March 2nd 2023 Purim Edition

We

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so, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month—that is, the month of Adar—when the king’s command and decree were to be executed, the very day on which the enemies of the Jews had expected to get them in their power, the opposite happened, and the Jews got their enemies in their power.” -Megillat Esther 9:1

printed upside down in the spirit of Purim- אוה ךופֹהנו !!!

HONORING LOCAL KIDNEY DONORS

Sunday | March 12 Renewal c u r rently has 7 Local Kidney Donors in Los Angeles

Doors Open 7:00 PM | Program Starts 8:00 PM Chabad

Hollywood 13079 Chandler Blvd | Sherman Oaks

EVENT COMMITTEE

Abraham Davidoff

• Rabbi Yanky & Hindy Kahn

Rabbi Yisroel & Yonina Majeski

David & Annie Statman

Menachem & Blima Striks

available at the event for those with interest to see if they are a match to donate a kidney

• Ester Semenova (Leibman) & Yehuda Leibman

• Irving & Linda Rubenstein

• Aharon & Shelly Striks

• Yoel & Sarit Rubenstein

Kidney Donor

• David & Miriam Striks

• Rabbi Aryeh & Debbie Striks

• Daniel Zebberman Kidney Donor

Chabad

For more information please contact Zack Plotzker at events@renewal.org or visit our website at www.renewal.org

Chabad of the Valley

Dear Diary,

Ihad the weirdest dream last night. We had just pulled up to the house after school, and the kids jumped out of the car before I had put it into park.

I went to get all of the groceries out of the trunk and miraculously was able to carry everything in on my own, like an octopus with 8 arms. The kids left every car door open, but Baruch Hashem for my two legs, I was able to kick all the doors closed. I followed the kids into the house like always, maneuvering my way by stepping over all of the shoes and backpacks already scattered all over the front hallway. It’s so considerate how my kids have already allowed me to get my weights, kicks, and obstacle course exercises in for the day.

The clock flashed 5:00 pm. One kid is screaming if dinner is ready because she has been starving for a few hours now. No fruit or veggie platters for these hungry hungry hippos, they want the real thing. Sounds like a typical day so far, but then here is where the weird parts started.

I transformed into an octopus with eight arms and three heads. One head was wearing a scrub cap, another was wearing my Shabbos sheitel, and the third was just spinning. And for those eight arms, this is what the hands were doing. Hand 1 was typing at the computer, hand 2 was holding the steering wheel while driving carpool, hand 3 was chopping veggies for a soup, hand 4 was signing homework, hand 5 was packing Shaloch Manos, hand 6 was changing the wound dressing on my patient, hand 7 was giving medication (after the 5 rights), and hand 8 was writing a scheduling chart to the upcoming month of Pesach cleaning. One ear was listening to a child’s voice reading her kriah, and the other ear was pressed down to my shoulder while on the phone taking telephone orders from a doctor.

At the same time, one eye was reading all the school emails so I don’t miss anything (there are so many!), and the other eye was glued open watching the dance my kids made up (if I blink, then they have to start all over again!)

Now it’s 6:30 pm, and I am really focused on giving 10 minutes of quality time to each child, while making noises to show that I’m still listening intently to all

the others during those 10 minutes, (G-d forbid anyone should feel ignored). But the only thing I could hear was all the beeping of IV poles saying “occluded,” bed alarms going off, and “code brown!” even though I was safely at home. Now it’s that time of the day when I switch from drinking all the coffee to a few sips of wine.

At 8 pm, the little ones decided they may glance toward their beds, but then they found the costume box. The child who was starving at 5 pm is starving again and needs a second dinner, which cannot be similar to the first.

At 9:30 pm, my daughter realized she had some homework. When things finally calmed down at 11 pm, I started to do my 15 minutes of nightly Cheshbon HaNefesh, but I accidentally looked at the exploding pantry, and remembered that my kids said “we have no good snacks.” I started to make my orders at the Kosher market, Instacart, and Target drive-up. But then the texts started coming in from the Mom friend who just looked at her phone and started creating her kids’ Purim costumes from scratch, and the other Mom friend who fell asleep at 7:30 in her kids’ bed but now is awake nursing the baby.

I found myself suddenly startled awake, while sitting up in bed, with the lights on, and the clock saying 1:35 am. And realized it was just a dream. I’m not really an octopus. Either way, I went downstairs to put away the leftovers, double lock the doors, run the dishwasher, put the shoes next to the backpacks, and turn off the lights in every single room. On the way up the stairs, I picked up all the items I placed at the bottom of the stairs to carry up, checked on each kid, turned off the reading lights, and set my alarm to awake in 4 hours. It seems like the dream will happen again tomorrow. Feeling accomplished and exhausted,

Ariela

For all those who left their sense of humor behind in February 2020, this is a PARODY (even though it’s mostly true). We tried to bring some fun into this Purim issue.

Purim is a time of bringing the hidden out into the open; a time for salvation when we least expect it. Purim is also a time when we reveal what is true and right, and when we believe that even though we can’t see it, Hashem is pulling the puppet strings, hidden above the marionette stage, even though it feels like we are lost and on our own.

In this issue, we have a political opinion on the “Right vs Left,” where readers are called to stand up and refrain from staying silent or scared to speak their political truth. We have an article on revealing our own mistakes to ourselves in our Parenting column, where we are challenged with seeing our role in the parent-child dynamic. We have a Personal Perspective article proclaiming not to hide our Jewishness in this antisemitic time, and a Purim Shpiel on masks!

We hope you enjoy it!

Yoel Halpern PUBLISHER publisher@thelajewishhome.com

Sara Halpern

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

sara@thelajewishhome.com

Ariela Kauffman

MANAGING EDITOR

editor@thelajewishhome.com

Avi Heyman HEAD OF SALES avi@thelajewishhome.com

8950 W Olympic Blvd #147 Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Tel: 213-538-7770

www.TheLAJewishHome.com

The LA Jewish Home is an independent biweekly magazine. Opinions expressed by writers are not necessarily the opinions of the publisher or editor. All submissions become the property of The LA Jewish Home and may be edited for publication. Pictures may be modified at our discretion to conform to standards of modesty in dress. The Jewish Home is not responsible for typographical errors, or for the kashrus of any advertised product or business advertised within.

Shabbos Zemanim

Friday, March 3

Parshas Tetzaveh

Shabbos Starts: 5:32 pm

Shabbos Ends: 6:37 pm

Rabbeinu Tam: 7:04 pm

Friday, March 10

Parshas Ki Tisa

Shabbos Starts: 5:38 pm

Shabbos Ends: 6:42 pm

Rabbeinu Tam: 7:09 pm

The Week In News

Biden Visits Kyiv

first time in recent years that an American president traveled to an active war zone not controlled by the U.S. military.

Arriving in Kyiv after a 10-hour overnight train ride from Poland, Biden appeared with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the heavily fortified presidential palace. Ukraine’s resilience over the last year, Biden proclaimed, had been “astounding,” and “the whole world sees it. The U.S.,” he said, would support Kyiv “as long as it takes” to repel the Russian invasion, which began February 24, 2022.

150K Ukrainians Made Aliyah

Americans were surprised to learn that their President had secretly slipped into Kyiv last Monday for a historic visit to showcase U.S. solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Of course, the visit came with a price of half-billion dollars in military aid. During the trip, President Joe Biden declared that Russian leader Vladimir Putin was “dead wrong” in his underestimation of Western support and resolve.

It’s been almost a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, and Biden’s visit came four days before that infamous anniversary.

Although the American people were not told of Biden’s visit in advance, officials made sure to notify Russia to ensure the President’s safety. This is the

“That dark night one year ago, the world was literally bracing for the fall of Kyiv... perhaps even the end of Ukraine,” said Biden, clad in a suit with a blue and yellow tie, the colors of the Ukrainian flag. “One year later, Kyiv stands, and Ukraine stands. Democracy stands.... The world stands with you.”

Zelenskyy met with the Western leader while wearing his trademark khaki sweatshirt and pants. The two leaders hugged when they met, and Zelenskyy said it was a “great honor” that Biden had come to visit. In a statement issued by the White House after his arrival, Biden said the U.S. would make another delivery of critical equipment to Ukraine, including artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems, and air surveillance radars.

More than 15,000 Ukrainians have immigrated to Israel since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine a year ago, according to government figures released Sunday. The immigration statistics put out by the quasi-governmental Jewish Agency for Israel and the Ministry of Aliya and Integration come five days ahead of the first anniversary of the war, which shows no signs of ending.“This is one of the largest rescue operations in history,” said Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog, chairman of the Jewish Agency. “It is the epitome of the notion of all of Israel being responsible for one another. Our sense of mutual responsibility serves as a moral compass that has guided us through history and will continue to do so.”

The new immigrants arrived in Israel with the help of the Jewish Agency and the cooperation of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, which established 18 emergency aliyah centers in countries bordering Ukraine

immediately after the Russian invasion. At these centers, the refugees found safe haven. Once they arrived in the Jewish state, they were placed in hotels across the country as part of the government’s “Operation Coming Home,” which was led by the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration. The Ukrainian immigrants include many young people who enrolled in special absorption programs, mothers with young children, and senior citizens including hundreds of Holocaust survivors.

World Jewry, led by the Jewish Federations of North America and Keren Hayesod, immediately came to the support of the Ukrainian Jewish community, along with help from Christian Friends of Israel (CFI). Tens of millions of dollars were raised in an unprecedented effort to assist the rescue and immigration process. “When the war broke out in Ukraine, I traveled as a member of Knesset to the refugee centers in Moldova to observe the aliyah process of those who fled the conflict zones first-hand,” said lawmaker Ofir Sofer. “As the minister of aliyah and integration, I saw the importance of welcoming the olim upon their arrival in Israel and assisting in their integration into Israeli society.” A total of 75,000 olim arrived in Israel in 2022, with the most coming from Russia followed by Ukraine. It was the largest number of new immigrants to arrive in 23 years. (JNS)

Ohio Metal Plant Explosion

An explosion tore through an Ohio metals plant last week, scattering molten metal and debris that rained down on neighboring buildings and killed one person, Steven Mullins, 46. Thirteen others were injured, mostly with burns, officials and witnesses said. The blast sent smoke billowing into the sky that could be seen for miles around the I. Schumann & Co. metals plant about 15 miles southeast of Cleveland. Thirteen people were taken to hospital, many of them with burn wounds. At least one was in critical condition, and one was pulled from the debris. All of those injured were on site, the falling debris having spared those at neighboring businesses. Many of those at the plant were in shock. For now, the cause of the explosion is unknown; the damage to the plant is significant. “We will work alongside investigators in their search for answers as part of our commitment to Northeast Ohio, where we have been operating for more than 100 years,” I. Schumann and Co., which produces copper, brass, and bronze alloys, said in a statement. The explosion was about 70 miles northwest of East Palestine, Ohio, where a train loaded with toxic chemicals derailed a few weeks ago, causing a fire that sent a cloud of smoke over the town and forced thousands of people to evacuate.

Alligator Found in Brooklyn

A large, four-foot-long alligator was pulled out of a lake in a New York City park on Sunday. The gator was discovered in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, the city’s second-largest public park. It was spotted by maintenance workers around 8 am on Sunday morning,

swimming in Prospect Park Lake.

The Parks Enforcement Patrol and the Urban Park Rangers were able to quickly rescue the animal, which they said was in “poor condition” when they found it. After being transported to the Animal Care

Center of NYC for treatment, the workers nicknamed the animal “Godzilla.” It will now reside in the Bronx Zoo for rehabilitation. Godzilla is only four feet long, but American alligators can grow to be over 12 feet long. Cold-blooded reptiles generally reside in warm waters. Officials believe that Godzilla was an abandoned pet.

“In addition to the potential danger to park goers this could have caused, releasing non-indigenous animals or unwanted pets can lead to the elimination of native species and unhealthy water quality,” a Parks Department spokesperson said. “In

this case, the animal was found very lethargic and possibly cold-shocked since it is native to warm, tropical climates.” Releasing animals inside a New York City park is illegal, and park rangers respond to about 500 reports of abandoned animals each year. Godzilla is not the first abandoned alligator found in the New York City metro area this year. In January, a man in Neptune, New Jersey, discovered an alligator inside a large plastic bin outside his home. The New Jersey alligator was rescued on a cold January night and brought to a new home at the Cape May Zoo.

THE BEST OF 2023

R’ Shmuel Kamenetzky Urges Public to Help Save Jewish Children In Public School

213-910-6099

Better Late Than Never?

Currently, there are countless Jewish children registered in public schools who are unaware that they have the opportunity to receive a Torah education. As a result, they may lose their Jewish identity forever if they continue in the public school system. It is imperative that we raise awareness and take action to rescue future generations.

Nechomas Yisroel, a non-profit organization, is taking a proactive stance to address this issue by offering financial assistance for yeshiva education. The organization’s mission is to ensure that every Jewish child has access to a genuine Torah education, regardless of financial limitations.

new year is approaching, and the Rosh Yeshiva has urgently appealed to Klal Yisroel to help spread this crucial message. With your support, Nechomas Yisroel can continue to rescue Jewish children from public schools and place them in yeshivas where they can receive a quality Torah education.

Over the last 29 years, Nechomas Yisroel led by rabbi Asher Freidman Nechomas Yisroel founder has successfully rescued nearly 30,000 children from public schools and provided them with a genuine Torah education by collaborating with 196 schools to place these children. Join the cause and help preserve the future of Jewish identity.

The postal service has a bad reputation, and sometimes it really earns that standing. Recently, a letter was delivered to its final destination on Hamlet Road in south London, more than 100 years after it was sent. “We noticed that the year on it was ’16. So we thought it was 2016,” Finlay Glen told CNN. “Then we noticed that the stamp was a King rather than a Queen, so we felt that it couldn’t have been 2016.” Although the letter arrived at the property a few years ago, Glen only recently took it to the local historical society, so they can research it further.

The envelope has a 1 pence stamp bearing the head of King George V. The letter was sent in the middle of World War I, more than a decade before Queen Elizabeth II was

born. “Once we realized it was very old, we felt that it was okay to open up the letter,” said Glenn, 27. Under the Postal Services Act 2000, it is a crime to open mail not addressed to you. But Glen said he can “only apologize” if he’s committed a crime. “As a local historian, I was amazed and delighted to have the details of the letter passed to me,” said Stephen Oxford, editor of the Norwood Review. The correspondence is a picture of what life was like a century ago. The letter was addressed to “my dear Katie,” who, according to Oxford, was the wife of local stamp magnate Oswald Marsh.

It was written by Christabel Mennel, the daughter of tea merchant Henry Tuke Mennel, while her family was on holiday in Bath, in western England. In the letter, Mennel writes: “I’ve been most miserable here with a very heavy cold.” Yet it remains a mystery as to how the letter arrived at Glen’s flat. According to the postal service, “We appreciate that people will be intrigued by the history of this letter from 1916 but have no further information on what might have happened.” The check is in the mail.

If you are aware of a child who fits this profile, please notify their parents about Nechomas Yisroel’s initiative. You can also contact Nechomas Yisroel directly with the information. By spreading the word, you can contribute to saving an entire generation.

The registration deadline for the

In this zechus of helping Hashem’s children, may you merit seeing a great deal of Nachas from your own children. For more information on Nechomas Yisroel visit their website www.kollect.live/nechomas-yisroel/ or contact them directly at 718.851.0340 via call or text.”

Going Nowhere

was about 2,000 miles from California when the airline received word that an electrical fire at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport had led to Terminal 1 being closed. A decision was made to turn the plane around and return to Auckland, where it landed 16 hours after departing. “Diverting to another U.S. port would have meant the aircraft would remain on the ground for several days, impacting a number of other scheduled services and customers,” an airline spokeswoman told the New Zealand Herald. The airline apologized to passengers and said those aboard the flight would be booked on the next available flights to New York. What could be worse than air travel? Traveling in the air–without really traveling.

Passengers on a flight from New Zealand to New York spent 16 hours in the air and ended up going nowhere. The Air New Zealand nonstop flight from Auckland to New York had been in the air for about 8 hours last Thursday and

RABBI DR. ARI BERMAN, PRESIDENT OF YESHIVA UNIVERSITY, AND THE EMIL A. AND JENNY FISH CENTER FOR HOLOCAUST & GENOCIDE STUDIES REQUEST THE PLEASURE OF YOUR COMPANY AT A DINNER

Honoring Mr. Emil A. Fish

Founder of the Emil A. and Jenny Fish Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 2023 AT 5:00 PM

CASA DEL MAR 1910 OCEAN WAY

SANTA MONICA, CA 90405

Welcome By: Rabbi Dr. Jacob J. Schacter

University Professor of Jewish History and Jewish Thought, Yeshiva University

Speaker: Chana Stiefel

Is the award-winning author of The Tower of Life: How Yaffa Eliach Rebuilt Her Town in Stories and Photographs, a moving biography of the woman who created The Tower of Life, a powerful exhibit at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC.

COCKTAIL ATTIRE

FOR MORE INFORMATION, TO REGISTER OR DONATE, GO TO FISHDINNER@YU.EDU OR CALL 646.592.4513.

Ner Aryeh Melave Malka Celebrates Upcoming Rosh Chodesh Adar

LINK Kollel Hosts Special Pre-Purim Fun Day For Kids

On Sunday, February 19th, the youth division of the LINK Kollel hosted a special day of enjoyable activities for children. First off, a magician had the children enthralled with all kinds of fun tricks. Then in honor of Purim, Mrs. Dina Ram, LINK’S ever-creative Youth Director, organized a wacky hat contest. Children came in wearing their silliest hats and then decorated them with humorous stickers. Delicious refreshments were served to top off the afternoon.

Following Rabbi Weiner’s interactive shiur, a delicious pizza Melave Malka was enjoyed by all. The special guest of the evening, Joey Newcomb, arrived and treated the boys to Ruach-filled hours of Kumzitz, singing, and Leibedig danc -

prelude to Chodesh Adar - an uplift

Let'sTravelto MOROCCO

Machon LA Honors Rabbi and Mrs. Revah

n Rosh Chodesh Adar, over 250 guests filled Kanner-

vah and featuring guest speaker Rabbi Gershon Miller of Detroit, it was a-

don, was delighted with the reception’s success. “As the Rov and Rebbitzen of Adas Torah, founders of our school, and with two daughters enrolled, Rabbi and Mrs. Revah were the natural choice

The evening was opened by Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner of Cedar Sinai Medical Center and Knesset Israel Synagogue of Beverlywood. Rabbi Weiner’s daughter Kayla was a member of Machon’s inaugural class and her Torah learning continues today in a Yerushalayim seminary. “People told me I was crazy to send my daughter to a new school,” Rabbi Weiner said. “Now they ask me how I was so wise!”

In a captivating speech, Rabbi Gershon Miller, Rosh HaMosad of Beth Yehudah in Detroit, compared today’s Jewish world to that of our grandparents. While we celebrate the exponential growth of Jewish communities and infrastructure, we are witnessing a decline in inner devotion and passion for Mitzvos. This is why we need schools like Machon LA.

Machon students Tzippy Blum and Yael Kleinman expressed their gratitude to Mrs. Revah for decades of teaching and guidance, but most of all for being a living role model with whom they can have a lifelong relationship.

The program ended with warm words from the Rosh Yeshiva of MBY, Rabbi Shalom Tendler shlita. He complimented Rabbi Revah’s nonjudgmental personality which makes every kind of Jew feel respected and valued.

According to Rabbi Gordon, “All in all, the reception did a beautiful job expressing the values and educational philosophy of Machon LA.”

Love N Groceries Cooks with Lucy’s Lavish Kitchen

On Tuesday, February 21st, Love N Groceries spent a delicious evening learning to make traditional Moroccan dishes from Lucy Benlolo of Lucy’s Lavish Kitchen. Love N Groceries is a non-profit organization whose mission is to help alleviate the financial and emotional burdens felt by many of the widows, widowers, and their children in our local Los Angeles Jewish Community.

This event was hosted at the home of Miri Robin and included twenty-five lucky ladies who learned one-on-one from the chef. With her Moroccan, European, and Middle Eastern background, Lucy enjoys get-

JSTEAM at Emek

ting friends and family together to learn the secrets of traditional Moroccan cooking with specialty items that will enhance your Shabbat table. Her recipes are easy and fun to make, as well as delicious and healthy. Lucy generously donated a portion of her proceeds from this event to support Love N Groceries. If you are interested in hosting a fun evening of cooking and laughing with your girlfriends while supporting Love n Groceries please reach out to Lucy @ lucyslavishkitchen or www.lovengroceries.com to speak with a team member. Additionally, you may visit the website to sign up for the weekly Love n Groceries commitment of $25 to help support the LNG families.

This week, Emek’s 3rd to 5th-grade students participated in an after-school interactive JSTEAM program. JSTEAM, which stands for Sciences, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics, united with Judaic content and history, made for a powerful and compelling combination at our Project Based Learning Night.

The evening is comprised of numerous experiments and the ways in which they connect to Judaism. Some of the stations featured were “Force

+ Motion:” marble painting representing Mitzvah goreres Mitzvah, “Paper Airplane Toss:” Tefillos soaring up to Hashem, “Paper Plate Maze:” with Teshuva, a Jew can always find his way back to Hashem, “Coffee Filter Chromatography:” judge every person favorably, and “Mini Plants:” Tu B’Shvat is a time to plant and always work to better ourselves. From the colorful displays and interactive exhibits to the exciting activities, each educator brought his or her unique talents and ideas to the forefront, and together, they made the magic happen. The students were extremely involved and enthusiastic, and many parents commented on the creative, engaging nature of the activities. JSTEAM PBL Night is one of Emek’s many annual events, which infuses students with 21st-century learning and prepares them for a global economy.

Maor Community and Awareness Event is a Success

Hachnasat Kallah of Greater Los Angeles Night IN

We The Faigie Dominitz Rabner Hachnasat Kallah of Greater Los Angeles celebrated their annual Buffet Reception on February 14th. Nessah synagogue was packed with hundreds of women from all over to enjoy A Night “IN” Our Town. The theme was brought about by showcasing local talent of all sorts.

We were so thrilled that over 250 people came out to Maor’s first Community Awareness Event on Tu B’shvat to support Torah education for Jewish children with special needs here in Los Angeles. Thank you to everyone in the community for joining us and helping us make this important vision a reality!

We heard beautiful Divrei Torah from Rabbi Mendel Zajac, Maor’s Torah Studies Director, who shared that Tu B’shvat celebrates potential, like the potential of a seed and the potential of each Jewish child cultivated with Torah values.

We were moved as we heard from parents who shared what a special place Maor is and how it has been

life-changing for so many children and families in our community. To those who attended, thank you for joining us and supporting Maor’s mission. You are making such an incredible impact on the lives of our students!

For more information about Maor and our programs, please email us at info@maorla.com.

ETTA Has Record Attendance at Job Fair

participants.

According to Jerry Biederman, ETTA’s Recruitment Manager, “this year’s Job Fair yielded the highest number of pre-registrations we have ever had.” Each of ETTA’s department managers were present to conduct onthe-spot interviews with the candidates. “We also have several more interviews scheduled for candidates who were unable to attend,” said Biederman.

“By far and away the most impressive turnout of qualified candidates I’ve seen at one of our Job Fairs,” commented Allen Remer, Director of Administration.

ETTA, the premier service provider primarily assisting Jewish adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families in Los Angeles, hosted its bi-annual Job Fair on February 21st at its main office in North Hollywood. The event proved to be a resounding success, attracting a record number of job seekers who were provided with access to a wide range of employment opportunities, including one-on-one support at clients’ homes, employment mentoring, teaching life skills, working at ETTA’s Group Homes, and providing assistance for Day Program

The success of ETTA’s Job Fair is a testament to the surging demand for skilled and empathetic workers in the wake of the pandemic. ETTA continues to seek out compassionate, qualified, and responsible staff yearround to meet the growing needs of its clients. As a non-profit organization with a strong Jewish heritage, ETTA remains committed to providing exceptional services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. If you or someone you know is looking for a fulfilling career that makes a positive impact, please visit etta.org/ JobFair to upload a resume, obtain additional information and discover more about this rewarding opportunity.

Activities were set up for all to enjoy from canvas painting, acrylic pouring, skin care product making, chocolate mold creations, jewelry making, and tambourine design. Young and old enjoyed the delicious food generously provided by Mendel Goldman of MGM catering and Elizabeth Hecht of Schwartz bakery. The program featured some of LA’s finest

talent with speeches by R Majeski and Nava Ben Moshe. The highlight of the evening was a Kumzitz led by Rachel Rose. Girls of all ages filled the room with song and dance creating an atmosphere of warmth, unity, and fun! The raffle prizes added to the excitement and everyone had a fabulous time.

The most rewarding aspect of the theme of “In town” was that everyone there; vendors, artisans, and supporters alike were able to take part in this special mitzva to benefit our own “In town” girls!

Meaningful Shloshim for Sharon Shenker, A”H

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TThe Megila describes Esther Hamalka by saying רתסאו יהתו היאור לכ יניעב ןח תאשנ. Esther had the unique quality of Chein, she charmed everyone around her. Rebbitzen Sharon Shenker A”H exemplified this midda as well. She had true Chein, and everyone who knew her loved her and felt loved by her.

On Wednesday night, over 80 women gathered live as the LINK Kollel in conjunction with the Community Shul, commemorated the Shloshim of our dear teacher, mentor, and friend Rebbetzin Sharon Shenker A”H. This moving tribute included divrei chizuk from Rav Baruch Yehuda Gradon, Rosh Kollel of Mirkaz HaTorah, as well as divrei Torah, memories, and reflections from some of Sharon’s closest friends.

Rebbetzin Judith Cohen, from the Community Shul led the women inTehillim. We then had a chance to say a Bracha out loud and respond Amein התמשנ יוליעל. Rebbitzen Chana Heller, long-time work partner of Jewish women’s initiative/ AISH Los Angeles and closest friend shared the amazing hashgacha of how then college student, Sharon Gold, won a raffle ticket to Eretz Yisrael and through this began her journey to Yiddishkeit that would impact so many.

Next, Rabbi Gradon gave us a stirring approach to processing the tragic loss. Abby Symonds, a close friend of Sharon, spoke so touchingly of Sharon’s impact on her. She spoke of her unique approach to hosting, the legendary “Shenker shuffle,” encouraging her guests to be vulnerable and meet new people. She spoke about her vitality and wisdom, and how she made everyone feel like a million dollars. Rebbetzin Batyah Brander then gave beautiful insights into Megillas Esther and so poignantly connected the life and middos of Esther Malka with Sharon A”H.

Mrs. Chavi Jacobs, one of Sharon’s closest friends spoke so eloquently about the deep significance of Sharons petira that

BRACHA

LEAH POLLACK, Future Doctor Touro College Los Angeles, ‘18, Touro’s New York Medical College, ‘24

was on Rosh Chodesh Shevat, and her shloshim at the start of Adar. Sharon embodied the growth of shvat and the Simcha of Adar. Despite the indescribable pain (which she experienced for years), we learned about her incredible internal gevura/strength that she harnessed to overcome her physical limitations. She would push forward to be her best self.

At the end of the program, Mrs. Carli Becker, who co-coordinated the evening with Mrs. Brander, introduced an initiative to commemorate Sharon’s legacy and to bring an aliyas neshama. Participants were encouraged to notice

moments of G-dly love in their everyday experiences and to then record them in a mini journal. The inscription in these journals paid tribute to Rebbetzin Sharon Shenker, who regularly modeled the importance of gratitude to the people around her and to Hakadosh Baruch Hu.

We will sorely miss her warmth, wisdom, her kindness, and her friendship. May the Shenker family know no more sorrow, and may Sharon’s legacy live on in our hearts and minds, through the lessons she gave to us in her all too short but impactful lifetime

We Thank the LAPD

Yeshivat Yavneh has Week-Long Adar Celebrations

In In the early morning of February 15th, a man was shot while walking to his car off of Pico Blvd. after morning prayers. At first, the police indicated it was not targeted, but random. It was not until the next day, when a second man was shot, also after leaving morning prayers off of Pico Blvd., that the LAPD recognized that the first incident was indeed a targeted antisemitic attack and that both hate crimes were committed by the same person.

Later on Thursday afternoon, Jamie Train, 28 years old, was arrested near Palm Springs. He is being

charged with federal hate crimes. He has a history of making antisemitic statements and personal threats to other Jews, including those he went to dental school with. He admitted to police he searched for a Kosher market to know where to find his targets and identified them by their head covering.

On Friday and Saturday, Pico Blvd. was heavily patrolled by the LAPD on horses and members of Magen Am. The Jewish community wants to thank the LAPD for the support and protection that the LAPD provides, and to Magen Am for their leadership in keeping our community safe and secure.

YAYOE’s Annual Presentation by Mr. “Pistachio Farmer” Ichaki

On Tu B’Shevat, our pre school and girls in first, second, and third grade learned about trees in a unique way from a special pistachio farmer (and YAYOE father) Mr. Nadav Ichaki of Nut Farmers and Fistook LLC. Mr. Ichaki has made his presence an annual event at YAYOE, to teach us about the growing, harvesting, and processing of pistachio nuts and almonds here in California. Everyone asked thoughtful questions and was amazed at the complexity of the agricultural processes.

Mr. Ichaki’s colorful video highlighted the importance of Hashem’s bracha of geshem and the creation of

honey bees for the successful cultivation of all agricultural crops. We learned that without this process, we would not enjoy many of the fruits and vegetables that we do, including chocolate.

As a special treat, Mr. Ichaki presented each girl (and Morah!) with a small peach, nectarine, or cherry sapling. We look forward to hearing updates on their growth.

Thank you, Mr. Ichaki and the entire Ichaki family, for your continued generosity in sharing your expertise, for the yummy samples, and for an interesting, relevant, and memorable way to spend Tu B’Shevat.

Epic Family Comes to Los Angeles

The L.A. Community was excited to celebrate its fifth year with EPIC Family, an international Chinuch organization that Empowers and Inspires Parents and Children. With the support of local Rabbonim and Menahalim, the Epic Family mission is to provide Chizuk to the communities that they visit, with added support and guidance in all aspects of parenting.

EPIC Family spent two Epic weeks in the greater Los Angeles area, including Hancock Park, Pico Robertson, the Valley, and Tarzana. In total there were 3 Shabbatonim across 13 Kehillos, Shiurim, and Lectures for boys and girls at 10 Yeshivas and Schools as well as a Motzai Shabbos Chinuch Think Tank panel attended by many and evening events at different homes in the community, empowering hundreds of parents and inspiring thousands of children.

Events were held for every age from elementary school age to parents of parents (grandparents), and everywhere in between. EPIC Family provides additional resources for schools, teachers, and Rabbeim as well as offering in-house training and personal sessions. They had a tremendous impact on the community with over 50 total engagements.

In Israel, the organization continues to help Olim and their families, who have decided to move to Israel to help them acclimate to their new home. They ensure that families have the necessary resources to educate and lead their families and have a successful tran-

sition, by running a comprehensive and professional mentoring program for hundreds of boys and girls every year and guidance for parents by social workers and therapists.

Many families enjoyed private one on one sessions with leading Rabbonim, and personal advice specific to their unique situation. We are so happy and thankful that EPIC Family decided to make Los Angeles one of its focus cities, and we look forward to their continued efforts in helping provide additional resources for our community.

Torah Thought Parshas Zachor: Remembering Each Jew’s Holiness

Rabbi Moshe Weinberger

Adapted for publication by Binyomin

Wolf

The inyan of Parshas Zachor is to remember, and we also find the inyan of remembering when the Torah talks about the Urim v’Tumim. “You shall place both stones on the shoulder straps of the ephod, stones of memory for Bnai Yisroel. And Aharon shall carry their names before Hashem on both his shoulders as a remembrance.” (Shemos 28:12). “Aharon shall carry the names of Bnai Yisroel on the choshen mishpat on his heart when he approaches the kodesh as a constant remembrance before Hashem.” (Shemos 28:29). The Ramban explains that the letters of the Urim V’Tumim would light up. They were called Urim because they would light up before the eyes of the Kohein Gadol, and Tumim because with his ruach hakodesh and temimas halev, pureness of heart, the in Megilla (12b) explains that the Megilla calls Mordechai “Ben Yair” because he illuminated the eyes of Yisroel with his tefilla. Similarly, it calls him “Ben Shimi” because he was a son whose tefillos Hashem heard, from the word “shema.”

Through Purim, we see a wondrous idea in the koach of tefilla. We see that “kimu v’kiblu” did not just apply to Torah, but to tefilla as well. Up until the time of the Anshei Knesses HaGedolah, everyone davened according to their heart’s desire. The Anshei Knesses HaGedolah, which existed around the time of Purim, established the letters, words, and form of davening that we are familiar with today.

This is explained by R’ Yonasan David, the Rosh Yeshiva of Pachad Yitzchak and son-in-law of R’ Hutner, zt”l, who says that with the Yom Tov of Purim, Hashem revealed to us the kedushas haguf, the holiness of the bodies, of Klal Yisroel and of every single Jew.

The pasuk in Yeshaya (51:21) says, “Therefore, hear now this, thou aflicted, and drunken, but not with wine.”

The Gemara in Eruvin (68a) uses this pasuk to state that since the Bais Hamikdash was destroyed, Klal Yisroel should be patur, exempt, from tefilla/davening because we are drunk from the trial and tribulations of galus, exile, and we don’t have the settled mind required to daven properly.

Haman’s decree was “to destroy, to slay, and eradicate” (Esther 7:4), to simply destroy every Jewish body and eradicate them from this world. To Amalek, Haman, Hitler, and even the current rasha in Iran, the thoughts of a Jew do not make any difference – they do not care what the Jew is thinking. These reshaim want to simply remove the physical presence of the Jewish people from this world.

The Gemara (also in Megilla 9a) refers to the letters of Aleph-Bais as gufin, bodies. The Anshei Knesses HaGedolah, by arranging the letters/bodies into tefillos in the format that we now know, infused the tefillos with all of the kavanos and sodos which enable a Jew to daven without even understanding the meaning of the words he is saying.

When a Jew simply focuses on the form of the letters, he accomplishes wonders with the letters themselves. Purim revealed the kedusha of the body of a Jew. After we read the Megillah, we sing “Shoshanas Yaakov” in which we say, “You have been their eternal salvation.” On Purim, it was revealed that even when the body of a Jew is in a state of nonwine-induced drunkenness due to galus,

behind the message. However, the koach of Amalek confuses us and causes us to misread the letters, and prevents us from believing in the eternal remembrance of kedushas Yisroel.

Even though a Jew does not understand the tefilla he is saying, the tefilla is still filled with an unbelievable kedusha and ohr. This is what was shown to us on Purim by Mordechai, who was a member of the Anshei Knesses HaGadola who illuminated our eyes with tefilla.

In the paragraph that is recited after leining the Megillah, it says, “Hashem saw the tefilla.” Usually, tefilla is heard. But here, following the miraculous events of Purim, Hashem saw the osios, the letters, of the tefillos, which Mordechai had illuminated in the eyes of Klal Yisrael. There was a time when the Baal Shem Tov, zy”a, was traveling with his shamash and suddenly lost all his madraigos of learning and ruach hakodesh. He turned to his shamash and said, “Repeat after me.” The Baal Shem Tov started reciting the letters of the Aleph Bais one by one, with the shamash repeating the letters after him. When they completed the entire Aleph Bais, the Baal Shem Tov’s ruach hakodesh returned. The Baal Shem Tov’s simple recitation of the letters of the Aleph Bais had a wonderous result because the letters themselves are holy and powerful.

I remember, while on a trip to a Holocaust museum, hearing someone read just the names of those lost in the Churban. Just hearing the names being read aloud had a profound effect on me.

what state of awareness he is in. Hashem, the “Kohen Gadol,” takes every letter and every guf, and constantly weaves wondrous combinations with them. The result is a magnificent garment of Kiddush Hashem that Hashem proudly wears.

Everyone remembers that in Mishkan Shilo there was the Kohen Gadol named Eli, who misread the holy Jewish letter/guf of Chana. When Eli saw Chana in the Mishkan, her lips were moving but no sound was coming out. According to the Gra, Eli inquired of the Urim V’Tumim, but he misread the letters and read “shikora, drunk” instead of “kesheira, kosher.” He said to her, “You’re a drunk. Leave the house of Hashem!” Chana responded, “No, my master. You are misreading the letters (the ruach hakodesh is not resting upon you).”

Eli misread Chana’s letter/guf. Chana ultimately went on to give birth to Shmuel Hanavi, who cut off the head of Agag, King of Amalek. Shmuel, whose mother was misinterpreted as an unimportant guf, was the one who destroyed the King of Amalek, whose very koach, strength, and essence, is misreading and destroying Jewish gufim.

We are certain and trust that Hashem is mitzaref our osios for us even though we are in a state of drunkenness by lacking full awareness of the reality of life due to our golus. We are confident and trust in the eternity of Yisroel.

the body, not just the neshama, is eternal. On Purim, we learned that Jewish eternity is not exclusively for the soul but for the body as well. The salvation of Purim extends to our holy bodies, which are themselves letters of the Torah. Chazal say, “yesh shishim ribo osios laTorah, there are 600,000 letters in the Torah,” corresponding to the 600,000 Jewish people who left Mitzrayim.

Even though a Jew might not know what he’s saying when he davens, by saying the letters and words of the tefil los in the seder established by the Anshei Knesses HaGedola, his tefillos light up and wonderous combinations are made. This is connected to the inyan of drink ing (a little bit) on Purim. Even though we might be slightly drunk and might not be fully aware, the letters themselves are automatically combined in a won drous way. This is the secret of the Urim V’umim, which were simply letters that were illuminated. It was only through the ruach hakodesh of the Kohen Gadol that he was able to see the proper com binations and understand the meaning

Now we can understand how the names of the Shvatim that were written on the Choshen served as a constant remembrance before Hashem. The letters are the gufim of every single Jew that the Kohen Gadol wears on his shoulders

“And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation.” (Esther 9:28) We should be zocheh to see the final downfall of the reshaim and the lifting up Klal Yisroel, b’mheira b’yameinu. Amen.

Rav Moshe Weinberger, shlita, is the founding Morah d’Asrah of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY, and serves as leader of the new mechina Emek HaMel-

“Even though a Jew does not understand the tefilla he is saying, the tefilla is still filled with an unbelievable kedusha and ohr.”

Rabbi Meir Sultan

When one pauses to reflect on the good in his life, it encourages him to focus on the many blessings Hashem has granted him. The opportunity to share some thoughts prompted me to reflect on the many blessings Hashem has placed in my life. Being involved in community work means meeting individuals from all walks of life and in all stages of life. As a Mohel and Rav of a young and growing community in Valley Village, I find myself celebrating the joyous occasions of others daily. Whether it be a Brit Milah, an engagement, or a wedding, the opportunity to take an active role in the Smachot of others fills me with gratitude.

However, being present for the good times also means sharing in the dark and difficult days. In the last two weeks alone, a startling number of young and seemingly healthy individuals whom I know personally, both in California and elsewhere, have become suddenly and deathly ill. The desire to help and make things better is human nature and aligns with being a Jew. It is easy to be filled with feelings of despair and sadness in the face of so many tragedies. One can easily succumb to fear and hopelessness. Questions arise that often lack answers. Our history as the Jewish nation is fraught with times of sorrow and stories of our ancestors turning to Hashem in their greatest hour of need. And, ultimately, the message derived from these stories is one of hope.

Following his harrowing experiences in a concentration camp during World War II, Austrian psychiatrist Dr. Victor Frankl wrote “Man’s Search for Meaning.” He stated: “Once an individual’s search for meaning is successful, it not only renders him happy but also gives him the capability of coping with suffering.” Frankl concluded that the purpose of life is to find meaning. He believed that even in suffering, meaning and purpose could be found. In the late 1940s, Frankl conducted a poll in France. Of those surveyed, 89% agreed that man needs “something” in his life that provides a sense of purpose and meaning. In another poll, 61% of the individuals shared that they had something or someone in their lives for whom they were prepared to sacrifice their own life. Frankl’s message was that a primary motivation in life is

Torah Thought

man’s resolute search for meaning. Just as every individual is different, so too will the things they attach meaning to vary. Finding the meaning in one’s life will be uniquely defined by each person and their circumstances.

This week’s Parsha begins with the words “ הוצת התאו.” The Midrash in Shemot Rabbah connects this phrase to a Pasuk in Yermiyahu (11:16) in which Hashem calls Bnei Yisrael: “A leafy olive tree, beautiful with shapely fruit.” In his Sefer “Darkei Mussar,” Rav Yaacov

his father at the window conveying this very message. “Your brother’s names will be inscribed on the Ephod, do you wish for yours to be erased?” At that moment, Yaakov reminded Yosef of how great he was, and it enabled him to pass the test. Whilst we all hope to

be blessed with a long life, it is our innate desire to have a good life. Every individual will encounter times in their life when they have control over their life circumstances and at times when no control is granted. When this occurs, one is often left reeling and struggling to find solid ground. When it boils down to the quality of life we want, we must explore those aspects of our lives that we can take charge of. Every choice one makes has an impact and shapes the way we live. The Torah teaches that each one of us has greatness within. The first step is recognizing it. Tapping into our greatness enables us to utilize this gift from Hashem to strengthen and fortify ourselves on a personal and communal level.

Rabbi Meir Sultan, a graduate of Yeshivat Mikdash Melech & Torah Ore, received his semicha from Harav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg zt”l, chief justice of the Supreme Rabbinical court of Jerusalem. Rabbi Sultan is the Rav and Executive Director of the Chazak Bet Medrash in Valley Village, as well as a leading Sephardic Mohels in Los Angeles. The Rabbi and his family have been involved on the kiruv front for the greater Los Angeles Jewish community for over ten years.

Neiman zt”l elaborates and analyzes this Midrash by expounding on the correlation between a Jew and the olive tree. Just as olives produced by the tree must be compressed until the oil is extracted, so too, a Jew has his greatest potential accessible within himself amongst the turmoil, difficulties, and anxieties which surround him. The ability to rise above the challenges we face is within each one of us. Becoming cognizant of our inner strength is a critical component to overcoming adversity.

The Meshech Chochma alludes to this idea in Pasuk 39:7 where Hashem instructs us to place the Avnei Shoham on the Efod of the Kohen as a “reminder.” What is this “reminder” referring to? He explains that when a Jew sees the name of his tribe on such a holy garment, it compels him to reflect on his own inner greatness. How elevated we must be individually and as a nation to merit such an honor!

Yosef Hatzadik, whilst being seduced by Eshet Potifar, saw the image of

“It is easy to be filled with feelings of despair and sadness in the face of so many tragedies.”

Shalom Bayit Through Purim

Rabbi Nir Yacoby

Purim

Purim, the day we dress up with an alter ego, is an opportunity to check our ego. And if we don’t – don’t worry –our wives will help us keep it in check!

The king makes a request of his wife, but she ignores him, and he gets livid. Why? For the same reason, you get upset when your wife ignores you – a perceived threat to your ego.

The king asks Haman for advice, and later invites him to a private party. Both times Haman thinks it’s all about himself. Your wife says “I had a hard day” and you retort “you think you had a hard day? Wait until I tell you about mine!” – you’re thinking it’s all about you, don’t you?!

gallows Haman built, his life may have been spared. The man who wanted it all and lost it all. Your wife raises your kids, feeds them (and you), and you flare up because she misplaced her shoes?!?

Your ego bloats you. So when your wife pops your balloon, ouch, it’s all for your Shalom Bayit.

Torah Thought Yom Hakipurim – Yom K’Purim – Tikunei Zohar

Rabbi Mordechai Shifman

The Tikunei Zohar notes that Yom Kippur is akin to Purim, which signifies that Purim is even greater than Yom Kippur. How can Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year, only be compared to Purim?

At the Sinaitic revelation, the Torah states, “Vayichan sham Yisroel,” Bnei Yisroel united and then received the Torah. Forty days later, they served the Golden Calf and the threat of annihilation loomed over them. They then received atonement on Yom Kippur and were saved from destruction.

“It was not until Purim that Bnei Yisroel reunited and was, therefore, able to reestablish connections that even Yom Kippur could not.”

furad’ – “scattered and disconnected.” Our Sages note that this does not just connote a lack of geographical connection but also a lack of unity among Bnei Yisroel. Esther reflects upon this when she instructs Mordechai “kenos kol haYehudim” – “gather together all the Jews.” It is this unification that leads to a reaffirmation of Kabbalas HaTorah, “Kimu Vekiblu HaYehudim.”

The Purim saga reflects the repairing of the damage created at the sin of the Golden Calf. Yom Kippur atoned for the sin, but did not restore the unity that once existed. It was not until Purim that Bnei Yisroel reunited and was, therefore, able to reestablish connections that even Yom Kippur could not.

If it weren’t for the tallest Rabbi Nir and his wife Atrian give regular classes on Shalom Bayit. His popular 3-minute podcast is funny and draws Shalom Bayit ideas from the Torah portion of the week. To register: ShalomInComics@gmail.com

The Talmud teaches that the sins that precipitated the threat of annihilation on Purim were the bowing down to Haman and the bowing to the statue erected by Nevchadnezzar. When requesting permission to destroy the Jewish people from Achashveirosh, Haman comments that they are “mefuzar ume-

Our Sages teach us that we were redeemed in Nissan and will once again be redeemed in Nissan. May it be Hashem’s will that this Purim we once again reunite and in this merit be worthy of the final redemption.

Have a great Shabbos and a freilichen Purim

Rabbi Mordechai Shifman, Head of School Emek Hebrew Academy, Teichman Family Torah Center

Mommy Hacks Life Squad

Most Popular Kitchen Hacks

Tikva Braum and Rena Kohengadol

#1 Google Maps

When it comes to Purim, make Google Maps your best friend. With so many deliveries, you’re bound to be overwhelmed. With google maps, you can organize your route to save the most amount of time. To start, open google maps, under search here, add your first address. Next, click start. Then, click the 3 horizontal dots next to your location and click add stop. Add in the next address, and click add stop. Repeat the process until you have all your addresses in and click done.

#2 Door Compass

Since Purim day is one of the most hectic days on the Jewish calendar, we figured this hack is perfect for all of you. When my daughter bought me the “Shabbos Compass”, I thought, hey, this would be perfect for Purim when everyone is knocking on our doors and we are not home. You can customize your clock to say “out for deliveries, be back at 2” or “come right in!” A great alternative to this is making your own DIY compass. By purchasing blank game spinners on amazon, you can put your own custom message and hang it directly on your door.

#3 Trade Money for Candy

Purim is a notorious day for getting a lot of junk! A great way of getting your kids to get rid of some of the candy is by having them trade it in for money. For example, for every 10 candies they turn in, they get $1 towards whatever prize/ toy they want to earn. This small investment can spare you some super hyperactive children as well as hefty dentist bills in the long run.

#4 Laundry Baskets and Trash Bags?!?

Storing your mishloach manot in the car can get out of control. Simply place two large laundry baskets in the trunk of your car. One to store the ones you are giving out, and the other to collect what you received. Another must-have for the car is a large garbage bag to hang in the back of the car to collect all the wrappers and trash.

Tikva Braum and Rena Kohengadol, as mommylifesquad, provide a fresh dose of hacks, tips, and trips across three social media platforms. The content will keep you coming back for more each time!

in the H d

Little Hidden Gem Where You Least Expect It

the Israeli gummy worms, kosher skittles, and Kinder chocolate, where do you go? You are having your brother over for Shabbos from the Valley and you forgot to get cholov Yisroel cheesecake for breakfast, where do you go? You forgot to get parve ice cream for Shabbos lunch in the summer, where do you go? The Mobil mini-mart is stocked with kosher items and they are open 24/7/365.

החמשב ןיברמ רדא סנכנשמ

We wanted to flip things upside down this issue for Purim.

Pink’s Hot Dogs…not allowed; Randy’s Donuts…not allowed; Factor’s Famous Deli…not allowed. We were hoping to have some fun with this week’s article, but the editors only allowed us to review kosher establishments. So what do we do with no time left on the clock to get an article in? The same thing every resident of Pico/Robertson should do when everything is closed and there is nowhere else to go before Shabbos… The Mobil gas station Mini Mart on Pico and Beverly. It’s like finding a Chabad house in Alaska.

Their wine selection is actually top shelf with a huge array of local and Israeli wines. They have a large variety of liquor with bottles ranging from Macallan 18 to 1942 Tequila. They stock Arac for the Sephardi community members and Casa Azul for the fancy kiddush makers. They import rare kosher items such as Italian tiramisu, Kelin’s kosher

For starters, most of our readership is keenly aware that this is not the least expensive establishment to fill up your tank. Their auto repair shop is also not frequented by our readership as our statistics seem to show 98% favor leasing over purchase. But, they do offer oil changes and tire repair during normal business hours and are incredibly friendly.

The true value of the Mobil gas station on Pico and Beverly is located inside the market. Many locals are familiar with this mini-mart because of its highly coveted Icee machine. It has become a carpool pit-stop favorite due to its lower homeless/customer ratio (nothing worse than juggling 5 slurpees and trying to find change) and its focus on cleanliness and customer service. The gentlemen behind the counter are extremely helpful, kind, and knowledgeable.

So, what makes this mini-mart so unique? Well, let’s say it’s an hour before Shabbos and you forgot to get a nice bottle of wine, where do you go? What if you are setting up Shabbos candles and you realize you’ve run out of candles, where do you go? You are having your grandchildren over for Shabbos and they only want

ice cream, Australian licorice, Israeli gluten-free gummy bears, and kinder hippos. Here’s a little pearl. Say you forgot to grab egg salad and tuna for shalosh shudis, have no fear. They have three flavors of OU bishul yisroel Finerfin Tuna; grab one of each. Adjacent to the tuna are Chof-K certified Wilcox Family Farms Cage-Free Hard Boiled eggs (prepeeled). Grab some of those. They have complementary mayo, mustard, salt, and pepper packets by the coffee display and you can whip up your egg salad. We recommend you pair the tuna and egg salad with their large selection of Snack Factory Everything Pretzel Crisps and you’re in business.

When you get to the counter or checkout, and if you are feeling lucky and you hold by Rami Bar Chama and the Rema (Choshen Mishpat 207:13), you can buy a lottery ticket and celebrate with one of their high-end cigars. So next time you want to get an anxiety-free slurpee or you are in a panic before Shabbos, don’t forget the little market that could.

Instagram.

“Happenings in the Hood with TMtZvi and the Doc” is a new review column of local Jewish and kosher establishments. Tzvi Ratner-Stauber is a mortgage broker in LA and Steven Kupferman is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon in Century City. For more breaking news in the community, check at TMtZvi on

Community Profile

CTC: Accelerated Bachelor’s Degrees for Career Advancement

Rachel Stern

Community Testing Center (CTC) was born from a dilemma: young adults would return home from seminary or yeshiva, inspired from their year abroad, yet unsure of how to proceed with their education. These students did not want to enroll in a four-year college program, requiring a potential move across the country and compounding tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Yet, they wanted a degree and career trajectory that would offer financial stability and fulfillment.

With 30 years of educational experience working with students of all ages, Miriam Rosenbluth, M.ED NBCT, created Community Testing Center to cater to this growing population of eager students. The program enables students to earn a bachelor’s degree at an accelerated pace and a reduced cost. Courses are taken through CTC and a degree is earned through a regionally accredited college in partnership with the program. CTC offers individualized program planning and guidance that is tailored to meet the college’s degree requirements, incorporating the prerequisite

courses for career paths such as health sciences, accounting, and others, as well as the student’s academic interests. The program also offers ancillary support options, such as career coaching, graduate school recommendation letters, CV editing, and professional networking opportunities to ensure that students achieve success in their chosen fields.

One of the main features of the CTC’s accelerated program is that it can be completed in less than one year and offers bachelor’s degree options in business, liberal arts, and psychology. CTC integrates the students’ previously earned college credits, including high school advanced placement courses, dual-enrollment courses, and community college credits, into their degree plans to accelerate their completion.

CTC is proud to serve a diverse student body with varied educational histories, learning styles, and career aspira-

tions. CTC’s students have matriculated to prestigious institutions such as the MBA programs at Georgetown University and Florida International University, Masters in Nursing at NYU and Columbia University, and law school at YU’s Cardozo and Pepperdine University in L.A.

As a student-centered program, CTC provides college coaching to help kickstart their students’ academic journey and matriculate to graduate school. Since its inception in 2015, CTC has been instrumental in facilitating the progress of close to one thousand students in achieving their bachelor’s degrees. Of these students, 70% have matriculated to graduate school programs to further their education. The program

also offers incredible flexibility, catering to an individual’s unique circumstances. Many students work or have internships as they complete their degrees, taking full advantage of the program’s self-paced, flexible curriculum. One student reported, “While pursuing my degree with CTC, I was able to maintain a part-time job and study for my LSATs at the same time. For the motivated and self-disciplined student, CTC makes it possible to keep your GPA high and your goals in sight while finishing your bachelor’s degree quickly.” Additionally, CTC’s fees are significantly lower compared to traditional academic institutions, providing students and their families with an affordable pathway to obtain a college degree.

CTC headquarters and primary testing center are located in Valley Village and offer daily testing, ensuring students have convenient and easily accessible testing options. Students can also take exams across the country or even out of the country, with testing centers across multiple states in the U.S., as well as Canada and Israel.

Community Testing Center is a thriving academic environment for motivated students looking for a convenient, affordable, and academically rigorous college degree program. Their personalized degree plans, budget-friendly programs,

and professional networking opportunities have helped countless students achieve their professional goals, with the hopes of continuing to grow and assist others in accomplishing their career aspirations.

For more information, visit https://communitytestingcenter.com/ Instagram: ctc_worldwide Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/miriam.rosenbluth.56

“Community Testing Center is a thriving academic environment for motivated students looking for a convenient, affordable, and academically rigorous college degree program.”

Midlife Mu ical Musings

Ode to Masks from a 2020 Vantage Point –a Purim Spiel

One mask, two masks, red mask, blue mask –

Color-ful mask, Sur-gi-cal mask.

This one hurts behind the ears

This one’s hard to breathe and bear,

This one has some wear and tear!

Say, why do you think that we don’t care?

Yes – some like masks

To wear all over

Some wear masks with

Nose not covered

Some wear them

Right near their necks

That’s their business

Don’t go check

Some say masks don’t really work

That’s their preference, not a quirk

From there to here,

From here to there,

Crazy things are everywhere.

Many wear them out in the park

We hope they take them off after dark,

Made of plastic, show their face

See them smile, it has a space

Scarves, Bandannas, what the heck?

Those are the kinds that cover the neck.

Here are some who like to shop

They shop all day

At night they plop.

Don’t call the cops

Who’ll put a stop

To crowds and groups

That jump and hop

The other ones

Just stay at home

Apart six feet

They feel alone.

Some stay six feet,

Some stay eight.

Some stay ten feet, How do they date?

How should I know?

Don’t ask me now.

Go to them

And ask them how!

That’s what they do

So they stay healthy

Well and safe,

But not very wealthy.

From near to far

From here to there,

Regionally accredited college

Proven success in Graduate School matriculation

Seminary and Yeshiva credits accepted

WhatsApp Us!

Stores are closed

Just everywhere

Some with long hair

They can’t wait

For barber shops

To open their gates.

Others want things to remain With social distancing the same

Tell the businesses

To stay closed

The virus is so bold in the cold

Wait for summer to spread its heat

Then the virus will be beat.

Tell the folks who want to pray

The larger groups are not okay

Who am I? My name is Hope

On my hand I have some soap

With that soap I try to cope

Clean as a whistle like the Pope

I wash my hands right in the sink

So that I don’t fall over the brink

Of sick disaster, germs that stink. Every day from here to there, Viruses all disappear.

So schools can open up their doors

The restaurants will wash their floors

The kids will go back to their camps

The movie house will turn on the lamps.

And now good night

It’s time to go

Miriam Hendeles, M.A., MT-BC is a music therapist for hospice patients and a writer for Binah Magazine and other publications. She’s the author of “Mazel Tov! It’s a Bubby!” and “Best Foot Forward.” One of her passions is advocating for frum women in midlife through a recently launched website of JWOW! or www.jewishwomenofwisdom.org where frum midlife women connect, communicate, and grow through online and virtual interaction.

Art by Rikki Benenfeld Instagram @rikki_artworks

Miriam Hendeles

Bracha Abramson, RD

Purim: Rethink Your Drink

Purim morning. Having food in your system will slow down the rate of alcohol absorption and reduce the risk of a potential hangover.

compared to the group that drank vodka.

Purim is the one day a year when

Jewish adults are encouraged to drink wine and/or alcohol. As the Gemara says, drink to the point that “one does not know the difference between ‘cursed is Haman’ and ‘blessed is Mordechai.’” This statement can mean a very different amount to each individual, depending on their tolerance level. Furthermore, we know that heavy alcohol consumption can induce severe short and long-term consequences, such as liver damage, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

For the short-term consequences, here is a guide to help fulfill the mitzvah, while also preventing the unpleasant effects of veisalgia, also known as a “hangover.”

Prepare your Body

1. Eat well at the break fast of Taanis Esther, as well as a wholesome breakfast on

2. Consume foods high in Vitamin B3 (Niacin) and Zinc. A 2019 study suggests findings of increasing Vitamin B3 and Zinc intake to prevent or reduce hangover symptoms. Some foods high in Vitamin B3 are salmon, tuna, chicken, turkey, ground beef, brown rice, and peanuts. Some foods high in Zinc are fortified cereals, oats, milk, Greek yogurt, eggs, and turkey.

Consider taking a Vitamin B-complex and Zinc supplement before drinking alcohol. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for Niacin is 16 mg for men and 14 mg for women per day. The recommended dietary allowance for Zinc is 11 mg for men and 8 mg for women per day.

Choose your Drink Wisely

1. According to some theories that still require further research, alcohol high in congeners can potentially increase the intensity and duration of a hangover. Such alcohol includes bourbon, single malt scotch, and extra anejo tequila. Drinks with less color, such as white wine, vodka, light beer, and blanco tequila have lower levels of congeners. In a 2010 study, participants who consumed bourbon had more severe hangovers

2. Don’t mix different types of alcohol. Stick with your alcohol of choice, whether wine or tequila, and don’t combine different types of drinks.

Hydrate Hydrate Hydrate

Alcohol can contribute to dehydration. Drink water consistently throughout the day with a goal of at least 64 fluid oz and try to alternate a glass of water with each drink of alcohol. Prepare a “hangover beverage” to replenish electrolytes such as sodium and potassium: mix water, coconut water, and a sports drink in equal parts. Preventing dehydration is key; the more dehydrated one is, the worse one will feel the following day.

According to a 2016 study, it can be beneficial to drink green tea or sparkling water when drinking alcohol as these beverages can boost alcohol metabolism and prevent liver damage. On the other hand, it can be detrimental to consume orange juice or Red Bull when drinking alcohol as the combination can induce alcohol related-liver damage. Lastly, remember to drink lots of water before going to sleep for the night.

Sleep

Alcohol can interfere with sleep quality. Make sure to allow time for a good

night’s sleep to help the body metabolize the alcohol remains. Allow extra time to “sleep in” and let the body recover.

Eat

The morning after, eat a hearty and nutritious breakfast. Hangovers are sometimes related to low blood sugar levels as alcohol metabolism can disrupt the process of releasing glucose from the liver. Hypoglycemia can contribute to headaches, lightheadedness, and weakness. Eating a wholesome, well-balanced breakfast of light carbs, protein, and fruit can help regulate blood sugar levels, replenish nutrients, and prevent these symptoms.

Finally, the best solution to prevent a hangover is to abstain from alcohol altogether; but I’ll leave that up to you :) Wishing you a Happy, Healthy (and Hydrated) Purim!

Bracha Abramson RD, CDN is a Clinical Dietitian-Nutritionist with over 8 years of adult and pediatric experience. She graduated from NewYork-Presbyterian Cornell and Columbia with a fellowship specializing in Pediatrics. She currently lives with her family in Los Angeles and sees clients in her private practice, Robin’s Nest Family Nutrition. Feel free to contact her at 323-230-0590 or BrachaAbramsonRD@gmail.com.

Sylvia Heyman

Harav Michoel Schick: Our Father, Grandfather, Great Grandfather, Great-Great Grandfather, Rav, Talmid Chochom, and Inspiration to Men from all Walks of Life.

Last week was the yartzeit (14 Shevat) of the gentle yet erudite foun dation of our big bungling famous family. And while you are no longer here, I know you are smiling down on all the various Mickeys, Michoels, Michaels, and Mechels. I can almost feel the soft pinch on my cheek that you would deliver as you pondered a question on Chumash, Halacha, Midrash, or Jewish philosophy. Often teasingly throwing out this question our way, eliciting an incomparable joy when one of us got the correct answer.

Daddy, it has been 18 years since we lost you, and not a week goes by without some mention of your legacy and your unrelenting commitment to learning Torah every moment of the day and night. Even when you were too weak to hold a Gemara, you had the pages copied onto light paper so your learning would not stop.

The love and warmth of your smile still permeate every one of your progenies’ homes. Each of our Friday night seudos begins with your famous Kol M’kadesh, sung with the memory of that little pinch on each child’s cheek. And in every d’var Torah, I hear echoes of your pragmatic approach to Torah. Our family’s entire hashkafah continues to be molded by your evenkeeled lumdesha approach to Halacha, your overwhelming love for all people, Israel, and your special appreciation for Hashem’s creation of nature. “It takes a bigger Talmid Chochem to say mutar rather than asur” has become the bulwark of our yiddishkeit.

You were known as Antwerp’s “blue diamond” for your learning and “a walking Torah” for inculcating all your learning into your very being. And as such, your legacy has filtered beyond four generations and expanded beyond your descendants.

What is it about you, Daddy, that caused you to have such an impact on so many? How could it be that your entire

omahoos has influenced so many?

HaRav Moshe Feinstein would answer your correspondences with the title, “To ha’adom hachashuv,” and two of your letters to him were printed in his “Iggeres Moshe.” Your humble brilliance inspired gedolim and secular greats alike. The Prime Minister of Canada admired your chess savvy, and John F. Kennedy, whom you corre -

dination, his adherence to his values earned him respect and affection. Every human being counted on him, regardless of their ranking.

After the war, R’ Schick continued his mission of miseras nefesh for yiddishkeit and dedicated his life to bringing yiddishkeit to far-flung tiny Jewish communities. There, there was very little, if any, vestige of Jewish life. He, his wife, and his family often were the only shomer mitzvos in the entire town. Regardless of where they were, they made their home an oasis of love, excitement, and appreciation for yiddishkeit. For the Schicks, no mitzvah was kept out of habit but rather from an understanding that we were the bearers of a precious heritage that others would model.

sponded with, often mentioned how you religiously inspired him. In Canada, the Cannon (Taylor) of the Episcopalian Church loved to have philosophical discourses with his friend, admitting that he was no match for “Mickey.” Perhaps, the answer to what created the greatness within you lies in the story of your life.

Michoel (Mechle) Schick was born May 10th, 1917, the 18th of Iyar 5677, in Samatar, Czechoslovakia, to HaRav Menachem Manis and Mindel Schick (agronomic for Shem Yisroel Kosdesh). At eight, after the family moved to Antwerp, little Mechle was sent to Yeshivat Etz Chaim in the small village of Heide, where the name “blue diamond of Antwerp” was coined. His

“For the Schicks, no mitzvah was kept out of habit but rather from an understanding that we were the bearers of a precious heritage that others would model.”

Rosh Yeshiva Rav Shapiro recognized not just his brilliant mind but his aristocratic bearing, ahavas habrios, and warm personality that seemed to galvanize all who came near him.

When the war came to Belgium, the then 17-year-old bachur was forced to flee on his bicycle to France. There he was drafted into the Czech Foreign Legend, where he became a grenade thrower and medic, picking up the wounded in his ambulance and comforting them en route to the army hospitals in Dunkirk, Normandy, and England. Even during battle, his mesiras nefesh for yiddishkeit never veered. He never ate anything that might not be kosher, subsisting on vegetables and an occasional egg. While stationed at the Edinburgh castle in Scotland, he would go AWOL on Friday to spend Shabbos in Gateshead with his Yeshiva Chaver. It is there that he would meet his wife, Dinah Fried. And while this behavior was considered insubor-

Before making Aliyah in his 80s, Rav Schick served his final post as a Rav in San Francisco. He dedicated himself to providing gitten and hechsherim throughout the West Coast. His perseverance in pursuing get refusers was legendary. He tenaciously fought for a woman to get her get, sometimes achieving success as far as 30 years later. Although he wanted very much to make Aliyah to Israel, he was afraid that no one could fill his position. He felt that many agunas would be left stranded, which he could not tolerate or accept.

Even in his old age, his greatest pleasure was picking the brains of bachurim, who frequented his side with questions. Three hours before his petira, he answered a shvere kiasha posed by his beloved grandson, Daniel Meir. He paid for an anonymous taxi driver’s dental work because, for a moment, he thought the man had stolen a missing wallet later found at home.

R’ Michoel Schick, my father, was, as one Gadol described him simply “a man who hailed from a generation of human beings whose mettle will never be duplicated.” But for us, he was just Daddy and Sabba. And Daddy, I am here to say that your legacy continues to filter down into the recesses of your children’s (and their children’s) souls as they continue to make a real difference in this world. May your neshama have an Aliyah, and may you be a meilitz yasher for Klal Yisroel. We miss you and await the day when we will be reunited with you and all those we’ve lost, b’meheira v’yamenua Amen.

Mrs. Sylvia Heyman comes armed with over 40 years of experience as a parent to ten rambunctious wonderfully different children. She has been a teacher of thousands of students, ranging in age from 9 to 90, including every sphere of our society. The opinions expressed here are solely hers and come from a sincere desire to help. She welcomes your comments to the debated issue. Please send them to editor@thelajewishhome.com.

On a Adar

Craft

Mushky Yiftach

Chodesh Adar is here and you know you are looking for a good prank! Let’s make an adorable fake sponge cake from sponges that will most certainly fool your family and friends. They might even dig in to take a bite :)

Supplies:

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Instructions:

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Rebbe’s Stories

The COSTUMES That Were Worn Every Day

Rabbi Mordechai Dubin

On Purim, we have so much fun dressing up in costumes. Many people are busy preparing their costumes several weeks in advance. I would like to tell you about a few men who also wore a costume. But, this costume was not only worn on Purim, it was worn every single day of the year. There was a great man by the name of Rabbi Beroka who was often visited by Eliyahu HaNavi. One day Rabbi Beroka was standing in the marketplace with Eliyahu HaNavi. The market was filled with hundreds of people looking for good deals on fruits and vegetables, sweets and wine, clothing, and material, and whatever else they could find.

Rabbi Beroka turned to Eliyahu HaNavi and asked, “Is there anyone in this market that Hashem considers to be a great Tzadik or Tzadakes and has a tremendous reward waiting for them in the next world? If so, I would like to speak with them to learn about their good deeds so I could follow in their way.”

Eliyahu took one glance around the market and said, “Many good people are shopping in the market at this time, but none of them are considered by Hashem to be great Tzadikim.”

Suddenly, a man rushed through the market. Eliyahu HaNavi told Rabbi Beroka that this man was a tremendous Tzadik. Rabbi Beroka tried to stop him, but the man said he was busy and to come back the next day.

Rabbi Beroka was very surprised to hear that this man was a Tzadik. His hairstyle was the typical non-Jewish hairstyle, as was his clothing. He was not wearing Tzitzis, nor a Kipa or a hat. Rabbi Beroka asked Eliyahu HaNavi if the man was Jewish and Eliyahu said yes.

The next day, when the man appeared in the market, Rabbi Beroka ran over to him and asked him what he spends his time doing. The man replied that he worked in a jail,

were also great Tzadikim with a great portion waiting for them in Olam Haba. Rabbi Beroka hurried to the other corner of the marketplace to speak with them. As he got closer he noticed they were wearing clown costumes. Rabbi Beroka introduced himself to them and asked them, “Why are you dressed up as clowns?” The two men answered that they dress up as clowns in order to find people who are sad, lonely, and suffering. They cheer the people up and make them laugh. Rabbi Beroka told these two men how fortunate they were to live a life of cheering up the lives of others.

Rabbi Beroka learned so much on those two days in the market with Eliyahu HaNavi and tried his best his whole life to help the Jewish people and to bring joy and happiness to others.

This story is found in Taanis 22a.

Questions for Discussion

1. What was the costume worn by the Jewish man who worked in the jail?

2. Do you think it was difficult for this man to go his whole life looking like a non-Jewish person?

3. Which one of these three men do you think we would have more of a chance of acting like them?

4. Could you think of some things that you could do to act like the last two men?

Rabbi Mordechai Dubin is a Rebbe at Gindi Maimonides Academy. He is the author of three illustrated children’s books, I’ll Never Forget Yerushalayim, I Believe, and I Know 6; and has produced four Musical CD’s for children, I Made This World For you, Let My People Go, Al Shelosha Devarim, and Hashem is Always With Me.

Mushky, aka the “Duct Tape Lady”, is a duct tape artist and lover of crafts who is always On A Roll coming up with something new and exciting. Mushky believes that creativity and connection are 2 really important things to take with you throughout life. Crafts build confidence, teach problem solving, and encourages “Out of the box” thinking. She currently teaches 3rd grade in Bais Chaya Mushka LA and is an adjunct professor at Sara Schenirer College. You can check out more awesome projects on her YouTube channel, onarollcrafts, or follow her on instagram @onarollcrafts

To book a craft event contact her at onarollcrafts@gmail.com

guarding the worst criminals and gang members all day long. He would often mingle amongst them and whenever he heard something terrible being planned against the Jewish people, he would rush to the Rebbeim to let them know and to encourage them to Daven. He told Rabbi Beroka that he could not speak with him yesterday because he was rushing to the home of a Rabbi to tell him some important news.

Rabbi Beroka said to the man, “You are doing a great Mitzvah saving the lives of the Jewish people, but why do you need to dress and look like a non-Jewish person yourself?” The man answered, “I dress like this so that the criminals will feel comfortable speaking in front of me. If they would know that I am Jewish, I would never be able to hear their wicked plans and warn the Jewish people.” Rabbi Beroka thanked the man for sharing his story. Shortly thereafter, Eliyahu told Rabbi Beroka that the two men in the corner who had just entered the market

By Rabbi MORDECHAI DUBIN

Other books/cds by Rabbi Dubin: new!

MegillahTrivia

1.What title did Haman NOT hav

a. Bath attendant

b. Barber

c. Slave

d. Prime minister

e. god

f. Army chief

g. Uber driver

2. What did Achashveirosh NOT have at his feast?

a. Gold beds

b. Vessels from the Bais Hamikdash

c. Flowing wine

d. Music

3. At what time of year did the Jews of Shushan join in Achashveirosh’s feast?

a. Pesach

b. Lag B’Omer

c. Purim

d. Aseres Yimei Teshuva

4. How old, according to some, was Esther when she married Achashveirosh?

a. 3 years old

b. 40 years old

c. 75 years old

d. 80 years old

5. On what day was Vashti killed?

a. Yom Kippur

b. Shabbos

c. Taanis Esther

d. Kaf Shevat

6. How did Bigsan and Seresh attempt to kill Achashveirosh?

a. They sprinkled a dried mold on his pillow so he would breathe it in when he slept

b. They ground up glass and put it into his food

c. They extracted venom from a snake and put it in his cup

d. They poured oil on the marble floor of his bedroom so he would slip and be killed

7. After Bigsan and Seresh were killed, how much time did it take Haman to rise to power?

a. 3 months

b. 1 year

c. 5 years

d. 21 years

8. The original Taanis Esther took place in what month?

a. Av

b. Tishrei

c. Nissan d. Adar

9. When the word got out about Haman’s evil decree, the Jews of Shushan began to cry. Who else was crying at that time as well?

a. Vayzusa

b. Hagai

c. Bigsan

d. The people of Shushan

10.. How many people did Haman consult with about what to do with

RIDDLE ME THIS You Gotta Be Kidding

Me!

Yankel was dressed in his finest suit when he went for an interview with the president of a world-renowned bank. The banker turned to him and said, “So tell me, sir, what do you think is your greatest weakness?”

Yankel, who prepared for this question, responded, “Honesty. Sometimes I am just too honest and I say what’s on my mind.”

The banker was intrigued and said, “I don’t think honesty is a weakness.”

Yankel replied, “Actually, I really don’t care at all what you think.”

David is delivering mish- loach manos for his wife, who is a master mishloach manos maker. She individ- ualizes each one and spends weeks before Purim working on it. David labels each one before delivering them. The first box is marked “Choc- olate,” the second is marked “Candy,” and the third box is marked “Mixed.” While on the way to make his deliveries, David realizes that he labeled the boxes incorrectly. But he doesn’t want to open them up because his wife spent approx- imately 6 hours and 35 min- utes tying them with bows. How can David figure out what is in each mishloach manos by only taking one item out of one of the mishloach manos boxes?

beled, he knows that the one that is labeled “Candy” does not actually contain only candy, rather it is the mixed box. Now he also knows that the box labeled -“Choco late” must be the candy box.

Answer to Riddle: First, David takes an item from the box marked “Mixed.” If it is chocolate, he knows that the box can only contain chocolate and can’t be the mixed box. He looks at the other 2 boxes; one is labeled “Candy” and the other is labeled “Chocolate.” Since the boxes are -misla

editor@thelajewishhome.com and write “Kids Section” in the subject line

A Costume is a Window into Your Soul

Doctor: You love making people wait.

Mailman: Helllllloooooo Newman!

Thank you to Ava Wiesel

Age 10, for sending in the beautiful and detailed lego Mishkan that she built. She accepted and excelled at our challenge!

Mishkan Masterpiece PURIM SCRAMBLE

A Scotsman with a Kilt: You went up the wrong aisle at Party City and totally didn’t realize it.

Disney Character: You believe in make-believe. Don’t worry, someday your dreams will come true.

Chassid: You like kishke.

Juice Box: You think so outside the box that you actually put yourself in a box…must be really comfortable.

Mummy: So, you bought your costume in October, huh? Anything to save a few dollars!

Sushi Chef: You are an addict. Stop thinking about sushi; it’s just food!

Long-haired Rock Star: Do you really think that would make you happy?

Policeman: You like doughnuts.

Fireman: You like putting out fires.

Steve Jobs: You are a mogul at heart. You can certainly create the next Apple...start planting!

Cowboy: Let me guess—you tell people that you have a concealed carry license.

Clown: Forever the funnyman.

Limo Driver: You never see a rearview mirror you don’t want to schmooze with.

Hippie: You are still living in the sixties… and you really should put on some deodorant

Mordechai? a. 1 b. 10 c. 18 d. 365

The questions above were based on various Medrashim found in the book titled, “Let My Nation Live,” by Yosef Deutsch

Answers to Purim Scramble: 1. Mordechai; 2. Esther; 3. Achashveirosh; 4. Haman; 5. Hamantash; 6. Manos; 7. Vinahapach; 8. Wine; 9.

Purim; 10. Bigson; 11. Sheresh; 12. Vashti; 13. Charvonah; 14. Presidors; 15. Costume; 16. Fish; 17. Gragger; 18.

Shushan; 19. Tzedakah; 20. Enjoy!

Leaders

A Chain of Chesed

Calanit Kopple

As members of Klal Yisroel, we are privy to multitudes of inspirational stories of mesiras nefesh and chesed. Some of us may hear or read about such stories and admire them from a distance, privately thinking that we, ourselves, would not be capable of the self-sacrifice required in those instances. Regardless of one’s own ability to transcend the seemingly impossible, there are those that do, and we may utilize their choices to spark our own acts of chesed, in whatever capacity possible.

When one considers donating a kidney, it is not just theirs to give. It is essentially also their family’s; spouse, children, parents, siblings, and friends. Nor is the kidney a gift for one person. The recipient’s circle of family and friends also receives the gift.

So, when Rabbi Dr. Jason Weiner found out he was a potential match with a person in need of a kidney, he called his wife, Lauren. In turn, Lauren assured her husband of her support, and the next call was placed to Rav Asher Weiss, Halachic expert, especially in the area of medical ethics. As a talmid of Rav Weiss, Rabbi Weiner anticipated the answer would be supportive, as Rav Weiss frequently praises those who donate a kidney. But, Rabbi Weiner sought an answer to his personal question. Rav Weiss asked, “What does your wife say?” Since her support was strong, Rav Weiss replied: “It’s a gevaldigge zchus. I encourage anyone who can do it. Unless you know someone in your family has kidney problems and may be in need one day and you’re a match…I know many people who have done it and they are doing well. Just last night

emphasized the importance of considering the feelings of one’s spouse, as well as one’s family.

Of course, arriving at the decision to donate a kidney is complex. “I’m involved with medical ethics and work in a hospital. I see how people’s lives have been changed and impacted. When people donate organs in the hospital, I visit them and praise them. But, I never thought I would do it myself,” said Rabbi Weiner.

In 2021, Renewal–a non-profit organization that saves lives by facilitating live donor kidney transplants–hosted an event at the YAYOE campus. to

available to donate to Zack because of Mindy. Deon Nathan, who came from Florida to test for Zack, ultimately donated to another awaiting recipient.

And, soon, another link in the chain of hashgacha pratis would be formed. About five months ago, Rabbi Weiner received a call from Renewal. “You have a match,” they said. For Rabbi Weiner, the call was shocking and he wondered what he had gotten himself into. But, Renewal does not ever apply pressure on a potential donor. They connect you to the hospital who will explain the next step involved. Eventually, after more testing, the amazing re-

For Rabbi Weiner, the best part of donating his kidney was the opportunity to make such an impact. “There is an actual human being whose life I can save,” said Rabbi Weiner. He and Lauren would have preferred to keep the mitzvah quiet but were told by rabbanim to publicize the story in order to encourage others to do the same.

And, in turn, the chizuk and positive feedback from the community has a tremendous impact on the Weiner family. “Our kids were nervous at first. But their teachers and friends were so kind in their praise that they came around and saw it as a good thing. They went from being afraid to being proud,” said Rabbi Weiner.

Since news of his kidney donation spread, Rabbi Weiner has received several emails with photos of community members filling out the Renewal donor forms themselves.

Until recently, Renewal has primarily operated on the east coast but is expanding to provide support for the L.A. community to get help locally. “We are very excited about our new relationship with Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. They have an excellent transplant team and we look forward to helping more patients,” said Rabbi Friedman.

I had a student driving me who gave a kidney one week ago!”

Ultimately, Rav Weiss did not give a psak. “It’s a great thing but it’s not obligatory. You don’t have to do it. You have to decide for yourself,” the rav said.

The next call placed by Rabbi Weiner was to Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz in New York, who himself had donated a kidney. “It’s a great mitzvah. Most people who have donated a kidney just wish they could do it again,” he shared. And like Rav Weiss, Rabbi Lebowitz

find a kidney donor for Zack Plotzker, a father of young children and former resident of L.A. Rabbi Weiner hoped to support Zack and Renewal by attending the event. So, he did the swabbing–the first step to ascertain a possible match between donor and recipient– went home, and forgot about it.

Thank G-d, in 2022, Zack was matched with a kidney donor and would undergo a kidney transplant at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Zack’s donor was Daniel Zebberman, another L.A. father of young children. Daniel initially had come forward to donate a kidney to Steven Stein a few years earlier, but Steven ultimately received a kidney in 2021 from Mindy Moskowitz in New York, leaving Daniel available to help Zack.

Every time someone donates a kidney, they not only save the life of their recipient, but it creates a ripple effect on other lives. When one receives a kidney, they are moved off the transplant list, thus creating a spot for other people in need to move up on the list. The Renewal event to save Zack became part of a chain of matches in a greater story of hashgacha pratis. Daniel was now

sults were confirmed which shocked the doctors at the hospital. Rabbi Weiner was a perfect match with a recipient so rare that it was assumed it would never work out for her.

Suddenly, the process of donating a kidney was no longer abstract. A real person in Toronto, Canada, was in need of a kidney, and Rabbi Weiner could donate one of his own to save her life.

Rabbi Weiner arrived in Toronto four days prior to the transplant operation. He and Lauren coordinated logistics for their children at home for a week, while Lauren flew to Toronto to be with her husband prior to and post-operation, with their toddler in tow. The kidney alone served as a unique sacrifice on the part of the Weiner family, but traveling out of the country and coordinating care for their children is undoubtedly above and beyond.

“It’s a good lesson to show our children that we can do hard things and get through it. Even if you’re hesitant to do something, the rewarding feeling is worth the challenge. It’s an amazing thing to help a fellow Jew improve their health and life,” said Lauren.

Weeks after the transplant, Bonnie, Rabbi Weiner’s recipient, is doing well. “This process made me reflect a lot on what’s more important: the amount of years we live or the value of those years? Is the goal of life to live for a long time or to make the most of what we have? Helping others and giving to someone is more valuable in the long run,” said Rabbi Weiner.

Calanit Kopple lives in Los Angeles with her family. If you’d like to reach her, you can find her at JOANN’s on La Cienega most days of the week.

To read about Bonnie’s story visit www.kidneydonor.ca.

To hear more about Rabbi Weiner’s story, Renewal invites you to a Melava Malka at YICC, March 11, 2023 at 8:30 pm. For more information, email events@renewal.org or visit www.renewal.org.

“Even if you’re hesitant to do something, the rewarding feeling is worth the challenge,” said Lauren.

Personal Perspectives

We Are Visible Jews

Yulia Medovoy Edelshtain

Iam proud to live in Pico-Robertson, a Jewish community in Los Angeles that we call “Little Israel,” and “the ‘chood.” My husband and sons proudly wear their kippot and tallitot without worry. We’ve always felt comfortable letting our kids ride their scooters to friends’ houses. We shop at kosher stores, walk around freely, and celebrate holidays in the streets.

But, last week, everything changed. Our little Jewish paradise was shattered. Kids were sent home early from school. My daughter told me she was scared. Why? A man had shot two visibly Jewish men within 24 hours. Thank God, both men were not gravely injured, and the suspect was caught and charged.

I feel so grateful that my parents had the foresight to take my brother and me out of the Soviet Union in 1980 when we were young kids. We had to wait a year for permission, and right before we left, someone put a small bomb under my father’s car. When my mom saw something burning from a window, she told my father to go check it out. He rolled it out, decided it was nothing, and walked away right before

In the aftermath of the shooting, at a time when our entire community is on guard, I’ll tell you this: we will not forsake our Jewish identities and assimilate out of fear.

In America, there is a history of racism and targeting people of color. Judaism is understood as a religion, yet we come from all over the world and represent many colors. Because some of us look white, we cannot be put into a box. Regardless, we are just as easily targeted these days.

It is so dangerous for Whoopi and Kanye to share their thoughts about the Holocaust and Hitler with their millions of followers. They have many more followers than there are Jews in the world. People who listen to Whoopi, Kanye, Bella Hadid, and Ilhan Omar, among many other anti-Israel and antisemites, get radicalized and hurt innocent Jews.

As much as people try to spread lies about us, one thing is certain: Jewish people are here to stay. And we are not going to stand by as people try to destroy us.

As a doula, I help bring Jewish babies into this world. These babies are going to grow up in a world where antisemitism is on the rise and they may face hate for simply being who they are.

It is up to us and our children, the next generation, to stay strong in our Jewish values and not let the hate keep us down.

it blew up. If he had been there just a few seconds earlier, he’d be dead.

When we arrived in Denver, Colorado, the rabbi told us he’d send my brother and me to a Jewish school. I became more observant the older I got, and when I met my husband at 34 and got married, we decided to live as Orthodox Jews.

Since 2014, when the Gaza war brought so much hate towards Israel and Jews, I started using my social media to educate a broad reach of people from all walks of life. I love inviting guests for Shabbat and holidays to give them a Jewish experience. I am an open book, happy to talk about Jews and Israel to anybody who wants to learn. My family and I escaped Russia so that we wouldn’t have to hide who we were. We came to America to practice Judaism freely, to be ourselves, and to seek out a better life. I never could have imagined that a few decades later, someone would try to murder Jews in Pico-Robertson, our little slice of Jewish paradise.

I know you’re probably scared right now. But Hashem is on our side. He saved those two men who were shot and He has saved us over and over again throughout the centuries.

Don’t stop being visibly Jewish. Don’t stop being proud of who you are. Double down on it. Be louder about it. Show the world that you aren’t going anywhere.

This is how our “Little Israel” can bring Moshiach – one good deed, one mitzvah at a time.

Yulia Medovoy Edelshtain is married with three beautiful children and has lived in the Pico-Robertson community for 15 years. She has been a Yoga teacher for 25 years, and a doula for 10, and loves to be a resource and inspiration for health, wellness, balance, and self-care.www.coachyulia.com @coachyulia

“Don’t stop being visibly Jewish. Don’t stop being proud of who you are. Double down on it. Be louder about it.”

Sushi “Maki” Me Happy In The K tchen

Dini Klein

Everyone has a desert island food item. That is, one food that you can eat forever and never get sick of. For me it’s sushi.

It helps that there is so much variety in the sushi world, but I seriously cannot get enough of the flavors, texture, and overall experience of sushi.

My kids are big sushi eaters too. Early exposure and different styles of eating sushi helped them get acclimated and now it is a family favorite dinner. It is also super different and a fun eating experience for kids, so now they actually look forward to sushi for dinner.

We don’t always do traditional sushi. Sometimes we have deconstructed sushi, where the kids roll up their own nori sheets with fried rice and their choice of vegetables. Sometimes

they use kiddy chopsticks to pick up the sushi pieces and dunk them in soy sauce. Sometimes we choose different foods entirely, such as tortillas, peanut butter, and bananas and roll them up into fake sushi.

Whichever way it is, introducing these foods in different forms have helped shape my kids’ eating habits. It also helps to call any rolled up food that I make “sushi” and have the kids jump with excitement to try something new. That’s a mom hack right there.

Don’t go thinking that sushi will never be an adequate dinner to satisfy your whole family. Find the ways it can work for you, and make adjustments as you need it! Let me show you our favorite recipe in the world of sushi.

Salmon Fried Rice with Nori

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon oil

3 eggs, whisked

2 cups prepared rice of choice

4 oz smoked salmon (or lox), chopped (or alternatively you can use leftover baked salmon!)

3/4 cup frozen peas, thawed

2 scallions, thinly sliced

1 1/2 tablespoons low sodium soy sauce

1⁄2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil

Nori or seaweed snacks to serve

1 mango, diced (optional)

1 cup edamame (optional)

2 avocados, cubed (optional)

Directions:

Add oil to a non-stick pan and on medium-high heat scramble the eggs until cooked. Push to the side and add the rice (adding more oil as needed). Then add smoked salmon, peas, and scallions and fry until golden.

Add the soy sauce and sesame oil and fry for another 2-3 minutes. Top with optional sushi fix-ins, and serve with optional nori or seaweed snacks on the side.

FAMILY MEAL PREP SYSTEM THE

Finally

photo credit: Dini Klein

Deeper Jewish Thoughts

Purim: Our Existential Battle Against Amalek

As we encounter Purim and our victory over Haman, let us delve deeper into the unique spiritual and existential battle that the Jewish people must continue to wage against the philosophy of Amalek.

Amalek first appeared on the scene when they attacked Klal Yisrael in the midbar, on their journey to Har Sinai. The most striking aspect of this attack was its timing. Hashem had just performed the makkos and split the Yam Suf for the Jewish people — acts that had worldwide reverberations. The Jewish people were viewed as invincible and untouchable and, exactly at this moment, Amalek chose to attack the Jewish people, undertaking a (practically) suicidal battle with zero provocation. What was their motivation to undertake such a mission?

This question can be extended to the Purim story as well. Haman, suddenly promoted to second in command, makes it his mission to wipe out the entire Jewish people. As a descendant of Amalek, he is clearly continuing their legacy of attempting Jewish obliteration. Why is it that, throughout history, people have made it their singular focus to wipe out the Jewish people? And why is this the spiritual legacy of Amalek? In

entire existence is devoted toward destroying the second and third of these principles. Amalek claims that although Hashem may exist, He has absolutely no connection to us or our world. Our lives are therefore meaningless, and this world is devoid of spirituality.

This destructive conviction is embodied in the pasuk describing Amalek’s attack on the Jewish people. As we read in Parshas Zachor, we must remember what Amalek did to us, “Asher korcha ba’derech — How they happened upon us while we were traveling” (Devarim 25:18). The word korcha is peculiar, and Rashi therefore quotes three interpretations of this word, each fundamental

is the same as that of the word safek (doubt). Amalek represents doubt and uncertainty, randomness and chaos.

2. Keri: Spiritual Marriage

The second interpretation offered by Rashi connects the word “korcha” to “keri,” a concept linked to marital impurity. Judaism views marriage as a lofty mitzvah; the relationship between husband and wife holds incredible spiritual potential. The Ramban explains that the relationship between man and wife ideally reflects the relationship be-

tween Hashem and the Jewish people. It is a relationship of spiritual and existential oneness where potential is developed and actualized.

Amalek, however, claims that marriage is no more than animalistic mating, a relationship devoid of higher meaning and spirituality. The name Amalek shares its root with the word “melikah,” which is the process of removing the head from the body of a bird before it is offered as a sacrifice. The head is the highest part of the body, representing the mind and the spiritual; the body is the lower part, representing the physical. Ideally, the two are harmoniously connected and the head (spiritual) influences the outer expression of the body (physical). Amalek attempts to disconnect the head from the body, to disconnect the spiritual (head) from the physical (body), claiming that there is no spirituality within the physical world, no meaning, and no connection to Hashem or anything higher.

3. Kor: Cooling the Flame

Rashi’s third explanation of the word “korcha” is based on a Midrash

order to answer this question, we must examine the fundamental principles of Jewish belief, based on the Thirteen Principles of Faith delineated by the Rambam in his commentary on perek Chelek in Sanhedrin.

Three Fundamental Principles

· The first fundamental principle of Jewish belief is that Hashem is the Creator of the world. He is the Source of time, space, and all of existence.

· The second principle is that Hashem has a direct relationship with the physical world. This is the concept of hashgacha — that Hashem oversees and controls the events of this world.

· The third fundamental principle is that there is a purpose to this world and our lives within it. There is not a single aspect of life that is random, rather each and every occurrence and interaction is part of an infinitely beautiful grand plan, a cosmic symphony, a masterpiece designed by Hashem.

While Amalek does not tend to focus on the first of these principles, their

and significant.

1. Randomness and Happenstance

The first explanation of the word “korcha” is based on its connection to the word “karah” (happenstance). This interpretation reflects Amalek’s claim that everything in this world is random and meaningless. There is no hashgacha, no Divine providence. Anything that happens to you, whether bad or good, has no deeper meaning or significance behind it. Amalek implied that they just “happened” to be there with swords in hand, ready for battle; they simply “chanced” upon the Jewish people as they were on the way.

This is the exact approach that Haman took when plotting to kill the Jews. He did not rationally calculate a date on which to kill the Jews, but rather he specifically chose one through a pur (lottery). A lottery represents and embodies randomness and chance. Haman let the luck of the draw determine when he would kill the Jews—an act of devotion to “karah.” The gematria of Amalek

“Although the Jewish people won, Amalek showed the other nations that the Jews were not as invincible as they seemed.”

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman

that relates the word to “kor” (cold). The Midrash describes the mashal of a boiling hot bath of water that nobody dares jump into for fear of being scalded. Along comes a man who boldly jumps into the boiling water, severely burning himself in the process. Although he burned himself, he has now cooled the water enough to allow others to follow suit and jump in as well.

This is what Amalek did as the Jewish people traveled from Egypt to Har Sinai. After Hashem performed the ten makkos and took the Jewish people out of Mitzrayim, Hashem’s providence was flamingly clear in the world. The nations of the world were ready to accept Hashem and His Torah, and they began flocking toward Har Sinai to join the Jewish people in accepting the Torah. (The Ramchal explains at the end of Derech Hashem that until the Torah was given, any nation could have joined Klal Yisrael. See Zevachim 116a.) The Jewish people were at the height of their success, about to receive the Torah, and the other nations were ready to accept the Torah along with them. At this point, Amalek attacked the Jewish people, undertaking a nearly suicidal mission.

Although the Jewish people won, Amalek showed the other nations that the Jews were not as invincible as they seemed. They “jumped into the scalding bath,” i.e., attacked the Jewish people, and “cooled the waters,” i.e., showed the other nations that the Jewish people were vulnerable to attack. Why did Amalek do this? Why were they willing to burn themselves simply to weaken the Jewish people?

The Philosophy of Amalek

Amalek rejects Hashem’s connection to this world or any connection between the spiritual and the physical. Essentially, Amalek denies Hashem’s control of this world and the ability for man to uplift himself to the level of the spiritual. Torah is the epitome of both of these principles, and it provides the guidelines for how to achieve this spiritual elevation. It is based on the axiom of Hashem’s connection with this world, and it is the means for elevating ourselves and all of physicality to a higher purpose. Amalek stands in direct opposition to this, and when they saw that not only the Jewish people but the entire world was ready to adopt the Torah way of life, they had no choice but to attack. Amalek’s entire existence is predicated on a lack of connection between Hashem and this world, therefore a complete acceptance of that principle by all the nations of the world would mean the cessation of Amalek’s existence.

Amalek attacked the Jewish people in order to prevent Matan Torah — to stop the world from accepting Hashem’s Torah and the truth that lies within it. And although Amalek was sorely

beaten with only a few survivors, they still managed to slay a few Jewish warriors. They showed that the Jews were not invincible, “cooling” down the excitement of all the nations of the world and paralyzing their readiness to accept the Torah.

Amalek won. Physically, they lost, but in a deeper way, they won. The nations of the world walked away, turning down the opportunity to accept Hashem and His Torah.

Why Isn’t Hashem Mentioned in the Megillah?

Megillas Esther is unique in that it is one of the only books in Tanach in which Hashem’s name is not mentioned. This is because Purim marks a transition in history, when our battle against Amalek manifested in a new form. Until Purim, history was permeated with consistent open miracles, nevuah was common, and Hashem was openly revealed in the world.

The second stage, ushered in by Purim, is characterized by hidden miracles. In our present world, Hashem is no longer openly manifest and clearly visible. In this stage, we must choose to see Hashem within the darkness — to peer past the façade of a meaningless world. It is in this stage that Amalek’s claims are all the more tempting to believe, as it is so easy to ignore Hashem’s involvement in this world. Our challenge is to see past the surface, to see the miraculous within the natural, the ethereal within the mundane, and the infinite within the finite.

A Timeless Battle

Amalek fights for a God-less reality, devoid of spirituality and meaning; a world of Haman, of doubt, where a gap exists between us and Hashem. Only when you look closer, deepening your gaze, do you see the deeper layer of reality, the transcendent root. Hashem is echad - one - and our goal is to see the spiritual oneness inherent within every event and object in this world. Amalek seeks to hide the truth, to disconnect us from our Source, and thus to strip all meaning from life. Only when we see past the surface, when we trace everything that happens in this world back to Hashem—our spiritual Source—will we ultimately defeat Amalek and all that they stand for.

Rabbi Shmuel Reichman is a bestselling author, international speaker, and the CEO of Self-Mastery Academy. He is also a business, executive, and leadership coach, with a unique approach based on Torah values and principles. His bestselling book, The Journey to Your Ultimate Self, serves as an inspiring gateway into deeper Jewish thought. After obtaining his BA from Yeshiva University, he received Semicha from Yeshiva University’s RIETS, a master’s degree in education from Azrieli Graduate School, and a master’s degree in Jewish Thought from Bernard Revel Graduate School, and then spent a year studying at Harvard as an Ivy Plus Scholar. He currently lives in Chicago with his wife and son where he is pursuing a PhD at the University of Chicago. To enjoy more of Rabbi Reichman’s content, to contact him, or to learn more about his services, visit his website: ShmuelReichman.com

DJ EZZI

Political Thoughts

Turning the Culture War

Eli Beiss

The Right is consistently losing the culture war. The Left dominates institutions, from the educa tional systems to the FBI and IRS, the arts, and even the sciences, where it would seem logic alone should reign. At times, the Left’s domination can seem overwhelming and inevitable. Like a slow tide gradually submerging you with no means to fight back. The truth is, there is a way to fight back. The culture war doesn’t start in the institutions the Left captured. It starts in everyday conversations between average citizens, and that is where you can begin to do your part to fight back and shift the tide.

A stark distinction between the aver age leftist and right-winger is leftists are vo ciferous about their beliefs and unashamed of them. They take no issue spouting their beliefs in public to acquaintances or even strangers, simply assuming listeners are of the fold. Right-wingers would never dream of taking such liberties and indeed prefer to keep quiet and believe in their hearts. Why does the Right behave this way?

The Left has spent the past decade or two demonizing the Right as racist, bigoted, and homophobic, or any ‘phobic’ available, really. Every right-wing belief has been recategorized as a hidden means of oppression, greed, racism, ableism, transphobia, or some other leftist smear. This message has been so effectively pumped into the population that for someone to just

of the reaction professing them elicits. It’s the ultimate gaslighting. How many times have you heard someone say, “I’m rightwing, but I’m not racist” or, “I’m rightwing, but I don’t like Trump.” If you feel the need to defend being on the Right the moment you confess to it, you have been brainwashed by the Left, battered into a corner of submissiveness.

Rescue yourself from this conditioning and you can begin to turn the tide of the culture war.

Firstly, it is inappropriate for someone to treat you badly for being conservative. Never let a person’s abrasive behavior

Do not, however, be deliberately contentious, hunting for moments to start debates and seizing them. Where appropriate, speak. Never censor yourself. Never feel like you want to speak but don’t out of shame. It is in that moment that you are ceding the culture war.

Remember, you share beliefs with about half the country, not some small fringe group of maniacs the Left would have you believe. If strength in numbers is what you need, that’s enough people to inspire confidence to stand firmly alongside your beliefs. Furthermore, this massive yet silent group of people is largely composed of individuals like you, who are either too afraid or avoidant to speak up. That is why you mostly don’t see

them and hear them. You see far less of their flags and bumper stickers. They are restricted to being themselves in enclaves of homogeneous thinking. All the more reason to start speaking up and normalizing being on the Right for yourself and your fellow.

This is how we begin to take back the culture. On the streets, in bars, schools, and workplaces. When politics arise and the opportunity to speak presents itself, calmly purport your position, not to stir the pot or stoke animosity, but to lay claim to a legitimate belief system. Do so without shame or fear and renormalize being of the Right. If people react with disdain or umbrage, let the burden of justifying their actions be on them. Maintain your calm and equilibrium. Let them know we are not afraid, we are not the evil they pretend to think we are, and, most of all, we are not ashamed.

Eli Beiss is from New York and has been living in Los Angeles for the past 12 years. He operates an auto brokerage called Emblem Leasing and dabbles in writing and political discourse in his free time.

espouse a right-wing view can draw him under fire and public scrutiny. Furthermore, the Right themselves have become so accustomed to this negative reaction that it feels confrontational just to own up to being on the Right. Why say anything when you know it may upset someone or waylay you when you can just as easily go about your day in peace? The Right feels cowed like this daily, while the leftist feels unfettered and free.

The Left’s reaction of outrage and animosity to a right-winger does more than just compel silence, it conditions one to feel that his beliefs are immoral because

suppress your normal behavior. Remind yourself, it is the snowflake leftist, eager to be offended and contentious, who is out of line. You cannot control another person’s behavior, but you can stop them from controlling yours. This is to say, do not be meek and cowardly. That is why we are losing the culture war in the first place. The Right’s silence emboldens leftists to be loud and pushy. Silence from one side creates deafening noise from the other side. The taboo of being on the Right grows the more we allow it too. This taboo must be broken and it starts with you on the Right not being ashamed or withdrawn.

“This massive yet silent group of people is largely composed of individuals like you, who are either too afraid or avoidant to speak up.”

Personal Perspectives

Tears For Turkey

Susan Vorhand, Ph.D.

Their world, their lives have literally collapsed. No adjectives can describe the enormity of the devastation. The area that was hit with an earthquake of 7.8 magnitude for about 100 seconds, which must have felt like a lifetime, is the size of the Netherlands. Tremors were felt as far away as Greenland.

The devastation occurred in the middle of the night. I hope that they were sleeping and never knew what hit them. But with freezing weather and hunger, no sanitary conditions, even after the ground has steadied itself, the survivors are still so vulnerable.

A week in, the death toll, including that of Syria, is 36,000. Yesterday they counted 28,000 dead. It is likely to rise further. (It did, to 46,000.) And these numbers reflect only those that can be identified. Under the heaps of an earthquake, it was astonishing to see whole bodies being pulled out. I imagine most are not intact. Some are being buried in pieces. And of course, there are the many injured.

Most heart-wrenching is the baby born buried under the rubble pulled to safety still attached by the umbilical cord to her dead mother. Thousands want to adopt her. Me as well. Two days later, a baby, a few days old, is rescued with his mother.

A five-year-old is pulled to safety, along with big cheers from the lookers-on. He had a huge smile on his face. I hope his family is alive to take care of him. If not, I will adopt him, too.

In another miracle, a mother and two children were extracted alive after four days.

The news shows an image of an older woman howling, arms raised to the heavens. Who knows what she has lost? A home, a daughter, an entire family.

For the most part the Turkish are a strong, stoic, resilient people. You ask a guy fallen on the street if he is okay. He’s been shot, his mother has had a heart attack and is in the hospital, his sister abducted and his father in jail but he will respond “Iyi”— “I am fine.” But now, a man who finds the body of his young daughter emits a shrill cry and declares, “The whole world has fallen on my head.” It has indeed.

I feel a connection to Turkey and a personal kinship with the Turkish people. I read books written by Turkish authors, have been studying the Turkish language, and have watched numerous Turkish films, mostly taking place in beautiful Istanbul. I have quipped that you can set me down anywhere in Istanbul and I’d find my way.

The people, as well as the country, are exquisitely beautiful. I subscribe to a gorgeous, sophisticated magazine, Cornucopia. Its glossy pages, arresting photographs, and elegant writing make it a delight. It’s the only magazine I keep.

Noach’s Ark is said to have rested atop Mt. Ararat. I’ve seen photos of what appears to be its imprint. That alone would make a visit worthwhile.

I had been talking to my granddaughter about Turkey, singing its prais-

jewelry, and furniture.

Istanbul is close enough to the epicenter of the earthquake to still be at risk.

In the rural mountains, the countryside, there is a less sophisticated Turkey, to be sure. Chickens and cows roam and honor killings still occur.

The last glimmers of hope of finding any more people alive in the rubble are dim. (Postscript: After a full week a few people were still found.) The aftershock count, the PTSD, will be enormous.

This is a tragedy of biblical pro-

portions—apocalyptic. What with 9/11, COVID-19, Putin’s war, and now this, it seems that all that ought to happen next is for Moshiach to come. May it be so.

The word for “victim” in Turkish is ”kurban.”

Susan Vorhand holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. She particularly enjoys exploring psychology and spirituality within Judaism. With her Soul-Centered approach to healing, she has lectured and facilitated programs regionally and internationally. She is the author of the book The Mosaic Within: A Healing Alchemy of Self and Soul. She enjoys the Arts in many forms: painting, mosaics, poetry and songwriting, metalworking, and willow weaving.

FOR THE 50+ FRUM WOMAN

es and saying how I’d like to go there. Later she told me that she had discussed what I’d said with her friends. I asked her what she had told them as we’d spoken for quite a while. “That it’s better than Italy,” she said. I hadn’t used that phrase exactly, but that is what she derived. It seems that people know of Italy’s grandeur and beauty, yet many believe Turkey to be a third-world country.

Istanbul is the only city in the world that spans two continents (Europe and Asia). Many cross the bridge over the Bosphorus daily, living on one side, and working on the other. It is a highly sophisticated city of 15 million. The city has splendid architecture, stately homes, and exquisite designs in fashion,

“The city has splendid architecture, stately homes, and exquisite designs in fashion, jewelry, and furniture.”

Lou’s Top Ten Lou’s Views

Lou Shapiro

In honor of Purim, we will digress from our usual scheduled program ming and take a moment to reflect on…

The Top 10 reasons why you haven’t left Los Angeles yet:

1. Russell Westbrook was traded from the Lakers.

2. You enjoy camping scenery.

3. La Gondola Chai Steak.

4. Jeremy Ives promised he will sell your house for more, if you just hold on for a little longer.

5. You don’t want to spring for a winter coat.

6. Safta’s bakery cookies and cream bobka.

7. Kanner Hall was just renovated.

8. Ryan Terrell is playing in a Los Angeles G-league game this week.

9. You enjoy paying excessively high taxes and not receiving any benefit in return.

10. Adas Torah Shabbos announcements.

Miracles in the Minutiae

Texts From Hashem, via Diana

Denise Berger

Every Friday there’s a “Shabbat Shalom” text from Diana, often before I wake up. She’s been sending them religiously for years. The first text came as I was beginning to mourn for my Mom. Leaving the shiva visit, Diana said, “You’ll be hearing from me,” and gave me a hug. I awoke a few days later to a “Shabbat Shalom” text with a little heart emoji and figured this must have been what she meant. It was nice. I sent a quick text back and went about my day. The next week there was another text.

The week after that there was another. And so on. By now our texts are part of my Friday routine, a scheduled smile in my week. When the cat jumps into the dryer as I’m doing laundry, I plan to send Diana a picture. When the house painters decide to cover all the windows and doors with sheets of plastic so I’m essentially sealed inside, I know that by the time I send a recap to Diana, it will seem funny.

I’ve always been a person who has super close friends. Diana and I are not super close, so this form of friendship was new for me and an unexpected gift. Sending a text to Diana is the behavioral equivalent of getting dressed and doing my hair; I don’t know her well enough to greet her in my emotional pajamas. Especially while grieving, behaving like a normal person felt just as therapeutic as being able to curl up into a ball and cry; it kept me connected to the part of myself that was still functional and gave me something to build upon.

The texts from Diana also reassured my heart in a way that even my very clos-

est friends could not. I tend to totalize my feelings. Most of the time this is great because my nature thankfully tends towards the optimistic. But in the loss of my Mom, feeling like love left the world, it would have been natural for me to totalize that feeling as well. When surrounded by dear close friends, depression could easily have rationalized that they are exceptions, that the world is inherently cold and dark and I just got lucky with these individuals.

Diana’s texts didn’t allow that. Diana’s texts are typed by Diana’s fingers and sent through Diana’s phone, but they are messages from Hashem, paper airplanes from Him reminding me that the world is good.

Were Diana simply doing this out of sympathy, it would have been appropriate for the texts to stop after the unveiling of my Mom’s grave. The official period of mourning had ended. The texts didn’t end. The paper airplanes from Hashem now trail banners, joyfully proclaiming that the goodness of the world is consistent, steady, reliable, and unending.

Sometimes we think— or at least I think—that acts of chesed have to be these big grand time-consuming gestures. So, too, we tend to envision v’nahafoch hu as some kind of large-scale sweeping change. But that’s not necessarily true. The reality is, that sometimes, thirty seconds a week can transform someone’s experience.

Denise Berger is a freelance writer who grew up in the LA community. Her work has appeared in Table For Five, Shalom Delaware, Detroit Jewish News, and The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, in addition to literary publications.