The Jewish Link of Bergen County #03_low

THE JEWISH LINK Connecting the Bergen Jewish Community Vol. 1 No. 3

April 18, 2013 - 8 Iyar 5773

Distributed every other week

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Dov Lipman: An American-Born Member of Knesset Comes Calling

By P’nina Seplowitz ast week, while the Knesset was in recess, MK Rabbi Dov Lipman spent five days in New York and New Jersey addressing a diverse Jewish audience to let them know how they can be involved and work to improve the relationship between the State of Israel and themselves.

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eaneck—During its annual commemoration at Teaneck High School, The Teaneck Holocaust Commemoration Committee announced that it has approached the Town Council and with its approval, is exploring the feasibility of creating a memorial to the victims of the Holocaust who are related to families in the Greater Teaneck area.

The memorial is the first step in a program that also explores building a resource center in Andreas Park, on the banks of the Hackensack River. The public park is located off River Road near West Englewood Avenue and is home to a deserted carriage house which the committee would like to raze, later using its footprint for a new building.

Committee members say the resource center will be unique, the only one of its kind in the region.

At that same event, Teaneck High School announced that it is expanding its Holocaust Library to the northern wing of the school library, which will be dedicated later this spring. The Teaneck High School Holocaust Resource Center was the first such center established in New Jersey. It was founded by then-Social Studies teacher Ed Reynolds in 1978,

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Menendez and Maloney Introduce Holocaust Ed. Aid Bill ASHINGTON, DC –Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) introduced the “Simon Wiesenthal Holocaust Education Act,” which would help increase awareness of the Holocaust in public school curricula nationwide. According to the official press release, “The Wiesenthal Act authorizes $10 million in federal funds over five years to help educational organiza-

who co-wrote New Jersey’s first Holocaust curriculum with a son of survivors, Harry Furman, of Vineland, NJ. JLBC spoke to Memorial Committee co-chairman, Bruce Prince, who is also President of the Teaneck Jewish Community Council. He told JLBC that the proposed budget for the project is $5 million, which the committee hopes to raise from local sources and other interested parties. Preliminary plans for the memorial consist of a water feature with permanent benches and a monument. Committee members said that the memorial may be similar to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, DC or the WTC Memorial in New York City in order not to be obtrusive, and will be marked with the names of those murdered in the Holocaust. All work to date has been done by unpaid volunteers.

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LOCAL NEWS

Garrett Visits Yavneh Academy Special to JLBC ongressman Scott Garrett (R), who represents Teaneck, Fair Lawn, New Milford and other Bergen County towns, visited Yavneh Academy in Paramus, New Jersey recently. He mas been a member of Congress for 11 years.

He spoke to Yavneh’s seventh grade students as part of their advisory program and had the opportunity to convey his views on a variety of issues, including the Middle East, gun control and school choice. Garrett is a senior member of the House Budget Committee and a member of the House Financial Services Committee. Prior to serving in Congress, Garrett was a New Jersey Assemblyman for 12 years.

The event began with introductory remarks by Yavneh Principal Rabbi Jon-

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REP. SCOTT GARRETT PICTURED HERE WITH YAVNEH STUDENTS

athan Knapp—who thanked Congressman Garrett for his staunch support of the State of Israel—and with brief remarks by the Congressman. Garrett stressed the importance of becoming involved in one’s community and described how he started his own newspaper while in high school.

The congressman said that when good people stay inactive, bad people triumph, giving the example of the Holocaust in Europe and the atrocities in Africa at the end of the last century. Garrett said there should be “no limits on Israel’s right to defend itself” and that just as the United States would defend its homeland, the same is true for Israel and that “no one should criticize them for doing so.” He said that “in Congress we have to stand up for Israel… and pass

REP. SCOTT GARRETT SPEAKING WITH YAVNEH STUDENTS

resolutions that we are in solidarity with Israel.”

Garrett disagreed with America’s putting pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu to issue an apology to Turkey for the Gaza flotilla incident in which nine Turkish citizens died because he believes Israel had a right to defend her borders. He also said, “I am a bipartisan critic of the White House if they are on

the wrong side of Israel,” pointing out that he had also disagreed with President George W. Bush when Bush criticized then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for building a security fence to protect Israelis from terrorist attacks as well as when Bush was on the “wrong side of the settlements issue.”

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Garrett Visits Yavneh Academy 

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In appreciation of his ongoing support of the State of Israel, the students presented Congressman Garrett with a sculpted rose crafted out of Kassam rockets that were fired into Israel.

Garrett told the students that he went into the federal government to help reign in Washington and “let the states do what they should be doing and let the people do what they should be doing.”

In response to a question about ways to help curb the high cost of day schools in Bergen County, Garrett said that the best way would be to change to a school voucher system where taxpayers would get a voucher to take to their school of choice. The Congressman answered several questions about foreign aid and the tensions in the Middle East and encouraged the students to look to the Constitution for answers to see if the federal government has the authority to act on the issues.

Another student asked if Garrett thought the U.S. government should take over healthcare. Garrett said no, but that it is already happening, asserting that one-sixth of the economy had been taken over by Obamacare, which he expects to have “a devastating impact” [on the economy]. The Congressman told the students he believed the federal government has no authority under the Constitution to do this. Though he is worried about the economy, he was one of only four members of Congress to vote against extending unemployment benefits.

When a student asked about the Congressman’s position on gun control in the wake of the Sandy Hook School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, Garrett asked for a show of hands so he could see who among the students supported stricter gun control laws. With the overwhelming ma-

jority of students in favor of such laws, the Congressman responded neutrally, saying that “we need to look at this and make sure people are as safe as can be and also protect Constitutional rights.” He went on to say that perhaps current laws need better enforcement.

The Congressman was the only member of the New Jersey legislative delegation to Washington to vote against child safety locks on handguns.

In discussing ways for young people to get involved in politics, Garrett encouraged students to volunteer in election campaigns and also said that young people could attend their local town council meetings and school board meetings. The Congressman reflected that he even tried running for the local school board when he turned 18. (He lost.) Garrett encouraged the students, saying “there is no age restriction in becoming involved in politics…Politicians are always looking for volunteers.”

Congressman Garrett is a resident of Stanhope, New Jersey, with Bergen County offices in Glen Rock. To see his positions on the issues and his voting record in Congress, visit www. votesmart.com, a non-partisan data collection service.

He, whose fifth congressional district runs from the Hudson to the Delaware, represents the following towns in Bergen County: Allendale, Alpine, Bergenfield, Bogota, Closter, Demarest, Dumont, Emerson, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hackensack, Harrington Park, Haworth, Hillsdale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Lodi, Mahwah, Maywood, Midland Park, Montvale, New Milford, Northvale, Norwood, Oakland, Old Tappan, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, River Vale, Rochelle Park, Rockleigh, Saddle River, Teaneck (most), Township of Washington, Upper Saddle River, Waldwick, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake, and Wyckoff, as well as towns in Passaic, Sussex and Warren Counties, up to the northwestern New Jersey borders with New York and Pennsylvania.

Lady to the Rescue: Ora Kornbluth, Bergenfield Borough Council President, Steps in as Mayor

By Bracha Schwartz ra Kornbluth, Bergenfield Borough Council President, has been Acting Mayor since Timothy J. Driscoll passed away last month. She runs the meetings, signs the papers and presents the public face of Bergenfield. With two council meetings a month, Chairmanship of the Recreation Committee and membership in the Finance and Police Committees, Kornbluth has gotten a whirlwind on–the-job training course in local government. “If I had known how much time this would take, I’m not sure I would have done it,” she muses.

Time is a precious commodity to Kornbluth who has several jobs and interests. She is the Director of Business and Operations for Yeshivat He’Atid, a Bergenfield day school that opened in September. The school has a mission to offer differentiated learning, the ability to teach children in the way they learn best, and to accomplish this with blended instruction, a mix of students working with

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teachers, in small groups and on their own with technology.

The school is also determined to keep tuition costs down while giving children a high quality education in Judaic and secular studies. and is about half the cost of comparative Jewish day schools. A sports enthusiast, Kornbluth is also an Official Statistician for CBS Sports and does statistics for the National Football League when the Jets and Giants play.

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NEWS

Unclaimed Funds Partners with Project HEART From the Office of the State Comptroller of New York The Office of Unclaimed Funds (OUF) has partnered with Project HEART (Holocaust Era Asset Restitution Taskforce) to reunite Holocaust survivors and heirs with their unclaimed funds that may be held by the State of New York. (The Jewish Week reports that so far there have been 4,000 matches..)

Forms and additional information can be found at http://www.osc.state. ny.us/ouf/holocaust.htm

For Funds Held by Swiss Banks and Insurance Companies in Europe If you are seeking information on accounts or policies established between January 1, 1933 and May 9, 1945, with Swiss banks or insurance companies, you may contact the New York

State Department of Financial Services Holocaust Claims Processing Office (HCPO) as follows:

By Mail: Holocaust Claims Processing Office New York State Department of Financial Services One State Street New York, NY 10004-1511

By Phone: 1-800-695-3318 ( within the U.S.), 212-709-5583 (outside the U.S.), 212-709-5592 (fax) Via Internet: http://www.dfs.

ny.gov/consumer/holocaust/hcpoindex.htm Via E-mail: Claimsques@dfs.ny.gov Claim forms and instructions can be downloaded from the HCPO Internet website. In addition, the HCPO will provide assistance in completing a claim form. The NYS Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds works in conjunction with the HCPO to ensure a thorough search of all available records.

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At the beginning of WWII many of the Swiss banks established branch operations in New York. The Swiss banks subsequently transferred funds to their New York branches. After the war, the vast majority of those funds were transferred back to the Swiss banks in Europe. However, in some instances, funds belonging to Holocaust survivors and victims remained in those New York branches. Due to account inactivity, some of those branch offices subsequently reported those funds to the New York State Comptroller’s Office as dormant accounts.

While many of these accounts have already been claimed by the rightful owners, some accounts still remain outstanding.

If you have reason to believe that you are the owner of such an account, or you are an owner’s heir, you may write to this Office and our staff will conduct a thorough search of our records.

Write to: Office of Unclaimed Funds Re: Holocaust Era Accounts 110 State Street Albany, NY 12236 Please provide as much information as you have available to assist us in our search

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NEWS

Rally on Behalf of an Agunah Held in Fair Lawn often employed by ORA in an attempt to shame the husbands into granting gets.

Since its founding in 2002, ORA has assisted in the resolution of over 195 disputed divorce cases. They are currently working on 50-60 open cases.

ORA provides its services free of charge.

ORA operates under the guidance of Rabbi Herschel Schachter, rosh yeshiva at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan The-

By Jeanette Friedman ast Sunday, April 14, the Organization for the Resolution of Agunot, a not-forprofit organization (which assists divorcing couples in resolving contested Jewish divorces in a timely fashion and in accordance with the highest standards of Jewish law) held a rally in Fair Lawn in front of the home of a recalcitrant

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Suspect in Daniel Pearl murder is arrested akistani security officials recently captured a former terrorist leader who is believed to have planned the 2002 kidnapping and murder of U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl, JTA reports.

Qari Abdul Saeed, also known as Asadullah, was arrested by Pakistani Sindh Rangers. He is accused of two decades of terror activity.

Pearl’s parents, Judea and Ruth, said in a statement, “We are gratified with this latest arrest and hope that justice will be served in a timely manner on

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all of those who were involved in the abduction and murder of our son.”

Pearl, The Wall Street Journal South Asia bureau chief, was researching a story about Islamist militants when he was kidnapped in Karachi in January 2002 and murdered a month later.

His final words as he was about to be beheaded were “My father is Jewish. My mother is Jewish. I am Jewish.” Those words were also immortalized on the gravestone of the late NYC mayor, Edward I. Koch.

Terminal4Pets takes Aliyah to whole new level erminal4Pets will be sending professional representatives, including the CEO Dr. Eytan Kreiner, to meet with Jewish communities in North America, Europe, Russia and South Africa. The goal is to reach out to pet owners who are in the process of moving to Israel to provide them with the most professional, relevant and updated information regarding pet importation to Israel.

Dr. Kreiner is definitely stepping up the game when it comes to assisting

T PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF THE KESTLER HOME IN FAIR LAWN. PHOTO CREDIT: YARON KARL PHOTOGRAPY

husband, Jute David Kestler, who has been withholding a get from his wife Robyn for more more than two-and-a-half years. The Rabbinical Council of America’s Beit Din issued a siruv, a contempt citation, against Kestler for his non-appearance at the Beit Din of America.

Almost 100 people stood in front of Kestler’s home, carrying signs asking him to free his wife. The public protest is

ological Seminary (RIETS), and in cooperation with an extensive team of attorneys, rabbis, mental health professionals, and community volunteers.

ORA director, Rabbi Jeremy Stern, invites people to visit the website at www.getorah.org to learn more and to contact them about any agunot who need help. You can also call the office at (212)795-0791.

New Milford High Students Honor the Six Million ollowing an eight-hour flight, 12 New Milford High School students arrived in Berlin, Germany on their first stop of the school’s annual Eastern European Holocaust Education Trip. The students, accompanied by Colleen Tambuscio, President of the NJ Council of Holocaust Educators and a Special Ed. teacher at New Milford High, spend two weeks visiting Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. They even stop in Plasow every year and clean the kever of Sarah Schneirer, who founded the first Beis Yaakov in Krakow, Poland.

The trip is funded by donations from the general public, lasts two weeks, and offers students the opportunity to blog about their trip as they experience it. The link is hst10.blogspot.com.

Tambuscio’s students all learn about the Wolf family in Salvaged Pages, a book filled with diary pages written by young people that Tambuscio uses in all her classes. Fifteen-year-old Otto Wolf wrote about how his family hid from the Nazis for three years while living underground in the forest of Trisce.

When the students visited the site in the Czech Republic, they decided to cre-

olim and returning citizens that come back to Israel with their pets. Said Dr. Kreiner: “Back in 2012 approximately 6,000 families made aliyah with their pets. We were fortunate enough to assist in more than 36% of the cases.

There are so many organizations, governmental institutes, NGOs and privately-held companies that assist people in the relocation process, but there is just one institute that was specially geared to assist pets and that is The Israeli Pet Travel Agency Terminal4Pets.”

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ate a memorial to the family. Last year, after many years of working through the red tape, Tambuscio’s students got the funding, built and dedicated a memorial to the Wolf family, and made a documentary about that trip.

Ms. Tambuscio came to New Milford after the Board of Education lost a suit filed by a family whose son was the victim of repeated acts of anti-Semitism at the school. The school is now one of the leaders in Holocaust education in the state, offering classroom instruction, field trips to local resource centers and museums, as well as the trip to Europe.

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Dr. Norman Blumenthal, is a well known specialist and speaker in trauma. A licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Cedarhurst, NY. Dr. Blumenthal is the former Director of Bereavement and Crisis Intervention Services for Chai Lifeline. Dr. Blumenthal also serves as Educational Director of the Bella and Harry Wexner Kollel Elyon and Semikha Honors Program at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Y Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University.

Dr. Blumenthal is past Vice President of NEFESH (The International Network of Orthodox Mental Health Professionals).

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NEWS

Bad News From Turkey

Israeli Stamp Honors 70th Anniversary of Ghetto Uprising he Israeli Postal Service has issued a new stamp to honor the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. The stamp features Paweł Frenkel (1920-1943), one of the senior commanders of the Jewish Military Organization (ZZW), against a building on Muranowski Square that was torched by the Germans... Zionist and Polish flags are visible on the roof...

Also involved in the fighting were other Jewish organizations and individuals from every walk of life, including Hasidim and yeshiva boys. In the early 1950s, the Warsaw Ghetto Resistance Fighters’ Organization (WAGRO ) was founded by Warsaw Ghetto fighters Vladka and Ben Meed and Jack Eisner, and was one of the first groups to commemorate the Holocaust on Yom HaShoah ve Ha-

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Gevurah. Today that commemoration is under the aegis of the Museum of Jewish Heritage/A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, WAGRO, The American Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors and Their Descendants, The ADL and other Jewish organizations.

n urgent letter from UN Watch was sent to UNESCO director-general Irina Bokova, demanding immediate action to stop Hamas from bulldozing a 3000-year-old Gaza harbor for use as a terrorist training camp. The destruction was reported by Al Monitor Palestine Pulse. A copy was also sent to EU foreign minister Catherine Ashton calling on the EU to take action.

The partial destruction of the ancient Anthedon Harbor—which includes the ruins of a Roman temple and archaeological remains from the Persian, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine eras—comes exactly one year after the area was nominated by new UNE-

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800 teachers and 1,066 students from various middle and high schools in Adana. The participants in the survey were asked about a series of current issues in Turkey. Fifty-one percent think that “the Turks have no friends other than fellow Turks,” and 62 percent think Turks are “a nation of heroes and soldiers.”

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SCO member state Palestine as a World Heritage site.

UN Watch, an independent Genevabased monitoring group, called on Bokova to bring the issue before the UNESCO executive board now meeting in Paris.

Although the biannual UNESCO meeting, which runs until April 26, lists five agenda items concerning Palestinian issues—which US Ambassador Killion has described as “highly politicized” and designed to “single out Israel”—there is currently no scheduled discussion to address the month-long Hamas bulldozing of the proposed heritage site.

Pope acknowledges Jews at his installation ope Francis acknowledged Jews during the open-air Mass that formally installed him as pontiff.

Francis began his homily by greeting the Catholic dignitaries and faithful in the huge crowd that crammed St. Peter’s Square and the surrounding area.

He thanked “representatives of the other Churches and ecclesial communities, as well as the representatives of the Jewish community and the other religious communities, for their presence.” Among the crowd were Rome’s chief rabbi, Riccardo

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Di Segni; Riccardo Pacifici, the president of the Rome Jewish community; and more than a dozen other Jewish representatives. It is said to be the first time that Rome’s chief rabbi has attended a papal inauguration.

Benedict also singled out Jews in his welcoming remarks, greeting “with great affection … you, my brothers and sisters of the Jewish people, to whom we are joined by a great shared spiritual heritage, one rooted in God›s irrevocable promises.»

Limmud hits Moscow+ ver 1,100 Jewish participants gathered at the Klyazma Resort Hotel in Moscow, Russia, April 11-14, for the largest Limmud FSU Moscow event to date. Limmud FSU conferences are considered to be one of the most prestigious of Jewish cultural events in the former Soviet Union. Limmud provides a festival of Jewish learning featuring a packed program of lectures, workshops, round-table discussions, music and a wide-range of cultural events presented in three different languages—Russian, English and Hebrew.

Founder of Limmud FSU, Chaim Chesler, said that the event in Moscow was the flagship of the Limmud FSU project, which takes place in six countries—Russia, Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, USA and Israel; “Our dream was to present to the new generation of

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young Russian-speaking Jews throughout the world, topics which are close to their hearts and excite their imagination, such as Jewish history and culture, Jewish roots and issues of identity, the Holocaust, and subjects relating to achieving success in life both in economic and cultural terms. Evidently the dream has become a reality.”

The Limmud phenomenon began in Britain nearly 32 years ago and is now a world-famous educational movement.

Limmud FSU, founded six years ago

by Chaim Chesler, Sandra Cahn, a philanthropist from New York and Prof.

Mikhail Chlenov from Moscow, supports and reinforces Jewish education and identity to Jews from the FSU, the U.S. and Israel. This unique conference, like all Limmud events, is organized and run entirely by volunteers.

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NEWS

Jewish Rebirth in an Unlikely Place ewish life returned to Oswiecim, Poland, also commonly known as Auschwitz—when dozens of young people from across Poland who recently discovered their Jewish roots came together for a Shabbat educational seminar. The gathering was organized by the Jerusalem-based Shavei Israel in commemoration of the revival of Jewish life in Poland.

“Our aim is to underline the indestructibility of the Jewish spirit,” said Michael Freund, founder and chairman of the organization. “In recent years, a growing number of young Poles have begun to discover their Jewish roots…By bringing these young people together to honor and explore their Jewish heritage, we are sending a message to the world that we are truly an eternal nation. I can’t think of a better way to demonstrate that the Jewish people still live than by celebrating Shabbat with young Polish Jews in the shadow of the valley of death known as Auschwitz.”

Lapid Orders 50 Million NIS for Israeli Holocaust survivors

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Boteach Shul Proposal Back to Drawing Board nglewood — The Board of Adjustment recently dismissed Rabbi Shmuley Boteach”s proposal to turn a carriage house on his property into a synagogue. Boteach attorney Scott B. Piekarsky had amended the original proposal of converting a caretaker”s home into a 37-seat synagogue and having the primary residence designated as a parsonage in favor of a 10 to 12 seat shul within the study of Boteach”s primary residence.

Chairwoman Rosemary Byrne said the application needed to go back to the zoning officer, as the situation was changed. The board would not deny or approve the application, since it is something the officer has not reviewed, said Byrne.

Boteach said in a statement that his application was “simply adjusted and could have been approved that day” and plans to appeal in federal court. “If even winged seraphs of heaven had descended into the board of adjustment hearing to proclaim the glories of our synagogue, we would have been denied,” said Boteach, “Any impartial observer of the proceedings of this kangaroo court would have to conclude that I and my congregants, as severe critics of this city over allowing the terrorist Qaddafi-house to exist tax free for decades, have been punished and denied our constitutional right to worship.”

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erusalem—Israel Finance Minister Yair Lapid’s first directive in office ordered the immediate transfer of 50 million shekels (about $13.6 million) to the Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims in Israel.

According to a number of Israeli newspapers, Lapid informed Ronnie Kalinsky, the foundation’s director-general, that he had ordered the Finance Ministry’s professional departments to increase the budgets appropriated for the foundation in 2013.

The Foundation for the Benefit of Holocaust Victims in Israel is statefunded. The additional budget is sup-

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posed subsidize home care for Holocaust survivors in need.

According to a statement by the Finance Ministry, the move was part of the agreements detailed in the coalition deal struck with Yesh Atid, which Lapid chairs.

One week later, during the Days of Remembrance, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would approve the deal. Netanyahu also said he will make certain that those who attack Holocaust survivors are punished, and added “we are committed to the welfare and security of the Holocaust survivors and the elderly.”

Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School invites you to the eleventh annual

Yemei Iyun on Bible and Jewish Thought In Memory of Riva Koschitzky z”l Dedicated by Tamar and Eric Goldstein

Sunday, May 19 - Monday, May 20, 2013 Yeshivat Noam in Paramus, NJ, on Sunday YCT Rabbinical School in Riverdale, NY, on Monday

IN COOPERATION WITH

Beit Morasha of Jerusalem, Center for Modern Torah Leadership, Drisha Institute for Jewish Education, Midreshet Ein HaNatziv, Yeshivat Maale Gilboa and Yeshivat Maharat To register and for more information visit www.yctorah.org or 212.666.0036 April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 15

EDITORIAL

The Candles Dim, One at a Time om HaShoah commemorations began with commemorations in NY in the early 1950s. Since those early days, commemorations on the Sunday after Pesach, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising on first Seder night, April19, 1943, have become ubiquitous. Yom HaShoah has become an American obligation, as candles are lit in synagogues, in parks and gardens, state capitols, the national capitol, in high school auditoriums and even cathedrals.

But something has changed. Everywhere, committees organizing these events are running short of candle lighters. At a recent commemoration, candles were left unlit, when in the past, the line of short ladies in black dresses draped in black shawls would fill all the aisles. Last week, a 2G grabbed a candle and lit the 18 wicks for those who were no longer able to light them for themselves.

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The survivors are old and many are sick or they are already in Olam Haboh.

(Shimon Peres estimated that 1,000 survivors die every month!) Those who cheated the Malach Ha Mahvet so many times can cheat him no longer and they are bewildered. Even their determination does not prevent the passage to the next world. And many are too poor to care or to feed themselves, as they fall through the cracks, all over the world, and their lonely deaths are hastened by neglect and lack of funding to the agencies that are supposed to help them. They, the very visible Holocaust survivors among us, need home care, medications, glasses, teeth and medical equipment like wheel chair ramps, and cannot get what they need.

Many don’t even have food. If they cannot get assistance to die with dignity, can you imagine what is happening to the invisible elderly? On cannot help but think

Co-Founders/Co-Publishers Mark (Mendy) Schwartz Moshe Kinderlehrer Associate Editor Jeanette Friedman

about the phrase, Al Tashlicheyni L’et Ziknah – Kichlot Kocheinu Al Ta’azveini – Please do not toss me aside in my old age.

When my strength fails, do not abandon me. Our mothers say those words with tears in their eyes on Rosh Hashanah, do they mean anything to younger people?

On Yom HaShoah we remember the six million kedoshim, but it is also time to remember the survivors who are dying and who have taught us so much. We are beholden to them, and we owe them a great deal, not the least of which is to allow them to die with dignity on clean sheets. It behooves us to remember them when we remember the kedoshim. In their honor, we ask our readers to visit www.bluecard. org www.selfhelp.net and www.ujafedny.org/holocaustsurvivors to find out how to make a difference in a survivor’s life.

Contributing Editor Nina Glick Advertising Director Yaakov Serle Sales Director Aaron Strobel Charlie Weisinger Sales Representative Maxine Bender Technical Editor/ Database Coordinator Moishie Rosenberg Sports Editor Steve Gutlove Staff Photographer Yaron Karl Design design2pro.com Contributors Sarah Abenaim • Larry Bernstein Dr. Eytan Chen • Estelle Glass Chavie Hagler • Robert Katz Banji Latkin • Dr. Scott David Lippe Harold Nussbaum • Sara Prager P’nina Seplowitz • Bracha Schwartz Rabbi Mark Staum • Tzvi Silver Jordana Schoor • Rayzel Yaish • Ronn Yaish The Jewish Link of Bergen County PO Box 3131 Teaneck, NJ 07666 Phone: 201-371-3212 Email: editor@jewishlinkbc.com Advertising: ads@jewishlinkbc.com

LETTERS TO THE EDTOR To the Editor: While I appreciate a good d’var Torah as much as the next guy, I was a bit perturbed by the tone of Rabbi Kenneth Brander’s piece about the Arba Kossot. While his fine academic analysis of the Halakha and bringing it to the highest madreyga was patently clear, it seemed disturbing that his conclusion was that a poor man, if he must, should go begging in order to fulfill the mitzvah. That is definitely the case, but I am sure a less cold rendering of the conclusion could have led to a pointed lesson many of us already understand and a mitzvah we fulfill....Instead of chiding a poor man and telling him he must humiliate himself by begging, how much more important would it have made the article if the good rabbi would have concluded that no one should have to humiliate himself or herself to fulfill a mitzvah, and it is the obligation of those in the kehillah who have parnassah to provide for those who don’t have the money for gefen for Pesach— long before they have to beg for it.

Philip Sieradski

To the editor: My family has lived in Palisades Park since 1951. Today’s Jewish community is now tiny. I feel isolated, so I’m writing to ask for your help to explain to our public library director why I have an issue with the permanent Santa Claus mural that was installed on the wall of the children’s library. I noticed it in December, though it has been there for a while. While I have no problem with the characters from other literary works being painted on the walls, I took issue about the Santa Claus mural, and also the permanent foil Xmas trees that are installed on both sides of the Korean Comfort Women’s memori16, April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773

al on public library grounds.

Although I am aware that the Supreme Court of the United States has declared Santa Claus and Xmas trees to be secular symbols, I do have a problem with these symbols permanently painted on a public library wall. There is also a sign on the stacks in the religion section of the library which lists many aspects of Christianity. Instead of listing “Other Religions,” the sign clearly states “Non-Christian Religions,” implying that Christianity is the only religion that matters.

In December, I tried to bring the Santa Claus and Xmas trees to the attention of the Library Director in person. She dismissed my concerns and said Santa is in all the shopping malls (as if they were government owned properties). She also said that the only people who have complained about the mural are ‘people who don’t have children.’

Shaken, I posed questions to her via e-mail after that and she often refused to answer or provide factual information. Instead, she insisted I attend a Library Board meeting. When I expressed my concern that the mural can be interpreted as a means to indoctrinate or convert a child’s religious beliefs, I was rebuffed.

It is now April. Santa is permanently ensconced on the wall, and the Xmas trees, with all their decorations, are still on either side of the memorial. The sign describing us as “non-Christian” is still on the stacks.

I am alone in this battle for freedom of and from religion. I need allies who understand the issues and will take immediate action to restore our public library to being a welcome place for all taxpayers.

I have created an email address

where folks who want to help me can contact me. It is SantaMural@aol.com.

I will also pass any comments you have to the Palisades Park Library Board.

Please help me before your public library ends up like this one.

Subscriptions/Home Delivery: delivery@jewishlinkbc.com The Jewish Link of Bergen County is an independent publication. We reserve the right to accept or refuse submissions and edit for content and length. We also reserve the right to refuse advertising that in our opinion does not reflect the standards of the newspaper. The opinions expressed within, whether by paid advertisement or editorial content, do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. We are not responsible for the kashrus of any product advertised in the Jewish Link of Bergen County.

Robin Katz

To the Editor: Recently, the Conference of Material Claims Against Germany (the Claims Conference/CC) published a list of properties in the former East Germany to which they have claimed title from 1994 to date. From December 1992 to February 2013 the CC submitted 168,000 law suits/claims in the German courts for ownership of those properties. (They came up with 168,000 claims by going through German phone books from 1936 and pulling out all the addresses with Jewish sounding names.

They even listed property owned by Rosenberg, the Nazi Foreign Minister.)

We recently discovered that the addresses of the properties on the list are invariably those in the then-Berlin phone book. But today’s street names are not necessarily the street names from 1936. To verify the address, one needs to get a picture of the exact property via Google Earth to see what the name of the street is today. For example, Neue Konigstrasse in Berlin became Hans Beimler Strasse in 1966 and since 1995 has been called Otto Braun Strasse. On the list drawn from 1936 phone books, it is still Neue Konigstrasse.

Of 138,000 cases so far settled, the German courts granted ownership of 15,000 properties to the Claims Conference. That means that only 10.88% of the cases so far have been successful. 89.12% of claims have been rejected by the German courts. But the courts

never sanctioned the Claims Conference for bringing erroneous suits, although the German court system has been clogged for 20 years by Jews who have no proof of ownership seeking to claim properties in East Germany— a cause for anti-Semitism if ever there was one.

So, to date, in my estimate of 45,000 properties on the latest list, only 15,000 have been handed over to the Claims Conference, while 30,000 additional properties remain in active litigation. What compounds the problem are those independent claimants to personal family property not always knowing if said property has already been handed over to the Claims Conference or not. Thus any claimant to a property on the Claims Conference list is in a bad spot since the Claims Conference does not know the identity of the heirs of the 30,000 properties they are claiming.

Most of the properties granted to the Claims Conference have been sold in the biggest and most secretive sale of property in German history. How this was done is an open question and how much heirs will receive of the true value of a sold property is unclear.

(Simple math: The fund for such allocations has been set at 50 million Euro. If a claimant comes forward for each of the 15,000 properties the Claims Conference received, each claimant will receive but 3,333 Euro.)

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D’VAR TORAH

Holding onto our trip down memor y lane Rabbi Jeremy Donath ast month, President Obama challenged our memories. On a stage full of mothers who have lost children in recent gun violence attacks, the president spoke of continued efforts to tighten gun laws. With resistance to such laws stiffening in Congress, the President reminded us that after the Newtown shooting, “the entire country was shocked, and the entire country pledged— we would do something about it…that this time would be different.” The president continued, “We need everybody to remember how we felt 100 days ago and make sure that what we said at that time wasn’t just a bunch of platitudes, [but] that we meant it.”

The president’s speech charged us not to let our memories fail us so miserably, so soon.

We have just concluded the holiday of memories, Pesach, a holiday whose whole purpose is to bring back the memory of the exodus from Egypt. At the Seder, we have symbols that recall the Jewish enslavement in Egypt, such as the marror and lechem oni, as well as symbols which remind us of our freedom, such as the need to recline and the four cups of wine. Various items are also zecher l’mikdash, in memory of the Temple, for example, the first time we wash our hands at the Seder, and the koreich sandwich.

For eight days we took a trip down memory lane, and before we knew it, after all of the hard work…

Pesach itself became just another memory. We are now left to consider: What did I accomplish through this exhausting exercise of recollection and how does my historical journey affect me now when life return to “normal?”

Perhaps, there is what to decipher from the prototypical example of recollection that takes place

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specifically on the last day of Pesach: the Yizkor prayer. Notice, that the prayer which charges us to think of the past is ironically referred to in the future tense, Yizkor, meaning that we should remember for the future.

Perhaps chazal were suggesting to us in this subtle change of tense, that the entire purpose of our journey to the past, is not simply to create a sense of nostalgia. Instead, at Yizkor we are supposed to revisit the sights and sounds of our past…to remind ourselves of what worked and what didn’t work for us in our relationships with our parents and loved ones, so that we can in turn become better parents and grandparents for our children. In making this subtle shift, Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm (in a 1974 lecture) suggests that “we must move past ordinary nostalgia, beyond mere sentimental recollection, to creative nostalgia; to recreation rather than mere re-collection.”

Where else is this transition highlighted? The mishna in Pesachim (10:4) offers advice as to how the story at the seder should unfold: “maschil b’genus u’mesayem be’shevach,” we start by telling the tales of our lowly past, and then finish with the stories of salvation. Yet perhaps embedded in this charge, we are also given the recipe for achieving “creative nostalgia.”

We are told to start with re-experiencing the bitterness of the past and then gradually transition to speak about the redemption. Instead, the mishna is telling us that when you are able to relive the bitterness of the past (maschil b’genus), that recollection can, and must act as the springboard to enable the creation of a positive future (u’mesayem be’shevach). In other words, creative nostalgia is achieved through the following steps: First, we put ourselves into the experiences of the past, in order to be able to un-

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derstand them emotionally and intellectually. Then after having experienced the past, we practically put it to use, by resolving to grow into the future based on the lessons of yesterday. When that occurs, we have taken the leap across the gap of history and moved beyond ordinary to the redemptive form of nostalgia. It becomes a redemptive journey not just when we relive the past, but far more importantly, when we use our memories to surpass the past.

In this context, we can suggest that the President didn’t just challenge our memories. He challenged the way in which we memorialize and he challenged the way we live. Later in the speech, the President reflected: “We have cried enough.

We have known enough heartbreak…Now is the time to turn that heartbreak into something real.” We can’t change the past, but we can use the past to help us create a better, and safer future. In doing so, we truly can take a memory and turn it into something real. Pesach may now be over, but the real charge of the holiday has only just begun.

Rabbi Donath is the rabbi of Congregation Darchei Noam in Fair Lawn, NJ

MASK

igned Saving Kids, began Mothers and Fathers Al ion in 1997. Fifteen years as a grassroots organizat y was seemingly immune ago, the Jewish communit , such as drugs, alcohol, to contemporar y problems k behaviors. W ith time, gambling and other at-ris uished cries of concerned things changed. The ang and so MASK was born. parents began to surface, ASK as a lifeline to Loving parents turn to M ilies through a world of help them guide their fam otional turmoil. Through increasing spiritual and em e and groups, callers receiv our confidential helpline or hout judgment, shame referrals and support wit stigma.

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OP-ED

Jackie and the Jews/Irish/ Italians/Blacks/Poles, etc.

Ethnicity in Post-War America Michael Berenbaum Reprinted with permission from The LA Jewish Journal

ackie was the first. Jackie could not just play the game for himself. He was playing the game for every one of his race who had been denied a chance, whose future was closed because of racism and segregation. Indeed, as I remember it, Jackie played the game for every minority kid whose opportunities were constrained because of discrimination.

I was but a toddler when Jackie broke in. My mother was often ill and my father, a decorated World War II veteran, was struggling to make up for lost time in the post-war years. He was 35 in 1945, the year the war ended, 35 and just beginning his career which was delayed by the Great War and the Depression. In a frenzy to make something of his interrupted life, he worked all hours of the day and night. So we had an African-American cleaning lady, Minnie—an intelligent stately woman who in our era would have gone to

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school and become a professional, but in those days merely struggled to survive.

Minnie loved me and she loved the Dodgers and the Dodger she most loved was Jackie. On his shoulders went the fate of all those denied an opportunity, and the destiny of all, those such as my father, who were to struggle to make their way in the post World War II world. He loved Jackie as well and their love for Robinson was race blind—he was the great equalizer between men, women and children of diverse races and creeds.

Fire, passion, daring, Jackie was anything but a simple athlete. He fought every day and every moment of every day. He was the forerunner of the civil rights movement of the 60s, and the struggles for equality that were to follow. He would do anything to win. And when finally he was freed from his vow of silence, he played baseball with intensity unmatched in the history of the game. He could beat you with his bat, with his glove, with his base-running, and even with his mouth.

Duke Snider recalled a game in which Robinson tormented the pitcher until he was hit by the pitch. He then took a huge lead off first base and challenged the pitcher to pick him off. The throw to first was wild and Robinson took two bases. He then threatened to steal home, until the unnerved hurler threw a wild pitch. Robinson lumbered home, staring at the pitcher.

Robinson was determined to overcome the weight of centuries. My father and Minnie understood his struggle.

Orthodox Jew and underprivileged black, they both saw in his daily battle a mirror of their own lives and the hope for future generations. If he made it, they could; if not them, then their children.

Pee Wee Reese was the Dodger Captain. Kentucky bred and almost a decade older than his teammates, he had broken into the game before World War II and was a star before his career was postponed by wartime duties. Reese was stable and able, dependable, savvy and smart. One could sense his roots in his demeanor, his pronunciation of his words, his courtliness, southern grace, and courtesy. So when Reese answered for Robinson, America took note.

When he braved the taunts of fans and the displeasure of his southern friends by embracing Robinson as a teammate, as part of his double play combination, Reese came to exemplify every southerner who was willing to make segregation a thing of the past. There were a few such ball players in 1947, too few then, too few now.

Several Dodgers protested Robinson’s arrival. One year later Rickey traded them. He was determined to integrate baseball and willing to pay the price.

Roy Campanella, certainly not the least of his mates, was all heart. One experienced the joy of the game, his love of baseball, in his every move.

Stocky and compact, Campy would be surprisingly swift on the base path and a stonewall protecting the plate. He was talkative. Campy would kibbitz with the batters and the

umpires. He was as masterful at banter as at handling pitchers, speaking to them not just with his mouth, but by pounding his fists, gesturing in every direction.

The man loved what he did, and did it so well. Three times he was the National League’s Most Valuable Player, the most valuable of a most impressive team, and when Campy played well, the Dodgers would win.

Campanella was formed by his experience in the Negro Leagues. Prior to being signed by the Dodgers, Campy played baseball year round. He reported to the Negro Leagues each spring and summer and went down to Venezuela to play ball in the winter. His alternatives were few. With a bat in his hand, he would club his way to a future. In the Negro Leagues, double headers were routine.

Oftentimes teams played in two different cities during the same day. They brought their own lamps and polls to play nighttime baseball in then unlit stadiums. Travel was by bus where players often slept at night, denied entry into hotels in the segregated South and the inhospitable North.

Motels were then unknown.

Campy began his baseball career at 14, or so he said, for Negro League players often lied about their age in order to convince the white baseball barons to take a chance on their talents. By the time he began his 10 year major league career, Campanella had played professional baseball for 12 long years, summer and winter. Until Robinson was signed, Campanella could not dream of a big league career. He forever remained grateful that he was given his chance—just before it was too late.

Robinson and Campanella represented two faces of race and ethnicity in Brooklyn of the 1950s, then the most ethnically diverse and integrated city in America. For us Jewish boys—and I suspect the Irish and Italians as well—Jackie and Campy were familiar figures. And they were not fond of each other for they each represented the polar opposites as to how to behave as a

minority in the larger culture.

Their struggles and the tensions between them were part of our family lore.

When our fathers told bold stories about standing up to antisemitism and demanding their rights; when they exploded in anger or triumphed by chutzpa, they became for us mini Jackie Robinsons— strong, and heroic. All over New York, Jews were breaking down barriers by being angry, demanding and insistent—by playing the game more fiercely, with greater daring and conviction than the “white boys.”

When our fathers told us not to make waves, to be grateful for how far we had come, to remember with gratitude the opportunities we had been afforded, we thought of Roy Campanella. He knew what would have been his fate had he been given less talent, had opportunity not come his way just in time. Ever thankful, he could not be angry.

First generation Jews, Italians, and Irish and other ethnics understood Campy. The talented sons of pushcart peddlers and small merchants, of factory workers and machinists, were attending Harvard or Yale and even grateful to be at City College. And in those days Jews who went to the Ivy Leagues soon assimilated— and if they did not, they were reluctant to go public with the identity they held sacred in private.

In my New York Yeshiva, we were taught that a yarmulke was an indoor garment.

Hats were to be worn in the street. In the 50s, Philip Roth was writing about Eli the Fanatic, the fearsome Jew who practiced his piety in public and embarrassed his assimilating neighbors.

So while my father and Minnie rooted for Jackie; more often than not, they played the racial and ethnic game like Campy. Jackie was respected, Campy was loved.

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OP-ED

SCHOOL CHOICE, THE GOVERNMENT, AND YOU By: N. Aaron Troodler, Esq. s Orthodox Jews, we assume a myriad of financial obligations in order to ensure that we can live in accordance with the tenets of our faith.

We give generously to our shuls and we make charitable donations to various organizations that service the Jewish community at large. But one of the biggest investments we make is in our children’s future, as we enroll them in one of the many quality yeshivas that our community boasts.

It is no secret that the cost of yeshiva tuition is of great concern to numerous parents in our community. It is often the subject of conversation at Shabbos tables throughout our community and it is clearly at the forefront of the minds of every family that has children in yeshiva.

There have been extensive discussions and debates over the years about seeking ways to alleviate the financial burden that is borne by tuition-paying parents. Much of the conversation has focused on the role of government in the business of educating our children. It is an age-old question: should the government play a part in assisting parents of private and religious school students? More importantly, is the government permitted to do so?

It is not every day that a courthouse in Middle America takes center stage

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in the school choice movement. But on March 26, 2013, the justices of the Indiana Supreme Court unanimously upheld the state’s progressive voucher program.

The court’s decision rebuffed a 2011 challenge to Indiana’s voucher program that had been brought by the Indiana State Teachers Association and a number of parents. The plaintiffs in the case questioned the constitutionality of the voucher program and charged that it utilized public funds in order to sponsor religious education.

In the court’s decision, Chief Justice Brent Dickson wrote that the voucher program was not violative of the constitution because the state monies “do not directly benefit religious schools but rather directly benefit lower-income families with school children.”

This was a monumental decision, in that it provided the State of Indiana with the legal justification necessary to continue its voucher program, which is one of the most ambitious in the United States. Unlike voucher programs in other states around the country that focus primarily on lower-income families, the Indiana program, which is much more comprehensive, allows parents with an annual household income of up to $64,000 for a family of four to participate.

By providing lower- and middleincome families with the necessary

funds to cover tuition costs, the Indiana voucher program enables them to enroll their children in private schools, as opposed to having to send them to public schools.

Since Indiana established its voucher program in 2011, approximately 9,000 families have benefitted from the program. According to the data, most of those families have chosen to educate their children in private schools.

The decision to uphold Indiana’s voucher program is somewhat consistent with the progress that recently has been made on the school choice issue across the nation.

There are a number of states that either presently have, or are considering the implementation of tax-credit or voucher programs that benefit parents of private school students, including Pennsylvania, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Arizona.

Closer to home, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has been supportive of creating a voucher program by allocating state funds in order to enable lower-income families to send their children to private school, if they so choose. In addition, there is a bill pending before the New Jersey State Legislature that would expand the current law in order to permit special needs students to be assigned by their respective school districts to a private

Bridging the Religious Divide: Rabbi Yoni Sherizen

By Jordana Schoor ixty-six years ago, David BenGurion needed to unite the Jewish people before appealing to the international community for a State of Israel. He created the “status quo compromises” with the Agudah, guaranteeing a religious character for the future state of Israel. The state’s relationship to education, personal status, Kashrut and Shabbat were defined to allay the fears of the right and the left. The agreement worked in allowing BenGurion to convince the world that Israel would be a place for all Jews. It has been the status quo for 66 years. Will it remain as such?

Forty years ago, as the threat of the external enemy dwindled after the 1967 war, a young oleh, Rabbi Daniel Tropper, recognized the mounting internal ten-

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sions among Jews and sought to reduce them. He created Gesher, aimed at uniting Jews, bringing the mainstream communities— the dati leumi community and secular Israelis—together. At the time, Hareidim were a smaller fringe community and the status quo agreements from 1948 were being upheld, maintaining the religious character of the state to their liking.

Fast-forward 40 years to 2013.

Dati and Hiloni Jews generally see their relationships in a positive light. Stereotypes still exist between the modern Orthodox and the secular, but on the whole they work together, live together and serve their country together. They are the mainstream, and Gesher is proud of its work in helping create this common ground.

But enter the “fringe” component—the Haredim, who to-

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day are no longer fringe at all. Statistically and confidently, they are becoming part of the mainstream, with over 20% of first-graders in Jewish schools coming from the Haredi community. How will this transition play out? Will Hareidim integrate or try to create a parallel, completely insular society in Israel? Or perhaps they will be excluded the way they were recently left out of the new Knesset coalition, to sit in the opposition? Israel sits at a historic crossroad as it struggles to meet the needs and ideals of this rapidly growing community.

Rabbi Yoni Sherizen, Director of Resource and Program Development at Gesher, discusses some of these tough questions and considers how Israel could

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CONTINUED ON P. 46

religious school, such as a yeshiva.

With momentum in the school choice arena perhaps shifting a bit in favor of private school parents, now is the time for our community to become further engaged in the process.

Relief for private school parents is not just going to fall into our laps. In order to effectuate change and bring about the aid that we as private school parents need and deserve, we must stand up and make our voices heard.

Every member of our community that has children or grandchildren in yeshiva should get involved. Every one of us who has ever groused about the cost of tuition ought to contact the OU and find out how they can be of assistance.

The Indiana Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the state’s voucher program was a huge victory for school choice advocates and a reminder that there are indeed legal and constitutional ways for government to provide aid to private school parents. However, we would be naïve to expect that the government will help yeshiva parents if we do not actively ask and advocate for their assistance.

N. Aaron Troodler is an attorney and a principal of Paul Revere Public Relations, a public relations and political consulting firm. Visit him on the Web at www.PaulReverePR.com or follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/troodler

Judaic Paper Cuts

by Dena Levie www.judaicpapercuts.com

201-928-0511 dena@judaicpapercuts.com April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 19

NEWS FEATURE

Dov Lipman: An AmericanBorn Member of Knesset Comes Calling 

CONTINUED FROM P. 1

countries as a member of the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee.

Rabbi Lipman comes across as a man who inspires others. His dream, he says, is to create a better, unified Israel.

On his first trip to the States, he spoke in synagogues about his goals to combat religious extremism and his hopes for a united State of Israel. Another trip followed after that and in the summer of 2012, Yair Lapid asked Rabbi Lipman to join the Yesh Atid (There is a Future) Party. The party won 19 Knesset seats in the recent Israeli elections and Lipman became the first U.S. born member of Knesset in almost 30 years. The beauty of the Yesh Atid party is its model of respectful discourse among different circles of Israeli society. Yesh Atid shows that people can work together to break down the barriers of discrimination and fear.

20, April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773

MK Lipman arrived in New York City on Tuesday, April 9 and spent Shabbat as a scholar in residence at Beth Sholom Synagogue in Lawrence, New York.

During the course of the week, he addressed the local leadership of American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the Anti-Defamation League, the Jewish Federation of North America, the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the American Jewish Committee, the Republican Jewish Coalition, the Tikvah Fund and the New York Board of Rabbis. Public speaking events were hosted by both Yeshiva University (YU) and the 92nd Street Y and he was the keynote speaker at Congregation Keter Torah’s 13th Annual Dinner Reception in Teaneck, New Jersey.

At the Keter Torah dinner, MK Lipman spoke of his journey from Silver Spring, Maryland, where he spent his childhood, to becoming a member of Israeli Parliament. He shared his experiences of how blending Americanstyle activism and engagement with the American values of tolerance and pluralism led him to a seat in the Knesset. His American Jewish values directed him to fight for equality and inclusiveness in many aspects of Israeli life.

He praised Rabbi Shalom Baum, President Jonathan Gellis and the many members of Congregation Keter Torah for their contributions and heavy in-

volvement in AIPAC, NORPAC and other Israel-related organizations. He congratulated the Guests of Honor Elissa and Michael Katz, and The William B. Manischewitz Community Service Award Honorees Fran and Sam Ebel, for all their hard work for Jewish and Israeli causes.

Looking back on his trip, the rabbi summed it up this way: “There is a lot that needs to be done. When the organizational leadership of the American Jewish community recognizes that there is now an MK on the committee who understands them, thinks like them and will have open and direct lines of communication with them, they will realize that there is so much that we can accomplish that will unite and reengage the many American Jews who have been disconnected from Israel. I look forward to connecting di-

rectly with Jewish communities and will strive to enable all Jewish Americans to feel welcome and wanted by Israel. I think this trip represents the first step in building a strong working relationship.”

His speech at Yeshiva University addressed his plans to encourage increased study of Hebrew and Zionist education in America.

YU President Richard M. Joel said, “At a time when people no longer talk, but scream at each other without understanding each other, people like Rabbi Lipman give us new hope that Israel will start representing us as people who aren’t identical, and will allow us to work together to further the good of Israel and the Jewish people.”

To arrange a meeting or to host MK Lipman on a future trip, please email dlipman@knesset.gov.il

An appreciation: Roger Ebert

FOR THE LOVE OF FILM:

Gratitude from one film lover to another

By Nathan Kruman oger Ebert’s passing leaves a void in the tradition of critics who love film. His wit and insight added much to the criticism canon. His partnership with Jewish colleague Gene Siskel evoked Hillel and Shammai, whose debates are recorded for posterity (they were for the sake of Heaven).

Ebert and Siskel – also at each others’ throats – displayed their shared love of film and each other. Perhaps their thumbs-up is the equivalent of our Talmudic inversion of logic with an upward swing of our thumb.

While many disagree about what constitutes a Jewish film, most agree that several films had serious Jewish impact. Catholicism aside, Ebert identified many significant lessons, as shown in several gleanings from his website, www.rogerebert.com.

From shtick to offensive, Mel

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Brooks’ humor ranges from Borscht Belt to smashing taboos. His film/play/ film, The Producers, is case in point.

This is one of the funniest movies ever made... To see it for the first time in 1968, when I did, was to witness audacity so liberating that not even There’s Something About Mary rivals it. The movie was like a bomb going off inside the audience’s sense of propriety. … I remember finding myself in an elevator with Brooks and his wife…

A woman got onto the elevator, recognized him and said, “I have to tell you, Mr. Brooks, that your movie is vulgar.”

Brooks smiled benevolently. “Lady,” he said, “it rose below vulgarity.”

Ebert embraced advances in technology, celebrating rather than criticizing. Describing two very different animated tales, he tells two sides of the Middle East conflict set thousands of years apart.

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CONTINUED ON P. 31

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NEWS FEATURE

A Conversation with Dov Lipman: Ever ything But Politics

By Gedaliah Borvick recently sat down with newly elected member of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) Rabbi Dov Lipman to discuss a variety of (mostly) non-political issues.

Rabbi Lipman grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland, and is the first Americanborn member of Knesset in almost 30 years. He is an ordained rabbi, a graduate of Baltimore’s Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore, and received a master’s degree in education from Johns Hopkins University.

GB: I enjoyed watching your inaugural speech in the Knesset. You had a very American ending when you said, “G-d bless the State of Israel.” Sadly we are not accustomed to hearing the Lord’s name mentioned much in Israeli politics.

DL: This is one of my areas of focus: let’s bring G-d into the conversation.

Yesterday we had a discussion in the Knesset about Pollard and 31 members of the Knesset got up to speak. Not one person said a word about G-d. Where

I

is G-d? So I made a few last-minute revisions to my speech and went up to the lectern to make a plea to President Obama. Then I made a plea to Am Yisrael to join me every single morning to say a tefillah on Jonathan’s behalf. We are doing everything we can do, everything seems logical, and yet it’s still not working: Pollard is still incarcerat-

ed. It’s time that we pray for rachamei shamayim (heavenly mercy). No one in the Knesset is talking about G-d. Even the charedi leadership is barely mentioning G-d, they’re only talking about Torah. But that’s backwards! Torah is one of the three things that bring us closer to G-d; Torah is not a means unto itself.

GB: Did you honestly ever think you’d become a member of the Knesset or was it always in the back of your mind?

DL: It wasn’t a goal of mine until the Orot Banot situation (the very sad episode of the religious fanatics verbally and physically abusing elementary school students) last year. After the problems began, we went to the police, we went to the Minister of Public Security, we went to the Prime Minister, and they could have easily solved the problem but they chose to look away. First of all I saw how easily you can solve problems, and second I saw that things are corrupt and the system has to change. That’s when I felt that I’d love to enter the Knesset and be

a part of the solution.

GB: Let’s discuss your role models.

DL: My father was my role model. He was a federal judge and a community activist. My goal is that as my children get older and face important life decisions, they will see the example that I set as being a person who cared but didn’t just complain—rather I did something about the problems, tried my best to make things better.

That’s what I saw in my father. He took a lot of flak, but he had his belief system and he tried to make a difference.

I hope my children see that quality in me, too. I also learned from my father the important message of achdut (unity)—not just worrying about your own sector but the importance to look out for all of Am Yisrael. I hope I can live up to my father’s extraordinary standards and continue to instill these life lessons in my children.

GB: What’s your dream?

DL: My dream is that Israel could be a place where everybody respects each other and feels proud to be Jewish.

GB: Any message those of us who live in the United States?

DL: I think that people in America should be raising their children to

move to Israel. I am not a person who says that everyone has to make aliyah. You have your job, your family, your obligations. I understand that, but we should be raising the next generation to move to Israel. In Sefer Devarim (Deuteronomy) the Torah says the word Israel more than fifty times not even connected to a mitzvah. It’s just the place where the Jews are supposed to go.

GB: Any message to olim or potential olim?

DL: One of my roles in the Knesset is to make things easier for English-speaking olim and there are a few things already in the works. But the bigger message is that sometimes you just have to throw yourself into things.

The challenges are here. Living in Israel is exhilarating and I invite everyone to join us.

GB: Let’s talk about the importance of making your mark in this world.

DL: Everybody can effect change. It doesn’t have to be in the Knesset. You have to have the courage to stand up for what you believe in and do something about it. It can be in your shul, in your children’s school, it can be in your block civic association or it can be in politics.

Everybody can do it but the key is to always ask yourself, “Aside from the fact that I’m going to work to make a parnassa—which is not insignificant—what am I doing to make a difference?” I have taught thousands of children, and I sincerely believe that every person has the ability to make a difference in some way.

Always ask yourself: Am I doing that?

What more can I do to make things better? Everyone has the ability in their own unique way to make their mark and help better the world.

Gedaliah Borvick is the founder of My Israel Home, a real estate agency focused on helping people from abroad buy and sell homes in Israel.

To sign up for his monthly market updates, contact him at gborvick@gmail.com. Please visit his blog at www.myisraelhome.com.

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April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 21

Yosl Friedenson,

Z’L:

An Appreciation

By Jeanette Friedman t is now just about 30 days, just a little more, since Yosl Friedenson, editor of Dos Yiddishe Vort, went to Olam Haboh. I knew Friedenson ever since I can remember. He and my mother were together in Ghetto Warsaw until she was smuggled out and taken to Munkacs, and eventually landed on the Kasztner train. When I began doing research on my mother’s story, and when I worked on The Goldberg Commission Report to examine the role of American Jewry in rescuing the Jews of Europe, my late father, Wolvie Friedman, told me to talk to three people: Yosl Friedenson, his colleague at the Agudath Israel—where my father was “World Vice-President” and Friedenson was Secretary General; David Kranzler, who wrote Thy Brothers’ Blood and the Orthodox Ends, UnOrthodox Means chapter of the Goldberg Commission Report (both about Orthodox rescue attempts), and Rabbi Moishe Kolodny, head of the Agudah archives.

Friedenson hated being addressed by the title of rabbi and preferred to be called Friedenson. He was as unpretentious and tolerant as they come.

You could go to him with the toughest questions. Two summers ago a woman approached me in Warsaw and said she needed to meet two people in New

I

York to talk about spiritual resistance in Ghetto Warsaw. She would call me with their names when she got to New York. One of them was Friedenson, the other was Gutta Sternbuch, whose sister-in-law was a key negotiator in getting the Kasztner train out of Budapest and to safety. We went to see him at his apartment on the West Side, and he told us he believed in spiritual resistance and had organized shiyurim and davening, cheder and girls’ classes. But when he heard, after he left the ghetto, that his father was smuggling in arms, he was disappointed and felt the Jews had lowered themselves to the level of their enemies. It was an interesting evening, indeed.

Of course to meet with us, he had to put aside proof-reading and editing his beloved Dos Yiddishe Vort. Prof. Shneur Lieman, chairman of the Judaic Studies Department at Brooklyn College, said what Friedenson had compiled over the years since the war in those vol-

umes was an accurate and moving history and chronicle of what Jewish life was like between the wars, during the Holocaust and in the post-war period.

He said the magazines, which go back to 1945, when Friedenson started them up in the Displaced Persons’ Camps of Feldafing and Landsberg, are “A treasure chest filled with important stories about how Jews lived in every way of life, especially the Orthodox life.”

On a more personal note, Friedenson’s father, Gershon, was trapped with his family in Warsaw, but that didn’t stop him from saving my mother’s life.

Gershon Friedenson designed the first Beis Yaakov curriculum for Sarah Schneirer and ran a vocational school in Lodz. Before my mother was smuggled out of the ghetto, he came to give her a farewell gift: letters of introduction to his students’ parents—people who lived in the countryside and hid my mother as she made her way to the Slovakian border.

Yosl also came by to say good bye and gave my mother a book of Yiddish poems he wrote to give her chizuk and emunah for her dangerous journey. Unfortunately, there came a time when my mother had to discard the book and other items that pointed to her Jewish identity. It broke her heart to do so, and she mentioned it during the week he was nifter.

Friedenson also let me have it over the head on more than one occasion— especially when it came to commemorating the Holocaust. He said our obsession with the Holocaust had replaced Yiddishkeit. His idea of victory was having a Siyumm Shas that filled Madison Square Garden and the restored Yeshiva Chachmei Lublin, where he was a student in his youth.

When I last saw him, he was recovering from a stroke, sitting as his dining room table, complaining as usual about deadlines. He slowly went over the seven point type, the teeny tiny letters that filled the pages of the magazine, concerned, as always, about current events, the state of the Jewish people and Torah Jewry, despairing of what he saw in the news. This was a man of action, a man who convinced Rav Schach to start the Shas party in order to get away from Ashkenazi discrimination of Sephardi boys in yeshivot. This was a man who said what he thought, and loved the Jewish people in its totality.

He was, like many of his generation, a voracious reader of EVERYTHING, including the New York Times and other secular publications. He knew his stuff.

He was very much of this world, and bridged it to a rich and vital past we could easily forget, if not for him and Dos Yiddishe Vort.

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ACCIDENTS HAPPEN Dos and Don’ts in the Aftermath of a Car Crash

By Jan Meyer, Esq. any newspapers feature a regular column on automotive and traffic issues, with discussions of road conditions, accident-prone areas, morning commute times, and the dismal state of our roadways and bridges. But I have yet to read advice to motorists on what to do if they’re involved in a car accident.

Motor vehicle mishaps can leave the most level-headed driver stunned.

But even in the confusion of a collision, drivers must remember a cardinal rule: Never leave the scene of an accident. This rule applies whether the ac-

M

cident results in property damage only or in personal injury as well. If you’re found guilty of leaving the scene of an accident without notifying the local authorities and waiting for their arrival, in many jurisdictions you will receive serious fines and points on your license, so don’t leave until the police release you from the scene.

I advise my clients not to move their vehicles from the site of the accident until the police arrive, but you must use your judgment if that involves, say, tying up an entire highway lane for the sake of a fender bender. While the police are enroute, try to ascertain the “make up” of the accident, i.e., the lo-

Shouldn’t Special Needs Children Receive Equal Opportunity?

By Josh Pruzansky n the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson famously stated that “All Men Are Created Equal.”

We often wonder whether children are included in this statement. Aren’t kids created equal as well? We only ask this question because there is a stark difference in the treatment of children with special needs when it comes to our state’s investment in education.

For a chance to find success in the future these kids require a more specialized educational program, including therapeutic services, than their peers.

On its face it appears that New Jersey seems to understand the unique needs of these children. New Jersey has a Special Education law that permits school districts to assign special needs students to an out-of-district school if necessary, even if the school is nonpublic. This range of options for special needs children takes into consideration the unique needs and educational settings required for each student. However, this law lacks one critical educational setting—the only school a special needs child cannot be assigned to is a sectarian school, i.e., a religious school.

When asked why the Special Ed law excludes religious schools, most people tend to respond with the usual separation-of-state-and-church argument. “It is unconstitutional,” they say, “to spend government dollars on religious education.”

That is what most people say. However, here in New Jersey, there are plenty of constitutional ways for religious students to receive funding from the state. They include transportation, textbooks, nursing aid and more. Federally, religious students are eligible for Title 1 and IDEIA funding—service based

I

funding that offers a religious option for children.

Leaders in the Legislature agreed with our assessment that this law as currently written is unfair and agreed to amend it and create more options for children with special needs. The bill, as crafted, will simply eliminate the restriction of placement to a sectarian nonpublic school. There was even language inserted that would restrict the funding to nonsectarian services and programs exclusively. This would effectively eliminate any issues or concerns pertaining to funding for religious education.

The bill passed the Assembly Education Committee by a 9-0 margin with one abstention. We thank the prime sponsor, Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle for her leadership in moving the bill along with the Assembly Education Committee Chairman Patrick Diegnan. Now it heads to the Senate Education Committee where the sponsors of the bill are Senators Loretta Weinberg and Jennifer Beck.

Although we went to great lengths to satisfy all the requirements, we are faced with serious challenges by the status quo organizations in Trenton more concerned with protecting their interests instead of the needs faced by our most vulnerable children.

It is hard to understand why there would be difficulty passing this bill since the law already allows for nonpublic school students to accept these students. The fear that government funding will pay for religious studies is not one that holds weight since the wording of the law makes that an impossibility.

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cation and direction of the vehicles before the accident and where they came to a stop. This is the time to make real use of the camera in your cell phone; if your phone doesn’t have a camera, buy a disposable and keep it in your glove compartment. Take as many pictures as you need to make sure you’ve captured an accurate depiction of the position of the vehicles at the time of impact.

Also take some photos of the points of impact on the cars, making sure you can identify the front and back of the car, the license plates, and the physical backdrop to the accident.

After you’ve taken photos, get the name and drivers license information of the other driver. But resist the temptation to discuss the accident with him or her, as such communication may work against you in the future. Locate your registration and insurance information, and have it ready for the police. When they arrive, record the officers’ names and station information.

The police will generate a report of the accident, a copy of which you can obtain a few days later. If you were not at fault, make sure you tell the police officer your version of the accident. If you believe that the accident was your fault, try not to discuss it at the scene, since a statement to the police may not

even be required in this situation.

Common wisdom dictates that you need not report the incident to your insurance company if the accident was your fault and you offered to pay for the damages out of your own pocket. This is incorrect! I cannot emphasize enough that you must always report an accident, even a minor “fender bender” and even if you are not planning to claim damages to your vehicle (because you intend to pay for it yourself or the vehicle suffered no damage). Although this advice may seem counterintuitive, if you fail to report the accident, and the adverse party commences a suit against you, then your insurance company may not pay for your defense costs or indemnify for payments made to the other party under the liability portion of your policy. This experience can prove both unpleasant and costly. So, I repeat, if you are involved in any kind of motor vehicle accident, report it to your insurance company immediately. When in doubt, consult with your attorney.

Drive carefully!

Jan Meyer is the founding member of the Law Offices of Jan Meyer and Associates, PC (www.janmeyerlaw.com), a full-service law firm engaged in personal injury litigation, civil and commercial litigation, corporate law and real estate law.

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April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 23

NEW IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

CUSTOMS

By Nina & Mordechai Glick or most people, when mentioning family traditions, the word customs frequently arises.

For those of us from Canada, the word customs connotes something entirely different from what most people would think of. Were we to ask our children what the word means they would answer, “Those mean men that ask us all of those questions every time we go to visit our family in the States.� These agents of the government would ask where we were born—in our case it was a real challenge as we have many differ-

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ent birth places; they would ask where we were going and where we live. And then would come the most challenging of questions: What do you have to declare? While going into the States, is it really necessary to mention the dozen or so challahs and danish that we are bringing to remind our friends and families of the tastes of Montreal? Do we need to mention the plum sauce that cannot be obtained anywhere in the States? Do we mention the 10 pizzas that we are bringing to Rochester, where for the longest time there was no kosher availability of anything?

Legally we are allowed to bring it all,

but it always includes a long list of questions. After all, don’t they have pizza in Rochester? Don’t they have breads in New Jersey? It is so tempting to not mention what we are smuggling into the USA just to avoid the many questions, but of course we would always tell the truth.

Once we were pulled over because we had three dozen rye breads with us to be used by the Chabad House in Rochester. They actually called the Chabad rabbi to make sure we were not going to sell them when we got there. Were we really such security risks? Then, upon our return to Canada, we faced the next dilemma: a more restrictive entry depending upon how many days we’d been away.

What do you have to declare? Again, we had to agonize over remembering each

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little thing that we purchased—from socks to aluminum foil—to ensure that if and when the customs ofďŹ cer decided to open our trunk he would not ďŹ nd something that we neglected to declare. And then there was always the most exciting question: “Are you bringing in any arms or ammunition?â€? Two adults, ďŹ ve little children of all ages—did we look like we would have guns and ammunition?

Now that we are safely across the border ensconced in our new home in BergenďŹ eld, the word custom has a new meaning—a much more powerful one.

As I watched our grandchildren together with their Zaidie grating horseradish for the seder, I was moved by the other types of customs that our children have derived from being a part of our family. Just as my father-in -law grated the chrein, now his children and great-grandchildren are following in that tradition.

Fortunately, beets are added to the mixture —in order to not be able to tell how much blood from torn ďŹ nger tips was also included. Our family is big on chrein; we eat it with everything on Pesach—on our matzoh, with matzoh brei , certainly with chulent—not a meal from breakfast through dinner that doesn’t have chrein on the table. Enough is made to last until Rosh Hashanah, with scouts from the family out prior to Pesach checking on the prices of horseradish in all of the local stores. In Montreal, where it frequently was snowing while everyone sat outside on the back deck grating away, and now in Teaneck and Rochester, every family member took turns grating, stirring, tasting. And this is what the word custom is really about. How proud we are that this is the yerusha we are able to pass down to our children and grandchildren and, hopefully, on to the next generation. We have been blessed, and we know it.

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FOOD

Heimishe Household Welcome Home Challah

By Gail Hochman ow that Pesach is over, it is appropriate to have a discussion about challah. We look forward on a weekly basis to that special taste of challah that marks the beginning of our Shabbos. There are so many variations that we have been developed over centuries. If you choose to bake your own because you don’t want to stand in line in the bakery, you may enjoy the following recipe. If you have never made challah before, you may want to begin as it is a very wonderful mitzvah that a woman can participate in.

There are also many things one can do with leftover challah, since there’s no point in wasting food.You can make breadcrumbs; you can use it for Sunday morning French toast; you can make croutons for your favorite salad; you can make a challah kugel for which I provide the recipe below. My mom uses her leftover challah in her meatloaf. She soaks the challah; squeezes out the water and adds it right into the mixture.

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Challah Kugel (Pareve. To make it milchig use butter and half and half.)

2 eggs

Âź cup sugar Pinch of salt 1 tsp. vanilla 1 16 oz container coffee rich 4 cups ground challah Âź cup melted margarine Mix all in large bowl; pour into a greased 8x8 pan and bake at 350 for one hour

Overnight Challah Combine 3 Tbs.of dry yeast with ž cup warm water 1 tsp. sugar 1 tsp. our Let stand 10 minutes until bubbly In a separate bowl, combine 2 Âź cup warm water 1 cup oil 1 ½ cup sugar 1 tab kosher salt 4 eggs 11-13 cups our Mix yeast mixture with ingredients in nd 2 bowl except for our. Mix well. Gradually add 11 cups of our. If you need to, you may add the other 2 cups (do this if you ďŹ nd the dough very moist and hard to work with) Let rise two hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Punch down and shape. Let rise for another ½ hour.

Brush with egg yolks (I add vanilla to this to give it a great avor)

Bake 350 for 40 minutes.

Tip: after the dough rises, it can be punched down and then frozen into loaves. Defrost, shape and let rise ½ hour and bake.

*** Other fun uses for challah dough: If you want to make a beautiful cornucopia for Thanksgiving or for a Sheva Brochot, take a round pizza pan(disposable type) roll it into a cone shape. Tape it up or staple to hold. Defrost about 4 boxes of Kineret Challah dough (or make your own!!!) until soft and pliable. Starting from one end of the cone that has been pre-sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, wrap dough around the tin until fully cov-

ered by the strand so that it resembles a piece of pottery.. This can be coated with egg yolks to give it an amazing sheen. Put on a large cookie sheet and bake at 350 until brown. Remove the tin very carefully. You can ďŹ ll this with anything—fruit, cookies, mini-challah rolls or use your imagination.. It makes an amazing centerpiece Another challah tip: if you need your dough to rise faster, plug in your heating pad and place the bowl of dough on top of it. Be sure to protect your countertop from the heat..

We’d love to hear your favorite challah recipes and tips and any family history that may go along with them.

Email to heimishhousehold@gmail. com

Over the Kosher Kitchen Sink meatballs raw on a cookie sheet and then store in a Ziploc bag, for later use). Chop cucumber and tomato add salt to taste.

Place salad, mini shwarma meatballs and dressing inside split pita. Enjoy.

By: Chavie Hagler and Rayzel Yaish

Weeknight Suppers We returned from the special rush of Passover preparations and holiday food and have resumed the daily grind.

One of the challenges we all need to meet is the ability to prepare quick and simple meals on a regular basis.

Some households have a weekly schedule of meals, a good friends says hers is something like this: Sunday–leftovers, Monday-dairy pasta/pizza, Tuesday– something with ground beef, Wednesday–Fish, Thursday–Schnitzel/Chicken. She has a few different options for each day.

Here are two creative twists, learned from a friend, for two favorite weeknight specials in most rotations Meatballs and Tacos that also include veggies. These are enjoyed by all in very little time to table!

Baja Fish Tacos • • • • • • •

One bag coleslaw mix or shredded cabbage 2 Tbs Lime juice Âź cup sugar or equivalent in sugar substitute

Two eggs ½ cup Jason’s brand avored breadcrumbs 2 Tbs water 1 heaping Tbs Shwarma spice

• •

8 taco shells One box frozen ďŹ sh sticks Mix the cabbage with lime juice and sugar or sugar substitute. Prepare ďŹ sh sticks according to package instructions. Warm Taco shells in oven or microwave. Place two crispy ďŹ sh sticks in each taco. Top with coleslaw. Serve the extra cabbage mix in a bowl on the table as a side dish. Serves 4 at two tacos per person.

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3DXO 5ROQLFN &3$ //&

Salad • • •

Mini Shwarma Meatballs

Prepared Tehina (or your favorite Caesar Dressing if no Tehina available.

For the Meatballs (Or use your favorite recipe just add one Tbs Shwarma spice and form into mini balls) • One lb. Ground beef/chicken/ veal/turkey

8 mini pitas or 4 large pitas Mix meat, eggs, breadcrumbs, water and spice. Form tiny meatballs and either gently fry in a lightly oiled skillet or bake on a cookie sheet. (You can freeze these

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One English Cucumber 2 medium sized Tomatoes Kosher salt

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HEALTH

Helpful Hints

PAR FOR PARKINSONS

If Your Child Loses A Tooth in An Accident

WHEN PARKINSON’S COMES TO YOUR HOUSE: HOW ONE TEANECK FAMILY COPES BY RAISING TZEDAKAH FOR A CURE

By Debby Biskin Flancbaum arkinson’s disease does not only affect the elderly. It is an illness that often aficts people in the prime of their lives, thereby robbing the world of their talents. In the case of my husband, Dr. Lou Flancbaum, his Parkinson’s diagnosis summarily ended his career as a general surgeon at the age of ďŹ fty-three. A surgeon with a tremor is the ultimate example of the painful irony of Parkinson’s.

Back in 2007 when he was diagnosed, I believed that without his career Lou would shrivel and die. He worked or was thinking about

P

AVI GOLDIN (L) AND MICHAEL NEUMAN (R) AT 2012 PARS FOR PARKINSONS TOURNEY.

work 24/7. But, in the months after we received the news that would forever change our lives, I saw a new side of my husband. In short order,

he transferred the discipline necessary to being a great surgeon into taking care of himself. Every

ďƒœ

CONTINUED ON P. 32

By Dr. Eytan Chen Stay Calm. Sudden loss of a tooth can be traumatic for both you and your child. Try to stay calm and soothe your child.

Keep It Clean. Injuries to the mouth often cause a lot of bleeding. This can make the injury look worse than it really is. Once your child is calm, clean the area of the injury.

Call Your Pediatric Dentist. Your child’s dentist will have some good advice and will likely ask you to assess whether the tooth is a baby or permanent tooth.

Is it a Baby Tooth?

Dentists generally do not re-implant baby teeth, even in case of trauma. Use this as an opportunity to welcome the tooth fairy.

If a baby tooth was chipped but did not come out entirely, your pediatric dentist will advise whether you should bring your child in for an exam.

Is it a Permanent Tooth?

If your child lost a permanent tooth, your pediatric dentist will want to try to re-implant it. This is a time-

sensitive emergency. • First, ďŹ nd the tooth • Call your dentist right away. • Place the tooth in a container or ziplock bag that is ďŹ lled with either saliva or milk. • If a container is not available, you may preserve the tooth by keeping it in your own mouth. Be careful not to put the tooth back in your child’s mouth as he or she may swallow it. • If you are unable to preserve the tooth in saliva or milk, the tooth may still be re-implanted if your child gets to the dentist within an hour.

As a tip for parents who like to be very prepared, Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution is the best medium to store a knocked-out tooth. Buy a bottle and keep it around for emergencies.

Feel free to send in questions to: info@growingsmilesnj.com Eytan Chen, DMD, Dr. Eytan is a pediatric dentist who recently opened a state of the art pediatric dentistry practice called Growing Smiles of Englewood.

Kosher Mediterranean Cuisine (DVW 3DOLVDGH $YHQXH (QJOHZRRG 1-

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26, April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773

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HEALTH

Diet with Mediterranean Flair

By Shoshana Genack, MS RD here are so many diets around—Zone, South Beach, Atkins, Paleo, Sugar Busters, WeightWatchers—that it is hard to keep track of them all. One diet, however, was recently at the center of a groundbreaking study and was heavily covered by the popular media. This is a diet that you want to know more about. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in February of 2013, studied the effects of the Mediterranean diet on the risk of stroke, heart attack and death in individuals already at high risk for heart disease.

The study was done in Spain and randomly assigned 7447 individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease between the ages of 55-80 to either a low

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fat diet or a Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, ďŹ sh, olive oil, nuts and wine and limits red meat and commercial baked goods. Both groups got support from nutritionists.

The researchers found that sticking to the Mediterranean diet reduced risk of stroke, heart attack and death by 30 percent. Furthermore, they discovered that the participants were able to stick to the Mediterranean diet, but those on the low fat diet had a harder time adhering to it.

Even with support from a nutritionist, those in the low fat group consumed a lot more red meat, commercial baked goods and soda than the experimental group. This group’s diet became very similar to the typical Western diet.

For many years, epidemiologists

have noted that individuals living in Mediterranean countries have lower incidence of heart disease, and diet was thought to be a major player in this, but, until now, a direct link had not been established. The recent study was considered so signiďŹ cant, because it was a randomized clinical trial, the gold standard of scientiďŹ c experiments, because of its size and because it indicates how vital a role diet plays in disease prevention.

Since those following the Mediterranean diet had a 30 percent lower risk for a stroke, heart attack or death, perhaps we all may be wise to choose this diet over our burgers and fries or chulent and kishka. Perhaps, but critics warn to not jump to conclusions.

As the study was done in Spain, many wonder how well this information can be extrapolated for Americans, espe-

cially as some speculate that olive oil and wine produced in America may be more processed and contain fewer antioxidants, thereby reducing their health beneďŹ ts. Furthermore, the study was done on individuals at high risk for heart disease, and researchers are still unsure what exactly this means for those at low risk of heart disease.

Overall, though, the praise for this large study far outweighs the criticism.

Health care professionals are excited, because this diet, which seems fairly simple to follow, can have huge beneďŹ ts for your heart. As Dr. Steven Nissen, chairman of the department of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, said, “What we can say to patients is this very palatable Mediterranean diet looks to be healthiest.

I’m going to change my own diet; add some more olive oil, some more nuts.�

How To Recognize Eating Disorders

By Temimah Zucker This article is the ďŹ rst in a series on eating disorders; how to recognize them in friends and family members and how to reach out to those suffering from the disease. Visit her website http://tvcsupport.org/ for more information. n expression of vanity. A celebrity trend. The rich girl’s disease. A cry for attention. Exclusive to women. These are among the many misconceptions surrounding eating disorders. When people think of eating disorder patients, images of emaciated girls who don an eating disorder, much like a new hairstyle, come to mind.

But eating disorders are psychologi-

A

signs in our own family members and friends. Yet once a person reaches a certain point in practicing bad eating habits , there is no turning back. An individual suffering from an obessesive eating disorder cannot simply “snap out of it.�

It’s not just a matter of controlling what goes into a person’s mouth, and what happens after a person eats. Eating disorders are a serious psychological illness—they cannot simply disappear. They emerge when the individual feels alone and acts as a comfort and companion. It dominates the patients’ thoughts and affects other aspects of their lives.

For instance, if a young woman feels overwhelmed by school or a social situation she may eat less as a means of

There are many faces and types of eating disorders and most of us are unaware of the symptoms and signs in our own family members and friends. cal coping mechanisms. When an individual is faced with difďŹ culty in life, she (or he) can cope in a number of ways.

S/he can take the healthy approach – by turning to family and friends, channeling feelings into art, music‌or turn to unhealthy behaviors that lead to dangerous eating disorders. If left untreated, they can be fatal—patients can starve themselves to death before their family’s very eyes, or eat themselves into diabetes and a heart attack.

An eating disorder strikes when an individual faces a difďŹ culty such as loss, an overwhelming change, or stress from social situations, like starting a new high school or college. There are many faces and types of eating disorders and most of us are unaware of the symptoms and

gaining some control in her life. However, this can easily spiral out of control.

She can become obsessive, fall deeper into the pattern of restriction, and then it becomes her way of life—a life with an eating disorder that leads to starvation and death. A person who chooses compulsive eating as a comfort mechanism may take a longer path to danger—and high blood sugar, cholesterol damage, heart disease and other complications.

How can one know if a loved one is truly suffering? There are some red ags for which one should be on the lookout: The individual suffering from an eating disorder will experience a change in mood and eating patterns or behav-

201-371-3212 • WWW.JEWISHLINKBC.COM

iors—whatever they may be. When for recovery will be signiďŹ cantly shortfood intake is used a coping mechanism, ened. the stress that caused it will most likely Eating disorder can be intense, painresult in a prolonged change in dispo- ful, and incredibly dangerous. However, sition. This personality change, paired it is imperative to understand that with with the new eating habits, acts as a red the right therapy, treatment team, supag—but NOT a diagnosis. It means that port, and involvement of religion, recova concerned parent or teacher, friend or ery is possible family member should keep an eye on the individual, and approach the subject by having a conversation with the individual about the recent changes in mood, well being and overall happiness—NOT their eating habits.

These personality changes may be accompanied by secretive and obsessive behaviors surrounding food.

For instance, the individual may begin to develop some rituals, such as obsessively cutting up food, or monitoring “food groupsâ€? intake and then sneaking to a place where they can force themselves to vomit. If the behaviors persist, it may be time to Eytan Chen, DMD make an appointment with Specialty Permit #06204 a doctor or psychologist to ďŹ nd out what is really going Harvard trained, Board certiďŹ ed pediatric dentist is pleased to announce on. the opening of his new practice.

Again, each person is different and a red ag is not a t *OGBOUT 5ISPVHI "EPMFTDFOUT diagnosis, it is something to t #FBVUJGVM $IJME 0SJFOUFE 0Gm DF be aware of. There is such a t 1MFOUZ 0G 0OTJUF 1BSLJOH thing as a healthy diet and not everyone who experiences a change in mood and behavior surrounding food should be classiďŹ ed as having an eating disorder.

If an eating disorder is diagnosed early, the timeline

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April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 27

PARENTING

Changing the Music In Your Home The Story of MASK ASK is an organization that has been around for more than 15 years and has changed our perceptions about wayward children. MASK advocates for children in countless settings and has pulled them back from the brink of despair over and over again, focusing on prevention. Ruchama Bistritzky-Clapman, Founder and Director of MASK, put it this way: “If you change the music in your home, your kids will change their dance steps.”

MASK (Mothers and Fathers Aligned Saving Kids) International was founded in 1997 in response to children at risk in the Orthodox community. MASK deals with alcohol and drug abuse, Internet addiction, eating disorders, ADD and ADHD, gambling, bullying and more. Their helpline refers families to therapists, counselors, rabbonim, and agencies that will best meet their needs. MASK’s mission is to ensure that all parents and caregivers in the Jewish community receive the resources necessary to help them raise emotionally healthy children.

MASK’s offices are located on a quiet residential street in Flatbush in a nondescript house that looks like any other

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on the block. Victor Zilber, Fundraising Director, said MASK had to move because it lost much of its funding.

Fifteen years ago, nobody really knew much about kids-at-risk. And if we did, most of us felt confident that it was something that happened to other people. Ruchama opened our eyes to the truth. The issue is real, is growing, and is not going away any time soon.

And it can happen to anyone.

MASK works with the children, offering professional intervention on all levels. They work with the schools, advocating relentlessly on the students’ behalf. They work with the community, raising awareness and organizing events. And, most of all, they work with the parents—they listen to their pain, give guidance, offer solutions and referrals to professionals.

Almost 15,000 families have asked MASK for help since its inception. The number continues to grow by the day.

One solution is to work with families while their children are still quite young. “Our youth follows us wherever we go,” she says. “Things that happen during early childhood make an impres-

Evan Kroll, Ph.D.

Licensed Psychologist Testing and Therapy Services

DR. LEWIS ABRAMS (PICTURED) WILL BE SPEAKING FOR MASK IN ENGLEWOOD ON APRIL 22ND.

sion on us as children. The truth is that everyone has issues. It’s when these issues are negative and stay cooped up inside a young child who is too little to express him/herself, we worry that it might erupt into at-risk behavior somewhere down the road.”

In other words, a six-year-old will probably not react openly. But when she is 10, she may become mildly defiant. At 13, she could be refusing to cooperate with her parents and failing in school. By 16, she can be wearing jeans and texting on Shabbos. “It’s a slippery slope,” Ruchama explains.

“Astute parents,” Ruchama continues, “will do their best to create a warm and caring environment in their home while their children are still young.

They will make sure to open the lines of communication so that their kids will approach them in times of need. They will make their home a fun place to be.”

This may not be easy or practical for parents. Expect your home to be messier and noisier. Be prepared to spend distinct quality time alone with each of your kids. Sure it’s easier to send them off to a friend’s house or to an after-school program, but the dangers are too real that they will find happiness, friendship, and excitement elsewhere.

Programs like MASK are suffering financially like never before. According to Ruchama, “MASK’s funding got cut 74% three years ago. We were forced to move out of our offices where we conducted support groups and move to smaller quarters. We are trying to maintain our services but it’s an ongoing struggle.”

MASK is hosting an event this Monday, April 22nd at 8PM at the home of Shelly and Noam Sokolow at 245 Lydecker St. in Englewood. The guest speakers will be: Rabbi Dovid Goldwasser and Lewis Abram ACSW, LCSW, CASACs. The rabbinic committee consists of Rabbi Akiva Block, Rabbi Menachem Genack, Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, and Rabbi Zev Reichman. For more info about the event or MASC, contact MASK at: 718-758-0400.

Psychoeducational Testing

Children, Teens, Adults, Families,

x Identify Learning Disabilities and ADHD - Grades K – Adult.

Anxiety - Depression - Impulsivity Self-Esteem Issues- ADHD – OCD Family Conflict – Avoidance Relationship Difficulties Internet/Gaming Addictions - Anger

x Obtain needed accommodations such as extended time in school and/or high stakes tests (SATs, ACTs, LSATs, MCATs, and GREs).

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x Identify Strengths and Weaknesses for Academic & Career Planning.

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PARENTING

“I Just Want Him to be the Best He Can Be”

By Nancy Silberman

Zwiebach ome time ago, I met with a couple who was concerned about their son.

The boy, Andrew, was, at 9, the oldest of four children. There was a sister, 6, and twins, 3. The sister, Emily, was described as “happy-go-lucky, pleasant, easy to please” and the twins, Michael and James, due to several developmental problems, required many therapies both in and out of the house. Dad had a full time job, while mom worked part time in a health service field.

So, what was going on with Andrew?

Well, at one point an eager and avid student, he was now seemingly uninterested—not paying attention in class, resisting both daily and long term assignments and no longer participating

S

in class discussion. At home, the once respectful and helpful young man had become belligerent to the point of not only yelling at, but cursing his mother and had even, on several occasions, reached out to strike her. He had begun defecating in his pants, causing what had already become troubled peer relationships to deteriorate even further— to the point, in fact, that none of those in his previous substantial circle of friends wanted to be with him. And, in addition to all of this, he had become a chronic liar, lying to both teachers and parents in regard to homework, chores, behaviors, etc.

What, his parents wanted to know, had caused these changes in their previously sweet boy and what could be done to get that Andrew back?

Well, to begin with, Andrew was exhibiting what is commonly called “acting out” behaviors. The term acting

The Countdown

By Larry Bernstein “Alright, let’s go.”

“I don’t want to go. Can’t we stay?

Why do we have to go?” The voice has not yet risen, but it is on the verge.

Every parent has been there. It’s the end of a play date, time to leave the park, or????. At that point, we have two choices. You can hold firm and deal with the inevitable meltdown – tears, yelling, etc. that comes from a tired yet happy child. Of course bribery – ice cream and baseball cards are the choice of my children these days – is an option. I, however, try to stay away from that unless it’s urgent or I have no patience. So, instead I choose option three.

“Okay. We can stay. You have ten

minutes, and then, we have to go. Got it? Good.”

It’s the countdown. This option mollifies my boys and happiness returns.

Now, maybe a child psychologist might say I am giving in and turning over power. Ultimately, I don’t care what the doctor would say. I am just happy that my children respect the clock.

So, the countdown begins. When, the agreed upon time comes, I’d like to tell you the conversation goes something like this: “Time to go, son.”

“Sure Dad. Thanks for the extra time.”

“No problem.”

“I appreciate you respecting my needs.” We proceed to hug.

Well, it’s not quite like that. Instead,

Time for Baseball

By Banji Latkin Ganchrow here are many challenges to being a mom of all boys. Aside from the obvious physical differences, there is an entire world of sports that I had to learn about if I wanted to continue living in my home and remain reasonably sane. (I said reasonably; I am nowhere near sane or reasonable.) You learn that during football season, you can’t have a heart attack on a Sunday because no one will come to your rescue. You learn that March Madness has nothing to do with cleaning for Passover, but everything to do with brackets. Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks play, is anything but a garden, and the New Jersey Nets are now in Brooklyn. When

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a whistle blows in a hockey game and the call is icing, no one brings you a tub of frosting. (I still have no idea what icing is, but am way too familiar with frosting.)

And then, when the season starts to change, and my landscaper pokes all those holes in my lawn, I know that spring training is upon us. I know that the Yankees hate the Red Sox, something having to do with Babe Ruth. The Chicago Cubs are a much loved team that hasn’t won the World Series in a zillion years (but still has a nifty chant, “Hey, Chicago, whaddaya say, the Cubs are gonna’ win today”). And like the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, I know that Johan Santana will get injured and miss another season of pitch-

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out is really only a half-statement. The complete statement is “acting out his feelings.” In other words, when people cannot verbalize what they are feeling, the feelings, still being very present and requiring expression, are acted out instead of being stated. And the guide is, “every action is saying something— what is it saying?” It certainly appeared that Andrew was saying he was very angry, probably feeling neglected, somewhat worthless and despairing.

The neglected and at least part of the anger piece was almost to be expected. There were great demands put on both his parents’ time and energy in tending to the twins’ needs, but particularly his mom. Primarily responsible for the arrangements for all their therapies and for most of the special attention their needs required at home (and this in addition to her job outside the home), she was an exhausted, physical-

ly and emotionally depleted parent.

However, the most crucial element in Andrew’s “deterioration” was the dynamic between him and his father.

Andrew’s dad, Mr. L., was an emotionally distant man, rarely expressing—either verbally or physically—affection or warmth. But more significantly, he was demanding and very difficult to please. Andrew, a fairly good athlete who had loved baseball and always enjoyed playing with his friends, had joined a Little League team. Mr. L. did not see this as a fun, learning experience building up baseball playing skills, teamwork and fair play, but as something highly competitive. Thus, Andrew faced every game with dread, knowing that afterward he would receive a lecture from his dad about everything he did wrong and extensive de-

the child starts to argue for more time.

I simply answer, “Don’t argue with me.

It’s the clock. Look what time it says.”

I am often met with sigh and a shrug and compliance. My boys respect the clock.

And as much as we Jews are people of the book, we are people of the clock.

We are beholden to time.

“I’ll take Judaism for 1000, Alex.”

“Answer: 18 minutes, 6 hours, 8 days.”

“What are the time to make matzah, the length of time that many Ashkenazim wait before having dairy, and the length of Sukkot?”

“Correct.”

In Judiasm, everything is about the clock and the calendar. Think about it: the first mitzvah we are given in the Torah is Rosh Chodesh, which is ultimately a command to keep time.

Of course, we are in the midst of the ultimate counting right now – the

Omer. We start on the second day of Pesach and don’t stop till we reach 49 when we celebrate our receiving of the Torah and eat cheesecake. However, it can also be looked upon as a countdown. After all, the Jews who had left Egypt had sunk to the 49th level of impurity, and they needed to be purified before they were worthy of receiving the Torah. So, with each passing day, they removed one level of impurity and got closer and closer to being worthy of receiving the Torah. And eating cheesecake.

Hence, it’s the countdown. The clock rules. We Jews abide by the clock.

So, the good Doctor noted above may think I am being passive, and my children are ruling the roost. However, I beg to differ. In fact, I am preparing them to respect the power and meaning of time, which will serve them well as they lead a life of Yiddishkeit.

ing for my New York Mets. (He already has.)

Now most moms reading this probably have no idea what I am talking about. But my boys know, and my dad knows, and that’s all that matters.

Basically, once you feel you are free and clear after the Super Bowl, that perhaps your boys will want to spend quality time with you biking (ha ha) or cleaning out their closets (ha ha), baseball season is upon us, or as I like to call it, “another excuse for no one doing anything to help dear old mom.”

And that’s okay because I put it on the list of things I do to make sure my boys think I’m the best mom ever (except for when I am screaming at them for something totally unreasonable like doing homework, breaking each other’s arms, closing the refrigerator door... you know, silly things).

When I was younger, my dad and brother would go down to the basement with the transistor radio to listen to the Mets play while putting a shelving system together for some of my mother’s “collectibles” (euphemism for stuff she won’t throw away). The game would be over, the shelf would be assembled and only a handful of screws and bolts would remain. Which could explain why after so few earthquakes in Bergen County, all the shelves lean, precariously, to one side. But that’s the small, crooked price you pay for loving the game. And my family loves the game. All games, of all sports, all the time. And that’s fine with me because when they are happy, I am happy. And when husband #1 takes all three boys to a game without me, I am really happy. Here’s to you finding your family’s true happiness...



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April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 29

CHINUCH

Chinuch Roundtable Compiled by P’nina Seplowitz This week’s panel of mechanchim answer the following question: Does the use of technology in the classroom distract students or enhance their learning?

Rabbi Josh Kahn, Dean of Student Life, Torah Academy of Bergen County As educators, we strive to actively engage students in the learning process. As active learners, students show more thorough comprehension and ownership of the material and develop greater interest in the subject mat-

ter. Today, technology plays an integral role in active learning. Used effectively, technology presents a paradigm shift in our educational pedagogy. It is important to note that this approach does not champion technology as an end, but rather an appreciation of the learning opportunities it provides. If each student is given an iPad, the focus should be on creating active learning. Technology enables teachers to better differentiate instruction, introduce project-based learning, and work on skills. In addition, technology creates excitement and captivates the 21st century learner.

Just as the technology has the power to enhance student learning, it can also create distractions. Before technology,

30, April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773

students could pass notes in class or doodle. Through technology, students can email or message their friends, play games, and surf the web. Distractions were always present, but are now more appealing and enticing. Moreover, the pull of technology can also grab a student’s attention away from active engagement in class, without the student doing anything “wrong. ”A student may become overly focused on his notes and spend class time highlighting, color coding, or reformatting his notes instead of participating in a lively dialogue in class. This prevents the student from the desired active learning.

As teachers prepare for the new frontier, we must realize that the world of technology is where we are headed. Our students need the skills technology provides. We must dedicate necessary resources to thinking about the teaching opportunities it provides and how to utilize them while avoiding challenges and distractions. Most importantly, as we incorporate technology and more consistent active learning in our classrooms, we will maximize our students’ inherent curiosity and interest.

Lauren Adler, 4th grade General Studies and Coordinator of Instructional Technology, The Moriah School Think of your typical day. Can you imagine even one hour without the use of any technology? Whether you are at the ATM, the library checking out books, your office, or even driving down the road with your GPS telling you there is traffic ahead, technology is everywhere. This is our reality today and it is no different for children than it is for adults. The students in my classroom speak technology as their first language; to ask them not to utilize it would be like taking away their best mode of communication. As educators, we are preparing our students for a future that we have yet to imagine. Certainly, it will look quite different than the present. As we move forward into this new world, abundant

information is free and available to all who have the know- how to access it.

Our job, through the use of technology, is to teach our future leaders how to analyze information and think critically, how to link together ideas and concepts and synthesize information. Technology enhances everything we do in the classroom; it adds a level of excitement, it promotes excellent student collaboration and it makes it easy to differentiate for students of all abilities and learning types. Technology is the furthest thing from a distraction in my classroom. Rather, it’s an exquisite tool that is pushing my

literally endless. Technology can have a profound positive effect on student learning. Our children spend much of their day engrossed in various technologies and it seems that the future will only continue in that direction.

At RAMAZ, many of our students use iPads in class. For many students, the iPad is a great tool for organizing notes (it’s much harder to lose an iPad than a binder), researching a topic on the Internet, or for answering questions posed in class.

However, in some ways the technology revolution resembles the Wild West. There are myriad policy

students farther than I have ever been able to take them. My fourth graders have become naturally more curious because they know they have the skills needed to find answers to their questions; they stay engaged on a given activity longer, because it is perceived as fun and they no longer rely on me to be the feeder of all information. I have instead become a resource in the classroom to help guide my students through the amazing world that awaits them.

Rabbi Dov Hochbaum, Faculty, RAMAZ Middle School The use of technology has created amazing opportunities in the world of Jewish Education. The possibilities of what we are capable of reaching are

issues that a school and the individual class teacher have to navigate. Also, we grapple regularly with the question of how to use technology most effectively. For example, what apps should I have my students use in the classroom? Should every child receive or be required to use a device?

Teacher and student training are also very real issues that need to be addressed. How to manage the class using iPads is a new challenge. I now teach from the back of the class so I could see everyone’s screen. While there are many great aspects to using technology, like every other educational tool, careful planning must be put in to ensure that we can maximize its potential.

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BT FORUM:

The Path to Educational Success With Rabbi Yosef Strassfeld, Head of School, Yeshiva Ohr Simcha, Englewood

By Bracha Schwartz In each issue of JLBC, a community rabbi answers questions about Jewish life for those of us who did not grow up in religious homes. FFBs – you can learn something, too! Send your questions to bracha@jewishlinkbc.com and she will seek out the answers.

Amy of Englewood asks: Q. All boys are supposed to learn Torah, but they have different abilities. Does effort count as much as accomplishment?

Hashem wants us to work and try.

He gives us the tools; what we accom-

An appreciation: Roger Ebert 

CONTINUED FROM P. 20

The story of Exodus has its parallels in many religions, always with the same result: God chooses one of his peoples over the others. We like these stories because in the one we subscribe to, we are the chosen people. I have always rather thought God could have spared man a lot of trouble by casting his net more widely, emphasizing universality rather than tribalism, but there you have it… The Prince of Egypt is one of the best-looking animated films ever made. It employs computer-generated animation as an aid to traditional techniques, rather than as a substitute for them, and we sense the touch of human artists in the vision... [This film] shows animation growing up and embracing more complex themes, instead of chaining itself in the category of children’s entertainment.

Waltz With Bashir is a devastating animated film that tries to reconstruct how and why thousands of innocent civilians were massacred because those with the power to stop them took no action… We may be confronted here with a fundamental flaw in human nature. When he said “The buck stops here,” Harry Truman was dreaming. The buck never stops.

No list of Jewish films can be complete without, perhaps, the two most important Holocaust films made. As difficult as it is for Jews to grasp and convey important lessons of this dark chapter, it is remarkable when others respond to our pain in meaningful ways.

plish is up to us. Effort is even more important than accomplishment. With smart boys, sometimes learning is too easy and they don’t know how to work hard. We’ve had boys with limited ability who are really fantastic young men today because they really work at succeeding. That’s what Hashem wants.

Q. Should parents push their children to get the highest grades, even when they are not naturally the best students?

Parents need to recognize the ability of their children. Some pick up quickly and others struggle. Never push for grades; push for effort. Most importantly, be involved in your children’s education. If you just hire tutors, it breaks

In Schindler’s List, the best he has ever made, Spielberg treats the fact of the Holocaust and the miracle of Schindler’s feat without the easy formulas of fiction… What is most amazing about this film is how completely Spielberg serves his story… Spielberg, the stylist whose films often have gloried in shots we are intended to notice and remember, disappears into his work… The movie is 184 minutes long, and like all great movies, it seems too short. Spielberg is not visible in this film. But his restraint and passion are present in every shot.

For more than nine hours I sat and watched a film named Shoah, and when it was over, I sat for a while longer and simply stared into space, trying to understand my emotions. I had seen a memory of the most debased chapter in human history. But I had also seen a film that affirmed life so passionately that I did not know where to turn with my confused feelings. There is no proper response to this film. It is an enormous fact, a 550-minute howl of pain and anger in the face of genocide. It is one of the noblest films ever made.

It would be trite to end with a “thumbs up.” Perhaps it’s more appropriate to appreciate the significance of pointing up, a demonstration of hope, of higher expectations.

As he wrote in his journal: “To make others less happy is a crime. To make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We must try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, our health, our circumstances.

We must try.”

Nathan Kruman is a local Jewish educator and specialist in Jewish Media and Cultural Arts.

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down the relationship. Your kids have to know they can come to you with questions. That’s the key to their success, self-esteem and confidence.

Q. How can parents inspire children to love Torah and feel connected to Judaism and each other, not just be good learners?

The Gemara says that Hashem wants the heart. Make a beautiful Shabbos and show your children it’s important to you. Show them the beauty and excitement of Pesach and Yomim Tovim; that’s what makes them excited. They have to see you happy. When the father comes home looking forward to a beautiful Shabbos, the children will too. When you show them davening

in shul is special, they will try to daven beautifully, too. If you talk about how difficult it is, the kids will pick up on that. What the parents feel is transmitted to the children.

Q. With such a long school day, is there too much emphasis on homework?

Homework should be easy and simple, a review of the basics without much difficulty. The parents shouldn’t have to do it. When the school asks too much, the kids get frustrated.

Q. What role should technology play in Jewish education?

We have to live with technology, and kids can get so much now on line.

But it has to be monitored. Parents have to know what’s going on. Kids need limits and guidelines. And they have to understand that you know what they are doing. With finances, we tell parents a debit card is better than cash. They’ll get statements so they know what their sons are doing.

You must have oversight.

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April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 31

YAIR DAAR PIECE

Volozhin, New Jersey?

By Yair Daar Question: Which of the following students best represents the legacy of Volozhin? Orly, who does not know the meaning of most of tefillah; Josh, who loves learning Tanach, but has difficulty grasping interpretive approaches that include multiple steps, or Eli, who “Hates Gemara?” f you answered “none of the above,” then you are correct, have hit upon an important issue in Chinuch today: the excessive focus on Gemara.

Chazal tell us in Vayikra Rabbah that, “The way of the world is for 1000 to enter for mikra. From these, only 100 go forth and succeed to be worthy of Mishnah. Of these 100, only 10 go forth for Gemara, and of those 10 who enter Gemara, only one goes forth for hora’ah.” According to the math, for every 1000 that begin a life of Torah study, 1 per cent go on to “Gemara.”

The implications here are that Gemara is definitely not academically appropriate for most of our students.

To be fair, this does not accurately represent today’s circumstances. Nowadays, we have a completed Talmud, and the resources to meet many more students, especially those on the fringe of success in Gemara. However, the thrust of Chazal’s statement still rings true.

The message of this Midrash contrasts sharply with our current practice.

We take it for granted that Gemara is part of our children’s education. Often,

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Parkinson’s 

CONTINUED FROM P. 26

day he sets his alarm and participates in at least two hours of exercise. A typical morning for Lou begins at Stone Yoga on Queen Ann Road, followed by 45 minutes on the elliptical at home.

Then he enjoys an hour or so of hitting golf balls at Golf Tech in Englewood.

My husband takes no Parkinson’s medication and, for now, controls his symptoms by keeping active.

Lou’s days are also filled with consulting jobs and playing with his grand kids; Aleeza, Leo, Isaiah, Elijah, Jonah and Maayan, or raising money for the Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research ((MJFF). We both believe that every dollar we raise for MJFF brings us one step closer to a cure. Lou spearheaded a golf outing that we named Pars for Parkinson’s: The Paul Kudowitz Memorial Golf Outing, which has raised over $160,000 for Parkinson’s Research.

What is amazing about Pars for Parkinson’s is that it has been a vehicle for bringing folks together from all seg32, April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773

in high school, the amount of Gemara will double or triple. How can this be, if it is appropriate for so few? (Granted that this often differs for women’s studies and for other populations, but this phenomenon is large enough to be taken seriously.)

A quick look at our culture today could answer this question. We emphasize Gemara in education, because our society often treats Gemara as the most authentic form of learning. From the Year in Israel to Yeshiva University to Daf Yomi to the Rabbi’s Shiur at shul, Gemara dominates the learning landscape.

So we emphasize Gemara because it is ideal, and therefore we want to prepare our students for the most ideal form of learning. Sounds good, right?

Although there is an element of truth to this assertion, it ignores a large sociological component. Yeshiva-style Gemara learning was an innovation of Rav Chaim of Volozhin in establishing the Volozhin Yeshiva at the turn of the 19th century. This yeshiva attracted only the elite students and aimed to produce Torah giants. The Volozhin Yeshiva spawned many other yeshivot, until Europe became populated with numerous centers of elite Talmud study. However, if intense Gemara learning was only for the elite, how did it get the way it is today?

When Jewish day schools began to open in the United States, they were mostly headed by immigrants from Europe, both before and after the Shoah.

These leaders were usually part of the

ments of the Jewish community. People love my husband perhaps because he has the tough exterior of a surgeon and the mushy interior of a marshmallow. The merchants of Teaneck have supplied all of the food for this event for the past three years. My frugal husband has encouraged us to keep our expenses to a minimum so MJFF gets the benefit of the proceeds.

Our most ardent supporters are; Maadan, Sababa, Sushi Metzuyan, Kosher Sports, Butterflake Bakery, Silverleaf Caterers, Dougies, Etc., David’s Cookies, Matisse Chocolatiers, Glatt Express, Gotham Burger, and NoBo. Clark Loffman from Limo Cuisine and Jack Wasserman of Silverleaf Caterers drive up to the Catskills at the crack of dawn to deliver all the food out of the goodness of their hearts. The kindness and generosity of the Teaneck and Englewood Jewish communities is overwhelming, and their kindness has often brought me to tears.

We have been fortunate to have support from Rabbis Joel Pitkowsky, Barry Schlesinger and Shmuel Goldin. Members of our steering committee consist of people who show up one Sunday

Lithuanian Yeshiva movement. Therefore, they simply followed the previous educational model that focused on Talmud study, albeit bringing it to the masses. Our schools are continuing that legacy, despite the fact that consistent Gemara study is mostly ideal for the best and brightest.

As a result, a significant number of students are left feeling alienated from all Torah study. Their accusations against Gemara are not inaccurate.

Learning Talmud is tedious, the source material is arcane, and the back and forth is abstract, confusing, and sometimes irrational. For those who take to Gemara, these are meaningful challenges to overcome, but for many these challenges are more like roadblocks.

Not every student has the capacity to succeed, especially when these difficulties are combined with lack of appreciation for the value of Gemara learning.

Even more unfortunate is what these students are missing out on.

Many students lack the knowledge to daven properly and would love to learn how. Others have trouble with basic reading and translating of pesukim.

Some would thrive if given a chance to learn large portions of Tanach, while others could become masters at analyzing Chumash. To be a little more radical, we could add more Jewish history, more Jewish philosophy, and maybe create Jewish leadership training courses for those who would benefit. Instead, however, we utilize a system that has little flexibility in terms of

ALEEZA REICH AT THE 2012 GOLF OUTING

night a month for six months a year, and call in every favor they have to help us make more money. Our devoted committee includes, Avi Goldin, Alex and Vicki Wulwick, Marlene and Phil Rho-

content and has the potential to make Talmud Torah uninspiring.

It would benefit us to read Rav Eliyahu Dessler’s words describing the Lithuanian approach: The Lithuanian Roshei Yeshiva set as their main objective to educate Gedolei Torah...They were well aware of the price they had to pay for this because they knew that many yeshiva students were not able to deal with this extreme lifestyle and would [and in fact did] leave religious observance...I heard that justification of the Roshei Yeshiva to pay such a heavy price to produce Gedolei Torah was Vayikra Rabbah 2:1, ‘One thousand students enter to study mikra ...and only one emerges to hora’ah. (The irony of using this Midrash to promote such a practice is striking.)

I think we’d all agree that our goal is not to produce Gedolim. I think we’d also agree that we aren’t willing to sacrifice the Torah education of many for the sake of the few. I am not advocating getting rid of Gemara, but rather limiting the major focus to those who can and want to thrive through Talmud study. We do not live in 19th century Europe. We should start giving our children a Torah education they will appreciate. Isn’t that really what counts?

Yair Daar teaches Gemara and Tanach, and serves as a curriculum coordinator at SAR High School in Riverdale, New York. He is currently a doctoral candidate at Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School. Yair lives in Bergenfield with his wife and three daughters.

des, Mindy Silverstein, Ricki Kudowitz, Aleeza Reich, Tova Flancbaum, Ira Goetz, L’via Weisinger, Brian and Cindy Blitz, Michael Markel, Marcy Rubin, Abbé Rosner and Bob and Suzan Topaz.

These people daven in different shuls and live in different towns in North Jersey, but their common bond is that they are sticking by Lou and our family as we face the challenge of Parkinson’s disease.

The goal of the MJFF is to find a cure and to lock their doors. Lou and I have a goal too. We’re hoping that this will be the fourth and final year for Pars for Parkinson’s. We will be able to stop asking our friends and family for money.

We, like the MJFF, are looking forward to all of this being unnecessary. When that time comes, the Flancbaums will throw the biggest kiddush that Teaneck has ever seen.

Until then, the fourth annual Pars for Parkinson’s will be held on Sunday, June 23, 2013 at Tarry Brae Golf Course in South Fallsburg, NY. You can register to play and or you can donate via our secure web site: parsforparkinsons. org. We hope to surpass last year’s total of $61,000! Rain or shine, we hope to see you there.

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TRAVEL

Spring Travel: Day Trips for Lag B’Omer

by Benjamin Cohen hildren know when spring arrives. They start to put away their heavy down jackets and pull out their windbreakers and crocs. Baseball gloves are dusted off and bike tires are pumped up. If you and your family have been cooped up over the winter and are looking for some great outdoor fun things to do, here are some great day trip ideas, especially as Lag B’Omer is approaching.

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Ross Dock Park Ross Dock Park is a little gem located right in our backyard in Fort Lee. Nestled right under the George Washington Bridge, with breathtaking views of the New York Skyline and the backdrop of the majestic Englewood Cliffs, there is a nice short bike path and a playground. The wind is always strong at the foot of the Hudson River so be

ball buzz and you don’t want to shell out $50 a ticket for the Mets or Yankees, a minor league game is a fantastic option. With tickets starting at $8 and kosher hot dogs aplenty, the 30-minute drive to Rockland is well worth it. Check their schedule for dollar hot dog nights and fireworks. And yes, in years past, the kosher hot dogs were a dollar too! There is an onsite playground, batting cages, and pitching station for kids to use during the game—all part of the admission. Children also get to run the bases after day games and meet the players who are just as excited to meet the kids and sign autographs. If you expect to stay till the end of the game and have your family meet the players, I would recommend you bring some plain old baseballs from around the house and a sharpie so your little troopers can get a more “official” autograph. For more information visit: http:// www.rocklandboulders.com

For more information visit: http://www.nybg.org/gardens/adventure-garden/

Dynamite Falls - Mini Golf Forget those indoor mini golf places It is nice outside, and besides breathing in fake fog is not all that healthy. About 20 minutes from Teaneck right off Route 46 in Fairfield NJ is a new outdoor mini golf place. Reminiscent of the NJ shore golf places of yore, Dynamite Falls offers an impressive visual of red rock boulders and rustic scenery. Great for all ages and is open Saturdays and Sundays in the spring until the summer starts when it is set to open daily. Children under 3 are free. For more information visit: www.dynamitefalls.com If you have some great local excursions ideas and would like Ben to include them in future articles, please email bpsz18@gmail.com

NY Botanical Gardens prepared to bring a windbreaker on cool spring days. I have visited this park many times and always try to bring kites to take advantage of the steady breeze. Kids may need some help controlling kites as the winds can get strong at times.

BBQing is permitted as well, so feel free to bring along a grill and some Ables & Hyman. The park has a per car admission between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but the rest of the year it is free to enter. For more information visit: http://www.njpalisades.org/rossdock.html

Rockland Boulders Spring would not be complete without a baseball outing. If little league has your kids catching the base-

Yes we all know about the Bronx Zoo, but how many of you have visited the fabulous New York Botanical Garden down the road? Yes, there are tolls and parking and admission costs. But if you are looking for a low cost, local outing, you can just keep going to Van Saun. If you are looking to bike or ride scooters, this is not the place for you. At the New York Botanical Garden you experience a serene escape amongst beautiful surroundings. Spring starts at the NYBG with the Orchid show, one of their most popular exhibits. While smaller children might not appreciate the horticulture facts and descriptions, there are special activities for the little ones. Be sure to visit the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden. Children can pot up a seed to take home, go on a plant scavenger hunt, and have fun spotting frogs and turtles.

Market your business to the Jewish Community!

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RABBI A. S. TEICHER 6,)5(, 725$+ 7(),/,1 0(=8=26 0(*,/26 742 Chestnut Avenue Teaneck, NJ 07666 201-836-8376 rabbiteicher@yahoo.com April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 33

YOM HA’ATZMAUT

STEPPING UP TO SERVE

By Tzvi Silver

Chanan Schnaidman With the rise in aliyah in recent years, it has become increasingly common for families to move from the United States to Israel. It is less common to see individuals who are so committed to living in Israel that they will leave their families to pursue living

their dream. With this solitary move comes many adjustments, both material and social, as well as different governmental requirements, chief among them national service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). While many try to delay or exempt themselves from serving, there are a few brave olim who hit the ground running by going straight to the army, immediately before or after making aliyah. There are also individuals who, while they are not necessarily planning to live in Israel, feel that they would like to do their share in protecting the Jewish State. These soldiers will often serve in mach’al, a shorter form of voluntary army service for non-Israeli citizens.

The Jewish Link met with Chanan Schnaidman, a Bergen County native who is serving in mach’al now, to hear about his story and his experiences in the IDF. Chanan Schnaidman, 20, is a na-

tive of Teaneck, NJ, and an alumnus of the Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey and Torah Academy of Bergen County.

After high school, Chanan studied in Israel for a year and-a-half at Yeshivat Yesodei Hatorah near Bet Shemesh.

Chanan recently joined the religious Netzach Yehuda infantry unit of the IDF. While Chanan was mostly inspired to join the IDF during his time in Israel, his mother, Esther Schnaidman. noted “B”H there are so many Teaneck boys who have already been through it, that it makes it easier... to envision him there.”

Chanan has said that he is very appreciative of the support of his family, friends, and community ghave him when he joined the army. When asked what he enjoys the most about being in Israel, he replied, “Feeling the holiness of Hashem (God) all around me.”

He admits that the language barrier with those around him sometimes has him missing Bergen County. Chanan plans to return to the United States once he finishes his service to go to college, though he doesn’t plan on staying too far from Israel and hopes to move back eventually.

Emma Rand “The [Israeli] army is the supreme symbol of duty … if the daughters of Israel are absent from the army, then the character of the Yishuv (Jewish Settlement in Israel) will be distorted.”

These words of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, still stand strong 65 years later as Israel is the only country in the world requiring the same amount of service from both men and women. Since the inception of the state, laws have been passed to make it easier for women to

receive a p’tur (exemption) from army service and either do types of sherut le’umi (national volunteer service) or be entirely exempt for religious reasons.

While most women who come to Israel on aliyah are automatically exempt from army service, there are some who nevertheless decide to join the IDF, mainly as training instructors—to the chagrin of their male charges.

JLBC met with Emma Rand, a Bergen County native, to hear about her experiences as an American woman in the IDF. Emma is a graduate of Yavneh Academy and Maayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls. After graduating, Emma studied for a year in Ein Hanatziv, a religious kibbutz in northern Israel, one where most of the girls continue to go into the army. Last year, Emma joined the IDF and trained to become a Madrichat Kasher Kravi (army fitness instructor), first completing a general four-month training course, then continuing to the Maglan deep infiltration unit, where she is currently serving as a fitness instructor.

Special Dayeinu for Yom Haatzmaut

By Jonathan Feldstein FirstPersonIsrael@gmail.com

IDF Bound am fulfilling my dream. I’m 19 years old, living in the country of our people, and fulfilling the word of Hashem. I was raised in Teaneck, NJ and attended Moriah Day School. I went on to TABC in Teaneck for high school. Rabbi Yisrael Silverman and Rabbi Yosef Adler, the Mara D’Atra of my shul, Congregation Rinat Yisrael, excelled at teaching their students about Religious Zionism.

I spent 10 summers in Camp Moshava, the last three of them as a counselor. My education surrounded me with people who constantly stressed the importance of Eretz Yisrael. I graduated TABC in 2011 and then went to Yeshivat Hakotel in Jerusalem for two years.

Since March, I have been in the army, in an Infantry Unit called Givati, (that’s the unit with the purple berets) stationed

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34, April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773

iving most of my life in the United States, I knew Israel’s independence was not something to take for granted, and indeed to be celebrated at every opportunity. Nevertheless, with the pace of life there not focused on Israeli holidays, the ability to celebrate and commemorate Israel’s independence sometimes conflicted with business meetings, kids’ activities and other day-to-day challenges.

I remember being implored to attend annual community-wide Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebrations, but also remember that even in a community rich in Jewish life opportunities, the attendance at these events struck me as being far too low for a community of its size and commitment.

Since making aliyah, I have seen something new. Even amid the differences within Israeli society, the fear that we are in a post-Zionist era, and the overall challenges of life in Israel, celebrating Israel’s independ-

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By Natan Wind

down south, approximately 45 minutes from Be’er Sheva, near the Egyptian border. I am in Basic Training in a battalion of yeshiva students only, a group of us who are fulfilling our service requirements through the Hesder program. It re-

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Emma said that one of the highlights of her job is “... doing their masa kumta, their sort of ‘finale’ hike at the end of seven months of basic training. It’s generally about 60km, the boys all carrying heavy packs, hiking all night...”

While Emma was most inspired to join the IDF by her friends at Ein Hanatziv, she said that she was also inspired by Bergen County’s Zionist attitude and its approach towards the Jewish State. She said that her family’s many trips to Israel helped inspire her to one day serve in the army: “In my first month in the army, in basic training, we went to Jerusalem for a ‘culture and education day’. I was the only American.... At the end of the day my commander asked if it was my first time ever at the Kotel (Western Wall).

When I told her it was probably like the 200th time [as compared to a lot of secular Israelis who had only been there once or twice], she couldn’t really comprehend that American Jews who visit Israel often do exist.”

Emma is undecided about staying in Israel once she finishes her service, but she does hope to keep her connection to the country she is defending now even after she leaves. Emma thanks her family, especially her mother, for supporting her as she continues to live her dream.

While these Bergen County natives are categorized as “Chayalim Bodedim” (lone soldiers), they are definitely not alone. The North Jersey community is proud of them and salutes them as they work hard defending the Jewish homeland.

ence is done with a sense of pride, joy and such a level of spirit that is simply inspiring.

Beginning at Passover, Israel starts to get decked out in blue and white leading up to Yom Haatzmaut. Highways are lined with flags. Kites fly bearing the blue and white. Small flags fit with plastic clips for your car are sold at major intersections. In 2008 I adorned my car with 60 to the delight of many passersby. Newspaper ads become patriotic and use the blue and white regularly, and the weekend papers have free inserts of Israeli flags.

The Yom Haatzmaut celebration in my new community is emotional. The past few years we have left with a lump in our throat from the feeling of pride and awe at being able to live in Israel, to raise our children here, and to build for the future. Fireworks are seen throughout the country, just as on July 4th in the US. Other than religious holidays when work is prohibited, Yom Haatzmaut may

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ME’ACHORAI HAPARGOD: BEHIND THE CURTAIN

High Anxiety at Age 13

By Robert Katz hy do bar mitzvah boys lein (read the weekly Torah portion on Shabbat)?

I mean, I know why they lein—because it’s a nice responsibility to take upon oneself as a young man reaches the age of manhood. (I would argue that 30 isn’t manhood these days, much less 13, but that’s a much larger discussion for another day.) And it’s a useful tool as one grows older.

But, why do they have to lein? It’s clearly not for every youngster, but the pressure to “keep up with the Schwartzes” is enormous.

I was in a large shul recently with a rich history of wonderful bar mitzvahs, and the Gabbai announced that no one from the audience should correct the bar mitzvah boy should any mistakes be made—that was to be the Gabbai’s function and only he would have that responsibility. Well, there’s a social commentary if I ever heard

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one, so thanks for giving me the idea for this column, Mr. Gabbai.

I have a few questions that bother me about our age-old practice that I’d like to ask, so please indulge me while I channel my inner Andy Rooney.

Why should a 13-year-old boy in our community have to commit to reading a whole parsha when even in the Chareidi world a simple aliyah often suffices?

Why should parents have to pay an additional $75 an hour for lessons for a whole year to a special tutor? (Dear friends of mine who teach bar mitzvah lessons: I love you, I really do, and will try to make it up to you in a few minutes.)

If parents want the young man to go the extra mile besides a celebratory aliyah, what’s wrong with a good old-fashioned Dvar torah? Maybe the haftorah too, as it has notes and dots to cushion the bar mitzvah boy’s experience. Why should the young man have to be subjected to calls and corrections from the congregation as we often witness?

Wouldn’t all the hours of preparation for something the young man might never again do be put to better use by committing to volunteering for Tomche Shabbos or visiting the elderly for a year?

Why should the young man, in many cases, need to sweat and have labored breathing, or bring a water bottle with him up to the Torah?

Why is a young man regularly complimented on his special day not with a congratulatory “Mazel tov on reaching the age of mitzvot” but rather “Mazel tov, you leined so beautifully”? Is that how we measure a young man, but how well he leined?

Why should those of our young men who may be slightly “tone disadvantaged” have to suffer quiet snickers and guffaws of friends?

Why should a young man on his bar mitzvah day be put in a position to be so nervous that “I almost vomited over the Torah,” according to one with whom I recently spoke?

And finally—and here’s my makegood to my friends who tutor bar

mitzvah boys—why isn’t leining offered as an obligatory class in high school, where, as the young man matures, he can truly appreciate the incredible nuances of the Holy Language: the oohs and ahs of the trup, the hard and soft shvahs, the open and closed consonants? Wouldn’t they have a better grasp at age 16 in high school if taught by one of these experienced tutors?

My own two sons leined, and they both did so admirably. I know that people meant well when they gushed to them “you leined SO beautifully.”

But each time I heard those words of adulation a knot turned in my stomach. I prayed that the well wishers would compliment them—all of them—on what fine young men they are, and what values they and their families carry. Honestly, the day is not about how well they leined—not by a longshot.

If we want to teach a 13-year-old how to be a real man, maybe there are more productive and less anxiety-producing ideas we can offer.

Just sayin’…. What was that? Oh – sorry. Just saying. I won’t swallow my words next time. Am I done now?

attend one simcha and you the other. Sure, it’s ideal to be together at the same party, but it would demonstrate a real appreciation to both families if you split up.

If that is not feasible, then you really need to think about which person you’re closer to. Whichever friend’s simcha you have chosen not to attend, you should reach out to her immediately (and in person, if possible) notifying her of your conflict so as to minimize hurt feelings. (You can also send a note of thanks with an explanation of your conflict and hope that they will be understanding.)

The baalei simcha also have a responsibility not be unreasonable when it comes to smachot.

Our friends and family have lives of their own too. The whole world does not need to stop because you are making a simcha. You should have faith and trust that your good friends will do whatever they can to ensure they are able to share your simcha with you. But, if there is a conflict, however trivial you may think it is, try to be understanding as well. It’s unfortunate to think about how many fights are caused because of the unrealistic expectations we have for our friends and family.

There will be conflicts and stress and even sleepless nights, but it is imperative to remember that truly being mesameach one’s simcha is an understanding that ultimately the simcha is about the people making it and not about YOU.

Because It Matters

by P’nina Seplowitz ith the Omer well on its way, simcha season is quickly approaching and it is inevitable that there will be many difficult decisions that need to be made in the upcoming weeks.

One of our readers asked the following question: “I’ve received invitations for two different smachot on the same weekend. One is a wedding and one is a bar mitzvah and both are close friends.

Which one should take precedence?”

Alright, take a deep breath. Obviously, there is no right or wrong answer.

Each situation requires a close evaluation of the people involved, the history

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of the relationship with those friends, and the specific logistics involved.

If it is convenient enough that you are able to attend both, then that would probably be the best solution. Although you might not fully enjoy yourself at either venue since you are rushing from one to another, at least you have pacified both your friends by making an obvious effort to show up at both their smachot.

If one of the affairs were that of a family member, then I think that would have to take precedence. Family is family and friends should understand this.

If you are unable to make it to both due to timing and geography, then you should consider having your spouse

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1406 Teaneck Rd (in shopping area at corner of State St. and Teaneck Rd.) Teaneck, NJ 0766

Phone: (201) 862-0062 201-371-3212 • WWW.JEWISHLINKBC.COM

April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 35

EVENTS

RIETS to Honor the Arbesfelds and Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler abbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS), an affiliate of Yeshiva University, will honor dedicated leaders and educators of the Jewish community at its Annual Gala Evening of Tribute on Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at The Grand Hyatt in New York City. Honorees include Rabbi Hyman (Hy) and Ann Arbesfeld, Etz Chaim awardees and Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler, recipient of the Distinguished Rabbinic Leadership Award.

A student of Rav Joseph Soloveitchik, Hy Arbesfeld joined the RIETS Board of

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Trustees in 1982 and became vice chairman in 2007. Ann served as national president of the Yeshiva University Women’s Organization for 10 years and is currently a member of its executive council.

Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler is a graduate of YUHSB, Yeshiva College, Wurzweiler School of Social Work and Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration. He received his semicha from RIETS in 2000 and currently serves as the senior rabbi of Congregation Ahawas Achim B’nai Jacob & Da-

vid in West Orange, New Jersey. Rabbi Zwickler was recently appointed as a public member of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s Israel Commission.

Founded in 1896, RIETS is the leading center for education and ordination of Orthodox Rabbis in North America. To learn more about the RIETS Annual Gala Evening of Tribute, make a reservation or to participate in the Scroll of Honor visit www.riets. edu/dinner, call 212-960-0852 or email rietsdinner@yu.edu.

RABBI HY AND ANNE ARBESFELD

Senator Susan Collins Will Be Welcomed April 28 Senator McConnell addresses NORPAC members in Englewood, NJ

SENATOR MCCONNELL ADDRESSES NORPAC MEMBERS IN ENGLEWOOD, NJ

n Sunday, March 17th, NORPAC hosted two separate events for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the Five Towns and Englewood.

Long Island area leaders Trudy and

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Stanley Stern hosted the first of the two events in Lawrence, NY, where the Senator addressed the attendees and took questions. After the event in Long Island, the Minority Leader was hosted at

OU Thanks Senate for Passage of the Continuing Resolution he Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America—the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization—commended the United States Senate for its passage of a Continuing Resolution (CR) Appropriations Bill, which contains critical funding for a Department of Homeland Security grant program that assists Jewish institutions and other nonprofitsmaintain the security of their facilities.

The $984 billion CR passed by a vote of 73 to 26 and received final passage by the House. The bill provides

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$10 million in funding for the Department of Homeland Security’s Non Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which provides nonprofit institutions with the resources to bolster their security infrastructure. Since the inception of this program, nearly $100 million in grants have been granted, many to religious Jewish institutions. The Orthodox Union’s Washington, DC office has worked in close partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America and other partners to ensure the ongoing funding of the NSGP.

a sit-down dinner in the home of Anne and Jerry Gontownik in Englewood, NJ. One of the key issues discussed at these events was the impact of the recent spending cuts which are part of the sequester. Israel receives $3 billion each year from the U.S. as part of a $30 billion ten-year agreement.

McConnell explained that the recent spending cuts would effectively diminish approximately 2.4% of that aid for the year. The Minority Leader assured participants at the events that the U.S. would honor the agreement to meet the entire aid package, and that the normal rate of foreign aid to Israel would resume when budget issues are sorted.

The Senator also addressed concerns over Iran, expressing his disappointment on the effectiveness of sanctions. “They [sanctions] are certainly having an impact on the Iranian economy, but not their nuclear weapons development.” The Minority Leader explained that “Middle East countries see nuclear weapons as a sort

Menendez and Maloney Introduce Holocaust Ed. Aid Bill  CONTINUED FROM P. 1 Under the legislation--named in honor of Simon Wiesenthal, the Holocaust survivor who devoted his life to seeking justice for the Nazi genocide against the Jewish people—educational institutions would be able to apply for federal grants to educate about the Holocaust.

“With the introduction of this bill we are carrying on Simon Wiesenthal’s inspiring mission. The important lessons of one of history’s darkest hours must be taught so that we can learn from the hatred and bigotry of this time,” Rep.

of insurance policy.” On what the future may hold with regard to U.S. military intervention in Iran, the Senator stated his hope that tougher domestic and international sanctions might reinstate negotiations and help avoid a military conflict altogether. However, he reaffirmed that containment of a nuclear Iran is not an option, and that the Senate would support military intervention if and when the need calls for it.

On Sunday, April 28th at 10:45 AM, NORPAC will welcome U.S. Senator Susan Collins for an event at the Teaneck home of David & Rena Schlussel. Senator Collins of Maine serves on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and as Ranking Member of the Special Committee on Aging. She has been a vocal supporter of Israel’s right to exist and defend itself. Event Chairs: Drs. Mort & Esther Fridman and David & Rena Schlussel. To attend this event contact Avi Schranz at Avi@NORPAC.net or call (201) 788-5133 for more information.

Maloney said. “Future generations must learn what ‘never forget’ truly means. I thank Senator Menendez for introducing this legislation in the Senate and look forward to continuing our work to make this bill law.”

“Just as we must never forget the six million Jewish men, women and children, as well as millions of others who faced persecution and death during the Holocaust, we must never lose sight of the relevance the Holocaust has for teaching us about tolerance and humanity,” said Sen. Menendez, who is the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. “That is why educating young people about the Holocaust is so critical.”

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EVENTS

CJF, RIETS Commemorate The Rav’s 20th Yahrtzeit ew York, NY—On April 14, Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Rabbinical Theological Seminary (RIETS) and Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future (CJF) commemorated the 20th yahrtzeit of “the Rav,” Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt”l, Torah luminary and YU Rosh Yeshiva, with a full-day learning program that took place in the Lamport Auditorium at the Wilf Campus. Thousands attended in person or followed the event online to gain insight into the Rav’s life and legacy through lectures, discussions and presentations given by his family and closest students.

“I experience déjà vu standing in this room today, for in this very room we waited with bated breath for the Rav to enter and deliver his famous shiurim on his father’s yahrtzeit each year,” said Rabbi Joel Schreiber, Chairman of the RIETS Board of Trustees, in his opening remarks. “In this room thousands of men and women had their hearts, minds and souls lifted to unimaginable heights by the Rav.” The program kicked off with “Multiple Faces of the Rav,” a panel that brought together Rabbi Soloveitchik’s daughter, Dr. Atarah Twersky, and several students of the Rav, including RIETS Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Herschel Schachter; Dr. David Shatz, YU professor of philosophy, and Rabbi Kenneth Brander, David Mitzner Dean of the CJF, to examine the many and varied roles played by the Rav during his lifetime.

Speaking about her father after he arrived as a young man in Boston with limited English skills, no rabbinic experience and no knowledge of the American Jewish community, Twersky noted, “Many people— including my father—would later refer to the Rav as a melamed [teacher].

While I would call him this, too, if I had to find one word or phrase to describe him, it would be baal emunah – my father was a man of faith, and his faith inspired his role as a teacher.”

While Schachter and Shatz explored the depth and reach of the Rav’s philosophy, Brander, who served as his shamash touched on a more uncommon theme: the ideals of chessed [acts of kindness] Rabbi Soloveitchik inherited from his grandfather, Rabbi Chaim Soloveitchik of Brisk. “When people think of Rav Soloveitchik, they describe his brilliance,” Brander said.

“The Rav inherited Reb Chaim’s intellect, he internalized Reb Chaim’s ideals of chessed. He truly felt the pain of others and was happiest when he

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could solve their dilemmas, pained when he could not, sleepless and steadfast when he had the opportunity to marshal his intellectual arsenal to help another human being.”

Brander added: “There is no Jewish community in the world that has not been touched by the Rav, his students or his writings.”

Rabbi Mayer Twersky, RIETS Rosh Yeshiva and grandson of the Rav, delivered the day’s keynote lecture, “Mesorah & Modernity: The Role of the Rav.” Discussing the interaction of Western ideals and the Rav’s hashkafa, Twersky argued that his self-identification as a teacher of Torah provided Rabbi Soloveitchik with the means to reconcile any conflict arising between the two—without compromising on his religious beliefs.

“Torah is not always in sync with the tempo of the times,” Twersky said.

“The force of the Rav’s majestic, charismatic personality, his brilliant shiurim and his projection of the vitality and multidimensionality of halakha, the confidence which he represented and radiated in our mesorah [tradition], all distilled the message of this melamed par excellence into a simple phrase well known to all of us and a message that his and our generation very much needs to hear: ‘Moshe emes v’soraso emes– Moses is true and his Torah is the truth.’ ” Breakout sessions during the afternoon enabled audience members to join the conversation. Sessions included discussion of the Rav’s unique Derech Halimud [approach to learning] led by Schachter and RIETS Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Menachem Genack; exploration of Rabbi Soloveitchik’s thoughts and rulings on interfaith relations led by Shatz and Dr. David Berger, dean and Ruth and I. Lewis

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Gordon Professor of Jewish History at the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies; and the reflections of Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schachter, University Professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought and senior scholar at

the CJF, on the importance of the Rav’s teaching in modern society.

Rabbi Shalom Carmy, YU assistant professor of Jewish philosophy and Bible, and Rabbi Michael Taubes, head of school at Yeshiva University High School for Boys, delved into the Rav’s philosophy on prayer, while Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld, rabbi emeritus at Young Israel of Kew Garden Hills, and Rabbi Julius Berman, RIETS Board of Trustees chairman emeritus, took an in-depth look at the Rav’s policies on relating to and engaging with other denominations in the Jewish community.

“Events like these make me realize how much I would have learned from the Rav himself,” said Leba Winter, a recent graduate of Stern College for Women. “His philosophy really emphasizes the idea of time and Torah having a sense of direction, carrying messages from the past to the way we live our lives today.”

Our Soldiers Speak Hosted

By Michael Wildes ormer Englewood Mayor Michael and Amy Wildes hosted Our Soldiers Speak, its founder Sgt. Benja-

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Passover, commemorating the Shoah, Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut, the most special and intense for him.

L-R: MICHAEL WILDES, IDF MAJOR GENERAL NOAM TIBON, RABBI MENACHEM GENACK, SGT. BENJAMIN ANTHONY, FOUNDER OF OUR SOLDIERS SPEAK.

min Anthony and guest speaker, Major General Noam Tibon of the IDF, a 30 year veteran. Tibon, sadly proclaimed that he had lost 30 men under his command, making this time of year, celebrating Jewish freedom at

Tibon offered a powerpoint presentation to the packed Wildes home, on the politics, demographics and shifting social realities in the Arab world and how each aspect impacts on Israel.

April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 37

EVENTS

Areyvut Honors Rebecca Sanders, Tzippy & Ezra Hiller reyvut, an organization that empowers Jewish youth around the world with unique opportunities for creating innovative and meaningful programs, is pleased to announce that Rebecca “Becky” Sanders and Ezra and Tzippy Hiller are the honorees for its Second Annual Bergen County Break-

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fast.

Rebecca “Becky” Sanders, a former Areyvut intern and current senior at Brandeis University, has served Areyvut for several years, most notably with her commitment to serving students from underprivileged backgrounds. Ezra and Tzippy Hiller, recip-

ients of the 2013 Community Leadership Award, work quietly and tirelessly in the Bergen County area, helping a number of organizations in the community, especially senior citizens, children with special needs and others in need of healing and a friendly visit.

The breakfast will take place on

Sunday, April 21st beginning at 9:30am at Congregation Bnai Yeshurun in Teaneck, NJ. For more information or to make a reservation or donation, please visit: http://www.areyvut.org/ events/?id=230 or contact (201) 2446702 or info@areyvut.org.

One Israel Fund’s 19Th Anniversary

JESC Breakfast to Honor The Bensimons and Alumni

ne Israel Fund will be celebrating its 19th Anniversary Gala Dinner on Monday Night, April 22nd in New York City at 360, a venue at 10 Debrosses Street in NYC at 6 p.m. The honorees are Sharon and Alan Shulman; Donna and Steven Gormley, Craig Dershowitz, Alysa and Bernard Alexander and Ester and Avi Bohorodzaner.

One Israel Fund is dedicated to supporting the welfare and safety of the men, women and children of Judea and Samaria as well as rebuilding the lives of the Jewish people impacted by the Gaza evacuation. These 320,000+ people are the vanguard of Israel’s security and sovereignty as a Jewish State.

Working in concert with communities, government officials and the IDF, One Israel Fund works to fill the gaps in essential medical, social, recreational and preventive security services which are conspicuously lacking in Judea and Samaria. Our goal is to undertake ongoing fundraising campaigns to help ensure the physical, emotional and moral well-being of the Jewish families living in each and every community in these areas.

One Israel Fund has invested tens

The JESC Breakfast will take place Sunday, April 21st , 9:30 a.m. at Congregation Keter Torah 600 Roemer Avenue, Teaneck, NJ 07666

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of millions of dollars for these projects including perimeter surveillance camera and emergency lighting systems, communication gear, medical equipment, bulletproof ambulances, armored vans to transport special needs students to and from school and EMT facilities that spell the difference between life and death in scores of communities. What’s more, One Israel Fund has and continues to fund communal projects as well including playgrounds, youth and senior centers, schools and specialized armored transportation for the physically challenged which add greatly to the quality of life in these communities.

Helping to make available a broad spectrum of communal needs, One Israel Fund is a recognized 501(c)(3) not for profit charitable organization, ID# 11-3195338 and is the largest North American charity whose efforts are dedicated to the citizens and communities of YESHA. Cost To Attend the dinner: $300pp; $180pp (Young Leadership Rate for anyone 35 and under) $5,000 VIP Table of 10. To RSVP call: 516-239-9202.

RYNJ Scholarship Event he Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey’s annual Scholarship Reception will take place on Sunday April 21st at 5:30pm

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of requests for financial aid—ever more acute in economically difficult times.

This year RYNJ is privileged to pay trib-

MRS. HELEN POLLACK

BONNIE ZITTER

at RYNJ, 666 Kinderkamack Rd, River Edge NJ. The Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey is committed to giving a rich Torah and secular education taught with love, understanding and dedication. This commitment means that it opens its doors to all children regardless of their ability to pay.

But as the school grows, so do the number

ute to two long standing members of its distinguished faculty: Mrs. Helen Pollack and Mrs. Bonnie Zitter.

For more information and donation opportunities please contact Mordy Rothberg at mordy@confiehq.com or Menachem Schechter at michael.schechter@jpmorgan.com

38, April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773

hani and Laurent Bensimon will be honored. They are members of the Separdic minyan at Congregation Ahavath Torah in Englewood. Chani grew up in Riverdale, NY, graduating from Frisch, and earning a degree in communications from NYU. Laurent, born and raised in Silver Spring, MD, completed a degree in accounting from the University of Maryland and is currently employed in the financial services industry.

The Bensimons have three children, Leora 8, and twins, Avi and Shlomo, just 6. The twins attend Ben Porat Yosef. Both the Laurents are actively involved with the school, Chani sitting on the the Chesed Committee and the Talmidanu program which, significantly, allows children with special needs to integrate into a “typical” classroom several times a year. Laurent has been on the board for six years, having held the position of treasurer and, currently, president.

Leora has a rare chromosomal micro deletion called Smith Magenis Syndrome. Due to her need for various services and therapies which are not provided in yeshivas, Leora has been in public school.

That is where JESC has helped to fill a void!

Neighbors and fellow congregants told the Bensimons about the important role JESC had played in their children’s lives and Leora’s parents came to believe that was what they had been longing for: a way to satisfy Leora’s thirst to learn Torah and all things Jewish in a structured, professional environment. Thus, Leora, a proud and exuberant student at JESC since early 2010, eagerly runs out of the car every Sunday morning, greeting al-

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most everyone by name and being greeted by them in return. What Leora learns and creates on Sunday mornings is then shared and enjoyed by her family who are so appreciative of her exposure to and absorption of Jewish life and ways.

She is one of many students enjoying a “typical” religious experience available to children across a wide spectrum of special needs.

Mr. Bensimon goes on to say “One of the motivations for accepting this honor was to help spread the mission of JESC and raise awareness about this asset so that others will find this program for their child, relative or friend”.

The four alumni who are being honored are: Meir Boruch Levi, Baruch Lunzer, Tamar Schlanger, and Avi Tsadok. There will be an opportunity to find out how their experiences at JESC had a positive impact on their lives and what they are doing now.

JESC - Jewish Education for Special Children - where no child is turned away due to financial need or religious affiliation Please visit www.Jescnj.org For reservations or to make a donation: Phone: 201 - 262 - 1090, Fax: 201 - 262 - 1083, Email: jescoffice@ gmail.com 2012 Video: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=9vynbQe-B_Y

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EVENTS

TANAAC (Teterboro Aircraft Noise Abatement Advisory Committee) he Teterboro Aircraft Noise Abatement Advisory Committee was established on February 26, 1987. The main purpose of the committee was to establish a meaningful dialogue between the airport community and the residential communities surrounding Teterboro Airport. The primary goal was to enhance the quality of life of the residents of local communities, while insuring the efficient operation of the airport. TANAAC is comprised of the locally elected officials and Members of the Aviation Community. The committee holds bi-monthly meetings. There is one vote per member

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with the exception of the Airport Manager. He only votes in the case of a tie.

The general public may attend as observers of the proceedings. Meetings are not open to the press. Ken Goffstein is currently the Township of Teaneck representative to the Teterboro Aircraft Noise Abatement Advisory Committee. Should you want to file a noise complaint or get more information about TANAAC, you may contact Ken directly at 201-314-8931. There is also a direct Noise Complaint Hotline: 201-288-8828. http://www.panynj.gov/airports/ teb-noise-abatement.html

Group Proposes Teaneck Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in Andreas Park 

CONTINUED FROM P. 1

Project supporters hope that fundraising in the broader community will pay for development and construction. At this time, there are no funds forthcoming from any government agencies or private individuals. The process is just beginning.

Currently, the most important program of the Jewish Community Council is the annual Yom HaShoah program presented at Teaneck High School. Prince describes the council as a “group representing people from the broad community—not a function of the Orthodox, but a broad-based effort, including all branches—Conservative, Orthodox, Reform and others. “Every shul has its own personality,” he notes. “We seek to have everybody participate, to get everybody together to create the program.”

Prince points out that “The survivors are getting older; soon no one will be left. The purpose of the proposed center and memorial will be to commemorate those who have died and learn from all who survived the Holocaust.” Prince said the new center would be a center for teaching tolerance, “because we have all been unfortunate to share the experience of hate. The center will bring us together in learning from each other.”

Prince noted that six non-Jewish members of the clergy have been invited to participate in the planning. “The response to creating an interfaith dialogue is positive and enthusiastic. It is an important base for building a tolerance center.”

The committee’s vision is far wider than the Holocaust, he says. “The cent201-371-3212 • WWW.JEWISHLINKBC.COM

er is dedicated to victims of holocausts (with a small h) collectively. An important objective is to understand how we can learn and promote harmony.”

Steve Fox is co-chairman of the Teaneck Holocaust Commemoration Committee and the Memorial Committee.

He told JLBC, “The Holocaust Memorial will be much different than any other in the area. It will provide an opportunity for people to dedicate a stone or a brick to a loved one who was murdered in the Shoah. It will be a place for people to bring children and grandchildren to perpetuate memories in a way no other place does. It will be a contemporary means of connecting with the past. As far as memorials go, it will be unique.”

“The Tolerance Education Center,” Fox said, “will serve the entire community at large. Integral parts of the program will feature exhibits and lectures relating to the Holocaust, and similar educational programs relating to other genocides. There is nothing like that in the entire area.” He too stressed that in having knowledge about the Holocaust and other genocides “we learn our mission is to make sure these things don’t happen again.”

“We hope the center will perpetuate memories for the next 100-200 years.

We’ll be working with the town to make sure whatever is done is appropriate both to the environment and the place.”

Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin, is cautiously optimistic. He told JLBC, “There is no formal proposal at this point—there’s just a conceptual drawing presented at a Council meeting.”

Grand Opening at the Vet

GRAND OPENING CERTIFICATE OF BERGEN VETERINARY HOSPITAL PRESENTED BY MAYOR MOHAMMED HAMEEDUDDIN AND COUNCILMAN ELIE Y. KATZ TO DR. JENNIFER SUSS AND JOSH GRAUBARD. PHOTO BY: LAURIE VANDER

He said the project was in an “embryonic stage….the site has been identified and (the committee) is working with the township to study the requirements for construction in a park and river-green acres area.”

He noted that no architectural drawings had been rendered or presented.

“There have been no engineering studies, nothing has been done yet.” Asked whether it was actually possible to build anything at the proposed site, the mayor responded, “No one can say.” He noted that there are considerations about “certain setbacks and erosion. And there will be a lot of back and forth to see what structure can be built, and at this time, I don’t know if it can be achieved,” the Mayor cautioned. He added that the Teaneck Town Council was fully in favor of the project and that everyone supported the concept of a Center for Tolerance.

However, there has been pushback.

Friends of the Hackensack River Greenway sent an open letter to the town council and the mayor to protest the site choice. They had a meeting last month that supported the project, as long as it was not on public grounds. In the letter, they wrote, in part, “Our organization is in no way opposed to such a memorial.

The Holocaust was a recent, brutal and by far the largest genocide. It has special significance to many in Teaneck. The proper education and remembrance of all genocides, especially with the idea that they never happen again, is important for all of humankind. “…We are OPPOSED for the following reasons: …The use of public park land for construction of a privately invested building sets a new precedent which could be abused in the future. …

Andreas Park and the Hackensack River Greenway (A National Recreation Trail) is a busy place with limited parking. …

Generally speaking, the site is not suited to the significantly increased number

of visitors anticipated by the proposers. …As a result of long term overdevelopment near the Hackensack River, New Jersey State Stormwater Regulations require that no additional runoff result from any project. The proposed memorial uses non-porous materials which prevents natural absorption and increases runoff.”

They suggest that the facility be located more centrally in Teaneck near local businesses, enabling them to benefit from the increase in visitors and that such a location have access to appropriate parking for cars and school buses.

When JLBC asked Bruce Prince if he thought the project might be redundant, considering the Holocaust and Genocide Centers and museums, as well as other similar resources, within a 15-20 mile radius of Teaneck, he responded with a question, “How many people get the opportunity to visit New York City?

Our proposed site would be a place where people can come to learn about the Holocaust and tolerance.”

Among the existing regional centers are the Museum of Jewish Heritage, a Living Memorial to the Holocaust in Battery Park City; The Museum of Tolerance on East 42nd Street (a division of The Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles); The Center for Jewish History on West 16th Street, (including YIVO and the Leo Baeck Institute); the Holocaust Resource Center of Spring Valley; The Ramapo Center for Holocaust Studies in Mahwah, and several universities, among them Ramapo College, Fairleigh Dickenson University, Rutgers University, Yeshiva University, the State University of New York and the City University of New York, Columbia, NYU and others, all with dedicated departments to teaching Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and who offer seminars, exhibits and programs on the subject open to the general public.

April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 39

EVENTS

Camp HASC, Heaven on Earth

By Rabbi Avi Pollak, Boys Head Counselor amp HASC is often called ‘Heaven on Earth,’ an appellation it received for good reason. When a camper enters her gates, they are whole, worthy and perfect. They are able, free and welcome. Camp HASC is a place that sees each person for what they can do, for what they can accomplish and for who they are.

With over 300 campers, ranging in age from 3 to over 70, our job is to create a summer home where people of all ages and abilities can flourish. Almost half of our campers are in wheelchairs, and most need 1:1 care. Many do not see, hear or speak and all have various degrees of cognitive disability. We are able to care for campers with specialized medical needs, such as seizure disorders, feeding tubes and prosthetics, with our state of the art, aroundthe-clock medical center, staffed by 12 nurses, doctors, EMT’s and paramed-

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ics. We employ 2 full-time psychologists, 3 behavior specialists and over 25 people in our recreation department.

Our therapy department has approximately 25 NYS licensed therapists providing full time speech, occupational and physical therapies each day, as well as feeding specialists available for every meal. Our academic program has over 20 classrooms, each staffed with licensed teachers and aides to help our campers maintain their abilities and strive for further developmental growth. And making it all happen day to day, are 350 college aged young men and women caring for our campers with love and dedication that is unparalleled.

With its beginnings in the 1960’s as a family run group-home for young men and women, Camp HASC has expanded year after year to meet the growing needs of the community. We now have 3 custom tailored programs; our academic program serving chil-

dren ages 3 to 21; our recreational program serving older teens and adults ages 21 and up; and our newest addition, a highly specialized program for children and young adults with autism.

As Camp HASC’s application season begins, we find that we receive more and more requests each year to accommodate children with autism, a growing population in our communities.

While many people believe that children who cannot relate easily to the world around them prefer to be alone, we believe strongly that they deserve to be with others. We believe that they can be happy and productive members of our camp community, given the right structure, support and environment. So we open our gates to them and embrace them as full members of our camp family.

Our next stages of growth include plans for improved resources in our Autism program, including therapeutic

farming and a sensory kitchen where campers can learn productive vocational skills while enjoying nature. We hope to hire more vocational staff to improve our ability to help our campers learn the skills to be active, contributing members of their communities. And of course, we will continue to brainstorm to think of more ways to creatively and effectively meet our campers’ needs, ensuring that their summers are truly ‘Heaven on Earth.”

Want to help? A community wide fundraising event will take place to benefit the HASC Summer Program on Sunday, April 21st at 6pm, at the home of Rella Feldman, 1649 Hanover Street, Teaneck, New Jersey. There will be guest speakers, firsthand accounts from counselors and entertainment.

Please give your support to help children with special needs enjoy a thrilling summer in the beautiful Catskill Mountains. For more information please call 718-535-1989 or 917-439-3355

Eternal Lessons of the Holocaust Remembered at Iranian Mission in New York

By Fern Sidman istory replays itself, and today, on Yom HaShoah, we must understand that the events leading up to the murder of six million Jews during the Holocaust are happening once again at this very moment,” declared Svetlana Kharkovsky, 68, of Brooklyn, as she stood amidst several hundred people who gathered outside the Iranian mission to the United Nations in midtown Manhattan on Sunday, April 7th.

The annual event that attracts hundreds of people throughout the tristate area was organized by Lynne and Nessim Tammam of the Yom HaShoah Mobilization Committee. Speaking to reporters, Lynne Bursky-Tammam said, “Unfortunately, once again we had to organize a Holocaust remembrance event in front of the Iranian Mission. Fortunately, we were blessed to have the assistance of people who understand the immediate threat.

The real credit goes to the individuals who helped to publicize this event, the speakers who came and spoke informatively and passionately, and to the people who came from near and far. It

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JEFF WEISENFELD, SECOND GENERATION ACTIVIST, EMCEES THE COMMEMORATION

is critical that we publicly remember the millions who perished, especially in front of the ultimate symbol of Holocaust denial, to make sure that their legacy is not forgotten.”

Serving as master of ceremonies of the gathering was Jeffrey S.

Wiesenfeld, a CUNY trustee and quintessential Jewish activist, who introduced Cantor Meir Popowitz. The cantor w sang a moving rendition of the Star Spangled Banner followed by the lighting of six memorial torches.

Stepping up to the podium to light

the symbolic yahrzeit candles that commemorate the lives and legacies of those lost during World War II were Michael Sirota and Jane Zaturansky, the first and second vice presidents, respectively, of the New York Association of Holocaust Survivors.

Among the celebrated dignitaries and religious leaders: Pastor James David Manning of the ATLAH Christian Church in Harlem; Rabbi Avi Weiss of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale; Rep. Eliot Engel (D) of New York;New York State Assemblyman David Weprin (D) of Queens; Morton Klein, President of the Zionist Organization of America (ZOA),; Ari Kagan, candidate for the NYC Council in the 48th Community District,; Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov of Tehilat Sephardim in Queens and a leader of the Bukharian Community in Kew Gardens Hills; New York City Public Advocate Bill DeBlasio, and mayoral candidate Erick Selgado.

The event concluded with the recitation of heartfelt prayers for the Israel Defense Forces and the American Military Forces that were delivered by Rabbi Shlomo Nisanov, and the singing of “Hatikvah,” the Israeli national anthem.

Send us your school news, events, and photos!

Send to editor@jewishlinkbc.com 40, April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773

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COMMUNITY

The Fair Lawn Beis Medrash

Center and active Beis Medrash. Therefore as an extension and next phase of Shomrei Torah’s Community Growth Initiative, the Fair Lawn Beis Medrash has been established.

Our objectives are to create an environment of Torah study within Fair Lawn that would facilitate the intellectual, spiritual, and halachic growth of all members of the community and its

surrounding areas.

Rabbi Eli Belizon has been named the Rosh of the Fair Lawn Beis Medrash. Joining him are be three Beis Medrash Fellows: David Glassberg, Rabbi Yaakov Ehrenkranz and Ari Pruzansky. All four are Yeshiva University graduates and along with their families, reside in Fair Lawn and are an integral part of our Shomrei Torah family and community.

The Beis Medrash provides an atmosphere for shiurim, chavrusas, chaburas and individual learning, Monday thru Thursday, from 8-10 pm. Various levels of shiurim are offered and learning groups include topics on contemporary halachic issues and the parsha ha shavua.

In addition, Rabbi Belizon gives a weekly shiur on Tuesday nights. His shiurs can be found on Yutorah.org Begun six months ago, the chavrusas and chaburas are oversubscribed and they are hiring Michael Hoenig starting in the summer. “Growth Through Torah” is the line espoused

by Willie Hochman, a key player in the Fair Lawn Beis Medrash initiative.

For more information, or to spend a Shabbat in Fair Lawn, please contact billh55@gmail.com.

20th, Parshat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim.

Reservations are a must in order to accommodate those attending – a Kid-

dush and lunch will be served following davening. Spend an Oneg with Rabbi Larry Rothwachs and the Beth Aaron families who are anxious to show you around. Babysitting will be provided during lunch and let your children have an opportunity to take

part in the stimulating Shabbat groups during davening.

Singles, couples and families are welcome. Please contact Jason and Erica David at nolastname2@yahoo.com or Shoval and Allyson Gur-Aryeh at Allyson.guraryeh@gmail.com.

Thinking about the meaning of what we are celebrating, the message I hope my children will take with them forever, I realized that though the words of Hallel are meaningful, perhaps we needed something more contemporary. Building on an element of the Passover Seder, I came up with “Yom Haatzmaut Dayeinu.”

IF God had only given us Herzl’s will to dream, and not given us the Zionist Congresses, it would have been enough.

Dayeinu.

IF God had only given us the Zionist Congresses and not given us the 1917 Balfour Declaration affirming the reestablishment of a Jewish home in the Land of Israel, it would have been enough. Dayeinu.

IF God had only given us the Balfour Declaration and not created the spark for early waves of aliyah to dry the swamps, irrigate the land and build our country, it would have been enough. Dayeinu.

IF God had only given us the spark to ignite waves of early aliyah to build our country and not taken us out of the ashes of the Holocaust, it would have been enough. Dayeinu.

IF God had only taken us out of the ashes of the Holocaust and not continued the ingathering of the exiles from the four corners of the earth, it would have been

enough. Dayeinu.

IF God had only continued the ingathering of the exiles and not given us the 1947 UN Partition Vote to create the State of Israel, it would have been enough. Dayeinu.

IF God had only given us the 1947 UN Partition Vote and not enabled our victory in the War of Independence and our Declaration of Independence, it would have been enough. Dayeinu.

IF God had only enabled our victory to establish and declare independence, and not restored Jewish sovereignty to the Land for the first time in 2000 years, it would have been enough. Dayeinu.

IF God had only restored Jewish sovereignty to the Land and not built us a thriving democracy, it would have been enough. Dayeinu.

IF God had only built our democracy and not helped us overcome our enemies’ attempts to destroy us in 1956, 1967, 1970, 1973, 1982, 2006 and even today, it would have been enough. Dayeinu.

IF God had only helped us overcome our enemies’ attempts to destroy us and not returned the Jews of Ethiopia to their homeland, rescuing black Africans from slavery in Africa to freedom, it would have been enough. Dayeinu.

IF God had only returned the Jews of

Ethiopia to their homeland and not enabled the aliyah of hundreds of thousands of Jews from the former Soviet Union, it would have been enough. Dayeinu.

IF God had only enabled the aliyah of Soviet Jews and not reunified our holy city, Jerusalem, it would have been enough.

Dayeinu.

IF God had reunified Jerusalem and not made Israel a world leader in medical, biotech and high tech fields— a modern light unto the nations— it would have been enough. Dayeinu.

IF God had only made Israel a world leader in technology, and not continued to bless Israel with His promise to build Jewish life for eternity, it would have been enough. Dayeinu.

So let us pause on this special day to remember these and many other miracles that God has done for Israel, and that we magnify every day just by living as Jews in our homeland. Dayeinu.

Happy Independence Day Israel. Chag sameach.

Jonathan lived in Teaneck and raised his family there for 12 years until making aliyah in 2004. He lives in Efrat, is married, has six kids, and is a former member of the boards of Cong. Rinat Yisrael and Yeshivat Noam.

Continuing A Community Growth Initiative n December of 2005, a group of members from Shomrei Torah met with representatives from Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future to discuss a plan to achieve community growth in Fair Lawn. From those initial conversations grew the inauguration of the Torah Enrichment Center in September 2007. The goal was to bring young couples to Fair Lawn who would energize the community and who would introduce other young couples to the community. Additionally these young couples would enrich the community with an exciting and vibrant Torah environment that would service the current members and attract young families.

Three couples were chosen to help us achieve our goals. Two years later, with supplemental funding, two additional couples were asked to expand the initiative. With the support of the community and the efforts of these couples the program has been very successful. Over the past five years, Shomrei Torah has seen an influx of

I

over forty new families. Initially moving into apartments, several families have since bought homes, further establishing themselves as members of Shomrei Torah and the Fair Lawn community.

As families continue to visit Fair Lawn, it has become exceedingly clear to us that one of the crucial features, which are looked for in a community that is growing, is an established Torah

Beth Aaron Invites Newcomers and Potentials ong Beth Aaron has invited young couples from around the region to a “getting to know us” Shabbat, April

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Yom Haatzmaut Dayeinu 

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be the only day that no newspapers are printed.

Family celebrations are varied, but many involve finding a patch of grass somewhere and setting up a portable barbecue to picnic into the night. We add Hallel to our prayers, offering God special thanks for this milestone.

But based on living most of my life in the Diaspora, where it was often a challenge to carve out time to acknowledge much less actually celebrate the holiday, it strikes me that there are no formal rituals associated with celebrating Israel’s independence.

So I started wondering, what could be done after six and-a-half decades to mark Israel’s independence in a way that is perhaps more universal, and even to facilitate a five minute pause in the life of someone overseas who wants to celebrate Israel’s independence, but for whom the pace of life is more about the daily grind rather than the festive nature we have in Israel.

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SCHOOLS

After Anne Frank TABC Remembers in a Unique Way

By Estelle Glass nyone walking by the Beit Knesset at the Torah Academy of Bergen County (TABC) on April 8th might naturally have wondered what was capturing the attention of a large audience of teenaged boys.

In fact, the yeshiva’s day-long

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ing stories about her performances as Anne, Anne’s mother Edith and sister Margot in the three different versions of the play, Anne Frank. The actress also credits her acting career for her developing interest in examining her own family’s experiences during the Holocaust and

BOYS AT TABC WTACHING PLAY

Yom HaShoah commemoration was culminating in a dramatic presentation by the multi-talented actress and writer Carol Lempert, who was starring in her one woman play, After Anne Frank.

From the moment Lempert enters the room blowing the Tekiah on a giant shofar, the audience becomes immersed in this actress’ lively performance and in her life story as well. Lempert changes roles and voices frequently as she moves around the stage, weav-

tells the audience how she subsequently becomes more knowledgeable about her history and religion.

Ms. Lempert has performed in many different locations over the years, both large and small, but this is the first time she has ever attempted to visit a yeshiva high school. When she was invited to perform for the boys by history department chairman Cary Reichardt, she readily accepted the challenge, easily adapting to the school setting. As she ad-

mitted with a smile, “I am never afraid of trying new things.

If people want to learn, I’m willing to be there.”

Given the short attention span of many of today’s teens, live theater in an intimate venue can present a challenge.

Yet, in this “story about a story about a girl who sat at a desk,” the boys were increasingly drawn in as the play progressed. Ms. Lempert was in constant motion and her frequent injections of humor as she assumed 12 different roles, all served to have her audience follow her every move.

The play details Lempert’s life as a Jew who has no idea how to talk to G-d and is not even allowed to have a bat mitzvah. We learn that it is only when she is a young actress doing research for a play that she discovers a video made by her Uncle Ben. As she views it and learns of Ben’s horrific past in the Holocaust, she feels increasingly guilty to be alive.

Lempert worries if her acting performances in Anne Frank and other Jewish-themed plays commercialize the memory of the Holocaust. It is not until an elderly survivor in Ms. Lempert’s adult bat mitzvah class counsels that “telling her story is a Jewish thing, “that the actress becomes convinced that she is indeed committed to speak and to continue the “ripples that began after Anne Frank spoke.”

BLOWING SHOFAR

At home, the playwright’s Uncle Ben refuses to talk about his experiences in the war. He has only consented to secretly be interviewed for a video for the Holocaust archives at the public library to thwart the increasing number of Holocaust deniers; but he will never talk to his own family about the past. The boys look shocked when they hear that Uncle Ben uses the numbers tattooed on his arm as the combination for his garage door opener and they nod with recognition as he explains that he chose to become a traveling salesman so that he would never be in one place for a long time and therefore could never again be found. Throughout the play he tells his inquisitive young niece to “be nice… and stop asking so many questions.” In fact, the biggest laugh of the afternoon comes when a young Miss Lempert asks her uncle why there are only sons in the Haggadah. His reply and

advice to her…. “A wise daughter would know when to be quiet.”

We the audience are indeed fortunate that Ms.Lempert decided not to remain quiet. Her craft is impacted by the Holocaust as she teaches audiences that we have to thank G-d daily for being alive. She is determined to reach out to as many people as she can to convey this message, even the tourist who approaches her at the Anne Frank House in Holland and upon confirming that Lempert is a Jew, says in wonder, “You see, they didn’t kill all of them.”

Carol Lempert’s uncle, after refusing to see her performance in Anne Frank, urges her to stop dwelling on the past. “Tell instead something delicious,” he urges.

We are indeed fortunate that the actress has chosen to do both, in her delicious and historically relevant performance.

Students at TABC’s Annual Yom HaShoah Program Students in the photo from left to right: Drew Stromer (Manhattan) Jonathan Meiner (Highland Park), Ariel Fromowitz (Teaneck) Pinny Rapp (Riverdale), Ari Tepler (Teaneck), Shalom Gottesman (Teaneck), David Kaufman (Teaneck), Yoni Friedman (Teaneck), Mr Bernard Gotfryd, survivor, Noam Fromowitz (Teaneck), David Berlin (Teaneck), Marty Spiewak (Teaneck) Jacob Lebovic (Baltimore), Adam Haimowitz (Teaneck), Izzy Feman (Teaneck) Josh Lehman (Monsey), Elie Adler (Teaneck) Ariel Reiner (Englewood).

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SCHOOLS

Halls of Remembrance: Students win award for bio-pic of Sigmund Rolat of the North American Council of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews Special to JLBC ew Milford—Students at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County (SSDS) moved quietly through the hallways last week, mindful of the solemnity of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Dressed in black and white, Lower School students (3rd-5th Grades) lit Yahrzeit candles, listened to tuneful recitations of Yizkor and El Maleh Rachamim and concluded commemorating the day with a spirited rendition of Hatikvah.

In the 1st-4th Grades, Schechter involves students in Holocaust Readiness programs. Through literature and classroom discussions, younger students begin to learn concepts and values that will later be applied to their Holocaust Studies.

“Before our children can comprehend the magnitude of the Shoah, before they begin to understand the loss, we want them to learn about and appreciate the vibrant Jewish life that existed beforehand, filled with family, learning, and a rich and diverse culture,” says Beryl Bresgi, Schechter’s coordinator of Holocaust studies. Beginning in 5th grade, students read literature related to the Holocaust and participate in an annual Heritage Fair in which students share family artifacts in a museum they create at the school.

Schechter’s Middle School Holocaust Studies program not only teaches the history behind the Holocaust, but exposes children to individual stories and eye-witness accounts, helping them make personal connections with the victims, survivors, and their families.

This philosophy was strikingly clear as Middle School students watched the film, “Generations of the Shoah: The Sigmund A. Rolat Story”, a documentary produced and directed by former Schechter students, Ben and Adam Danzger, with assistance from

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HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR SIGMUND ROLAT, SSDS GRANDFATHER, SHARES HIS STORY OF SURVIVAL WITH STUDENTS ON YOM HASHOAH 2013

their younger brother, Dan, who is currently a seventh-grader at SSDS. The film chronicles the life, strength, and survival of Sigmund Rolat, father of SSDS Parent, Samantha Asulin, and grandfather of Henry (7th grade) and Maya (2nd Grade).

Mr. Rolat’s message to students about the importance of preserving the memories of Jewish life in Europe prior to the war and of tolerance was strong and clear—one Mr. Rolat has taken very seriously.

This Friday, on the eve of the 70th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, Schechter’s Head of School, Ruth Gafni, will travel to Poland to attend the soft opening of The Museum of the History of the Polish Jews which will house $40 million worth of interactive exhibits tracing the long intertwined history of Jews and Poland when it formally opens in October 2013, thanks in part to Mr. Rolat’s vision and support.

Schechter Alumnus, Josh Kauderer (a 2011 SSDS graduate), along with Ben and Adam Danzger, garnered top honors for their filmmaking efforts at this year’s Kaplen JCC on the Palisades annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration , when they received first and second place respectively in the Abe Oster Holocaust

SSDS STUDENTS AT YOM HASHOAH COMMEMORATION

Remembrance Award contest. The contest, established in 2004 to honor the memory of Bergen County resident Abe Oster, encourages high school students to study the Holocaust through various artistic media and to develop an understanding of its implications.

Currently a 10th Grader at The Fieldston Ethical Culture School, Josh Kauderer received first place in the contest. His film, “Then and Now - Could History Repeat Itself?” uses video footage, photos and newspaper cartoons from the 1930s to depict European anti-Semitism that led to the Holocaust. It then juxtaposes those images with current video footage, newspaper cartoons, and internet sources to demonstrate the potential dangers of history repeating itself.

Ben and Adam Danzger, now students at Tenafly High School, received second place in the competition for their latest documentary, “Generations of the Shoah: The Sigmund A. Rolat Story,” which is the first in a series of three documentaries they plan to produce. Each documentary will feature interviews with survivors as well as second and third generations. The multi-generational theme reinforces the goal of sharing multi-generational stories, serving as a powerful reminder of the Nazis’ failed attempt to wipe out the Jewish people.

Yom HaShoah at Yavneh Academy avneh Academy had the privilege of hosting Mr. Zelik and Mrs. Minde Diamond for Yom Hashoah. The Diamonds told their stories of survival during the Holocaust.

The Diamonds, both from the town of Dohlinev in eastern Poland, spoke first of life in pre-war Poland, later Russian and German, occupations.

The brutal reality of the period was punctuated with touching sensitivity, appropriately conveyed for the middle school students.

After experiencing the massacre of their town’s Jews, as well as members of their families, they fled, separately, to the forests of Eastern Europe where they spent the remainder of the war. They spoke of their miraculous survival and

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the insurmountable challenges that they overcame through Hashem’s care and protection.

Mr. Diamond was a partisan with one of the largest companies of partisans in Eastern Europe. After marrying in a DP camp, the Diamonds came to America, to Omaha, Nebras-

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ka, where they raised a God fearing family. They recently moved to Monsey to live near their large and beautiful family.

Third and fourth grade students viewed Yavneh Academy’s Torah scroll which was rescued from the Nazis from

from Vyskov, Czechoslovakia, and presented by the Class of 1985. As explained by Assistant Principal, Rabbi Steven Penn, the curtain for the Torah scroll showcase is only raised once a year, on Yom Hashoah. Morah Sorah Shaffren sat with her students in front of the Torah

and sang a very moving song to the students, “Place Where I Belong.” The song tells the experiences and feelings of a Torah scroll in the first person, from its creation by a scribe in Kiev and regular use there in a shul, to its eventual resting place in an American museum.

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SCHOOLS

Ma’ayanot Students Learn About the Importance of Halachic Organ Donation

By Pam Ennis sually one thinks of learning as something that happens in the classroom, but students at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls in Teaneck, NJ recently received an important life-lesson on organ donation in an assembly organized by the school’s Athletics Director, Eileen Schwarz.

Schwartz, who is passionate about the subject, intended for her students to learn two important lessons: that organ donation saves precious lives, and that, if done under the guidance of the Halachic Organ Donor Society (HODS), organ donation is permitted under Jewish law.

To make the point about saving lives, Schwartz invited Gabriella Palmer, a 21-yearold resident of Paterson, NJ, to speak with Ma’ayanot seniors. Unfortunately, Ms. Palmer has firsthand experience on the topic of organ donation as she was the recipient of a liver transplant seven years ago, when she was just 14 years old.

Ms. Palmer, who as a teen was a competitive swimmer, explained that her life-alter-

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GABRIELLA PALMER SPEAKING AT MAAYANOT

ing journey began as she was training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. “Suddenly, while participating in a swim meet at Rutgers, I had a severe asthma attack and was rushed to a local hospital.” That happened on March 17, 2006, and Palmer confessed to not remembering much of what happened next.

What she does know, however, is that she emerged from a second hospital more than a month later with a donated liver. She is also painfully aware of the fact that what occurred during that lost month brought her to the brink of death.

Ms. Palmer explained that

the first hospital that treated her misdiagnosed her condition and overmedicated her to the point of causing acute liver failure. Eventually she was transferred to Columbia Presbyterian in New York City, where she and her parents were given the grim news that she would likely die within 48 hours without a liver transplant. “I was placed at the top of all transplant lists in the United States and Canada” Palmer explained. Thankfully, they quickly received news of a potential donor who was a perfect match in upstate New York.

Noam Student Rates at Spelling Bee itan Waldman of Yeshivat Noam in Paramus came in second place in the North Jersey Spelling Bee held at Bergen Community College recently. Rabbi Hagler wishes him Kol HaKavod and says he is proud that Eitan represented the Paramus yeshiva

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at the competition. Eighty-three students from Bergen and Essex counties vied for the trophy in the spelling bee sponsored by The Record and Herald News. The competition lasted until nearly 11 p.m., when Eitan was defeated by the spelling of the word trianon. According to The Record, words like “loam,” “toucan” and “dearth” sent students back to their seats. Other toughies were chassis, croissant, and nachtmusik. The competition was won by Indrani Das, an eighth grader at River Dell Middle School, who moves on to the statewide finals.

“From the time that the donor’s family was contacted until the time that my transplant surgery was complete was only 18 hours,” Palmer told the students. “If he had not been an organ donor [on his license], and if his wife didn’t believe in organ donation, I probably wouldn’t be here today.”

While Palmer’s post-surgery journey has been difficult, she has suffered two bouts of rejection and was treated for PTLD—a type of lymphoma unique to transplant recipients—she remains upbeat about life and relishes the opportunity to share her experiences. “People are asked, when they get their drivers’ licenses if they want to be donors, but most people don’t really think about it. It is important to create awareness.”

For Schwartz, awareness is not enough. “I brought Gabriella to speak with our students because I want every student in the building to know that the possibility of halachic organ donation exists, and to seriously consider becoming a donor.”

Students reacted to the program with serious enthusiasm.

Tamar Landsman of Teaneck, NJ noted that “sometimes we see these cases on TV and assume they cannot possibly happen, so this was definitely a reality check.”

Chedva Weissler of Tenaeck agreed. “It was eye opening because you always hear about people who donate their organs or people who need a transplant. But to see how real and intense the whole process is made us realize how important it is to donate.”

Elise Rosenthal of Edison, NJ was particularly grateful to learn about HODS. “I always was interested in becoming a donor, but hearing and seeing a real-life experience made me that much more sure that it is something I want to do.

Knowing that there is an Orthodox organization that allows and helps with the process makes me feel even more secure about my decision.”

It appears that both Palmer and Schwartz can be assured that their lessons were welllearned.

Readers interested in learning more about the Halachic Organ Donor Society can visit their website at www.hods.org.

Yeshivat Noam Middle School Dynamic Earth Expo tudents in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade at Yeshivat Noam have been busy learning about Planet Earth, its features and resources, for the Middle School Dynamic Earth Expo which was help April 10, 2013. The Expo is an interactive museum all about Earth. It highlights the beauty, diversity, and power of our planet and introduces visitors to new and future energy resources, all in time for Earth Day on April 22. Each grade focused on a different aspect of Earth Science: Geology in 6th, Biomes in 7th, and energy in 8th.

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SCHOOLS

“I Just Want Him to be the Best He Can Be” 

YOM HAZIKARON AT THE FRISCH SCHOOL WAS COMMEMORATED WITH AN INSPIRING AND MOVING TEKES (CEREMONY) THAT INCLUDED REMARKS BY ANDY EAGLE ‘08, FORMER ISRAELI SOLDIER(GOLANI BRIGADE) AND FRISCH ALUMNUS, AS WELL AS A STUDENT DELEGATION FROM OUR SISTER COMMUNITY IN NAHARIYA WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS PROGRAM AS A PART OF THE PARTNERSHIP 2GETHER OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF NORTHERN NJ.

IDF Bound 

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quires a year and-a-half of Torah study in a yeshiva framework, 16 months of army service, and then a return to yeshiva for another year and-a-half of learning.

I traveled to Israel many times with my family and on Bnei Akiva programs. Every time I look out the window as I ride along Israeli roads, looking out at the mountains, sand, and trees, I feel a sense of belonging. More than once I have told myself, “This is mine; this country is my home, and the place that I belong.” Now that I have joined the army, I tell myself, “This is yours; love it and defend it.” I find myself awake throughout the longest bus rides, while everyone else is sound asleep. I stare out the window and smile. I love my country.

Though I lived in Bergen County, I grew up in an Israeli culture. My mother was born in Israel 26 years after my grandparents fled from Romania and spoke to me in Hebrew until I was 4 years old. We had only Israeli babysitters at home from the time I was born, until I was in middle school.

I watched Israeli videos, listened to Hebrew music, and best of all, ate Israeli style food! I grew up in an Israeli culture, speaking with Israeli guests and relatives, and I believe that my home was the springboard for my love and passion for Israel.

My summers at Camp Moshava in Indian Orchard, had an Israeli feel that I loved, and attached me to the values Bnei Akiva stresses. I owe so much to them, because they taught me what it means to be part of the Klal, part of Am Yisrael. They instilled within me a profound love

for the land and Torah of our people. Bnei Akiva truly instilled leadership skills and Zionistic passion in my life.

When I told my parents I was interested in serving in the IDF, they were right beside me and there to support me. My father helped me research through Nefesh B’Nefesh all of my options.

My parents were extremely proud of me, albeit very apprehensive and worried, as parents should be.

I have a quintessential Israeli story to tell: One Erev Shabbat, I almost missed a bus. I ran from the train station to the bus stop about, 500m away. I was carrying a very heavy bag, and it was about 90 degrees with no breeze or clouds. I ran as fast as I could, almost tripping over myself. Just as the bus was pulling away, the doors swung open, and the bus driver smiled at me and let me on. After I paid and sat down, with my cloths sticking to the seat, and having the dusty air conditioning blow in my face, the Chiloni guy sitting across from me extended a Sprite bottle to me. A water bottle was offered to me by the haredi man next to me, as well as by the little girl sitting next to her mom in front of me. I sat there smiling saying, “Welcome to Israel.”

Every part of the country speaks to me; every experience makes me love the country; every area of Torah connects me to our roots. The things I miss most about Bergen County are my family and my friends. But I made a very clear and easy decision: I am living here, IY”H, for the rest of my life. I am going to create for myself a new life here in Israel, the land of our people, and I will do everything I possibly can to support her and to ensure her security and existence.

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tails on how he should have played.

Every now and then, dad, who really didn’t spend much one-on-one time with Andrew, would invite his son into the backyard for some “catch.” At first enthusiastic to be invited for “man-to-man” time, these experiences also became painful for Andrew, as his father critiqued every throw, every catch, with speeches on what Andrew had done wrong and explanations on how to do things right.

Once, being unable to attend a school performance due to work considerations, Mr. L. went out of his way to attend the rehearsal early in the morning. It sounded great. Except, on his way to work, he called his wife to give her detailed instructions on what to tell both Andrew and Emily in order to correct all the things they had done “wrong” so that they could do them “right” for the performance.

Mr. L. took the very same tack with Andrew in regard to school work. Whatever grade Andrew got that was less than an A or 100 led to a lecture on having to do better and questioning why he wasn’t doing his best.

In fact, this was Mr. L.’s explanation for all of his actions and interactions: “I only want him to do his best.” Well, I had several reactions to that statement, but the first is: “How does one know what his son’s ‘best’ is?” Who says Andrew’s best is 100? Maybe, just maybe, Andrew’s best is 87 or 75, even, perish the thought, 68. It’s totally unfair to demand 100 of him. Maybe Andrew’s best is getting up at bat and trying really hard, concentrating and applying all the technique he knows, but never hitting the ball.

I’m reminded of an experience I had once as camp director at a resort hotel. Having only eight days of camp to prepare a performance, the staff did a yeoman’s job preparing each group’s part. One of the younger groups got up and, while the rest of her group sang and danced, one little girl stood, terrified, with her hands at her side, staring out at the audience. When the group got down from the stage, this little girl’s mom ran to her, put her arms around her, kissed her and exclaimed, “You were wonderful; you were terrific; I loved seeing you up there.” And the truth was that this little girl was “the best she could be.” She was so scared to be up there, but she withstood it and held out. And her mother understood.

And, because her mother understood and supported her and loved her for what she could do instead of criticizing her for what she couldn’t and didn’t do, she was given the courage to try again.

What children need to know is that their parents love them for themselves—not for hitting home runs or getting 100’s or singing the best in the performance. Because if that’s what they are loved for, then it stands to reason that if they don’t reach those highs, then they are not loved. Children also need to know that they are appreciated for trying, even if they don’t achieve whatever

goal the parent has set up for them—or they for themselves.

One more story: I was part of a child study team evaluating a young man who was a senior in high school. At the Planning Meeting, his parents spoke most fondly and lovingly of him and described how he put great time and effort into his school work.

His father described his son’s particular love of and interest in history, reporting that the senior trip that year was to Greece and that if his son earned a certain average, he would be allowed to go on the trip.

Working with him, I was very impressed.

Particularly courteous, well-groomed and earnest, he worked very hard during the evaluation. A similar experience was reported by the Learning Consultant. When we conferred over our results, we both said how we wished he would be allowed to go on the trip regardless of his GPA because of his determination to work hard and do his best, even though his best may not reach the standard his father wished for and had predetermined.

When we re-convened for the Final Meeting, we expressed our impressions of the boy— what a fine boy, how hard he worked and the effort he was willing to expend. We had also discovered that he had some legitimate learning disabilities and that the grades he achieved had to be earned with much more effort than another student who did not have to negotiate those hurdles. We offered our opinions that this boy should be allowed to go on the trip as he was working to his capacity and because it would be so appreciated. It was wonderful to learn that his mom and dad had decided their son had earned the trip after all.

The bottom line is: Children need to know that their parents love them; that they enjoy spending time with them; that they bring them joy, and that they need to be rewarded for efforts made.

Andrew was being deprived of validating, satisfying attention. Because baby brothers had to have more than what would normally be their share, he was frequently asked why he couldn’t be happy and easy like his sister. In addition, all his efforts were criticized and he was told they (meaning he, in effect) weren’t good enough. This boy was failing to live up to expectations that had nothing to do with him or his abilities, but, instead, his father’s fantasy of what his son could and should be capable of, a “superboy.” How does one have the will to keep trying when he knows in advance that he will never make it? Why does one want to participate when he knows in advance that however he does, he will be criticized and told he should have done better? How does it feel to get into bed at night knowing you are a disappointment to your father? The behavior that Andrew was exhibiting in dirtying his underwear was expressing how he felt about himself and the world he lived in.

Children need to be supported and encouraged. They need to be rewarded for their efforts and given help when it’s needed and/or requested. They need to have fun and have activities where there are no grades, no scores, just the pleasure gained from the doing. And, again, they need to feel secure in knowing they are loved…just because.

(Names and family description have been changed for confidentiality).

April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 45

Bridging the Religious Divide: Rabbi Yoni Sherizen 

CONTINUED FROM P. 19

narrow these divides and adapt to new religious and social realities. Rabbi Sherizen, like Rabbi Tropper, is a new oleh to Israel and is working to enable Gesher to serve as a significant bridge between different sectors of Israeli society.

Tell me about your background and how it brought you to Gesher.

I grew up in Detroit and received semicha from Yeshiva University. After graduating, my wife Dalia (Perelmuter) from West Orange and I went to Oxford where I served as the first fulltime Jewish Chaplain at Oxford University. I was given the task of servicing students of all denominations, and

I quickly learned about compromise and pragmatic solutions for tough ideological divides. After serving in Oxford, we moved to London, where I oversaw the entire Jewish Chaplaincy at British universities. We moved to Israel three and-a-half years ago. Gesher was a great match for my passions and skills.

Can you briefly sum up Gesher’s main goals and programs?

Rabbi Israel Meir Lau said, “We always knew how to die together. The time has come for us to know also how to live together.” Gesher works on the societal side of things, as opposed to the governmental, trying to help all Israelis find their shared Jewish identity and live well together. Our hallmark program is probably the first Gesher initiative, the Encounter Seminars for teens. We have them work together for three days and break down stereotypes to find the common denominators amongst themselves. It’s so powerful that years later people remark about how “formative” the program was for

them. In addition to the proactive educational programs, we also are working in communities like Beit Shemesh, creating roundtable discussion groups to engender positive relationships and communication to ease tensions and problem-solve. It’s not easy work, but we have already seen the fruits of our labors in neighborhoods where we have bridged the existing factions.

Gesher is playing a big role in working out the new relationships and community challenges as Israeli demographics and societal needs develop.

The ending of the Tal Law and the new government’s plan for drafting all but 1800 Hareidim into the army are now serious issues What do you think the resolution will be?

Most “behind the scenes” people agree that the future will be a compromise, with a percentage of yeshiva bochurim learning, some serving in the army in separate units that will serve their religious needs, and the majority contributing to the state in a national service program. Gesher believes

“When Trusted AdviceMatters” Matters” “When Trusted Advice

that every citizen should give back to the country. Think of what could be gained, experientially and financially, having young men and women serving the elderly, assisting in schools and working as aides and guards in ganim.

For years now, there have been models in formation—there is already an elite computer intelligence unit with the air force for haredim—and there are programs for boys that aren’t really learning to get them off the streets, as well as sherut leumi. These programs will slowly evolve to accommodate many more students.

In addition, the teuda that young men will need to get a job will be a huge impetus for change in the community. The power of the purse is not to be underestimated. Everyone wants to live like a mensch and we see more Haredi men every year moving out into the workforce so that they can make ends meet without having to live off handouts. Netanyahu helped create the financial model when he was Finance Minister and I think it’s playing a very important role in changing the mindsets of the emerging generation of “earners.”

How do you, as a dati leumi person who will presumably have children serving in the army, tolerate the fact that Haredim don’t see themselves responsible for the same contribution and sacrifice?

Personally, I can’t deny that it’s an emotional issue. I aspire for my son to learn in yeshiva and also serve his country. Why is it enough for his cousins to learn, but not serve? For one, I think that we need to remember that post-Holocaust, the Haredim saw their job as reviving what was destroyed in Europe, and their sitting in yeshiva was part of that ideology. Now, with more Torah learning than ever, its hard for anyone to claim that each and every boy must fill a seat in the beit midrash all the time. This was a huge part of the



CONTINUED ON P. 56

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46, April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773

CONTINUED FROM P. 16

It was my extended family’s wishes to claim property owned by KohnMarkus-Max—my grandfather—who I knew well and who died in 1968— and Michael and Isidor Aschheim, my grandmother’s brothers who died in Hitler’s death camps. (Isidor was a bachelor so my wider family and I are his heirs.) Until the list with the street names from 1936 was published, we couldn’t find the properties they owned. Now that the list is available we still do not know if their properties were given to the Claims Conference or are still in litigation. I can but presume that our situation is common to most heirs of East German Jews caught in this Catch-22 situation.

Martin Stern Jerusalem 201-371-3212 • WWW.JEWISHLINKBC.COM

SPORTS

JLBC’s Yasher Koach of The Week he CMEK Hornets AAU Basketball Club has had a youth basketball program in Bergen County since 1997. Programs include basketball skills training sessions and clinics, club travel teams, private training and tournaments. The travel teams feature players attend Yavneh Academy, Moriah and Yeshivat Noam.

This year’s travel teams have had tremendous tournament success and therefore have earned JLBC’s Yasher Koach of The Week.

The Hornets boys’ teams for grades three, five and seven participated in the New Jersey State Tournament. The third and seventh grade teams qualified for the nationals. A picture of the very talented fifth grade team in the photo below: If you or someone you know has accomplished something worthy of a hearty yasher koach, please send the story and a picture to sports@jewishlinkbc. com

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L-R Top: Aidan Pink, Max Zakheim, Sam Bendheim, Chris Rivera, Mike Porobij, L-R Bottom: Eric Reznik, Roy Corso, Rone Rosen, Omer Rosen, Jesse Milstein.

A Yeshiva Basketball Coach’s End of Season Message 17-year MTA Varsity Basketball Coach Daniel Gibber sent the following message to his team just after the basketball season ended with a loss to Ramaz.

Dear Parents and Players, This past season was a real joy for me to coach as our squad consisted of a group of the finest young men that represented themselves, our team and our school with class, dignity, outstanding middos, sportsmanship, dedication, selflessness and total commitment to the cause.

While the 21 wins were thrilling and the 4 losses heartbreaking,

one of my most memorable moments came this past Friday morning. The scene was a pre-game locker room talk at SAR, a mere 12 hours after our disappointing loss to Beren-Houston the night before. I was holding my clipboard preparing my 23rd pre-game strategy talk of the season. As I glanced up from my clipboard, I encountered 14 dejected young men, with slumped shoulders and thoughts of the previous night’s disappointment clearly dominating their thoughts. I quickly put the clipboard away and spent the remaining few minutes before tip-off sharing a thought that I hoped would resonate with the players for years to come.

I proceeded to tell our team that as 16, 17 and 18-year-old young men,

they have, G-d willing, a lifetime of successes, accomplishments and memorable moments awaiting them in the years ahead. I told them, however, that along with the successes and big wins, life sometimes brings disappointments and “knock down” moments along with it. I told them to be thankful that at this early juncture in their lives, their great disappointment of the moment was merely a lost basketball game. I relayed how one of the great challenges of life is to be able to rise again following the disappointing moments and to clearly think and plan for a path forward. The chance to rise again to fight another day is one of life’s greatest opportunities.

I then told our team that they

could either choose to roll over and “mail in” the final three games, or they could choose to quickly re-invest emotionally and to battle back to make the most of their final three games. I asked them to rise up yet again so that they would have the opportunity the following week, for one final time, to play in front of their entire school with something on the line.

With those words our guys took the floor and proceeded to thrash three consecutive opponents on the way to winning the national YU-sponsored Sarachek Tier 2 Championship and yet another 21-win season. If the high school basketball experience can be used as a teaching tool for the lessons of life, then the hundreds of hours that we spend practicing, planning and playing each season, are each worth their weight in gold.

I was proud to have coached this group; they will all truly be “Lions4Life”!

JLBC Athlete of the Week: Ari Katz ri Katz’s basketball career at the Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey got off to a rough start. Katz, the team’s sixth man, suffered a broken clavicle (in a non basketball related incident) after the first game of the season. In Ari’s absence, the sixth grade Jaguars suffered a double-digit loss to Moriah. Thanks to tremendous teamwork the squad

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went on a dramatic four game winning streak.

On April 10th, Ari received clearance to play again, and he came up big. RYNJ was playing a very talented RPRY team that managed to battle back from a twenty point deficit to tie the game at forty two with less than a minute to go. The RPRY team had the ball and the RYNJ fans were

201-371-3212 • WWW.JEWISHLINKBC.COM

at the edge of the seats. Point-guard and co-captain Eitan Warburg forced a RPRY turn over and was off and running. Warburg looked up court, saw Katz streaking to the basket and hit him with a perfect pass. Katz executed a beautiful head fake, getting the defender in the air and nailed the shot with under ten seconds to go.

Way to go Ari !!!!!!

April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 47

SPORTS

All About TBO

MGBL Basketball Program Donates $35,000 to Charity he Mitch Gross Basketball League (MGBL), established in 2009 in memory of Teaneck resident Mitch Gross, serves as a high-caliber recreational basketball program for over 900 Bergen County boys and girls in 2nd to 8th grades and high school boys. The league focuses on teaching basketball fundamentals to players at all levels and the value of working together as a team. The league is open to residents of Bergen County and also includes participants from Passaic County, Manhattan, Riverdale and Rockland County, NY. All profits of the league are donated to local charities. To date the league has donated over $35,000 in Mitch’s memory. For more information please contact MGBL at mgblnj@gmail.com.

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eaneck Baseball Organization (TBO) is a major attraction for children of Teaneck who wish to play baseball or softball. This league is not affiliated with Little League inc., which allows the league to draw players from throughout the township. All players must be residents of Teaneck.

As the league progressed, the township population began to change, as well. Finally, to accommodate the increasing Jewish population of the township, the league became Shomer Shabbos; no games are played on Friday night, Saturday or Jewish holidays. Despite this, children of all races and creeds are accepted into the league. The league schedule accommodates those who attend religious services on Sunday mornings. Children from 5 through 13 are placed in age-appropriate leagues. Ages five and six are in an Instructional League. For ages 7-13, we have both softball and hardball leagues.

Today the league enrolls almost 900 children.

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Most play two games a week, and games are also played against teams from Teaneck Southern Little League. Travel teams are available, and are competitive with teams from around the county and beyond. Graduates of TBO have played in the Maccabi games, and have played for local public and private high schools.

The YU Student Medical Ethics Society Presents

A Timeless Mother Rabbi Kenneth Brander David Mitzner Dean, YU’s Center for the Jewish Future

Sunday, Lag B'Omer April 28, 2013 9:30-11:30 a.m.

CONGREGATION AHAVATH TORAH 240 Broad Avenue Englewood, NJ 07631

Rabbi Zalman Levine, MD Reproductive Endocrinologist

Moderator

with

Considering C id i th the S Social, i l Ethical Ethi l andd Halakhic H l khi Impact I t off Elective El ti Egg E Freezing F i Kenneth Prager, MD

Director of Clinical Ethics at Columbia University Medical Center

Elective Egg Freezing is an increasingly common procedure which allows ZRPHQ WR SURORQJ WKHLU IHUWLOLW\ :LWK VSHFLÞF DWWHQWLRQ WR KRZ WKLV SUDFWLFH might impact dating and family life, the YU Student Medical Ethics Society will examine how this technology could have lasting effects on the famed ‘shidduch crisis’ by enabling women who are categorically older to date men their own age. Additionally, the trend could very well create yet another impossible standard. What could this mean for couples delaying child-rearing to accommodate advanced career goals? How should we approach this question as a community? You’re invited to join the conversation following the panel of expert speakers.

For more information, contact Genene Kaye Yeshiva University NJ Regional Director

( PDLO JND\H#\X HGX s 2IÞFH

Standings as of April 15th 48, April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773

201-371-3212 • WWW.JEWISHLINKBC.COM

SPORTS

Sixth Grade Basketball League Doing Great ay 2013 will mark the end of the second successful year of the local yeshivas’ sixth grade boys’ basketball league. Still in its infancy, the league has shown tremendous growth. The original league consisted of Yeshivat Noam, Yavneh Academy, Moriah and Solomon Schechter of Bergen County. The numbers doubled in the second year: Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey, SAR in Riverdale, Ben Porat Yosef and RPRY all joined as well.

The league is a competitive one, with high school referees, a playoff structure and a final battle for the championship by the top two contenders.

In this league every coach devotes tremendous time and effort into teaching and developing basketball fundamentals. According to RYNJ coach Steve Gutlove, “For most of these boys this is their first

M

Cory Visits the Cougars

exposure to organized basketball.

Until now they played mostly pickup games and as a result picked up many bad habits.” The skills that are taught and drilled at this level will help these boys as they progress to the eighth grade league.

Although team building and onthe-court skills are important, the main message of the league mirrors that of the yeshivot it serves. Dov Glickman, parent of a first time participant, told JLBC, “I was pleased to see that the values the schools represent were reflected in the conduct of the players on the court.” Another parent said, “It was amazing to witness the whole gym silenced when one of the boys took a foul shot.”

The midot tovot and respect for each other will last with these boys long after their yeshiva basketball careers are over.

he Cougar Sports Breakfast at The Frisch School is a time when The Frisch School Family gets together to pay tribute to the dedication of our student athletes, our coaching staff and our Frisch sports parents. Frisch students benefit greatly from all of their experiences in the Athletic Program. We believe in informal education as a powerful tool to help our students grow and develop. Frisch sports provide our students with a skill set that enables them to strengthen their leadership qualities and team building skills This year we are privileged to welcome The Honorable Cory A. Booker, the mayor of Newark, as our guest speaker. He is renowned for revitalizing Newark. While he is well known for his mission to set a national standard for urban transformation, Mayor Booker was a Division I College athlete at Stanford University and was selected to the All-Pac 10 Academic Team. He is also a staunch supporter of the Jewish Community.

The Cougar Sports Breakfast is co-

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chaired by Bergen County residents, Janet Hod and Moshe Zwebner, both Frisch Sports Parents eager to encourage other Frisch parents to get involved.

There are many sponsorship opportunities available that directly benefit The Athletic Program at The Frisch School.

For more information about The 4TH Annual Cougar Sports Breakfast and to learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Rachel Roth, Director of Development at Rachel.roth@ frisch.org or at (201)267-9100 ext. 290.

MTA Softball Opener ith the harbinger of spring in the air, the MTA Varsity Softball Opener is less than a week away. Tryouts were held right before Pesach, the team is set and jerseys are ordered. After winning the championship in 10th grade, and a disappointing non-playoff appearance last year, things are looking good, with the squad ready to roll, along with new players from a now gone team. Led by BenZion Feld at the mound and Moshe Lifshitz at the plate, the MTA softball team has its eyes on the prize.

The first game is next Friday against JEC. After splitting a double header to them in their last matchup, they hope for a nice and solid win to start the season off on the right foot and instill confidence in the players. With arguably the strongest infield and outfield in the league, MTA will not look back and will take back the title.

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B’nai Brith Softball League at Bat he birds are chirping, the trees are blooming and in Fair Lawn the weekend warriors of the B’nai Brith softball league are playing ball. The league has been in existence for over 25 years and for some of the die hards it more than just a game.

The league plays almost every Sunday morning from the beginning of April until the end of August. “When the winter is over, the days get longer, and I know that Sunday softball with my friends is right around the corner,” said Steven Margulies with a smile on his face. Steve is the captain of the Mighty Menschen and a 24-year league veteran.

The B’nai Brith league is a competitive one, divided into two skill based divisions. They play seven inning games with umpires, and most standard softball rules apply. At the end of the season there are playoffs and a champion is crowned.

If you the love of the game and want to get in on the action, they are always looking for new talent. You can check out their site Http://www.eteamz.com/flbnaibrithsoftball/ or contact league commissioner David Schor.

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201-371-3212 • WWW.JEWISHLINKBC.COM

At long last there's a Jewish newspaper that serves the Queens Jewish community.

From Forest Hills to Kew Gardens Hills, from Kew Gardens to Jamaica Estates and beyond, if it impacts Queens Jewry, we keep you informed.

Plus columns that will inform, amuse and delight you and advertisers that are just around the corner.

Pick up your copy today!

For more information, see our website: www.queensjewishlink.com or call us at

917.549.6145 April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 49

A Dierent Brand of Ball ďƒ›

CONTINUED FROM P. 1

ents that want that league to be one that stresses sportsmanship, skill building, and fun. Designed to accommodate the families that come from all over, Yavneh Youth League (YYL) plays its games primarily on Sunday mornings. “We have 24 teams, and they all play between 9am and 12:30 on Sunday mornings,� says the league commissioner, Howard Eisenstadter. “Parents appreciate the temperament of the league, and what the league stands for. But they LOVE that they do not have to plan their whole Sunday around it.� The league is organized into 5 divisions: Instructional (1st graders), Junior Girls, Junior Boys, Senior Girls, and Senior Boys. Because each team in the Junior and Senior divisions are comprised of players from multiple grades, the league plays softball, rather than hardball.

DONNY MORRIS OF THE NOODLE.ORG GIANTS SETS THE TARGET AS GABE GREENBERG OF THE GOTHAM BURGER DIAMONDBACKS LOCKS IN. THE DBACKS WON THE GAME IN WALK-OFF FASHION

“The core of the sport is the same, but softball allows more batters to put the ball in play and lessens the effect of the one dominant pitcher�, he says, �More balls in play means more fielding opportunities for everyone, and that translates for really good games that are fun.�

YYL (originally Yavneh Little League) was founded to give Yavneh students a Shomer Shabbat option that town leagues

did not offer. Over time, as more Shomer Shabbat options arose in some towns, Yavneh student’s participation in the little league diluted somewhat. That’s when YYL opened its doors to children from other schools.

And according to Eisenstadter, that’s the ingredient that gave the league its special avor. “My children (2 of who’ve graduated out of the league, 1 who is still in) play with their school friends and neighborhood friends plenty, but YYL provides a unique opportunity for the RYNJ child and the Solomon Schechter child to become friends, for their parents to coach together, often resulting in all their worlds being expanded. There are a lot reasons I love this league. That is one of them.â€?

This is a view and value shared by many.

Shira Isenberg, of Bergenfield, has two children in the league. “As a parent, it thrills me that my children have made lasting

AMERICAN FRIENDS OF ATERET COHANIM/JERUSALEM CHAI INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR

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friendships with children from other area schools through Yavneh Youth League. As a coach, it excites me to look at the team rosters and see all of the local area schools represented and carefully divided up between all the teams. This year on my Senior Girls Team (Go BlueJays!), I have players from Ben Porat Yosef, GBDS, RYNJ, SSDS, Yavneh and Moriah all working together, focused on improving their skills, playing with enthusiasm and most importantly, showing good sportsmanship. Last year, coaching for the first time was an incredible and rewarding experience. We had players who had never held a bat before hitting consistently and fielding beautifully by the end of the season, and watching their confidence grow along with their abilities was truly gratifying. As coaches and parents, we strive to model those behaviors that we want to see in the players - our middot and how we interact with the other players, coaches and parents come first. Our entire family counts down to the start of the YYL season.â&#x20AC;&#x153; The commonality of Jewish pride plays out in other ways as well. Over the previous 3 years, YYL has had two league wide barbecues which featured Jewish former Major League players Ron Blumberg (Yankees) and Elliot Maddox (Mets and Yankees), to talk to the children about life in the MLB, but more specifically, the challenges and pride of being an identified Jew in an environment where that is an uncommon as a .400 hitter. In other years the league has gone to a minor league baseball games where the children all received tours of the clubhouse and YYL players threw out 1st pitches. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We view our league as a family experience. And our family keeps growing.â&#x20AC;?

In 2005, the league had just over 200 players. This year, the number tops 300. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Certainly some of that growth can be attributed to the expanding population in the areaâ&#x20AC;?, Eisenstadter says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;but we regularly get between 25 and 40 new players a year in the higher grades who transfer from other leagues. The league puts a high priority on understanding what it is that our children are actually learning from us. It sounds really cliche, and I talk about it every year at our pre-season coaches meeting, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something I know to be true, experienced myself, and have seen it in my own children : â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Players will not remember the scores or likely even their teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name in a few years. They will always, always, remember how their coaches treated them.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; That philosophy, more than any other, drives everything that we do. Our games are hard fought and appropriately competitive and trust me, no teams like to lose, but our goals are to build good athletes and great sports.â&#x20AC;?

And what is the net result of this shared philosophy ? This year, over 50 players had to be added to the waiting list because divisions were fully booked . â&#x20AC;&#x153;We opened registration on our website (www.YavnehYouthLeague.com) on a Thursday afternoon at the end of December,â&#x20AC;? says Eisenstadter, not happy that anyone would need to be shut out, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and by 11pm after motzei shabbos, 2 of the 5 divisions were full and closed.â&#x20AC;?

With the brand of ball the Yavneh Youth League provides, the bases are always full.

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR APRIL Tuesdays, April 16 – May 28th New Jersey Yachad Inclusive Art Program open to junior and high and high school students as well as students with special needs ages 12+. Classes to take place at the Art Place, 490 Curry Avenue, Englewood.

The cost is $50 for all classes. For registration or information contact Reva Judas 201 833 1349.

Thursday, April 18th Employers Job S eekers Registration Now Open 4:00 – 7:00PM www.oujobs.org Wednesday, April 24th 11:30AM Maayanot 1650 Palisade Ave., Teaneck The Ma’ayanot Adult Education Committee presents a weekly shiur given by Mrs Leah Herzog, Tanakh teacher at Ma’ayanot, on Megillat Rut. Shiurim which began on April 10th will continue through May 8th.

Shabbat, April 20th Study group with Rabbi Dr Alan Brill on R.Tzadok of Lublin - 5:30 For info contact safek7@gmail.com Sunday, April 21st The F riendship C ircle 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 6:00PM – 9:00PM at Yeshivat Noam Paramus Hosting a chai-a-thon to raise funds for their Summer Camp Program Volunteers (adults and teens) are invited to join for a shift of phone calls to reach out to the community at large. Everyone is asked to bring their own cell phone!

For more info “ www.BCFriendship.com/chaiathon OU Jewish Community Home and Job Relocation Fair 12:00PM – 6:00PM - Metropolitan Pavilion 110 West 19th Street NYC Register at www.oucommunity.org or call 212 613 8300 JESC Annual Breakfast 9:30AM Cong Keter Torah Honoring Chani and Laurent Bensimon – as well as paying tribute to JESC Alumni Rosenbaum Y eshiva of North Jersey Scholarship Reception 5:30PM in the Beit Midrash - Honoring Mrs Helen Pollack and Mrs Bonnie Zitter HASC Barbeque Reception 6:00PM Feldman home 1649 Hanover St Teaneck Avi Sacks, director of the Blanche Kahn Meidcacl Center and a former camp HASC program director will speak. For information hascdev@hasc.net Project Ezrah Parent Discussion Group 7:00 – 8:00PM – Cong Bnai Jeshurun – “ How To Beat The Game in a Healthful and Knowledgeable Way” Rsvp doni@ezrah.org

6:00 – 8:00PM Chofetz C haim Heritage F oundation Program for Women 8:00PM 1325 Dickerson Road, Teaneck 201 357 5434 for information Tiferes, an inspirational DVD will be shown.

Wednesday, April 24, 9:30-10:45 am - Shalom Baby is excited to welcome in of Lag B’Omer at Gerard Berman Solomon Schechter Day School, 45 Spruce Street in Oakland. Shalom Baby is a way for new moms and dads of newborns or newly adopted through age 3 to connect with each other and the Jewish community through a monthly series of play dates with free play, music, story-time, snacks and crafts projects. It is administered by Federation’s Synagogue Leadership Initiative, which is funded by Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey and the Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation. For information on this play group or the Shalom Baby program, contact Ellen Finkelstein, 201-820-3917, or ellenf@jfnnj.org<mailto:ellenf@jfnnj.org>. To reserve for the playgroup at Temple Sinai, contact Risa Tannenbaum, 201-568-6567, or rtannenbaum@templesinai.org.

Thursday, April 25th 7:30 – 9:30PM - “Fighting Poverty With Faith: Building Opportunity Through Affordable Housing for All.” This initiative will bring together leaders representing various faith communities and organizations that focus on housing issues, as well as government officials. The program will take place at the Bergen County Administration Building, in the Freeholder Public Hearing Room, One Bergen County Plaza in Hackensack. Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council is a forum for discussion and action on what matters to the Jewish community at the international, national, state and local levels. It promotes mutual understanding and harmonious relations among northern New Jersey’s racial, religious, civic and ethnic groups.

It engages in a broad range of initiatives that include advocacy and education relating to: Israel, poverty, separation of religion and state, the environment, health care, refugees, anti-Semitism, genocide, and education. For information on the JCRC, contact Joy Kurland, joyk@jfnnj.org.

Sunday, April 28th Bris A vrohom of F air L awn 12:30pm - 3:30pm Outdoor Lag B’Omer Family Fun Day 30-02 Fair Lawn Avenue Concert by Ta Shma, Games, Rides, Mini Golf, BBQ and more http://www. jewishfairlawn.org/lagbomer CareOne at Teaneck 1:00 – 5:00PM 544 Teaneck Road Teaneck

NJ Premiere of Punk Je ws 7:00PM JCC on the Palisades Documentary profiles an emerging movement of committed Hasidic punk rockers, Yiddish street performers and African-American Jewish activists.

Offered for viewing by the National Center for Jewish Film. Following film a post screening discussion will take place with the producer Evan Kleinman.

Cost is $5 JCC members/$8non members.

Hosting a Carnival Day for the community on Lag B’Omer. Fun filled afternoon for the kids with Carnival Games, Prizes, Food, a Face Painter and Music. Admission is free.

Areyvut Second Annual Bergen County Breakfast 9:30 – 11:00AM –Cong Bnai Yeshurun Honoring Tzippy & Ezra Hiller and Rebecca Sanders. For info contact 201 244 6702 or info@areyvut.org

Clothing Drive to benefit Teaneck High ’s Project Graduation 10AM – 3PM Elizabeth Street Parking lot. Bag up your donations of all used clothing, handbags, belts, shoes, stuffed animals, bedding and old bath linens, sleeping bags, comforters, etc. Tax deduction receipts will be given that day for all donations.

Tuesday, April 23rd Jewish Home Foundation Quarterly Board Meeting

Solomon S chechter of Bergen County ‘s 39th Annual Community Celebration 5:00PM – 9:00PM Pearl River Hilton contact awinkler@ssdsbegen.org

201-371-3212 • WWW.JEWISHLINKBC.COM

THS Project Graduation is an effort chaired by the parents of high school seniors to give them a safe, secure all-night party to celebrate their achievements after graduating in late June. For more information, contact Michelle at mpapava13@verizon.net Monday, April 29th , May 20th, June 10th, June 17th Rebbetzin Leah Kohn speaks weekly on various Mondays from 9:45am - 11am at 1510 Jefferson Street, in Teaneck. Her topic is decisions - As children, we make decisions typically based only on our own wants, and our immediate situation. As we grow older, more and more factors influence our decision-making...our self-development, natural inclinations, character traits, environment - past and present, our experience and a host of others. How do we decide? How do we know how to use these countless facets of our being in order to make the best decision and what is in fact the best decision?

What if we make the wrong decision and it affects others? By examining different people in the Torah, and the method by which each arrived at a final decision, we can gain a better understanding of the complexity involved at a final decision, we can gain a better understanding of the complexity involved in our decision-making, and how and when different factors should come into play in order to make the best decision we can.

Tuesday, April 30th Ben Porat Y osef 11th Annual Dinner Keter Torah 7:00PM Honoring Sybil and Naftali Cohen, Rachel and Jonathan Margolin, Vicky and Raphael Nadel Tuesday, April 30 8:00PM Moms Night Out – for moms who have children and teens with special needs RSVP to Zeesy@BCFriendship.com for more details

MAY Wednesday, May 1 QUEENS-Live Resume Tune-Up Event-May 1, 2013 6:00PM – 8:00PM EDT Register @ www.oujobs.org Thursday, May 2 10:15 am - 1:30 pm - Jewish F ederation of Nor thern Ne w Jerse y’s Women’s Philanthropy is hosting its annual Spring Luncheon, honoring Paula Shaiman, Betty Hershan, and Karen Blatt Jacobson. The guest speaker for this year’s luncheon is the Honorable Corey A. Booker, Mayor of Newark. The Spring Luncheon will be held at the Rockleigh Country Club. For more information, please contact Barbara Joyce, BarbaraJ@jfnnj. org<mailto:BarbaraJ@jfnnj.org> or 201.820.3953 Friday, May 3 – 5th Yachad Family Shabbaton Yachad invites all families with a family member with special needs to a great ,informative fun weekend. Contact herrmann@ ou.org or call 201 833 1349 Sunday, May 5th Sharsheret Annual Benefi t 10:30AM – 1:30PM Marriott Glenpointe Teaneck Honoring Lisa Altman with the Volunteer Tribute Award Convention f or Obser vant Je wish Women Entrepreneurs Hyatt Regency, New Brunswick 9:15 AM – 5:30 PM First conference addressing the unique challenges observant women face in the work force.

Contact no is 410-205-6599 or Email: Info@thejwe. com.

Monday, May 6th Camp Sunsational applications accepted in person at the Administrative Office in the Rodda Community Center, 250 Colonial Court between the hours of 8:30AM – 4:30PM Three two week sessions are being offered this Summer.

Sunday, May 12th Cong Bnai Yeshurun 641 West Englewood Ave, Teaneck 8:00PM Rav Hershel Schachter - How Do We Decide?

The Role of Mesorah and Consensus in Psak Halacha 8:45 PM - Rav Michael Rosensweig - What Must a Jew Believe? Foundational Beliefs and Their Practical Implications Tuesday, - Thursday May 14th – 16th RIETS Yarchei Kallah Rye Town Hilton, Rye Brook, NY, Join, Richard M Joel, president, distinguished Roshei Yeshiva: Rabbi Aharon Kahn, Rabbi Eliakim Koenigsberg, Rabbi Yona Reiss, Rabbi Hershel Schachter, esteemed faculty members and administration: Rabbi Hayyim Angel, Rabbi Kenneth Brander, Dr David Pelcovitz, Rabbi David Shabtai, Mrs Shoshana Schechter. There will be a vibrant Beit Midrash with RIETS Staff and Students. Families are welcome!

Day camp and babysitting available Register at yu.edu/riets/shavuos for information call 646 592 4021 Sunday, May 19th Cong Ahavat Achim, Fairlawn 7:00PM – 10:00PM Journal Dinner Honoring Amy and Stephen Agress

JUNE Monday, June 3rd Annual JEC Dinner 6:30PM – Venetian Inn, Garfield New Jersey Celebrating Bruriah’s 50th Anniv ersary, also honoring RTMA’s outgoing principal Mrs. Chanie Moskowitz as Educator of the Year and Amy Bassan will be presented with the Lev Tov Award.

Thursday June 6th - Tuesday June 11th The Friends of the Teaneck Library Annual Book Sale is almost here. This year’s sale will take place from June 6th through June 11th and will we be accepting donations from May 28th through June 2nd. Please contact us if you would like to volunteer or are interested in joining the Friends organization.

Membership guarantees access to special members only preview days of the sale.

For more information contact the Friends:TeaneckLibraryFriends@ESB.com Sunday, June 9 4:30 pm The Jewish People’s Philharmonic Chorus will be performing its annual concert, this year titled: “THE SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE” The concert celebrates the poetry of Abraham (Avrom) Reisin, the music of Max Helfman and Mark Zuckerman, and the heroism of those in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Among the works will be an excerpt from the oratorio Benyomin III (“Benjamin the Third”), based on a story

by Mendele Moykher Sforim (“the Grandfather of Yiddish Literature.

Contact Gitl S. Viswanath 201 744 4624 April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 51

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Needed to accompany and teach limudeh kodesh and English to a 13 year old active, athletic, and smart high functioning Down Syndrome boy for half day or full day in a school located in River Edge, NJ. The student resides in Manhattan near the George Washington Bridge.

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Please send resumes in absolute confidence to : debbie5553000@gmail.com PROPERTY MANAGER Location: New York Our client an expanding property management company is seeking a Property Manager to join the team.

The ideal candidate should have a college degree and 2-10+ years Co-op or Condo portfolio management experience for properties located in NYC. Positions that is available is based upon experience ranging from assistant manager - property manager title. Excellent communication skills. Must be able to attend board meetings when necessary.

For immediate consideration please email your resume to info@ezrah.org DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Location: New Jersey Our client in just five years has established a strong presence in this space, becoming the preferred source of content -- including content no one else offers -- in the industry.

In this position we’re looking for an insightful expert who can direct the path of our education and continue to expand our curriculum with impactful education our customers rely on. We publishes multiple digital media sites offering news, views, research and education on the top industry, security, regulatory and technology challenges facing information security leaders worldwide including; Each site is guided by an advisory board of renowned thought leaders from business, government and education. Our suite of educational webinars offers hands-on training by knowledgeable practitioners, and our custom research is routinely featured at

leading industry events The Director of Education would be responsible for overseeing all aspects of educational content for the network of publications. This will include developing curriculum, selecting speakers, maintaining a board of advisors, developing webinars, presenting training sessions, and expanding the team over time to bring on colleagues who can contribute to the training process.

The Role: Reporting to Senior Management, you will join as the key driving force in the direction and development of our education.

You will use your own experience, industry trends, and emerging threats to develop in-depth education with actionable advice for our customers. The level of education our premium webinars have been the foundation of our success and have provided the distinguishing factor that sets us above other publications in our space. We have assembled an extensive curriculum of webinars over the years and have the ability to track the topics and concerns that matter most our customers. Provide a large information base to draw from when, prioritizing and planning the educational calendar. This valuable user behavior information (for example, trending topics, past webinar registrations, article views, etc.) will prove useful in determining the potential success of each course.

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RETAIL ASSOCIATE Location: New Jersey Our client a lovely boutique located in Passaic, NJ is seeking a Retail Associate to work alongside their team to provide retail assistance to customers and to also help build and maintain the webstore. The successful candidate will have an upbeat personality with excellent customer service skills. In this high energy environment you will also be responsible for updating various websites with new merchandise and changes to inventory. Ideal candidates will have 2+ years retail experience with strong computer skills and attention to detail.

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education will be considered • Develop and implement action plans to penetrate new markets • Conduct research and provide regular reporting on key businesses, industries, contacts, events, and sales cycles • Regular interaction with clients via telephone and via face-to-face meetings • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, are required • Exceptional presentation skills, professional outlook, and negotiation skills will be tested and are required • Self-starter with strong prioritization skills.

• Customer service attitude with excellent rapport building skills • Must demonstrate proficient knowledge and use of computer and basic programs (Microsoft Office, CRM systems, etc.)

To Apply please send your resume to info@ezrah.org OPHTHALMIC TECHNICIAN Location: New Jersey Solo Ophthalmology Practice in Emerson, NJ, seeking full time ophthalmic technician. Duties will include taking patient history, checking vision and glasses, and other ancillary testing. Previous experience a huge plus.

Must be friendly, efficient, organized, and have great people skills. Comfort with computers, computer skills, and ability to learn a new computer system required. You will be cross-trained on front desk duties as well.

Typical hours are 9-5 M/W, 2-7 T, 11-7 Th, 8-3 Fridays, and two Sundays 11-2 a month.

For immediate consideration please email resume to application@ezrah.org CONTROLLER /SENIOR REAL ESTATE ACCOUNTANT Location: New Jersey Work in the financial management of a Company that has an on-going and wellplanned acquisition and development program, and a diverse portfolio of owned, self-managed properties.

The selected candidate must be a highenergy, hands-on professional with a demonstrated strong work ethic and the ability to motivate subordinates and sustain productivity.

Duties will include – • Assisting in the supervision of all corporate accounting activities as well as property accounting, construction accounting and payables and receivables.

• Assisting in the management of company-wide operating budgeting and capital budgeting process.

• Preparing operating reports and financial statements for managed properties and for construction and development projects.

• Performing all aspects of financial management for assigned properties.

• Maintaining General Ledger, including Balance Sheet work papers for all entities.

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projections.

• Finalizing and proofing of all tax work papers, financial statements and other documents used by the external CPA firm.

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• Experience with GAAP, Tax and Accrual level reporting • Proficiency with Yardi or similar real estate software • Excellent oral and written communication skills ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Our client a New Jersey-based property management company focused on providing high quality affordable housing for residents is looking to expand its talented team and add an administrative assistant/receptionist to its workforce.

Requirements/skills - excellent customer service - ability to answer multiple phone line - ability to work in a fast pace environment - must be reliable, detail oriented - must be proficient in Microsoft word/ excel Education - High school diploma or equivalent required.

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Lady to the Rescue 

CONTINUED FROM P. 11

Keeping costs down and keeping score are skills that serve Kornbluth well in governing Bergenfield. “Taxes are probably the most important issue we deal with,” Kornbluth says.

“We have high pension and insurance costs with a two percent cap.” As a member of the Finance Committee, Kornbluth helped formulate the annual budget and make staffing recommendations that have saved almost $100,000.

Maintaining the quality of life in Bergenfield is another mandate for the Borough Council. As Chair of the Recreation Committee, Kornbluth is proud that Bergenfield has been named one of the best 100 communities to raise children. “The more child based programs we have, the more we become an attractive community for families,” she notes.

Kornbluth got involved in Bergenfield government from the time she and her husband moved here from Manhattan in 1991. She started with small committees like the Police Ath-

05/31/13

201-371-3212 • WWW.JEWISHLINKBC.COM

letic League (PAL), then the Zoning and Planning Boards. She was approached by the Democratic Party to run for Council.

The council president, who automatically fills in for the mayor, is elected each year and this year the spot was given to her.

There will be a special council meeting on April 18 to choose a new permanent mayor.

As Council President and Acting Mayor, Kornbluth responds to the needs of a diverse community as well as the special requirements of being an Orthodox Jew. She has been able to blend the two together without a problem. “Last year Memorial Day fell on Shavuous but I thought it was important to be in the parade,” Kornbluth says, “so I walked several miles to get there and then walked in the parade.” When the Borough Clerk is ready to make the annual calendar, she sits down with Kornbluth to review the holidays so there will not be a conflict. During a snowstorm this past winter, Kornbluth advised the DPW about Shabbos candle lighting and davening times so the streets would be plowed and residents could get to shul safely. “Everyone has been very accommodating,” she says.

05/31/13

April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 53

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2013 BPY Dinner on April 30th Ben Porat Yosef in Paramus will hold its 11th annual dinner on Tuesday, April 30, at 7 p.m. at Congregation Keter Torah, Teaneck. This year’s honorees are Sybil and Naftali Cohen of Englewood, Jonathan and Rachel Margolin of Teaneck, and Vicky and Raphael Nadel of Riverdale, NY. Sybil and Naftali Cohen, whose

ing BPY two years ago. Their daughter Estie is in first grade at BPY and Yael is in pre-K. The Nadels have hosted parlor meetings in their Riverdale home and were instrumental in ensuring that BPY would be able to continue providing bus service for Riverdale families.

Vicky also volunteers at BPY’s Discovery Learning Days. They are members

BEN PORAT YOSEF’S 11TH ANNUAL DINNER HONOREES ARE, FROM LEFT, JONATHAN AND RACHEL MARGOLIN, NAFTALI AND SYBIL COHEN, AND VICKY AND RAPHAEL NADEL.

daughter Eliana is a pre-K student at the school, have been actively involved with BPY for the past six years. In 2011, the Cohens dedicated BPY’s Beit Midrash sefarim collection in memory of Rav Elazar Abuchatzeira, creating a permanent and growing collection of sifrei kodesh for the benefit of BPY students and faculty; Sybil’s hand-painted portrait of Rav Abuchatzeira hangs in BPY’s library. Sybil Cohen was a member of the annual dinner committee, designing invitations and doing other graphics work to support this major annual fund-raising event. Naftali Cohen has been an active participant in the school’s annual scholarship walkathon. The Cohens are members of Congregation Ahavath Torah, Englewood.

Vicky & Raphael Nadel have been active supporters of the school since join-

of Young Israel of Riverdale.

Jonathan and Rachel Margolin have been staunch supporters of BPY since enrolling their oldest child in the school seven years ago. They have three children at BPY, Anna, 9, third grade; Jakob, 7, first grade; and Josef, 6, kindergarten. Jonathan’s private practice, Teaneck Podiatry, has been a longstanding corporate sponsor of BPY’s Annual Scholarship Walkathon. The Margolins have helped with the annual dinner and scholarship walkathon, served as anchors of the growing BPY contingent from Teaneck’s south of Cedar Lane community, and actively promoted BPY’s visibility in the community.

They are members of Congregation Arzei Darom and Congregation Ohr Saadya, both in Teaneck.

Israel Comes To Englewood f you can’t actually be in Israel to see, hear and feel the surge of emotions on Yom Ha’Zikaron – Israel’s memorial day, and the unrestrained joy of Yom Ha’atz’maut, Israel’s Independence Day, then the next best thing is to share in a community-wide celebration and display of unity and support for the State of Israel. On Monday evening, April 15, three Englewood synagogues—Ahavath Torah, Kehillat Kesher and East Hill Synagogue—joined The Moriah School in commemorating Israel’s fallen soldiers and celebrating 65 years of independence. Directed by Hebrew teacher Michelle Grushka, 8th grade students of Moriah held the audience spellbound with an audiovisual tribute to those Israelis who have made the ultimate sacrifice in battle and those whose lives have been cut short by terrorists. Following the Moriah presentation, guest speaker Dr. Naftali Moses reflected on the life of his

I

son, Avraham David Moses, z”l, who at 16 was murdered in the terrorist attack on the Mercaz Ha’Rav Yeshiva in 2008.

With a festive Ma’ariv service following the somber mood of the Yom Ha’Zikaron program, the bridge was crossed from sadness to joy and the celebration of Israel’s 65th birthday was underway. As the overflow crowd proceeded to the ballroom, everyone was greeted with the rousing sounds of the Moriah choir, under the direction of music teacher Sharon Kinstlinger and entered a magnificent Israeli shuk, complete with fruits, vegetables, sweets and traditional Israeli salads. An extra special touch to the Israeli flavor of the evening was a group of Moriah fifth graders, led by Israeli shlichot Inbal Azouley and Shir Schechter, who performed an Israeli flag dance known as a “daglanut.” The music drew the crowd into the dancing that topped off this magnificent celebration.

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April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 55

Yom Hashoah at BPY PY 6th and 7th graders were visited by Holocaust survivors Goldie Schwartz and Rachel Gotleib as part of the school’s Yom Hashoah commemoration. The women spoke about their experiences in the concentration camps and told stories of heroism and

B

miracles and impressed the students with the message of “never forget.” All in attendance found their visit to the school inspiring. Pictured here (left to right): Julia Kohen, Sandra Kaplan, Debbie Schwartz (teacher), Derek Schwartz, Shlomo Meisels, and Eitan Benhamu.

eshivat Ben Porat Yosef Early Childhood students traveled to Eretz Yisrael on Yom Ha’atzmaut on an El Al flight, of course. They had their passports stamped and their suitcases

Shouldn’t Special Needs Children Receive Equal Opportunity? 

CONTINUED FROM P. 23

As I once heard: If there is a legislative will there is a legal way.

My experience has shown that a natural familiar environment is crucial for the successful development of a child with special needs. For these children, if a school district is unable to accommodate their needs, then the option of an

Bridging the Religious Divide: Rabbi Yoni Sherizen 

CONTINUED FROM P. 46

genesis of the “learning only” culture.

Secondly, as the chairman of Gesher, Daniel Goldman points out that we have given the Haredi community this ability to learn and have funded it for 65 56, April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773

By Tikvah Wiener

Josh Pruzansky is the Orthodox Union’s New Jersey Director of Public Policy and Political Affairs.

risch RealSchool ran its second annual Yom Iyun, Day of Learning on Sunday, April 14. RealSchool is an academic and extra-curricular program that engages students engage studentcentered learning. That means that students decide what and how they learn and then collaborate on projects where they use their skills and talents to provide something of meaning and value to their community. RealSchool began as an after-school club and is divided into teams based on the students’ interests. Teams include, for example, Religious Identity, Health and Environment, Social Entrepreneurship, Video Production, Fashion, and The Arts .

In the case of the Yom Iyun, two of RealSchool’s teams, Religious Identity and The Arts, got together. Eight student presenters, two sophomores, three juniors and three seniors came up with topics in Tanakh, Talmud and Jewish thought and prepared sessions on those topics. Each presenter worked with a teacher to strengthen and develop his/her points. Topics included God as Consuming Fire; Family Dynamics in Bereishit; Futility in Kohelet; Judaism and the Free Market; The Origins of Matrilineal Descent; Hagar’s Journeys; Disputes between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai; and The Reasons for the Mitzvoth.

Yom Iyun also included an art exhibit, Texting: From Bondage to Liberation, which took participants on a visual journey from Pesach to Yom Ha’atzmaut. For the first part of the exhibit, on slavery and bondage, students in AP Art History at Frisch researched information about various famous illuminated haggadot. The art history class also repurposed a printer into the ten plagues. Using the components of the printer—which prints text—CDs, and words cut out of books and magazines, the students enabled viewers to see how the text describing God’s wonders could be reimagined in a new way.

Two seniors curated the Libera-

tion portion of the exhibit, using the works of Kahinde Wiley, who poses Ethiopian Israelis in classical, bold ways, to show the complexities of being black in Israel and the fact that the Ethiopians, despite the challenges they encounter, enjoy being free in their homeland. Wiley’s backgrounds are inspired by illuminated manuscripts and thus connected the slavery and freedom parts of the exhibit.

Laura Friedman (’13), one of the exhibit’s curators and an artist herself, worked all year on a self-directed project researching illuminated manuscripts. For the project and exhibit, she created her own illuminated manuscript, incorporating styles from Ashkenazi and Sephardic manuscripts.

Studio Art Juniors created Pop Art versions of Israeli food packaging, and seniors brought to life images and ideas about Israeli society that inspired them. Finally, RealSchool’s Fashion Team used textiles and clothing, to create outfits that represented bondage and freedom. For example, an Israeli army uniform displayed the idea that Jews fought to live freely in Israel.

The art exhibit ended with stations where participants could make their own illuminated manuscripts using texts the presenters chose from their source sheets. This reinforced the concept of the day, which was about taking the text and reimagining it in new ways to make the tradition our own, an idea introduced at the beginning of the day by Akiva Mattenson (’13).

years. Society at large has spoiled them, with army exemptions and welfare privileges, and we are partially to blame for that. If we are serious about change then we must act accordingly. But we must also do it with sensitivity. This is a traumatic shift that challenges what many people have grown up with as religious ideology. And we must not forget that thousands of families have sacrificed entire lifetimes for this ideal and lived in serious poverty to uphold it.

What is your favorite “only in Israel” moment?

When we first moved here, we need-

ed to buy some bookshelves at IKEA so I decided to try the kosher food at IKEA that everyone talks about! While Dalia and I were enjoying our Swedish meatballs, someone approached me to make a minyan for mincha. I was hesitant—being that I was in a rush and didn’t want to make a minyan in a cafeteria, but lo and behold, I was escorted to the Beit Knesset—a proper shul adorned with beautiful chairs, an Aron Kodesh and the full décor. The room filled up—with over 30 people. The hassidic woman from the human resources department joined my wife in

the Ezrat Nashim and I davened one of the most heimish and enthusiastic minchas in Israel with the chef, the mashgiach and the cleaning man. Only in Israel—meatballs and mincha!

Join 92Y and GESHER on April 23rd for “Resolving Conflict with Israel’s Ultra-Orthodox,” a discussion with Ethan Bronner (past NY Times Jerusalem bureau chief), Rabbi Avi Shafran (Agudah of North America), Ilan Geal-Dor (Founder of Beit Shemesh Community Leaders’ Roundtable) – moderated by Ari Goldman (Columbia School of Journalism).

Yom Ha’atzmaut at YBPY

Y

Frisch RealSchool Holds 2nd Annual Yom Iyun

packed and ready to go, and then had a blast touring the country, seeing the sights, and tasting the foods. They covered six cities in five hours and went home tired from their full day of fun.

accredited sectarian nonpublic school that can must be on the table.

For many children, the difference between a future of success and failure lies in the bricks of the building they call school. Therefore, we need your help in moving this bill along.

Reach out to your Legislators. Ask them to support S1929 or A2869. Call Senator Teresa Ruiz, Chair of the Senate Education Committee. Ask her to post the bill for a hearing. Together, we could ensure that this bill becomes a law. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our children.

F

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April 18, 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ 8 Iyar 5773 57

58, April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773

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American Friends of Yad Eliezer

BS”D

1102 E. 26th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11210

www.yadeliezer.org please go to the tab Agunos,Grushos Melamdim

Young Israel Of KGH Charity Fund 150-05 70th Road, Kew Garden Hills, New York 11367 The Charity that simply feeds & clothes Jews in Israel at ZERO expenses what a Zchus it would be for all of us if you would donate online at www.chickensforshabbos.com (718)261-9723 Our partner in Israel AJ Row aj@yadchaya.com Or Yad Eliezer.org go to the tab Agunos, Grushos & Melamdim

THIS CHARITY IS UNDER THE DIRECT AUSPICES OF RABBI FABIAN SCHONFELD AND RABBI DONIEL LANDER, ROSH HAYESHIVA OHR HACHAIM Thursday the 19th of Elul 5772 To the Generous Benefactors, I am writing this letter not only on my own behalf, but on behalf of my entire staff. Perhaps you know how hard it is to be a melamed. But I will take a moment to clarify to you a bit of my experience. I think that by doing so you will better understand me and others like myself, and you will understand how very great the chessed is that you do for us.

I chose to be a melamed for idealistic reasons- I wanted to bestow the rich tradition of yiddishkeit to Jewish children. I needed to work, but did not want to leave the world of Torah. I considered what the Sages say in praise of ‘Melamdei Tinokos’ and I knew that it was a role well suited to me.

Already in my first weeks as a melamed I saw that I had chosen a very challenging profession. My days were not just honey on Alef Beis and smiles. I quickly discovered that being a Melamed means trying to give over knowledge to thirty wild and boisterous kids who are interested in everything- except for learning! It takes all of my powers of persuasion and stagecraft, as well as careful consideration at each moment. You see, if I am a tad too hash I have instantly created 30 enemies that will do all that they can to embitter my life. If I am too lenient I can just lie down on the ground and watch as sixty feet trample on me. That leaves me on a very fine line that must be navigated with much prayer and siyyata dishmaya.

You must love with your whole heart each child that drives you crazy. The more difficult the kid, the more you have to love them. At times I need to teach rather cryptic passages in the Mishna or Gemara. If I haven’t prepared some stories and mashalim, I quickly find myself in the middle of a buzzing bee hive.

The truth is that with all of the challenges, I love my job, and the difficulties that I face don’t change that reality. Each day has its ups and downs.

I must be careful not to let the troubles throw me off.

There are days that I am in the clouds. I feel the Guiding Hand of HKBH at every moment. The words flow seamlessly from my mouth and the children draw in my words with thirst and healthy curiosity. I feel like the best ‘Rebbe’ in the South. When I come home I don’t need to say anything. From the sound of my ‘Shalom’ she already replies, ‘You had a good day, eh?’

Then of course there are gray days as well. Lots of them. On those days it is only the knowledge of the enormity of the task that I am trying to accomplish that keeps me from throwing in the towel and going to look for some other source of parnasa. At times problems with a particular child trouble me to the point that my head hurts and I lose sleep at nights tossing and turning and trying to think up some sort of solution. Other times the little free time that I have is used to run to parents and supervisors to try to straighten out an issue that is troubling a student. Even without any special circumstances my days are filled to the brim with teaching, preparing classes, and looking for new didactic ideas.

I am grateful for the salary that I make, but at times I wish for something more. I wish that someone would notice and acknowledge the effort, sweat and tears that I put into educating the next generation of Bnei Torah.

I get that acknowledgement from ‘Yad Eliezer’. When I first got the vouchers and was told that I was receiving them because I am a melamed, I felt as though I was getting a loving pat on the shoulder straight from heaven. It was only then that I realized how much I needed that acknowledgement- when I saw how very much it meant to me. It created an ongoing internal conversation between me and the benefactor. In my mind’s eye I would thank you for your generosity, and you would look me squarely and ‘reply’, “You know, it is in your merit and the merit of your colleagues that we will have another generation of yeshiva bochurim. I know that you give your whole heart and soul to your work, and that it is not only about parnasa. I know that it is the melamdim that ensure that there will be generation after generation learning Torah and continuing the responsibilities of Klal Yisrael.” I would stand a little taller and my gait would be a little lighter as these ‘discussions’ would take place.

(These talks would take place in my mind each month. I figured it was time to let you in on the conversation.)

The students could feel the difference in my manner. I’m sure of it. How could they not? I was uplifted and more confident. I strove to be worthy of the credit that I was being given, and as hard as I worked before (and I worked hard) I redoubled my efforts.

I am filled with gratitude to you for this change in my life. I don’t consider the help I receive ‘food vouchers’, rather in my mind they are badges of honor. My wife expresses her gratitude for your help as it makes the difference in getting us to the end of each month.

Many gracious blessings to you for your holy work. May HaShem fulfill all of your wishes for the good, and may we merit together to greet Moshiach speedily in our days.

With gratitude from me, my family and all of my dear students, One of the Melamdim

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April 18, 2013 • 8 Iyar 5773 59

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