June 20, 2024

We are Hiring!

ADMISSIONS AND RECRUITMENT COUNSELOR

Responsible for recruitment and admissions to all programs of TCLA, including advertising, active recruiting, events and managing the admissions process through graduation, and member of sta for committees and general functioning of the college. Salary range: $46,050 to $50,050.

SUMMARY OF REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher, Knowledge of Hebrew a plus

• Familiarity with feeder schools and Israel partner schools

• Public speaking/Strong Interpersonal Communication both oral and written

• Proficiency in Microsoft O ce Suite including Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook. Able to learn in-house CRM, Admissions, and other systems

We o er a full array of benefits including all major Jewish holidays and shortened work hours erev Shabbos and Yom Tov.

COME JOIN OUR TEAM!

FOR FULL JOB DETAILS AND TO APPLY

PLEASE SEND YOUR RESUME TO: RABBI DR. DAVID JACOBSON, DEAN

DAVID.JACOBSON4@TOURO.EDU 323-822-9700 X0

Ca

Reena

Re

Liorah

Lio

Ba

B

Chana Rachel Boudjnah

Chan

M irel Bryski

Goldie Cunin

M

Adena

Yehuda

Ellie-Noam

To Our Dearest Community Readers,

Many have come to me to ask why I bother with the paper. Does it even make money? Why do I need the headache?!

Having lived here my entire life, it has always saddened me that the Los Angeles community lacked an Orthodox Jewish newspaper to share the stories and information of our vibrant local community. This newspaper is my way of filling that void, connecting us through the news, events, and voices that make our community unique. Our past editor, Ariela, has been a vital partner in that vision, and we are grateful for the dedication and work she put into each issue. We thank you and bid you much Gezunt, Parnasa, and Nachas in your life!

As you gaze upon our cover photo, a poignant snapshot of children from the 1950s enjoying a campfire while paradoxically engrossed in modern technology, it’s hard not to feel a pang of nostalgia. A time when simple pleasures and nature’s splendor were cherished has seemingly given way to an era where screens dominate our attention. Our cover story captures more than just a moment. It reflects a deeper societal shift. Spending time in nature has become a lost art, a casualty of our own making. We’ve cultivated a culture where the allure of technology outweighs the beauty of Hashem’s world around us. The innocent joy of feeling the warmth of a campfire, the delight of a popsicle on a summer evening, the symphony of crickets, and the dance of fireflies—these experiences are fading into memories as our lives become increasingly tethered to

devices.

We must acknowledge our role in this transformation. We have paved the way for a society where being “connected” means being glued to screens, where the virtual has eclipsed the real. Our children, growing up in this environment, are missing out on the irreplaceable wonders of the natural world and the invaluable lessons it teaches.

It’s time for a collective shift in perspective. Let us reclaim the joy of the outdoors and pass this legacy on to our children. I urge each of you to commit to spending less time on technology and more time embracing the gifts of Hashem’s creation. Let’s prioritize outdoor adventures, family picnics, and simple evenings under the stars, sans the mosquitoes!

Nature is not just a backdrop. It is a vital part of our existence, a source of inspiration, peace, and connection to something greater than ourselves. My fondest memories are when my family would spend summer at Big Bear Lake fishing, hiking and enjoying the outdoors. By making a conscious effort to step away from our screens and immerse ourselves in His beautiful creations, we can restore balance and enrich our lives.

Together, let’s nurture a new generation that values the great outdoors as much as we once did. Let’s be the change we wish to see and rediscover the art of truly living.

A

Gezinte Zimmer!

Avi Heyman

LIFESTYLE

SHABBOS ZEMANIM

•

2nd Annual First Responders Appreciation Day

On June 9th, the South Robertson Neighborhoods Council (SORO) sposored its 2nd Annual First Responders Appreciation Day event. Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky attended, along with representatives from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD), the Motors Unit, and other local service organizations, including Magen Am USA, the Neighborhood Team Program (NTP), Shmira Public Safety Patrol, Hatzalah Los Angeles, Magivim, and others.

Bekius Overnight Trip to Big Bear

Rabbi Shifman’s Bekius class participated in a very special overnight trip to Big Bear to celebrate the completion of Maseches Megillah. The boys began their adventure on Thursday morning at Emek with davening, breakfast, and an on-campus water slide. Upon arriving in Big Bear, the boys first went tubing on Big Bear Lake, and after loads of fun, they headed to their host home, a beautiful 7-bedroom, 5-bath lodge. Everyone enjoyed the large backyard for sports, a delicious barbecue, pool table, hot tub, and board games. These young men made a real Kiddush Hashem with amazing davening, stellar behavior, and beautiful camaraderie. Shlomo Davoodi and Dovid Nejadkashani led the Siyum. The Masmidim Bekius Program is a Yeshiva preparatory track instituted by Rabbi Shifman when he first arrived at Emek, in which the boys complete a different Masechta each year, in addition to being tested weekly on the materials covered. A big Yashar Koach to Rabbi Mordechai Shifman and Rabbi Moshe Sternberg for spearheading this event and to Mr. Lawrence Tewner and Mr. Josh Bouganim for driving and chaperoning the boys. Thank you to the Fayfel family for opening their home to us.

Baila Romm - SORO Board Member, Katy YaroslavskyCouncilwoman District 5, A Representative from Magan Am USA

The Jewish Ice Hockey League Completed its Spring Season with Two Championship Games

Tomchei LA defeated Manela and Co to capture their second consecutive championship for the younger division, while the older division’s Bibi’s Boutique triumphed over Prero Orthodontics to take their turn drinking from the Kiddush Cup! The new hockey season will begin after the summer. For more info, email info@lajhl.com.

The Berkeley Bayit: A Key Center of Jewish Life Reopens at UC Berkeley

Following months of anti-Israel protests at UC Berkeley, the school’s Jewish students now have a renewed resource. On June 9, the UC Berkeley Bayit, a Jewish communal house serving undergraduate students, reopened after a major renovation to provide students with community, learning, and leadership opportunities. This safe space has never been more important for Jews on campus after a tumultuous school year marked by violence and unrest.

The Berkeley Bayit is the only immersive Jewish living experience at UC Berkeley, allowing students to explore living Jewishly and becoming Jewish leaders. It was founded in 1980 by a group of Jewish students seeking to create a Jewish cooperative kosher home environment. Since then, more than 350 students have lived in the house.

The renovations were funded by a $765,000 low-interest impact loan from the Bay Area Jewish Federation. This funding model, which enables philanthropic dollars to be recycled, is a new and growing part of the Federation’s work. The loan funded major structural repairs and upgrades that were seen as an investment in Jewish life on campus at a time when it was sorely needed.

Many residents of The Bayit go on to become Jewish communal leaders, with 90% of respondents to a recent alumni survey saying they are Jewishly involved. Twelve former Bayit residents are now rabbis, while many others are Jewish community professionals or lay leaders. Additionally, many become effective advocates for protecting the safety of Jews in the U.S., around the world, and in Israel. A significant percentage of Bayit alumni have either made Aliyah or spent extensive time in Israel following college. UC Berkeley Jewish students who don’t live at The Bayit also see it as a resource for their own exploration of Jewish life.

H3West Business Halacha Summit Inspires The West Coast

The H3West Business Halacha Summit, organized by Agudath Israel, took place on Tuesday, June 4, at the Hilton Los Angeles in Universal City. The summit provided a unique opportunity for frum Jews in business to deepen their understanding of halacha, gain clarity in hashkafah, and receive guidance from esteemed rabbanim and poskim.

The inspiration began the night before with a gathering for women and girls at Bais Yaakov of Los Angeles, featuring divrei hisorerus from Rabbi Daniel Glatstein and Dayan Aharon Dovid Dunner, who flew in specifically for the conference. Dayan Dunner then addressed a group of mechanchim at a local home.

The next morning, hundreds gathered at the Hilton for a day filled with enriching sessions and networking opportunities. Highlights of the summit included a keynote presentation by Rabbi Daniel Glatstein and Dayan Dunner’s captivating discussion on unpublished business halachic rulings. Sessions covered topics such as work-related kashrus, business on Shabbos, undermining another’s business deal, and ribbis concerns when investing. A Q&A panel addressed some practical workplace challenges.

The summit concluded with dinner and a keynote session, where Dayan Dunner urged attendees to apply the inspiration from the event to their daily lives.

Credit SF- Bay Area Jewish Federation

Room dedication with Mezuzah, Barry Cohn, Credit SF-Bay Area Jewish Federation

Shared Living Space - Credit SF-Bay Area Jewish Federation

Attendees asking R Ari Marburger practical business questions

Attendees taking advantage of the networking opportunities

The large crowd in the main ballroom

Rabbi Daniel Glatstein giving the keynote address

Tomchei LA June 2024

Bibi’s June 2024

The 6th-grade girls at Yeshiva Aaron Yaakov Ohr Eliyahu recently celebrated a beautiful and meaningful Mother/Daughter Bas Mitzvah. This special brunch marked the culmination of our Bas Mitzvah mother-daughter learning sessions. Against the backdrop of a delightful dairy brunch, every aspect of the decor echoed the theme of growth, symbolized by butterflies. Each girl researched her namesake and penned an essay, sharing excerpts with the attending mothers. Rabbi Goldberg and Mrs. Ornstein graced the occasion with their words of blessing, illuminating the significance of our chosen theme. The event reached its peak with three captivating songs, skillfully taught by Mrs. Bracha Roshgadalian, which added an extra layer of magic to this memorable gathering.

A Celebration of Growth and Connection

The Huddle La Event Succeeds In Collaborating And Building A Community Of Support, Growth, And Inspiration

Abustling crowd of over 350 people attended the inspiring CHYE The Huddle event. The evening was filled with insightful conversations, networking opportunities, and a chance to learn from successful and knowledgeable experts.

The evening began with an insightful fireside chat with Dr. Harold Katz, Inventor of Therabreath, and AJ Stern, President of AJS Capital and Title Sponsor of the event. Dr. Katz discussed his success story of creating Therabreath into a global brand. He touched on the importance of perseverance in business, dealing with competition and setbacks, and the use of ingenuity to drive marketing and business goals.

Another highlight was the Mentor Exchange, a series of roundtable discussions on a wide variety of important business topics, led by successful and knowledgeable industry leaders. Yossi Wachtel,

owner of Monkey Wrench, noted, “Throughout the discussion, I was amazed by the level of engagement, the thought-provoking questions, and the willingness of participants to share their own experiences and insights. The energy in the room was electric, and the conversations continued well after the official end of the roundtable. The following day, I received messages from attendees expressing their appreciation for the discussion and the value they gained from it. If you ever have the chance to attend a future Huddle event or participate in a roundtable discussion, I highly recommend seizing the opportunity.” AJ Stern shared, “This event could not have been a greater success; this was a chance to showcase the incredible business community that exists here in Los Angeles and to capitalize on the networking opportunities in our very own backyard.”

AJ Stern and Dr Harold Katz in discussion during the keynote fireside chat

AJ Stern, President of AJS Capital and Title Sponsor, providing words of inspiration

R Yehoshua Werde, founder of The Huddle, kicking off the event

R Shlomo Einhorn leading a roundtable on AI

LA - VALLEY

THURSDAY

JUNE 20 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Shaarey Zedek 12800 Chandler Blvd. Valley Village

LA - PICO

SUNDAY JUNE 23 12:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Adas Torah 9040 W Pico Blvd. Los Angeles,

Emek Momentum Israel Unity Trip

Rabbi Mordechai Shifman, Head of School, and Mr. Guy Bachar, President of Emek, have just returned from the MoMENtum Men’s Trip. This trip is part of an Emek initiative to offer opportunities for Emek parents to strengthen their Torah values and enhance their Jewish identities. Rabbi Shifman and Mr. Bachar led a group of 12 Emek fathers on this phenomenal journey, which proved to be incredibly moving and inspirational. The men participated in an array of activities, including an emotional Kabbalat Shabbat service at the Kotel and a memorial service for fallen soldiers from Machal (soldiers who came from outside of Israel to defend the State). They davened in the ancient Hurva Synagogue in the Old City and visited the Nova Festival site, where they heard from an individual who single-handedly saved many of the concert attendees. The group davened Mincha, danced, and sang inspirational songs in memory of those who were murdered at the festival site. They also stopped at the bunker where Avi Sassi, a Valley resident, was murdered, and recited Kel Malei Rachamim.

The participants were granted access to several locations normally inaccessible to the public, such as a secret army base containing advanced drones. There, they had a BBQ with the men and women pilots who fly the drones. They also explored the excavations under the City of David, walking the original path of the “Olei Regel” — pilgrims who trekked three times a year to the Beit Hamikdash. Additionally, Rabbi Shifman and Mr. Bachar interviewed candidates from Bat Ami, a national volunteer service for religious Israeli girls known as Sherut Le’umi, an alternative to military service. Four

girls were chosen to join the Emek staff next year to enhance the school and community’s Torah environment and commitment to the State of Israel. A big thank you to Mr. Michael Michalov for coordinating this trip.

Kodesh Morah

Kodesh Assistants

General Studies Elementary Teacher

Middle School Girls English Teacher

Please email Kodesh resumes to sdavidowitz@ykla org and General Studies resumes to mozair@ykla org All inquiries will be treated confidentially

Shooting Attack Reveals Uncomfortable Truths About Israel

Moshe Phillips

Nobody in the State Department, the United Nations, or at J Street headquarters, is talking about the recent terrorist shooting attack on the Israeli town of Bat Hefer, less than 12 miles from the coastal town of Netanya. Because it shattered the premise at the heart of all their proposals concerning the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Hamas terrorists standing within the municipal boundaries of Tulkarm, a Palestinian Authority-governed city, unleashed a barrage of gunfire aimed at the nearby Israeli town of Bat Hefer. Then they posted a video of the shooting on social media.

It was the third such shooting attack on Bat Hefer in two weeks. The Times of Israel pointed out that there have been similar attacks targeting Kibbutz Meirav, which is next to the PA city of Jenin. Once again, terrorists within the boundaries of the city were able to shoot into an Israeli community without ever having to go beyond the borders of their PA-ruled city.

These incidents lay bare the flaws in the ongoing crusade by the Biden Administration and J Street to establish a Palestinian state. The statehood proponents try to reassure the Jewish public by using vague, soothing terms such as “security guarantees” and “demilitarization.” But those words are worthless. No Arab regime has ever been demilitarized, and nobody can “guarantee” Israel’s security—because there is no government on earth that will ever have the political will to step in and forcibly demilitarize or guarantee anything.

Look at the shootings at Bat Hefer and Kibbutz Meirav. The terrorists opened fire, and then quickly disappeared into the alleyways and safe houses of Tulkarm and Jenin. Where were the police? The PA has a huge police and security force. Why didn’t they arrest the shooters?

When the PA signed the Oslo Accords back in 1993-1995, it explicitly undertook the obligation to act against terrorists. The text of Oslo II requires the PA security forces to “apprehend, investigate and prosecute perpetrators and all other persons directly or indirectly involved in acts of terrorism, violence, and incitement.” (Annex I, Article II, 3-c).

The PA has more than enough manpower to do the job. The original 12,000man police force that the Accords authorized has illegally ballooned into a

60,000-man de facto army. That makes it the sixth-largest per-capita security force in the world—1,250 “police officers” per 100,000 people.

Yet the PA refuses to use its forces against terrorists. It treats Hamas like its brothers, not its enemies. So the shooters in Tulkarm and Jenin went on their merry way. These are the kinds of attacks that force Israeli soldiers to periodically enter the PA-governed areas in hot pursuit of the would-be murderers.

Right now, when the PA is not a sovereign state, the entry of Israeli forces into PA areas results in angry UN resolutions and angry articles by Thomas Friedman in the New York Times, but nothing worse than that.

But things would be very, very different if there is a sovereign state of Palestine. Jenin and Tulkarm would be part of Palestine. They would have to be. There’s no way that the PA is going to turn over its fourth-largest and sixth-largest cities to Israeli rule.

So the terrorists shooting at Bat Hefer or Kibbutz Meirav would be shooting from within sovereign Palestinian territory. Meaning that Israel would be crossing an international border if it tried to chase the shooters. Violating another country’s sovereignty is a serious matter. Israel could face international sanctions—and possibly even military action by neighboring Arab regimes.

It’s also important to keep another factor in mind. If Jenin and Tulkarm are filled with terrorists now, just imagine how much worse it would be if Jenin and Tulkarm were part of a State of Palestine. All sorts of weapons would flow freely into the city. Who is going to stop that? UN peacekeepers? J Street staff members? Thomas Friedman?

So don’t expect any of Israel’s critics to say anything about the shooting attacks on Bat Hefer and Kibbutz Meirav. The premise of everything they say is that Israelis can trust that a Palestinian state will be peaceful. These latest shootings are a reminder, yet again, that the exact opposite is true.

B U Y Y O U R H O M E I N I S R A E L N O W

AN EXCLUSIVE EVENT TO LEARN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BUYING A PROPERTY IN ISRAEL.

VENUES WILL BE SENT TO VERIFIED REGISTRANTS BEFORE THE EVENT

Psycho-Spiritual Insights: Exploring Parsha and Psychology

Holiday Comeback Story - Parshat Beha’alotcha

Judaism is a religion of second chances. In Parshat Beha’alotcha, we encounter a remarkable story of second chances: the story of Pesach Sheni. This special holiday was instituted for those who, due to impurity, were unable to bring the Pesach offering. To have a comeback, you first need a setback. Pesach Sheni offers a profound lesson interwoven with the psychological concept of second chances.

The Parsha tells us about people who approached Moshe Rabbeinu, expressing their feelings of being left out from the Pesach offering due to impurity. Moshe Rabbeinu informs them that he will seek instructions from Hashem about what to do next. Hashem then provides detailed laws regarding Pesach Sheni. The Sefer HaChinukh explains that this mitzvah was not only for those who were unable to perform Pesach due to inadvertence or duress but also for those who, by volition, did not offer it the first time.

Psychologically, the concept of a

second chance speaks to the fundamental human need for forgiveness and renewal. It acknowledges that making mistakes is a part of the human experience and emphasizes the potential for growth and improvement. Life gives us many second chances, but how often do we take them? Second chances are not given to make things right, but rather to prove that we can be better even after we fall.

Psychologist Angela Duckworth describes that a person who perseveres despite mistakes and makes the best of their second chance embodies the quality of grit, which is a key predictor of long-term success. Pesach Sheni teaches us about the power of resilience and determination. Those who missed the opportunity to bring the Passover offering could have easily succumbed to despair or resignation. However, the provision of Pesach Sheni empowered them to persevere and seize the opportunity for redemption. Similarly, in our lives, setbacks and failures are inevitable, but it is our response to these challenges

Read Between The Lines

Literal communication is a topic addressed in Parashat Beha’alotcha. Some Jews were prevented from performing the mitzvah of the Korban Pesach. If the mitzvah was taken literally, they would have had a valid reason to be exempt. Despite that, they saw a mitzvah not just as a commandment (יווצ) but as an opportunity given by God to connect with Him (תווצ). They asked for a second chance, and God loved it so much that this second chance itself became a mitzvah for posterity.

We, too, should look at marital communication in context. For example, if your wife asks you to buy spoons, ask yourself, “What does my wife really want? Is there an event for which the spoons’ color needs

to match other pieces? Does she perhaps also need forks and knives?”

A marriage is a series of small events. Seeing each event in the broader context of your marriage is a sure way to improve your Shalom Bayit.

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: thegameofmarriage@gmail.com

that defines our character. By embracing the concept of second chances, we cultivate resilience and fortitude, enabling us to overcome obstacles and strive for personal growth.

Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch said that Pesach Sheni means that it’s never a ‘lost cause.’ Therefore, Pesach Sheni is the time to reroute our focus towards our purpose. Author C.S. Lewis writes, “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” We are not defined by our most recent setbacks and past; we can be prepared by them for the future. Pesach Sheni, the holiday of second chances, reminds us that we can always change direction and grow.

Here are three tips for making the most of a second chance:

Embracing Growth: Reflect and Learn: Take time to reflect on what led to the need for a second chance. Identify areas where improvement is needed and learn from past mistakes. Use this reflection as a guide for making better choices and decisions moving forward.

Set Clear Goals: Define specific and achievable goals that align with your desired outcome. Whether it’s personal growth, professional development, or repairing relationships, having clear goals will help you stay focused and motivated on the path to redemption.

Stay Persistent and Patient: Embrace the journey of self-improvement with patience and persistence. Understand that change takes time and setbacks may occur along the way. Stay committed to your goals, stay resilient in the face of challenges, and keep moving forward, one step at a time.

Elan Javanfard, M.A., L.M.F.T. is a Consulting Psychotherapist focused on behavioral health redesign, a Professor of Psychology at Pepperdine University, & a lecturer related to Mindfulness, Evidence-Based Practices, and Suicide Prevention. Elan is the author of Psycho-Spiritual Insights: Exploring Parasha & Psychology, a weekly blog. He lives in the Los Angeles Pico Robertson community with his wife and three children and can be reached at Elan.Javanfard@gmail.com.

Shalom Bayit

The Becker-Goldman Integrity Award

Yehudis Pollock, a talented student from Bais Yaakov, recently won 1st place in the prestigious Becker-Goldman Integrity Award, receiving a $1,000 prize for her beautifully written essay on Emunah.

The Becker-Goldman Integrity Award is one of several scholarships offered at Bais Yaakov to assist graduating seniors with seminary and post-high school expenses. This award was established by Eva Becker, a 1989 Bais Yaakov graduate, in memory of her beloved father, Simcha Yaakov ben Moshe Yitzchak, z"l, and her grandfather, Rav Shlomo ben Chaim Aryeh, z"l.

“How do you keep your הנומא intact, and what motivates you to keep moving forward towards your personal goals?”

While studying the prompt of this essay to find correlation between the questions, I came across an interesting and quite fascinating connection. The first part of the prompt states “How do you keep your Emunah intact?” which is a question on believing in Hashem. The second part continues by saying, “What motivates you to keep moving forward towards your personal goals?” which is a question on belief in oneself. Believing is not only the foundation for living a Torah life but also for anyone who wants to lead a successful personal life.

A man walked into Sir Issac Newton’s office and saw a model of the solar system on his desk. The man said, “Professor Newton, where did you get this fantastic model?” Mr. Newton calmly replied, “A bunch of things came flying and created this wonderful creation.” The man laughed. Mr. Newton said, “If you don’t believe this solar system model came to be by itself, then how can you believe that our wondrous universe came from a Big Bang!”

Emunah is the foundation of Yiddishkeit. [i] The Rambam says that the foundations of all Chachmos are to know Hashem.[ii] One must first acquire the foundational concepts of Emunah in order to do this. First, we must know that Hashem is the Borei Olam. Second, that Hashem gave us the Torah at Har Sinai, and third that the Torah was given in two parts, both the oral and written Torah.[iii] From there one can build oneself up and grow to greater heights to believe in Hashem.

Emunah is multifaceted and complex. One must really believe and be completely convinced. It is not just agreeing or accepting. One must know without any doubt that this is the truth.[iv] One can gain Emunah in two ways, the first is through Kabbalas Avos - our parents have given over Emunah from past generations to us and we rely on the fact that our parents and teachers are honest with us. The second way is through Emunas Ha’Seichel - by looking in the Torah and at the world around us we come to knowledge and recognition of Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Kabbalas Avos is harder to grasp in

today’s generation where people are not as easily convinced as they used to be. Looking back to see the people of yesteryear, we see that they lived with Emunah Pashuta according to Kabbalas Avos because their fathers before them believed and they could track back an unbroken chain.[v] When reading biographies of Gedolim in Europe, I love to see how everyone lived with such simple faith, firm in their belief that Torah is Emes. Nowadays, the most common route to have a clear grasp on Emunah is through the route of knowledge. Personally, saying the Shalosh Assar Ikarei Emunah (Ani Ma’amin) daily, is a way that I try to ingrain in myself what every Yid must believe.

We must believe that the Torah is from Hashem in Shamayim. If anything were incorrect in the Torah then the whole Torah would not be believable. There is a famous story where Rav Chatzkel Levenstein once walked into the Ponevezh Beis Medrash carrying a food processor box and said, “This is proof that Torah is Min Hashamyim.” Back in those days you could not get so much in Eretz Yisrael, so someone had sent his Rebbetzin a food processor from America. The instruction manual was missing, and she could not figure out how to put it together. Rav Chatzkel came into the house and found her in tears because she could not use her brand-new appliance. Once they found the instructions, the food processor was easily put together. Rav Chatzkel then brought the empty box to Yeshiva and said “If this complicated food processor came with instructions, for sure the world, which is so much more complicated, came with instructions – The Torah.[vi] Like the food processor, the world needs its instruction manual, the Torah, from which it was created, to be able to exist and function properly.

Like one has to believe in Hashem, one must additionally believe in themselves. They will then be motivated towards their goals in any area in life. The key to accomplishing anything is motivation. One can get motivated by knowing they are doing the right thing and making a difference in the world. This year I decided I wanted to make the most out of my final

year in high school. So, I made a resolution to do many extracurricular activities in my free time that will help the community. I volunteered for Chai-lifeline, made Sunday clubs for girls, did Chessed for a young family and ran a Bnos group on Shabbos, in addition to the activities I took part in at school. Now as the school year is approaching its end, I realize that not only did the activities fill in my free time, but they really added to my life because what you learn from helping others is the biggest help for yourself. Sometimes it was hard to do all the things that I did (especially by production time when I was in school most nights) but knowing that this was only a once in a lifetime opportunity to make this year momentous, I was motivated to carry on. The feeling of accomplishment that I receive by achieving my ambitions is the motivating factor that I use to continue on towards my goals.

A person must recognize their greatness and ability, and this will help them grow in self-confidence. Then they will be able to accomplish their goals. They will understand emotionally that Hashem put them in this world to do things and he gave them the ability to do just that. When a person learns to believe in Hashem and emulates His ways, they can accomplish great things. They learn about their inherent value and realize they can push themselves to accomplish and this in turn will lead them to live the most fulfilling life connected to Hakadosh Baruch Hu.

Sources:

[i] Page 22 Emunah a Refresher Course by Rabbi Dovid Sapirman published by Mosaica Press in 2015. After reading Rabbi Sapirman’s Sefer my world view drastically changed. I would highly recommend it and believe that it will thoroughly teach and clarify what Emunah is to all.

[ii]

[iii] Page 23 Emunah a Refresher Course

[iv] Page 26 Emunah a Refresher Course

[v] Pages 30-35 Emunah a Refresher Course

[vi] A story my brother told me from his Rebbi, Rabbi Lopian, 11th grade Rebbi in Calabasas Yeshiva

Tens of Thousands are Mekabel Shabbos at Dirshu Kinnus Olam HaTorah in Prudential Center

Gedolei Yisrael Lead the Charge Urging Klal Yisrael to Accept Upon Themselves the Limud of Daily Hilchos Shabbos

Chaim Gold

It was surreal, a scene that will never be forgotten by the thousands who merited to be in the Prudential Center Arena on Sunday night before Shavuos. The Gaon and Tzaddik, HaRav Shimon Galei, shlita, who had come especially from Eretz Yisrael to address the Dirshu Kinnus Olam HaTorah Kabbolas Shabbos maamad, was about to complete his inspiring drasha… when he suddenly changed tones. Instead of ending the drasha with the traditional, “May we be zocheh to the coming of Moshiach,” he began singing!

Yes, Rav Shimon Galei stood there, a beatific smile on his face, microphone in hand, enthusiastically singing the famous song, “Shaarei shomyaim pesach.” He was calling on Hashem to open the gates of Heaven and open His treasure trove for us…

He then explained, “I feel that at this moment is a tremendous eis ratzon, an opportune time when the gates of Heaven are wide open and we can beg Hashem for all our needs, for all Klal Yisrael’s needs!”

He then began singing the niggun again, unshed tears glistening in his eyes as the nearly 15,000 people filling the stadium joined in a thunderous outpouring of emotion. The entire stadium was on their feet singing “Shaarei shomyaim pesach.”!

Watching Rav Shimon singing, you could see how the worry lines and wrinkles on his face temporarily disappeared. He glowed with simcha, leading the assemblage in song and explaining to them how the zechus of Shabbos itself was opening the gates of Heaven; how Shabbos has the power to save Klal Yisrael from its enemies from within and without; and how this wonderful assemblage that gathered to strengthen themselves in shemiras Shabbos by undertaking to learn hilchos Shabbos daily and comprehensively, was the

conduit for rachmei shomayim to permeate the entire Klal Yisrael.

The climax of Rav Shimon Galei’s drasha was one of the main highlights and emotional highpoints of a unique, remarkable event experienced by Klal Yisrael this past Sunday, the first day of the Sheloshes Yemei Hagbalah, when Dirshu held its massive Kinnus Olam HaTorah Kabbolas Shabbos event at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

Traditionally, Dirshu’s large stadium events have been held to mark milestone siyumim. This event, however, was unique in that it was made to celebrate not a siyum, but a kabbalah, a kabbalah of hundreds of thousands of lomdim the world over accepting upon themselves to learn hilchos Shabbos in Dirshu’s popular Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program that will embark on Chelek Gimel of hilchos Shabbos on Erev Shavuos. It is certainly not coincidental that this kabbalah to learn hilchos Shabbos coincides with the Yom Tov of Kabbolas HaTorah as Chazal teach us that shemiras Shabbos is equivalent to keeping the entire Torah!

It is also not coincidental that the very popular Dirshu Amud HaYomi program is also currently in the middle of learning Masechta Shabbos. Those who participate in both programs thus have the unique opportunity to learn the sugyos in the masechta followed by the practical halacha that emanates from these sugyos.

The Kabbolas Shabbos event was attended by numerous prominent Roshei Yeshiva, Poskim, Admorim and Rabbanim aside from those who addressed the crowd including Hagaonim HaRav Malkiel Kotler, shlita, HaRav Dovid Schustal, shlita, HaRav Reuven Feinstein, shlita, Harav Hillel David, shlita, HaRav Yaakov Horowitz, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Beis Meir, HaRav Shlo-

mo Feivel Schustal, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Tiferes Yerachmiel, Rav Osher Dovid May, shlita, Rosh Kollel of the Passaic Yeshiva, Kollel, HaRav Yerachmiel Ungarischer, shlita, Rosh Yeshivas Beis Medrash Elyon of Bnei Brak, the Verdaner Rebbe, shlita,, Rav Meir Meyers, shlita, Belzer Dayan in Boro Park, Rav Shlomo Leizer, shlita, Sanzer Dayan, Rav Avrohom Spitzer, shlita, Skverer Dayan of Lakewood, Rav Shmuel Lichtenstein, shlita, Krasna, Dayan, Rav Yitzchok Zalman Gips, shlita, Rav of Khal Birkas Avrohom HaRav Moshe Chaim Kahan, shlita, Dayan, Beis Medrash Govoha, Lakewood, HaRav Moshe Zev Feldman, shlita Dayan, Beis Medrash Govoha, Lakewood.

Inspiration in Harmony

In addition to being an evening of kabbalos, the evening was also suffused with niggunim of chizuk and hisorerus beginning with a new niggun “Boi Besholom” sung by the Shira choir. Some of the most talented baalei menagnim inspired the crowd to greater heights in ahavas Torah and shemiras Shabbos. Whether it was R’ Baruch Levine singing the words of the beautiful tefillah said by every woman before lighting the candles when she begs Hashem to grant her children who will illuminate the world with their Torah, mitzvos and maasim tovim, or R’ Hershy Weinberger together with a wunderkind soloist singing the new song “Tanu Rabbanan,” full of ahavas haTorah.

Whether it was R’ Zanvil Weinberger singing the words of the Mishnah that, “He who engages in Torah is zocheh to so many things,” or the heartfelt singing of R’ Naftali Kempeh as he sang the famed moving Shavuos song, “Kad Yasvin” that describes how Hashem revels in seeing his beloved Nation forgetting about the dif-

ficulties in their own lives, and instead deeply engaging in toiling in Torah. The evening was one of chizuk, inspiration and most importantly, “kabbalah,” about truly making an unbreakable kabbalah to learn hilchos Shabbos and in general upgrade all matters related to Shabbos.

Rav David Ozeri: “The Only Way to Win This War is Spiritually!”

One of the most powerful drashos of the evening was the drasha given by HaRav David Ozeri, shlita, Rav of the Yad Yosef Torah Center of Brooklyn. Rav Ozeri cited the words of the Mishnah Berurah in his introduction to hilchos Shabbos, where the Chofetz Chaim calls on every community to establish chaburos, groups of people learning hilchos Shabbos. The Chofetz Chaim adds that making groups and shiurim of people dedicated to learning hilchos Shabbos will bring the geulah closer!

“Dirshu,” Rav Ozeri said, “is therefore actually engaged in bringing the geulah closer by ensuring that so many shiurim and so many groups of lomdim are getting together daily to learn hilchos Shabbos. This gathering here today is certainly a gathering that is bringing the geulah closer!”

Rav Yechiel Mechel Steinmetz: “We Are All Here to Collectively Say, ‘Naaseh V’Nishma!’”

Rav Yechiel Mechel Steinmetz, Skverer Dayan of Boro Park and one of the senior Poskim of America, brought out the tremendous quality of achdus that he observed in the crowd.

“We see here,” he said, “G-d fearing Yidden from all walks of life who have come together - Chassidim, Litivishe Yidden, Sefardic Jews, kollel yungeleit, baalei

battim, a complete microcosm of Har Sinai about which Chazal teach, ‘The entire Klal Yisrael camped next to the mountain as one man with one heart, with remarkable achdus,’ to do what? To strengthen ourselves in hilchos Shabbos. I feel that today we are all here to collectively say, ‘Naaseh V’Nishma!

The Call to Action by the Nasi of Dirshu

“Tayere Heiligeh Mishpachas Dirshu, shlita,” was the way, Rav Dovid Hofstedter, shlita, Nasi of Dirshu, began his remarks. One could feel the profound ahavah suffusing those words. It was clear that this was not some figurehead of an organization, detached from the people, addressing his constituents. Rather, he was a yedid, a father figure, and more importantly a family member addressing his wider family with ahavah. Every person in the cavernous Prudential Center could feel the love emanating from the words, “Tayere Heiligeh Mishpachas Dirshu, shlita.”

The seminal drasha that Rav Hofstedter delivered was not only a rousing speech, but it was also an earnest conversation among friends. It was a very serious, important drasha with a practical message that was delivered with pain and concern over the difficult situation in today’s world.

Rav Hofstedter said, “On the one hand, look at this dor! It is such a beautiful generation! Perhaps in the history of our galus there has never been a generation where so much Torah is being learned. Torah is being learned across the entire world - In Eretz Yisrael from Dan until Be’er Sheva and outside of Eretz Yisrael, in cities and towns literally where until more recently the kol Torah has not been heard, there are kollelim. There are yeshivos and Bais Yaakovs in communities the world over, with tens and tens of thousands of talmidim.

“All areas of Torah are being learned. In our entire history, there was never so much Talmud Yerushalmi being learned as today. Our generation is producing comprehensive sefarim covering virtually every

area of Torah at the highest levels. It is absolutely wonderful! A blessed generation!

“On the other hand… look at the terrible tzaros that we have experienced most recently. We are experiencing a difficult tekufah of hester panim. Is it possible that the tremendous shefah, the tremendous bounty that Hashem has bestowed upon us has distracted us from our ultimate mission in life? Is it possible that with all the Torah being learned and with all the wonderful, spiritual developments in our time, that we are missing something?”

With great passion and pathos, Rav Hofstedter exclaimed, “Our generation is such a generation of opportunity! There is so much Torah being learned, so much ruchnyius, so much good! We have the opportunity to soar in ruchniyus. Yet, there are serious challenges.

“Let us not look back at our lives with regret. Let us not one day regretfully look at the missed, unfulfilled potential! Let us not say we could have been bekiim in hilchos Shabbos, we could have kept Shabbos properly without inadvertently transgressing… but we didn’t avail ourselves of the opportunity. Let us not one day have the anguish and regret that ‘I could have been a Shas Yid…’ Let us not one day look back and say, ‘I COULD have brought the geulah, I missed the opportunity…’ Let us not r”l, be the generation that had so many tzaros and will one day have to answer the question, ‘Where were you? What were you doing when my children were being slaughtered? Where were you when so many children were being lost to Klal Yisrael? Were you too busy enjoying life when the umos ha’olam were disgracing My Torah?”

With a fiery spark of hope in his eyes, Rav Dovid continued, “Let us rather be the generation of Kinyan Torah! The generation of Kinyan Halacha, of Kinyan Shas, of Kinyan Yerushalmi, of Amud HaYomi and of Daf HaYomi B’Halacha!!

“Let us be the generation whose Father welcomes His children with open arms! Let us be the generation that will finally witness yeshuas Yisrael and welcome the Goel Tzedek!”

“Tattele Kum Shoin Aheim!” With that rousing ending, Rav Hofstedter was about to step down… Until something stopped him. What happened next swept the whole crowd into electrified dveikus. Rav Simon Galei quickly stepped up the podium next to Rav Dovid and, as an appropriate bookend to the entire theme of Rav Dovid’s drasha, grasped Rav Dovid’s hand and began to sing the famous words of the song composed by Rav Don Segal, begging Hashem to come back home to His children, “Tattele kum shoin aheim! Tattele kum shoin aheim!”

It seemed as if the roof was going to blow off of the stadium as the entire khal rose to their feet as one, singing with tangible emotion, “Tattele kum shoin aheim! Our Dear Father, PLEASE COME HOME!”

Rav Yitzchok Sorotzkin: “Connecting with Masechta Shabbos and Hilchos

Shabbos Can Save Klal Yisrael”

HaGaon HaRav Yitzchok Sorotzkin, shlita, Rosh Yeshiva of Telshe and Mesivta of Lakewood, pointed out that in our times, when Klal Yisrael faces a tzarah we are often told that we need to strengthen ourselves in matters of shemiras halashon. “While there is no doubt that we should always be vigilant about shemiras halashon, Rav Mattisyohu Salomon commented that if you look at the letters written by the Chofetz Chaim during difficult times for Klal Yisrael during his lifetime, he almost always attributed the difficult times to deficiencies in shemiras Shabbos and in slacking off in limud haTorah. Certainly, in our times when Klal Yisrael is assailed from within and without by great difficulties, it is time to strengthen ourselves in Shabbos and Torah.

Another highlight of the event were the video recordings of the Gedolei Eretz Yisrael and Gedolei America, urging Klal Yisrael to undertake learning hilchos Shabbos. A powerful message resonated from Eretz Yisrael during the recent nesius meeting of the Daf HaYomi B’Halacha program with the Gedolei Yisrael of the Yeshiva, Chasssidic and Sefardic communities in Bnei Brak.

“Shabbos Encompasses ALL the Mitzvos!”

Another powerful speaker was the well-known Maggid, HaRav Shimon Spitzer, shlita, who cited the famous Gemara wherein a convert asked Hillel to teach him the entire Torah on one foot. Hillel’s answer was, “What you don’t want someone to do to you, don’t do to another.”

“The question,” Rav Spitzer then asked, “is this the entire Torah?” He then explained, “There are foundational mitzvos that serve as conduits for all the mitzvos. This foundational mitzvah will lead to the others. The same applies to Shabbos. Shabbos is a mitzvah that encompasses ALL the other mitzvos. That is why a person who keeps Shabbos is considered as if he kept the entire Torah while a mechallel Shabbos, r”l, is considered a person who doesn’t believe in anything.”

Rav Spitzer similarly urged the assemblage to feel the taam of Shabbos, to feel the spiritual taanug that Shabbos brings, saying, “This taanug can be felt when someone devotes time to learning hilchos Shabbos.”

Skulener Rebbe and Stutchiner Rebbe Lead Kabbolas Ol Malchus Shomayim

Another climax was at the very end of the maamad with the arrival of the venerated Skulener Rebbe of Boro Park, Rav Yeshaya Yaakov Portugal, shlita, and the Rebbe of Toldos Yehuda Stutchin, Rav Mordechai Zilber, shlita. When the Skulener Rebbe said, “Shema Yisrael,” being mekabel ol malchus shomayim, as the Stutchiner Rebbe looked on, the entire assemblage thundered after him, in a roaring acceptance of ol malchus shomayim. He then said, “Hashem Hu Elokim” seven times, declaring our emunah in Hashem. What an appropriate culmination to a night that was completely devoted to Shabbos, the foundation of our emunah!

To join Daf HaYomi B’Halacha and/or Amud HaYomi, please contact Dirshu at info@dirshunj.org or at 1-888-5Dirshu.

Nature’s Cure for the Boredom Bug

Helen Jacobs

With school out and summer in full swing, those dreaded words, "Mommy, I'm bored!" are more frequent than ever. I've found that the best antidote to boredom is embracing nature. Here are some tried-and-true activities to keep those little hands busy and minds engaged without them reaching for a screen.

The Park

Instead of letting the chaos reign indoors, why not head to the park? Fresh air, green spaces, and endless possibilities for fun!

Park Cleanup

Teach your kids about the importance of caring for the environment by organizing a park cleanup. Provide gloves and bags, and make it a game to see who can collect the most litter.

Shadow Tag

Shadow tag is a fun twist on the classic game of tag. Instead of tagging each other physically, players must step on each other's shadows. This can be played on sunny days and adds an extra challenge as kids dodge and leap to avoid having their shadows caught.

Rock Balancing

Challenge the kids to a rock balancing contest. See who can stack the highest tower of rocks without it toppling over. It’s a calming activity that requires patience and concentration.

Kite Flying

You can either purchase a simple kite or make your own at home with some sticks, string, and a plastic bag. Once you’re at the park, find an open area and let the wind do the work.

Park Bingo

Create bingo cards with different items and activities commonly found in a park: a red flower, a bird, a person on a bike, etc. Hand out the cards and some crayons, and let the kids cross off items as they spot them.

Cloud Watching

Lie down on a blanket and watch the clouds drift by. Encourage the kids to use their imagination to see different shapes and figures in the clouds. Once they spot something, have them make up a short story about it.

The Beach

These beach activities will have your kids making waves of laughter!

Beach Ball Relay Race

Set up a relay race with beach balls. Divide the kids into teams and create a course in the sand. They have to pass the beach ball to each other without using their hands (they can use their feet, heads, or bodies). The team that completes the course first wins.

Beach Bowling

Set up a makeshift bowling alley on the sand using empty plastic bottles as pins and a beach ball as the bowling ball. Kids can take turns rolling the ball to knock down the pins. You can even add water or sand to the bottles to make them more stable and challenging to knock over.

Seashell Tic-Tac-Toe

Draw a tic-tac-toe grid in the sand and use seashells and small rocks as game pieces. It's a simple, classic game, but playing it on the beach adds a fun twist. You can even create a mini-tournament to see who can win the most games.

Sand Volcanoes

Forget boring sandcastles and create a sand volcano instead. You'll need a plastic bottle, baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring. Bury the bottle in the sand, leaving the neck exposed. Fill it with baking soda and a few drops of food coloring. When you're ready for the eruption, pour in the vinegar and watch the colorful volcano explode!

Beach Paint Splash

Pack some water balloons filled with non-toxic, washable paint. Spread a large piece of white fabric or an old bed sheet on the sand. Let the kids throw the paint-filled balloons at the fabric, creating a colorful masterpiece. The beach is the perfect place for this activity because clean-up is a breeze!

MEET THE DOCTORS

Graduate of Georgetown dental School and has treated patients at the Pico office for over 40 years. Specializes in general and cosmetic dentistry.

Dr. Gabe Rosenthal

Graduate of USC, Dr. Gabe specializes in cosmetic dentistry with emphasis on veneers, Invisalign and full mouth reconstruction.

Dr. Farhad Shafa

Graduate of USC dental School, Dr. Shafa is a general and cosmetic specialist and specializes with patients who suffer from dental anxiety.

Dr. Victor Israel

Dr. Amir Rad

WHY CHOOSE KATZ DENTAL

• All treatments done in our office (no referalls).

• Complimentary invisalign implant consultations.

• Accept all PPO insurances. No insurance, no problem. Join our Katz Dental Plan.

• Open Sundays. No missing work. No traffic.

• Fear of dentist. We have anesthesiologist on staff. Have all treatment done while under general anesthesia.

$99 NEW PATIENT OFFER

Includes Cleaning, X-Ray, & Exam

Dr. Hillel Katz is a graduate of NYU Dental School and served as chief resident at Bellevue Hospital in New York. He specializes in general, cosmetic, and implant dentistry.

Graduate of Tufts University dental School, Dr. Vic is a periodontist specializing in implant and “all on 4” fixed dentistry.

Dr. Rad MD is a board certified anesthesiologist. He’s had over 8 years of experience in providing anesthesia in hospitals, surgery centers and dental offices.

Dr. Richard Katz Dr. Hillel Katz

The Garden

Turn boredom into blossoming creativity, literally and figuratively.

Egg Carton Greenhouses

Teach your kids about plant growth with a mini greenhouse made from an egg carton. Fill each section with soil and plant a seed (e.g., beans, herbs, or flowers). Cover the carton with plastic wrap and place it in a sunny spot. Watch as the seeds sprout and grow.

DIY Bird Feeders

Create simple bird feeders using pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed. Spread peanut butter over a pinecone, ensuring it's well-coated. Roll the sticky pinecone in birdseed until it's thoroughly covered. Tie a string around the top of the pinecone, then hang it from a tree branch or fence in your

The Kitchen

When boredom strikes and the "I'm hungry" chorus begins, why not kill two birds with one stone?

Homemade Ice Cream

For this activity, you’ll need milk, sugar, vanilla extract, ice, and salt. Combine milk, sugar, and vanilla extract in a small resealable plastic bag. In a larger bag, put ice and salt. Place the small bag inside the larger one and let the kids shake vigorously for about 5-10 minutes. Voila! You have homemade ice cream.

Pizza Faces

Use pizza dough or pita bread as the base. Set out bowls of toppings like tomato sauce, shredded cheese, bell peppers, olives, and mushrooms. Encourage your kids to create funny faces or patterns with the toppings. This activity

The Backyard

Right in your backyard, you can turn any day into a special adventure with these exciting ideas!

Water Balloon Piñata

Fill up several water balloons and hang them from a tree branch or a clothesline. Blindfold the kids, give them a soft bat or stick, and let them take turns trying to burst the balloons. It’s a hilarious and refreshing twist on the traditional piñata.

Cardboard Box City

Collect large cardboard boxes from grocery stores or appliance shops. Have the kids design and build their own mini-city, complete with houses, shops, and even roads. Let them paint and decorate their structures to bring their city to life.

Chalk Twister

Draw a giant Twister board on the ground with different colored circles. Call out the body part and color combinations just like in the traditional game.

Water Gun Target Practice

Set up targets around the yard, such as plastic cups or tin cans stacked in pyramids. Give the kids water guns and have them aim and shoot to knock down the targets. You can keep score to add a competitive element.

The Hike

A hike is a perfect way to burn off some of that boundless energy.

But let’s be honest, the usual “count how many birds we see” activity can get old, fast. Here are some novel ideas.

Follow the Leader: Nature Edition

In this twist on Follow the Leader, the leader must incorporate natural elements into their actions. For example, they might walk along a fallen log, jump over a stream, or touch a specific tree. Each child takes turns being the leader.

Nature’s Red Light, Green Light

Play Red Light, Green Light with a nature twist. When you say “Red Light,” the kids must freeze in a pose that mimics something they see around them, like a tree or an animal. When you say “Green Light,” they can move again.

Simon Says: Nature Edition

Instead of typical commands, incorporate nature-themed actions like “Simon says find a leaf bigger than your hand,” “Simon says hop over a stream,” or “Simon says touch three different types of trees.” It’s a fun way to explore and interact with the environment.

DIY Nature Bracelets

Pack some clear packing tape and let the kids create their own nature bracelets. Simply wrap a piece of tape, sticky side out, around their wrist. As they walk, they can stick small flowers, leaves, or colorful bits of nature to their bracelet. By the end of the hike, they’ll have a beautiful, custom-made nature accessory.

Lemonade Stand at the Trailhead

Set up a simple lemonade stand with your kids, and sell refreshing drinks to hikers starting or ending their journey. Not only is it a fun way to spend time together, but you can also donate the proceeds to a charity of your choice.

MEDI-CAL APPROVED MINIMAL MONEY OUT OF POCKET COSTS S can to view more !

DIRECTOR@CIT YVIE W .CARE WW W .CIT YVIE W .CARE

FYI: Mosquitoes

By: Belle Miller

With summer upon us and outdoor activities ramping up, so too does the buzzing nuisance of mosquitoes. Whether you’re enjoying a barbecue in your backyard, hiking in the hills, or simply relaxing on your patio,

MOZZIES AROUND THE GLOBE

The word "mosquito" is Spanish for "li le y." In Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, they’re o en called "mozzies." Imagine trying to complain about a mosquito bite when it's called a mozzie—it almost sounds endearing. "Oh, a mozzie got me!" just doesn’t convey the same level of irritation.

MOSQUITO CAPITALS OF THE U.S.

PROTEIN-POWERED LADIES

NECTAR-SIPPING GENTLEMEN

THE WORLD'S DEADLIEST ANIMAL

Mosquitoes transmit malaria, which kills over 700,000 people every year, mostly in Africa. In Los Angeles, these tiny terrors can carry diseases like West Nile virus and Zika. While West Nile virus can cause fever and headaches similar to a bad case of the u, there’s no need to panic. Most people who get it won’t have severe symptoms.

SWEET BLOOD OR SWEAT?

THE ITCHY AFTERMATH

Ever heard the myth that mosquitoes prefer sweet blood? Turns out, it’s not about how sweet your blood is but rather how you smell. Mosquitoes avoid some people. Scientists are examining these people's sweat to develop repellents.

BLOOD CONNOISSEURS

While mosquitoes will bite humans, they actually prefer birds, ca le, and horses. We’re not their rst choice, but they’ll take what they can get. They really know how to add insult to injury.

Navigating Camp Anxiety: A Parent’s Action Plan

When the city gets hot and humid and yeshiva has wound to a halt for the summer, many young people and children look forward to the camp experience. We are blessed with exceptional summer camps with an atmosphere emphasizing the wholesome religious values and ideals which many families aim for at home, and when the program includes fun activities, socializing and learning experiences, camp can be a fine adjunct to supporting our children’s growth and development.

Each summer season, the Chai Lifeline offices and crisis line are busy responding to questions coming from parents as well as camp staff and directors. This article is a sketch of some of those concerns, as a proactive model for addressing your child’s needs should they arise.

Maturity: How do I know if my child will do well away from home?

1. Explore this with your child in advance. Does he or she feel capable of living in a bunk with others and adhering to a rigorous camp schedule? Does your child socialize well and form friendships easily?

2. Outline with your child their responsibilities, their expectations, and yours, of being at camp, and help them determine if they are ready for some degree of independence. This includes pep talks about physical hygiene, responsible eating, risk avoidance, and protecting their possessions.

3. Discuss with your child the circumstances under which they might miss home or family and how they will address those feelings from far away.

Anxiety Ridden or “Homesick” Campers

1. Explore with your child any worries or fears which they might share.

2. Determine if it is prudent to acquaint camp staff with any concerns which might surface at camp.

3. If your child or your family has experienced recent stresses or crisis situations, might this be affecting your child and should this be discussed in advance with camp staff?

4. Discuss with your child prior situations when they have been away from home and family and identify what has made these experiences positive during those times.

Safety at Camp

1. Discuss with your child the importance of boundaries, respecting others personal boundaries, and avoiding situations which might feel uncomfortable.

2. Many Jewish camps have undergone

training of staff so that the safety and welfare of all campers will be monitored and adhered to responsibly. Reassure your child that they can contact you if they have any questions and can approach a responsible adult if they are uneasy.

3. Review with your child the family’s values and standards and ensure that they will at all times conduct themselves with others according to the same standards of modesty and honesty that is modeled at home.

Communication

1. When camps have the facilities to allow occasional phone calls to check in with parents i.e., before Shabbos, accommodate your child’s wish for contact and reassurance that all is well. At times, a child’s anxiety away from home is a result of worry that the family is not well or is not available. That can be remedied through staying in touch at an appropriate level and frequency.

2. Designate a familiar older friend, relative or staff member who will be your child’s go-to in case of need.

3. Express your love and encouragement prior to departure for camp while also being clear that you are excited that they will have an away-from-home fun time. Avoid giving the child mixed messages that might imply that you are not ready for them to be away.

4. Emphasize the value of treating others with respect, including teachers, camp rabbis and other adults who deserve courtesy and obedience from campers just as do their rebbeim and teachers in the city. Camp is a place for continuing our behavioral and personal standards, not for acting out and reckless misconduct. Clarify this with your camper.

5. A word about bullying and about learning to accept new children whom one might not yet know should be communicated in advance.

The typical camp schedule is quite structured, including set wake up times, bedtimes, mealtimes, activities and outings, prayers, and educational programs. Adhering to the camp schedule can be very grounding and stabilizing for a child. Go over the program with your camper in advance and help them look forward to the experience.

Wishing you and them a summer of happiness, free of mishap and full of enjoyment within a Torah atmosphere.

Miracle in the Minutiae

The Miracle of Ahavas Yisrael

Afriend in London sent me a message on WhatsApp. Her daughter was scheduled for outpatient surgery in a small town in Georgia. Was I nearby? Did I know anyone who could help? I live in Los Angeles. Georgia is on the other side of the country, almost like asking my friend in London if she knows anyone in Greece who could offer support in a medical situation.

Geography was only part of the issue. The timing further complicated matters. The surgery to repair her injured hand needed to be performed within a specific window—enough time for some tissue to heal, but not so much that it would complicate the procedure. This crit-

The surgery needed to be performed within a specific window, which fell out just a day before Rosh Hashana

ical window fell just a day before Rosh Hashana.

I said I’d ask around. I don’t know a soul in Georgia, but I was sure things would work out, somehow. Her daughter was in a small town, hours away from any metropolitan area. I suggested she contact shuls and Chabad Houses nearby.

I asked my Rabbi for ideas. He contacted his brother in Augusta, who said Savannah was the closest location to the hospital. My friend and I located the

THE RED THAT SAYS “CHEESE”

Chabad Rabbi in Savannah. While texting with my friend, I received a message from my Rabbi asking if I had contacted the Shliach in Savannah. It turned out his brother had reached out immediately! This was amazing—when we learned about the Chabad Rabbi in Savannah, we were overjoyed and grateful but assumed he was just sharing information. We never imagined he would take the extra step of calling. The amazingness continued. Re-

member, this was all happening days before Rosh Hashana. The original plan was for a couple of bochurim to drive the girl about two hours to the hospital, wait, and then drive her back. However, as the logistics before Yom Tov became increasingly complex, the Rebbetzin assigned her housekeeper to do the drive. This meant the Rebbetzin had to manage all the last-minute holiday preparations by herself, getting her young family ready and preparing the Chabad House to wel-

come people celebrating their first Rosh Hashana.

Many readers might see this as a cool story. That’s the real miracle—the fact that it’s so normal for us to look out for one another. Am Yisrael Chai!

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. Denise can be reached at deniseberger2@gmail.com.

HERZOG LINEAGE | PINOT NOIR | CLARKSBURG

The Pentagon is Learning How to Change at the Speed of War

For several decades, military re formers such as retired Navy Capt. Jerry Hendrix have pleaded with the Pentagon to stop buying wildly expensive but vulnerable aircraft carriers and fighter jets and instead focus on getting vast numbers of cheap drones. But nobody seemed to listen.

“Buy Fords, Not Ferraris” was the title of Hendrix’s iconoclastic 2009 polemic for inexpensive survivable systems. Aircraft carriers, he wrote, “have become too expensive to operate, and too vulnerable to be risked in anything other than an un-hostile environment.” Similar arguments applied to exquisite systems beloved by all the services.

Hendrix became so eager for change that he argued the Navy needed a skunk works to reinvent itself for the 21st century. He proposed using Lake Michigan, away from prying Chinese eyes, to create an “Area 52” experimentation site for autonomous naval systems. He imagined it as a Navy version of the Air Force and CIA’s famous Area 51 test site in Nevada.

But an addiction is hard to quit – especially one that benefits so many congressional districts around the country. So the military sailed on, spending ever more money on vulnerable platforms that would probably survive only for minutes in a war with China. Christian Brose, another Pentagon reformer who now works for start-up Anduril Industries, put it bluntly in a recent article for the Hoover Institution: “The U.S. defense enterprise … is systematically broken.”

But for reformers, there’s finally a flicker of good news. Change advocates, including Hendrix and Brose, told me that the iron triangle that supports legacy systems –which Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) described as the “defense-industrial-congressional complex” – might finally be giving way to common sense. Every military service, in nearly every combatant command, is experimenting with uncrewed, autonomous systems for land, air, sea, and undersea combat.

“A new consensus is emerging that we must make major changes,” Brose wrote in September. He quoted Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who argued: “If we don’t change – if we fail to adapt – we risk losing … a high-end fight.”

What’s finally driving change is the brutal lesson of the war in Ukraine. This is a drone and satellite war: Russian and Ukrainian tanks are almost defenseless against attacks from drones overhead; Russia’s huge Navy has lost control of the Black Sea because of Ukrainian naval drones; satellites can feed precise targeting information to kill anything that algorithms designate as a weapon.

But there’s a catch: The Ukraine battlefield is a blizzard of electronic warfare. So

wanted cheap drones for use in land, sea, and air – and quickly. The goal, Hicks said, was to field “autonomous systems at [a] scale of multiple thousands, in multiple domains, within the next 18 to 24 months.”

That was unimaginably fast for the Pentagon. But Hicks said in a January speech that in its first five months, Replicator had achieved what normally takes the Pentagon two to three years. “If you’re not sure what is more mind-blowing – how fast we did it, or how long it normally takes – I don’t blame you,” Hicks said. “Honestly, the length of our normal process should blow your mind.”

Hicks told me last week that the key to Replicator was “transforming internal processes.” One big goal was to leap over what a generation of reformers have called the

between human pilots and AI computers, the machines nearly always win, Kendall told me several years ago.

Now, the Navy, too, is finally embracing change. Task forces are deploying uncrewed vessels in the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean, and Caribbean. The Navy last month announced a new squadron of what it hopes will be hundreds of unmanned surface vessels, known as Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft. The squadron’s informal name is “Hell Hounds.”

Four big uncrewed Navy vessels completed in January a five-month deployment to Hawaii, Guam, Micronesia, Australia, and other destinations. Because the Pacific is such a complex and hostile environment, a robust naval drone program will need its own “robotic systems command,” with authorities

This is a drone and satellite war: Russian and Ukrainian tanks are almost defenseless against attacks from drones overhead

systems must be truly autonomous, able to operate without GPS or other external guidance, as I described in a recent account from Kyiv of technology developed by the software company Palantir. In makeshift weapons factories in Kyiv, and in defense labs around the United States, designers are creating systems with artificial intelligence at “the edge,” embedded in the weapons themselves, so they don’t have to depend on jammable signals from space.

Leading the campaign for Pentagon reform is Kathleen Hicks, deputy secretary of defense. In August, she announced the “Replicator Initiative,” which aimed to transfer the tech lessons of Ukraine for the potential battle areas of the Indo-Pacific. She

“valley of death” – the long gap between the development of prototype weapons and procurement and deployment at scale. “Bureaucracies need to be shown that new ways of doing things are possible. That’s what we’re doing,” she messaged me. The first Replicator drone systems were delivered to warfighters last month.

Replicator is a striking example of Pentagon reform, but there are others. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall announced in March 2023 an innovative plan called “Collaborative Combat Aircraft” to team uncrewed jets with ones piloted by humans. The Air Force plans to buy at least 1,000 of these uncrewed jets and have them in the air by the end of the decade. In mock dogfights

like those that created the nuclear navy, retired Vice Adm. Dave Lewis told me. As senior vice president for maritime activities at Leidos, he helped support the uncrewed four-ship flotilla that sailed the Pacific.

The Pentagon has managed for half a century to keep radical change from breaching its five walls. Carriers, bombers, tanks, and fighter jets were built to last forever, and in a cozy world without peer competitors, it seemed that they could. But now, Hicks said, we’re in an era in which the Pentagon needs “deliberate discomfort” and “collaborative disruption.” It’s a revolution that’s long overdue.

© 2024, Washington Post Writers Group

David Ignatius

Notable Quotes

If she was in an NBA game, on defense, she would get cooked, but offensively, she’ll knock down some corner threes or like a swing, swing three. She can shoot from that far.

– Nuggets star Michael Porter Jr., assessing WNBA phenom Caitlan Clark’s ability

Do you think killing over 200 Palestinians, including many kids, is an acceptable price for four released Israeli hostages?

– Question posed on X by an Israel hater, after the Israeli hostages were rescued, repeating the Hamas lie that 200 people were killed in this mission, which involved special forces climbing into an apartment window to extract the hostages

It’s up to you to decide how badly you want to keep kidnapping Jews.

– One of many responses

Yes! We gave up mass murdering terrorists for a WNBA player who brought dope into Russia. Don’t use hostages as human shields and end this mess!

– Another notable response

Would there have been a warning to those civilians for them to get out on time?

– BBC news anchor Helena Humphrey asking whether warning was given to Palestinians before the daring hostage rescue this week

Everyone knows that proper hostage rescue etiquette dictates that you must first inform the terrorists holding the hostages of the exact time you plan to rescue the hostages.

– One of many mocking tweets in response

Bottom line, never trust a man whose uncle was eaten by cannibals.

– Sen. Jonie Ernst (R- Iowa), talking about Pres. Biden, who claims that he had an uncle that was eaten by cannibals, despite no evidence of that having taken place

Eighty years ago today, thousands of brave Americans fought to protect democracy on the shores of Normandy. This November, all we have to do is vote.

– Tweet by Hillary Clinton on June 6, 2024

Guilt-Free Popsicles

By: Hadassah L.

Say goodbye to unhealthy summer treats! These refreshing frozen delights are bursting with wholesome ingredients like spinach, chia seeds, and fresh fruits. No fancy equipment needed—if you don’t have popsicle molds, you can use ice cube trays, small cups, or even empty yogurt containers. These popsicles make for a great quick, nutritious breakfast too!

GREEN SMOOTHIE POPSICLES

YIELD 10 Popsicles

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

• 1/2 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt

• 2 very ripe bananas

• 2 cups frozen mango chunks

• 3 cups fresh spinach leaves

• 2 tablespoons honey (to taste)

• 3 tablespoons hemp seeds (optional)

MANGO COCONUT CHIA POPSICLES

YIELD 10 Popsicles

INGREDIENTS

• 3 cups mango, chopped (about 2 large mangos)

• 10 ounces coconut water

• 1 1/2 tablespoons chia seeds

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place the chopped mango and coconut water into a blender. Blend until smooth.

2. Stir in the chia seeds.

3. Pour the mixture into 10 popsicle molds (3 ounces each).

4. Insert a wooden stick into each mold, or follow the instructions of your popsicle mold.

5. Freeze until solid, at least 6 hours. Enjoy your refreshing mango coconut chia popsicles!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add almond milk, Greek yogurt, bananas, mango, spinach, and honey to a blender. Blend until smooth. Adjust sweetness with more honey if needed.

2. Pour the mixture into popsicle molds, leaving space at the top. Add hemp seeds if using. Insert popsicle sticks.

3. Freeze for at least 5 hours or overnight.

4. Remove popsicles from molds by running them under warm water for a few seconds. Enjoy!

STRAWBERRY MINT POPSICLES

YIELD 12 Popsicles

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk

• 1/2 lb fresh strawberries, stems removed

• Handful of mint leaves

• 1 tablespoon honey

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add all ingredients to a high-speed blender. Note: Start with a small amount of mint leaves and add more to taste. Blend until smooth.

2. Pour the mixture into 12 popsicle molds and insert sticks.

3. Freeze for 6 hours. Enjoy your refreshing strawberry mint popsicles!

I’m

Heyman

-Elliot Pines

Some paint and repair jobs are just too big for D.I.Y.

This time you need Alltime.

plumbing