal. They are more than artifacts. They are part of my childhood and a physical link to the Jewish community of Patras that once prayed, celebrated, and gathered together.

When I was 12, my father’s dream was fulfilled when our family made aliyah to Israel. There, I matured, became independent, began my university stud- The Matsas name found across Greece. Left, the Matsa Windmill. Right, a street named ies, and experienced the growth of the for Ioannis K. Matsa, a physician and mayor. These landmarks reflect the family’s longstanding presence in Greek communities.

Jewish homeland.

I later moved to New York to continue my education. There, I met my wife, Rachelle Fallas, streets, family conversations, and the knowledge that we who came from the Syrian Sephardic community. Together, were standing where our ancestors once stood. Watching we built a life, raised four children, and were blessed with my grandson Ben walk through the same towns where ten grandchildren. earlier generations of our family lived gave the journey its Each country shaped a different part of me. Greece deepest meaning. gave me my roots. Israel gave me independence, responWe returned to New York with more than photographs. sibility, and a deeper connection to the Jewish people. We brought home a clearer understanding of where we America gave Rachelle and me the opportunity to build came from and a renewed responsibility to pass that hisa business, raise our family, and become part of the tory to our children and grandchildren. The trip began as a Sephardic community. return to Greece, my birthplace. It became a way to ensure These parts of my identity belong together. I am a that our family’s past remains part of its future.  Greek Jew by birth, connected to Israel through the years I lived there and the experiences that shaped me, and an Ben-Gurion Matsas is the publisher of IMAGE Magazine, which he founded 36 years ago with his wife, Rachelle, the magazine’s editor American through the life Rachelle and I built in New York. in chief. Together, they have built IMAGE into a trusted publication The most meaningful moments of the trip were not serving the Sephardic Jewish community. always found at famous landmarks. They came in quiet 58 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

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P E R S O N A L

G R O W T H

THE FIREMAN TRAP WHY SMART LEADERS GET STUCK IN A CYCLE OF CONSTANT URGENCY JEFF SITT

HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED HOW SOME OF THE SMARTEST, HARDEST-WORKING LEADERS STILL FEEL STUCK? THEY’RE THE FIRST ONES IN AND THE LAST ONES OUT. THEY SOLVE PROBLEMS, ANSWER EVERY CALL, MAKE EVERY DECISION, RESCUE EMPLOYEES, AND SPEND THEIR DAYS PUTTING OUT FIRES. YET DESPITE WORKING HARDER THAN ALMOST EVERYONE AROUND THEM, THEY OFTEN END THE DAY EXHAUSTED, WONDERING WHY THEY’RE STILL NOT WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

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he problem usually isn’t a lack of intelligence. It’s a trap. I call it The Fireman Trap. Many business owners unknowingly spend most of their day in what leadership experts call Quadrant One, which includes work that is both urgent and important. Deadlines, emergencies, customer issues, employee problems, and last-minute surprises consume their attention. Quadrant One is unavoidable, but it was never meant to become your permanent address.

The more time you spend putting out fires, the less time you have to build a fire-resistant business. Great leaders don’t spend their lives carrying bigger buckets of water.

They build sprinkler systems. They invest in better communication, better training, better systems, and better people.

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They spend time preventing tomorrow’s fires instead of reacting to today’s.

Unfortunately, constant urgency becomes addictive.

After a while, your mind begins operating in a constant state of brace for impact. Before one problem is solved, you’re already anticipating the next. Every ringing phone feels urgent. Every email feels important. Every interruption feels like another emergency.

Over time, that becomes your normal. If you’re not careful, you’ll begin to suffer from decision fatigue. After making hundreds of decisions throughout the day, your mental energy begins to fade. Your patience gets shorter.

Your thinking becomes less strategic. You begin reacting instead of leading.

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P E R S O N A L

G R O W T H

Eventually, urgency stops being something you manage. It becomes your identity. You become the fireman, the go-to person, the answer man. At first it feels rewarding.

People need you. They depend on you. You’re the one who saves the day.

But without realizing it, you may also be creating the very environment that’s exhausting you. When every decision comes through you, every employee waits for your answer, and every problem lands on your desk, you stop developing leaders and start creating dependence. This is not because your people aren’t capable, but because you’ve unintentionally trained them to see you as the fastest solution.

Here’s a simple leadership tool that can begin changing that immediately. The next time someone walks into your office with a problem, don’t solve it for them. Instead, ask them to bring three options: their best solution, their second-best solution, and, if they’re truly stuck, the honest answer, “I don’t know.” Be genuinely open to their ideas.

Don’t criticize imperfect thinking. Coach it, refine it, and help them think better.

Every time you solve a problem for someone instead of helping them think it through, you unintentionally teach them to bring the next problem back to you. But when you coach someone to think critically, weigh options, and make better decisions, you build confidence, ownership, and leadership. A problem may be solved once. People who learn how to solve problems keep solving them long after you’re gone. That’s leadership.

The Torah offers the same leadership lesson. When Moshe became overwhelmed by trying to personally resolve every issue among the people, his father-in-law, Yitro, advised him to appoint capable leaders, delegate responsibility, and trust others to share the burden. Great leadership isn’t measured by how indispensable you become. It’s measured by how many other people grow because of you.

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There’s another hidden cost to living in constant urgency. By the end of the day, you’ve answered dozens of questions, made countless decisions, solved everyone else’s problems, and carried the weight of the business on your shoulders. Then your wife calls with a scheduling question, your child wants to tell you about their day, or someone needs five minutes of your attention.

By then, you’ve spent the entire day solving everyone else’s problems. The tragedy isn’t that you stopped caring. It’s that you’ve become so mentally exhausted that the people who matter most no longer receive the best of you.

Too often, our clients get our best thinking. Our employees get our best leadership. Our families get what’s left.

That’s the real cost of The Fireman Trap. The goal is not to eliminate emergencies, because every business will have them. The goal is to spend more of your leadership time in Quadrant Two, where you focus on what is important before it becomes urgent. Develop your people. Build better systems. Create the sprinkler system your business needs.

The strongest leaders aren’t remembered because they put out the most fires. They’re remembered because they built organizations where fewer fires started, not because they worked harder, but because they developed stronger leaders. Firefighters solve today’s emergency. Leaders prevent tomorrow’s.

Maybe that’s what’s keeping so many smart leaders stuck. It is not a lack of effort or ability, but too much time spent fighting today’s fires and not enough time preventing tomorrow’s.  Jeff Sitt is a Business & Life Strategist, speaker, and author who helps individuals and business leaders move from stress, reactivity, and overwhelm to greater clarity, focus, and purpose. Drawing from decades of business experience, mindfulness practices, and practical Torah-based wisdom, he combines mindset, emotional awareness, and actionable tools to help people perform better at work and in life.

Jeff is the author of “Driving to Thriving: Reduce Stress and Increase Profits.”

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F O C U S

O N

THE NEW YORK I’M FIGHTING FOR BRUCE BLAKEMAN

A FEW MONTHS AGO, I WAS TALKING WITH A RABBI WHO TOLD ME SOMETHING THAT HAS STAYED WITH ME. HE SAID, “BRUCE, PEOPLE AREN’T JUST WORRIED ANYMORE. THEY’RE EXHAUSTED.” EXHAUSTED FROM WONDERING IF THEIR KIDS WILL BE SAFE WEARING A STAR OF DAVID ON CAMPUS. EXHAUSTED FROM OPENING ELECTRIC BILLS THAT SEEM TO CLIMB EVERY MONTH. EXHAUSTED BY HEADLINE AFTER HEADLINE OF ANTISEMITIC HATE CRIMES. HE WAS RIGHT.

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ver the last few years, I’ve heard that same concern from people across New York, not just rabbis, but parents worried about their children’s future, business owners struggling to keep their doors open, Holocaust survivors who never imagined feeling unsafe here, young couples wondering if they can afford to build a life in the state they love, and grandparents who feel like the New York they helped create is slipping away. Those conversations, and the people behind them, are why I decided to run for governor of New York.

The greatest challenge facing New York today isn’t just crime or antisemitism. It’s affordability. Families are doing everything right and still falling behind. In fact, after billions in new taxes from Kathy Hochul, New Yorkers now pay the highest taxes in the nation.

As governor, I will deliver the largest middle-class income tax cut in state history and eliminate the state income tax on the first $50,000 earned by single filers and the first $100,000 earned by married couples filing jointly.

I trust hardworking New Yorkers to spend their money better than Albany does.

I’m committed to cutting utility bills in half. Today, New Yorkers pay about 70 percent more for electricity than the rest of the country. Much of that isn’t because electricity costs more to produce. It’s because Kathy Hochul piled taxes, mandates, and fees onto every bill. I’ll put a stop to Hochul’s energy taxes and explore all forms of affordable energy as governor, while protecting the environment.

I also believe parents, not politicians, should have the final say in their children’s education. That’s why I support expanding education tax credits to help families who sacrifice to send their children to yeshivas and other nonpublic schools. Every parent deserves the freedom to choose the education that best reflects their values without being punished financially for doing so.

As Nassau County’s first Jewish County Executive, protecting the Jewish community has never been a political issue for me. It’s personal. When masked protesters targeted Jewish communities and hid their identities while intimidating others, I wasn’t interested in issuing another carefully crafted statement. We acted, prohibiting masks used to conceal identity during threatening or criminal conduct. We also prohibited demonstrations immediately outside houses of worship because no family should have to walk past angry protesters to pray. Leadership means acting before it’s popular, not after it’s safe.

Unfortunately, too many Jewish New Yorkers no longer feel that same sense of urgency from Albany. Instead of confronting antisemitism with moral clarity, Governor Kathy Hochul has too often stood in lockstep with the political forces that have excused it, minimized it, or looked the other way. Many lifelong Democrats tell me they no longer recognize the party they grew up supporting. They feel abandoned by leaders who are more concerned about appeasing activists than protecting families.

At the end of our conversation, the rabbi left me with words I’ve carried ever since: “Be that little bit of light to dispel much of the darkness.” This campaign isn’t about left versus right. It’s about whether New York remains a place where families can afford to live, worship freely, raise their children safely, and believe the next generation will have a brighter future than the last. That’s the New York I believe in. And that’s the New York I’m fighting to restore.

I’m Bruce Blakeman, and I hope to earn your support this Election Day.  The following article is an opinion piece authored by Bruce Blakeman, candidate for Governor of New York. The views, positions, and analysis expressed herein belong solely to the author and do not reflect the official editorial stance or endorsement of Image Magazine.

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M E M O R I A M

MY AUNT RACHEL MARY HALAWANI

THERE AREN’T ENOUGH SUPERLATIVES TO DESCRIBE MY AUNT RACHEL HAKIM. IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART THAT I TRY TO WRITE THIS TRIBUTE TO HER. SHE WAS A BELOVED MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, GREAT-GRANDMOTHER, SISTER, AND AUNT. SHE WAS A TRUE MATRIARCH, THE GLUE THAT KEPT THE IMMEDIATE AND EXTENDED FAMILY TOGETHER.

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he possessed a radiant smile and a pure soul.

Above all, she was compassionate, generous, and charitable. Aunt Rachel loved her family and loved keeping the Jewish holidays and traditions. She had the rare capacity to bring joy to all she encountered.

I was fortunate enough to experience first-hand her charm. When I was a precocious three-year-old kid in Egypt, my Uncle Victor was dating her. He often was stuck babysitting me and would take me on their dates. In order to placate me, they would often take me to the zoo. She would weave wonderful stories about the animals in order to amuse me. Much to my contentment, I was always fed ice cream afterward. I believe I fell in love with her then and wanted to be like her, and I couldn’t wait until their next date.

Rachel’s family came from Turkey, initially from Spain.

They settled in Egypt where she was the youngest of five siblings. They spoke Ladino in their home as well as French, Arabic, and Hebrew.

Aunt Rachel met my Uncle Victor under dangerous circumstances. At the height of political upheaval in Egypt in the 1950s, when Jews were targeted, my uncle was involved with a clandestine group of volunteers to try to help Jews, especially kids, leave Egypt and go to Israel.

One of the houses he went to in his crusade to convince Jews to go to Israel was hers. It was believed to be love at first sight. They dated briefly and were soon married.

Nationalism was on the rise in Egypt. Nasser came into power and Jews were targeted. Synagogues were burned down, property was confiscated, and Jews were placed in detention camps. It was dangerous to be a Jew in Egypt.

My uncle had seen the writing on the wall earlier and tried to help families leave. Her family secured visas to Israel. My uncle’s family went to the U.S.A. With two kids in tow, Rachel and my uncle were bound for Brooklyn where his family was settling. In America, they faced new hardships, a different culture, language, and employment. My Uncle Victor was enterprising and intelligent, and with Rachel’s help and G-D, they created the foundation for a flourishing life in Brooklyn. Two more kids

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followed.

It was hard work, but they worked hand in hand in establishing a business. Not only did she work, but she was also responsible for raising the kids and handling the household chores. She also upheld all the holiday traditions. Aunt Rachel did everything that was necessary with zest and joy.

Her home was always warm and welcoming to family members and strangers alike. She always kept the Jewish holidays in grand style. We were often invited for Passover seders, Rosh Hashanah, and Shabbat. It was always a won-

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derful feast of traditional delicacies that we encountered.

She would have many visitors from Israel, Mexico, and the U.S.A. Aunt Rachel was a superb cook. She would take a traditional recipe and carry it a step further, making it her own.

She would often visit my mom and grandmother.

Together they would sit and drink Turkish coffee and watch an old Arabic movie and reminisce about their lives. I remember how happy they all were. That image and memory sustains me to this day. I miss her, our phone calls, and her wonderful laugh. She was a gift from G-D and a blessing in all our lives. 

Mary Halawani is an independent filmmaker, producer, and director of documentary films. Her work has been shown on PBS stations across the country and covers a wide range of subjects, including Jewish holidays, Egyptian Jews, the Holocaust, and single mothers.

She holds an MFA in film from Columbia University and a B.A. in psychology from the City College of New York.

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R E C I P E S

SUMMER WRAPS WITH A TWIST Fresh, Flavorful Handhelds for Easy Summer Meals

S

ummer sandwiches and wraps can be more than turkey, tuna, and lettuce. The right filling can make them feel fresh, bright, and a little unexpected, while still keeping them simple enough for a weekday meal. These recipes use familiar ingredients in more interesting combinations, with sauces, herbs, crunch, and texture doing most of the work. Each one is designed to hold up well and feel like a complete summer meal. They are good for lunch, travel, beach days, or an easy dinner when no one wants to sit down to something heavy.

• 1 tsp paprika • 1 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp black pepper • 2 cups shredded romaine • 1 cup diced cucumber • 1/2 cup pickled red onions • 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley • 1/3 cup tahini • 3 tbsp lemon juice • 2 tbsp water, plus more as needed • 1 small garlic clove, grated • 1/4 tsp salt

ZA’ATAR CHICKEN WRAP WITH PICKLED ONIONS AND HERBED TAHINI Meat Yields: 4 wraps Serves: 4 Ingredients • 4 large wraps or laffa style wraps • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken cutlets • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 tsp za’atar • 1 tsp garlic powder 70 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

Instructions 1. Place the chicken in a bowl. Add the olive oil, za’atar, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Toss until evenly coated.

2. Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium high heat.

Cook the chicken for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until cooked through.

3. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then slice it into thin strips.

4. In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, water, garlic, and salt. Add a little more water if needed, until the sauce is smooth and pourable.

5. Lay the wraps flat. Divide the romaine, cucumber, pickled onions, parsley, and sliced chicken among them.

6. Drizzle with the herbed tahini.

7. Fold in the sides, roll tightly, and slice in half.

HARISSA TUNA CRUNCH PITA Parve Yields: 4 pita sandwiches Serves: 4 Ingredients • 4 pita breads • 2 cans tuna, drained • 3 tbsp mayonnaise • 1 tbsp harissa • 1 tbsp lemon juice • 1 celery stalk, finely diced • 1/2 cup diced cucumber • 1/2 cup shredded carrots • 1/4 cup sliced green olives • 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro or parsley • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp black pepper • 2 cups shredded lettuce Instructions 1. Place the tuna in a medium bowl and flake it with a fork.

2. Add the mayonnaise, harissa, lemon juice, celery, cucumber, carrots, olives, cilantro or parsley, salt, and black pepper.

3. Mix until combined, keeping some texture in the tuna.

4. Cut the pita breads in half and open them gently.

5. Fill each pita with shredded lettuce and the harissa tuna mixture.

6. Serve right away or wrap well and refrigerate for up to a few hours.

GRILLED HALLOUMI WRAP WITH MANGO SLAW Dairy Yields: 4 wraps Serves: 4 Ingredients • 4 large wraps • 8 ounces halloumi cheese, sliced • 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 cups shredded cabbage • 1 ripe mango, thinly sliced • 1/2 red pepper, thinly sliced • 1/4 cup chopped fresh mint • 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley • 2 tbsp lime juice • 1 tbsp honey • 1 tbsp olive oil • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp black pepper • 1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds, optional

Instructions 1. In a medium bowl, combine the cabbage, mango, red pepper, mint, and cilantro or parsley.

2. In a small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, honey, olive oil, salt, and black pepper.

3. Pour the dressing over the slaw and toss gently.

4. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Brush the halloumi lightly with olive oil.

5. Cook the halloumi for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden.

6. Lay the wraps flat. Divide the mango slaw among them.

7. Add the grilled halloumi and toasted almonds, if using.

8. Fold in the sides, roll tightly, and serve while the halloumi is still warm.

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SHAWARMA MUSHROOM AND EGGPLANT SANDWICH Parve Yields: 4 sandwiches Serves: 4 Ingredients • 4 sturdy rolls or pita breads • 1 large eggplant, cut into thin strips • 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced • 3 tbsp olive oil • 2 tsp shawarma spice blend • 1 tsp garlic powder • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp black pepper 72 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

• 1 cup shredded lettuce • 1 tomato, sliced • 1/2 cup pickles, sliced • 1/3 cup tahini • 2 tbsp lemon juice • 2 tbsp water, plus more as needed • 1 small garlic clove, grated • 1/4 tsp salt Instructions 1. Heat the oven to 425 degrees.

2. Place the eggplant and mushrooms on a baking sheet. Add the olive oil, shawarma spice, garlic powder, salt, and black

pepper. Toss well and spread into an even layer.

3. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, stirring once, until the vegetables are browned and tender.

4. In a small bowl, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, water, garlic, and salt. Add more water as needed until smooth.

5. Split the rolls or pita breads.

6. Fill each one with lettuce, tomato, pickles, and the roasted eggplant and mushrooms.

7. Drizzle with tahini and serve warm or at room temperature.

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G R O W T H

SEVEN PEARLS OF WISDOM FROM A 102-YEAR-OLD HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR SOFYA TAMARKIN

PEARL HINDA JUST TURNED 102 YEARS OLD, SURVIVED THE HOLOCAUST, AND REBUILT HER LIFE FROM NOTHING. HERE ARE THE SEVEN LESSONS SHE WANTS YOU TO KNOW.

B

orn in 1924, Pearl Hinda Nagel endured unimaginable suffering. She lost her father as a child and her mother in the Lodz Ghetto. She survived forced labor, hunger, and the concentration camps, and then rebuilt a family and a life from nothing.

Having witnessed both the worst and the best of humanity, she believes that kindness is the greatest legacy any person can leave behind.

As Pearl Hinda celebrates her 102nd birthday and begins her 103rd year of life, she offers timeless wisdom earned through resilience, faith, and a lifetime of rebuilding.

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1. HOPE IS A DECISION. Pearl Hinda had every reason to surrender to despair.

Instead, she chose hope every day. Even in the labor camp, she believed G-D had not abandoned her. Hope became the strength that carried her through the darkest moments.

2. KINDNESS COSTS NOTHING BUT CAN SAVE EVERYTHING. Despite living with constant hunger, she shared her soup with another girl who needed it even more. After experiencing horrific cruelty, she refused to let it define her.

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G R O W T H

The author with Pearl Hinda

3. DON’T LET YOUR PAST BECOME YOUR DESTINATION. After the war, Pearl Hinda returned to her old apartment building. The janitor’s wife gently urged her not to go upstairs because it would pull her back into the past. She carried her memories with her, but she chose to build a future instead of remaining trapped by yesterday.

4. FAITH CAN SUSTAIN YOU WHEN NOTHING ELSE REMAINS. Orphaned, alone, and surrounded by death, Pearl Hinda maintained an unwavering connection to G-D. Her faith became an anchor when everything else had been taken away.

5. THE BEST REVENGE IS A LIFE FULLY LIVED. The Nazis tried to wipe out the Jewish people and erase Jewish life. Pearl Hinda answered by marrying, raising children, welcoming grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and passing on her faith and values. Every new generation became her greatest victory.

6. TIME IS LIFE’S MOST PRECIOUS GIFT. As she begins her 103rd year, Pearl Hinda says she understands the value of time more than ever. Life is precious because no one knows how much of it we are given.

Cherish your loved ones, do good while you can, and never take a single day for granted.

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7. JOY IS POSSIBLE AFTER UNFATHOMABLE PAIN. Suffering does not have to define the rest of your life. After losing nearly everything, she still speaks about gratitude, family, and hope. While you cannot choose every chapter of your life story, you can choose how to write the continuation of the story.

Pearl Hinda reminds us that purpose does not retire with age. As long as you are alive, you have something to give, someone to inspire, and a responsibility to make the world a little kinder than you found it.

Pearl shares this final thought: “I have tried to teach my children and grandchildren to be proud Jews and proud Americans. Unfortunately, the free world has not learned the lessons of the past and continues to support those who seek our destruction. I want my children and grandchildren to understand the gifts Jews and Israel continue to give to the world.

However, it is not wise to ignore the rampant antisemitism which is worldwide. But we have an amazing Jewish state. As proud, resilient people, we will never again have a Yad Vashem erected to our memory.”

Happy 102nd birthday, Pearl Hinda! 

Sofya Tamarkin holds an MBA degree and manages an orthopedic company. She is a yoga teacher and a Certified Life Coach. Mrs. Tamarkin is the author of three Jewish children’s books in Russian.

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O N

WHY CHOOSE THE STATE OF WYOMING TO FORM AN LLC BEN G. MATSAS

FOR ANYONE OPERATING AN E-COMMERCE STORE, CONSULTING BUSINESS, REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT COMPANY, OR ANY BUSINESS, CHOOSING WHERE TO ESTABLISH AN LLC IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EARLY BUSINESS DECISIONS. WHILE EVERY STATE OFFERS BUSINESS FORMATION OPTIONS, WYOMING HAS QUIETLY BUILT A REPUTATION AS ONE OF AMERICA’S LEADING DESTINATIONS FOR ENTREPRENEURS SEEKING PRIVACY, AFFORDABILITY, AND SIMPLICITY.

T

he reason is straightforward. Wyoming was designed to welcome business. Perhaps the state’s most compelling advantage is privacy. In an age when personal information is increasingly available online, many business owners are surprised to learn that forming an LLC in their home state may place their names and addresses in publicly searchable records.

Wyoming may offer an alternative. When properly structured with a registered agent, business owners may be able to keep their personal names and home addresses out of certain public state filings, which can help provide a valuable level of privacy that many entrepreneurs find increasingly important.

Wyoming also understands that businesses should spend their money building their companies rather than paying unnecessary government fees. The state offers relatively modest formation and annual report fees, which may make it especially attractive for startups, side businesses, and growing companies watching every dollar.

The advantages do not stop there. Wyoming is known for liability and creditor-protection provisions that can help preserve the legal separation between business obligations and personal assets. Combined with the absence of both a state corporate income tax and a personal state income tax, Wyoming may offer a favorable business climate. Business owners should keep in mind that forming in Wyoming may not eliminate tax, filing, registration, or reporting obligations in other states where they live or conduct business.

It is no surprise that entrepreneurs from New York to California, and even business owners living overseas, continue to consider Wyoming as the home for their American companies. At a time when regulation and compliance continue to grow in complexity, Wyoming may remain an appealing option because of its relatively modest state fees, privacy options, liability and creditor-protection provisions, business-friendly laws, and straightforward online filing process.

For many entrepreneurs, the question is no longer

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whether to form an LLC in Wyoming. The question is why they would choose anywhere else.

For business owners considering a Wyoming LLC, LibertyFiling.com can help simplify the process. They provide LLC formation services, registered agent services, EIN filing assistance, and ongoing filing support across the United States.

Visit LibertyFiling.com to learn more and begin the formation process.  The information above is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice.

LibertyFiling.com provides document preparation and filing coordination services only and does not provide legal, tax, or financial advice.

Ben G. Matsas is a business consultant who assists new business owners with document filing and administrative services, including forming LLCs and corporations in any state, obtaining EIN numbers, creating websites, and setting up business phone systems and business email.

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C O M M U N I T Y

E V E N T S

SUMMER SMILES AND CAMP MEMORIES THIS MONTH’S COMMUNITY PHOTO ALBUM CELEBRATES THE CHILDREN OF OUR COMMUNITY ENJOYING CAMP AND MAKING THE MOST OF SUMMER. FROM EXCITING TRIPS, SPORTS, CAMP ACTIVITIES, AND COMMUNITY EVENTS TO TIME SPENT WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, THESE PHOTOS CAPTURE THE FUN, ENERGY, AND SPECIAL MOMENTS THAT MAKE SUMMER SO MEMORABLE. SUMMER GIVES CHILDREN THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE NEW INTERESTS, BUILD FRIENDSHIPS, TRY NEW EXPERIENCES, AND ENJOY A WELL-DESERVED BREAK FROM THE SCHOOL YEAR. WHETHER THEY ARE AWAY AT CAMP, ATTENDING A LOCAL PROGRAM, TRAVELING, OR SIMPLY ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS, WE ARE PROUD TO SHARE THESE HAPPY MOMENTS FROM ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

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C O M M U N I T Y

E V E N T S

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

B O O K S

THE STORIES WE CARRY DENA SCHUSTERMAN’S NEW MEMOIR EXPLORES FAITH, FAMILY, CHABAD LIFE, AND THE STORIES THAT SHAPE WHO WE BECOME EVERY FAMILY HAS STORIES THAT GET TOLD AGAIN AND AGAIN. SOME ARE SHARED AT THE SABBATH TABLE. SOME ARE REPEATED AT SIMCHAS, SOME ARE PASSED DOWN QUIETLY, THROUGH HABITS, EXPECTATIONS, AND THE WAY PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS LIVE. OVER TIME, THOSE STORIES BECOME PART OF HOW WE UNDERSTAND WHO WE ARE. THAT IS THE HEART OF STORIES CARRY: WE ALL CARRY THEM. SOME EVEN CARRY US, DENA SCHUSTERMAN’S MEMOIR.

S

chusterman is an Atlanta-based writer, educator, community leader, and mother of eight. Raised in Berkeley, California, as the daughter of Chabad emissaries, she later built her own life of shlichus (Chabad outreach work) with her husband, Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman, at Chabad Intown in Atlanta.

For Orthodox Jewish readers, Stories Carry speaks in a language that feels familiar. It is about Sabbath tables, busy family life, guests at the door, family history, chinuch (Jewish education), marriage, community responsibility, and the quiet pressure of living with purpose.

It is also about the stories passed from parents and grandparents to children, the kind that shape how we understand faith, resilience, sacrifice, and belonging.

The memoir moves through four generations, from California and New Mexico to present-day Atlanta. Along the way, Schusterman reflects on life inside ChabadLubavitch, not as an outsider looking in, but as someone formed by that world and still living within it. She writes about the beauty of tradition, the weight of expectation, and the work of making inherited values personal.

That question gives the book its strength. Which stories do we carry forward because they give us courage,

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and which ones do we need to understand more deeply before passing them on? Every family has stories of survival, mesirut nefesh (devoted selfsacrifice), faith, pride, pain, humor, and love.

Some are told at the table. Some are absorbed without words. Schusterman asks what it means to receive those stories with gratitude, while also growing into your own voice.

Early praise has come from several notable readers. Melissa Fay Greene called the book “enchanting and enlightening.” Jonah Platt praised its portrait of life inside the Chabad community, saying it brings “new humanity and relatability” to a world often seen from the outside. Mayim Bialik noted that Schusterman’s dedication to transmitting her family’s legacy feels “as relevant now as ever.” Rabbi David Wolpe described the memoir as “a charming and inspiring journey.”

Stories Carry is a memoir about living with faith, family, and tradition in a real and honest way. Schusterman writes from inside the world that shaped her, with respect for its values and a clear eye for its challenges. For readers who care about family legacy, Jewish identity, and the stories that shape a home, it offers a thoughtful and timely read. Stories Carry: We All Carry Them. Some Even Carry Us will be published in September 2026 by Mercer University Press. 

Camp Kicks Off with a Winning Week of Monopoly Fun The first week of camp was an incredible start to what promises to be an unforgettable summer as campers dove into this year's exciting Board Games theme with one of the world's most beloved classics—Monopoly. Throughout the week, every activity brought the game to life, blending creativity, teamwork, movement, and adventure into five action-packed days.

The adventure continued as campers searched high and low during a schoolwide Monopoly coin scavenger hunt.

Hidden coins were scattered throughout the building, and teams worked together to solve clues, celebrate each discovery, and race toward finding every last treasure. The activity encouraged cooperation, problemsolving, and plenty of laughter along the way.

The fun began with a colorful craft as campers designed their very own Monopoly-inspired picture frames. After decorating each frame with bright colors and personal touches, they proudly posed with their favorite Monopoly property cards, creating keepsakes that perfectly captured the excitement of opening week.

One of the week's biggest highlights was an unforgettable trip to the Hasbro Game Room at American Dream. Campers spent the day playing interactive games, collecting tickets, and trading them in for exciting prizes. The excitement reached a whole new level when renowned artist Alec Monopoly made a surprise appearance.

Campers were thrilled to meet him, take photos together, and enjoy a once-in-alifetime experience that made an already incredible day even more memorable.

die determined a new movement activity— from hopping and balancing to racing and jumping—keeping campers active while adding a playful twist to the classic game.

Back at camp, the Monopoly theme continued with handson activities that kept everyone engaged. Campers transformed graham crackers into colorful Monopoly property cookies, carefully decorating each treat to resemble the familiar spaces from the game board. Later, everyone headed outside for a giant Monopoly fitness challenge, where each roll of an oversized

As the first week came to a close, campers had already created lasting friendships, built confidence through teamwork, and filled each day with smiles and unforgettable memories. If Monopoly Week is any indication of what's to come, this summer is shaping up to be our best one yet, and we can't wait to see where the next board game adventure takes us!

For more information, visit atidaynuourfuture.com or reach out to us at admissions@atidaynuourfuture.com.

M A R R I A G E

10 THINGS YOUR MOTHER-IN-LAW WISHES SHE COULD TELL YOU ADVICE ON BEING A GREAT DAUGHTER-IN-LAW

Y

SARAH PACHTER

our mother-in-law may be zipping her lips shut, but this is what she wants you to hear.

1. EMPATHIZE Imagine you’re the founder and CEO of a major corporation, and after 20 years you get fired. You’re devastated. After all, you created this company. How can they fire you from your own company? As you determine your next steps, you find out that the new boss is a young upstart, fresh out of college. Your blood is boiling. You’re appalled that you’ve devoted your entire life to the company and with the blink of an eye, you’ve been ousted by someone with no experience. This is what it’s like to become a mother-in-law.

You created a human. You endured sleepless nights worrying and raising your child. You gave every ounce of your body and soul to this person. And suddenly, just like that, some young rookie with no life experience has taken him!

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Recognize the years of toil and love that your mother-in-law poured into your husband and empathize with this most difficult transition that she has to navigate. One day, you’ll be that mother-in-law, and karma is a beast.

2. THE MORE YOU INCLUDE ME, THE LESS I WILL INTRUDE “The more you include, the less they intrude.” Commit this mantra to memory. Since your mother-in-law is the CEO emeritus, the more you invite her into your life, the less she will encroach and force her way in. There are simple, small gestures that can help her feel important, appreciated, and loved. Ask for recipes, call her often with the children, buy her thoughtful gifts, and send her “thinking of you” cards or texts. If you live in the same city, offer to pick up something from the market and visit regularly with your children. Treat her like she is your mother, only nicer. You can ask your hus-

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band what types of gestures he thinks she would appreciate, pleasing both your husband and your mother-in-law. Show kindness and your mother-in-law will feel less threatened. In turn, she’ll respect your need for privacy.

3. RESPECT ME EVEN IF YOU DON’T LIKE ME Your marriage is more akin to a marathon than a sprint. So, when dealing with heated, emotional topics with your mother-in-law, think about the long-term effects of your words. A few seconds of silence can buy you years of positive feelings. Pick your battles and choose respect over all else. Even if you don’t like your mother-in-law, you still need to respect her. At the end of the day, you have to look in the mirror and feel proud of what you see. Your motherin-law carried, birthed, and raised the man you married, and that alone deserves your respect, even if you like nothing else about her. Words, actions, and facial gestures need to all reflect your inner values.

4. ALLOW ME TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN You may feel more comfortable and trusting with your mother than your mother-in-law when it comes to helping you with the baby, but give your mother-in-law equal time and opportunity to see and love her grandchild. It is unfair for mothers-in-law to feel second fiddle. Even if you’re not so fond of your mother-in-law, it is a basic act of kindness to allow her to have a relationship with her grandchildren.

5. DON’T CALL ME ONLY WHEN YOU NEED ME “She mostly ignores my existence until she needs something. At that point, she butters me up and is sweet as honey. Then, once she gets what she needs, she continues the cycle of purposeful distance.” Mothers-in-law often feel used and taken advantage of. They continue to give out of desire to have a relationship, but often feel deflated by the results. Call regularly and maintain a relationship, not because you want to get something out of her, but just for the sake of the relationship.

6. DON’T CONTRADICT ME. IF YOU DISAGREE, JUST DON’T RESPOND. Zipping the lips is a great idea for both parties, but it’s extra important for daughters-in-law. As a daughter-inlaw, sometimes you have to swallow your words, bite your tongue, and smile and nod. It’s basic respect. She’s older and the parent of your spouse. For that reason alone, she deserves respect. Undermining her in front of her friends and children is disrespectful and impolite. If she is hurting you or embarrassing you, you don’t have to withstand it.

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However, in areas where you can relinquish control, do it.

As long as she is saying something that has no real impact, why not just keep quiet? Smile and nod, and don’t contradict her, even if you know she’s wrong. Get used to the phrase, “Oh, that’s interesting,” even if you emphatically disagree. You can still hear the perspective of the other person without commenting in a dissenting, argumentative way.

7. EXPRESS GRATITUDE Find a way to thank your mother-in-law regularly.

Perhaps she helps with the children, offers financial help, or respects your privacy. Let her know why you feel so fortunate to have her as your mother-in-law. Even if your mother-inlaw is no angel, there is something she’s doing right. Find something to thank her for.

8. DON’T SPEAK ILL OF ME, ESPECIALLY IN FRONT OF YOUR CHILDREN As much as you may want to let off steam, your children are learning how to treat their parents by watching you.

Also, don’t speak negatively about your mother-in-law to your spouse. No one wants to hear that their mother is difficult, even if they know it deep down.

9. PLEASE OFFER TO HELP ME As a daughter-in-law, try to help your mother-in-law in any way she needs. Do dishes, clear the table, and tidy up after your children in their home. Bring a gift of flowers when you see her or just because. And if you commit to helping with something, do not flake.

10. MAKE BOUNDARIES If your mother-in-law is toxic or abusive, you have the right and the need to make boundaries. You do not have to accept abuse and can limit your time together to prevent making the relationship worse. Sometimes less is more when it comes to family harmony.  Sarah Pachter is a dynamic, motivational speaker who has lectured throughout the US and Israel. For the past thirteen years, Sarah has passionately taught women of all ages and levels of Jewish observance. In addition to lecturing for many organizations, schools, and synagogues, she is a kallah teacher, dating coach, and mentor. Sarah runs growth groups in private homes and meets with individuals for one-on-one private sessions.

‫ב"ה‬

Chai there!

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G R O W T H

UNDECIDED: SIX RULES TO HELP YOU MAKE DECISIONS SIX PRACTICAL RULES TO CUT THROUGH THE NOISE AND CHOOSE WITH CLARITY AND CONFIDENCE DR. LESLIE M. GUTMAN

SOME DECISIONS ARE GENUINELY COMPLICATED. BUT MANY OF THE DECISIONS THAT DRAIN US AREN’T THAT COMPLEX. SHOULD I GO? SHOULD I STAY? SHOULD I APPLY? THEY’RE JUST EMOTIONALLY NOISY. PSYCHOLOGISTS CALL THIS DECISION FATIGUE, WHEN EMOTIONAL OVERLOAD MAKES SIMPLE CHOICES FEEL OVERWHELMING. ou hesitate because you’re afraid of choosing the wrong thing, disappointing someone, or stepping into discomfort. Here are six rules that cut through the noise and help you choose with clarity and confidence.

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(Talmud Bavli, Megillah 6b). This doesn’t mean overextending yourself or ignoring your limits. It means that if you have the time, emotional bandwidth, and resources, a mitzvah is a built in compass. It points you toward meaning, connection, and purpose.

1. IF IT’S A MITZVAH AND YOU HAVE THE CAPACITY, THEN SAY YES. When a mitzvah presents itself and you’re genuinely able to do it, do it. The Talmud teaches “When a mitzvah comes your way, don’t let it become spoiled by delaying”

2. IF IT MATTERS TO SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT, MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO BE THERE. Judaism places enormous weight on showing up, being present, and standing with someone in their moment.

Strong relationships are built on consistent presence. When

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something is important to someone you love, your attendance becomes part of the meaning. You don’t have to stay for hours or be the life of the party. You just have to be there.

3. IF THE ONLY BENEFIT IS THRILL BASED DANGER, THE ANSWER IS PROBABLY NO. The Torah commands us to guard our bodies carefully and live responsibly. There’s a difference between courage and recklessness. Courage is stepping into a challenge for a purpose. Recklessness is risking your life for a dopamine spike. If the activity is dangerous and purposeless, then all signs point to pass.

4. IF IT INVOLVES MILD DISCOMFORT BUT LEADS TO A MEANINGFUL REWARD, SAY YES. Growth rarely feels comfortable. New adventures, new roles, and new opportunities stretch us, and this can feel awkward. Psychologists call this “productive discomfort”: the small, healthy stress that accompanies learning and expansion. If the reward is real, such as connection, growth, contribution, or purpose, then the discomfort is not a warning sign. It’s a sign you’re stretching.

5. IF IT’S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY YOU’LL REGRET MISSING, SAY YES. Regret research shows that people regret inaction 94 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

far more than action. You regret the things you didn’t try, the doors you didn’t walk through, the experiences you let pass. Judaism values seizing the moment: “If not now, when?” (Ethics of the Fathers, 1:14) If you can already feel the future version of yourself saying, “I’ll wish I had gone,” listen to that voice. Some doors don’t open twice.

6. IF YOUR WHOLE BODY SAYS, “THIS ISN’T SAFE,” LISTEN. Your nervous system is purposefully designed to detect danger before your mind can articulate it. If your body tightens, your breath shortens, or something in you says, This isn’t right, pause. Listen to your body; it’s your first defense mechanism. Most decisions don’t require perfect certainty.

They require alignment with your values, your relationships, your safety, your purpose, and your future self.

These six rules won’t eliminate every dilemma, but they will give you a framework that is spiritually grounded and psychologically sound. Apply them, and the right choice will likely become clearer.  Dr. Leslie M. Gutman is Professor of Psychology and Director of the MSc Behaviour Change at University College London. She writes and speaks widely about resilience, mental health, wellbeing, behavior change, and the intersection of Jewish teachings and contemporary research. She lives in London with her family.

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B E A U T Y

KOREAN ANTI-AGING CREAMS BEAUTY BREAKTHROUGH OR TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE? THE ADS ARE HARD TO MISS. A CREAM PROMISES SMOOTHER SKIN, TIGHTER PORES, A LIFTED LOOK, AND A GLOW THAT SEEMS TO BELONG IN A FILTER. THE LABEL IS KOREAN, THE PACKAGING IS ELEGANT, AND THE LANGUAGE SOUNDS SCIENTIFIC. FOR ANYONE TIRED OF EXPENSIVE TREATMENTS, THE MESSAGE IS TEMPTING. IS THIS SKINCARE, OR IS IT WISHFUL THINKING?

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he answer is somewhere in the middle. Korean antiaging creams are not Botox in a jar. They cannot freeze facial muscles, erase deep lines overnight, or replace a dermatologist. But some of them do contain thoughtful ingredients that can improve how your skin looks and feels when used consistently.

Korean skincare has earned a strong following because it often focuses on prevention, hydration, barrier repair, and daily routine. That approach is different from the quick-fix promise many people expect from anti-aging products.

Instead of one strong cream that does everything, K-beauty often builds results through layers. A gentle cleanser. A hydrating toner. A serum. A moisturizer. Sunscreen in the morning. The goal is skin that looks healthier because it is better protected and less irritated.

The current wave of Korean anti-aging products is built around ingredients that sound almost medical. You may see PDRN, peptides, exosomes, snail mucin, cica, fermented extracts, ginseng, niacinamide, and bakuchiol. Some of these have real value. Peptides may support the skin’s firm

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look over time. Niacinamide can help with uneven tone and the skin barrier. Cica, also called centella asiatica, is often used to calm redness. Snail mucin is mainly valued for hydration and repair. Bakuchiol is often described as a gentler retinol alternative, though retinoids still have the stronger research record.

Then there are the trendier ingredients. PDRN, short for polydeoxyribonucleotide, has become one of the biggest names in Korean beauty. It is often connected with skin repair, hydration, and post-treatment recovery. In clinics, related ingredients may be used with professional procedures. In a cream or serum, the effect is more modest. It may help support the skin, but it should not be treated like a medical treatment at home.

Another trend is the “Botox-like” cream. This phrase is where consumers need to slow down. Botox is a drug that is injected by a licensed professional. It works by relaxing targeted muscles. A topical cream does not work the same way. Some creams use ingredients that may soften the look of fine lines by hydrating the skin or temporarily smoothing

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the surface. That can be useful, especially before makeup or for dry skin. But it is not the same as changing muscle movement.

This does not mean the products are scams. It means the claims matter. A cream that says it helps skin look smoother, plumper, brighter, or more hydrated may be making a reasonable cosmetic claim. A cream that suggests it can deliver the same result as an injection should be viewed with caution. Good skincare can improve texture. It can help dull skin look fresher. It can reduce dryness that makes lines look worse. It can support the barrier so skin looks calmer. Those are real benefits. They are also different from a facelift, laser, filler, or neuromodulator.

The safest way to judge these products is to ignore the most dramatic advertising and read the ingredient list. Look for familiar, useful ingredients near the top. Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, ceramides, niacinamide, peptides, panthenol, centella, and sunscreen filters all have practical roles.

If you want anti-aging results with stronger evidence, retinol or a prescription retinoid remains one of the better studied options, though it can irritate some skin. If your skin is sensitive, bakuchiol, peptides, and barrier-repair creams may be easier to tolerate.

You should also pay attention to how your skin reacts.

A product can be popular and still be wrong for you.

Fragrance, essential oils, strong actives, and exfoliating acids can bother sensitive skin. A glossy ad does not protect you from redness, burning, breakouts, or rash. Try one new 98 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

product at a time. Use a small amount for several days before putting it all over your face. If your skin stings or peels badly, stop using it.

Buying from a reliable source matters too. Korean skincare is widely available in the United States, but the market is crowded. Choose established retailers, clear labeling, sealed packaging, and brands that list ingredients in English. Be careful with products sold through unknown marketplaces, especially if the price seems unusually low. Skincare does not need to be expensive, but it should be traceable.

The most overlooked anti-aging product is still sunscreen. No cream can do much if your skin is getting daily sun damage. A simple morning routine with sunscreen and a simple night routine with moisturizer and one active ingredient will usually serve you better than a shelf full of half-used miracle creams.

Korean anti-aging creams are worth paying attention to because they reflect where beauty is going. Consumers want products that feel gentle, look elegant, and fit into daily life. They want skin that looks healthy, not frozen. That is a good shift. The problem starts when the language gets too big for what a cream can honestly do.

The best approach is open-minded but realistic. Try the products that make sense for your skin. Give them time.

Keep your expectations grounded. A good Korean cream may help your skin look smoother, calmer, and better hydrated. That is not Botox. It is skincare. And sometimes, that is exactly what your skin needs. 

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P A R E N T I N G

FOUR GREAT QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR KIDS DEBBIE GUTFREUND

DITCH “HOW WAS YOUR DAY?” AND INSTEAD TRY THESE FOUR QUESTIONS TO GET YOUR KIDS TALKING.

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etting your kids to talk to you can feel like a herculean task. Ask “How was your day?” and you’ll probably get “Fine.” Ask “What did you do today?” and you’ll probably get “Nothing.”

Here are four better questions that are open-ended and reflective, and help build real connection.

1. WHO DID YOU HELP TODAY? I’ve asked my kids this since kindergarten. It shifts the focus away from what they achieved and onto the kindness they brought into someone else’s day. Even your youngest kids will remember a small moment: “Josh tripped on the playground, and I helped him pick up his books.” Older kids will open up about things you’d never otherwise hear: 100 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

“Shira’s dad is in the hospital, so I sat with her at lunch so she could talk about it.” This question teaches them that who they become matters more than what they become, and it nudges them to look for chances to help.

2. WHEN DID YOU FEEL MOST LIKE YOURSELF TODAY? This question connects your kids to what actually matters to them. Listen without judgment, and you’ll learn what they truly care about. It’s hard, at any age, to recognize your authentic self. We usually only catch glimpses of it when we’re doing something that draws out our real strengths. But kids often know exactly when they felt most like themselves: “When I played soccer with my friends.”

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“When I figured out that problem on my computer.” “When I made the baby laugh.” “When I wrote that poem on the porch.” The specific answer doesn’t matter. What matters is that your kids see you care about what matters to them. Ask this enough, and they’ll start asking themselves: Does this choice bring me closer to who I really am, or further away?

3. WHEN DID YOU KEEP GOING EVEN WHEN SOMETHING WAS HARD? We live in a culture built for instant gratification and shortcuts. One of the hardest things to teach kids, and ourselves, is that doing hard things is the only way to accomplish anything worthwhile. This question brings back the moments they felt stuck and uncomfortable but pushed through anyway: “I was out of breath a block before the finish line, but I kept running.” “I was stuck on a math problem, but I tried different answers until one worked.” “I wanted to walk away from a hard conversation, but I stayed and told them how I felt.” Even on days they don’t answer, they’ll remember a moment that tells them they can handle discomfort, and that when things get tough, they can push through.

4. WHAT WAS GOING ON FOR YOU WHEN THAT HAPPENED? WHAT DID YOU NEED IN THAT MOMENT? Parenting expert Dr. Becky Kennedy developed this 102 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

question as a replacement for “Why did you do that?” That question sounds reasonable, but it puts kids on the defensive and shuts them down. What you actually want to know is what was happening in your child’s world when they did whatever they did. It’s a small reframe, but the answers you get will surprise you. A kid who got into a fight on the playground might say: “Right before it started, Charlie tripped me and took the hat Grandpa gave me. I knew I shouldn’t have hit him, but I needed a place to cool down and couldn’t find one.” What you’ll hear underneath: I needed understanding. I needed safety. I needed space. You’ll understand what happened, and you might even help them avoid it next time. More than that, your child will feel like you genuinely care how they experience the world, without judgment. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks taught, “To be a Jewish parent is to make space for your child, as G-D makes space for us, His children.” The questions you ask your kids can close off that space, or open it wide. The more curious and open-ended your questions, the more your kids will feel like you genuinely care what’s going on inside them.  Debbie Gutfreund is an OCD and trauma therapist. She holds a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania and an MA in Family Therapy from the University of North Texas. In her free time, she is a competitive runner and skier. She lives in Parkland, Florida, with her husband and children.

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BACK TO SCHOOL, BACK TO YOU LAURA SHAMMAH, MS, RDN

THIS YEAR, THERE’S BARELY A CHANCE TO CATCH OUR BREATH. LABOR DAY MARKS THE UNOFFICIAL END OF SUMMER, BUT BEFORE WE’VE EVEN UNPACKED THE BEACH BAGS OR SETTLED INTO NEW SCHOOL ROUTINES, ROSH HASHANAH IS ALREADY HERE. INSTEAD OF EASING INTO ONE SEASON BEFORE PREPARING FOR THE NEXT, WE’RE HIT WITH EVERYTHING AT ONCE: SCHOOL SUPPLIES, CARPOOLS, WORK SCHEDULES, HOLIDAY SHOPPING, COOKING, FAMILY OBLIGATIONS, AND THE PRESSURE TO HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER.

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or many people, this is exactly when healthy habits begin to unravel. As a dietitian who specializes in eating disorders and helping people build a healthier relationship with food, I see it every year. When life becomes stressful, people stop making themselves a priority. They skip meals because they’re busy. They grab whatever is convenient. They tell themselves they’ll “get back on track” after the holidays. But that’s exactly the mindset that keeps people feeling stuck.

The goal isn’t to have a perfect routine. The goal is to build what I call a healthy-minded head. A healthy-minded 104 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

head understands that life changes. Schedules change.

Seasons change. Your eating habits don’t have to become all-or-nothing every time your calendar gets busy.

Maybe your workouts aren’t an hour long anymore.

Maybe they’re 10 to 20 minutes. That’s still taking care of yourself. Maybe dinner isn’t homemade every night. That’s okay too. Maybe the kids’ schedules have completely changed. Instead of only planning their meals, ask yourself, “When am I going to eat today?”

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children to eat, drink, and sleep. Yet somehow, we convince ourselves that skipping lunch or eating standing over the kitchen counter is acceptable. It isn’t. The healthier your relationship with food, the healthier your family’s relationship with food can become. One of the greatest gifts you can give your children isn’t a perfect meal. It’s watching you respect your own body.

As we prepare for Rosh Hashanah, think beyond the symbolic apples and honey. A sweet new year doesn’t come from another diet that starts in January. It comes from making small decisions today that support your physical and emotional health.

Plan ahead. Keep mealtimes regular as much as possible. Stock easy meals for busy afternoons. Schedule movement into your week the same way you schedule appointments. Give yourself permission to enjoy holiday meals without guilt. Most importantly, remember that one busy season doesn’t erase all the progress you’ve made.

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Healthy people don’t have perfect routines. They have flexible routines.

This Labor Day and Rosh Hashanah, don’t strive for perfection. Strive for consistency. Go into this new school year and the New Year feeling prepared instead of frazzled, nourished instead of depleted, and committed to taking care of yourself just as well as you take care of everyone else. Because when your mind is healthy, your choices become healthier too. And that’s a gift worth carrying into every season. 

Laura Shammah, MS, RDN, specializes in eating disorders and works with a wide range of clients, including those managing PCOS, infertility, hypertension, high cholesterol, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, and cancer. She also supports clients training for marathons, women who are pregnant, and individuals seeking to lose or gain weight in a healthy way.

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F I N A N C E

TEN TIMELESS RULES OF INVESTING FROM THE TALMUD TEN SOUND INVESTMENT RULES FROM JEWISH TRADITION, AND THE MODERN FINANCIAL GIANTS WHO ECHOED THEM MENACHEM KATZ

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ewish sources have a lot to say about money.

Scattered across the Talmud and its commentaries is a body of financial wisdom that Buffett, Graham, and Munger would only formalize thousands of years later.

Here are ten Jewish rules that still hold up.

1. DIVERSIFY NEVER STAKE EVERYTHING ON ONE POSITION. The ancient source “Divide your portion into seven, or even into eight, for you do not know what misfortune may befall the land” (Ecclesiastes 11:2).

A person should always divide his wealth into three, a third in land, a third in merchandise, and a third in liquid108 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

ity. The Talmud sources the principle with our Patriarch Yaakov, who, fearing Esav, “divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps” (Bereishis 32:8–9), so that if one camp were struck, the other would survive (Talmud Bavli, Bava Metzia 42a).

The modern echo Harry Markowitz won the Nobel Prize for Modern Portfolio Theory and summed it up in one sentence: “Diversification is the only free lunch in investing.” Spreading risk across uncorrelated assets lowers risk without sacrificing return. Researchers have tested the Sages’ “thirds” allocation against Markowitz’s model and found the Talmudic portfolio holds up remarkably well.

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2. INSIST ON A MARGIN OF SAFETY DON’T OVERPAY. The ancient source The Talmud (Bava Kama 7b) observes that while realestate values dip in the off-season, land does not fall below half of its value. That built-in floor protects the buyer who respects it from being wiped out by bad timing.

The modern echo Benjamin Graham (né Grossbaum), Buffett’s teacher and the father of value investing, reduced the discipline to three words: margin of safety. Buy with a wide enough gap between price and value that even your mistakes leave you whole.

5. TREAT IT AS A BUSINESS MIND THE DETAILS. The ancient source The Talmud is strikingly operational. Collect payment before you measure out the goods. Watch your employees.

And, pointedly, one who merely earns back his investment is not really a merchant (Pesachim 113a; Bava Metzia 40b).

The details are the business.

The modern echo Graham taught that investing is most intelligent when it is most businesslike: do the homework, run the numbers, and never mistake a flat result for a real gain. Wealth is built by a careful proprietor, not a gambler.

3. OWN PRODUCTIVE, INCOME-GENERATING ASSETS The ancient source “A person should always seek to sell a field and purchase goats, to benefit from their milk, wool, and offspring, and a person should not sell goats and purchase a field.”

The goat yields year after year; a bare field does not (Chulin 84a). Likewise, when managing a child’s assets, one buys a fruit-bearing tree so the child benefits from the produce (Bava Basra 52a).

The modern echo In his 2011 Berkshire Hathaway letter, Warren Buffett drew the same distinction. A block of gold, however large, produces nothing; farmland, businesses, and real estate generate output, crops, dividends, rents, year after year.

Like the Talmud’s goat, the productive asset compounds; the inert one does not.

6. BE GREEDY WHEN OTHERS ARE FEARFUL The ancient source “In a time when others are scattering, gather in; and in a time when others are gathering in, scatter.” Move against the crowd (Brachos 63a). This pairs with the Torah’s warning, “Do not follow a multitude to do evil” (Exodus 23:2), independence of judgment is a virtue, in markets as in morals.

The modern echo This is nearly word-for-word one of Buffett’s most famous maxims, from the depths of the 2008 crisis: “Be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.” When the herd panics, prices fall to where the patient buyer steps in; when the masses are euphoric, take a step back.

4. INVEST IN WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND The ancient source It is better to deal in a smaller quantity of merchandise close to home than a larger quantity from far away, the nearby trade is the one you can actually watch and understand. (Pesachim 113a) The Talmud likewise warns that “a person cannot know from which merchandise he will profit” (Pesachim 54b), and to keep a close eye on your own workers. Stay where your knowledge is real (Bava Metzia 29b–30a).

The modern echo Peter Lynch, who ran Fidelity’s Magellan Fund to roughly 29% annual returns, built his philosophy on four words: “Invest in what you know.” Buffett calls it staying within your “circle of competence.” The edge belongs to the investor who understands the business in front of him and not chasing the unknown far away.

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7. DON’T BE GREEDY ON THE WAY OUT TAKE THE SURE GAIN. The ancient source “Butzina tava mikara, a small gourd in hand now is better than a large one later” (Kesuvos 83b). Better the certain modest gain than the speculative larger one (Succah 56b).

The modern echo Bernard Baruch, who sold out before the 1929 crash, put it plainly: “I made my money by selling too soon.”

Chasing the exact top is a fool’s errand; the disciplined investor banks the gain. Buffett made the same point with the old adage, “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”

8. LET IT COMPOUND REINVEST AND BE PATIENT. The ancient source “One who wishes to become wealthy should engage in raising small domesticated animals” (Chulin 84b),

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because they breed quickly, and their offspring beget further offspring. The Rambam captures the same instinct (Hilchos Deot 5:12): aim steadily to improve your position and “to exchange the impermanent for the permanent”. Small gains, reinvested over time, become large ones.

The modern echo Charlie Munger, Buffett’s partner for half a century, reduced wealth-building to one discipline: “The first rule of compounding: never interrupt it unnecessarily.” Most of a fortune’s growth comes at the end of the curve, if you have the patience to leave it alone.

9. LIVE BELOW YOUR MEANS TRUE WEALTH IS CONTENTMENT. The ancient source The Sages advise living below your means (Chulin 84b), and define wealth not by the size of one’s holdings but by the state of the heart: “Who is rich? One who rejoices in his portion” (Ethics of the Fathers 4:1). One is also required to live within his means (Rambam Deot 5:10).

The goal of all the above is not accumulation for its own sake, but security, generosity, and peace of mind.

The modern echo Warren Buffett, one of the wealthiest people alive, still lives in the modest Omaha house he bought in 1958.

Great investors tend to be frugal: the fortune you keep depends more on temperament than on returns. Spend less than you have and reinvest the difference.

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10. GUARD YOUR INTEGRITY ABOVE ALL The ancient source The first question a person is asked before the Heavenly court is, “Did you conduct your business affairs faithfully?”

(Shabbos 31a) Honesty in commerce is not a footnote to the spiritual life, it is the opening question of the final accounting. It is also a Biblical command: “You must fulfill what has crossed your lips” (Deut. 23:24).

The modern echo Buffett tells his managers the same thing: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” He will forgive lost money but not a shred of reputation. Trust is the most valuable asset on any balance sheet, and the hardest to recover once lost.

A CLOSING THOUGHT Together, these rules describe a disposition: prudent, patient, honest, and aware of what cannot be known. “A person cannot know from which merchandise he will profit” (Pesachim 54b), so he diversifies, demands a margin of safety, stays within what he understands, and lets time and integrity work.

Modern finance has spent centuries rediscovering this.

Perhaps this tradition helped Jews thrive financially through centuries of persecution.  Menachem Katz, a scholar in Talmudic literature, is noted for his work on the Jerusalem Talmud and digital humanities. He is recognized for producing the first critical edition of a tractate of the Jerusalem Talmud and initiating the first full critical digital edition of a rabbinic work.

Hannah Kosher Foods Local Food Bank

Hannah Kosher Foods works with “Beth Shifra” to Help Mothers receive Healthy Nutritious Options for their Families.

Refuah Shelemah for “Chaim ben Shifra” “Ofer Michael ben Yael” Special Thank You to Rabbi Sorscher and family for continuous In Kind support

In Need of Food?

Food is Available (Free of Charge) Every day of the week at food pantries across New York City! Many food pantries use Plentiful, an easy- to-use reservation system to schedule pantry visits.

“The Food CZARS”

Sign-up with Plentiful today! It's easy and safe. In 5 minutes, you can get access to over 250 Food Pantries!

Locate food pantries to receive available FOOD FREE OF CHARGE.

SCAN HERE to register for PLENTIFUL

Use your Cell Phone to Make Reservations at Food Pantries, and AVOID WAITING IN LINE.

If You Experience Any of the Following Contact Us At: support@plentifulapp.com.

Incorrect hours on Plentiful Refusal to accept your reservation

For more information, please visit www.plentifulapp.com

Having trouble scanning the QR Code above?

Text HANNAH to 726-879 to register.

2102 Ave. T Brooklyn, NY 11229 Third Thursday of Every Month 9am - 1pm FREE KOSHER FOOD Make A Reservation <---Using the Plentiful App <--Next Distribution is: 8/20/2026

DONATE NOW USING: CREDIT CARDS, ZELLE, AND CHECK. 501(C)3 TAX DEDUCTIBLE

“A Voice for South Brooklyn” I am honored and grateful to have been elected to another term on the Kings County Democratic Committee as county committee representative for AD 45 ED 003

Whether through Hannah Kosher foods, Nutrition advocacy or community organizations the goal remains the same

Making sure no family gets left behind!!

Food Security for all families

Increased access to healthy foods

Support for local Non Profits & food Pantries

Culturally relevant Food programs

Stronger Partnership between Government and our community

Aharon Zarzar County Committee AD 45 ED 003

AHARON ZARZAR 929-427-1065 1530 E. 14TH STREET BROOKLYN, NY 11230 HANNAHKOSHERFOODS@GMAIL.COM HANNAHKOSHERFOODS.COM

AUGUST 2026 JEWISH IMAGE 113

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We urge you to do whatever you can do to help Beth Shifra, RABBI AVIGDOR MILLER ZTʼʼL Please look at the video of Beth Shifra at www.bethshifra.com THESE ARE THE PROGRAMS BETH SIFRA RAN Separate Orthodox Boy Scout 8 Girl Scout Club • Matchmaking • Trips and Rallies • Free Legal Advice Jewish Films Jewish History Classes • Job Placement • Boxing & Wrestling • Men's Karate • Women's Karate • CSW on Premesis-Business School • Brisim Performed • Speakers Bureau • Free Hebrew School • Free Summer Camps • Nursery schools • Jewish Services • Boxing- High School Programs In Public Schools • Chess Tournament • Free Bar Mitzvahs • Several English Classes (Green Cards) • Work Release Programs • Release Hours • Free Flee Market • Homeless Shelter

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED THE NEED IS GREAT! VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! to help distribute Jewish literature to those susceptible to missionary propoganda

TABLE C5 of the Brighton Beach Jubilee Corner of Coney Island Ave. and Brighton Beach Ave. Sunday, August 23 10 am - 5 pm

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Looking to sell

QUIETLY & QUICKLY ?

Call or Text

CALL FOR MORE EXCLUSIVE LISTINGS!

917-288-4001 | INFO@MKREALTYNY.COM | c21mkrealty.com D

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Melanie Kishk

Melanie Kishk

Melanie Kishk

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1730 East 4th St

East 4th / Quentin

Dorit Vaknin

Melanie Kishk

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1930 Homecrest Ave Impressive 40.5Ft Wide Lot, Located Between Avenue S and Avenue T, 3.5 Well-Appointed Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathrooms, Large Front Porch Lauren Avital

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3 Family Home Located in the Heart of Gravesend, 40x100 Lot, Consistent Rental Income Betty Tabbush

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Melanie Kishk

575 Kings Hwy,

461 Avenue X

Fully Detached 3-Family, Oversized 40x100, 9 Beds, 3 Baths, Beautiful Residential Block Lauren Avital

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Commercial Space For Rent, First & Lower Floor, 1st Fl 4,200 Sqft & Lower Fl 2,312 Sqft, Elevator Access Flexible Medical Layout Melanie Kishk

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1630 East 5th St

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Paulette Dweck

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Beautiful block!, Detached Single Fam, 4 Beds, 4 Baths, Foyer, Backyard, Private Driveway Melanie Kishk

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Low Maint. All Brick 15-Unit Residential Building, 40x113 Lot, 16,000 SF Build 40x100 Ft, Fully Occupied

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Semi-Detached 1 Fam, 24x100 Lot, 3 Beds, 2.5 Baths, Living & Dining, Eat-Kitchen, Parking, Back Porch

1431 East 2nd St

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1815 East 3rd St

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2243 East 2nd St

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30 x 120 Lot, Duplex unit with 5 Beds, 3.5 Baths, 1st Fl Unit 3 Beds & 2 Baths, Central Air, 3 Balconies, 2 Sink Kitchens, Private Driveway & 2 Car Garage.

Melanie Kishk

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Multi-Family, 2 Units, 6 Beds, 4 Baths, Beautiful Kitchen, Living & Dining, Inviting Foyer Private Driveway Melanie Kishk

1405 E 7th St

Detached One Family, 4 Beds, Living & Dining Room, Den, Private Drive

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2111 East 5th St

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E 9th & Ave R Corner Property!

Build your dream house on Magnificent 40-foot corner lot Rare opportunity to own one of the most beautiful corners in Brooklyn

Detached, 3 Beds, 2.5 Baths, Large Living Room, Balcony & Back Patio Beautiful Kitchen, Finished Basement

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3 Family Brick Home, 25x100 Lot, can be delivered vacant or with excellent tenants.

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Newly Built Legal Two Family, Lot 67' in the Front, 77' in the Rear, 154' on one Side, and 142' on the Other 9 Beds, 7 Baths, 8,098 sqft

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126 Van Sicklen St

1304 Ave V

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1820 East 4th Beautifully Built Single Family Home For Rent, 5 Bedrooms, 3.5 Bathrooms, 3 Story, Private Drive Melanie Kishk

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1502 Avenue N

Spacious 6,500+ SF Ideal Educational Or Community Facily Elevator Building For Sale Lauren Avital

AUGUST 2026 JEWISH IMAGE 115

ROBERTA & ALBERTO

ESQUENAZI

Marina Realty Group THE LUXURY LEADERS SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR 37 YEARS

(305) 332-4440

RobertaRealty@aol.com

(305) 934-7111

AlbertoRealty54@gmail.com

BUYING OR SELLING? LET’S TALK FIRST. BACKED BY 40 YEARS OF TRUSTED EXPERIENCE. INVENTORY NEEDED! Our Recent Listings Are Moving Quickly.

Thinking About Selling?

Now Is the Perfect Time to Maximize Your Value.

MYSTIC POINTE Building 300, #613 | End User or Investment Opportunity.

Building 500, #3505 | Back on the Market.

TURNBERRY SOUTH TOWER 11H | Sold and Closed 3AB | Sold and Closed 10L | Under Contract 8L | Under Contract TURNBERRY NORTH TOWER 17E | Under Contract “D” Line | Rarely Available. Don’t Miss Out. “K” Line | Available. Motivated Seller.

TIRED OF W WORKING ORKING FROM FROM HOME?

2-ROOM SHOMER SHABBAT LOCKED OFFICE IN MARINE PARK FOR SUBLET Conveniently located at E 36th St and Quentin Rd.

Each room fits 2-3 desks. Offices are 8x19 feet and 10x 19 feet. Furnished or you can furnish yourself. Utilities and Wifi included; Bathroom, frig and Keurig are shared. The neighborhood has no meters or alternate side of the street parking.

Text: 917.439.5126 2025

Esther Gindi

Licensed Real Estate Broker Gindi Realty 917.330.3418 Nimo Gindi 718.724.9922

Follow Us On Instagram esthergindi real estate

HOUSES FOR SALE Ocean Parkway and Avenue M Extra-large, detached two-family home

East 1st Street and Avenue V Attached one-family home 20 × 100 lot Three-bedroom duplex plus walk-in Private parking

Avenue N, Low Teens Detached home on a 40 × 100 lot Private parking $2.6 million

Neck Road and Village Road Corner two-family home Four floors Four-bedroom duplex, two-bedroom apartment, and one-bedroom basement Private parking

East 5th Street and Avenue M Semi-detached home Five bedrooms 26 × 100 lot Private driveway $1.7 million Homecrest Detached one-family home $2.1 million

Avenue W, off Ocean Parkway Detached home on a 40 × 100 lot Private parking $3 million

Warehouses, Houses, and Apartments Availabl for Sale and Rent.

For More Information Call Gindi Real Estate 917-330-3418

For All Your Real Estate Needs at the Jersey Shore MARCELLE SASSON GRI Broker Associate/Realtor G & G REALTORS

Office (732) 531-2000 Cell (732) 539-1850 Email: mgsasson@aol.com

Reach The Hottest Real Estate Market In NY & NJ To Advertise Call 718-627-4624

GRACE MARCUS Licenced Real Estate Agent

1) ALLENHURST FOR SALE COMPOUND 4 UNITS

5) 1 ROSELD AVE DEAL OCEANFRONT CONDO ANNUAL RENTAL!

2) GARFIELD AVE IN OAKHURST FOR SALE

6) ALLENHURST WINTER OR ANNUAL RENTAL APARTMENT

3) ELBERON LONG BRANCH HOME FOR SALE 180 X 180

7) DEAL, NJ 7 CAMPBELL COURT WINTER RENTAL

4) DWIGHT DRIVE IN WEST DEAL - ANNUAL RENTAL OR WINTER

8) DEAL, NJ 127 PHILLIPS WINTER RENTAL

1) ALLENHURST FOR SALE COMPOUND 4 UNITS Compound of four units Allenhurst for sale, 53 x 142, ideal for investors or users.

4) DWIGHT DRIVE IN WEST DEAL ANNUAL RENTAL OR WINTER Dwight drive in West Deal mid-century expanded ranch, four bedrooms, 2 baths.

7) DEAL, NJ 7 CAMPBELL COURT WINTER RENTAL Deal NJ 7 Campbell court - 3-4 bedrooms 2 baths winter rental wirh Aspen ski lodge vibes!

2) ELBERON LONG BRANCH HOME FOR SALE 180 X 180 Distinctive home on 180 x 180 near Park Ave on Elberon offers detached three car garage with cottage plus room for pool & sports court!

5) 1 ROSELD AVE DEAL OCEANFRONT CONDO ANNUAL RENTAL! Annual rental Oceanfront condo 1 bedroom, 1 bath, beautifully updated head to toe! Beach steps away.

8) OAKHURST GARFIELD AVE NEAR DEAL 100 X 125 Garfield Ave in Oakhurst single family set on 100 x 125 near Deal, DSN, Larchwood.

3) DEAL NJ 127 PHILLIPS WINTER RENTAL Craftman ranch with front porch 2 bdrms, 1 bath.

6) 43 DWIGHT OCEAN TOWNSHIP WINTER OR ANNUAL RENTAL Dwight drive in West Deal mid-century expanded ranch four bedrooms, 2 baths.

HOUSE FOR SALE BKLYN East 4th St/Quentin Road–Detached one-family home. Four bdrms, living room, dining room, den, and private driveway. Call MK Realty, Melanie Kishk, 917-621-5245 Avenue Y/ Low East Near YDE–Two-family semi-attached home with carport, shared driveway, and possible backyard. Asking $999,000.

Call Homecrest Realty Group, Sarah Sasson, 917-361-8268.

Avenue V/East 13th–Three-family brick home.

25 x 100 lot. Can be delivered vacant or with excellent tenants. Call MK Realty, Melanie Kishk, 917-621-5245.

Midwood and Madison–Detached home on a 50 x 100 lot. Four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, two driveways, and approved plans.

Asking $2.1 million. Call Homecrest Realty Group, Sarah Sasson, 917-361-8268.

Van Sicklen St/Ave S–Newly built legal twofamily home. Irregular oversized lot. Nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, approximately 8,098 square feet. Call MK Realty, Melanie Kishk, 917-621-5245.

Near Touro and Yeshivah of Flatbush–Detached property on a 33.33 x 100 lot with private driveway, high ceilings, and four floors. Suitable for end users, schools, shuls, dormitories, kollels, or investors. Call for reduced price. Call Homecrest Realty Group, Sarah Sasson, 917-361-8268.

Homecrest, Avenue/Ave S&T–Approximately 40.5-foot-wide lot, 3.5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and large front porch. Call MK Realty, Lauren Avital, 732-688-6993.

Gravesend, Avenue X/ East 7th Street–Legal two-family brick home with walk-in basement apartment and parking. Asking $1.6 million.

Call Homecrest Realty Group, Sarah Sasson, 917-361-8268.

LOT FOR SALE BKLYN East 9th Street/Avenue R–Corner property.

Magnificent 40-foot lot. Opportunity to build a custom home. Call MK Realty, Melanie Kishk, 917-621-5245.

BUILDING FOR SALE BKLYN East 2nd Street/Ave N &M–Low-maintenance, all-brick, 15-unit residential building. 40 x 113 lot. Approximately 16,000 square feet.

Fully occupied. Call MK Realty, Paulette Dweck, 718-344-4268 HOUSE FOR RENT BKLYN Low East/Avenue O–House for rent with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and parking. Asking $4,750 per month. Call Homecrest Realty Group, Sarah Sasson, 917-361-8268.

East 4th Street/Kings/Quentin–Single-family home for rent. 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, three stories, and private driveway. Call MK Realty, Melanie Kishk, 917-621-5245.

East 7th Street/Quentin Road–Luxury house for rent. Call Homecrest Realty Group, Sarah Sasson, 917-361-8268.

STORE FOR RENT BKLYN Homecrest location–Approximately 400 square feet. Ground-floor storefront. Ideal for a professional office, attorney, accountant, therapist, insurance office, or similar use. Call owner at 347-782-5187 APARTMENT FOR RENT BKLYN Avenue T/East 8th Street–Second-floor apartment for rent. No parking. Asking $2,800 per month. Call Homecrest Realty Group, Sarah Sasson, 917-361-8268.

Avenue O/East 12th St–First-floor and basement apartment with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Asking $4,600 per month. Call Homecrest Realty Group, Sarah Sasson, 917-361-8268.

APARTMENT FOR RENT BKLYN Avenue T/East 13th St–First-floor apartment with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. Asking $3,500 per month. Call Homecrest Realty Group, Sarah Sasson, 917-361-8268.

Avenue O/East 12th St–Second-floor apartment with 1.5 bedrooms and one bathroom.

Asking $3,550 per month. Call Homecrest Realty Group, Sarah Sasson, 917-361-8268.

Avenue P/East 2nd St–Apartment with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and rooftop access.

Asking $3,500 per month. Call Homecrest Realty Group, Sarah Sasson, 917-361-8268.

Avenue P/East 2nd St–Apartment with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and parking. Asking $4,500 per month. Call Homecrest Realty Group, Sarah Sasson, 917-361-8268.

Avenue J/East 30s–Newly renovated secondfloor apartment with 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. Asking $4,000 per month. Call Homecrest Realty Group, Sarah Sasson, 917-361-8268.

APARTMENT FOR RENT NJ Long Branch–8 bdrm, 4 bathroom house available for rental near Kollel, Cedar Ave Shul, and Ashkenaz minyan) Available Sept 1 through Sept 30. Minimum 3 day stay. Call 732-829-0974 WINTER RENTAL NJ Deal–House for rent. Neptune Ave bet Norwood & Richmond Winter rental, Sept 7/26-May 14/27, 6 bdrms, 4 baths. Excellent condition.

Call Ninette 347-204-1823

West Long Branch, NJ

For Sale or Rent: 4,000 sq ft office space in West Long Branch, NJ, featuring parking for 12 cars, additional handicap parking, and wheelchair accessibility. Conveniently located near Route 36. The property includes a separate 2-bedroom house and an additional rear lot ideal for development. Offered at $1.99M.

Call or text: 917-385-9247 AUGUST 2026 JEWISH IMAGE 121

A N N O U N C E M E N T S

CONGRATULATIONS Mabrouk, Mazal Tov BIRTHS Paulette and Steven Azrak – Boy Sherry and Michael Adjmi – Girl Julie and Joey Araman – Boy Freda and Alberto Smeke -Boy Terry and Isaac Zayat -Boy Susan and Maurice Kassin – Boy Frieda and Oriel Abadie – Girl Raquel and David Goldschmidt – Girl Clarice and Nathan Zaboulani – Girl Margo and Ikey Betesh – Girl Danielle and Isaac Esses – Boy Jeanette and David Bendayan – Girl Florence and Abie Labaton – Girl Jenny and Rafi Zafarani – Girl Marielle and David Dror – Boy Danielle and Morris Bassoul – Boy Fatima and Leon Yedid – Boy Sophia and Albert Hamra – Girl Ruth and Steven Saff – Girl Lenore and Joey Benzaken – Boy Lilly and Sam Laniado – Boy Sasha and Alex Hedaya – Boy Rachel and Itamar Nissim – Twins Boy & Girl Sophia and Albert Hamra – Girl Raquel and Zack Mosseri – Boy Arlyne and Michael Rosilio – Girl Fran and Sammy Gabbay – Girl Rachel and Morris Zarif – Girl Lorraine and Abie Dweck – Boy Sophia and Elliot Alboucai – Girl Jacqueline and Charlie Ades – Boy Florence and David Cohen – Boy Susan and Ray Harari – Girl Lillian and Isaac Dana – Boy Sara and Rami Levi – Girl Emily and Jack Anteby – Boy Ruthie and Jeffrey Terzi – Girl Sarah and Joe Cohen – Girl Leah and Yossi Hamra – Boy Sylvia and Isaac Marcos – Boy Simcha and Ben Sultan – Boy

ENGAGEMENTS Ziva Saada to Sol Franco Linda Massre to Michael Elkharrat Emily Nackab to Jeremy Asheghian Celia Cohen to Dr. Jack Nasar Lilian Sanado to Nissim Lati Naomi Vaisman to Mark Zlita Lynda Levy to Sivan Evenhar Sophia Khouli to Reuben Carmi Sarit Chalouh to Oved Katach Esther Bendavid to Meir Frasko Rachel Beyda to Josh Antebi

ARE YOU 65 OR OLDER? YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR AN ENHANCED STAR PROPERTY TAX REFUND New York has updated the qualifications for Enhanced STAR, a program that provides additional property tax relief to eligible homeowners age 65 or older.

Some homeowners who did not qualify in the past may now be eligible under the new rules. Homeowners age 65 or older are encouraged to review the updated requirements, which include a higher income limit and changes to how household income is calculated. Under the new rules, only the income of owners and their spouses who primarily live in the home is counted. The income of owners who live elsewhere is not included.

Current Basic STAR recipients may also qualify for a larger benefit. Those who have never registered, recently purchased a home, or were previously found ineligible should check the updated qualifications. Visit tax.ny.gov and search for “STAR” or call 518-457-2036 for more information.

STILL HAVE NOT SWITCHED TO OFFICIAL NYC BINS? DO IT NOW Beginning September 8, 2026, owners of one-family homes, two-family homes, and residential buildings with up to nine units must use official NYC Bins for household trash.

Regular garbage cans will no longer meet the requirement, even if they have secure lids. Property owners who do not switch may face fines starting at $50, with higher fines for repeated violations.

Official NYC Bins are available in several sizes at participating Home Depot locations or by delivery. Eligible owners of one-family and two-family homes who receive STAR may qualify for reimbursement. The application deadline is September 7. For more information, visit nyc.gov and search for “NYC Bins,” or call 311.

ANNOUNCE YOUR SPECIAL MOMENT! THE WORLDWIDE EVERYTHING GEMACH

929.248.8911 - 917.361.8268

122 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

If you would like to include a birth, engagement, or wedding announcement in our magazine, please email the details to: editor@imageusa.com

SOCIAL EVENTS AUGUST 2026 SUNDAY

AB - ELUL 5786

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

1 PARASHAT EQEB MAQAM SIGAH DSN SHABBAT SINGLES LUNCH

2

3 SBH@DSN HOOPS 4 HESED

4 DSN ART THERAPY CLASS

5 RENEWAL ART EXHIBIT/BENEFIT

DSN BEACH ARGENTINIAN BBQ

9

CHABAD OF THE SHORE FUNDRAISER

16 I LEAD @ DSN GRADUATION

6

7

DSN FAMILY FEUD NIGHT

DSN MAZZA AT THE BEACH SINGLES 30+ TEACH NYS FUNDRAISER

YAD YOSEF BRIDAL FUND EVENT

10 SBH TEAM SBH 5K

SCC SENIOR TRIP

11

DSN A NIGHT WITH PROPEL NETWORK

17

DSN BEACH

ARGENTINIAN BBQ

SCC SENIOR TRIP

CARE FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN

CARE DAY AMF

12 SBH SENIOR NOBEH

SCC SENIOR TRIP

ROSH HODESH ELUL

CAREGIVERS PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP

DSN FITNESS AT NIGHT

19

SCC ENCORE SUMMER SHOW

SCC ENCORE SUMMER SHOW

THE SPECIAL CHILDREN’S CENTER ANNUAL CONCERT

DSN END OF SUMMER BOUTIQUE SHOW

20 DSN ESTHER AZIZO MEDITATION CLASS

14

SUMMER CONCERT

SCC TENNIS TOURNAMENT DSN BEACH ARGENTINIAN BBQ 30 DSN BEACH ARGENTINIAN BBQ

25

DSN LADIES MAHJONG NIGHT

SCC NJ FUN IN THE SUN

SBH GOLF OUTING

DSN THEN/NOW FASHION SHOW

31 DSN LADIES NIGHT

26 DSN FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT

27

15

ROSH HODESH ELUL

PARASHAT SHOFETIM MAQAM AJAM

Candle Lighting 7:36 PM NY/NJ 7:39 PM Miami

21

22

SEPHARDIC RABBINIC COLLEGE

SUMMER BREAKFAST

PARASHAT KI TESSE MAQAM SABA

Candle Lighting 7:26 PM NY/NJ 7:32 PM Miami

TENNIS TOURNAMENT

23 A GIVING HAND 24

PARASHAT RE’EH MAQAM NAWAH - IRAQ

Candle Lighting 7:45 PM NY/NJ 7:44 PM Miami

13

18

8

28

29

DSN FITNESS AT NIGHT

PARASHAT KI TABO MAQAM IRAQ Candle Lighting 7:16 PM NY/NJ 7:26 PM Miami

AUGUST 2026 JEWISH IMAGE 123

Servicing Brooklyn, Deal and Manhattan

Micheal Blaier

TABLE P A D S & GLASS TOPS C U S T O M

Easy Shop at Home Service

USHI STEINMETZ

Steve Jacobs

M A D E

NEW!

MAGNE LOCKINTIC SYSTEMG

917-776-7371

Monmouth Bottle Shop New expanded separate Kosher Department so you can shop with your eyes closed

Fully stocked Kosher liquor products. We cater to small and large parties in the Deal and surrounding areas.

201 Monmouth Road Oakhurst, N.J. 07755

Tel (732) 531-3080 Fax (732) 531-8940

Quick Delivery • Incredible Service

For All Occasions

Now booking for spring/ summer, camps, school, synagouges, events, corporate.

124 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

WHITLEY’S AUTO SPECIALIST, INC. 203 MONMOUTH ROAD • OAKHURST, NJ 07755

(732) 531-8183 COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION PRIVATE INSPECTION FACILITY OWNER-BOB WHITLEY JR. PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND QUICK REPAIR OUR MOTTO IS TO HAVE YOUR CAR REPAIRED OR SERVICED

QUICKLY WITHOUT YOUR CAR SITTING IN THE SHOP ALL SUMMER.

WE SERVICE ANY TYPE OF VEHICLE.

Moshe Moving and Delivery Professional & Reliable Special Low Rate for Pick Up & Drop Off To Deal NJ

Call Moishe 917-642-3044

“THE HANDY MAN”

Carpentry • Electrical • Plumbing • locks

Over 25 Years Experience Always

A FREE

Estimate

EDDY GINDI 917- 601-7317

Brooklyn, Deal Five Towns NYC

WALLPAPER

Elegant Walls For all your wall covering needs at prices that cannot be matched.



2718 Avenue K (Back Entrance) • 718-421-7979 Decorators Welcome • Free Consultation JULY & AUGUST BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

ARIK J. MOVING & STORAGE Special Local Job By Hour Only For This Month

2 Men w/Truck 3 Men w/Truck Fully Licensed & Insured 4 Men w/Truck 5% Off w/This Ad 5 Men w/Truck (Four Hr. Job min.)

646-261-7019

$79/Hr. $99/Hr. $119/Hr. $149/Hr.

212-321-MOVE • 212 321-6683

US Dot #130966 The Company has the right to change prices at any time.

ZEBLINDS Window Blind/Shades Aleen Hamra (646) 309-4560 @Zeblinds

Zebra Blinds Roller Blinds Roman Blinds Custom Drapery AUGUST 2026 JEWISH IMAGE 125

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BORDEAUX STEAKHOUSE 1922 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn (718) 942-4040 CHINA GLATT 4413 13th Ave, Brooklyn (718) 438-2576 GLATT A LA CARTE 5123 18th Avenue, Brooklyn (718) 438-6675 GRUIT 252 Empire Blvd. Brooklyn (347) 846-0622

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DIET GOURMET 167 Lincoln Avenue, Long Branch (732) 870-3287 DOUGIE’S BAR & GRILL 256 Norwood Avenue, Deal (732) 517-0300 DOWN TO EARTH 312 Main Street, Allenhurst NJ (732) 686-1597 GRANDMA’S CHEESE CAFE 101 Brighton Ave, Long Branch (732) 895-3621

LA BROCHETTE 340 Lexington Avenue, New York City (212) 972-2200

JELI’S RESTAURANT 125 Ocean Avenue N., Deal (732) 686-9595

LE MARAIS 150 W. 46th St., New York City (212) 869-0900

JERSEY SHORE SUSHI 250 Norwood Ave, Deal (732) 660-5393

MIKE’S BISTRO 127 East 54th St., New York City (212) 799-3911 MOCHA RED 127 4th Avenue, New York City (212) 419-8889 NOI DUE CARNE 141 W 69th St., New York City (212) 712-2222 PESCADA 1776 Ocean Avenue Brooklyn (718) 766-2759 UN PLAZA GRILL 845 United Nations Plaza, New York City (212) 223-1801 URBANA 1305 53rd St., Brooklyn (718) 438-4448 WOLF & LAMB 16 East 48th St., New York City (212) 317-1950 N E W

J E R S E Y

656 OCEAN & STINGERS BAR & GRILL 656 Ocean Ave, Long Branch (732) 728-9656 BALAGAN 66 Monmouth Rd, Oakhurst, NJ 07755 (732)716-4200 BUTCHER’S STEAKHOUSE 401 Main St, Allenhurst (732) 686-1498 CRUST CO PIZZA 379 Monmouth Road, Long Branch (732) 229-2145 126 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

OUTPOST RESTAURANT 125 Ocean Avenue N., Deal (732) 686-9595 PKS BY THE SHORE 244 Norwood Avenue, Oakhurst (732) 813-5757 PRIMAVERA RESTAURANT & BAR 118 Norwood Avenue, Deal (732) 430-2073 RETRO GRILL 214 Roosevelt Avenue, Oakhurst (732) 695-3119 SALT STEAKHOUSE 15 Morris Avenue, Long Branch (732) 813-7258 SHENG MAO CHINESE 214 Roosevelt Ave, Oakhurst (732) 531-7086 TAPAS 116 Norwood Ave, Deal (732) 660-1700 TEVA RESTAURANT 125 Ocean Avenue N., Deal (732) 686-9595

A Kosher American Bistro Glatt Kosher J.S.O.R

www.656oceanlongbranch.com 656 Ocean Ave, West End Long Branch, NJ 07740

(732)728-9656 Reservations Held For 15 Minutes Only

C O N S U M E R

ABA SERVICES Dr. Randi Matsas ....................... 107 ACCOUNTANT Mitch Holsborg ......................... 101 ALARMS, CAMERAS & WIRING EJS Technology Systems ........ 63,124 APPLIANCE SERVICE Astre Appliance Service .............. 124 ATTORNEY Expert Legal Solutions .................. 69 Gad Shaharabani ....................... 61 Jack Erdos .................................. 63 Robert Akerman ........................ 109 AUTO REPAIR Whitley’s Auto Specialist ............ 124 BAR MITZVAH LESSONS Bar Mitzvah Lessons................... 124 BATTERY BACKUP SYSTEMS YM Ventures................................ 11 BEAUTY CARE Laura’s Skin Care ...................... 103 BROADWAY/OFF-BROADWAY SHOWS A Walk on the Moon ..................... 2 BUSINESS CONSULTING Jeff Sitt Consulting ....................... 61 CLOTHING - MENS & BOYS 2020 Mens & Boys ...................... 13 Borsalino ...................................... 5 The Garage Clothing .................... 6 CONSTRUCTION Adjmi Construction ...................... 73 Build 1 ....................................... 37 HMS Construction ..................... 125 Joseph and Sons Builders........... 125 DENTIST GD Dentistry of Brooklyn ............. 93 Tawil Dental ................................ 95 DR./INTERNAL MEDICINE Dr. Ezra Israel ............................. 99 DR./PRIMARY CARE Rambam Family Health .................. 9 DUCT CLEANING Remex ........................................ 69 EXTERMINATOR A&V Prime Exterminating LLC ....... 75

G U I D E

FACTORS Hedaya Capital Group .................. 7 Middlegate Factors ........................ 3 FILING SERVICES Liberty Filing................................ 79 FISH MARKET Freund’s ................................ 21,51 FISHING BOAT/FLORIDA Therapy IV, Capt. Stan ............... 111 FLOOD Remex ........................................ 69 FURNITURE Master Cove ............................. 125 GUN RANGE WeShootUSA.com ....................... 47 HANDYMAN Eddy Gindi ............................... 125 INSURANCE Allstate David Cohen ................... 35 Eli Cohen Agency .......................... 1 Eric Derzie & Associates ............... 45 INSURANCE ADJUSTER Equitable Adjusters ........... IFC,18-19 JEWELRY/WATCHES Bangles by Kelly Shrem .............. 101 David Rudy ................................ IBC LASER HAIR REMOVAL Silky Laser ..................................... 4 LINENS Elegant Linen .............................. 67 LIQUOR Monmouth Bottle Shop .............. 124 MEDICAL Shabbos Lift Solutions ................ 125 MOLD REMOVAL Remex ........................................ 69 MOVING Arik J. Moving & Storage ........... 125 Moshe Moving .......................... 125 MUSIC SCHOOL Music On The Go ..................... 125 NONPROFIT CONSULTANT Sarina Roffé Group ..................... 53 NUTRITION Laura Sasson Shammah ............. 105 ORGANIZATIONS Beth Shifra ......................... 113-114

Bnai Yosef................................. 107 Care .......................................... 39 Mishkan Shaul ..... 101,103,105,107 Morris Franco Cancer Center ....... 43 Ohel .......................................... 77 Safe ........................................... 67 Sephardic Heritage Project ........... 95 Simha......................................... 97 Special Children’s Center ........ 23,59 The Next Step ........................... 128 PAIN MANAGEMENT Dr. Kreizman & Dr. Suede .......... 109 PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO Mark Greenberg ....................... 103 NYC Photo Group....................... 75 PHYSICAL TRAINER Mendel Goodman..................... 124 PLAYGROUNDS Whee ......................................... 49 POLITICIAN Vote For Sutton & Saban .............. BC POWER WASHING SB Power Washing ..................... 124 RESTAURANTS 656 Ocean Restaurant .............. 126 SUKKAH Rabbi Cohen Sukkahs.................. 89 TABLE PADS Table Pads by Ushi Steinmetz ...... 124 TABLECLOTHS Tablecloths by Gitta Steinmetz ...... 73 TITLE AGENCY Madison Title Company ............... 17 TRANSPORTATION Stevens Bus & Limo Service ........ 124 TUTOR/READING SPECIALIST Leslie Matsas............................. 105 WALLPAPER Elegant Walls ............................ 125 WEALTH MANAGEMENT Endurance Wealth Partners........... 33 WINDOW TREATMENTS Window Treats ............................ 75 ZE Blinds .................................. 125 YESHIVA Atidaynu ........................... 85,86,87 Safra Lubavitcher Yeshiva ............. 91 AUGUST 2026 JEWISH IMAGE 127

When limb loss changes lives, We change what’s possible.

Limb loss is life-altering.

It’s physical, emotional, and deeply personal. At The Next Step, we ensure that no one should face it alone.

Physical Achievement Limb-Loss Education Prosthetic Fittings Support & Respite Awareness & Inclusivity Advocacy & Lobbying

Be the reason someone takes their next step. Learn more at TheNextStep.org.

128 JEWISH IMAGE AUGUST 2026

TWO OF OUR OWN

FIGHTING FOR US COMMUNITY NOV. ELECTION DAY

VOTE FOR OUR

EARLY VOTING OCT. 24 - NOV. 1

3

Paid for by Sam Sutton for NYS Senate and Saban for Brooklyn