$1.00 WWW.5TJT.COM VOL. 7 NO. 28 2 IYAR 5767 grumn-ghrz, ,arp APRIL 20, 2007

INSIDE FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE LA versus BA BY LARRY GORDON Rabbi Yair Hoffman 17 MindBiz Campaign Of Deception Esther Mann, LMSW 24 World Of Real Estate Information obtained by formed members of the com- Anessa V. Cohen 26 the munity. This information, indicates that the “public coupled with the leaflets that school” candidates running in urge public-school parents to

When Swallows Return PhotoByIvanH.Norman Hannah Reich Berman 28 the District 15 May election “take back” the school board, are planning an ad campaign harkens to the original hate- Letters to the Editor that intentionally indulges in filled campaigns of yesteryear. Our Readers 30 misinformation. In reviewing The material, including the the material provided, it draft text of an ad to be spon- Holocaust Remembrance Day was observed in the Five Towns, as it is became apparent that the sored by the Alliance of annually, this past Sunday night at Beth Sholom in Lawrence. Six families motivation for this campaign’s Lawrence Public Schools, was lit candles, commemorating the six million who perished in the Shoah. Above, three generations of the Mitgang family – Holocaust survivors approach is to instill fear and Mr. and Mrs. Mitgang, their son Dr. Charles Mitgang, and grandchildren – hostility among the unin- Continued on Page 4 kindled one of the flames. See Photos, Page 49 HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE APERSONAL NOTE Imus And Me BY SHMUEL KATZ week with joy in my heart and Bat Mitzvah of a satisfaction that we have BY LARRY GORDON Nechama Schwartz. “As we drove home with the really found a sense of home Simcha Photos, kids still bursting with excite- and belonging in our move I found him refreshing, Pages 42 & 68 ment and pleasure from the here. Three days later, our inspiring, and a little off the experience, Goldie commented lives were forever changed. wall. As an 18-year-old college to me that she would love to go On Wednesday morning, student and the news director out every week and do the we got a call from the doctor of my college radio station, I same thing. No matter how to come in so that Goldie felt that somehow I just had many times we go out to sup- could be scheduled for some to meet this guy. He was rela- port our chayalim, I hope that more tests. When we arrived, tively new to , and I each time I have the same the doctor sat us down to believed I was a connoisseur excitement and emotion as I deliver the news that they had of radio and had hopes of had that Sunday.” I wrote those words last Continued on Page 10 Continued on Page 12 Don Imus

Israel Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger THE BICYCLE Pesach Plus to be in Woodmere this Shabbos. Israeli Professor Killed See Page 38 BY IRWIN H. The Ultimate Commuter, In Attack BENJAMIN Part 7 BY DANNY BLOCK On the day Jews worldwide I was alone in the room, honored the memory of those with a bunch of memories. It It’s Sunday night at about who were murdered in the was late morning. Sunlight 10:15, and everyone is Holocaust, a 76-year-old sur- was coming in through the upstairs sleeping except Yogi vivor sacrificed his life to save shades. Motes of dust were (my dog) and me. He is just his students in Monday’s dancing in the air. The fact waiting for me to walk him, shooting at Virginia Poly- that it was a day after the long after which he will undoubt- technic Institute that left 33 Pesach holiday served only to edly go to sleep on my vacant people dead and over two heighten the leisurely atmos- pillow. I am waiting for my Sheldon Margules confers with dozen wounded. phere. It was a morning to driver, Avi, to pick me up to go Rav Elyashiv. See Page 47 Professor Liviu Librescu, dawdle over a cup of hot cof- to the sadeh (slang for s’deih 76, threw himself in front of fee, to take stock of one’s cir- ha’te‘ufa, airport). This week’s CANDLE LIGHTING the shooter when the man cumstance and ponder one’s challenge is that I had to Apr. 20 – 7:21 PM attempted to enter his class- mortality. change my flight schedule Apr. 27 – 7:28 PM Continued on Page 19 Professor Liviu Librescu, z’l Continued on Page 11 Continued on Page 14 2 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 3 FROM THE EDITOR yearbook in Brooklyn holds the secret Continued from Front Cover plans of a “private-school community” in Long Island to take over the public provided to the 5TJT by a source schools! (Perhaps it should be called requesting anonymity, not having been Protocols of the Children of Brooklyn.) authorized to release the information. The thrust and tone of the ads is to The ad suggests that the objective of create a type of hysteria and the the current board is to seize the impression that there is some kind of Middle School—“the jewel in our real- devious plan being plotted by the estate crown”—and turn it into a majority of the current school board to building that will host a . The seize control of the district and ulti- ad contains a photo from the yearbook mately dismantle the public schools. of a girls’ yeshiva in Brooklyn, and it The whole thing seems to be some- asks if there is a hidden agenda by the thing between a joke and a lurid fanta- private-school community to sell off sy that resorts to conjuring up extreme public-school properties to Brooklyn- scenarios in order to scare voters into based . voting for candidates who are cam- In reality, some members of the paigning to limit the influence of pri- yeshiva’s senior class, to illustrate vate-school-oriented candidates. the contrast between the imposing The headline of the ad reads: Lawrence Middle School building “Prepare To Be Shocked.” The ad, as and their own (less impressive) shown in the draft copy goes on to say: school building in Brooklyn, inserted “Lawrence Middle School is our archi- the picture into their yearbook as a tectural treasure, a local icon and the joke. Whoever provided the ALPS core of the public-school system… So campaigners with the information what’s its picture doing in a Brooklyn from the yearbook also provided yeshiva’s yearbook?? Is there a long- them with a list of graduates of that range plan?” class, including their home address- The ad continues: “The Middle es, e-mail addresses, and phone School may be the jewel in our real- numbers. Reasonable people under- estate crown…but an excellent pub- stand that this is a wild idea and the lic-school education is our children’s furthest thing from an actual plan, entitlement.” It then states in large, and that the current board in its bold letters: “We will not be robbed of present structure has worked dili- either.” The ad then concludes: “On gently to support and even elevate May 15 voting day you can save our the quality of education—on all lev- public schools and give our students els—within the district. all they deserve.” It then goes on to The ad’s conclusion is so bizarre list the three candidates closely iden- that it defines new boundaries for debate. Imagine: a student-sponsored Continued on Page 6

4 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 5 FROM THE EDITOR spend so freely exists mainly because warned the public—meeting after Continued from Page 4 most of the money would come from meeting and year after year—that vot- those who do not utilize the schools ing down the budget would cripple tified with creating imbalance in the and therefore it doesn’t matter how the educational ability of the district. P.O. BOX 690 LAWRENCE, NY 11559 district between the public and pri- high taxes get driven. Somehow the budget was voted down 516-984-0079 vate schools. Thankfully, there has been a sane and, strangely enough, not one educa- [email protected] [email protected] It’s not a new approach for these majority on the school board this tional program was cut. And this is campaign organizers, but one has to year—and it’s vitally important to keep the way it’s been, and this is probably LARRY GORDON ESTA J. GORDON Publisher/Editor Managing Editor wonder how people who have been it that way for the next year. The major- the way it’s going to continue to be, YOSSI GORDON exposed to the issues that are repeated- ity of this board has done everything until both groups decide to work Director of Sales ly present in these election campaigns, they can to gain a consensus and create together. The way it seems today CHANA ROCHEL ROSS especially over these last seven years, a unity that can move the district for- unfortunately is that we will probably Editorial Assistant can fall for this type of pie-in-the-sky SIDI BARON hysteria about the board’s plans for the YAKOV SERLE district’s schools. For the last six years— JERRY MARKOVITZ and particularly the last four years, It would be disappointing to learn that the Sales Representatives when the schools budgets have been SHMUEL GERBER MICHELE JUSTIC rejected at the polls—the previous Chief Copy Editor Copy Editor boards have told us that a budget with- desire to spend so freely exists mainly CONTRIBUTING EDITORS out an increase will cause the children’s Howard M. Adelsberg, Irwin H. Benjamin Hannah Reich Berman, Anessa V. Cohen education to suffer irreparably. Of because most of the money would come Jamie Geller, Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg course, none of these claims ever had Shani Goldner, Yochanan Gordon any validity; the school years coasted by from those who do not utilize the schools. Michele Herenstein, Rabbi Yair Hoffman intact, and the district completed each Karen Kahn, Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky Shmuel Katz, Esther Mann, Rochelle Miller year with a significant budget surplus. Rabbi Yoni Posnick, Gary Rabenko, Naomi Ross This year, with several new board Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow members, a more prudent approach ward in a good and healthy direction. not get to that place where we can all YOSEF BROWN, MICHAL WEINSTEIN has been applied to the multimillion- They unfortunately have been rebuffed work together as long as the present Staff Graphic Artists dollar matters that come up before the at every turn. Represented on this attitude prevails. IVAN NORMAN, IRA THOMAS board at almost every meeting. As a board by Pamela Greenbaum and This is a district with different types Staff Photographers result, after fighting hard to achieve it, Stanley Kopilow, the public-school of people who have to find common FRANKEL & CO., CREATIVE DESIGN LLC the board finally has a good grasp on caucus has adopted a policy of non- ground, but that effort is not even Design & Production the budget as it relates to the needs of cooperation with the rest of the board. being made. Instead, resources are TALIYE CORLEY the district. They’ve also finally Whatever it is that a majority of the being spent on campaigns—like the Art Director brought under control this idea that board is in favor of, they make certain one described above—that aim to hurt SUZETTE LEE taxing and spending is the answer to to oppose. and, if possible, intimidate people they Assistant Art Director all of the district’s problems. With The entire ordeal is like an episode do not agree with. The Five Towns Jewish Times is an independent weekly news- more than half the district today made of the old Twilight Zone TV series. For Just look at what happened a few paper. Opinions expressed by writers and columnists are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. We are not up of families who send their children four years, the voters have rejected weeks ago. The board, with the help of responsible for the kashrus or hashgachah of any product or to private schools, it would be disap- the budget because they clearly did establishment advertised in the Five Towns Jewish Times. pointing to learn that the desire to not trust the board. Still, the board Continued on Page 8

6 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 7 FROM THE EDITOR this type of requirement might “chill not truly against the budget, but rather Continued from Page 6 free speech,” meaning that, once iden- just determined to create obstacles to CALENDAR tified, people might be inclined to act sharing with their neighbors, in a legal the superintendent and his financial responsibly and more civilized during and proper way, the tens of millions of LUACH advisors, finally devised a budget that the public comment portion of school- dollars in the budget. They support a calls for a minimal increase in the tax board meetings. $100 million teachers’ contract, but levy on the district. This is the first Ms. Greenbaum was particularly out- are against Pre-K busing for private- April 20 – April 28 good opportunity in five years to pull spoken on the issue, and her concerns school children, against providing the district out of very restrictive aus- about free speech might have been access to the school buildings and ZIP Code: 11516 terity budgets. It’s in the interest of admirable. But then she turned right facilities for all the children of the dis- 2 Iyar – Erev Shabbos everyone—especially the district’s chil- around and attempted to place free trict, and, most puzzling, they are crit- Friday, April 20 dren—to be able to do things like speech into a deep freeze by serving ical of and opposed to the excellent : Chagigah 13 upgrade the school’s equipment. The court papers on Google, seeking to force and important special-education pro- Omer: 17 Greenbaum, Kopilow, and ALPS them to identify Orthomom, the popu- vided by Kulanu Torah Academy for Z’manim*: response is to oppose the new budget, lar and erudite blogger. There is no special-needs children. Earliest tefillin: 5:12 am thereby endorsing the continuation of more salient mode of free speech than As you can surmise from the above, Sunrise: 6:10 am operating under contingency. the Internet these days, but Ms. this hotly contested election is an latest Shema: The Greenbaum and Kopilow Greenbaum is seeking to suppress and extremely important one. It is critical M. Av. 8:55 am approach is riddled with unconstruc- limit that privilege and freedom because that everyone who is not yet registered Gr’a 9:31 am tive contradictions. Earlier this year, the pressure of Orthomom’s criticism of to vote do so, and that everyone come Candle Lighting: 7:21 pm when several board members received her seemed too much to take. out to vote on May 15. It’s unfair to 3 Iyar – Shabbos death threats in the mail, a policy was And that’s just one of this group’s the children of this district to allow Saturday, April 21 adopted that called for those wishing very odd but also very profound con- those who are not focused on vital Shabbos Parashas Tazria-Metzora to attend board meetings to present tradictions. They are against passing educational issues to distort the issues Pirkei Avos: Ch. 2 photo identification. The requirement the upcoming well-thought-out budg- and distract all of us from the impor- Shabbos ends**: was immediately and vociferously et, but at the same time are also in tant work that needs to be done. ❖ 8:24 pm opposed by Ms. Greenbaum and Mr. favor of spending more money. 72 min. 8:53 pm Comments for Larry Gordon are welcome at 5 Iyar Kopilow. Their contention was that Perhaps the problem is that they are [email protected]. Monday, April 23 Yom HaAtzmaut– Israel Independence Day 9 Iyar – Erev Shabbos Friday, April 27 Daf yomi: Chagigah 20 Omer: 24 Earliest tefillin: 5:01 am Sunrise: 6:00 am latest Shema: M. Av. 8:50 am Gr’a 9:26 am Candle Lighting: 7:28 pm 10 Iyar – Shabbos Saturday, April 28 Shabbos Parashas Acharei–Kedoshim Pirkei Avos: Ch. 3 Shabbos ends**: 8:32 pm 72 min. 9:00 pm * from MyZmanim.com ** add a few minutes for tosefos Shabbos according to your minhag

On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised (Vayikra 12:3)

A Jew is in essence “circumcised” even if, for whatever reason, his physical foreskin has not yet been removed.Thus the verse says,“On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised” --the flesh need to be circumcised, but, spiritually, the Jew is always “circumcised”.

(Alshich)

8 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 9 Katz Continued from Front Cover

finally identified what they believe is the source of her problems. A scan ordered by her neu- rologist had discovered an abnormal cluster of cells, and her biopsy results showed a malignant tumor. We are obviously terrified at what may come and are investigating all avenues of treatment, both here and internationally. We pray to Hashem that he deliver a cure to us and that we should have the merit of continuing our lives together here in Israel. We do not regret our move in any way. This illness had been developing before we packed our first box or suit- case and is clearly part of Hashem’s grand plan for us. We look forward to spending many more years here in the land that is truly home for each and every one of us. We debated the merits of so publicly disclosing her illness, but Goldie turned to me on Sunday morning and said, “Thousands of people read the paper, and each one of them is a person who can daven for me.” So I ask each and every one of you to include Golda Susya bat Shoshana in your prayers. Please add her name to your Tehillim lists and your Mi Shebeirach lists and ask Hashem to grant her a full and complete recovery. ❖

Shmuel Katz is the director of Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi in the Katamon neighborhood in Jerusalem. Shmuel and his wife, Goldie (the controller at Bnos Bais Yaakov of Far Rockaway), and their six children made in July of 2006. Prior to his aliyah, Shmuel was the executive director of the in Hewlett. You can contact him at [email protected].

For the next issue, deadline for reserving ad space is Monday, April 23 at 5:00 P.M. All graphics for ads must be in by Tuesday, April 24 at 5:00 P.M.

Call 516-984-0079

10 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES The Bicycle worshipped more than anything else tzadikim who would not die. The rea- stant battles that a tzadik wages in order Continued from Front Cover in the world, my wonderful and son, ostensibly, was because they did to stay away from sin is so difficult, that beloved father, suffered his fifth and not sin. As soon as there was a lapse, Rav Nachman would prefer staying in I thought about how it would be in final heart attack. however, no matter how imperceptible, shamayim, insulated, rather than having the world to come, and I thought of My sister and I were inconsolable. the tanna died. to constantly be on the alert, thwarting those neshamas who were already Every night, as we went to bed, we cried In a recent daf yomi shiur, the off the never ending onslaught of life’s there. And, as inevitably happens in our eyes out. Our nightly pain only Gemorah at the end of Moed Katan temptations. He couldn’t go through it these moments, I thought of my father. ended when my sister reminded me records an amazing dialogue. again. That’s what he meant when he My father was not learned in Torah what my father was doing right at that Rav Nachman was dying. Rava said he was terrified at the prospect of or Talmud, but made up for it by cre- precise moment. He was, of course, confronting the Mal’ach HaMaves again. ating metaphorical imagery to bring enjoying himself, having a good time as My father has been gone now for out some moral or religious point. he rode his bike all around shamayim. “You know what I’ll be quite a while. Yet, whenever I say Yizkor, When he did, his innate morality and There were times I could have sworn I as I did a few days ago, I can’t help but piety became readily apparent. saw him smiling and waving to us, blow- doing when I get to remember a certain point in time many, After suffering four heart attacks, ing us kisses, as he whizzed past us on many years ago. and many more hospitalizations, we all his bicycle. As ridiculous as it sounds, I Heaven, don’t you? I was sitting on the back bench of the knew the end was near. I was eight, my believed it. That thought comforted us Doliner shul on Rodney Street. Muffled sister eleven when my father asked us through the years, allowing us to deal I’ll be riding a brand new sounds of trolley cars seeped through into a room which looked more like a with our numbing pain. Schwinn bicycle.” the thin walls. Shouting of peddlers hospital ward than it did his bedroom. Of course, besides Chazal, no one announcing their wares could be heard The audio signal on the EKG had been truly knows what really goes on in in the distance. The lights were off, but turned off, leaving only the rhythmical- shamayim. No one knows what a fatal slotted shafts of sun poured into the ly bouncing light endlessly making its heart attack feels like. There are no sur- asked him that when he finally died oversized windows. My hand reached way across the screen. The only sounds vivors to tell us. Doctors talk about and arrived in shamayim, he should out to my father sitting next to me. My were the soft moans of the wind at the necrosis, and clots, and oxygen starva- reappear before Rava to tell him how it small hand slid across the smooth wood window and the occasional faint tap- tion, and occluded blood vessels. They was, and what he had experienced. bench and was quickly enfolded by his. ping of rain against the glass. use words like infarction and fibrilla- Being the obedient student he was, I looked up to him as he looked down to Seeing the fear in our eyes, my father tion, but those terms mean nothing to Rav Nachman did reappear. He told me. And in those precious few smiled that broad smile of his, and in us. They merely describe the mechani- him that dying was no big deal, “like moments, looking into his loving, twin- his starchy English accent told us, cal or chemical process that takes place. picking out an eyelash from a glass of kling eyes, I was overcome with a deep “Don’t worry. You know what I’ll be We know that in Hashem’s original milk. But if you ask me to return to the feeling of emotion and well-being. As doing when I get to Heaven, don’t you?” scheme of the world, man was not sup- living, I will refuse.” long as I had his love, I knew that I had My sister and I were silent. posed to die. Adam changed that. He Rava asked him for his reason. nothing to fear, that everything was “I’ll be riding a brand new Schwinn changed it because he sinned eating “Because,” said Rav Nachman, going to be right with the world. bicycle; that’s what I’ll be doing.” from the eitz hada’as when Hashem “even though death is not a problem, It was then that I saw him. A thin “Really?” I asked. told him specifically not to. That’s the I’m terrified at the thought of facing Englishman, smiling from ear to ear, “Red, of course. They always give reason why, for Jews, “death” and “sin” the Mal’ach HaMaves again.” without a care in the world, riding his you the red ones. Didn’t you know has become more or less synonymous. I believe what Rav Nachman was bright red bicycle. ❖ that? I’m surprised at you that you did- Had there been no sin, there would implying was that the worst thing one n’t know that!” have been no death. can experience in life was sin, as person- Irwin Benjamin can be reached at A short while later, the man whom I Stories abound of tanaaim and other ified by the Mal’ach HaMaves. The con- [email protected].

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 11 HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE sense that this is the most wonderful thing came—virtually overnight— whole thing was about to be pulled out Continued from Front Cover thing in the world and that everyone— unglued for me. from under me and there was almost whether it’s a voice over the phone or I was already married and had one nothing I could do about it. Well, there merging my radio skills with my someone you meet at an event—is small child. I was confident and certain was one thing I thought would work upbringing and create some innovative your friend. That was the case with me that I was this radio program and this for sure: to marshal to my side the Jewish radio (which I indeed had the back in the late 1970s and part of radio program was me; the two were friends, supporters, and allies that I privilege of doing, a few years later). 1980, when I started and hosted a inseparable. In retrospect I probably had come to know over the three years So I thought it would be a good daily morning Jewish music and news precipitated the unfortunate chain of and, through the power of numbers, story for the radio station and would program on WFMU, then an affiliate events that ensued by going to the turn things around and once again also possibly serve my radio fantasies of Upsala College, located in East school management in my cocky style of assume my daily position behind the well, at least for a while. What Orange, New Jersey. yesteryear and telling them that I want- microphone. intrigued me about Don Imus was I was young and brash, driven and ed more money than they were paying. I The point of all this is that I was probably the same things that still ambitious—but did not think clearly had to do that, because the setup was astounded at the time at the lack of interests people in him today—or at enough to turn the project into what it that all money that came into the radio support from people that I had done so least up until last week, when he was much for and sacrificed so much for, summarily fired from his job, after 35 when they saw that my days were num- years, for making some inappropriate bered at the radio station. It’s not that remarks on the air. The current Imus they ran from me because their friend- episode is a case study of a classical Once the handwriting was on the wall, ships were artificial or anything like fall from grace that, as we have seen, that. At least I didn’t think so. They ran can happen in the blink of an eye. I could not get a return call from people to line up to ingratiate themselves with Today, three and a half decades after the new guy. You know—the king is I sat in the NBC studios with Imus from I had spoken with sometimes dead, long live the king. Once the 6 o’clock to 10 o’clock on a Friday handwriting was on the wall, I could morning, I was reminded about the time half a dozen times a day. not get a return call from people I had that I was fired from a radio job—also spoken with sometimes half a dozen on a moment’s notice—back in 1980. times a day. Aside from the money that is involved, it And so I thought about those days is a terribly frustrating and hurtful thing could have become. The program is still station went to the college, and the col- after listening and reading about what to endure. It is very public and therefore broadcast to this day, and is now known lege paid me. It was a paltry sum at the happened with Don Imus last week. I somewhat more humiliating than con- as JM in the AM. I have to admit that I time, and one that stayed the same for was thinking about it because I’ve ventional job-related problems. Of do have a great deal of satisfaction that those few years, even though my show always liked the Imus style and, though course my situation was nothing like the program that was started in mid was bringing in more money each year. he’s always been quite a bit “out there,” what Imus is going through today, but at 1977 on nothing more than a whim and Unbeknownst to me, someone who I he did redefine a medium in a fashion the time it probably hurt me as much as a lark has had and continues to have an had recruited to work with me at the that saw to it that popular radio would he is hurting today. impact on Jewish life in the New York time had secretly gone to the school never be the same. I’ve felt over all When you are on the radio every area. I have to additionally admit that offering to do the program for half the these years that Imus took radio out of day, talking to people, entertaining there were times during those years sum I had been receiving. and beyond the “time and temperature” them, meeting them, and having your that I felt indestructible and very excit- When I went into the meeting with age. I still feel that, though he certain- back slapped for doing such a good ed about where this whole thing would the dean of the school to negotiate my ly must have had enough, somehow he and nice job, you can’t help but gain a go. Then, in June of 1980, the whole new deal, I quickly realized that the will be back once the hubbub dies

12 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES down, as it inevitably will. I’m certain that the passage of just a I know that Mr. Imus was making little bit of time will put things in a lit- lots of money on his radio show; the tle better perspective for him. I was New York Times said that he had hurting for a while, too, after I was cut recently signed a new five-year con- from my radio show back in 1980, but tract at $10 million per year. In addi- after a three-week trip to Israel I came tion to those big bucks, Imus appar- back to New York and another radio ently also has a very big and benevo- opportunity that lasted about five more lent heart. His involvement in charita- years before I chose a different field of ble causes is probably unmatched in endeavor for myself. today’s media. He’s a man who did not On that morning that I met Mr. Imus just talk about giving something back at the NBC studios in 1972, I brought someday but was actually doing it. a tape recorder with me because, after Though he had conservative political all, I wanted to play part of the inter- leanings, he wasn’t your typical con- view on the college radio station. So I servative. Nevertheless, he held noth- walked into the studio and the broad- ing back when it came to the need to cast engineer saw me carrying a tape criticize in stark terms the hypocrisy of recorder. He stopped me and told me so many liberals, especially Bill and and Imus that I am not a union techni- Hillary Clinton, whom he was able to cian, and, according to the agreement see right through. with the union, only a union technician What he said about the Rutgers can operate electronic equipment in an women’s basketball team was more stu- NBC studio. I was shocked and disap- pid than hurtful. Certainly what he said pointed, as I saw my prospect for an did not warrant this type of treatment, important interview dissipate before my and certainly not by men who present eyes. Imus walked out of the studio and themselves as clergymen and black lead- said, “Give me the tape recorder, kid.” ers, Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. If He put the tape machine in his jacket these men are genuine Christians, then pocket and then led me back into the where is their so-called Christian love studio. He took his jacket off and for Mr. Imus? Where do they stand on draped it over the back of the chair that the adage to condemn the sin, not the stood between us. He told me to reach sinner? Is that all some kind of joke or into the jacket pocket and press “play,” something? and that’s how I salvaged my interview Imus has to be hurting—though the with Imus in the morning. $50 million he still stands to earn will I guess for me it’s a matter of “once help to assuage some of the pain. But a decent guy, always a decent guy.” I after 38 years of being behind a broad- wish him much continued luck and cast microphone and wielding the type success. ❖ of influence and power he had, this Comments for Larry Gordon are welcome at has to be a very difficult time for him. [email protected].

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 13 The Ultimate Commuter bah she answered that a note went out was not going to allow my son to be the were all very understanding when I Continued from Front Cover a week ago. Welcome to Israel! only one whose father did not make it called and told them that I had a per- Generally speaking, things are not to his reception in school. sonal issue, and they allowed me to and my workweek at the last minute. planned out well in advance. I went to work changing my sched- change their appointments. Most of On Friday afternoon I received a This bit of information was mildly ule and rearranging my flights immedi- them did not know I was calling from phone call from the chairperson of the upsetting to me because I was sched- ately. I called Express Travel. My new Israel. An additional aside: I can call va‘ad ha’kittah (Israel’s version of the uled to be in the air during the mesi- “caseworker,” Gitty, (my regular agent, the U.S. at any time and not incur any class P.T.A.) of my oldest son’s bah, and had I known about it earlier, Judy, was on leave to have a baby) was overseas long distance charges due to (Jordan) class. She informed me that I could have adjusted both my work not there. However, someone who was our use of voice-over-IP (VoIP). It my wife had written a check to the and flight schedules accordingly. there rearranged the flights for me. By allows us to call many places in the school that should have been made out Instead of starting my work week on the end of the phone call I was moved world using our regular phone and the differently or paid in cash. The check Monday, I would have begun on to the flight I required, Tuesday night Internet. Most Americans living in was for the bar mitzvah gift that each Sunday and returned Tuesday night. I at 8:30 p.m. The next task was to Israel are set up this way. It is an indis- member of Jordan’s class receives. The believe that a note did in fact go home change my work schedule. I was able pensable part of making life in Israel theory is that they all receive a gift in more comfortable. Essentially, every school and they therefore have all call to the U.S. is a local phone call. given each other a bar mitzvah gift and So now I am sitting on the plane can go to each other’s smachot (cele- Although I had moved all my patients about to land at JFK in New York, brations) and not have to buy another knowing I will spend one night and gift. It’s a great idea that takes some one and a half days working in New pressure off the parents and the boys. and done everything in my power to be York. I know if I stayed longer I would The bar mitzvah boys get a choice of earn more money this week, and that I three gifts and the parents pay accord- there for my son, it was possible I still have a tough two days of work ahead of ingly. My son chose a shlooker, which me. Even so, I am flying with a goofy is a water-containing device worn like would not make it. smile on my face, because I know I will a backpack that has a straw type of be back home with my family very attachment from which one can drink soon, and I know that I will not disap- without removing it from one’s back. point my son. I also know I will enjoy In Israel, kids do a lot of hiking. a week earlier, but it still would not to access my computer at work from spending time with him and be very When I was made aware on Friday have made any difference. It’s also the kitchen table in Chashmonaim due proud at his mesibah. that there was a problem with our worth noting at this point that to an excellent program called ◆◆◆ check, I immediately went to the per- although I am very conversant in “Radmin” and the fine computer net- It is now Tuesday night, and I am son responsible for collecting the Hebrew due to my Ramaz education, working work of my friend Arthur waiting in the King David Lounge to money and replaced the check with reading things like bank statements, Carp. Most of my non-religious find out if I will receive the upgrade. I cash. Shekels, of course. She thanked insurance statements, and even notes patients and even some of those who have been informed that my sikuyim me and mentioned that she would see home from school can be difficult. It is are religious do not know that I live in (chances) are pretty good. At JFK, they me at the mesibah (party) for the bar possible we missed the note or that Israel. It’s like any other personal close the flight one hour before take- mitzvah boys on Wednesday night. Jordan forgot to give it to us and did detail in my life. Those who are very off, and they inform those who have This was the first time I had heard not recognize its importance. The rea- close to us know, and those who are been upgraded shortly thereafter. The about the gathering. When I informed son that I landed in this situation was not as close need not know. My office her that I did not know about the mesi- irrelevant. I just had to deal with it. I is covered 24/7 regardless. My patients Continued on Page 16

14 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 15 The Ultimate Commuter the supervisor at JFK for El Al, and he children’s divrei Torah (commentaries) fun than I had thought it would be. I Continued from Page 14 told me that the plane would in fact and participation, or the adult discus- have been to hotels for Pesach before, depart, but he was not sure about the sion of the Haggadah into two nights. and no matter how wonderful the one thing that is putting my chances next day’s flights. His news put me Nevertheless, it was very enjoyable. accommodations and the food, by the for the upgrade in question is the fact more at ease. We spent Pesach in the Magic end of the holiday I was usually very that there are three deadheads on this I am about to land in Israel, to Nirvana Hotel at the Dead Sea. It was anxious to leave. I don’t know if it was flight. In our context, deadheads are attend my son’s mesibah. I am in busi- extremely relaxing and fun. We consid- the relaxing nature of this place, the not Grateful Dead fans, although they ness class, and I am getting home a ered making Pesach at our home, but fun my family had, or even the greater could be. In the airport, the term day and a half early. I flew happy, and we are ill-equipped. Personally, I could freedom of a longer Chol HaMoed, but means captains who are not piloting I even caught a nice nap. I won’t have not see having my wife do all the this year I was almost sad to leave. the plane but are taking a free ride. to go back to the U.S. for five days, and cleaning, cooking, and entertaining It is just over nine months since we The deadheads who work for El Al get then I will work a full week (Sunday to our children (schools close one week moved to Israel. At the outset we the upgrades to business class before Thursday) and then return for the before the chag) while I was not even planned to spend an “open ended” year anyone else. I was fortunate to be Pesach break. Life is good. I hope I get in the country. The shopping is also living in Israel. It is coming close to number one on this flight and received the upgrade! not as easy as one would expect decision-making time. I will try to give the only upgrade after the deadheads. ◆◆◆ because many Israelis eat kitniyot. you a window into our decision-making There have been times that I have The above was the entry that was One has to read the labels carefully. process in my next entry. Feel free to e- been number one to get upgraded and meant for last week. This week I am The hotel was beautiful as was the mail me your comments or suggestions. have not received it. providing a double dose due to my unfa- scenery. It was on the beach. Between One of the evening shows at the I am now on the plane and very miliarity with deadlines and how they the pool, the beach, the playground, hotel was two Israeli guitarists who happy to be here, not just because I relate to chagim and frum newspapers. and miniature golf, we were all very sang Simon and Garfunkel songs. was upgraded, and only partially The mesibah was great and I was so relaxed and busy throughout Chol They were quite good. One of the because I am going home early. The very happy to have been present. I am HaMoed. It is also amazing to sit at a songs they sang was “Me And Julio real reason I am so overjoyed to be sit- now writing on Tuesday night, April seder or Yom Tov davening and realize Down By The School Yard.” There is a ting on this plane is because right now 10. Today was Yom Tov for my parents that we are commemorating events line in that song that struck me as the as I fly over Greece there is a general and friends in the U.S. and Isru Chag that took place about a two-hour drive perfect statement about our experi- shevitah (strike) in Israel, and yester- (post-holiday) for my family here in from our location. When we read Shir ence in Israel thus far. “I’m on my way, day morning I was not at all sure that I Israel. This morning I had brunch at HaShirim on Shabbat and the ba‘al I don’t know where I’m going. I’m on would be able to board this plane at “Holy Bagels” in Modiin. My daughter, kriah (reader) read a sentence that my way, takin’ my time, but I don’t all. I was uptight all day. I called my Miriam, even commented, “There’s referred to the beauty of Ein Gedi, all know when.” I am confident we will travel agent and members of the El Al nothing like eating bagels on Pesach.” I could think of was, “Wow! I was there figure it out. Meanwhile I am enjoying staff, and no one could give me a This Pesach was the first time I cele- on Thursday!” a full two weeks without going any- straight answer. I was trying to figure brated one seder instead of two. It was The Dead Sea was gorgeous, and where near the airport. I will be flying out other ways to get home. Perhaps a strange feeling, but one to which it although I had spent time there out Saturday night as I return to my through a different country. I was was easy to become accustomed. It before, I never really spent any time normal routine, and if all the tourists growing uneasy all afternoon because I seemed to make more sense. We had floating in its famous waters. After I have already returned home maybe I realized that although I had moved all one seder with as much kavanah (reli- did it once I was hooked! I floated as will get the shidrug (the upgrade)! ❖ my patients and done everything in my gious feeling) as we could muster and often as I could. Even my six-year-old power to be there for my son, it was did not have to repeat the same son, Eli, floated on his own. I was Danny Block, a dentist from Cedarhurst, moved to Israel last year and commutes weekly from his possible I still would not make it. It process the next night. It took a bit always within arm’s reach but never family’s home there to his office in Forest Hills. was frustrating. At about 2:30 I called longer because we could not divide the needed. It was very relaxing and more He can be reached at [email protected].

16 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Omer: s”xc ‘LA’ Versus ‘BA’ Halachic Musings BY RABBI YAIR HOFFMAN DEAN, TIFERET CHAYA–THE CAROL TEPLER HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS

Baseball season is upon us. In late March, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Randy Wolf pitched into the sixth inning and allowed just five hits and two runs, as the L.A. Dodgers beat the Baltimore Orioles, 4–2, in spring training action. But, as the astute halachic reader has probably assumed, that is not what this article is about. “LA” does not refer to Los Angeles and “BA” does not refer to Baltimore. No, we are concerned about the nusach of Sefiras HaOmer. When counting each day of the omer, do we say the word ba’omer or do we say the word la’omer? The Rashba (responsa Vol. I, No. 457) and the Kol Bo (Siman 55) both have the wording as la’omer. These two author- ities lived in the late 1200s and early 1300s and seem to offer the earliest discussion on the subject. On the other hand, the Sefer HaMinhagim, Rabbi Yitzchok Tirnau (who lived in the 1300s to early 1400s), has the word as ba’omer. The TaZ supports ba’omer instead of la’omer because la’omer refers to the future. On the first night of the omer, how can we say something that we did not yet do? Ba’omer refers to some- thing that we are currently within, and therefore is more accurate. The AriZal in Shaar HaKavanos (Sefiras HaOmer Drush, No. 11) has the word la’omer, as does the Shla (Pesachim 23). What seems to be a bit of a shock is that neither the Tur nor the Shulchan mention either form (Orach Chaim 489). It seems that the Rama added the word ba’omer in his gloss to Rav Karo’s Shulchan Aruch, but it did not appear in Rav Karo’s original text. The Shulchan Aruch includes neither word. Leaving out the word is actually the position of the responsa of the Maharshal, Rabbi Shlomo Luria (1510–1574). In siman 64, the Maharshal quotes his rebbi as not hav- ing ended with any prepositional phrase. Apparently there are some Kabbalistic streams that it is better not to identify with either word. This very question was addressed by the Rashba in his responsa and he responded that one should say the word because it clarifies it more. Interestingly enough, Rav Yoseph Karo in his Beis Yoseph does cite the Ran who appends the word la’omer, but for some reason Rav Karo did not see fit to include either la’omer or ba’omer in his Shulchan Aruch. The Mateh Moshe 667 writes that la’omer should be said, as do other acharonim. Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Margolios, author of the Shaarei Teshuvah, quotes the responsa of the

Continued on Page 18 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 17 Halachic Musings ument) discussed in Even only to fulfill the requirement mitzvah, according to many authorities hold that one con- Continued from Page 17 HoEzer 126, where layerach of temimus, doing it perfectly, authorities (Rokeach 671, tinues counting on the rest of (“to the month of”) is used that we recite it at the very Ran, and Ba‘al HaMaor) was the days if one missed the Beis Yaakov who states that instead of bayerach (“in the first time that we can. Thus only enacted as a commemo- first. The Ran in Sukkah his father-in-law used the month of”). He also states (84a) states that since the form la’omer, whereas he that the majority of poskim berachah is not recited in the used the form ba’omer. The went with la’omer. The cus- daytime and one does not ful- author of the Beis Yaakov tom seems to be to say fill the mitzvah in the daytime, attempts to bring a proof to la’omer, and that is the The Ramban, based upon the Shehecheyanu was not the ba’omer version from Mishnah Berurah’s conclu- enacted. (It is unclear why Choshen Mishpat 253 (the sion—that the majority of Kabbalistic sources, views the this would matter.) laws of shechiv meira). Rabbi poskim go with la’omer. The Shvilei HaLeket (234) Margolios (1780–1820) But how do we answer the sefirah period as infused with such writes that no Shehecheyanu wrote that there is no proof TaZ’s question? There is a is recited since its time is from there, and cited that manuscript cited in the back dependent upon the holiday there are a number of verses of the new high-tech kedushah that it is comparable to of Pesach. Therefore the that do use the prefix of “la,” Shulchan Aruch entitled Shehecheyanu of Pesach as well. He further writes Birkas Avraham. He proposes the Chol HaMoed days. Kiddush covers it. that la’omer conforms better that the TaZ’s question can be A final thought: The with the method of people’s answered based on a Rashi in Ramban, in the end of speech than does ba’omer. Rosh Hashanah (4a): The pre- Parashas Emor, has a some- Finally, he cites the halachos fix “la” refers to the entire the meaning is “the day ration of the Temple. what different view of the of writing a get (divorce doc- period of time discussed. It is (tomorrow) that we first Consequently, its status is not sefirah period than we might entered now (tonight) is the as important or as significant generally have based upon all first of the omer.” as other mitzvos, and would the mourning restrictions not warrant a Shehecheyanu. during this time. The No ‘Shehecheyanu’ Yet another reason is that the Ramban, based upon As an aside, there is no mitzvah does not have a phys- Kabbalistic sources, views the blessing of Shehecheyanu on ically distinct characteristic, sefirah period as infused with the mitzvah of counting the and thus would not warrant a such kedushah that it is com- omer. The reason for this is Shehecheyanu (Rokeach 671). parable to the Chol HaMoed the subject of much debate. Others explain that the days. We should therefore use The Ran, Baal HaMaor, mitzvah is only in preparation this period as a time of Avudraham, and Rashba for the mitzvah of bikkurim; growth. The B’nei Yisrael write that the mitzvah in its the Shehecheyanu recited on developed from the lowest current form does not have the Kiddush for Shavuos spiritual level to the highest simcha in it, rather it is a would therefore cover it of any generation, and the reminder of what we once (Avudraham). power inherent within these had. It is mournful in its The Manhig (No. 64) days is quite potent. ❖ inherent nature. writes that it is as if it does not The author can be reached at Another reason is that the have a set time, since many [email protected].

18 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Bason, 18, who lives on the seventh have been a murder-suicide. n’t get back in—though he later tried. Continued from Front Cover floor of West Ambler Johnston, a high- Two students told NBC television’s “After he couldn’t get the door open rise coed dormitory where the shooting Today show they were unaware of the he tried shooting it open…but the room. The Israeli mechanics and engi- began and two people died. Steger said dorm shooting when they reported to a gunshots were blunted by the door,” neering lecturer was shot to death, the university was trying to notify stu- German class where the gunman later O’Dell said. “but…the students lived because of dents who were already on campus, not opened fire. President George W. Bush and first him,” Virginia Tech student Asael Arad those who were commuting in. Derek O’Dell, his arm in a cast after lady Laura Bush attended a convoca- (also an Israeli) told Israel Army Radio. “We warned the students that we being shot, described a shooter who tion Tuesday, and people sought com- Several of Librescu’s other students fort Monday night at a church service. sent e-mails to his wife, Marlena, “For Ryan and Emily and for those telling of how he had blocked the gun- whose names we do not know,” one man’s way and saved their lives, said woman pleaded in a church service Librescu’s son, Joe. “My father blocked “My father blocked the doorway Monday night. Another mourner added: the doorway with his body and asked “For parents near and far who wonder the students to flee,” Joe Librescu said with his body and asked the at a time like this, ‘Is my child safe?”’ in a telephone interview from his home That question promises to haunt outside of Tel Aviv. “Students started Blacksburg long after Monday’s opening windows and jumping out.” students to flee.” attacks. Librescu was respected in his field, The shooting began about 7:15 a.m. his son said. “His work was his life, in on the fourth floor of the dorm. Police a sense,” said Joe. “That was a good were still investigating around 9:15 a.m., place for him to practice his research.” thought were immediately impacted,” fired away in “eery silence” with “no when a gunman wielding two handguns The couple immigrated to Israel he told CNN. “We felt that confining specific target—just taking out any- and carrying multiple clips of ammuni- from in 1978. They then them to the classroom was how to keep body he could.” After the gunman left tion stormed Norris Hall, a classroom moved to Virginia in 1986 for his sab- them safest.” He said investigators did the room, students could hear him building a half-mile away on the other batical and had stayed since then, Joe not know there was a shooter loose on shooting other people down the hall. side of the 2,600-acre campus. told Army Radio. campus in the interval between the O’Dell said he and other students bar- The gunman was identified on two shootings because the first could ricaded the door so the shooter could- Continued on Page 20 Tuesday afternoon as Cho Seung-Hui, 23, a South Korean citizen who was studying legally in the United States as an English major at Virginia Tech. Earlier, Virginia Tech’s president said the gunman in the second of two cam- pus attacks was a student at the uni- versity. He also defended the school’s delay in warning students about what became the deadliest shooting ram- page in U.S. history. Though University President Charles Steger did not explicitly say the student, whom he identified as an Asian male, was also the gunman in the first shooting, he said he did not believe there was another shooter. The gunman struck down two people at a dormitory Monday before killing 30 more people in a campus building and finally killing himself with a shot to his head. “We do know that he was an Asian male—this is the second incident—an Asian man who was a resident in one of our dormitories,” said Steger in an interview with CNN, confirming for the first time that the killer was a student. Some students said their first warn- ing came more than two hours after the first shooting, in an e-mail at 9:26 a.m. By then the second shooting had begun. “I think the university has blood on their hands because of their lack of action after the first incident,” said Billy

A woman who shall seed and give birth to a male child (Vayikra 12:2)

If the woman gives seed first, she gives birth to a male; if the man gives seed first, she gives birth to a female.

(Talmud, Niddah 31a)

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 19 Virginia Tech Shooting from opening the door. The instructor and decided to rely on e-mail and other killed 16 people before he was shot to Continued from Page 19 was killed, Calhoun said. electronic means to spread the word, death by police. Erin Sheehan, who was in the but said that with 11,000 people driving Founded in 1872, Virginia Tech is At least 15 people were hurt in the German class next door to Calhoun’s onto campus first thing in the morning, nestled in southwestern Virginia, second attack, some seriously. Many class, told the student newspaper, the it was difficult to get the word out. about 160 miles west of Richmond. found themselves trapped after some- Collegiate Times, that she was one of He said that before the e-mail was With more than 25,000 full-time stu- one, apparently the shooter, chained and only four of about two dozen people in sent, the university began telephoning dents, it has the state’s largest full-time locked Norris Hall doors from the inside. the class to walk out of the room. The resident advisers in the dorms and sent student population. The school is best Students jumped from windows, rest were dead or wounded, she said. people to knock on doors. Students known for its engineering school and and students and faculty carried away She said the gunman “was just a were warned to stay inside and away its powerhouse Hokies football team. some of the wounded without waiting normal-looking kid, Asian, but he had from the windows. “We can only make Police said there had been bomb for ambulances to arrive. Police com- on a Boy Scout-type outfit. He wore a decisions based on the information threats on campus over the past two mandos swarmed over the campus. A tan button-up vest, and this black vest, you had at the time. You don’t have weeks but that they had not deter- student used his cell-phone camera to maybe it was for ammo or something.” hours to reflect on it,” Steger said. mined whether they were linked to the record the sound of bullets echoing The gunman first shot the professor The 9:26 e-mail had few details: “A shootings. It was the second time in through a stone building. in the head and then fired on the class, shooting incident occurred at West less than a year that the campus was Inside Norris, the attack began with another student, Trey Perkins, told The Amber Johnston earlier this morning. closed because of gunfire. a thunderous sound from Room 206— Washington Post. The gunman was about Police are on the scene and are inves- Last August, the opening day of class- “what sounded like an enormous ham- 19 years old and had a “very serious but tigating.” The message warned stu- es was canceled when an escaped jail mer,” said Alec Calhoun, a 20-year-old very calm look on his face,” he said. dents to be cautious and contact police inmate allegedly killed a hospital guard junior who was in a solid mechanics “Everyone hit the floor at that moment,” about anything suspicious. off campus and fled to the Tech area. A lecture in a classroom next door. said Perkins, a second year student Until Monday, the deadliest shoot- sheriff’s deputy was killed just off cam- Screams followed an instant later, studying mechanical engineering. “And ing in modern U.S. history was in pus. The accused gunman, William and the banging continued. When stu- the shots seemed like it lasted forever.” Killeen, Texas, in 1991, when George Morva, faces capital murder charges. dents realized the sounds were gun- At an evening news conference, Hennard plowed his pickup truck into As well as Librescu, among the dead shots, Calhoun said, he started flip- Police Chief Wendell Flinchum a Luby’s Cafeteria and shot 23 people were , said Ishwar K. Puri, ping over desks to make hiding places. refused to dismiss the possibility that a to death, then himself. the head of the engineering science and Others dashed to the windows of the co-conspirator or second shooter was The massacre Monday took place mechanics department. (JPost.com) ❖ second-floor classroom, kicking out involved. He said police had inter- almost eight years to the day after the To send a condolence message to the Librescu the screens and jumping from the viewed a male who was a “person of Columbine High bloodbath near family, go to www..edu/templates/ ledge of Room 204, he said. interest” in the dorm shooting and who Littleton, Colorado. On April 20, articlecco.html?AID=504498. “I must’ve been the eighth or ninth knew one of the victims, but he 1999, two teenagers killed 12 fellow person who jumped, and I think I was declined to give details. students and a teacher before taking the last,” said Calhoun. He landed in a Steger said authorities believed the their own lives. WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? bush and ran. Calhoun said that the shooting at the dorm was a domestic Previously, the deadliest campus two students behind him were shot, dispute and mistakenly thought the shooting in U.S. history was a rampage WE WANT TO KNOW! but that he believed they survived. Just gunman had fled the campus. “We had that took place in 1966 at the before he climbed out the window, no reason to suspect any other inci- University of Texas at Austin, where E-MAIL US AT Calhoun said, he turned to look at his dent was going to occur,” he said. Charles Whitman climbed the clock professor, who had stayed behind, Steger emphasized that the university tower and opened fire with a rifle from [email protected] apparently to prevent the gunman closed off the dorm after the first attack the 28th-floor observation deck. He

20 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 21 chronological themes, each told on a museum educator—well worth the History Museums: separate floor: “Jewish Life A Century time and money. Ago,” “The War Against the Jews,” and The museum also rents space for An Unusual Option For Parties “Jewish Renewal.” bar and bat mitzvah parties—worth There are more than 15,000 objects considering, with their distinctive loca- BY AVITAL MEDOFF answer, of course, is that with six on rotating display in the collection, tion overlooking the Statue of Liberty million gone, three museums is not including 2,000 photographs, 800 his- and Ellis Island. Depending on the As bar and bat mitzvahs approach, nearly enough.) The Museum of torical and cultural artifacts, and 24 space, the museum can host between many parents plan a trip for their Jewish Heritage stands out because original documentary films. 300 and 800 guests. The price for a coming-of-age child that will not only of its emphasis. Exhibitions change frequently; one standard reception ranges from $6,000 celebrate and mark the occasion, but “Other Jewish museums focus on on view now is “From the Heart: The to $10,000, but they “try to be flexible, also serve as a learning experience as how Jews died in ,” said Photojournalism of Ruth Gruber.” if possible,” said Rachel Heumann, the child takes on greater Jewish Betsy Aldredge, the museum’s public- Gruber, now 95, photographed her manager of museum events. The rental responsibility. The destination may be relations manager. “We focus on indi- personal involvement in modern fee may also include the cost of a Israel—to learn its history, participate vidual stories and personal narrative— Jewish history, including escorting war museum tour. in ritual, and be part of the continu- April Rudin of Fort Lee, N.J., host- um of Jews celebrating the land. But ed her son Alec’s bar mitzvah party at important sites closer to home, the Museum of Jewish Heritage in whether in addition to or separate The theme of Alec’s bar mitzvah March 2006. Rudin said she chose to from an Israel trip, can create a hold the reception at the museum learning opportunity and rite of pas- because it represents “the merging of sage experience. Two New York muse- was l’dor va’dor, from generation all of our worlds. It looks out on Ellis ums—the Museum of Jewish Island and has the Holocaust remem- Heritage: A Living Memorial to the brance aspect.” Holocaust and the Lower East Side to generation. That to me was “The theme of Alec’s bar mitzvah Tenement Museum—are worth just was l’dor va’dor, from generation to such a visit. what the museum symbolized. generation,” she added. “And that to The Museum of Jewish Heritage: me was what the museum symbolized.” A Living Memorial to the For more information, contact the Holocaust. This museum gives visi- Museum of Jewish Heritage: A Living tors a unique perspective on 20th- how these people lived, their thriving refugees from Europe to America, vis- Memorial to the Holocaust at 646- century Jewish history. The museum, communities before the war, and what iting displaced persons camps, detail- 437-4200 or www.mjhnyc.org. which opened nearly ten years ago, they did afterwards to rebuild.” ing the plight of the Exodus 1947, The Lower East Side Tenement celebrates the lives, traditions, and The museum spends a good deal of describing the establishment of the Museum. This museum is made up of achievements of Jewish life, both time organizing programs for full class- State of Israel, and documenting the a series of historic tenements built in before and after the Holocaust. room visits, but you may want to con- state’s ingathering of refugees from 1863. The Tenement Museum differs Well-traveled children may wonder sider a quiet visit with your bar or bat Europe, Iraq, North Africa, Yemen, from the traditional museum in that it what a trip to this museum offers if mitzvah to let them take in what is and Ethiopia. Her photographs are on does not have open gallery space for they already visited the Holocaust most meaningful. display through October 8. people to peruse, said Ted Gorodetzky, Museum in Washington, DC, and The core of the museum is its per- For $10 to $12 per person, you group marketing coordinator. “The Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. (The best manent collection, divided into three can arrange group tours led by a museum illustrates the history of the

22 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Lower East Side and its immi- grants by investigating the lives of tenement residents,” he added. All tours leave from the vis- itors center and museum shop, located at 108 Orchard Street. Tours take place across the road in the tenements at 97 Orchard Street. Each of the three tours offered focuses on one or two families who lived in the tenements: The Confino Living History tour is led by a costumed inter- preter portraying 13-year-old Victoria Confino. The Confinos were a Sephardic family (circa 1916) from Kastoria (in mod- ern-day Greece). Visitors can ask Victoria anything, but she always stays in character, so for maximum benefit, ask the museum for the background materials they normally send schools. Don’t forget to find out where Victoria’s family prayed (since most Lower East Side residents were Ashkenazi), what rent cost, and what her parents thought about her dat- ing young men. Also ask what her mother cooked (not much kugel); the answer will be strik- ing to kids used to the standard Friday night dinner. The Getting By tour takes visitors to the apartments of the German-Jewish Gumpertz family (1870s) and the Sicilian-Catholic Baldizzi family (1930s). Background materials could help your budding teen think about sim- ilarities and differences between the two families. The Piecing it Together tour brings visitors to the Jewish Levine family (1897) from Poland to celebrate the birth of a baby boy and to the Lithuanian Rogarshevsky family (1918), also Jewish, to pay a shivah call. The tene- ment artifacts, like baby clothes and Sabbath ritual items, are likely to provoke questions from your teens and preteens. Cocktail receptions for up to 75 guests cost $1,200 and are held at the visitors center. For a small dinner party, you can seat up to 24 people in a historic tenement for $1,000. “A bar or bat mitzvah is a lovely occasion to hold in a facility like this because of our historic programming,” Gorodetzky said. “The great- est aspect [of hosting an event at the Tenement Museum] is that the tours stimulate con- versation, so it makes for interesting parties.” For more information, con- tact the Lower East Side Tenement Museum at www.tenement.org or 212- 982-8420. ❖

Avital Medoff is a journalism major at the University of Maryland at College Park. 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 23 Wednesday and sometimes even than others. Some children are less Tuesday. So much of my life is becom- demanding; you hardly know they’re ing geared toward making plans for around. And then there are children Ariella. I just don’t understand why like Ariella, who need constant other mothers aren’t as concerned as I action. Whether this is because she am about making plans and why they was born that way or whether she are so unresponsive. I feel like this sit- feels the need to constantly be enter- uation is taking on a life of its own, tained because that is how you have Dear Esther, think maybe it’s because they have even though on some level I know been raising her is irrelevant at this Here is my situation. I have three other children at home who are close there are so many more important point. What matters is that you grown children, who are more or less in age, and they figure their children things to be busy with. understand that no one ever died of independent (married or otherwise). will entertain one another. I’m not Any reaction? boredom. Not only is it not life Six years ago, to my surprise, I became sure. Rarely does anyone call me to Anxious threatening, but ultimately, it’s not pregnant and had another child, a make plans. I can’t understand why Dear Anxious, really a very big deal. daughter. Though I was thrilled to they sometimes sound so removed and I do have a reaction to your question It seems Ariella thinks it’s a big have a new, healthy addition to our seemingly apathetic about making and will go through what occurs to me, deal, and you confirm that reality for family, I really thought that my intense plans for their daughter, as though step by step. her in your never-ending quest for mothering days were behind me. I had they couldn’t care less. My first overall reaction, however, finding playmates for her. Don’t think long ago said good-bye to car pools, So I’m busy going through my list is to wonder why you are so troubled that she doesn’t pick up on your anx- babysitters, play dates, etc. iety when you haven’t succeeded in My daughter is now six, and making a plan for her. Kids do that— though she is adorable, I sometimes they know what we feel and they usu- envy my friends who seem so free at Maybe if you would relax a bit and try to ally can feel what we feel. Maybe if this stage of life. Ariella, my daughter, you would relax a bit and try to be is very sociable and loves to be kept be less reactive to her demands, less reactive to her demands, Ariella busy. From the moment she walks in might figure out that it’s OK to be the door from school, she wants to Ariella might figure out that it’s OK alone sometimes and it’s even OK to know what she can do after she fin- be bored on a long Shabbos. It hap- ishes her homework. She seems to to be alone sometimes. pens…life goes on. Instead, what I’m get easily bored and is always looking hearing is that you are both feeding for action. off one another’s dread of being left During the week is one thing; I without a plan. manage fine. But weekends are and literally getting knots in my stom- by a bored, kvetchy child. True, it can I guess that the mothers who don’t becoming increasingly difficult, and I ach. When I can’t drum up any “busi- be annoying, even distressing, at seem overly concerned about whether find myself starting to feel tremendous ness,” I start dreading Shabbos, won- times. But you seem to be giving it an their daughters have Shabbos plans anxiety as early as Thursday evening. I dering how we will all survive the long enormous amount of power over probably have a more relaxed attitude start making phone calls to arrange a (and “boring”) day. I know that Ariella yourself, and I have to wonder why. toward the whole “play date” concept. play date, especially now that the day will be antsy and demanding, which Kids get bored. And yes, there are And yes, maybe there are other chil- is so long. Sometimes I’m successful will drive me crazy. some children who are much more dren at home who are around to keep and sometimes not. Often, her friends’ It’s become so bad lately that I’m adept at finding ways to entertain one another company. However, parents are totally non-receptive. I already thinking about Shabbos on themselves for long stretches of time might it be that you have some con-

24 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES cern as to whether your daughter is some deeper level, you feel maybe popular enough? Could that be driv- more than a bit of annoyance that you ing some of your anxiety? Do you have are again busy catering to a child’s your own issues about being popular never-ending needs, while your con- enough, possibly projecting them temporaries are no longer dealing with onto your daughter? that demanding stage of life. And while I’m on track for making it I’ve given you some possibilities to personal, I wonder how well you han- consider. They may fit and they may dle downtime. Are you OK with spend- not; that is for you to decide. ing an aimless day, not necessarily hav- Meanwhile, try to relax and enjoy these ing a plan? Does boredom threaten precious years with Ariella. As you must you? Do you need to be constantly know, time flies by so quickly. Before busy? Again, what I’m getting at is, you know it, she’ll be on her own and could any of this be about you? you may find yourself longing for the And finally, I wonder how acute days when you had her all to yourself. your resentment truly is for once again Esther being thrown into a life stage that you were happy to say “so long” to quite Esther Mann, LMSW, has a private practice in Lawrence. She can be reached at 516-314-2295 some time ago. And though you love or [email protected]. She works with and are grateful for your daughter, on individuals and couples.

On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised (Vayikra 12:3)

Yitzchak and Yishmael were engaged in a controvery. Said Yishmael to Yitzchak: "I am more beloved to G-d than you, since I was circumcised at the age of thirteen, but you were circumcised as a baby and could not refuse." Yitzchak retorted: "All that you gave up to G-d was three drops of blood. But lo, I am now thirty-seven years old, yet if G-d desired of me that I be slaughtered, I would not refuse."

(Midrash Rabbah)

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 25 with, and is hoping and praying every- application package and been thing will be okay. approved subject to additional infor- This obviously does not qualify any- mation regarding the property to be one for anything. Unfortunately, buy- purchased. This puts the buyer in an ers and sellers unaware of the real extremely strong position when nego- process of qualifying borrowers for a tiating for a house, since his financial mortgage might see this pre-qualifica- situation is very straightforward. It When you start shopping for a the same as she or he would when tion typed on a pretty letterhead and also gives the seller peace of mind house, inevitably your real-estate actually taking a mortgage application, think, “Okay, this guy’s set with a and a level of comfort in accepting an broker will suggest that you visit with pull a credit report, and possibly even mortgage.” offer and making a deal with this type a mortgage broker and find out how give you a desktop approval from a The second and correct qualifica- of buyer. ❖ much house you will qualify for on lender which pre-approves you for a tion process is the one I mentioned paper. You get all your financial mortgage based on the conditions out- previously, where the buyers sit with Anessa Cohen lives in Cedarhurst and is a information together and you head lined in the desktop approval. the mortgage broker and present their licensed real estate broker (Anessa V Cohen out to the mortgage broker to get What are the differences between income and financial documents. The Realty) and a licensed N.Y.S. mortgage broker (A.C. Action Mortgage Corp.) with over 20 years pre-qualified. these two qualification processes? A mortgage broker can then put togeth- of experience, offering full-service residential and er a mortgage package with a credit commercial real estate services and mortgage services. She can be reached at 516-569-5007. report, get it desktop approved (desk- Readers are encouraged to send any questions or top approval is a process that is used scenarios to [email protected]. Having a pre-approval letter in hand says when the mortgage broker is a pro- cessing broker and can submit an application that can be underwritten that the buyer in question has already online directly to the lender for imme- A person to whom diate approval) and receive an actual shall occur in the submitted a mortgage application approval subject to an appraisal, con- tract of sale, and title. There might be skin of his flesh... the package and been approved. additional conditions as well, but a plague of tzaraas mortgage broker examining those conditions will know immediately if (Vayikra 13:2) the conditions are such that will After sitting down with the mort- generic letter or a pre-qualification cause a problem or not. gage broker, one of two things might letter basically is not worth the paper This type of qualification process is Evil talk is like an arrow. happen. One mortgage broker might it is written on it. It essentially says known as a pre-approval as opposed A person who unsheathes hand you a generic form he keeps in that the buyer will qualify for a mort- to a pre-qualification, since the only a sword can regret his the back room saying you are pre- gage, if the income, assets, and credit real conditions on this type of an intention and return it to qualified for a mortgage, and tell you stated are verified as being correct. approval are property-related, i.e., not to worry about it—you will qualify Translated, that means the buyer contract of sale, appraisal, title and its sheath. But the arrow for something. guessed what his credit would be, homeowner’s insurance. As you can cannot be retrieved. A more responsible mortgage broker gave the mortgage broker an idea see, having a pre-approval letter in (Midrash Tehillim) will sit you down and review all your what his income was and how much hand says that the buyer in question employment and asset information, money he was hoping to come up has already submitted a mortgage

26 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 27 and sometimes not so well. continue to wing their way north and Regardless of whether people dis- south as the need arises, but for the appear for ten months, six months, or snowbirds who go south for only a less, there are always some who will few months, all the shuttling is fin- need to return for the bar mitzvah, ished for the time being. Their final bat mitzvah, or wedding of a grand- flights for this year are taking place child. The celebration might be for right now, and these folks are slowly When Swallows one’s own progeny, or it could be for drifting back into our lives. that of a friend’s grandchild. Either This reverse mass migration always way, these snowbirds (as they are starts right after Pesach, and contin- Return To Capistrano called by year-round Florida resi- ues for about two weeks. By late dents) will have to schlep themselves April, everyone who intends to return up north for a few days, all the while is here, settling back in and attempt- It’s that time of year again. Starting always a walk in the park. hoping fervently that it won’t be dur- ing to resume life in the fast lane. It’s right now, we will gradually begin to It would seem that this scheduling ing a lengthy cold spell or immediate- an adjustment of sorts, since the pace see faces that we haven’t laid eyes on would work best if there are several ly following an ice storm. of life in the South is somewhat slow- in months—not since temperatures children involved, so that Mom and In those instances where the simcha er and more leisurely than in the first dipped below 60 degrees. A hand- Dad could spend two or three weeks is that of a family member, that very Empire State. ful of seniors, possibly the sturdier with each family. The only problem is first flight to Florida in late fall or early Snowbirds are a hardy bunch, and ones, hung around here for an extra that most of the time the elders in winter is preceded by numerous shop- they easily pick up where they left month and waited for the first frost off—with tennis pals, golf mates, and before heading south. But the majority card-playing buddies. This is a “same fled earlier. The exodus generally time, same station, different location” extends from mid-November through type of scenario. Tennis games, rounds late December. By late April, everyone who intends to of golf, and card playing are all part of A few souls do things differently: life in Florida, so it’s only the sur- they leave for Florida immediately return is here, settling back in and roundings that have changed. Females following the yamim nora’im and will return to their longtime hair- don’t return until the end of June. In dressers and favorite manicurists, other words, their permanent quar- attempting to resume life in the fast lane. males will once again visit their regular ters are in Florida but, since it’s so barbers, and men and women alike will hot there during the summer, they be scheduling appointments with their return to see their kids during July doctors and dentists. and August. On paper, this looks pret- question are not overjoyed to do all ping excursions in an effort to find a Those of us who stay put have an ty good, but there’s a caveat here, to that moving about. Their inclination dress for the gala event. No woman in entire year to go for a dental checkup, be sure. As a rule, seniors see no is to stagger it differently: one sum- her right mind leaves for the Florida and an annual physical, but those who sense in renting here for two months, mer with one child, the next summer scene until she has made her purchase spend half the year in Florida have to and since most don’t keep homes or with another, and so on and so forth! for the big day and has the garment squeeze everything into six months. apartments for such a short period of All of which brings one child back to ready and waiting in her closet. Those snowbirds who spend ten time, they move in with their married having Mom and Dad move in for two The permanent Florida residents, months in Florida have physicians and children for eight weeks. This is not full months. Sometimes it works well, and those who go for ten months, will dentists in place down there. And peo-

28 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES ple who travel south for short periods of time don’t have a problem, because they have ample time to take care of their New York appointments. But traveling to warmer climes for a short time is a risky business, because nobody really knows exactly when the snow and the cold will begin. For that matter, nobody knows when it will end. This includes the National Weather Service, AccuWeather, and the Climate Prediction Center. All the forecasters put together don’t have a true clue. Take this past Pesach, for instance. It wasn’t as early as it might have been, yet we had little in the way of mild temperatures and only mini- mal sunshine. As a result of the lingering cold, everyone who was up here for Pesach had to deal with the biannual shul hat conundrum: “Do I wear straw or do I stick with felt?” This question is fore- most on the mind of every female when she’s planning what she’ll wear to shul. It’s a given that felt is for Rosh Hashanah and straw is for Pesach. But this becomes problematic when there’s warm weather in September or frigid temperatures in April. And one need not be a fashion aficionado to be inter- ested enough to take a hat count. I’m no maven, but I took a count. For the uninitiated, a hat count is similar to a body count, except that men are not included. The point of interest is strictly in the number of felt hats versus straw. I take no note of silk hats, because women who wear those are taking the cowardly way out. As any hat retailer will attest, a silk hat is considered transitional and is accept- able in all types of weather. I poll only the females who take a stand, make a decision, and wear what they feel is appropriate. But all that is in the past. Pesach is over and the next hat count is many months away. In the meantime, we have an entire spring and summer to reconnect with friends who are return- ing home. And make no mistake about it: regardless of how many months people spend in Florida, New York is still considered home. Welcome back, y’all! ❖

Hannah Berman lives in Woodmere and is a licensed real-estate broker associated with Marjorie Hausman Realty. She can be reached at [email protected] or 516-902-3733.

For the next issue, deadline for reserving ad space is Monday, April 23 at 5:00 P.M.

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5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 29 the people of this land to live religious- But maybe that is because so many ly in freedom, even though the day of the Orthodox didn’t believe in mak- itself has no particular religious con- ing a day of thanksgiving. According to notation; anybody from any religion or them, it has to be an all-or-nothing religious affiliation could celebrate. thank-you (even though we celebrate so I could understand this, especially many yamim tovim for miracles whose in view of the fact that many gedolim outcome was not “complete,” as in have stressed that we should appreci- Chanukah.) Therefore irreligious Dear Editor, acts in the name of G-d. Let’s not, G-d ate living in a medinah of chesed after Israelis and others celebrate, mostly in In his front-page article in last forbid, do the same. the millennia of persecution we have a non-religious way, and the others week’s Five Towns Jewish Times (“My Cal Nathan suffered as a people. So, the good, don’t recognize it as a miracle day at all; third visit with Jonathan Pollard”), frum, heimishe people eat their turkey they don’t even eat a piece of turkey. Shmuel Sackett states that Pollard’s Dear Editor, (“hodu” in Ivrit!) at a family celebra- If the American Thanksgiving is OK “love for…his G-d led him to sacrifice Every year at around this time, I get tion, in a non-religious feast. because it is a non-religious day for say- his own liberty” and that “his actions riled. I get upset. I wonder and wish So far, so good. ing thank you, then surely Yom saved millions of Jews.” someone would explain the illogic of And then Chodesh Iyar comes along, Ha’atzmaut could be at least the same. If I agree we should try to do whatever my thinking. Let me explain my prob- and with it the fifth day of Iyar. A time it should be a religious celebration, then we can to help free Mr. Pollard simply lem to the good folks out there. when Hashem showed open miracles to make it so: acknowledge the miracles. because his punishment is unprece- I am an immigrant to the United our people, after the most horrific Don’t you think Hashem might be, kivy- dented in its severity for the crime States, having arrived here about eight decade. A day when we were given the achol, upset at our ignoring this time? committed. It is irresponsible, howev- years ago. A few months after my opportunity to live in our own land, He gave us another opportunity to show er, to write and publish these exagger- arrival, Thanksgiving came along and I promised to us by Hashem, in religious appreciation on Yom Yerushalayim; we ations and to couch his actions (which saw that good Jews—frum Jews, freedom. Does anyone but myself see a can hardly imagine nowadays going to everyone would agree were illegal and heimishe Jews—celebrated what I correlation here, or the contradiction in Yerushalayim without the ability to halachically wrong) within the context thought was a completely American not celebrating? Yes, indeed, the final daven at the Kotel. Have the ultra- of G-d and saving millions of lives. festival. I inquired and was told that outcome has not yet arrived; Mashiach Orthodox taken this opportunity—in any Unfortunately, we are all familiar the point of the day was to thank is not obvious, and Israel is not perfect way? Shirah? Hallel? Turkey?? with extremists who justify their illegal Hashem for His goodness in allowing by any means, even religiously. Tamar ‘bas Chorin’

Dear Editor, Please permit me to relay a story that happened last year. I have the great honor to accompany a rosh yeshiva of great stature two or three times a year, assisting him to raise funds for his worthy yeshiva in Petach Tikvah, the second oldest yeshiva in Eretz Yisrael. I have been with him to visit people across a broad spectrum of importance and wealth. I admire the time that they give to people coming to get help for their mosdos. Some have special days where they give out funds to lines of people. One successful fellow told us that he was once asked by his neighbors to move, since they can’t drive down their street on Monday nights, due to all the meshulachim on line. Mi ke‘amcha Yisrael! And this is right here in the Five Towns community. In the last three years, the Levenbrown home has been on the list, although we had not been fortunate enough to meet face to face. This year, in January, we arrived at the house just as Mrs. Levenbrown, a’h, was leaving to go to a HAFTR function meeting. It was obvious that she was pressed to be going, and didn’t see us arriving to ring the bell. As she locked the door and turned to leave, the rosh yeshiva intro- duced himself, and inquired after the health of her husband and family. I expected, from the initial look on her face as she had turned, to get a response of “I am sorry, but…” Instead, she put her keys in her pock- et, relaxed, and said, “Thank you. He is well. I am on my way to a yeshiva meet- ing, but I would like to tell him you stopped by.” She then took an envelope and thanked the rosh yeshiva, and we went on our way. The utter respect and humility of her tone, especially coming from such an elegant person, struck me. It did so because for the three years that I have been doing this, I have not seen this much kavod for this rosh yeshiva from any other home that we have been to. There have been some warm, some effusive, some lukewarm, and a few downright rude receptions. But the most effusive, warm, kavodik of those greetings did not 30 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES come close to the one or two sentences or how long it had been spreading, but spoken by Mrs. Levenbrown. I did not because carbon monoxide gas is unde- know at the time, nor would I have tectable by sight or smell—it cannot be been able to tell, that she was not at seen like smoke or smelled like oil or her best. I take the time to write this fire—there are many stories of people letter, never thinking that I would have who go to sleep and do not wake up. had to, because while I had heard We feel very fortunate that we were about the Levenbrowns frequently, not home for Yom Tov, and we have Mrs. Levenbrown is not someone that immense hakaras ha’tov to HaKadosh I normally would have been intro- Baruch Hu for his hashgachah in duced to directly. However, when I saw watching over and protecting us. This, the article about her in last week’s Five particularly in light of the fact that car- Towns Jewish Times, I wanted to testi- bon monoxide gas quickly effects preg- fy, firsthand, that everything said, and nant women and unborn children (and more, about Mrs. Levenbrown is true. my wife, may we be blessed to see When I told the story to my children at much nachas from our children and the Shabbos table this past week, the grandchildren, is due in one week’s beginnings of lifetimes of kiddush time, b’sha‘ah tovah). We thank Hashems and inspiration for acts of Hashem we are healthy and able to tell kavod haTorah and kavod ha’berios this story. were born. Yehei zichrah baruch. The firemen all agreed that the key Zvi Jacobs was the working alarm, which alerted Woodmere us as soon as we walked in the house so we could avoid breathing in the Dear Editor, harmful fumes. We publicly thank “V’al nifle’osecha v’tovosecha she’be- Hashem, Yisbarach, for His great chol eis—We thank You, Hashem, for chesed to us. Your wonders and goodness that We feel it is our achrayus, therefore, occur at all times.” We would like to to strongly advise all reading this to take a moment and relate what make yourselves and families aware of occurred to us on motzaei Yom Tov,a this very real potential sakanas nefashos few nights ago: and take all proper precautions to have We arrived home from our parents proper alarms installed, inspected, bat- and, upon opening the door, found the teries updated, and put in the right carbon-monoxide alarm beeping. We locations (by boiler rooms and outside called the fire department, and they bedrooms). Please take note of the fol- were able to trace the source to our lowing statement from the U.S. boiler, some part of which had broken Environmental Protection Agency: and was leaking dangerous gas. One of “Carbon monoxide is an odorless, color- the firemen told me that it was impos- sible to tell when the leak had started Continued on Page 45

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 31 “The Sy Syms School is on a new the school: Sy Syms, Marcy Syms, and trajectory with stellar faculty and an the Syms family, the founding benefac- energized alumni organization,” YU tors; Hal H. Beretz, the founding President Richard M. Joel said. “This chairman of the board; and eight anniversary is a wonderful opportunity founding faculty members. to reflect on the school’s impact on an The honorary co-chairs are Howard entire generation of Jewish business Jonas (founder and chairman of IDT); Before Emergency Strikes: Gardens. Space is limited; please leaders as well as to plan for the Jack Katz (a managing partner at Managing Senior Health Care In A reserve by contacting Rebbetzin Judi future, so that our students can con- Grant Thornton); Daniel C. Kurtzer (a Crisis Steinig at [email protected] 212- tinue to flourish in today’s global busi- former United States Ambassador to As a service to the community, the 929-1525 ext. 103. ❖ Israel and Egypt and a Yeshiva College National Council of Young Israel, the alumnus); and Bernard L. Madoff (of Young Israel of Lawrence-Cedarhurst, Gov. Mitt Romney To Address Syms Madoff Investment Securities), who is Atria Kew Gardens, and the School 20th Anniversary Dinner, chairman of the board of Sy Syms Woodmere Rehabilitation and Health- April 26 School of Business. ❖ care Center have scheduled a program The Sy Syms School of Business, to address issues related to managing Yeshiva University’s undergraduate MAY In Semifinals Of Mock Trial health care for seniors, set to take business school, plans to celebrate its Competition place on Sunday, April 29, at 10:00 20th anniversary on Thursday, April Achieving great success in the a.m. at the Young Israel of Lawrence- 26, at its first “Student and Alumni Nassau County Mock Trial Compe- Cedarhurst (8 Spruce Street in Awards and Networking Dinner,” to tition, the Ateres Yaakov team Cedarhurst). begin at 6:30 p.m. at Gotham Hall progressed undefeated to the semifinals Other sponsors of the event include (1356 Broadway in Manhattan). Mitt in the week before Pesach. Under the Tender Loving Care Staffbuilders Romney, formerly the governor of guidance of their coach, Ateres Yaakov Home Health Care and Virginia Massachusetts and now a candidate alumnus Yehoshua Sladowsky, these Belling Senior Placement Services. for the Republican nomination for articulate and dedicated young men A panel of experts will address ques- President of the U.S., is scheduled to were among the final four teams from tions such as: provide the keynote address, sharing an original roster of more than 60 com- • How do you select a quality rehab his expertise as a business leader and peting teams. Although they were nar- facility after hospitalization? former CEO of Bain & Company, a rowly defeated by the Port Washington • Why would you choose to stay in management consulting firm. Gov. Mitt Romney team, their efforts and abilities were an assisted living community after The celebration was initiated by stu- apparent to all. Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, rehab? dents at the school, who raised more ness environment and have a signifi- the menahel of MAY, said, “Although we • What services are covered under than $50,000 in sponsorship gifts for cant influence on society.” were all incredibly pleased by their per- home care? the dinner. Inspired by the students, The honorees are alumni from the formance against such talented teams, I • How can a geographically distant alumni leaders joined in and commit- first graduating class of 1988: RoAnna take the greatest pride in having been family member help a senior who can’t ted to raise additional unrestricted (Bienstock) Pascher (a partner at told by one of the competition organiz- live alone anymore? funds for the school as a means of Grant Thornton) and Jonathan ers that they are consistently impressed A senior resource fair is also planned demonstrating their appreciation to Nierenberg (vice-president for global as to how refined and well-mannered as part of the program. Complimentary the school’s founding benefactors, services at the IDT Corp.). The event our students are. What could be better brunch will be provided by Atria Kew leadership, and faculty. will also be a tribute to the founders of nachas than this?” ❖

32 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES ‘April Madness’ Coming To The Five Towns March Madness will be succeeded by April Madness, as 24 teams are set to compete on Sunday, April 22, in the Long Island Basketball Tournament, sponsored by Long Island NCSY and expected to become an annual event. Unlike NCAA March Madness, which takes place over a period of three weeks, NCSY April Madness will be concentrated in a single, action- packed day, with teams from commu- nities throughout Nassau meeting in the Five Towns. Competitors will include current and former Yeshiva League all-stars as well as current and former members of the Yeshiva University basketball team. The tour- nament chairs are Jeremy Frenkel, Elliot Steinmetz, Kenny Sicklick, and Charles Harary, all of Woodmere. Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone, director of Long Island NCSY, explained that the competition will consist of 24 teams playing five-on-five games starting at 8:45 a.m. on six courts—Hollywood Atrium, Lawrence High School, Rambam, HAFTR Middle School, DRS, and SKA—with both the Sweet 16 at 2:30 p.m. and the Final Four at 5:30 p.m. being held at the Lawrence Middle School (195 Broadway). Admission at all games is free. The games will last for 20 minutes, with teams playing three times in the morning, and the top 16 will move into the single elimination afternoon brack- ets. The players will face a challenge in the grueling one-day format; in order to win, the champions will need to have the energy to play well in all the games. The championship game will be pre- ceded by family entertainment starting at 2:00 p.m. and a free barbecue at 3:00, along with a raffle for two round- trip tickets to Israel, sponsored by Israir. The winning team will receive a trophy. Proceeds from the tournament will support year-round local activities as well as scholarships for NCSY summer programs in Israel, Europe, and North America. “Long Island yeshiva students have played a sophisticated and skilled brand of basketball for years, both in the Yeshiva League and at YU,” said Rabbi Lightstone. “Now for the first time, current and past top players will have the opportunity to demonstrate their skills for the benefit of NCSY. There is no doubt that this will be the premier basketball tournament in our area, combining endurance, midos, energy, and, of course, free food.” ❖

Mesivta Ateres Yaakov Dinner Awards, May 15 Rabbi Shaya Richmond, mara d’asra of Congregation Bais Tefilah of Woodmere, has been chosen by Mesivta Ateres Yaakov to receive the Rabbinic Service Award for his leading role within the Five Towns community. Membership in the shul has grown tremendously since he became rav 16 years ago. Rabbi Richmond is also an active member of the Vaad Harabanim of Queens. Rabbi Yehuda Horowitz, a rebbi in the mesivta for over 15 years, has

Continued on Page 34 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 33 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Continued from Page 33

been chosen for the Marbitz Torah Award. His refined nature and exemplary midos tovos have inspired hundreds of talmidim. Rabbi Mor- dechai Yaffe, Ph.D., the yeshiva’s menahel said, “What can one say about a rebbi who the talmidim them- selves refer to as a malach? Rabbi Horowitz is an inspira- tion to both colleagues and students alike. His gentle, sincere demeanor makes everyone strive to be just a little better.” The Mesivta Ateres Yaakov dinner is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, May 15. ❖

JNF Israel Baseball Tour, June 21–27 Created by Boston business- man Larry Baras, the profes- sional Israel Baseball League (IBL) has already established itself as a league of choice for baseball players from the U.S., Canada, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Aus- tralia, Europe, and Israel. Former major leaguers Ken Holtzman, Art Shamsky, and Ron Blomberg will manage three of the six teams in this first season. The league’s com- missioner is Daniel C. Kurtzer, former U.S. Ambassador to Egypt and then Israel. In March of last year, the IBL announced a joint ven- ture with Jewish National Fund called “Project Base- ball,” a campaign aimed at dotting the landscape of Israel with community baseball fields. Later, the IBL revealed its plans for the new profes- sional league and announced the date for opening day: June 24, 2007 (8 Tammuz 5767). Now you can take part in the excitement! Join the Jewish National Fund—and baseball fans from all over— on the first JNF “Field of Dreams” Mission, June 21–27. Watch the historic opening-day ceremonies in premier seats with sports stars and VIPs, and learn about the critical work that JNF is doing to help the Jewish homeland in its continued growth and survival, including the new JNF Project Baseball. For more information, con- tact Joyce Sachartoff at [email protected] or 818-704- 5454, or call JNF Travel and Tours at 877-JNF-TOUR. ❖

Community Events At Roy Reuther Senior Center The Roy Reuther Senior Center (711 Seagirt Avenue in Far Rockaway, 718-471-3110) welcomes community members to come for a hot kosher lunch (Monday–Friday) or join any of the many activities offered. 34 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Bingo. Monday 10:00 a.m. beloved rebbi at the yeshiva, of the rosh yeshiva, Rabbi parents? Do you have con- Healthy Living, will speak and Wednesday 2:00 p.m. will be the guest speaker. Aharon Feldman, shlita, cerns about your future as a about how to honor and care Yoga. Monday, Wednesday, Ner Israel takes pride in the together with Rabbi Beryl senior? Have you prepared for your aging parents. and Thursday mornings 9:30– fact that close to 200 alumni Weisbord as menahel ruchani your assets for your retire- Michael D. Lissner, Esq., 10:30, meeting room D. now live in the Five Towns. and Rabbi Sheftel Neuberger ment? Are you familiar with will provide information about Arts and crafts. Thursday, Many serve as rabbanim, as menahel, who will attend the options of assisted living, estate planning and elder law. 10:30 a.m., with Rochele. mechanchim, and askanim in as well. The entire communi- home health care, and nurs- Sy Endlich will enlighten Mon., April 23, 11 a.m.: the community. Communal ty is invited to join in support ing homes? everyone concerning long dance therapy. responsibility is part and par- of this special endeavor. ❖ The Young Israel of term care insurance. Bella Tue., April 24, 10:30 a.m.: cel of the unique chinuch that Oceanside Sisterhood plans Kirschner will present infor- crochet and knitting class. is the legacy of the yeshiva. Elder Care Program At to present an outstanding mation about assisted living Wed., April 25, 11:00 a.m.: Though still mourning the Young Israel Of Oceanside panel of professionals in the options. Virginia Belling, a Volskayas, Domra and Bayan passing of its menahel for 65 Are you in the sandwich field of elder care on Tuesday, geriatric care manager, will musical entertainment. years, Rabbi Naftoli Neu- generation of raising your own April 24, at 7:45 p.m. Rabbi discuss advanced directives Thurs., April 26, 1:30 p.m.: berger, Ner Israel continues children and also needing to Reuven Becker, founder of Craft Mother’s Day corsages to grow under the leadership meet the needs of your aging Orech Yomim Center for Continued on Page 36 with silk flowers. ❖

Ner Israel Breakfast The annual Ner Israel breakfast is scheduled to be hosted by Moshe and Arielle Wolfson at their home (621 Hicksville Road in Far Rockaway) this Sunday, April 22 at 9:30 a.m. The Wolfsons, who cur- rently have children at the yeshiva, have enjoyed a long- standing relationship dating back to when Moshe studied there. HaRav Moshe Brown, a prominent local alumnus, is to address the crowd. He enjoyed a very close relation- ship with the founder of the yeshiva, HaRav Yaakov Yitzchok Ruderman, zt”l, and his successor and son-in-law, HaRav Yaakov Weinberg, zt”l. Rabbi Shraga Neuberger, a

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 35 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Continued from Page 35

for patients. This promises to be a most informa- tive evening, and it is open to the pub- lic and free of charge. For further information or directions, call the Young Israel of Oceanside at 516-764- 1099, located on the corner of Oceanside Road and Waukena Avenue. ❖

Robert Satloff To Speak At Stern College Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute, an expert on U.S. Middle East Policy, and author of Among the Righteous: Lost Stories from the Holocaust’s Long Reach into Arab Robert Satloff Lands, is scheduled to speak on Vashem, the Israeli Holocaust Wednesday, April 25 about the role Memorial. This honor is given to non- Arabs played in saving Jews from the Jews who saved Jews during the Holocaust. The event is to be held at Holocaust. Of more than 20,000 the Schottenstein Cultural Center of “righteous” recognized so far, there has Yeshiva University’s Stern College for never been an Arab. The evidence and Women (239 E. 34th Street, between testimonials Satloff collected in the Second and Third Avenues.) He will process of writing his book ultimately discuss the real-life stories reported in led to Abdelwahhab’s nomination as his book and how best to use these sto- one of the “righteous.” ries to combat Holocaust denial in Satloff first uncovered Arab and Muslim countries. [See relat- Abdelwahhab’s story while conduct- ed story on page 65.] The program is ing research for his book in Tunisia. sponsored by the Dr. Marcia Robbins- Abdelwahhab, the son of a well- Wilf Scholar-in-Residence Program at known writer, was 32 years old when Stern College. the Germans occupied Tunisia. He Also appearing with Satloff will be learned that a German officer Faiza Abdelwahhab, daughter of planned to rape a Jewish woman Khaled Abdelwahhab, the first Arab to named Odette Boukris, whose family be nominated for recognition as “right- Abdelwahhab vaguely knew. The eous among the nations” by Yad Boukrises, who had already been

36 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES evicted from their home by German troops, had sought refuge in an olive press factory with other Jews. Abdelwahhab got to the factory before the Germans, warned the Jews hiding there, and that evening ferried 24 people in his car from the factory to his family farm. There he protect- ed them for the rest of the German occupation. “It brings me great joy and pride to help bring to light forgotten and lost stories which reflect the contributions and heroism of Arabs in helping Jews during the Holocaust,” said Satloff. “My hope and ambition is that these positive stories of Arabs standing up for human rights and protecting Jews in their darkest hour will help untangle the web of lies put forth by Holocaust deniers throughout the Arab world.” “We at YU are privileged to host an eminent historian and expert on Middle Eastern affairs such as Robert Satloff,” said Bryan Daves, an assistant professor of political science who directs the Robbins-Wilf Scholar-in- Residence Program. “His work has brought to light a previously unknown chapter in Jewish history. In so doing, he is helping build bridges over what sometimes seem to be gaps too wide to cross. It is an honor to host him.” Dr. Satloff is the author or editor of nine books and monographs, and his views on Middle East issues appear fre- quently in major newspapers such as , Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times, and he regularly com- ments on major television network news programs, talk shows, and National Public Radio. In addition, Dr. Satloff is the creator and host of Dakhil Washington (Inside Washington), a weekly news and interview program on al-Hurra, the U.S. government-sup- ported Arabic satellite TV channel broadcast throughout the Middle East and Europe. In that capacity, he is the only non-Arab to host a program on an Arab satellite channel. ❖

Koby Mandell Fundraiser, April 29 The JCC of the Greater Five Towns and Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg are planning to co-host a special fundraiser for the Koby Mandell Foundation on Sunday, April 29, 11:00 a.m–12:30 p.m., at the JCC. In 1996, Sherri Lederman Mandell, originally from the Five Towns, and her husband, Rabbi Seth Mandell, moved their family from Bethesda, Maryland, to Israel. In 2001, they were plunged into a nightmare: Their 13-year-old son, Koby, and his good friend, Yosef, were stoned to death by terrorists while hik- ing near their home. From that tragedy, the Koby Mandell Foundation was created to offer a well- spring of hope and healing for thou- sands in Israel and America. The foun- dation provides therapeutic healing programs for those who suffer the trau- ma of losing a family member to terror in Israel. Camp Koby is a place where children can have fun and be with oth- ers who truly understand them; pro- grams especially designed for families and teens offer lifelines of emotional support. At the Retreats for Mothers,

Continued on Page 38 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 37 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Rina Shkolnik, executive director of addition, world-renowned Cantor Ben- Continued from Page 37 the JCC of the Greater Five Towns Zion Miller and his choir are to lead added that “co-hosting this fundraiser the Shabbat services. women draw strength from each other, meets the goals of our mission state- “The establishment of the State of creating long-lasting bonds of friend- ment to enrich the quality of life for Israel is an important religious event ship and a community of survivors. the Jewish community and to strength- for the Jewish People in our times. In Nearly two-thirds of all those directly en bonds with the state of Israel.” gratitude to Hashem, it is appropriate affected by terror in Israel are reached Contributions of any amount should to celebrate the momentous occasion by the Koby Mandell Foundation. “I be made out to the Koby Mandell through prayer and Torah study,” said could have stayed in bed the rest of my Foundation and brought to the event Rabbi Hershel Billet, rabbi of the life mourning him. I could have at the JCC, located at 207 Grove Young Israel of Woodmere. Rabbi remained broken, resenting my life, my Avenue in Cedarhurst, or mailed to Billet strongly urged and encouraged lot,” Sherri Mandell wrote in her award- Mr. Weisenberg at 730 W. Broadway, all members of the shul and communi- winning book, The Blessing of a Broken Apt. 5G, Long Beach, NY 11561. For ty to be part of this celebration. Heart. “But there is something in me more information about the founda- Rabbi Metzger is a graduate of the that refuses to be broken, no matter tion’s extraordinary work, visit Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh. He was how intense the pain, something that www.kobymandell.org. ❖ recruited into the Israel Defense moves toward the light.” Forces and served as a tank fighter in “I had the honor of meeting the Yom HaAtzmaut Celebration At the 7th Division of the 77th Battalion. Mandells on a recent trip to Israel,” Young Israel Of Woodmere He concluded his Army service as cap- Cantor Miller said Mr. Weisenberg. “They are truly In honor of Israel’s Independence tain in the military rabbinate. Rabbi cific political party. extraordinary people. We are thrilled to Day, the Young Israel of Woodmere Metzger commenced his rabbinical Cantor Ben-Zion Miller is an welcome Sherri and Seth Mandell as proudly announces a gala celebration career as district rabbi of Northern Tel acclaimed interpreter of liturgical the keynote speakers at our fundraiser. weekend this Shabbos, April 20–21. Aviv and as the Rabbi of the Tiferet music. For the past 26 years, he has This event is a wonderful opportunity Rabbi Yona Metzger, the Chief Tzvi . Rabbi Metzger has been the chief chazzan of Congregation to show our solidarity with people Ashkenazic Rabbi of the State of established a close relationship with Beth El in Boro Park. Cantor Miller around the globe suffering from the Israel, is scheduled to be in attendance the leaders of all sectors of Israeli soci- regularly travels to Israel and has per- lingering effects of terrorism.” and to speak to the congregation. In ety and does not identify with any spe- formed with the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra and the Jerusalem Symphony. Cantor Miller’s choir will be led by his son, Shimmy Miller. Minchah on Friday at the Young Israel of Woodmere’s Joseph K. Miller main shul is at 6:35 p.m.; Shabbos morning services begin at 8:30 a.m. Rabbi Metzger will address the congre- gation following services and will be giving a special lecture on Saturday following Minchah at 7:15 p.m. ❖

Rockaway Republicans Host New Queens Republican Leadership With the Pledge of Allegiance and a minute of silence to honor our brave troops serving thousands of miles from home, Tom Lynch opened the first 2007 meeting of the Rockaway Republicans at the Belle Harbor Yacht Club on Wednesday evening, April 11. Before introducing the club’s guest speaker, and while noting the beautiful restoration to the Yacht Club, President Lynch reported on the reju- venation of Republican principles on our peninsula. Lynch recalled and read verbatim Abraham Lincoln’s ten steps to success, as relevant today as they were 150 years ago (see the Rock Republicans website, www.rockaway republicans.com). “Number one,” Lynch continued, “Rock Republicans need to boost our voice in the county Republican Party. Presently, less than half our county committee members are Rockaway residents! This is deplorable…all 90 county members rep’ing our district should be—must be—local residents.” Lynch further explained that Republican apathy is long gone, and that the club has no more important short term goal than repositioning itself this year. “All our ED members should be Rockaway women and men.” Republican rejuvenation proceeds not only here but throughout the bor- ough. The club’s principal guest for the evening was to be newly-nominat- ed Queens County Republican leader Philip Ragusa. Phil, though, is not a professional politician but a CPA and this week—of all weeks—is his busiest; so, in his stead, he sent three represen- tatives, Vincent Tabone, Daniel Egers, 38 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES and Stephen Graves. place at 207 Grove Avenue in Vince, Dan, and Steve highlighted Cedarhurst. For more information or Phil’s first few months as county to register for any of these programs, leader: a new website, www.qgop.com; please call the JCC at 516-569-6733. better and more ongoing relations with To speak to Cathy Byrne, dial ext. 220; Queens media; much improved coun- Chana Pfeifer, ext. 213; Dee, ext. 203; tywide communications among party Linda Balch, ext. 211; Lisa Barnett, members; the development of a ext. 210; Lisa Stern, ext. 209; Mary Queens County Young Republican Sheffield, ext. 219; Gilda Tesser, ext. (YR) Club; resurgent Republican regis- 212; or Sheryl Wyszkowski, ext. 222. tration drives; and active candidate Meetings And Groups recruitment. Adult Singles with Disabilities. Dan noted that the inaugural event Monday, April 30, 7:00–9:00 p.m. Join of the reconstituted Queens County the JCC for an amazing evening with YR’s will be a cocktail party at Ben Cohen, the magician who will per- Bayside’s Bourbon Street restaurant, form incredible feats. Light refresh- 40-12 Bell Boulevard, on Thursday ments to be served. Fee $5. To register, May 3, 7:30–10:30 p.m. A portion of call Chana Pfeifer. the proceeds are expected to benefit Autistic Children and Their Families. the City Parks Foundation. “Any and Monthly social skills groups for children all young Republicans (39 years and of all ages on the ASD spectrum. younger),” Dan announced, “are invit- Monthly support groups for parents/ ed to this enjoyable event, with an grandparents with children on the ASD open bar and hors d’oeuvres. We’d spectrum. A support group for children like as big a crowd there as possible, who have an autistic sibling meets once since young people are the future of a week on Wednesdays, 5:30–6:30 p.m. our party.” Recreational programs for children on Vince noted in a press release that the ASD spectrum (music, art, physical the Senate version of a new bill education) meets once a week, (S.3684) to further protect New Wednesdays 5:30–6:30 p.m. Ongoing York’s elderly from vicious and brutal mentoring programs for children on the attacks is being stymied by Assembly ASD spectrum. On Sunday, May 6 at Leader Silver. “Please,” Vince said 11:00 a.m. see Beauty & the Beast at the “contact your elected Assembly repre- Stage Theater at 22 Hewlett Avenue in sentatives to speak out in support of Merrick. Free admission for children this bill…nicknamed the ‘Granny’ with special needs and their families. Bill.” Two elderly Queens women Pre-registration required. Tickets avail- were viciously mugged this winter, able on a first to call basis. To register, and in response this bill was spon- call Gilda Tesser. sored by State Senators Golden, Come Alive Social Day Care at Maltese, and Padavan. Congregation Sons of Israel. The pro- Vince, Dan, and Steve also speculat- gram takes place on Mondays and ed on future political races including Thursdays, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.; the the NYC council and NYC mayoral fee is $40. This is a social day program races, as well as state senate and, of for homebound, physically challenged course, U.S. presidential races. “Our older adults. It includes door-to-door number one priority,” Steve empha- transportation, kosher lunch, and sized, “is to improve and activities. Pre-registration is required; New York State governance…that is, to call Mary or Linda. elect Republicans. Chairman Ragusa, Enrichment Program for Holocaust therefore, has appointed frequent NY1 Survivors. Meets every Thursday at TV pundit and GOP consultant Robert 10:30 a.m. Call Lisa Barnett. Hornak to head a new committee, the L’chaim Club at Temple Gates Of Zion. candidate recruitment and develop- The program for older adults meets once ment committee, to recruit, support, a week on Wednesday at 322 N. Corona and assist Republican candidates in Avenue in Valley Stream, 1:00–3:00 p.m. the 2008 and 2009 election cycles.” It features exercise, lunch, and refresh- The busy evening continued with ments for older adults; call Linda. the RR’s next guest speaker and— Moving On Group Meeting on speaking of upcoming elections— Monday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. To reg- exciting developments on a local race. ister please call Lisa Stern. Rockaway Republican member Eric Multiple Sclerosis Exercise Program. Ulrich announced he will seek to The program features yoga, tai chi, and serve as Republican district leader. exercise to music for those with MS. It Eric promised to raise the profile of meets every Monday, 1:00–2:00 p.m. Republicanism—along with the RR For more information, call Cathy. club—as district leader. Many heads Ongoing Phase I/Bereavement nodded in agreement as he spoke Support Group. The initial stages of about communications, professional- bereavement can be a painful and ism, and “actions speaking louder lonely time. You may feel sad, aban- than words.” doned, angry, confused, or uncertain. Finally, RR chair George Greco Grief is both an emotional and a phys- raised the issue of the disgraceful and ical reaction. You are not alone in cop- continued SRO’ing of Rockaway’s ing with your grief. For further infor- beautiful homes. RR President Lynch mation, please contact Lisa Stern. announced future meetings will be Parkinson’s Support Group. A week- promoted in the local press and ly group takes place on Tuesdays, through e-mail. A big hand was given 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.; call Cathy. to all the evening’s speakers. ❖ Scrabble Players Club. A weekly group takes place on Mondays at 7:30 JCC Events And Programs p.m. Fee $5; call Sheryl Wyszkowski. The JCC of the Greater Five Towns Shalom Club at Temple Hillel. This announces the following programs. Unless otherwise noted, all events take Continued on Page 40 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 39 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Cooking Classes by Naomi tactics systems). The program will founded Ohr Halimud/The Multi- Continued from Page 39 Nachman. Monday, April 23: fantastic begin on Tuesday, May 15. Women: Sensory Learning Center, the only fish; Monday, May 7: chicken, seven 7:00–8:00 p.m., six sessions for a fee Orthodox school in the United States for program for older adults meets once a ways; Monday, May 14: dairy delights; of $75. Men: eight classes, 8:10– girls with dyslexia that utilizes the innova- week on Monday at 1000 Rosedale Monday, June 4: super summer salads. 9:10 p.m. for a fee of $100. For further tive Orton-Gillingham multi-sensory lan- Road, North Woodmere, 10:30 a.m.– Cooking classes are $45. All classes information or to register, please call guage arts approach, in grades 1 through 1:00 p.m. It features exercise, lunch, offered 10:00 a.m and 7:30 p.m. For Sheryl Wyszkowski. 8. Truly geared to help each pupil reach and a lecture for older adults; call Lisa further information or to register, Still Life in Pastels. Four Tuesdays, her full potential, this enriched program Stern for dates. please call Sheryl Wyszkowski. beginning May 15, 11:00 a.m.–noon. customizes a curriculum for every stu- Traumatic Brain Injury Program. Intermediate-Level Hebrew Ulpan. A Fee $80. No drawing experience dent at Ohr Halimud/The Multi-Sensory Promotes wellness and friendships new session will begin on Tuesday required. For further information or to Learning Center. while managing the difficult symptoms evening, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. Ten register, please call Sheryl Wyszkowski. ❖ Since its inception four years ago, of TBI. Meets once a week on classes, fee $180. For further informa- Ohr Halimud’s professional staff has Wednesdays, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., at tion or to register, please call Sheryl Ohr Halimud/The Multi-Sensory helped over 35 children learn to read. Sons of Israel. Pre-registration required; Wyszkowski. Learning Center: Helping Dyslexic That most of these children have con- call Chana Pfeifer or Lisa Barnett. Israeli Film Festival. May 14, 16, 30. Students Shine tinued on to be successful readers is a Education Save the dates! For further informa- By Rochelle Maruch Miller credit to Leah David, for whom Ohr Bridge. Learn to play eight tion or to register, please call Sheryl With determination, perseverance, Halimud is clearly a labor of love, and Mondays, starting April 23, 1:00– Wyszkowski. and, above all else, s’yata d’Shmaya, therein lies the story. 3:00 p.m.; the fee is $80. For further JUNIOR Enrichment Programs.For Leah David has dared to dream the As a toddler, it was apparent that information or to register, please call children grades K through 9. The JCC impossible dream and single-handedly Gittel Bracha was a bright child. Sheryl Wyszkowski. offers a variety of classes after school bring it to fruition. Indeed, after a long Inquisitive and alert, she expressed a Cake Decorating by Gitti Allman. and Friday afternoons such as Super search in pursuit of academic excel- keen interest in her surroundings, often Tuesday, May 1: springtime entertain- Sports, Karate, Tutus & Taps, Hip lence for her own daughter, the inde- far beyond her years. Consider her ing. Cake decorating classes are $36. Hop, Tons of Talents, and many more. fatigable Mrs. David decided to take query, as a two-year-old one evening, All classes offered 10:00 a.m. and For further information or to register, matters into her own hands and ensure following a bedtime story, while taking 7:30 p.m. For further information or to please call Dee Greenberg. that no child is left behind. notice of the darkened sky: “Mommy, register, please call Sheryl Wyszkowski. KAPAP with Brett Halem (defensive Treading where no one had before, she when it’s dark outside, why does the moon follow me wherever I go?” As a long-awaited and much beloved only child, Gittel Bracha has always been the apple of her parents’ eyes, and a source of great joy and nachas— an adorable, sweet, and happy child. Entering first grade was a milestone event, but something was clearly not right. While Gittel Bracha’s classmates were learning how to read, she just was- n’t “getting it.” But why? Searching for answers, Mrs. David, who holds a B.S. and an M.A., spent the next two years meeting with Gittel Bracha’s teachers and principals in a futile attempt to determine the source of her daughter’s inability to read. The school, a “good,” traditional Bais Yaakov, placed Gittel Bracha in their resource room—a remedial classroom, where she and other “resource room” students were taught by two of the school’s “best and brightest” recent graduates, who had completed their seminary year in Yerushalayim. Mrs. David recalls both teachers as being enthusiastic about teaching, but possessing neither the training nor the experience in special education. To the academic detriment of their students, the school’s principals had assigned the young teachers to the resource room, so they could gain teaching experience. Still frustrated by her inability to read, Gittel Bracha got by with memo- rization. With summer fast approach- ing, Leah hired a teacher to tutor Gittel Bracha, investing hundreds of dollars, while her daughter invested an inordinate amount of time and effort, only to be frustrated by the lack of progress. Although she was about to enter third grade, Gittel Bracha still “didn’t get it.” While her friends were discussing their favorite chapter books, the highly intelligent youngster still could not read. Unable to pick up on sounds, letters, and words, Gittel Bracha was becoming increasingly frustrated. “She resented me and got upset because she realized she wasn’t getting it,” her mother recalls. A private evaluator determined that Gittel Bracha had dyslexia, a neurologi-

Continued on Page 43 40 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 41 A Five Towns Simcha Photos By Ira Thomas Creations

Several members of the Ohel Sara Amen Group came to share in the simcha of member Judy Rubin and her husband, Allen, at the March 1st b’ris of their first grandchild, Tzvi Rosner. Mazel Tov to the proud parents, Devorah and Emmanuel Rosner, and the entire mishpachot on both sides of the ocean. Tzvi officially became the possession of his parents following the beautiful Pidyon HaBen at Occasions on March 25! May we all continue to be zocheh to share in each other’s simchas.

42 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Great Neck Singers Spark Hit group was booked to perform at Great in the studio but on stage as well. “I Continued from Page 40 Jewish Music Group Neck Synagogue. “A lot of people say think what makes us different from a Growing up in Great Neck, Stuart they’ll help you, but they really backed lot of other a cappella groups is that cal language-processing disorder that Mayer and Avi Ishofsky would sing in it up,” Mayer said of the Great Neck we have a certain sound on our CD typically causes one to mix up the order front of their families for dozens of community. “It meant a lot.” and maintain that same sound when of letters and words. Leah managed to people. Now the two sing for thou- ’s latest release, Encore, features we perform live,” Mayer said. “We are find one Orthodox school for dyslexic sands as part of Six13, the hit Jewish a Mayer on a spirited original version of happy to do performances because it students, located near her Brooklyn cappella group, which released its sec- D’ror Yikra, while Ishofsky uses his gives us a chance to show that.” home—but it was for boys only. ond album this week. The all-male booming bass to solo on Lo Yisa Goy.He The group’s first CD was nominated Since there was no school in exis- group has caught fire, performing at developed the original tune for that song for “Best Religious Album of The Year” tence that addressed the needs of Shea Stadium, Dolphin Stadium, and with musical director Mike Boxer. as part of the 2006 Contemporary A Orthodox girls, Leah David decided Mayor Bloomberg’s Chanukah party in Mayer said he is excited about the Cappella Recording Awards. Mayer sang to take matters into her own hands Crown Heights. The group is even new CD, which is distributed by a rousing Kol Mekadesh, while Ishofsky’s and establish one on her own—but booked to perform in Panama. Sameach Music, because it demon- smooth rendition of the hit Uf Gozal was only after conducting extensive Six13 got one of its first gigs with a strates how the group can continue its research on dyslexia and on any exist- little help from their friends when the reputation for sounding great not only Continued on Page 44 ing curricula and programs that would conform to her standards of academic excellence. With the appro- bation of leading gedolim and rabban- im, including Rabbi Chaim Pincus Scheinberg, shlita, the school’s rab- binic advisor, she founded Ohr Halimud—“The light of learning.” In her capacity as executive director and founder of Ohr Halimud, the per- sonable Mrs. David professes to wear- ing “many hats,” handling her many duties with aplomb. Says she, “I wear every hat you could possibly think of—principal, administrator, fundrais- er, advertiser, maintenance…and all without a salary!” Ultimately, Mrs. David would like to see Ohr Halimud become an accept- able alternative for students with dyslexia, which is said to affect about 10 percent of the population. If neces- sary, she is prepared to extend Ohr Halimud through high school, but the goal is to eventually mainstream the student. “Every child receives a solid foundation and the tools necessary to be able to succeed.” At Ohr Halimud, each student has at least one hour each day of private Orton-Gillingham instruction in read- ing and language arts. Incorporated into the schedule are extracurricular activities such as photography, yoga, cooking, and drama. It doesn’t take a village to raise or teach a child, but it does take an extraordinary and compassionate individual like Mrs. Leah David. In his keynote address at “A Night of Chizuk,” sponsored by Ohr Halimud four years ago, Rabbi Dovid Gold- wasser’s central message was that in these turbulent times, Jews must pur- sue a roadmap for excellence in the ways we bring up our children, the future leaders of Klal Yisrael. Rabbi Goldwasser singled Mrs. David out for her trailblazing efforts. “She shows the importance of teach- ing even one student. She will turn over the world in order to reach that one stu- dent.” In describing Mrs. David, Rabbi Goldwasser said that she strongly espouses and advocates a philosophy that “each and every daughter deserves to have a tailor-made chinuch that will fit her character, her personality and the mode she needs to learn in… Believe in all children, believe in their greatness, in the abilities they have, and in those that we don’t know they possess.” This is the philosophy of Ohr Halimud—where every child is a shin- ing star. For additional information about Ohr Halimud/The Multi-Sensory Learning Center, please call 718-972- 0170. Every child can succeed! ❖ 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 43 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS with their specific voice-part to learn. not attempt to be comprehensive in its Rabbi Wolowik, “that we invite anyone Continued from Page 43 Demonstrating its versatility, Six13 is coverage of any era; rather, it tries to interested to attend the first lesson the rare group that can make a bar or spark curiosity and to engage students free, with no obligation.” a fan favorite at concerts. The fusion of bat mitzvah or wedding memorable and emotionally. Flashbacks in Jewish What can students gain by taking traditional Jewish music with elements also get up on a stage and perform in a History appeals to the intellect by this course? A chance to discover of rock, jazz, hip-hop, and Israeli sound concert that can rival a rock band. introducing the impassioned debate of where they came from and how they made for a formidable combination. “It brings me a lot of joy to sing historians over what really happened, survived countless persecutions to get Mayer is a controller for a hedge Jewish music, whether it’s in a small at times even casting students directly here, to experience the wonder of fund in Manhattan and Ishofsky works venue or a huge venue,” said Mayer, into the historian’s role as they are Jewish survival and reflect back on the locally as the director of business who also serves as a chazzan for Rosh asked to interpret primary texts. The past, to face the future with renewed development for 877spirits, a world- Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Six13 is course touches the heart, as students hope and inspiration, and to learn the wide gift delivery service that special- looking forward to a possible encore are shown that history is about people secrets that will help make that future izes in fine goods. So, with their busy performance in Great Neck as well as just like them, with hopes, dreams, brighter and more meaningful. day jobs, how do they find time to sing, other spots across the country. Visit and challenges. The Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) practice, and record? www.six13.net for information about “We live in an increasingly global is the adult education arm of Chabad- “It’s definitely tough,” Ishofksy said. the group and to hear clips. ❖ community, where people with differ- Lubavitch. JLI’s classes and programs, “Things can get pretty hectic, ing views are forced to interact more now offered in over 250 locations in but…when something is really worth ‘Flashbacks In Jewish History’ than at any other time in human histo- 200 cities nationwide, as well as inter- the time, you make the time. I’m glad At Chabad JLI ry,” says Rabbi Wolowik. “So I’m excit- national locations (including Australia, to have the opportunity to sing with The Rohr Jewish Learning Institute ed to explore with the students how Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, good friends and make music that res- is set to launch an intriguing new his- Jews have survived history with their Denmark, Finland, Holland, South onates with people.” tory course at over 200 affiliates across culture and traditions intact.” Africa, Sweden, the United Kingdom, The group has set itself apart with a the globe. But unlike traditional histo- As cries of “jihad” resound through and Venezuela), have been attended by sound that mimics real music, thanks to ry courses where students focus on the Middle East today, one could be nearly 40,000 people since JLI’s cre- vocal percussion done by Boxer, as well dates, names, and events, “Flashbacks reminded of the radical Almohads ation in 1998. Many others participate as members Shlomo Ressler and Moshe in Jewish History” looks beneath the sweeping through Spain, leaving virtually through online message boards Cohn. Boxer, a nationally renowned surface at what history means to the destruction in their wake. On encoun- and other Internet-based channels. expert in arranging a cappella, has guid- Jews as a people. tering religious and cultural intolerance Every course offered by the JLI is ed the group in developing its distinct “Jews have had to grapple with the in many parts of the world today, we not synchronized so that lessons are style, which appeals to all ages. Ressler challenge of maintaining their identity infrequently experience déjà vu, an offered concurrently in all locations. and Cohn bring experience from singing in environments that were foreign and uncanny feeling that we have lived This not only has helped to create a in Beat’achon, the group that brought often hostile,” explained Rabbi through all of this before. Flashbacks in true global learning community, it is a Jewish a cappella to the forefront of Shneur Z. Wolowik, director of Jewish History shows students how we unique feature that sets JLI apart from Jewish music. Alan Zeitlin, who went to Chabad of the Five Towns and local can learn from the past to better guide other such programs. Please visit college with Mayer, Ishofksy, and Boxer Jewish Learning Institute instructor. and direct our future. www.myjli.com for up-to-the-minute at Binghamton University, wrote and “By probing the wonder of Jewish sur- This exciting new course will be information about Flashbacks in sang the rock anthem Son, about an vival, we hope our students will be led offered at Chabad of the Five Towns Jewish History. JLI courses are pre- Israeli father who hopes his son will to think critically about their own for six Wednesdays, starting April 25. sented in the Five Towns under the return safely from war. strategies for interacting successfully The course costs $99, which includes auspices of Chabad of the Five Towns. Six13 also makes use of technology with the greater culture.” a beautiful student textbook. “We are For further information, please con- as Boxer sends the members audio files Flashbacks in Jewish History does so sure that you will enjoy it,” says tact Shainy at 516-295-2478. ❖

44 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES LETTERS TO THE EDITOR wrote last week’s article “Why can’t we to pick out the frum boys in the crowd local frum youths who were caught Continued from Page 31 be nice to one another?” This article by how they act and speak, and not and arrested by the police driving in a really struck a chord with me and just by the yarmulke on their heads. car they had stolen from a local shul. less, and toxic gas. Because it is impos- inspired me to do the same. I urge the yeshivos and parents to These youths are also linked to several sible to see, taste, or smell the toxic There is a big problem brewing please focus greater attention on the home burglaries and other offenses. fumes, CO can kill you before you are within the yeshiva world and it’s time wise words of Pirkei Avos, which makes The media is all but screaming of aware it is in your home. At lower levels for the yeshivos and parents to take many references to derech eretz, issues in our schools, students being of exposure, CO causes mild effects notice of it (and hopefully take action). including the most famous “derech passed to higher grades regardless of that are often mistaken for the flu. Before a yeshiva or rebbi can focus on eretz kadmah l’Torah”—proper social their abilities, and of outright bullying These symptoms include headaches, learning another blatt of Gemara, I conduct needs to precede the learning going on in our classes. In our own dizziness, disorientation, nausea, and encourage them to take stock of the of Torah itself. I don’t, chas v’shalom, yeshivos, students are bullied shame- fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can derech eretz and midos of their stu- mean to imply that most frum boys are lessly and often right under the nose of vary greatly from person to person dents (or lack thereof). Are they acting this way, but I’m concerned that teachers and administrators who don’t depending on age, overall health, and respectful and nice to one another? too many are—and this seems to be see it happening. the concentration and length of expo- Are they being kind and sensitive? Do going unchecked. If you’re a yeshiva When school principals and their sure. The best safeguard is to install they bully certain kids in the class? rebbi or involved in running a yeshiva administration turn a blind eye to and regularly maintain a CO What takes place during recess? Do in any way, please pay closer attention these problems, they are giving tacit detector/alarm in the hallway near every they include all the boys in the game, to this. Parents, please try to learn permission for the abuse to continue. separate sleeping area of the home. or are many kids insensitively left out? firsthand what may be going on during Some might say “So what! Children Make sure the detector cannot be cov- What takes place on the school bus on the bus ride or during the yeshiva day, should learn to stand up for them- ered up by furniture or draperies.” the way to yeshiva…or after a day of and please use this to start a discus- selves.” In an ideal world that would be There is a mitzvah to not “stand idly learning in yeshiva? Are they behaving sion with your son(s) to clearly sepa- great, but the reality is if we don’t by on the blood of your brother.” This like good frum boys are supposed to rate right from wrong. champion for our own children, who certainly applies to ourselves and pre- behave, or are they making a chillul Let us all please work a little harder will? If we don’t parent our own chil- cious families as well! One of the great- Hashem by screaming out of the bus to ensure we raise our children and dren, who will? How many youths are est mitzvos is protecting and guarding window, or worse yet, throwing things our talmidim according to the beauti- we losing today—kids who aren’t just our health so we may properly live to out of the bus window while proudly ful words of Pirkei Avos. falling off the derech, but are outright serve Hashem and fulfill our purposes wearing their yarmulkes? Signed, walking away from it because of the in this world. May Hashem protect us While on the topic of wearing a yar- Another Concerned Parent blatant dual standards they see? Our from all seen and unseen dangers, and mulke, I fear that many frum boys children are clearly seeing a case of bless of all His children with long life today do not think about the meaning Dear Editor, “do as I say and not as I do.” and health to serve Him and stay close of their yarmulke as they put it on their Recent stories in your paper and I know of one young man who is not to His Torah and mitzvos! precious heads in the morning, or the others (local and national) have only a great student, but loves Torah, Hashem yishmor tzeischa u’voecha meaning of placing their tzitzis over brought to light issues the children of mitzvos, and school. Correction—loved me‘attah v’ad olam. their heads. Instead, I’m concerned our community are facing today. Many all these things, until he and his par- Rabbi Yoni and too many just go through the motions, in the frum community incorrectly ents were ignored for the last two years Mrs. Rikki Posnick not realizing that these wonderful assume that because they live a “Torah when they complained to his school actions mean they need to first and life,” their children are immune to the principal of a bullying problem. Now Dear Editor, foremost have midos and act in a man- ills of society around them. Nothing this boy is literally sick to his stomach I applaud the courage and convic- ner suitable for a good frum, ehrlich could be further from the truth. Just tion of the concerned parent who Jewish boy. We should all easily be able recently we read and heard of three Continued on Page 46

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 45 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR where we are able to pray as we wish, less in your school or among the read- upon us. The holy words of our Continued from Page 45 have our children attend the schools of ers of the 5TJT? chachamim penetrate the soul and urge our choosing, and to wear our My family spent Pesach at a popular us to grow with care and compassion. and is losing weight rapidly, causing yarmulkes proudly. In fact, all these Catskills resort that hosted over 1,000 We are the messengers of Hashem on his parents and his doctors to be con- wonderful privileges are guaranteed by guests. I placed some flyers (re: calling this world to deal kindly and benevo- cerned. He now dreads getting up and the Constitution of this fine country. White House for Pollard) on the main lently, offering hope and comfort to going to school. He loathes the We need to protect our children and desk in the lobby to encourage interest each other. We are capable and have the prospect of being forced to face the hold accountable unresponsive admin- and participation. Upon striking up capacity to make a difference!! same bully day in and day out—who is istrators who would rather pretend conversations on the subject, a sprin- Some humble suggestions of how to in almost all the same classes this boy there is no problem than to face it kling of comments were, “You do know help: Make phone calls to the White attends throughout the day. The head on. When our children think he is guilty”; “There’s more to this than House, put the White House phone school has talked to the bully and rea- back to their years in school, those meets the eye”; “He put America in a number in your cell phone as speed soned with him, yet no significant memories should be pleasant and precarious and dangerous situation”; dial 1, include Yehonoson ben changes have been made. bring smiles of happiness, not the “Why should we help if the Israeli gov- Malkah’s name in a Tehillim list and in The victim’s parents have gone shudders of memories they would ernment is not interested?” “Since Shemoneh Esreih, encourage family through the proper channels—having rather forget. when do phone calls change the members to do the same, learn specif- meetings upon meetings with the prin- Respectfully, President’s mind”; “I’m not an ically for his z’chus, write letters to the cipal and administration with promises A Concerned Grandparent activist”; “There are more important White House (follow in the steps of of investigation and action. Promises things for the Jewish people to be con- our gedolim), include a short article in that for all intents and purposes are Dear Editor, cerned with”; etc. When I retorted the school’s newsletter about your empty and void of any changes. So yet After reading about the sad and with, “He’s our brother; wouldn’t you class’s activities on behalf of Pollard, again, the victim is left to fend for him- poignant visit made by Shmuel Sackett do this for a family member who has creative writing programs can include self in an environment that should be to Jonathan Pollard, I was propelled been incarcerated for over 22 years?” letters to Jonathan in jail, etc., etc. a safe one, but is not. again into a whirlpool of action. The the honest response was, “Yes, you are Find the time, show you care, and The bully, it seems, has more right entire episode got me thinking, Are we right but I’m not comfortable calling; deepen the commitment to our broth- to privacy and protection than do his doing enough within our ability to I’ve never done it before!” er in need. The sefirah period is an victims. The victim can be moved out truly help Jonathan Pollard? The week A family member of mine is a rebbi in auspicious time to create relationships of the class, away from his friends, and before Pesach, almost every school in a prominent mesivtah in the New York of respect, love, and care. his beloved rebbi, but not the bully. the metropolitan area sent out inform- area. The rosh yeshiva spoke about the Mrs. Caren V. May The victim can change schools if he ative flyers requesting students and plight of Pollard and this rebbi imple- Brooklyn must, but the bully will be allowed to parents to call the White House and to mented a plan. Almost daily following attend school unencumbered by the include Pollard in their daily tefillos.I breakfast, he marches his class into the code of conduct each student and par- gave a rah-rah speech to my second- school’s office, where phone lines are ent was required to sign at the begin- grade class before departing for Pesach available, and has each talmid make a WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? ning of the school year. break, to perform this special mitzvah call. The first time they were nervous There was a wonderful piece that of pidyon shevuyim together with their and apprehensive. Subsequently they WE WANT TO KNOW! was circulated via e-mail around parents. When the students returned encouraged each other. Will these Thanksgiving. It was from a frum per- after Pesach and I asked how many phone calls make a difference in freeing E-MAIL US AT son who proudly wrote that at called the White House, two students Pollard? Beats me—but it will make a [email protected] Thanksgiving, they are personally responded—less than 10 percent of difference in the caller. thankful to be living in this country the class. Was the percentage more or The season of learning Pirkei Avos is

46 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Hachnasas Sefer Torah In Israel

Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, shlita, with Sheldon Margules of Lawrence at a hachnasas sefer Torah in Jerusalem. The sefer was dedicated by Sarki and Elchonon Galbut of Miami. Pictured in center is their son, Simcha, grandson of Sheldon and Gitti Margules.

Cedar wood... and hyssop (Vayikra 14:4)

Because he has exalted himself like a cedar... he should humble himself like a grass. (Midrash Tanchuma)

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 47 Syria Threatens Violence Holocaust Denial And Hate Over Arab Plan In New PA School Textbooks

Syrian Information Minister Mohsen view he gave on Syrian TV on BY HANA LEVI JULIAN the World in the 20th Century” Bilal threatened to return the Golan Saturday, quoted by SANA (the Syrian includes extensive information on the Heights to Syrian hands “by way of Arab News Agency). He said that all The Palestinian Authority is system- events of World War II—except those resistance if Israel [rejects] the Arab the Syrian people stood behind atically teaching its children to deny peace initiative.” Bilal did not elaborate, President Bashar Assad’s leadership the Holocaust ever happened, accord- but some analysts raised the possibility for the achievement of just and com- ing to a report by the Palestinian of either a full scale conventional war prehensive peace in the region. Media Watch. or a terror campaign in the Golan as He defined this “just and comprehen- The new twelfth grade textbooks In fact, the one of the means to undertake a sive peace” as the restoration of the were written by the Center for mukawama (“resistance” in Arabic). “whole occupied Syrian Golan,” what Developing Palestinian Curricula, an teachings deny After saying that “Syria wishes to remained of the Lebanese territories organization which is supported by revive the peace process with Israel under occupation, and the establishment foreign funding. The textbooks, which with the help of U.S. and Russian of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as bear a special “thanks” to Belgium, Israel’s right to mediators,” Bilal immediately added a its capital. Bilal also demanded the were introduced by the PA Ministry of threat, saying that “if Israel [rejects] recognition of the Palestinian refugees’ Higher Education at the end of 2006. the Arab peace initiative, the only way right to return to their homeland. Not surprisingly, the new materials exist altogether. to get the Golan Heights back would While Bilal echoed the tenets of the which will be used to guide young PA be the way of resistance.” Arab peace initiative, rejected by Israel Arab minds were found to educate the Bilal, speaking at a press conference wholesale, his demands went beyond children toward Jewish genocide, in Damascus, was referring to the Arab the more recent Saudi initiative, which both virtually and physically. relating to Jews. peace initiative of 2002. Bilal’s belliger- remains vague on the question of the The textbooks are diametrically Former PA Foreign Minister ent remarks followed on the heels of a right of return. Jerusalem did not fully opposed to the concept of peaceful co- Mahmoud A-Zahar, who is now a visit by Syrian-born American business- accept the Saudi initiative either, say- existence with Jews in the State of member of the Palestinian Legislative man Abe Suleiman to Jerusalem last ing only that it contained a basis for Israel, according to the PMW report. Council, was quoted recently in a week. Suleiman promised the Knesset’s further negotiations. In fact, the teachings deny Israel’s Hamas newspaper as saying, Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee During the Second Lebanon War, right to exist altogether, referring to “Germany is imprisoned by a complex that “peace with Syria could be achieved Syria made peace overtures by agree- the founding of the Jewish State as a of the so-called ‘Holocaust’ and they within six months.” ing to “unconditional” negotiations “catastrophe unprecedented in history, suffer from it.” It is also important to George Jabour, a Syrian member of with Israel. However, as soon as a when the Zionist gangs stole Palestine note that PA Chairman and Fatah parliament, said Suleiman was speak- cease-fire was achieved and Syria no and expelled its people from their leader Mahmoud Abbas, touted by the ing on his own behalf and was in no longer feared possible engagement cities, their villages, their lands and United States and other Western way affiliated with the Syrian leader- with the IDF as part of its campaign their houses…” nations as a “moderate” force among ship. “Suleiman has zero credibility in against Hezbollah, the Syrian leader- The new PA history books also make terrorists, denied central elements of the eyes of Syrians,” Jabour said. Bilal ship denied any willingness for uncon- no mention of the Holocaust, though the genocide of the Jews in his doctor- echoed Jabour’s statements in an inter- ditional negotiations. (JPost.com) ❖ the textbook “History of the Arabs and al dissertation. (Arutz Sheva) ❖

48 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Observing Yom HaShoah Photos By Ivan H. Norman

Above: HAFTR choir and Cantor Yitzchak Freund Above, right: Writing competition winner. Top, right: Guest speaker Rabbi Jacob Schachter.

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 49 to the way in which the Nazis could Recalling The Man Who Inspired Hitler best persecute the Jews—slowly and in stages, so as to catch them unaware of the next stage of persecution. BY DAVID BEDEIN ic who inspired Adolf Hitler with the Eichmann kept meticulous records of Eichmann offered reciprocal hospi- idea of jihad was none other than the his meetings with the Mufti. The tality for the Mufti in Nazi Germany. The 27th day of Nissan in the Jewish Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin Al- Palestinian Arab leader of that genera- In 1939, with the outbreak of World calendar marks the day when the Husseini. He did not want masses of tion taught Eichmann about the phi- War II, the British government, then Warsaw Ghetto uprising began against exiled Jews to wind up in the land of losophy of jihad. presiding over the Mandatory govern- the Nazis in 1943. This day was there- ment in Palestine, expelled the Mufti. fore selected as Holocaust and Heroism He chose to travel to Fascist Italy and Remembrance Day in Israel—the day The Mufti instructed Eichmann as to the way then to Berlin, where he remained for on which Israel would remember the the remainder of World War II. Hitler mass murder of Jews in World War II, provided the Mufti with a radio station but also remember those who fought in which the Nazis could best persecute the in Berlin, from which he propagated back against the Nazis and their allies. the Nazi message in the Arabic lan- To paraphrase the question asked on Jews—slowly and in stages, so as to catch guage. The Mufti was assigned the Passover two weeks ago, people often task of organizing a Muslim contingent ask why this persecution of Jews in them unaware. of the Nazi murder machine, which Christian countries was different than killed Jews throughout Yugoslavia. other persecutions. After all, Jews had The Mufti obtained Hitler’s assur- suffered persecution in many Israel, which he claimed as a future Journalist Maurice Pearlman, who ance in November 1941 that, after Christian lands over the centuries. Arab country devoid of Jews. reviewed the records of Eichmann’s dealing with the Jews of Europe, Hitler The answer? This time, the Nazis Indeed, in 1936, the Mufti wel- meetings with the Mufti at the trials would treat the Jews of the Middle incorporated the Muslim idea of comed Hitler’s deputy, Adolf for Nazi leader in Nuremberg, wrote a East similarly. Husseini promised the jihad—the impulse for total destruc- Eichmann, to his office at the Supreme book entitled The Mufti of Jerusalem, support of the Arabs for the Nazi war tion and complete annihilation, in the Islamic Council based at the Palace published in 1947. Pearlman noted effort. In Berlin, Husseini used the spirit of a Holy War. The Muslim cler- Hotel in the center of Jerusalem, where that the Mufti instructed Eichmann as money confiscated from Jewish victims to finance pro-Nazi activities in the Middle East and to raise 20,000 Muslim troops in Bosnia. The Hanjar S.S. Waffen murdered tens of thou- sands of Serbs and Jews in the Balkans, and served as police auxiliary in Hungary. Heinrich Himmler, the administrator of the Nazi death machine, brought the Mufti on numerous tours of the death camps. Most recently, a book was written about the Zunderkommandos, whose task it was to remove the dead Jews from the crematoria. One of those Zunderkommandos remarked in an interview with a researcher that he wit- nessed a man with a turban whom the Nazi camp commandant brought to witness the gassing of the Jews and the removal of the bodies from the gas chambers, the stripping of their valu- ables and the burning of their remains. The Nazi told the Zunderkommando that this was the Mufti of Jerusalem. During the final months of the war, the Mufti actually lived in Hitler’s bunker. Although arrested by the French army, the Mufti was somehow able to escape to Cairo. He was later sentenced to death in absentia in Yugoslavia. After Adolf Eichmann was abducted and brought to Jerusalem for trial in 1961, Golda Meir, then-Foreign Minister of Israel, demanded that the Mufti also be brought to trial for the same crime of genocide against the Jewish people. Yet, the Mufti’s legacy did not end when he escaped the defeated Nazi Germany. Upon arrival in Cairo, he resumed the role that he had left, as the spiritual leader—in exile—of the Palestinian Arab community. The Mufti played a key role in the decision of the Arab League to reject the United Nations partition plan in 1947. Instead, the Mufti rallied Arabs throughout the Arab world to apply Hitler’s concept of the Final Solution, to wipe out the Jews in their nascent state of Israel. The Mufti raised a new generation of young Palestinian Arabs to form a new Muslim Brotherhood to take up the cause of a lifelong effort to eradi- cate the Jewish state. The Mufti also 50 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES became a surrogate father to a young man who took the name Yasser Arafat, a name given to him by the Mufti in memory of Yasser Bin-Ammar, a cele- brated Muslim warrior and companion of the prophet. The relationship between the Mufti and Arafat was related by Arafat’s brother Fatchi to Ha’aretz in December, 1996. The Mufti died in July 1974, one month after the PLO National Council met and ratified the Mufti’s “strategy of stages”—to conquer Palestine in phases. It is the strategic methodology that the PLO uses to this day. With the outbreak of what became known as the “second intifada”in October 2000, a theme that repeated itself on official Palestinian Authority television was academic lectures bro- ken up by martial music, to highlight the comparison between Yasser Arafat and the late Haj Amin Al-Husseini. Viewers were told how Al-Husseini opposed the Jews in Jerusalem and how he stood up to the then-world power Great Britain—a model for Arafat’s struggle in the modern era.

U.S. Holocaust Museum Ignores The Mufti Boston attorney Charles Morse has made an issue of the fact that the U.S. Holocaust Museum simply ignores any mention of the Arab or Muslim role in the Holocaust, as well as the link between Nazism and current Islamic extremism. The museum has programs on the role of Christianity in promoting anti-Semitism; yet, nothing on Islam. There is no mention of the Mufti Al- Husseini in the museum’s permanent exhibit, nor is there any reference to the Mufti in the millions of files in the U.S. Holocaust Museum. In contrast, there are 33 large files on the Mufti in the Yad VaShem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. Walter Reich, who served as the direc- tor of the U.S. Holocaust Museum from 1995 to 1998, was quoted in on February 9, 2006 as saying that “a focus on Arab and Muslim anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial at the Holocaust museum… would be, I believe, appropriately within the museum’s mandate. Indeed, it would be strange if the museum did not focus on such anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial, given the museum’s devotion not only to the Holocaust, but also to con- temporary genocides and given the prevalence in contemporary Arab rheto- ric of not only the kind of anti-Semitism that helped lead to the Holocaust, but also the calls for genocide that are aimed at the Jews of Israel.” Reich lost his position at the U.S. Holocaust Museum when he objected to the overture of President Bill Clinton’s Middle East advisor, Dennis Ross, who suggested that Yasser Arafat, the protégé of the Mufti, be brought as an honored guest to the Museum. (Arutz Sheva) ❖

Historical note: Following the recent passing of Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal, one of the files discovered in his library was a record of his pursuit of the Mufti of Jerusalem in the late 1940s, after the Mufti escaped punishment for his war crimes. That file is now being translated and edited for publication.

David Bedein is bureau chief of the Israel Resource News Agency, located in Beit Agron International Press Center, Jerusalem. 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 51 52 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES one’s place in the world. resent the ordinary garbage that we Tzara‘as is the condition in which lug through life, the run-of-the mill this crucial balance in disrupted, in negative traits and experiences which which the pendulum of the soul actually have the positive function of ascends in its ratzo arc but fails to challenging us and provoking our swing back in shov. The will escapes finest talents and most potent ener- the self but fails to return, leaving gies. It is only when the white hairs behind a vacuum in which all sorts are caused by the white patch that of undesirable elements can now something serious is afoot. Such a From The Chassidic Masters take root like weeds in an abandoned condition indicates that the person garden. has run away with his escapist impuls- This is the significance of the white es so high and so far that he has com- The Runaway Soul patches and the white hairs that are pletely abandoned his commitments the symptoms of tzara‘as. A patch of to life and productivity, leaving behind white skin indicates that life and vital- a hollow and lifeless self that is a The Torah sections of Tazria anced pendulum; like the contraction ity have departed from (this part of) breeding ground for what is worst in (Vayikra 12–13) and Metzora (14–15) and expansion of a smoothly beating the body. Still, a white patch alone human nature. discuss the laws of tzara‘as, a spiritu- heart. The constraints of our place in does not mean that the will’s failure to Hence the law that a white hair is a al illness whose identifying mark was the world, the finiteness of our nature settle has resulted in any negative symptom of tzara‘as only when the a white patch or patches appearing and body, the boundaries of our very developments in the character and white patch precedes the white hair, on the skin of a person, on the walls being—these impel us to escape behavior of the person. But when we indicating that this dead growth is the of a home, or on a cloth or leather them, to strive for the unbounded and see white hairs sprouting in the white result of a certain area of the person’s garment. the infinite. But our very escape patch—when we see dead things feed- life having been drained of its vitality. Not every white patch indicates brings us to a place from which we ing on this dead place—we have a full- tzara‘as. There are several secondary better appreciate the beauty and blown case of tzara‘as. Two Visions Of Man symptoms that determine whether the necessity of our existence. Thus the On the other hand, the existence of What is the root cause of tzara‘as? person (or house or garment) should ratzo peaks and provokes a counterac- white hairs, in and of themselves, do be declared tamei (impure). In the tion of shov, of return to oneself and not indicate tzara‘as. These might rep- Continued on Page 54 human body, one of the signs of tzara‘as is if the white patch subse- quently caused (at least) two hairs in its area to turn white. Regarding this law, there is a remarkable passage in the Talmud that recounts a debate tak- ing place in the “Academy of Heaven”: It was debated in the Academy of Heaven: If the white patch precedes the white hair, it is impure; if the white hair precedes the white patch, it is pure; but what if there is doubt (as to which came first)? The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: “It is pure.” The entire Academy of Heaven said: “It is impure.” Said they: “Who shall decide it for us? Rabbah bar Nachmeini. For Rabbah bar Nachmeini had declared: ‘I am singular in the laws of tzara‘as…’” They dispatched a messenger [to bring him to heaven]… Said [Rabbah]: “Tahor! Tahor!—Pure! Pure!” (Talmud, Bava Metzia 86a)

Flight From Self To understand the meaning of this debate between the Holy One and the Academy of Heaven—and why a mor- tal human being was called upon to decide between them—we must first understand the nature of the tzara‘as disease in general, and the significance of the white patch and the white hair in particular. Chassidic teaching explains that the human soul is driven by two con- trary forces: the drive to run or escape (ratzo), and the drive to settle (shov). Every time we are overcome by excite- ment, love, ambition, or yearning, we are running—escaping the self to reach for something greater, more beautiful, and perfect than it. Whenever we experience awe, humil- ity, devotion, and commitment, we are settling—affirming our connection to our existence; to our place in the world and our mission in life. Ratzo drives us to climb a mountain, shov to build a home; ratzo to pray, shov to do a mitzvah. In the spiritually healthy soul, the will vacillates between ratzo and shov like the rise and fall of a well-bal- 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 53 INSIGHTS ON THE TORAH which we can relate only as something that are encompassing, meaning that sense of reality and selfhood, while Continued from Page 53 mystical or spiritual; something that is they are beyond the parameters of our from the perspective of the encom- outside of ourselves. understanding. So He, too, relates to us passing light, which transcends the Ratzo is the escape from self, while Of course, the Divine essence is nei- via these two channels, making Himself parameters of our existence, our reali- shov is the return to self. It would ther “filling” nor “encompassing.” available to us via rational and appre- ty has no true validity and our sense of therefore seem that tzara‘as—ratzo Ultimately, G-d’s relationship with our hensible media (e.g., the laws of self is little more than an illusion. without shov—derives from excessive existence cannot be defined as internal nature), as well as through mystical and The “Academy of Heaven” is an selflessness. or external—it is neither and both, for spiritual vectors. allusion to the filling light, while “The In truth, however, the very opposite Holy One” (kedushah, holiness, mean- is the case. Ratzo is what the soul ing transcendence) connotes the desires to do, while shov is what the encompassing light of G-d. So regard- soul is committed to do. Escapist ing the case in which there is doubt as behavior is the ultimate self-indul- Ratzo drives us to climb a to whether the white hair came before gence, while settling down is the ulti- or after the white patch, the “Academy mate submission. Tzara‘as, then, mountain, shov to build a home; of Heaven” is inclined to declare this a derives from a lack of humility; from case of tzara‘as. For this is the Divine the failure to yield one’s own will to perspective on man that recognizes the will of one’s Creator. ratzo to pray, shov to do a mitzvah. man’s selfishness. If tzara‘as is a possi- This explains the aforementioned bility, we must suspect that it has debate between The Holy One and the indeed occurred. academy of heaven. The Kabbalists “The Holy One,” however, sees man speak of two types of Divine energy the Divine reality is beyond such dis- There are numerous differences as an essentially selfless being. From that nourish our existence: a Divine tinctions and characterizations. But G-d between these two modes of Divine the standpoint of the encompassing “light that fills the worlds,” entering desired to relate to us in a manner that energy and their effects upon us, dis- light, tzara‘as is an anomaly. If there is within them to relate to the individual is consistent with our reality. In our cussed at length in the works of clear and conclusive evidence that a character of every creature; and a experience, there are things that are Kabbalah and Chassidism. One basic person has indulged his escapist Divine “light that encompasses the internal—things that we can under- difference is that the Divine light that desires to such an extreme, the laws of worlds”—a transcendent energy to stand and empathize with—and things fills the world gives credence to our tzara‘as apply. But where there is doubt, this Divine perspective is inclined to declare him pure.

The Verdict Who might decide between these two Divine visions? Only one who is in touch with the overriding vision, with the singular truth that tran- scends both the filling and the encompassing modes of Divine rela- tionship with reality. Rabbah bar Nachmeini was “singu- lar in the laws of tzara‘as.” He was a human being, but a human being who had so thoroughly devoted himself to G-d’s Torah that he had uncovered its singular core; he had uncovered the Divine vision of reality as it relates to the very essence of G-d rather than to the “filling” or “encompassing” ele- ments of His light. When Rabbah bar Nachmeini pon- dered the laws of human selfishness and selflessness, he saw man as G-d Himself sees him: as a creation utterly devoted to the will of its Creator. A cre- ation who, even if touched by the pos- sibility of the malady of shov-deficien- cy, is invariably declared, “Pure! Pure!” (Chabad.org) ❖

Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Courtesy of MeaningfulLife.com.

A person to whom shall occur in the skin of his flesh... the plague of tzaraas (Vayikra 13:2)

Evil talk kills three people: the speaker, the listener, and the one who is spoken of.

(Talmud, Erachin 15a)

54 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES The Power Of Words

B Y RABBI YONI POSNICK The Dubno Maggid gives one sim- ple yet profound example of this prin- This week’s parashios deal mainly ciple: Many people fall into the trap with tzara‘as, a miraculous affliction of misusing their speech and speak- which Chazal tell us came to a person ing lashon ha’ra because they are sim- who committed certain aveiros, most ply unaware of the tremendous notably among them lashon ha’ra. potency of the spoken word. They The halachos of tzara‘as make it abun- will readily admit that words are dantly clear that it was not a physical important and have an effect, but disease such as leprosy, as it is com- they don’t fully appreciate or think monly mistranslated, but rather about their true power, and therefore entirely spiritual in nature. Simply stumble into evil speech. The metzo- put, tzara‘as was a miraculous spiritu- ra is taught a poignant personal les- al sickness unlike any other disease son about the power of a single word. known to mankind. For this reason He must go to a kohein who, by just the Torah makes it clear that tzara‘as one word, “tamei,” can isolate him could only be diagnosed and cured by from all of society—his family, a kohein. Just as the affliction was friends, and community. His entire totally spiritual and a result of spiri- fate and future hung on one simple tual shortcomings, so too the cure word. This would impress upon the was not in the hands of a doctor but individual the awesome power a per- rather through the model eved son carries in his mouth. Hashem, the kohein, who spent his Baruch Hashem, much has been days performing the holy avodah in said and written about the topic of the the Beis HaMikdash. power of speech and the gravity of There is a fascinating comment by loshon ha’ra. Books upon books have the Seforno, which gives us just a hint been devoted to the topic and much of just how spiritual tzara‘as was. He interest and discussion has been writes that even though the Talmud raised in recent times. There has lists certain aveiros which were pun- never been such worldwide interest ished with tzara‘as, we don’t find and desire as there is today to fulfill tzara‘as in our times. The reason for what the Chofetz Chaim set out for this is that tzara‘as was a totally super- us—mastery of our greatest power natural occurrence brought from and resource. Nevertheless, as the Heaven, and nowadays we are not Mesillas Yeshorim says in his introduc- even worthy to be punished miracu- tion, it is particularly those most fun- lously by Hashem! A most powerful damental truths that are so often thought indeed. overlooked and taken for granted and If we look at the halachos of tzara‘as therefore require the most study and in our parashah, we realize that review. Certainly, this applies on an tzara‘as was drastically different from even deeper level when it comes to all other types of tumah, impurity, the most delicate and immensely recorded in the Torah. The metzora powerful matter of speech. had to follow laws and procedures We can never learn enough about much different than any other tamei this most holy faculty which distin- individual. The metzora had to act like guishes man from all other creatures an aveil, a mourner; he had to tear his and enables him to fulfill his purpose clothes, cover himself, and, perhaps in Creation. Let us therefore share a most harshly, sit in isolation outside few thoughts: all three camps of Klal Yisrael. Not Hashem created the world with even another metzora, another person words. This is such a simple statement who had the very same tzara‘as as he, that we all know, yet we often fail to could come within four amos, and if think about its implications. We are someone approached, he had to call taught in Pirkei Avos that the world out “tamei, tamei!” Indeed, Rashi was created with asara maamaros, ten asks, why in fact was tzara‘as so dras- utterances. This itself should impress tically different from all other types of upon us the immense power of words. tumah? However, let’s go deeper. According to Rashi’s answer contains a critically Jewish thought, these utterances are important life message. He cites the not to be regarded as past events; it is Talmud in Arachin which explains that they that still provide the basic back- the entire process of tzara‘as was bone of existence. The words of designed to give the metzora the clear Hashem issued at creation are still out and unmistakable message of midah there; existence continues only k’neged midah, that all he was going because the words were never with- through was a direct consequence and drawn. If we think about it, therefore, in direct proportion to his actions, we realize that words are in fact the namely speaking lashon ha’ra and mis- most important occurrence in the uni- using his hadibbur. Every verse, for it is only due to words that halachah, both during the quarantine the world came into existence and as well as during the purification, con- tained this message. Continued on Page 57 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 55 56 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES INSIGHTS ON THE TORAH tial of our tzelem Elokim, literally losh, kneading, the process of mixing what’s in the hidden inner neshamah Continued from Page 55 translated as a “shadow of G-d.” We solids and liquids together. We know to light, allowing it to shine and have project Hashem’s heavenly presence that in Yiddishkeit a name does not a voice in the world. Our mouth is the remains in existence. We mistakenly and middos down here in this world, merely serve as a descriptor or identi- means by which we connect heaven perceive words as abstract and unreal just as a shadow takes on the same fier, but it contains the essence of and earth and our inner neshamos to and the physical body and tangible form as its source. Certainly then, if what that object or person is. The the outside world. world as the most real, while the reali- we are told that Hashem used words to tongue takes the spiritual inner Thus we see that the great gift of ty is that all of existence, including the create the world to bring everything essence of the soul, man’s innermost koach hadibbur is what best allows us physical world, is actually based on into existence, we too must use our ideas and inspirations, and expresses to emulate Hashem—to speak words words! words productively, to build ourselves it in the physical realm, thereby mix- of Torah, tefillah, and chesed; to speak Chazal repeatedly emphasize that up and those around us. Just as He ing spiritual and physical together. building, helping, healing words, man should strive to emulate his creates with words, so must we create The Maharal writes that the tongue thereby reflecting upon and testifying Creator. There is a mitzvah of “v’ha- with words. However, just as Hashem is a unique organ. Unlike most other to our Source, the Ribbono Shel lachta bid’rachav,” to walk in Hashem’s uses words to build and bestow good, body parts, which are either found Olam! ways. For example, Chazal learn that so too we only have license to use our totally outside or totally inside the Just as any person with wisdom “just as He is merciful and does words to build and grow. This is the body, the tongue is partly hidden and carefully protects and guards an chesed, so should you be merciful and greatest emulation of Hashem, and in partly revealed. He explains that expensive treasure in his possession— do chesed.” The greatest achievement this way we literally “walk in His ways” HaKadosh Baruch Hu specifically certainly if it came from the King him- we can attain as human beings is to act and become partners with the Al- designed the tongue in this fashion so self—so we must be on constant guard like Hashem and strive to emulate His mighty in creation. it would clearly reflect its function— of what comes out of our treasure- traits. By doing so, we literally become Interestingly, the Hebrew word for to reveal the hidden self, the “G-d-like” and fully express the poten- tongue, lashon, is related to the word neshamah of man. The tongue brings Continued on Page 58

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 57 INSIGHTS ON THE TORAH ha’ra, to give us the unmistakable valuable tool and even his constructive earth because of a few words. We are Continued from Page 57 message that man has the ability to words of tefillah will be severely not talking about ordinary individuals. be a partner in Creation, to create life impaired. Can he then sincerely ques- Chazal tell us without exaggeration house. When a person abuses this just like Hashem Himself…or he can, tion why his tefillos don’t seem to have that our Beis HaMikdash, the house of power, speaking lashon ha’ra and, chas v’shalom, divest himself of his positive results? Hashem’s Shechinah, was destroyed, instead of building and creating, caus- Divine essence by taking his greatest We often hear people who sincerely and we languish in galus to this very ing separation, damage, and destruc- potential for kedushah, G-dliness, and claim, “I can’t control what I say and day, because of sinas chinam, which tion, he disgraces and shows contempt using it for harmful means. The how I say it,” but the control depends on manifests itself through lashon ha’ra. for the greatest gift G-d Himself gave Torah places these extremes near their motivation. Many people actually If one is far away from home, and is him, losing that very trait that distin- each other to demonstrate the stark believe this about themselves. But the given the opportunity to send a letter guishes him from the animals. contrast between them: the choice is very same people can usually control to his family back home, he would be We now have new insight into the in our hands, or perhaps more pre- what they say and how they say it if very careful and exacting in what he reason that one afflicted with tzara‘as cisely, in our mouths! someone they respect knocks on the wanted to send, making sure he wrote carries such a severe form of tumah,so Lashon ha’ra does not just inflict the door. And most people can do this even what was essential, what he needed to harsh that it is equal to the most seri- obvious negative damage to our rela- if the person at the door is a total convey and wanted them to hear. The ous form of tumah, tumas meis. This is tionships with others—indeed, one stranger whom they will never see again. Vilna Gaon once wrote a letter to his no mere coincidence. Now we under- family during his travels. He had been stand that this is the ultimate midah away for a while and his family anx- k’neged midah—a piece of his very iously awaited word from him. If we neshamah has died, and so this individ- Just as Hashem uses words to build and would have to guess what the contents ual is banished from all three were, what this Torah giant wrote to machanos, all of society. He takes on his family, we would think maybe the halachos of tumas meis and sits in bestow good, so too we only have license to something about the importance of aveilus—mourning himself, for the learning Torah, proper shemiras very essence of his being has been Shabbos, tzedaka, or tzenius perhaps. damaged and lost. use our words to build and grow. Listen to the message of the Gaon: With this insight we gain new “The most important factor to earn understanding of the smichus Olam HaBa is guarding one’s tongue haparashios, juxtaposition of topics in from forbidden speech. This is more the Torah. The parashah begins with can destroy someone’s livelihood, mar- Rabbi Zelig Pliskin in his book on mar- than all the Torah one learns and the halachos of childbirth and then riage, reputation, and even life with a riage writes that he interviewed a retired mitzvos one performs, because the proceeds to the laws of tzara‘as. Why few misplaced words—it also affects American rabbi who settled in Yerusha- mouth is kodesh kodashim.” This was put these two seemingly unconnected our personal connection to Hashem. If layim, not far from most of his married the Gaon’s essential message for his sections together? Could there be someone went over to a clock or com- children and grandchildren. He asked family. Eye-opening indeed. It is the two more unrelated concepts? We puter and smashed it to pieces with a him about the first thought that comes mouth which has the ability to bring us can suggest that this is precisely the baseball bat, he couldn’t afterward be to mind when he thinks about an impor- the greatest fulfillment and kedushah. answer! The Torah gives us this major justified in asking why it’s not working. tant principle for marriage. “Don’t say contrast, with the laws of childbirth, Our mouths are meant to express con- everything that comes to your mind,” he The Poor Millionaire new life coming into the world, pre- structive words of Torah and tefillah.If said. This is one of the key pieces of wis- The Torah tells us of three types of ceding the laws of tzara‘as, the dis- one uses his speech to speak hurtful dom Rabbi Pliskin imparts in his book: tzara‘as: nigei adam—tzara‘as which eased individual who spoke lashon words of lashon ha’ra, he destroys this Words must be measured, for they appeared on a person’s body; nigei determine our relationships—with our begadim—tzara‘as which manifested wives, our friends, and most crucially itself on a person’s clothes; and nigei with the One above. Words must be batim—tzara‘as on a person’s house. measured, for indeed they are the meas- Rashi cites the Midrash which teach- ure of each one of us. es that nigei batim, tzara‘as on a per- Words cannot be seen—but their son’s home, was in fact at times a effect surely can be! Wars have been blessing in disguise. When the started between families, spouses, Canaanim living in Eretz Yisrael knew friends—even countries—because of a Bnei Yisrael were about the take over few words. Klal Yisrael was forced to the land, they hid their money and wander 40 years in the desert; Korach and company were swallowed by the Continued on Page 60

58 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 59 INSIGHTS ON THE TORAH a given situation. For exam- Continued from Page 58 ple, parents who give birth to mentally or physically dis- gold in the walls of their abled children who end up houses so that it would not creating programs which now be discovered and enjoyed by benefit all of Klal Yisrael. A the entering Jews. Hashem boy or girl takes a job in a therefore sometimes caused summer camp and realizes he tzara‘as to appear on the or she has a real talent work- home, requiring the home- ing with children. Someone owner to destroy the part of spends a Shabbos as a guest the wall which was afflicted, and realizes he has a koach to and he would thereby uncov- be mekareiv people or to teach er this hidden treasure. other Jews. How often does HaRav Avrohom Pam, zt’l, someone not even give taught a striking lesson from thought about what they can this Midrash regarding nigei do and accomplish, about batim. He writes that it was what strengths Hashem has quite possible that the per- put inside of them, until they son living in the house was take part in a chesed project or an ani, living in the depths of similar endeavor, even “by poverty. He would scrape accident,” only to discover— together day to day to make or, more precisely, uncover—a ends meet and feed himself koach in that area or field? and his family. Little does he We must look inside our- know that he is literally sit- selves and find the capabili- ting on a million dollars. He ties and strengths we have is totally unaware that a mas- hidden inside, just waiting to sive treasure has been lying be drawn out. This is a per- right there under his chair son’s mission in the world. since the day he moved in, We must not let the gifts and he has in fact been a mil- Hashem has blessed us with lionaire all along! Even lie dormant or chas v’shalom though all of this time it was go to waste. We look at the right there in the wall next to “poor millionaire” and sigh, him or buried right in his “Nebach! Such a pity and backyard, because he waste that he is sitting on a remains unaware of its exis- fortune and just doesn’t real- tence he continues to live ize it.” Woe to the one who is day after day in utter destitu- doomed to live life this way, tion, struggling endlessly. just barely scraping by when Note the haunting words of in truth he is the owner of a Rav Pam: “In a spiritual sense fortune, rich beyond meas- many people go through life ure. We must strive not to fall as ‘poor millionaires.’ Lying into this tragic category but dormant in their neshamos are rather make full use of the unbelievable capabilities and treasures HaKadosh Baruch kochos of which they are sim- Hu has given and put inside ply unaware. If only they each and every one of our would know what is inside unique irreplaceable themselves, their drive to suc- neshamos, just waiting to be ceed would be so much discovered so we may enrich greater!” He goes on to say our own lives and perhaps the that many people live their lives of countless others! ❖ whole lives without discover- Questions and comments for the ing their skills and special author are welcome at gifts, until they are forced into [email protected].

60 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 61 involves sensitivity to many varying fac- say they understand this but they simply tors. Your concerns are some of them. do not. The public thinks they under- Ultimately, many things that most pro- stand light. “Oh yeah, we need more Photo Prose fessional picture-takers fail to consider light!” Not necessarily. We need the are major factors to the better photog- right light. We need just the right light Backgrounds As you shop for a photographer, look raphers. If you have seen the results for each and every expression, body lan- BY GARY RABENKO first at the subjects in the photos. Not and they look special and inspired, have guage, mood, etc. the flowers, décor, gown, or tuxedo— personality and strong photogenic How much better could you look if Backgrounds are important. But not look at the faces, personalities, and appeal, then it is likely the photogra- the photographer was able to choose as important as the subject! expressions. pher has the talent and skill that can the spot for the subject, rather than the Shooting against a pretty picture- You should not have garbage in the make you shine. You will come first! background! I have worked in oppres- postcard scenic is easy but make sure background—no poles, wires, or other Where you are photographed should be sive overhead high noon sunlight the subject looks great too. Many select distractions. But when a good photog- based on where the photographer can where one can bake in ten minutes. So a scenic background only to have hor- rapher comes to your home, as he is have you looking your best. too, I have worked late at night, with rific lighting attack their faces. Others photographing you, getting great Often people look at a photo which everything from powerful lights that make themselves miserable complain- expressions, emotion, and feeling, in a looks like a picture postcard. Everything make daylight from darkness, to flash- ing about a lackluster background when soft, flattering, painterly light on the looks amazing except for one thing—the lights which add just the little light the photographer could do wonderful side of your house, you should not subject! More likely the subject will look needed for the situation. In bright sun- work if only he had your confidence wish he used the pretty sunflowers you better if the emphasis from the begin- light, I have worked with such intense rather than criticism. A background can purposely planted in the backyard, ning was his goal. When you view pho- lighting that we overpowered the sun, contribute to the overall impact and which currently is in awfully harsh tos of your family and friends they and I have worked in a way that uses mood of an image. Certainly it must be sunlight. He is doing beautiful photog- should seem alive! Not just a passport the sunlight as a spotlight on stage with considered. But is it as important as the raphy of a person who will look beauti- photo. How they look depends on their no other light but the sun. In every subject? People comment how beauti- ful. The background is not the goal expression, body placement, pose, and case my goal is to best render the sub- ful a friend’s photo is when the friend and should not be considered a result. the camera position. But lighting is very ject under those circumstances. There looks bad, non-descript, or unimpres- If a particular background is signifi- important. I can take any pose, angle, are times when no other location is sive in front of a pretty picture-postcard cant, a good photographer would want and expression, and make it look better possible. But when alternatives exist, background. Look first at the subject. to know this. Becoming a photographer just by lighting for that situation. Many the better photographer is not the one who has you looking second best before a first rate scenic, but rather standing out impressively! Photo sessions that occur indoors on nice sunny days always involve discus- sion of outdoor photos. It is a tradeoff in time and appearance. Wonderful photography can be done outdoors but, the lighting has to be right for the sub- ject. Or the situation has to be one in which the photographer can create the right light. When choosing to shoot outdoors, consider the lighting ramifi- cations on the subject, as well as the obvious hair-blowing, squinting, dirty grounds, and more. Indoors, other factors come into play that can be trickier and less obvi- ous. Essentially, a three dimensional background, like a room, floral arrangement, fireplace, needs to be properly lit for it to have character— just as the subject needs to be lit. In practice, a shoot involving people always has some time constraint imposed by the schedule or the per- sonalities. Faster is better, and empha- sizing the background over the subject is putting the cart before the horse. Ideally, the subject looks great and the background enhances the total experi- ence. But too often a pretty back- ground tends to impress people, including yourself as you shop for pho- tography. Later, as the subject, you might care most how you and your loved ones look, and less about the background. It is far more difficult to consistent- ly produce great looking subjects. That should be the photographer’s number one goal. Sometimes it means down- playing the background and even selecting a simpler one in order to treat the subjects with the best tech- niques possible. Since you care how you look and you want images to be flattering, and also have personality, help your pho- tographer make you look your best by letting him know your priorities. ❖

Gary Gershon Rabenko may be reached at [email protected]. Questions regarding photographic philosophies are welcome. Rabenko Photography & Video Artists is located at 1001 Broadway in Woodmere. 62 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 63 Israel Marks Holocaust Remembrance Day With Siren, Memorial Services

Israel marked Holocaust Remem- financial troubles. in Israel live below the poverty line. Former MK Joseph (Tommy) brance Day on Monday with memori- The memorials began after Israelis On Monday morning, MK Ahmed Lapid, addressing the gathering of als at the Knesset and the Yad Vashem stood silently for two minutes to Tibi (Ra’am-Ta’al) said that “the survivors, government leaders and Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ remember the victims of the Holocaust is the greatest crime in the foreign dignitaries, said that the Remembrance Authority. Names of Holocaust, as sirens wailed throughout history of humanity.” He added that world is yet again ignoring geno- Holocaust victims were read aloud at Israel on Monday morning. those that deny the Holocaust must be cide—this time in Darfur. “Every Person Has a Name” memorials At the Helen Keller house in Tel condemned. Speaking on behalf of Holocaust held at both locations. Aviv, a memorial took place for the Hundreds of people, many of them survivors, Lapid said that while the Prime Minister Ehud Olmert took deaf victims of the Holocaust. The Holocaust survivors, sat in rows at the Holocaust was a unique event in histo- part in the Knesset memorial by read- Association of the Deaf in Israel (ADI) ry, “even after the Holocaust we wit- ing the names of his wife’s relatives which held the memorial explained nessed genocide in Biafra, Cambodia, who were killed in the Holocaust. that deaf people needed unique sur- Rwanda, and we must cry out against Opposition Leader Benjamin Netan- vival techniques since they could not “Shaking off the the genocide currently being commit- yahu also read aloud the names of his hear bombings, shootings, or the warn- ted in Darfur in Sudan—and the world wife Sara’s relatives. ings of an oncoming raid. ashes of the is sitting on its hands and sends a few Vice Premier Shimon Peres told of On Monday afternoon, the “March sacks of flour, not so much in order to his farewell from his grandfather, of the Living” set out from Auschwitz Holocaust for a new feed the hungry, but rather to calm its Rabbi Zvi Melzer, who instructed him concentration camp in Poland, ending conscience.” “to be Jewish.” “My Grandfather Zvi, in the Birkenau concentration camp. life in its historic Lapid, who currently chairs the Yad Grandmother Rivka and one of their More than one million, predominant- birthplace is the Vashem council, added that “even sons were burned to death while still ly Jewish, prisoners were murdered today there is an existential threat to gripping their Bibles,” Peres related. there. Over 8,000 teens from Israel pinnacle of its the Jewish people on the part of the Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog told and the Diaspora will take part in the Iranian president.” of his father’s cousin, Annette march which commemorates the victory.” Regarding Iran’s nuclear program, Goldberg, who was caught trying to death marches which occurred Lapid said “[Iranian President cross the French border and was sent towards the end of World War II. Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad is planning to her death in Auschwitz. On the Israel marked the opening of the to have means of destruction com- train ride to the concentration camp, remembrance day with vocal concern central plaza at Yad Vashem for the pared to which the gas chambers at she threw a letter out the window for the plight of aging survivors, many ceremony Sunday evening, bundled up Auschwitz were just the beginning.” which said: “Dear mother, there are of whom are living in poverty in Israel. against the cold weather. A youth choir “Six million who were murdered say to thousands in my condition. I will “We must never accept a reality in sang, and Israeli leaders addressed the us, ‘We thought it could not happen, return soon.” which even one of the Holocaust sur- somber gathering. we relied on the goodness of others, Infrastructure Minister Benjamin vivors in Israel is living without digni- Itzik said at the beginning of the and when we awoke from our illusions Ben-Eliezer read a list of the names of ty,” Acting President Dalia Itzik ceremony that “the Holocaust is not it was too late,’” said Lapid. Holocaust victims from Baghdad. declared at the opening ceremony at only a stain on the history of Germany, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Former Knesset Chairman Dan the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial not only on the history of European in his address that “there are many, Tichon called for a solution by legisla- in Jerusalem, referring to reports that a peoples, but a mark of Cain on all of gathered in prestigious academic tion for the Holocaust survivors’ dire third of the Holocaust survivors living humanity.” institutions, whose eyes are blinded

64 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES and hearts are closed by hatred for Israel. They deny the right of the Over 25% Of Israeli Arabs Say Holocaust Never Happened Jewish people to exist in a sovereign More than a quarter of Israel’s Arab Arabs were killed and wounded in which the lives and belongings of state. They are the first to find justifi- citizens believe the Holocaust never those attacks. Israelis were endangered, a war cation for any atrocious act against happened, and nearly two thirds of While 89 percent said they view against an Islamic fundamentalist the residents of Israel and to vehe- Israeli Jews avoid entering Arab towns, Israel’s bombing of Lebanon as a war group that most of them don’t sup- mently condemn any defensive action a poll by a University of sociolo- crime, only 44 percent said they see port,” Smoocha said. taken by the State of Israel.” gist shows. Hezbollah’s attacks on Israel as such. MK Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List- Olmert noted that Israel celebrates The poll, conducted by Sami Hezbollah pelted northern Israel with Ta’al) said he doubted some of the its 59th Independence Day next week. Smoocha, a prominent sociologist at nearly 4,000 rockets. findings. Tibi said he could not explain “The renewal of the Jewish people, its the University of Haifa, showed a wide Half of Israeli Arab respondents the numbers indicating support for shaking off the ashes of the Holocaust gap of mistrust, anger and fear said Hezbollah’s capture of Israel Hezbollah, but noted that usually for a new life and national rebirth in its between Israel’s majority Jews and its there is no empathy for the aggressor, historic birthplace, is the pinnacle of Arab citizens, who make up a fifth of which Tibi said was Israel. its victory,” he said. Israel’s citizens. 62 percent of Israeli Tibi also said he doubted that the The central theme for this year’s In its most dramatic finding, the statistics on Holocaust denial reflect Holocaust Remembrance Day is bear- poll showed that 28 percent of Israeli Arabs worry that the situation in the Arab elite. Tibi ing witness. Arabs did not believe the Holocaust called the Holocaust the worst crime At the former German concentra- happened, and that among high school Israel could transfer ever against humanity and said tion camp in Auschwitz-Birkenau on and college graduates the figure was Holocaust denial is immoral. Sunday, several thousand young Jews even higher—33 percent. their communities to But some of the sentiments, he said, remembered the six million victims of According to Smoocha’s analysis, “might stem from reservations about the Holocaust. radicals in the Arab world believe the the jurisdiction the way the Holocaust is used as a Education Minister Yuli Tamir also Holocaust to be a political event, and political tool by Israel.” attended ceremonies on International many feel that by denying it they are of a future The poll also found that Israeli Holocaust Memorial Day. The youths expressing opposition to Israel. Arabs have fears about their future in from Israel, Europe, and North Among Israeli Jews, 63 percent Palestinian state. Israel: 62 percent worry that Israel America said the Kaddish prayer for the said they avoid entering Arab towns could transfer their communities to dead. () ❖ and cities, and 68 percent fear the the jurisdiction of a future Palestinian possibility of civil unrest among Defense Forces reserves soldiers state, an idea supported by one of the Israeli Arabs. Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev in parties in Israel’s current governing Pollsters interviewed 721 Arabs and a cross-border raid was justified. That coalition. 60 percent said they are WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? 702 Jews. The margin of error was 3.7 incident sparked the 34-day conflict. concerned about a possible mass percentage points. Asked about In a press release accompanying expulsion. WE WANT TO KNOW! Israel’s war with Hezbollah guerrillas the poll’s publication, Smoocha Among the Arab respondents, 76 in Lebanon last summer, nearly half expressed surprise at the results. percent described Zionism as racist. E-MAIL US AT of the Israeli Arabs polled—48 per- “One would have expected more pro- But more than two thirds said they cent—said they believe that Israeli results among Israeli Arabs would be content to live in Israel as a [email protected] Hezbollah’s rocket attacks on towns due to the uniqueness of the most Jewish state, if it existed alongside a in northern Israel during that war recent war: a war with no involve- Palestinian state in the West Bank and were justified, even though numerous ment of the Palestinians, a war in Gaza Strip. (AP) ❖

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 65 admitted that Israel’s attempt to pre- attacks that can be carried out at short Pesach Massacre Averted: Hamas vent harm to the fabric of life of the notice. Iran and Syria have been Arabs of Kalkilye and nearby “allows assisting this project. Mass Murder Car Was In Tel Aviv free movement to those with Israeli ID The Shabak recently arrested cards, and even those with PA identity numerous Hamas terrorists in the BY GIL RONEN AND sions) to an Arab-Israeli from Taibeh. cards, in and out of Kalkilye.” Kalkilye area, after a period in which HILLEL FENDEL The ID made it easy for him to drive “We also see,” Huberman noted, the local Hamas cell grew and devel- past IDF roadblocks from Kalkilye— “that specifically in Kalkilye, one of oped its abilities to carry out attacks. For as yet unknown reasons, a mas- which is under Hamas/Palestinian the quieter PA cities, Hamas terrorists The GSS action was intended to pre- sive Hamas terror attack intended to Authority control—into the nearby Tel are now working to carry out major vent attacks during the Pesach holiday. take place in the Tel Aviv area during Aviv area. His vehicle also carried attacks, after spending time building The results of the interrogations which the Passover Seder was averted. A sim- Israeli license plates. their capabilities to do so. The stage followed showed that the Hamas terror ilar attack five years ago killed 30 peo- Security officials note that Arab ter- of ‘building the force’ has passed, and infrastructure in Kalkilye was working ple in Netanya and triggered the IDF’s ror organizations routinely make use of the process is now in the stage of ‘car- on several attacks simultaneously. Operation Defensive Shield. family ties to Israeli-Arabs in order to rying out attacks.’ Even after the The officials say that Hamas has The General Security Service facilitate terror attacks. arrest of the 19, attacks are still being switched phases from preparation of (Shabak) released the news of the the attacks to implementation, and is near-attack while announcing that it now planning to launch additional had arrested 19 Hamas terrorists in attacks. (Arutz Sheva) ❖ Kalkilye who were involved with this While the State of Israel spends billions and other planned attacks. The Shabak said that a Hamas ter- of shekels on walls and fences, at the rorist had successfully entered the A person to whom Greater Tel Aviv area in a car laden same time it issues Palestinian terrorists with 100 kg. (220 lbs.) of explosives shall occur in the before Passover. Besides the explo- skin of his flesh... the sives, it contained large amounts of Israeli ID cards. shrapnel material, intended to maxi- plague of tzaraas mize carnage. For reasons that are not (Vayikra 13:2) yet known, the attack was not carried Kalkilye, east of Raanana, is sur- planned, including in the immediate out and the terrorist drove the car back rounded by the partition fence on short-range.” to Kalkilye, from where it had come. three sides, part of which is a tall con- The Kalkilye Hamas infrastructure The car exploded in Kalkilyeh, in what crete wall. PA affairs correspondent was responsible for the massacre of 21 The plague of tzaraas the Shabak says was a ‘work accident.’ Haggai Huberman notes the irony: young Israelis outside the comes only as punishment Some reports say the suicide terror- “While the State of Israel spends bil- Dolphinarium discotheque in June ist simply “changed his mind.” The lions of shekels on walls and fences, at 2001. After a period of dormancy it for lashon harah (evil talk). would-be suicide terrorist was able to the same time it issues Palestinian ter- has now rebuilt itself, according to drive the car into Tel Aviv with the help rorists Israeli ID cards so that the ter- security officials. The officials say that of his Israeli ID card, which he rorists can turn the wall/fence into a from November 2006, Hamas has (Midrash Rabbah;Talmud; Rashi) received as a result of his marriage (or mockery and cross them easily.” been upgrading its terror abilities in his father’s, according to some ver- Huberman adds that the Shabak has Judea and Samaria, and preparing

66 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES diers entitled to at least that which ter- When ‘Human Rights’ Groups Look The Other Way rorists and enemy citizens receive? There’s no limit to hypocrisy, it seems. BY AMNON RUBINSTEIN Palestinian women have been murdered released. That is what the British organ- ACRI has been fighting forcefully for by their families, on June 27 called for izations did, contributing to the ulti- the right of Palestinian spouses of Israeli It is sad that Gilad, Udi, and Eldad the release of Shalit, but of course added mately successful struggle to release the Arabs to enter Israel and receive residen- were missing from the Schalit, a knee-jerk condemnation of Israel. British captives seized recently by Iran. cy, and it attacked Justice Mishael Goldwasser and Regev family Seders But at least these two organizations Why hasn’t ACRI demanded the Cheshin’s ruling against this right with this year. Not only their families but all demanded the release of the abducted release of the Israeli captives? Why did harsh words, calling it ultra-nationalism. of Israeli society felt their absence. soldiers. Unlike them, the Israeli human it make do with a one-time request to It accused Cheshin of “undermining the Our lives continue normally, but the rights organizations issued a joint state- provide Schalit with medical care? Why pillars of constitutional democratic gov- abduction of our soldiers and dearth of ment on the same day in which they nei- hasn’t it at least demanded that the ernment” while turning a blind eye to the information about their fate touches ther condemned the abduction as a war International Red Cross be allowed to abduction of soldiers from Israel’s sover- each and every one of us. crime nor demanded Schalit’s release. visit the captive soldiers? Why has it eign territory. The abduction of the soldiers, the The Association for Civil Rights in refrained from taking a stand regarding One increasingly gets the feeling that refusal of their captors to permit the Israel (ACRI), together with the Al- the soldiers abducted to Lebanon? human rights—the issue that, quite International Red Cross to visit them, Mazen Center, Hamoked Center for the ACRI has accepted the claim that the rightly, has been placed at the top of their complete isolation from the world Defense of the Individual, the Gaza abducted soldiers are not prisoners of international priorities—is no more and the lack of any knowledge regard- Mental Health Program, the Public war, in accordance with the Geneva than a pretext for a very particular ing their health is one of the most seri- Committee against Torture in Israel, the Convention. However, the convention world view. ACRI objects to Israel being ous crimes being perpetrated by the Addamir Prisoner Support Center, and guarantees a minimum standard of defined in its constitution as a Jewish Palestinian terrorist organizations. Physicians for Human Rights, issued a proper treatment for ordinary detainees state, although it is willing to include What could be more natural, then, statement in which they demanded that who are not POWs, and it includes med- historical mention of the Jews’ right to than for the celebrated international Gilad Schalit be given medical care. But ical treatment. That is why ACRI was self-determination in the preamble. human-rights organizations to cry out in they did not insist that he be released, or content with demanding medical care The fact is human rights can be safe- protest against this ongoing cruelty to the that his captors provide a sign of life for Schalit. It is a completely distorted guarded in a nation-state too, as is the soldiers’ families? from him. interpretation of international law. case in most European countries. Amazingly enough, however, until Since then, ACRI has not returned to If POWs are entitled to visits from the There is no connection between now only a feeble murmur of mild the matter of the abducted soldiers at all International Red Cross, and to send and ACRI’s opposition to Israel’s definition protest has been heard. Human Rights and no mention of them can be found on receive mail, all the more so should as a Jewish state (as stated in the United Watch issued a statement on June 29, its website. Only the Physicians for abductees. After all, their seizure is itself Nations partition resolution) and the 2006 which defined the abduction of Human Rights organization has appealed a war crime and has been defined as preservation of human rights. One can, Gilad Schalit as a war crime. The main to its fellow doctors in Lebanon to help such by Human Rights Watch. And if of course, object to Israel’s Jewish char- thrust of the statement, however, was a free the soldiers who were abducted from even Amnesty International has seen fit acter, but those who use human rights to condemnation of the Israeli attack on the Northern Israel into Lebanon. to demand Schalit’s release, what is pre- further this position are exploiting the Gaza power station that came in its wake. ACRI has kept silent. And it’s not that venting ACRI from lending its voice to issue for political ends that have nothing Amnesty International, the organiza- the human rights organizations don’t this appeal? to do with genuine human rights. tion that has—with the support of its know how to wage an international cam- One of the organizations had even (JPost.com) ❖ Israeli branch—implicitly blamed the paign. On the contrary, if they wanted to petitioned the High Court of Justice The writer is former president of the Israeli occupation for the many cases of they could surely have considerable against the holding of Hezbollah Interdisciplinary Center-Herzliya, Minister of “honor killing” in the territories in which influence in getting the soldiers abductees by Israel. Aren’t Israeli sol- Education and member of the Knesset.

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 67 Five Towns Simcha Gallery Photos By Captured Images Bar Mitzvah of Bat Mitzvah of Yosef Dov Nechama Rosenthal took Schwartz place on took place on March 25 at April 15 at the Temple Beth El Ateres Nechama in Lawrence. Liba Simcha Hall. Catering was provided by Chap-A-Nosh and entertainment was provided by the Orchestra.

68 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 69 verted to Christianity several genera- Falash Mura Compound Reopened tions ago to escape economic and social pressures. They and their fami- lies now are turning to in a bid BY URIEL HEILMAN in grave doubt.” the United Jewish Communities’ sen- to come to Israel, and they have been The multi-site Gondar aid com- ior vice president for Israel and over- emigrating at a rate of 300 per month. Underscoring the vulnerability of the pound is funded by the North seas affairs, who happened to be in Since the 1990s, the prospect of 7,000 or so Falash Mura waiting in American Conference on Ethiopian Gondar on March 19, the day the immigration to Israel has prompted Ethiopia to make aliyah, the main Jewry, or NACOEJ, but has been run compound was shuttered. “Those who tens of thousands of Ethiopian farmers Jewish aid compound in the country by intermediaries since the New York- are interested in impugning the local and craftsmen to leave their rural vil- was shut down for nearly two weeks based group was barred from operating leadership of the compound are look- lages and relocate to Gondar, where after locals persuaded Ethiopian author- in Ethiopia following legal troubles ing for any way possible to knock the Israeli Interior Ministry verifies ities that the compound was a public two-and-a-half years ago. these guys out.” their eligibility for aliyah. nuisance and operating illegally. Those legal problems and a dispute Until the compound was reopened, Many of them have found the move But the facility in Gondar—which with the local community forced the officials from Jewish groups in to the city difficult and have availed provides schooling, Jewish education, closure of NACOEJ’s other Ethiopian Ethiopia—including the Jewish themselves of local Jewish aid services. some food aid, and some employment aid compound, in Addis Ababa, in late Agency for Israel, which manages NACOEJ heralds these operations as a assistance to the Falash Mura who live 2004. That compound remains closed. immigration to Israel; the American bulwark against penury and starvation. in adjacent neighborhoods—was re- NACOEJ does not sponsor any aid Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Others, however, argue that the aid opened March 30 following pressure on facilities in Ethiopia other than the which provides the Falash Mura with has fostered the development of a wel- the Ethiopian government by American multi-site Gondar compound. medical care; and the UJC federation fare-dependent population, encourag- leaders. The closure appears to have been umbrella group, which sponsors aid ing the impoverishing move to the city In a letter sent to Ethiopia’s ambas- prompted by a fight among locals operations for the Falash Mura—said and hindering the Falash Mura from sador to the United States, eight interested in control over the substan- they were monitoring the situation developing independent sources of Jewish Federation leaders wrote that tial aid money being spent there—an closely to respond quickly to any devel- food and income in Gondar. local complainants constituted an ille- estimated $1 million per year in a des- oping humanitarian needs. While the Israeli government esti- gally elected community leadership perately impoverished country where This was not the first crisis for the mates that some 7,000 Falash Mura and that they essentially were trouble- most people make about $1 per day— Gondar facility. Last May the com- remain in Ethiopia, some advocates of makers intent on disrupting the order- and greater say over who is and who is pound’s local director, Getu Zemene, Ethiopian aliyah contend that the ly aliyah process. not eligible for aliyah. was arrested following an internecine number is more than twice that. “The illegally elected new leadership This comes despite the fact that dispute over control of the compound, In the past, locals have tried to is headed by individuals not eligible for community leaders have no say in and the facility was shut down for a wrest control of the Gondar compound emigration to Israel,” the federation determining who is eligible to immi- few days. Zemene was soon released through allegations of corruption, executives, led by Stephen Hoffman, grate to Israel and that American Jewish and the compound was reopened. intimidation and violence, and armed president of the Jewish Community groups have pledged not to fund any Several weeks ago, however, guards had been stationed at some of Federation of Cleveland, wrote. “If this renegade communal leadership. Ethiopian authorities issued a formal the facilities’ entrances. illegally elected leadership remains, “It is my understanding that there order to close the Gondar compound, Similar problems, along with a dis- the compound’s programs will not are competing factions within the leaving 7,000 Falash Mura without aid pute between local employees and receive our funding, as we cannot trust Ethiopian community itself who have services. NACOEJ’s directorship, led to the clo- our funds to people whose integrity called into question the leadership of The Falash Mura are Ethiopians of sure of NACOEJ’s Addis Ababa aid and ability to handle money honestly is the compounds,” said Doron Krakow, Jewish ancestry whose progenitors con- compound. (JTA) ❖

70 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES three Jewish players and one Italian- Lou Limmer, 82, Made American umpire. It happened May 2, 1951, and remains the only known time that a Jewish batter faced a Jewish Baseball History Jewish pitcher with a Jewish catcher behind the plate. In Limmer’s words: BY MARTIN ABRAMOWITZ Although the word is often overused, “I got along with most of the umpires. these players formed a kind of commu- There was this one Joe Paparella—he Lou Limmer, part of a little-known bit nity. In varying and interlocking combi- was a nice guy. We had a game in of Jewish baseball trivia, passed away nations they knew each other, social- Detroit and Saul Rogovin was pitching April 1 at age 82 in Boca Raton, Florida. ized, played winter ball together and, and Joe Ginsberg was catching. I came The Philadelphia A’s first-baseman on at least one occasion, held a up to pinch hit. appeared in a total of 209 games in 1951 Passover Seder together. So Paparella comes from behind and 1954, batting .202 with 19 homers, The prominent players were New home plate and he dusts it off and he 62 RBIs and three stolen bases. York Giants and Boston Braves slugger- says. ‘Boy, now I’ve got the three Heebs. Notwithstanding those modest I wonder who’s going to win the battle?’ numbers, fans with a particular inter- and Rogovin throws the first pitch and I est in Jews in baseball and the histo- hit it into the stands, and Paparella says, ry of baseball in Philadelphia remem- Limmer told the story ‘I guess you’re the winner, Lou.’ of the Philadelphia A’s Historical ber Limmer fondly for four reasons: “It so happens I wasn’t the winner Society, Limmer was proud to relate his membership in a small group of of three Jewish because Joe Ginsberg stayed with that, at the end of the 1954 season, Jewish players whose careers spanned Detroit, and Saul Rogovin went to the just before the A’s moved to Kansas the years between the Hank players and one White Sox that year and he led the City, he had the last homer and the last Greenberg and Sandy Koufax eras; league in ERA and poor Lou Limmer, base-hit in franchise history. his central role in a “historic baseball Italian-American he got shipped to the minors.” Limmer also was the first Jewish encounter”; his place in Philadelphia Limmer’s minor-league career, both ballplayer to serve as president of his syn- Athletics history; and his unique con- umpire… before and after his major-league stint, agogue, at Castle Hill Jewish Community tribution to “the Jewish angle” among reads like a railroad signboard: Omaha, Center in his native and beloved Bronx. all Jewish players. Lincoln, Louisville, St. Paul, Buffalo, He served a five-year term. Hank Greenberg retired after spend- Toronto, Columbus, Birmingham. Lou Limmer was a great story-teller, ing the 1947 season with Pittsburgh, outfielder Sid Gordon; 1951 American Virtually wherever he played, Limmer a reminder of a unique between-the- and Sandy Koufax made his “bonus League ERA-leader Saul Rogovin, and recalled, Jews reached out to him—the superstars era of Jews in Baseball— baby” debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers 1953 AL MVP Al Rosen, who almost dairy owner in Lincoln, the car dealers and a mensch. (JTA) ❖ in the summer of 1955. During the won the Ttriple Crown. in Omaha and Toronto. He also intervening seven seasons, a dozen The journeymen were catcher recalled anti-Jewish, anti-Black road Martin Abramowitz produces Jewish baseball Jewish players played or were called up Myron (later “Joe”) Ginsberg, outfield- signs in the South, and hanging out cards and lectures on Jews in baseball as president of Jewish Major Leaguers, Inc., on the to the major leagues. In their ranks were er Cal Abrams, and Bronx- born Louie with Jackie Robinson in Florida in web at www.jewishmajorleaguers.org. This three prominent players, three journey- Limmer, who was one of 12 children spring training towns where neither of appreciation is based in large measure on a Jewish Major Leaguers oral history interview of men and a half-dozen players who came from an Orthodox household. them was welcome. Lou Limmer conducted in November 2005 by up from the minors only briefly. It was Limmer who told the story of A frequent participant in gatherings journalist Marc Katz.

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 71 72 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Your Ad Could Be Here.

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 73 AUTOS SERVICES SERVICES SERVICES FOR SALE PROVIDED PROVIDED PROVIDED

Cars are 4-Door and automatic shift Simchas Naava Too Much to Type? Too Much to Do? Plumbing and Heating: Sundial unless specified. Most cars have a 1- Share your simcha flowers! Be College Reports, Simcha Lists, Plumbing. Boilers/water heaters year bumper to bumper warranty. m’sameach other simchas! Donate Secretarial Support. Call Gold Star serviced and installed. All leaks fixed. 2006 Nissan Sentra—white, 9K your fresh flower arrangements! We Typing Service for help. Reasonable Bathrooms, kitchens, basements. No factory warranty, mint condition will match your simcha date with rates. Call 718-471-9712. job too big or small. 718-252-1234...... $11,900 simchas following yours or deliver 2004 Ford Taurus—silver, 20k Master Teacher Tutors them to nursing home residents. To "Maid 4 You Agency" We can help. power everything...... $7,900 Limudei Kodesh/Secular Subjects donate or obtain flower arrangements, Call and you'll have a maid. We pro- 2003 Infiniti I35—39k miles, pearl Specialize grades 1-8. Adults; call 516-239-6066. vide full / part-time or temporary help. white leather,sunroof,power..$12,900 Boys; Girls. Call 718-868-3968. 2001 Chevy Lumina—38K miles, In memory of a special friend, Housekeepers / Babysitters / Day white, ABS traction power..... $5,500 Naava Wassner Katlowitz Real Estate and Construction Workers / Elder care 917-574-2306 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix—57k Handyman — Large and small home Services. No job too small. Special Located in the 5 Towns. miles, brown, power everything, alloy improvements and repairs. Call Steve rate for non-profits. Call Danny Reiss wheels...... $5,500 New Table and Chair Gemach for at ISA. Licensed and insured. 212-844-9903. 2000 Honda Civic—54K miles, short-term simchas. 740 Mador Ct. 516-812-0089. green LX, power windows...... $5,500 Handyman Service Clean, quick Far Rockaway. Call 718-471-0368. 1999 Ford Contour—46K miles, Making a Simcha? Let Herman and efficient service. No job too red, 4 cylinder, power, excellent Brothers produce the emotional small. Call Shua Fogel at Study with Steve. One-on-one condition...... $4,300 Simcha Video you desire for your 917-583-4285. tutoring. SAT Math prep, regents, 1999 Ford Taurus—53k miles, child's Bar/Bat Mitzvah or for that silver, sunroof, power all...... $4,800 high school and elementary math, very special birthday or anniversary. The Computer Place — 1999 Ford Taurus—43k miles, high school physics. We give you the memory that you will Computer Consultants, Technical blue, CD changer, power everything Call 516-371-5522. Support, Network, Internet Solutions...... $4,700 treasure forever! For more informa- Call 800-613-2634. 1999 Mercury Sable—52K miles, tion call 516-791-7014. BUSINESS blue, leather, sunroof, power every- Wallpapering/painting. Every home Herman Brothers Multimedia thing...... $4,900 OPPORTUNITIES needs a woman's touch. Services. Wedding/Bar Mitzvah tape 2002 Mitsubishi Galant GTZ— Consultations available. Wallpapers, conversions to DVD, Duplication of 47K miles, white, leather, sunroof, V6, side airbags...... $7,900 painting, and borders for any room of DVDs or CDs 10-1000 disks, CD & Cedarhurst — 700 sq ft Store. 1996 Nissan Altima—80K miles, your house. 20 years experience in DVD printing, Web preparation of Prime Intersection/corner. Turn key. black, power windows...... $2,500 the area. Call Sasha at video. For more Information call Owner Retiring. Red! Jan Kalman Automaven 516-996-5555 516-812-0089. 516-791-7014. Rlty. Call Rick 516-319-2506.

74 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES HELP REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE WANTED FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR SALE

Newly renovated Beauty Salon look- 5 Towns Jan Kalman Realty 5 TOWN HOMES Far Rockaway: 2 Fam. All NU ing for a manicurist with a follow- Open Houses, April 22nd 516-569-5710 3 over 1 Br. 3Fbth, Grt ing. Also, space available for a bou- Location...... $599K tique. Ask for Anna or Angela 70 Lewis, Atl Bch (1-2:30) Fab New VALLEY STREAM: OPEN HOUSE Call 516-322-3555 516-374-4400 4BR Col...... $1.59M 202 Hollywd Ave,(12-1:30 pm)(2-4) Cape, brick, MIC, 3Br, NU EIK Commercial Building For Sale in 42 Carman, Ced (11-1) Newly Renov ...... $499K Manhattan Real Estate Office 5BR Col...... $749K Lynbrook— 36,000 SF. Office and Administrative Assistant/Office 589 W.B'way, Ced (11:30-1:30) Brk CEDARHURST: OPEN HOUSE manufacturing use. Amazing location 11-1 p.m. on Broadway. $3,000,000 Manager. Frum heimishe environ- Col. Huge prop...... $799K 321 Peninsula Blvd - All renov., 4 Br, ment. Proficient in all Microsoft 557 Central, Ced. Apt. 8A (11:30-1) 2 Bth, Lg Prop...... $469K EquiShares Real Estate Office Applications. Motivated, 1st flr. Lg 1BR, Terr...... $210K 516-792-9888 CEDARHURST: Ranch: Renov’d, energetic, well organized individual. 521 Allen Rd. Saddle Rdg (12:30-2) 3 Br, 2Bth, Lg prop. PRICED TO Hewlett — By builder by appoint- Computer savvy a plus. Excl! Ren 3BR Exp Rnch...... $649K SELL...... $519K ment 354 Felter Avenue. You'll fall in E-mail [email protected] 516-569-5651 love with this Hampton style colonial. Woodmere Grand 14 Rm Tudor. Lg 5 TOWN HOMES 5 BRs, 3.5 bths, 9' ceilings, large Salesperson needed for women's prop. 8BR, 5 fpls, kosher EIK. Qual 516-569-5710 kosher kitchen. Granite tops. NA boutique. Cheerful, professional, and renov's in & out...... $1.15M shuls. All welcome. 516-295-4555 detail-oriented. Sales experience Woodmere/Cedarhurst Oppty! needed. Full or p/t positions. For Jan Kalman Realty 12,000 sq. ft. approx. 90’x150’, Vacant land for Sale in center of more info call Amy at 516-374-1095. 516-569-5651 Colonial, 17 rooms, bull bsmt. with hi Frum area in Far Rockaway—over Fax resumes to 516-295-7287. Beautiful co-op 2 bedroom 1.5 bath- ceilings, clean 2 car garage plus stor- 14,000 sq ft. Call 718-858-9805 room, ocean view, oak floors, 24 hour Teacher & Assistants — Secular age, 6 space parking, 2 family, profes- concierge, prestigious building. sional use, accountant, Esq., medical If you already have an apt. in Studies teacher, Special Ed, P/T PM, Yerushalayim, take this opportunity to Motivated owner. and/or educational and religious uses. JHS boys class in 5 Towns. Assistants Call Topper Realty 516-889-6677 buy in the #1 frum community of all: Grand colonial with charm and great needed P/T AM or PM 'til end of Ask for Heddy. "Lakewood". Prime locations, beau- possibilities. Available at once. June. Also for 2007-08. Fax resume to tiful house, oversized property. CAHAL 516-295-2899. Investment property for Sale — $875K. Negotiable. For appt. call 732-492-0760 4 Family House 242 Beach 13th St. Owner 516-322-3555 Office Assistant F/T position avail- Currently Occupied Government F.R./ W. Lawrence. Brick c/h colo- able immediately. Queens Location. Tenants. Next door to what will be Cdhrst — New Construction nial 4 BR, 2.5 bths, flr with fireplace, Excellent phone & computer skills a next year a renovated Yeshiva Grand CH Col. 4br, 3bth incl huge den, FDR, sprinkler, alarm, new win- plus. Fax resume to: 718-997-7029. Building. Asking $699K. Please dows. 50x100...... $645K e-mail [email protected] mstr suite, gorgeous EIK, radiant heat 718-337-4039 Secretary/School, Bnos Bais Yaakov for more information. cac, walk to all...... $1.2M of Far Rockaway, Efficient in organi- Call Simmy Open House Sunday, April 22 11-1 zational and office management, Cdhrst — Beautiful updated 6 bdrm 343 Hewlett Parkway. Move right in. updated computer and correspon- Your Real Estate, colonial walk to all...... $775K 4 BR, 2.5 bths, hardwood floors, new dence skills needed. Experience only, N.Wdmre — Walk to YI & Shteibel. roof, new security, walk to YIH and Service, YSS. Just reduced $610K. Mon-Thurs 11:00 AM-5:00 PM. Beautifully renovated 4br, 3bths Fax resume: 718-337-9160 Att: Weisman Realty or Help Wanted Ad Stucco contemp w/cath. ceilings, 2 Mrs. Chavie Katz, include references. 516-791-6100 or 516-297-7995 Here Every kosher kitchens, 2 zone cac...$769K F/T Service Coordinator position Thursday REAL ESTATE available. Queens Location BA in Anessa V Cohen FOR RENT Human Services or related field 100,000 readers look 516-569-5007 required. LMSW preferred. Hebrew Speaking a Plus. Excellent forward to what’s Cedarhurst house for sale. Located Benefits Package. near major shuls and walking distance Far Rockaway — 1 bedroom apart- Fax resume to: 718-997-7029. happening in the to town. 5 BR 3.5 bths, finished base- ments. some balconies. New Kitchens, lots of closets, 24 hr door- ment, principals only. Teachers needed, grades 5-8. 5 Towns by reading man, Security cameras. Close to Call 516-510-7880 Experienced Morah Ivrit as well as The Five Towns White Shul, Shor Yoshuv and train. [email protected] excellent teachers in all subject areas Kings Point Delray Beach condo 516-791-6100 of both Limudei Kodesh and General Jewish Times. for sale 1100 sq. feet. 2 BR, 2 bths, Studies for a strong, rapidly growing Deadline is Monday new European kitchen and appli- Warehouse Space in girls' school in FR/FT area. Excellent ances, updated bath, new carpets, Hewlett/Woodmere — 1150 environment and opportunity. E-mail at 5:00 p.m. 24-hour guarded community. Golf, Broadway 5,000-30,000 avail. Will resume and references to ftteach- theater, library. $199,999. divide. 516-792-9444 [email protected]. 1 Week ...... $35 Call 631-664-0075 EquiShares Real Estate 2 Weeks ...... $60 Lawrence — Brand new 6 bedroom 4 Weeks...... $100 house for Rent in Lawrence - $6,500/month. Call 917-337-0962 Weekly Ads of up to 25 words Lawrence — 2 Br, LR, 1 Bth, all nu Call: 516-569-0502 apt., own heat. 917-757-9351. Fax: 516-977-0608 Lawrence — Young 2BR, 2.5 bth Twnhse. w/d. gar...... $2,600 Or E-mail ads to: Jan Kalman Realty 516-569-5651 [email protected] Classified Ads are Include payment info. Continued on the Next Page.

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 75 CLASSIFIED ADS REAL ESTATE Continued from Page 75 FOR RENT Barghouti’s Name Is On List Of Prisoners In Shalit Swap REAL ESTATE Far Rockaway — Lg. Hse Rental: FOR RENT 4br, 2bth, bsmt., Hi ceil’g, NU bths, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail to call for the release of Palestinian pris- W\D. Call 516-322-3555. Haniyeh of Hamas said that Fatah mil- oners held in Israeli prisons. The itant leader Marwan Barghouti appears Palestinians’ annual Prisoners Day this Bayswater —"Forget Far Rockaway". Private office space in on the list of prisoners the Palestinians year falls on Tuesday. The rally came as Move to this cozy Bayswater 1 BR Hewlett/Woodmere — All utilities want freed by Israel in return for the negotiations continued for a prisoner apartment. Furnished or unfurnished, included, Conference room, On-site release of an Israel Defense Forces sol- swap in return for IDF soldier Gilad private entrance, washer and dryer. parking, 24/7 Access. $600 P/M. dier held captive since June. Haniyeh’s Shalit, who was captured by Hamas- comments came after his deputy, Azzam linked militants last June. Shalit’s captors Call 516-374-3635. 516-792-9444 al-Ahmad of Fatah, said earlier that have demanded the release of hundreds EquiShares Real Estate Cedarhurst — House Rental; kit, Barghouti’s name would not be includ- of Palestinians, including prisoners con- den, 3br., 2.5 bth. bsmt.$2,500 ed on the list presented to Israel. victed for the murders of Israelis. 5 Town Homes 516-569-5710 Israel has said it will not free Haniyeh assured the crowd that the list LOST AND FOUND Barghouti, who is serving five consec- of prisoners Hamas is demanding from Cedarhurst — House Rental utive life terms for his role in shooting Israel in return for Shalit includes “all LR/FDR, den, 3br, 2.5bth, Fin. Bsmt. attacks that killed five people—four our people from all the factions.” $2,300. Call 516-322-3555. Money found on Central Avenue. To Israelis and a Greek monk. Hamas, According to recent statistics from claim, please call 516-830-0436. meanwhile, issued a statement to the human rights group B’Tselem, Far Rockaway — Apartment avail- reporters in support of capturing IDF there are currently 9,250 Palestinians able. Brand new construction. soldiers in order to use them as bar- in Israeli jails. One Gazan at the rally Furnished or unfurnished. 3 BR, gaining chips in negotiating the release was Nedal Sarifiti, 52, who said his son 2bths. Cleaning and laundry services Deadline for classified of Palestinian prisoners. “We believe Ali is serving a 25-year sentence in available. Perfect for the elderly. that kidnapping soldiers and exchang- Israel on charges of being a Fatah mil- Call Sherri 516-569-5450. ing them for prisoners is the best solu- itant. “I am optimistic that the day of advertising in the tion for releasing our heroes, after the freedom is coming,” Sarifiti said. Prime Far Rockaway — Legal 2 Family, failure of all the diplomatic channels.” Minister Ehud Olmert has expressed 3 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, Lr, Dr, next issue is Fatah’s armed wing also urged its disappointment over names on the list, ❖ EIK, laundry room, hardwood floors. members Monday to kidnap Israelis to but has not ruled out a deal. (AP) swap them for Palestinians held in Israeli Lori & Associates 516-791-8300. Monday, April 23 jails. Blaming “the Israeli enemy” for the failure to release prisoners, a statement Far Rockaway — 2 Huge Office at 5:00 p.m. faxed to the media issued “an open call WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? Spaces. 6,000 and 2,500 Sq Ft. 2nd for all our fighters to concentrate on kid- WE WANT TO KNOW! Floor. Near Subway & LIRR. Build to Call 516-569-0502 napping Israeli soldiers and civilians.” E-MAIL US AT [email protected] Suit. Can Be Divided. Several thousand Palestinians gath- Owner 917-359-9776. ered outside the Red Cross office in Gaza

76 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 77 78 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES April 20, 2007 79 80 April 20, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES