TLAJH 3-27-25 by The LA Jewish Home

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Dear Reader,

Spring has arrived, and with it comes the perfect storm of life’s biggest stressors—tax season, Pesach prep, and yes, school tuition deadlines. (Who needs a vacation when you’ve got that lineup?)

Back in September, we tackled the topic of school tuition—how rising costs are squeezing families and the complex balance between community values and financial realities. Now, with tuition payments due alongside the chaos of Pesach cleaning and tax filing, it felt like the right time to revisit the conversation. This is a sensitive subject for many, and we know it’s not just about numbers—it’s about priorities, expectations, and finding a way to make it all work.

In this issue, we’re diving deeper into the tuition conversation, offering fresh insights and hopefully a bit of clarity. And because Pesach is right around the corner, we’ve also included some practical tips and creative hacks to help make your Seder prep a little smoother (or at least more manageable).

As always, we’re grateful to have you with us. Your thoughts and feedback keep the conversation going—and we’re always listening.

Warm regards,

David Rogatsky Editor-in-Chief

SHABBOS ZEMANIM

Los Angeles, CA:

Shabbat Torah Reading: Pekudei

Light Candles at: 6:54 PM

Friday, March 28, 2025, Adar 28, 5785

Shabbat Ends: 7:50 PM

Saturday, March 29, 2025, Adar 29, 5785

Shabbat Torah Reading: Vayikra

Light Candles at: 6:59 PM

Friday, April 4, 2025 Nissan 6, 5785

Shabbat Ends: 7:55 PM

Saturday, April 5, 2025 Nissan 7, 5785

San Francisco, CA:

Shabbat Torah Reading: Pekudei Light Candles at: 7:11 PM

Friday, March 28, 2025, Adar 28, 5785

Shabbat Ends: 8:10 PM

Saturday, March 29, 2025, Adar 29, 5785

Shabbat Torah Reading: Vayikra Light Candles at: 7:18 PM

Friday, April 4, 2025 Nissan 6, 5785

Shabbat Ends: 8:16 PM

Saturday, April 5, 2025 Nissan 7, 5785

Phoenix, AZ:

Shabbat Torah Reading: Pekudei Light Candles at: 6:28 PM

Friday, March 28, 2025, Adar 28, 5785

Shabbat Ends: 7:24 PM

Saturday, March 29, 2025, Adar 29, 5785

Shabbat Torah Reading: Vayikra Light Candles at: 6:33 PM

Friday, April 4, 2025 Nissan 6, 5785

Shabbat Ends: 7:29 PM

Saturday, April 5, 2025 Nissan 7, 5785

We would like to issue an important correction regarding the article “Conversos and Queen Esther” published in our March 13 issue. In the third column, the paragraph beginning with “Centuries later, Rabbi Yossi Wallis’ trip to Mallorca...” should emphasize that the Jewish lineage of the 20,000 individuals in Mallorca was specifically traced through an unbroken maternal line, as documented by family trees and Church records. This distinction is crucial for Halachic reasons, as Jewish identity is determined through maternal descent. Additionally, we regret the error in the byline and wish to clarify that the author’s correct name is Chana Rosalinda Mendez, not Rosal Mendez as originally printed. We apologize for these inaccuracies and appreciate the opportunity to correct them.

The Great Halachic School Registration Fee Mystery: What Dog-Licking and Jewish Education Have in Common

LA Jewish Home

Edited by Justin Oberman and Baily Rogatsky

Ever notice how every March, just as tax season looms and Pesach preparations begin draining your bank account, Jewish schools across Los Angeles (and probably the rest of the country) simultaneously dispatch their registration and “registration fee” demands?

What marvelous timing! It’s as if the educational establishment has mastered the fine art of hitting parents when they’re down (let’s not forget the fact that these fees are on top of the tuition due this month as well).

I’ve been fascinated by this phenomenon, particularly the magnificent vagueness surrounding what these registration fees— now routinely hitting $1,000 per child—actually pay for.

In our second issue of the LA Jewish Home, we gently raised concerns about registration fees. The schools’ response? A collective shrug echoed through the hallways of yeshivas everywhere. So we’ve decided to take a more direct approach: we’ve asked parents at every Jewish school asking for registration fees to call their schools and ask what the registration fees are for.

The answers, almost universally, range from vague to nonsensical.

When pushed for an explanation, one school (probably quoting The Jewish Home’s coverage of tuition costs back in September) explained it was to cover insurance costs.

That’s nice. But why can’t that be absorbed into the actual price of tuition, then? It’s a good question. But it’s also a question that any shopkeeper who’s ever put their thumb on the scale can give you an answer to. Registration fees make the tuition bill look smaller.

Also, consider the peculiar economics at work with this answer when you consider the “incentive” they give you to pay the fee early.

For most schools, the earlier you pay this mysterious fee, the lower it is. Wait too long—perhaps because, heaven forbid, you’re trying to gather the funds—and the fee increases substantially. One school jumps from $895 to $1,000 to $1,295 after April 7th. What changes about the registration process, sorry I meant the insurance premium on April 8th, which suddenly makes it $400 more expensive. Did they upgrade from carrier pigeons to computers?

Some schools are more “honest” in their answers. One school administrator we spoke to recently offered this illuminating response: “Thank you for your email. In regards to the registration fee, that is the fee that has been part of the charges at [RE-

DACTED] every year, and most organizations and programs have a registration fee, as far as I know.”

Well, there you have it, folks. The definitive answer to why you’re shelling out thousands in registration fees is essentially the same reason a dog can lick himself: because it can.

And if you consider that analogy to be disgusting, it’s nothing compared to how disgusting some of these schools act when it comes to collecting these fees. WHY SUCH A MYSTERY?

“I have been asking this question every year for the last 10 years,” one parent complained. “And every year, the answers are more or less the same: ‘This is the policy. Take it or leave it.’” Another single mother recalled, while tearing up, how many years ago a school administrator actually told her that she should go out and fundraise to pay the registration fee. “As if I was some sort of Chabad shliach,” she told us. Her response, by the way, was priceless. “If I were a Chabad shliach we wouldn’t even be having this conversation because I wouldn’t have to pay registration or tuition, to begin with.” Apparently, that ended the discussion.

But the issue of registration fees isn’t merely about poor communication, intimidation tactics, or how “it’s good to be a Rabbi”—it’s a case study of how institutions fun-

damentally misunderstand the relationship between provider and customer. These schools have confused leverage with loyalty, mistaking trapped parents for satisfied ones.

Usually, we let these things rest. But as we dug into the issue we learned that there are not hundreds but thousands of parents in Los Angeles stretched thin every year by these fees. And that’s when we also realized with all the economic chaos going on; they are also getting angrier and angrier about it. (The fact that all the parents we spoke to wished to remain anonymous out of fear of losing their scholarships also says a lot). WHO DO SCHOOLS CARE ABOUT THE MOST?

Consider again the peculiar economics of the incentive package, where the earlier you pay this mysterious fee, the lower it is. Who does that really help?

Perhaps the reason why people wait so long to register their kids may be due to the fees, not, as one administrator told me, “because of laziness.” As one parent complained, “policies like this are not just absurd… they also expose who it is the schools care more about. The rich get a break while you get threatening letters and emails about your kid losing their spot.” So what do most stretched thin parents do about it?

They rob a bank. And by the bank, I

mean their own bank account. Many parents pay these fees by robbing Peter to pay Paul. Don’t worry, that’s not a Christian saying. The idiom “pay Peter to pay Paul” means to take money from one source to pay off a debt to another. Essentially, it is just shifting the debt around without actually solving the problem. It’s more like a temporary fix that creates another problem down the line. One parent told us how they have two PayPal accounts “to pay tuition on time.” He uses his credit card in one PayPal account to pay another and then deposits the money into his account. “I actually pay most of the tuition throughout the year this way.”

The insanity of this system was perfectly captured by Yisroel Orzel at a recent convention, who noted that even families earning $300,000 annually in our communities are financially stretched thin.

Let us repeat that.

Even families earning $300,000 annually in our communities are financially stretched thin. If that’s the case, imagine what the average Jewish family making 120k feels like.

When interviewed about this statement on a recent Podcast, he proposed a brilliant business model that exposed what the fee system is all about:

“I’m opening a seminary in Israel. It’s going to be the best—best lodging, brand new building, best food, best teachers, best spot. I’m only taking 150 girls, and I’ll charge $1,500 just to apply. I’ll probably get between 500 and 1,000 applicants, and then I won’t accept anybody.” Instant million-dollar profit!

But what’s truly remarkable is not just the financial burden. It’s the psychological disconnection. Schools send threatening letters about losing spots to families who have been loyal for 15 years. These aren’t new customers; they’re the backbone of the institution.

AND THEN THERE’S THE HALACHIC IMPLICATIONS OF SOME OF THEIR FEE STRUCTURES

Remember how we mentioned how some schools try and give parents a break by rewarding them to pay these fees earlier (and punishing them for paying later)?

Well, we’re no Talmud chacham, but another parent couldn’t help but notice that this escalating fee structure looks suspiciously like what our sages discuss regarding ribbis (usury). “When a school charges you more for paying later, isn’t that a penalty for delayed payment? If they give you a discount before devices start isn’t that a loan?”

We consulted with a Beis Din rabbi

about this, and his response was eye-opening. He explained that what we showed him looked like ribbis, but that the permissibility depends entirely on why schools offer these early bird discounts and late penalties. “The bottom line is that schools offering pre-payment discounts need to explain their halachic reasoning,” he pointed out. “What do they rely on to ensure they’re not touching a ribbis issue?”

He continued explaining that if it’s simply a “benefit of loan” situation, “there might be serious halachic questions. Schools would need a legitimate reason — perhaps they’re actively investing the money now, which might provide “wiggle room for a Heter.”

When we reached out to the schools offering these early bird and late fees, however, we were surprisingly met with a great deal of hostility. One head of finance at one of the largest schools told us, “Our tuition and fees, as previously discussed, are presented within halacha. I can not answer any more of your questions related to this topic.”

This was an interesting response given the fact that our previous correspondence never questioned the Halacha of registration fees.

We had follow-up questions, of course. Does that mean a heter was given for the early bird and late fee on the registration fee? Did a rabbi look at and approve the wording of the email regarding the early bird and late fee (and its inability to be waived) before it went out? In order for early bird and late fees to be allowed, which fee is which needs to be established. Is it $1,225 and the other two are discounts? We also understand that timing is an issue as well. Meaning service for the thing purchased must activate right away for it not to be considered ribbis. Can you tell us what the registration fees are explicitly used for? Some of the rabbis involved with the schools were happy to talk about it with us as parents, but only off the record. One Rabbi/principal of one of the larger schools involved assured us, “Your question has been asked with poskim and consistent with Halacha (sic).” Not one of the rabbinical supervisors or staff, however, was willing to go on record saying such. Like the parents we interviewed all of them wished to remain anonymous.

Other poskim rabbis we spoke to not involved in the schools were alarmed by this. They told us that early bird and late fees are a pretty standard example of ribbis. Others pointed out that they were surprised by the schools’ reaction because these

things are relatively easy issues to deal with. All they have to do is have parents sign a Heter Iska (document ensuring Jewish loans comply with law). They were alarmed and surprised both by the reaction of these rabbis and the fact that the words Heter Iska were never mentioned either before the issue was spotted or after.

According to one Rabbi who wished to remain anonymous because he is currently ruling on the issue, “It’s clear to me that most of the schools simply instituted these fee structures without thinking it through.”

Rabbi Dovid Bressman, who writes Halacha articles for this paper and whose article in this paper covers this issue, agrees with the latter Rabbis but is also quick to point out that there are definitely legitimate alternative opinions on these matters. “I definitely believe in what I wrote,” he told us. “But the important thing is not to point fingers but to have an open, honest Halachic discussion on the issue.”

A parent we spoke to agreed but had some concerns. “The main issue is what happens if the schools’ Rabbis say it’s not Ribbis but my Rabbi says that it is? Do the schools just say ‘tough luck,’... or will they work with me to make sure I can pay their registration fee or tuition without making me feel like I’m being a bad Jew.”

Another parent listening to this conversation noted that since the issue is not so black and white, the schools should just take a more stringent opinion. “If they want to have early bird and late fees, they should use a Heter Iska. It’s not that hard. It happens all the time.” This article turned out to be quite a hotter topic than we expected. The schools we have spoken to are having a cautious and even visceral reaction, and the more caution and resistance given to an article, the more we sense something fishy going on.

It is their reactions, that make us wonder whether the schools have actually done their due diligence on this question, or if they just implemented these fee structures without any halachic consultation. While they have the right to charge registration fees and the right not to explain what they are for, at minimum, when it comes to fee structures that could potentially violate Halacha, don’t Jewish families deserve an email explaining why schools believe they can implement these tiered payment structures? Or do educational institutions get a free pass on these things?

That being said, The LA Jewish Home is not trying to cause trouble or stir any pots.

We were simply researching an issue that many parents are talking about right now. The article was originally focused on registration fees, but the halachic angle naturally came up during the process.

We’re not sure why there’s so much concern and hostility. In our first issue this year, we made it clear that we appreciate the hard work of our schools and believe the tuition issue is largely a community problem, not the schools’ fault. We even encouraged people to direct their High Holiday donations to schools instead of shuls.

That said, asking halachic questions and raising halachic concerns is a core part of our faith. All we were seeking were answers.

Even if the answer was something like, “We instituted this policy without really thinking about it,” that would be a more acceptable answer. Many parents would feel the same — as long as the schools took action to address it. If that were the case, it’s simply an issue that’s been brought to light and now needs to be resolved. At the end of the day, that’s all this is about. We just wish the schools were more forthcoming in their communication.

To be clear, not all schools are guilty of this. Cheder Menachem, Bais Chaya Mushka, and Bais Rebbe Junior High (which operate under the same leadership) do not charge early bird or late fees for registration. When asked why, they cited halachic reasons.

While they also couldn’t explain exactly what their registration fee covers, it’s significantly lower than most schools — and they allow families to roll it into tuition if they’re struggling to pay. They are the only schools we’ve heard of that offer this flexibility. They seem to understand that the most valuable part of education isn’t the building, the curriculum, or even the trust of families — it’s the kids.

At the end of the day, we understand why schools might want to avoid explaining how they justify these fees halachically — addressing it would only highlight the issue of the fees themselves. But the fact that these practices could be questionable raises another important point about the fees in general:

Just because you can get a Heter Iska for registration fees, does that mean you should be asking for them in the first place?

Because while schools have no issue charging these fees without offering halachic explanations, yet they apply heavy pressure on parents to pay them — which, we

understand, may also raise other halachic concerns.

Either way, here’s a modest proposal: What if schools saw parents as partners rather than payment plans? What if, instead of threatening letters, they checked whether long-standing families needed a break or payment postponement during this financially stressful season?

As we noted in our previous article on this topic, the fault isn’t entirely with schools. It’s with us—the community. We continue to donate billions of dollars to fight antisemitism, which is important. But what has that been doing in the world... not much. Perhaps the better idea to battling antisemitism is to make sure every Jewish child gets a Jewish education they are proud of. One that doesn’t chase down their parents like IRS tax collectors.

To be fair, as we also noted in our previous article, running a Jewish school is astronomically expensive. Between Los Angeles real estate costs, qualified staff salaries, security needs, special education services, and technology requirements, schools are struggling to make ends meet. As Rabbi Stulberger of Valley Torah shared, only about 60% of their budget comes from tuition, leaving a staggering 40% gap that must be filled through donations and grants. But if you’re going to charge parents an extra fee—especially during Pesach and tax season—at least have the courtesy to tell them what it’s for. Is it for building maintenance? Teacher development? A new computer system? Or is it just a backdoor tuition increase that you’re too afraid to call by its proper name? And, if you are going to use fee structures that look like ribbis, at least give the courtesy of telling parents why it’s not. Or, giving them the option of signing a Heter Iska.

We are not asking schools to abandon registration fees entirely. All we are asking is for them to come up with a better answer than “because that’s the way it’s always been. Now pay or go through our excruciating and embarrassing scholarship process, or send your kid to public school.”

If a school can’t clearly articulate why they’re charging you an extra thousand dollars per child or why early bird and late fees are not ribbis, perhaps they shouldn’t be a Torah-based educational institution at all. Or, at the very least, they could come up with a better explanation than what a dog can do.

Farbreng with The Kosher Gang:

Tasty Debates Gone Viral —

OU Ready for This?

YOEC Boys Don’t Know What a Burrito Is.

What bracha would you make on a burrito? On our way to shoot a food review, my friend Levi Paris, rapper and content creator, asked the audience this very question. He makes mezonos, I make hamotzi. One commenter asked: “Bro doesn’t know you make hamotzi on burritos?” I took the discussion to the beis midrash at Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad in the heart of La Brea on a mission to ﬁnd the truth. The result? The yeshiva bochurim’s responses went kind of viral—racking up nearly 10K views—and opened up the debate to even more of our fellow Yids on TikTok.

My name is David Greenberg. I run the social media account @WeWantMoschiachNow on TikTok, IG, and YouTube. Here’s what the bochurim had to say:

To start things off, one bochur, Mendel Geisinsky, said: “I make hamotzi! Obviously!”

That’s how 60% of the room responded. One bochur told me he would make mezonos. Another quickly interrupted to explain—with a grin—that it depends whether you're from NY or LA. Best answer of the day? The bochur who cheekily told me: “What bracha do I make on a burrito? Asher Yatzar.”

Three bochurim asked me, “What’s a burrito?” prompting one commenter to write: “Someone contact the Jews in Mexico City stat!” Another user replied, “Oh no! We gotta get these boys some kosher burritos and tacos.”

So if the owners of Lenny’s Casita are reading this—we’re looking at you. [Kidding!]

I am happy to report that one of the bochurim, Chaim Tzvi Geisinsky, has since tried a burrito. He told me that he made a hamotzi and enjoyed it very much!

Levi, what do you have to say about all of this?

“On the record, I acknowledge that some poskim hold differently. Many assert that if you eat a burrito as a meal, we should wash and say hamotzi—but I’m not convinced! First of all, do you know anyone who wants to eat a plain tortilla? Neither do I. Tortillas are usually ﬂour-and-water based—classic lechem

territory. Not baked in a standard oven but often griddle-cooked (al machavat style), and they’re not really meant to be eaten as standalone bread. Even though I know plenty of people who would eat a whole challah or package of crackers in one sitting, no one I know would consider eating a case of tortillas. But, if they did, it would be hamotzi. The purpose of a burrito wrap is to hold the main ingredients.”

I hold that a flour tortilla is bread. They make it with flour and water—it’s literally in the name. If it was a corn tortilla, then it would be a shehakol, but most burritos are sold with flour tortillas! Here’s a serious question for you... What bracha do you make on matzah? Hamotzi! And isn’t some matzah actually thin and soft? Kind of like a Jewish tortilla?...

Thus far, we’ve only heard opinions from TikTok commenters, a few LA locals, and YOEC. I’d love to explore more Jewish communities and gather a larger consensus.

Well, one commenter asked us to take this question to a Bais Yaakov next.

“I love that our online community is getting involved, but what about you—the readers? If you have an opinion on the bracha you make on burritos or any of the topics we cover, please email us at Food@TheLAJewishHome.com.”

I love that too! All this burrito talk is making me hungry though... I’m kind of craving some spicy tuna. I wonder which spot makes the best sushi in LA?

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

The Kosher Sushi Showdown: You Won’t Believe Who Lost

Round 1:

Which Hood Has the Better Meshuga Pico or La Brea?

“David, hear me out… This might sound crazy, but I think we should do this blindfolded. This will decrease our bias and give us a better sense of taste. BUT—you have to let me feed you.”

Fine. You can feed me. Just don’t make it weird... “Open wide for the airplane… waahhhhh.”

After Levi tricked me into eating a mouthful of wasabi while I was blindfolded, we got down to brass tacks, as we debated which location of Meshuga 4 Sushi would reign supreme. Personally, I love Meshuga—both locations. La Brea is my go-to on a weekly basis though, so admittedly, I had to put my biases aside for this one. We kept it simple: no custom orders, just a standard California and a Salmon Avocado roll from both stores. During our blind taste test, Levi started me off with a California roll from La Brea. I found it to be very high quality and all-around tasty.

“How was the texture though?”

It was sushi texture—mushy and soft. Lol. Next, I had the California Roll from Pico, which I immediately found to be too overpowering in the mayo department. It was smaller in size, and even before I knew which was which, I remarked that the ‘ﬁrst one’—La Brea—was a more satisfying bite.

I gave the California roll from Pico an 81, and the roll from La Brea an 85. My preference rang true even blindfolded.

Next up: Salmon Avocado rolls. Pico came first. It was again noticeably smaller than La Brea’s and had a stronger “fishy” taste—but it actually tasted fresher. Some people are into that flavor, some aren’t. I didn’t mind it—but just a heads up for those who might.

I rated the Salmon Avocado roll from Pico and La Brea at 86 and 83 respectively. After opening my eyes and trying a few more pieces, I ended up preferring the less ﬁshy ﬂavor of La Brea’s roll. The salmon color was different too—Pico’s was more vibrant with ribbons of fat, while La Brea’s was more solidly pink.

“Since I felt bad for feeding David wasabi, I voluntarily swallowed a green glob of death as well. After coughing tears of repentance into my eyes, I unknowingly tried the La Brea California roll during my ﬁrst blind taste test. My thoughts? The texture was juicy in a pleasant way, but that mayo hit me like an edible during kiddush—unexpected and not welcome. As someone who grew up eating California rolls in Hawaii, that’s almost insulting.”

It’s almost a redundancy, right? California rolls in Hawaii... and now you’re having them in California.

“Hawaiian ﬁsh swims with the angels in shamayim. LA ﬁsh swims in pool water and shows up to your mouth already tired. Now onto the second blind taste test:”

Pico California Roll

“The interior of Pico’s California roll tasted way better than La Brae’s mayo bomb. Don’t hate the player, hate the game. Honestly, La Brea’s roll had a cohesive rice to seaweed ratio. A stark contrast to Pico’s loosely scattered rice exterior. The Pico texture was nothing special, but the ﬂavor was enjoyable.”

Interior 8.5/10 Exterior: 4.5/10 Texture: 6.5/10 Flavor: 7.9

Pico Salmon Roll

“Straightforward. No bells, no whistles — just ﬁsh, rice, and vibes. I couldn’t tell if it was fresh-fresh, but it didn’t taste like it had been defrosted in a microwave either. Probably frozen, but at least respectfully. No weird aftertaste, no offensive textures. It showed up, said “what’s up,” and left. That roll knew its role — nothing extra, nothing missing.”

Interior: 7/10 Exterior: 5.5/10 Texture: 6.8/10 Flavor: 7/10

La Brea Salmon Roll

“First bite* … I wish I kept my eyes closed to isolate my sense of taste. Tried again, blindfolded, like I was taste-testing for a kosher Bond ﬁlm. Moved my tongue around like I was trying to solve a crime scene in my mouth. Salmon was MIA. Couldn’t tell if it was hiding… or just not good. This roll had one goal: keep me alive. It succeeded. Barely. No ﬂavor, no fun, just cold rice and existential

questions. This wasn’t sushi. This was survival.”

Interior: 4.5/10 Exterior: 6/10 Texture: 5.5/10 Flavor: 4.7/10

People get ready for a classic Levi score right here… He’s about to obliterate this place!

“No, I will be honest here. This is coming from a place of growing up in Hawaii and eating ﬁsh every day as a child.”

“The second place… Phew* I’m trying to give it the beneﬁt of the doubt and it’s so hard. Phew* — I’m giving it a 4/10”

“My Overall Score for Meshuga Sushi: 6.9 / 10”

That score F’s.

I was torn about my ﬁnal rating. Part of me wanted to say Pico just to align with Levi—‘maybe that’s what the people want to see,’ I thought. But I stuck to my guns. I’m rocking with La Brea as the better of the two Meshuga 4 Sushi locations.

Meshuga 4 Sushi:

@LeviParisMusic Hot Take: 9.2/10 + Favorite Location: Pico

@WeWantMoschiachNow Overall Score: 84 out of 100 + Favorite Location: La Brea

Round 2:

A Rumble in the Fish Bowl: SushiKo vs. Meshuga 4 Sushi

We headed up the block to SushiKo, 9340 W Pico Blvd, LA. Same rules: no custom rolls. One California, one Salmon Avocado. California roll? Overpowering mayo again—but that’s just how it is. What stood out was the texture. The rolls at SushiKo were ﬁrmer, better constructed, and the cucumber had a satisfying snap. A night-and-day difference from Meshuga’s mush.

My go-to got dethroned. I liked SushiKo better in every single way that counts.

“I’ve got to give props where it’s due — the California roll looked great. Clean cuts, tight wrap, solid plating. Visually, it made a good ﬁrst impression. Still, LA sushi isn’t touching New York yet—but this was deﬁnitely on Meshuga’s level.”

I’ve honestly never had better kosher sushi in NY than we had at both Meshuga and SushiKo.

“The cucumber in the roll was crisp and refreshing. The vibe at SushiKo was classier too—felt like a place where the soy sauce doesn’t come in a plastic packet.”

I still think that Meshuga is a decent local lunch spot. I’ve always loved their poke bowls, maybe even more than their rolls but, SushiKo doesn’t really compete in that lane. So with that being said, SushiKo is my vote for #1 kosher sushi in LA. By a hair, not by a landslide, but still a clear winner. I’m giving SushiKo 85 out of 100. A well deserved single point higher than Meshuga.

Sushi Ko

@LeviParisMusic Hot Take: 8/10

@WeWantMoschiachNow Overall Score: 85 out of 100

What a wild ride this week! I’ve never eaten blindfolded like that before, maybe we should do it again?!

Even though we all have a new go-to, we still highly recommend both SushiKo and Meshuga 4 Sushi!

Until next time, I think that’s a review.

David Greenberg is a music industry professional, songwriter, and content creator. You can follow him @WeWantMoschiachNow on TikTok, IG, and Youtube. Hear his kosher pop music at soundcloud.com/WeWantMoschiachNow. For all inquiries: WeWantMoschiachNow@thelajewishhome.com

Levi Paris is a music artist, marketing strategist, and content creator. Follow him on all platforms @LeviParisMusic. Search Levi Paris on Spotify to listen to his music. For All Inquiries: ParisMedia@TheLaJewishHome.com

Yoel’s Lemonade Stand

Why Are So Many Jewish Businesses Allergic to Their Brands?

I need to talk about something that’s been bothering me in the Orthodox Jewish business community.

No, not school registration fees. This article is in the business section of the paper. It’s not an ad for MLM scam.

I want to talk about how we’ve convinced ourselves that if something can’t be measured in a spreadsheet by Tuesday, it’s not worth investing in. And nowhere is this more evident than our collective skepticism about brand building.

As one client told me last week: “Just give me the last-click attribution and the CPA, please. I don’t have time for fuzzy marketing concepts.”

I get it. I really do.

Our community has thrived in business precisely because we’re analytical, pragmatic, extremely detail-oriented, and focused on results. It’s why most of the religious Jews I know who are in marketing work on the performance side. We love those immediate, measurable returns.

But we’re leaving MILLIONS on the table by ignoring brand building. And no, I don’t mean logos and fonts. That’s just branding. I’m talking about the deliberate, strategic construction of what people FEEL when they encounter your business. The trust. The connection. The loyalty that transcends price sensitivity. Still not convinced it’s important? Let me break it down in terms even my most skeptical clients can appreciate:

1. Strong brands command premium prices. Period.

Why can one diamond merchant charge 30% more than another for essentially identical stones? It’s not the 4Cs. It’s the fifth C: Confidence in who they’re buying from.

2. Brand equity is your business insurance policy.

Remember when a few kosher restaurants had some scandal a few years ago?

The one with a strong community connection survived. The one that was just “the cheap option” didn’t. Brand equity buys you forgiveness when you inevitably make mistakes.

3. Strong brands are recession-proof fortresses.

When the economy tanked in 2008, which businesses in our community survived? The ones people felt emotionally attached to. The ones they couldn’t imagine living without.

4. Your customer acquisition costs drop dramatically.

The most expensive words in business are “nobody’s ever heard of us.” Brand building means people are already pre-sold before your performance marketing even reaches them.

5. You attract better employees and partners.

People want to work with businesses they’re proud to be associated with. A strong brand means you’re not just offering a paycheck—you’re offering meaning.

Look, I’m not saying abandon your spreadsheets and metrics. That analytical mind is your superpower.

What I am saying is: that the most outstanding business leaders in our community have always understood that lasting success comes from blending head and heart.

They know that the same emotional connections that have sustained our people through thousands of years of adversity can also be harnessed to build extraordinary businesses.

So yes, keep optimizing those Google ads and fine-tuning your funnel.

But maybe, just maybe, it’s time to stop dismissing brand building as “unmeasurable fluff” and start seeing it as the strategic advantage it truly is.

Next week, I’m going to share with you the best and most affordable ways to build your brand. To do it, I’m going to use Judaism’s most profitable and impactful brand as an example: Chabad, Or as I like to call them, Hashem’s Advertising Agency).

Justin Oberman is the Marketing Director and Marketing Editor of the LA Jewish Home and is the Co-Founder of a personal branding ad agency called Genius Scouts. He can be contacted at justin@geniusscouts.com

LET’$ Grow WIth Lorenzo

The Interesting Thing About Interest

Lorenzo Nourafchan

The Fed has raised rates 10 times since 2022, and businesses everywhere are like:

“We’ll just wait it out!”

Meanwhile, that capital project that could, say, automate half your operations and save you millions is collecting dust on the “someday” shelf. Right next to that treadmill you bought in January that’s now an expensive clothes hanger.

Plot twist: Automation math still works at higher rates.

Double plot twist: When rates drop, you can refinance.

Triple plot twist: Your competition (which is probably some young college dropout with a GED) figured this out months ago while you were busy creating PowerPoints about why you should wait.

It’s like refusing to fix your leaky roof because umbrella prices are high. Sure, you’re saving on umbrella costs today, but now your drywall looks like a Rorschach test and your furniture smells like that weird mold that definitely isn’t supposed to be there.

Every Jewish business owner is clutching their spreadsheets, muttering “But the debt service!” as if interest payments are the only number that matters. Spoiler alert: they’re not.

Let’s do some simple math that even my creative industry business owners can understand. If your hypothetical automation project cuts labor costs by 30% and materials waste by 15%, those savings compound year after year. Meanwhile, the interest rate difference between 4% and 7% is a one-time hit that diminishes as you pay down the principal.

The real kicker? When rates inevitably drop (and they will, unless the economy is actually a simulation run by chaos-loving aliens), you can refinance that debt faster than an executive can say “circle back” or “let’s take this offline.”

Meanwhile, your competitors who wait-

ed? They’ll still be 2 years behind. Still paying a premium for manual labor. Still losing the efficiency game. Still wondering why their profit margins look like they went on a crash diet.

Remember when Netflix started streaming while Blockbuster executives were high-fiving about late fee revenue? That’s you right now. You’re Blockbuster, watching your future competitor quietly building the thing that’s going to eat your lunch while you’re busy congratulating yourself on your fiscal discipline.

Don’t be the business equivalent of someone still using Internet Explorer “because it came with the computer.” You know who you are. I see those toolbars. All seventeen of them.

The cost of doing nothing is still a cost on your balance sheet. It just doesn’t show up there in a neat little line item labeled “opportunities we missed because we were scared.” It shows up six quarters from now when your competitors are operating at costs 20% lower than yours.

So maybe the real question isn’t, “Can we afford to invest in that thing we need to do with these rates?” Maybe it’s “Can we afford not to?”

The decision paralysis is real. I get it. Nothing feels safe in this economy. But sometimes, the riskiest move is no move at all.

Just make sure that if you are taking a loan from a fellow tribe member, you use a “Heter Iska” to avoid religious prohibitions on interest. Nothing says “I’m fiscally responsible,” like being theologically compliant with your debt structure.

*Checks to see if anyone from the Fed or a Jewish school is reading this post* ... unless, of course, you’re running a Jewish school. Then just do what you want. The rules are more like gentle suggestions, especially when it comes to the carpool lane.

Lorenzo Nourafchan is the CEO of Northstar Financial Consulting Group, a full-service Accounting, tax, and fractional CFO firm specializing in Proactive Financial Strategies for businesses and families. He can be reached at lorenzo@nstarfinance.com

Justin Oberman

CARPET CLEANING

Lou’s Views

Free Speech or Flagrant Offense? The

Debate Around Mahmood Khalil

On March 8, 2025, Palestinian activist and former Columbia University graduate student Mahmoud Khalil, who played a significant role in the Gaza protests at Columbia last year, was arrested by federal immigration authorities. He is a legal permanent resident and is being detained despite his status and no specific charges have been detailed.

A judge has temporarily blocked his deportation and ordered his case transferred to New Jersey federal court where he was first held prior to being moved to a Louisiana ICE facility. He refers to himself as a “political prisoner.”

Khalil’s arrest was initiated by Trump’s promised crackdown on students who joined protests against the war in Gaza that swept college campuses last spring. The administration has claimed participants forfeited their rights to remain in the country by supporting Hamas.

“Secretary [Marco] Rubio reserves the right to revoke the visa of Mahmoud Khalil under the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Secretary of State has the right to revoke a green card or a visa for individuals who are adversarial to the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States of America,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press conference.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Khalil is “going to leave — and so are others. We’re going to keep doing it.” When asked whether he could provide evidence to support a link to terrorism, or whether Khalil was simply espousing a controversial political point of view, Rubio cited news footage, saying “these guys take over entire buildings, they vandalize colleges.”

“Negotiating on behalf of people that took over a campus that vandalized buildings,” Rubio said. “That’s a crime in and of itself, that they’re involved in being a negotiator, the spokesperson.”

He explained the thought process, which he called “very simple,” outlining that when someone enters the U.S. with a visa — wheth-

er as a student or tourist — they do so as a “guest.”

“And if you tell us, when you apply for a visa, ‘I’m coming to the U.S. to participate in pro-Hamas events,’ that runs counter to the foreign policy interest of the United States of America,” Rubio said. “If you had told us that you were going to do that, we never would have given you the visa.”

Not everyone sees it the way Rubio does. UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinky, wrote an opinion piece titled “Mahmoud Khalil’s pro-Palestinian comments are protected speech, not grounds for deportation”. He writes in part:

“Trump’s statements, his executive order and his actions against Khalil show a profound disregard of the 1st Amendment. All in the United States — citizen and noncitizen — have freedom of speech. No one can be punished under the law, including by deportation, for the ideas they express.

The Supreme Court long has stressed that the Constitution protects the ability to express views that many find deeply objectionable. It has declared, “If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea offensive or disagreeable.”

Even if Khalil’s speech was hateful, and even if it was antisemitic, it was protected by the 1st Amendment. The Supreme Court repeatedly has made clear that hate speech is constitutionally protected and cannot be a basis for punishment by the government. In fact, even if Khalil voiced his support for Hamas, that, too, is an idea that can be expressed under the 1st Amendment. Speaking in favor of Hamas is not, by any stretch of the definition, material support for a terrorist organization.

Thus, even those who loathe what Khalil said should fervently defend his right to say it and oppose the Trump administration’s actions. Otherwise, the federal government would have the power to deem any

view so objectionable that it could deport noncitizens expressing it. As I constantly explain to my students, the only way my speech will be safe tomorrow is to protect the speech that I detest today.”

Josh Hammer takes the other side. He wrote an opinion piece in the LA Times, titled “Mahmoud Khalil isn’t a citizen. His deportation wouldn’t be unlawful”. He states the following:

“By any metric, Khalil is a wildly unsympathetic figure. The New York Times described him as the “public face of protest against Israel” at Columbia. He acted as the lead negotiator for a pro-Hamas student group called Columbia University Apartheid Divest, which has referred to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, slaughter of Israelis as a “moral, military, and political victory” and asserted that it is fighting for nothing less than “the total eradication of Western civilization.”

Even more relevant, Khalil is not a U.S. citizen. He is a green card holder, a “legal alien.” And he can remain on our soil only when the sovereign — in the U.S., that’s “We the People” — consents to it. When we remove our consent, that person can be deported.

The power to exclude is a defining feature of what it means to be a sovereign. Emer de Vattel’s highly influential 1758 treatise, “The Law of Nations,” described this power as plenary: “The sovereign may forbid the entrance of his territory either to foreigners in general, or in particular cases, or to certain persons, or for certain particular purposes, according as he may think it advantageous to the state.” And as the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia noted in a citation in a 2001 dissent, “Due process does not invest any alien with a right to enter the United States, nor confer on those admitted the right to remain against the national will.”

It’s quite simple, really: If someone in the U.S. on a tourist visa or in possession of a green card violates the terms of his admission, he can be removed. That brings us back to Khalil — a foreign national who al-

legedly violated the terms of his sojourn by supporting at least one U.S. State Department-designated foreign terrorist organization, and by making common cause with an organization clamoring more generally for the end of Western civilization. The day the United States loses the ability to deport noncitizens who espouse such toxic beliefs is the day the United States ceases to be a sovereign nation-state.”

Like in any court case, this will come down to the evidence. If clear and convincing evidence is presented in removal proceedings that Khalil engaged in conduct that included taking over a building or committing vandalism, then he will likely be deported because that goes beyond free speech. It’s worth noting that Khalil and his supporters have not denied those physical acts. Rather they maintain that there is no evidence of it.

If the evidence reveals that he was simply speaking his mind, then he will likely not be deported. If he is deported based on his speech alone, then this case may reach the U.S. Supreme Court, which will decide if his public expression of support for Hamas constitutes a national security threat, which could justify deportation.

Irrespective of one’s legal perspective, the Jewish community should not celebrate or rejoice in these proceedings. While Khalil may support a terrorist organization and despise Jews, we are taught how to conduct ourselves.

Shmuel Ha-Katan would say, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles. Lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, And He turn away His wrath from him”., Avos 4:19.

Lou Shapiro is a criminal defense attorney-certified specialist and legal analyst, but most importantly, makes the end-of-shul announcements at Adas Torah. He can be reached at LouisJShapiro@gmail. com.

Anyone Can See the Bad Let’s See the Good

As usual I was running late and as I routinely do, I made my way towards the highway. And once again, I found myself stopped by that annoying train that always seemed to catch me just before I came across the tracks. I often wonder how it could be that I seem to get stuck by this train no matter when I leave in the morning. As the train passes, I’ll probably ruminate about things that often occur to me and I think “of course that would happen to me” or “I never get a break...”

A couple of years ago my wife told me about this book called “The Secret.” It reveals the true power of a positive attitude mixed with positive thinking, where we actually change the world around us. I was never into that mode of thinking yet as I get older I do see its value. For instance, we can come home from work in an angry toxic state, or choose to bring an air of positive energy into the home. And so I thought perhaps this positive thinking could be applied to my relationship with God. The next day, as I drove towards the tracks and no train stopped me, I smiled, appreciating the gift. And then I did something that I’ve never done before- I looked at my rearview mirror and noticed that the railroad crossing arm had just gone down. At that moment it occurred to me that perhaps there are many times when God does things for us, but we simply fail to “look back” and notice it. But if we stop and turn around, and take a moment, we will begin to appreciate the goodness God provides, as opposed to only seeing the challenges we endure.

Some years ago, a friend who was suffering back pain, was scheduled to have spine surgery. I mentioned he read a book called Healing Back Pain by Dr. Sarno prior to his surgery. In short, he read the book, canceled the surgery, and went on with his life. Strangely, he never mentioned anything to me about it. And then it hit me. When he was in need and

in pain, he was very receptive to my advice and help, because he needed me. Yet the moment he was healed, in his state of bliss, he didn’t thank, let alone even acknowledge, the goodness I provided.

Rabbi Weinstock, The Rav of Young Israel in Hollywood, once mentioned the story of a businessman who inadvertently gets stuck on the roof of a tall office building. With no cell service, and nightfall advancing and temperatures dropping, the man gets desperate, and starts throwing all of the money he has in his possession in hopes of drawing attention to himself. Yet as the money comes trickling down from the sky, he sees people running amok, crawling on the floor, stuffing money in their pockets, yet no one looks upward to see where it’s coming from. Desperate, he grabs some pebbles and dirt and throws them off the roof. Only this time, everyone looks up to see where the disturbance is coming from.

And so I came to understand human nature. When times are good, when we have gezunt and mazal and bracha, it’s easy to forget whose blessing is helping you. And sometimes, we get so busy, stuffing the money in our pockets, running wild, that we forget to look up and see where it’s coming from. So then Hashem throws some “pebbles” our way, not meaning to hurt us, but rather, perhaps to simply get our attention. Let us always remember to look in the rear view mirror, and acknowledge God’s good bounty.

Avi Ciment attended the Hebrew Academy of Greater Miami, spent a year attending Shaarei Yerushalayim and received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology as well as an associate degree in Judaic Studies from Yeshiva University. He lectures throughout the world, has been a regular contributor to The Jewish Press for over 20 years, and is now featured on AISH, The Jewish Link and more...

Avi Ciment

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What happened to us last elections was a “tragedy.”

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Eretz HaKodesh is working hard to raise funds and numbers to undo all of the work we’ve done through ARZENU and ARZA Canada and others to make the voices of non-Orthodox Jewry heard in Israel. These changes and this new dangerous organization are really trying to silence us.

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Our extremist ultra-Orthodox opponents stand against these values, have fought us at every turn, and are mobilizing to roll back any progress we’ve made. It will take all of us to stop them.

RABBI JOSH WIENBERG VP, Union for Reform Judaism

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Now we need 100,000 votes in this election to secure the future of kedushas Eretz Yisroel. 20,000 votes for Eretz HaKodesh in the last WZO election changed history. WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT US

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DR. YIZHAR HESS Israeli Conservative Movement

RABBI MICHAEL DOLGIN Temple Sinai (Reform) Congregation, Toronto