R' Menachem Genack Recalls a Giant

The Surprising Story of a Grave on Har Hazeisim in Yerushalayim

The Wonders of Kerestir: The Life of R’ Yeshayaleh, Whose Gravesite Became Hungary’s Miron

Women's & Kids pages In the Footsteps of Rabbi Moshe Shmuel: R’ Menachem Genack Recalls a Giant

Issue 18 // 2 Iyar 5781 // April 14, 2021 April 14, 2021 1 Issue 18 | 2 Iyar 5781 | April 14, 2021 Table of Contents

Mailing Address Po Box 237 Lakewood NJ 08701-9998

Phone 732.285.9936

Publisher, CEO A. Berger, Y. Cassel

General Inquiries [email protected]

Letters Submissions [email protected]

Editor's Desk [email protected] 26 32

Advertising [email protected] 06. From the Editor’s Desk

© Kehiloth Magazine. Published by 08. Jewish Perspective Kehiloth Magazine Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in printed or digital form in whole or in part in any form without 10. Yoshvei Eretz Yisroel prior written permission is prohibited. The publisher reserves all right to edit all articles for clarity, space and editorial 12. Weekly Review sensitivities. Submissions cannot be returned to sender. Kehiloth Magazine is not responsible for the cash flow of any 36. Cutting the Edge advertised product or service that appears in these pages. Kehiloth Magazine assumes no responsibility for the content of articles or advertisements in this publication, nor 39. Women's Pages for the content of books that are referred to or excerpted herein. 2 2 Iyar 5781 51. Kehiloth Kids 00 7 . 7 32.9 8 ONE STOP SHOP 7 F OR ALL Y OUR B E DROOM N EED S

MEMORY FOAM & DURABLE & LARGE MATTRESS AFFORDABLE & CUSTOM SELECTION PLATFORM BEDS & PILLOWS PROTECTORS HEADBOARDS

GREAT PRICING AND EXCEPTIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE

Call us when you move or you’re ready Call/Text/WhatsApp 732-806-1750 By appointment only to upgrade your sleep - we’ll be there - 644 Cross St, Unit 22 Evening hours available with friendly & helpful service! Lakewood NJ 08701 Free delivery in the Tri-state area & beyond! [email protected] April 14, 2021 3 Inbox

Dear editor, Last week, there was a write up about an older single. The comments she We want to writes in there That people said to her, hear from is just appalling! I am shocked to say the least. Here is a girl that is going you. זמנים through pain and hardship as it is and לפרשת תזמ״צ some people are just so insensitive! I say we start being careful about the comments we say and think before we כניסת שבת: say them. In that zechus may we see 7:19 שקיעה: all of our singles married very soon. 7:36 צאת שבת: Amen! 8:50 Aviva b.

Dear kehiloth, I look forward to shaindy oberlander’s articles every week! She gives great Weather advice and very practical too! Keep up Lakewood Township, NJ the great work! Miriam s.

Dear kehiloth, I love your magazine! Every Wednesday, when my siblings and I come home from school, we all fight who will get the magazine first. I wait Have every week for the children’s section. somthing to Unlike other magazines, I like how you say? are constantly changing it up. It makes it more exciting. Thank you. Write to us! Aaron l. [email protected]

4 2 Iyar 5781 a greater form of elegance

The River Terrace banquet hall is a sophisticated, elegant venue for all your simchos. The sweeping grace of the hall is enhanced by the spectacular décor and furnishings, and the 3000 square foot ballroom accommodates up to 250 guests. The expert catering is provided by the star chef of Glatt Gourmet under the KCL supervision.

We look forward to providing our guests with a truly memorable night. FOR RESERVATIONS PLEASE CALL 732.364.5564

1094 RIVER AVENUE • LAKEWOOD, NJ April 14, 2021 5 From the Editor’s Desk

The Count-up (-not countdown) to Matan Torah

the pages of the digested the new reality, and Moshe with a mental preparedness, and not history of many already informed them that their only back then when we left Egypt nations of the liberation has not yet been completed. to the desert, but in each and every world, we often We will receive the new constitution in generation. find a phenomenon a few weeks. This constitution will not Like a prisoner who counts the ofIn a people freeing themselves from be deliberated by the representatives days until his release, so we count the shackles of foreign oppression of the people, but it will be given the days until the day when we will and gaining independence. The straight from Heaven, and until it is be privileged to worship Hashem at longing for liberation and the hope for given, we will have to count the days the foot of har Sinai. With this count, independence give way to an inebriate towards the event! a bridge is drawn from Pesach to celebration with the fulfillment of the Shavuos. Many revolutions failed to national dream. The liberated people Counting as an Exercise in bring the desired results due to the want to taste the taste of freedom Preparedness fatigue of their protagonists – due all the way, and their leaders find it This count protects us from the to those who believed that they had difficult to take control of the people fatigue that gnaws at the heart of reached their goal even before any for the necessary nation building. In anyone who imagined that with meaningful nation building, and there order to prevent such a situation, a his freedom from the yoke of other was nothing more to aspire to. meticulous constitutional platform masters his ultimate goal has already The stability of many nations must be prepared and agreed upon been achieved. The count is a refresher that gained independence was before the handing out of freedom and of the aspirations of the redeemed so undermined when it became clear rights, the laws of which will be valid that they should not be content with that the final goal for the liberators immediately upon release, so that the the initial achievement, but they will became a bloody struggle for power. transition period does not become a continue to dream, fight and struggle No vision and no destiny were laid at hopeless mess. for the maximum! the foundation of this liberation, and In yetzias Mitzrayim the situation was This process will be the effort for the so it collapsed! different. There was no possibility of spiritual development of the people, anticipating and planning in advance for raising its moral standards. Only Counting in Appreciation of Time of the yetzias Mitzrayim and freedom. with this fulfillment will the people Counting gives us another No human laws were prepared and reach the desired satisfaction of a understanding and appreciation, it no constitutional government system truly free nation. teaches us the value of time! was developed. Without any prior This count brings us closer to the The days of Sefiras Haomer are days notice, the signal was given to leave status of receiving the Torah not of preparation for the impending Mitzrayim. Klal Yisrael had not yet only in terms of time, but particularly wedding day of our people.

6 2 Iyar 5781 Shavuos

Since the days are days of preparation back on, and if the owner managed 5781 for receiving the beloved Torah, since to record important and interesting they are priceless and eternal spiritual events in its lines, this diary becomes treasures can be obtained in these a history book to preserve, with the days, the Torah set them apart and interesting annals of his life recorded Hashem commanded us to number by its contents. the days one by one. This is to elevate A person’s life is likened to a calendar. in our eyes the wonderful gift of the There are those who choose to rip out Torah, the value of the days and to the days page after page, until there make good use of time - to invest in it are no days left in a person’s life and he for that which will be preserved for passes away with nothing to preserve. eternity. And there are those who understand This is how chazal in the Midrash the importance of the pages of their when life and they fill them with content to - שבע שבתות תמימות“ :explained are these weeks complete? When Am preserve all the way to the end of days. Yisrael is doing the will of Hashem.” As the years go by, they have no reason completeness, as defined to be ashamed of the diary of their- תמימות The by the Torah has a double meaning: the lives, and it constitutes a valuable book weeks counted must be complete, and for posterity. the people of Israel, those who count The seven weeks leading up to the תמימות the weeks must also be completed in giving of Torah should be the process -by striving to do Hashem’s -complete. We don’t count the days in will. descending order, in the way that the days are removed and thrown out. Choosing the ‘Right’ Calendar This type of count-down is a process There are two types of calendars. One of elimination which will not bring is a daily wall calendar from which you us closer to Mount Sinai and the Holy tear off a page every day, throwing it Torah. We are required to take full in the garbage and revealing the next advantage of these days by filling them day. The second type of calendar is with content, therefore the Torah usually a weekly diary type, with commands us to count them up in the seven spaces for the days where there process of anticipation, marking the is room for listings, appointments and days and weeks, each day. All of the notes. days are added to our diary until we When the year is over, the difference reach the forty-ninth count before between the two calendars is stark. Shavuos. While the first calendar will be left Only by adding full days of content empty with no more pages to tear and full weeks of meaning, can we off and no information recorded, the approach the Yom Tov of Matan second calendar will remain in its full Torah and receive the great gift from thickness. The pages are there to look Heaven. K

April 14, 2021 7 Jewish Perspective

להתרומם מתוך אוצרותיו של למדרגות גבוהות הגה"צ רבי שמעלקא בידרמן שליט"א

זמן שבית המקדש היה קיים היו את העומר מניף הכהן לארבע רוחות השמים פנימי עמוק. בפסח זכו ישראל לא רק לחרות מקריבים את מנחת העומר כנאמר: וכן מעלה ומטה, כדי להודיע שארבע רוחות עולם, הם גם קיבלו באותה השעה את שלמות "כי תבואו אל הארץ אשר אני נותן השמים וגם העולמות העליונים והתחתונים צורתם הרוחנית, כהגדרת הנביא על עם ישראל לכם, וקצרתם את קצירה, והבאתם נתונים כולם להנהגת הבורא. )יחזקאל ל"ד, ל"א(: "אדם אתם". התואר 'אדם' את עומר בראשית קצירכם אל הכהן" )ויקרא כ"ג, היה קיים שוני מהותי באופן עבודת הבורא מציין את רוממותו של עם ישראל. י'(. הקרבן היה עשוי מעשירית האיפה קמח של בני ישראל במדבר, לבין העבודה בהיכנסם "אדם" הוא תואר נעלה המבטא את המרכיב שעורים בלול בשמן, קומץ ממנו היו מקטירים לארץ ישראל. במדבר עבדו בני ישראל את הרוחני העילאי, את נשמת רוח האלוקים על גבי המזבח, והשאר נתנו לכהנים. במוצאי הקב"ה תוך התעלמות מצרכי הגוף. הם לא היו שבאפיו. חג הפסח שבו נעשו ישראל לעם, הוא יום טוב הראשון של חג הפסח, בט"ז בניסן, היו צריכים לחרוש, לזרוע ולקצור כי מאכלם היה המועד שבו הוענק להם תואר זה. ואמנם תנופת קוצרים את התבואה החדשה בנוכחות ציבור מן שירד מן השמים, והם התמסרו כליל לעבודת העומר מסמלת התרוממות והתנשאות של גדול שבאו מהעיירות הסמוכות לירושלים. את הבורא. האדם על מנת להידבק בקב"ה. התבואה היו מביאים לעזרה של בית המקדש, עם כניסתם לארץ ישראל היה עליהם לעמול ימי ספירת העומר מתחילים מהדרגה הנמוכה, ושם טוחנים אותה ומנפים אותה ועושים ממנה קשה כדי להשיג את מזונם, והמשימה הרוחנית מהבאת מנחת שעורים, מלמחרת חג הפסח, מנחה לה'. העיקרית שהוטלה עליהם היתה להשגיח שעם ובמשך ארבעים ותשעה ימי הספירה אנו את התבואה החדשה מביאים לבית המקדש, כל זאת לא יתגשמו ולא ישקעו בחומריות, אלא מתעלים עד לחג השבועות, ובחג זה מביאים כי התבואה שבשדות מהווה סמל מובהק לטבע, יעלו וירוממו את עסקי הגוף לדרגה רוחנית. מנחת חיטים, שהיא מאכל אדם. אנו ממחישים והבאת ראשית הקציר למקדש באה לבטא את התורה קושרת את ימי ספירת העומר אל בכך את דרך העליה, את ההשתלמות למדרגת הכרתנו העמוקה שגם הטבע מתנהל בצורה תנופת העומר, וכפי שנאמר )ויקרא כ"ג, ט"ו(: אדם נעלה. ישירה על ידי הקב"ה. ציוותה התורה להביא "וספרתם לכם ממחרת השבת, מיום הביאכם עבודת האדם מישראל היא להתרומם מעל את קרבן העומר בפסח, שכן אז הוא זמן צמיחת את עומר התנופה". גם השם "ספירת העומר" מישור הגוף החומרי ולהתנשא לפסגות התבואה ובזכות הקרבן תתברך התבואה מייחס את כל המערכת של ימים אלו מחג הפסח רוחניות. ויותר מכך, בכוחו של האדם להתעלות בשדות. הבאת מנחת העומר בחג הפסח מחדדת ועד לחג השבועות, ליום תחילת הספירה, היום עד שיסחף אחריו לגבהים גם את הגוף המכביד את הכרת שליטתו והנהגתו המוחלטת של שבו הקריבו את העומר בבית המקדש. בדרך כלל על פעולות הנשמה ומושך לארציות. הקב"ה בעולם, כפי שהוכח בשרשרת הניסים מה הקשר בין שתי מצוות אלו? זהו הרמז שבהנפת מנחת העומר העשויה שהיו ביציאת מצרים, ומן הניסים הגלויים אנו מנחת העומר באה מן השעורים הנחשבים משעורים, מאכל בהמה. זה מסלול הקדושה ממשיכים להכיר שגם הטבע החומרי אינו אלא לתבואה ממין ירוד ומיועדים למאכל בהמה, הנמשך מחג הפסח ועד לחג השבועות. בחג רצף של ניסים נסתרים. רק לאחר הקרבת זאת לעומת שאר המנחות הבאות מן החיטים, השבועות מביאים מנחה חדשה לה' דוקא מן מנחת העומר הותר לאכול את התבואה החדשה כיאה למנחה הקרבה לפני מלך מלכי המלכים. החיטים, לרמוז שעתה נשלמה צורת האדם של שצמחה באותה השנה. למועד חג הפסח ולקרבן העומר יש קשר כל אחד מישראל. ק

8 2 Iyar 5781 April 14, 2021 9 Yoshvei Eretz Yisroel

כדאי הוא רבי שמעון The Zchus of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai Betzalel Kahn

The sight that I witnessed on the night of Lag B’Omer 5780, just a year ago less two weeks, at the height of the great first wave of the corona virus pandemic, was both joyful and deeply sad:

כדאי הוא Mount Meron was desolate, almost And there is a lot to convey from It was clear to everyone, that one‘– רבי שמעון לסמוך עליו בשעת הדחק and near the main Mount Meron on the day of Lag ,שועלים הילכו בו lighting of the Rebbe of Boyan – there B’Omer: from the main and first can rely on Rabbi Shimon in times of stood only a few dozen people, who lighting of the Rebbe of Boyan, distress’, and if we have reached a time received special permission to reach the lighting of the Mashpia Rabbi of pandemic and distress in klal yisrael this event, which usually draws no less Elimelech Biederman, the Rishon and there is no choice but to allow only than 300,000 people every year, at Letzion Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, a few people to reach Mount Meron, to the lighting of the Rebbes of Toldos the opening of the Lag B’Omer events. that is what will be. Aharon and Toldos Avraham Yitzchak, I was standing nearby broadcasting “This is the retzon Hashem,” I said on who complete the Lag B’Omer events from the Kol Chai Glass Studio, with air to the Rav of Migdal Haemek, Rabbi at the end of the day each year. tears in my eyes. On the one hand, it Yitzchak Dovid Grossman, live from It’s hard to describe in writing what I was the joy of Lag B’Omer, the joyous the transparent studio of “Kol Chai” describe every year with audio on the dancing a few moments after the main near the tzyun. radio, but last year it was difficult to lighting and the joy of being one of the convey on the radio as well. lucky few who were allowed on Mount The Israeli government decided to ”This is also the Meron. But on the other hand, it was a close Mount Meron completely to will of Rashbi,” he feeling of great sadness that we were visitors and worshipers. And in order alone. not to leave the mountain completely replied. “Apparently For almost ten years I have going up deserted, a very limited number of no one received his to Mount Meron every year together public figures and people close to with an extensive team of radio people the various Rebbes were allowed to invitation to be here,” - reporters and technicians - I lead the ascend the mountain and participate he added, -except for Lag B’Omer broadcasts from Mount in some of the events, which were Meron, and I am never willing to give broadcast live to every home in Israel those few who did up on this uplifting experience. and around the world. manage.

10 2 Iyar 5781 Betzalel Kahn | Producer at Radio Kol Chai in Eretz Yisroel.

And that was the feeling at the time. Mount Meron, as on every year, to of his workplace: a secular media Since then, almost a year has passed. celebrate and rejoice on the day that channel, with radical leftist positions. What we have experienced in the Rabbi Akiva’s talmidim stopped dying Nevertheless, he enjoyed freedom of Eretz Yisroel with the corona crisis in and the day Rashbi passed away. This action and coverage, until last week. the past year - you all know, especially is the day thousands of Israeli children The prime minister’s son, Yair those who have been following this go to celebrate the chalaka in Meron Netanyahu, wrote the following column for the past four months, when they reach the age of three. comment on Twitter: “How has not and certainly those who have been Rabbi Shimon’s zchus should be even one Émile Zola (the famous following the news coming from the trusted in times of distress. French writer who published an open Eretz Yisroel. letter to the French President on the Today, Boruch Hashem, we are front page of a Paris daily in 1898 already after it all. We have almost exposing the travesties of justice in returned to a complete normalcy. If the Dreyfus affair) appeared on the it were not for some paranoid and Cheap propaganda propaganda channels in the last five fainthearted people in the Ministry years with the statement “J’accuse” ?!”. Remember the journalist Dr. Avishai of Health, in addition to the spineless Then he added: “My mistake. Only one Ben-Haim? I wrote about him several Benjamin Netanyahu as prime such person stood up and shouted in months ago in this column and I minister - we would be in an even these channels. It is Avishai Ben Haim brought his thesis on the State of Israel, better place already. that the whole right-wing camp should which is divided into two camps. Lag B’Omer will take place in two thank and appreciate his courage.” Avishai Ben Haim is an exception in weeks from now and it might seem Avishai Ben-Haim responded to him: early to tell the story of Meron from the Israeli media landscape. He is a “I didn’t do enough. You certainly last year. Although, at the time of journalist who has been covering the should not thank me. Your father and publishing these lines I am staying on ultra-Orthodox public for many years. the struggle for your father, is ours no American soil and I will spend Shabbos He is a religious man, very right-wing, less than yours. He is the symbol, the in the US city of Torah -Lakewood, admires Prime Minister Benjamin barricade, the shield.” but in Eretz Israel already a week Netanyahu, and even more so, he This was enough for his employers ago a storm began to gather around admires a great figure from the not- to inform him that he was suspended preparations for Mount Meron and too-distant past: the late Rav Shach from his job for a few days, -for Lag B’Omer. zatzal. expressing a personal, private opinion Those paranoid officials in the I remember visiting Avishai’s house on the prime minister, who is hated Ministry of Health and in the about twenty-five years ago. Two by most Israeli journalists and their government, decided that only a few pictures of rabonim hang on the walls employers in the media. thousand would be allowed to ascend of his house. The first was of Rav Conclusion: This story testifies more Mount Meron this year. Shach, and the second one was also than anything to the media lion’s den, If the Muslims are not restricted at of Rav Shach. He published the book with the political-leftist overture, in .The Man of Hashkafa” which he works“– ‘איש ההשקפה’ all from ascending the Temple Mount (and I hope that Moshiach will come about Rav Shach, and of all the non- This is not media, it’s propaganda. soon and we will be zoche to redeem Haredi journalists - I can say that he is Albeit cheap, but still propaganda. K this holy place from the defilement of the most honest with us. the Gentiles) - there is no reason in the But he is unusual in the media For comments and remarks, world to restrict the Jews who ascend landscape in Israel, also because Email me at: [email protected]

April 14, 2021 11 Weekly Review

Big Government Is Back

Last week President Joe Biden traveled to Pittsburgh -the city where he launched his White House bid in 2019- to declare that the era of big government is back -- and with a vengeance!

Well, President Biden didn’t really use billions of dollars on transportation number to ponder. those exact words. But he did unveil a projects, it also invests in items $2 trillion jobs and infrastructure bill, not normally seen in traditional that he called a “once-in-a-generation infrastructure plans, including To put that in investment in America, unlike in-home care services for elderly context, the final anything we’ve seen or done since we Americans, $300 billion for built the Interstate Highway System manufacturing, more than $200 bill for World War 2 and the Space Race decades ago." billion for housing and tens of billions -the costliest war of That is correct! The bill proposes a of dollars for programs like climate- massive layout of federal resources, friendly electric vehicles. American history- funded, at least in part, by a hike in the And let’s face it, it’s not exactly like was in today’s dollars corporate tax-rate. the federal government has been It is a measure that will enact a penny-pinching lately. Less than a a total of $4.1 trillion. reordering of the US economy using month ago President Biden signed the government power on a scale that American Rescue Plan into law, a 1.9 While the Covid-19 stimulus bill has has drawn comparisons to Presidents trillion economic stimulus bill aimed become law, the passage of the new Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. at helping the country bounce back infrastructure plan is far from a done Johnson. Although the bill is being from the Covid-19 pandemic. deal. called an “infrastructure plan”, in If we add these two bills together, Republican lawmakers are mobilizing reality it deals with much more than they amount to almost $4 trillion of for a massive showdown over the that. government spending in the space of a bill, not to mention the Democratic While it does include hundreds of mere few months. This is a remarkable Senator from West Virginia, Joe

12 2 Iyar 5781 Yaakov Spinner

Manchin, who has already said he have to give the American people one pandemic to hit the country in over a will not support the bill in its current that lives within its means." hundred years. The economy has been form. Nevertheless, despite the long These are lines delivered, not that devastated, with the unemployment and treacherous journey that surely long ago, by a president of the very rate surging to almost 15% during the awaits this bill, chances of it eventually same party as the current president. peak of all the shutdowns. Although getting the President’s signature are How we got to such a stark difference the economy appears to be recovering pretty high at this time. And if Biden in tone, can partially be explained with the rising number of Americans does manage that, it will signal the by the dramatic shift leftward of the getting vaccinated, the economic triumphant return of the government Democratic Party in the past two effects of the pandemic will continue (and government spending) into decades. But while that is certainly a to linger. people’s lives. crucial and necessary element of the Regardless of what one thinks of changing political landscape, there Times of crisis such a development, it is really rather are other pieces to this puzzle to be remarkable just how far the country considered. remind people has moved in the last two decades. It First, consider this. Back then in why the federal was only twenty-five years ago that 1996, things were going well in the government exists President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, county - the economy was humming, stood before Congress and famously unemployment was dropping and -and how it can do declared that, “The era of big inflation and interest rates were both certain things (like government is over.” low. As a result the American people And in the same State of the Union wanted the government to stay out of the coordination speech, in January 1996, he also said their business, to leave them alone and of a nationwide this: let them prosper. vaccination "We know big government does not So, President Clinton, knowing that have all the answers. We know there’s people wanted the federal government program) that no not a program for every problem. We out of their lives, gave them just that. privately owned have worked to give the American Now, fast forward twenty-five years entity could. people a smaller, less bureaucratic to April 2021. America has just spent government in Washington. And we the past year battling the worst Furthermore, the pandemic has

April 14, 2021 13 Weekly Review

exposed a collective fragility, in the much while 54% wanted it to do more. went on to win in a landslide. state of people’s own health and in Nevertheless, the pandemic and the But that was then. the economy, leaving people uneasy general leftward shift by Democrats The same Republican Party that had and unsure that everything that they do not tell the story in its entirety. successfully forced Bill Clinton to the took for granted before the pandemic Back to January of 1996, Clinton had right on the balancing of the budget, will still hold true post-pandemic. It is watched closely two years earlier has in recent years largely stopped in such times that people look at the as Republicans seized control of federal government far less warily. Congress for the first time in 40 years concerning itself with the perils of For this reason, the Gallup poll in by running a campaign that promised excess government spending. As January 1996, had almost 6 in 10 a balanced federal budget. Thus, a result the national debt virtually Americans saying that the government Clinton who was then positioning became a non-issue in the American was “trying to do too many things himself for re-election, gave the “era political conscience/discourse. And that should be left to individuals and of big government is over” speech. while Republicans have now resumed businesses”, while just 1 in 3 (35%) He needed to make sure the country talking about the issue, it is difficult to said the government should be doing knew he wasn’t the free-spending, more. In contrast, in August 2020 big government liberal that he knew be persuasive about something they just 4 in 10 Americans (41%) said that Republicans would cast him as during had all-but-forgotten about when it the government was trying to do too the 1996 campaign- which he then was their party in the White House. K

14 2 Iyar 5781 DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE HEBREW READING DIFFICULTIES? DOES HE STRUGGLE WITH HIS GEMARA LEARNING? IS IT DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO WATCH HIM LAG BEHIND, NOT PROGRESSING AT THE PACE OF OTHER KIDS HIS AGE?

NO NEED TO KEEP SUFFERING!!! WE WOULD LIKE OFFER YOU A PROFESSIONAL ONLINE ASSESSMENT THAT WILL IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF YOUR CHILD'S READING DIFFICULTIES AND GIVE YOU THE TOOLS TO OVERCOME THESE DIFFICULTIES ONCE AND FOR ALL, ENABLING YOUR CHILD TO BECOME A FLUENT READER AND SUCCESSFUL IN HIS LEARNING!!! Special Off!! THE FIRST 10 TO CONTACT US WILL RECEIVE AN ASSESSMENT WORTH $500 - FREE!!!

THE ASSESSMENT IS CONDUCTED BY RAV ZVI ZOBIN,FOUNDER OF “THE ZOBIN METHOD” AND ISRAEL'S NO.1 EXPERT IN HEBREW READING DIFFICULTIES. RAV ZOBIN April HAS 14, THOUSANDS 2021 OF 15 SUCCESS STORIES FROM OVER 30 YEARS' EXPERIENCE ASSESSING AND HELPING BOYS. Weekly Review

Naftali Bennett Is Aiming for the Premiership

The expression that has repeated three election campaigns. Instead one of the three candidates has any itself more than any other in the Israeli of two candidates competing for the clear way to put together a whole, political system recently is “fifth mandate, this time there are three functioning coalition. elections’. In every meeting with one contenders: Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has a clear advantage in of the thirteen parties that came in the Netanyahu, with 52 supporters his number of recommenders, so he traditional parade of ‘recommenders’ recommending him to form and head now has the mandate to try and form a into the President’s Residence, the a coalition, Yesh Atid Chairman Yair coalition over the next 28 days. president opened his discussion with Lapid with 45, and Yamina Chairman Throughout the political system, the a reflection of the political situation: Naftali Bennett with the seven MK’s of assessment is that it will be practically there is no candidate for forming the his party recommending him. impossible for Netanyahu to find government who has a majority in the The fourth round of elections breakaways from the opposing camp Knesset or a real chance of forming also breaks the record for non- who will be willing to join him. But a government, and the most likely recommenders vs. the previous the mandate at least enables him to possibility seems to be going for a fifth rounds: The sixteen MK’s of the continue to hold onto the reins in round of elections. From hour to hour Arab Joint List and Ra’am and Tikva the Knesset, and to be the head of and from meeting to meeting, Rivlin’s Chadasha of Sa’ar told the president the Arrangements Committee, from political analyses became darker and that they have no preferred candidate where he can block the dreams of the darker, and even at the end of the for premier. President Rivlin made it opposing bloc – from the replacement recommendations, there is no solution harder for the party representatives by of the Knesset chairman to laws that on the horizon. going into the various disqualifications might prevent him from remaining in In fact, it is the other way around. and vetoes regarding with whom they place with an indictment. And so, with The map of recommendations is more will or won’t be willing to sit in the the opposing camp having no way to complex and complicated than ever government, but at the end of the day, use the majority it has achieved in the – certainly compared to the previous the answer remained the same: no elections, he will be able to gradually

16 2 Iyar 5781 Yosef Avraham

lessen the sting of the election results Chadasha would have recommended position in the rotation, its appetite has and not admit failure: already in the Lapid, it is almost certain that Ahmed only grown: it started with a demand first bout after the elections he has Tibi’s party would have joined in as that the government be “paratenic”, bested his rivals who, once again – or well – and Lapid would have reached 53 in the model of Netanyahu-Gantz still – have not succeeded in uniting recommenders, beating Netanyahu’s government, with equal powers and against him. 52. Sa’ar’s decision enabled him to with vetoing rights of the right-wing In Gideon Sa’ar’s Tikva Chadasha stick to his election promises not to bloc over the left, which will make they are still trying to give a last push support Lapid, but at the same time to to the contacts made between Lapid pave the way to Netanyahu’s receiving up for the difference in the number and Bennett over the past few days, in the mandate. of Knesset seats. Then it became a an attempt to agree on a joint rotation When Lapid understood he does not “paritenic-plus” government, with the government. Ze’ev Elkin almost have Sa’ar’s support and the mandate plus being in favor of the Right, with begged the president to invite both of slipped from his hands, he made a majority of one right-wing minister them to his office, the same way he did a statement to the press, in which in the government, the cabinet, and exactly a year ago with Netanyahu and he exposed what he had offered to in all the decision-making bodies. Gantz, in order to get the negotiations Bennett during the negotiations: Bennett and Shaked also demand moving. Rivlin, who apparently failed to be the first prime minister in the that ministers from the Right will last time when the government they rotation. Since the meeting between hold all the ministries they consider formed did not end up being very the two of them, people close to them successful, refused to get involved have been conducting discussions and “ideological” – justice, education, now. Sa’ar, too, decided to sit back and consultations, but these have not yet religions and treasury – and that the not recommend Lapid – in spite of the produced any agreements. From the ministers from the Left receive only high price of such a move; if Tikva moment that Yamina received first less significant ministries. K

April 14, 2021 17 The scholarship, humility, and sterling character that captured hearts As we approach the 15th yahrzeit of the rosh hayeshiva of Be’er Yaakov, Rabbi Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zatzal, on 5 Iyar, Kehiloth speaks with his close associate R’ Menachem Genack shlita, head of OU Kashrus, rav of Shomrei Emunah in Engelwood, N.J., and author of Gan Shoshanim.

18 2 Iyar 5781 April 14, 2021 19 R’ Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zatzal

The rosh hayeshiva was born in Minsk, Belarus to his father R’ Aryeh, rav in Bialystok, son of R’ Refael Shapiro of Volozhin and grandson of the Netziv. In 5693 (1933) R’ Moshe Shmuel traveled to study in Baranovich under R’ Elchanan Wasserman. In 5696 (1936) he moved on to the Mir Yeshiva, where he said he would study notebooks in which talmidim had summarized the shiurim of R’ Baruch Ber Leibowitz. From that point on, he considered himself a talmid of R’ Baruch Ber. In 5698 (1938) he traveled to Eretz Yisrael to attend the Lomza Yeshiva in Petach Tikva, and in 5704 (1944) he went to Yerushalayim to study under his cousin R’ Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik, the Brisker Rav.

In the course of our conversation combination of rare lamdonus and Berenbaum once called him about an with R’ Menachem Genack, R’ Moshe astounding ameilus. urgent matter. They began speaking Shmuel’s noble and special character His talmidim in Be’er Yaakov, where in learning, and after half an hour the clearly emerged. What follows is what he disseminated Torah for over fifty conversation ended without either R’ Menachem shared with us. years, observed his great hasmadah party having brought up the original R’ Moshe Shmuel was the crown of constantly. He learned with great joy purpose of the call. the roshei hayeshivos, the gaon of Klal and with a sweet tune. One of his sons tells the story of the Yisrael, a pillar of truth, and a paragon The Rebbetzin testified that he time he closeted himself in his room, as of midos tovos. The Chazon Ish said he completely neglected his physical was his custom, completely absorbed was “a neshamah from the World of needs, so engrossed was he in his in his learning. More than five hours Atzilus.” His legendary ameilus, toiling learning. She would sometimes have had passed, but family members didn’t in Torah to the point that no strength to remind him to drink something, but disturb him until a woman arrived, remained, characterized him from his he would protest that it wasn’t yet the in distress and seeking his help. They youth until the end of his days. time. Only when he found a resolution knew how careful he was not to allow His diligence in learning, too, began to the problems in a sugya did he allow such people to wait, so they admitted in his youth. As a bachur he became himself to address his body’s needs. her. Apparently she was in need of known as the best that the Lithuanian A grandson recounted that R’ Moshe money, because after a few minutes yeshivos had produced, owing to his Shmuel’s dear friend R’ Shmuel R’ Moshe Shmuel emerged and asked

20 2 Iyar 5781 Isaac Lefkowitz

one of his students to lend him fifty and inside the shelter everyone painful duty. To avoid bitul Torah, he shekels. He gave the woman the cowered in fear—R’ Moshe Shmuel’s designated a time in the afternoon money, escorted her out of the house, total immersion in his learning each day to deal with the matter, from and quickly returned to his learning. never abated. When he needed a the time the shiur ended until second But his mind had never left the sugya, sefer, he walked out to the nearby seder began at 3:30. At exactly that even while helping the woman, so he shul, retrieved it, and returned to the time he began to learn, with the joy was very distressed to find that he shelter. When asked why he wasn’t of Torah on his face, as if he hadn’t had no idea from whom a care in the world. The he had borrowed the talmidim, who also dealt money. That evening in A grandson recounted that R’ Moshe with that issue during that the yeshiva, he talked Shmuel’s dear friend R’ Shmuel period, reported that they with the talmidim to try to Berenbaum once called him about an couldn’t concentrate on locate the lender, which he urgent matter. They began speaking their learning. The Rosh eventually managed to do in learning, and after half an hour the Hayeshiva, who was the after much effort. “See?” conversation ended without either person primarily affected he told the boys, “while by the issue, wasn’t you’re learning, you can’t party having brought up the original disturbed at all. borrow money, because purpose of the call. Those around him would you won’t remember who marvel at his ability to lent the money and you can end up afraid to exit the shelter, he answered maintain his immersion in learning in a situation where you have no idea simply: “I waited until the plane had during times of hardship that would whom to pay back.” passed, then I went out, because I have made a lesser man lose all ability The Rebbetzin relayed that even know he can’t fly backwards.” to focus. When they inquired as to during the war—when planes circled A close talmid recounts that during his secret, he replied with the rare overhead dropping bombs and it one period there fell upon the revelation that there is a place in his was dangerous to leave the shelter, Rosh Hayeshiva a bothersome and heart where only Torah can enter,

April 14, 2021 21 R’ Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zatzal

but troubles, worries, hardship, and the envelope. Opening it and counting suffering cannot. the money would take several minutes, Family members attest that when but the loan wasn’t due until the faced with difficulties, he would following day. “Why can I be mevatel suddenly leave for his study, where he Torah for several minutes on account would open his Gemara and learn, as of something that isn’t relevant today? a drowning man clings to a lifeline to Tomorrow, when I must repay the stave off drowning. loan, I’ll open the envelope. If it is One morning after Shacharis, he short, Hashem will certainly make up rested to gather his strength before the difference for me.” ascending the steps of his home. One morning, R’ Moshe Shmuel’s People heard him admonishing chavrusa saw him enter the bais himself repeatedly, “You have to medrash appearing troubled. He learn!” Shocked, someone objected, told his chavrusa that debt collection “But the Rosh Hayeshiva learns all the officials were coming that day for a time.” He answered that although he loan the yeshiva had taken out, and he does learn, he knows that his learning was unsure whether to try and raise isn’t what it once was. The people were funds or to deliver the shiur. “What astonished to see how much this great do you think?” When he mustered man demanded of himself. the courage, the bachur said, “Maybe Another associate says that the learn?” The Rosh Hayeshiva accepted yeshiva at one point was suffering the recommendation and began financially, and the Rosh Hayeshiva working on preparing the shiur with was due to repay a significant loan not a worry on his face. During the he had taken out on its behalf. As shiur, the boys saw the collectors enter the yeshiva’s coffers were empty, a the building. Suddenly another man meeting of philanthropic friends of entered and announced to the Rosh the yeshiva was convened. The Rosh Hayeshiva that he has a loan for him. Hayeshiva spoke, and donations were The Rosh Hayeshiva took the money collected. They were placed in a sealed and sent a bachur to deliver it to the envelope, which was handed to R’ officials. He then continued the shiur Moshe Shmuel. He walked home. with no evident excitement about The next day, the man who had the wonder that everyone had just accompanied him to the meeting witnessed. approached the Rosh Hayeshiva and Even during the few hours daily that asked nervously whether the money he spent sleeping, he was learning. raised was sufficient to cover the While sleeping during a long trip, his debt. The Rosh Hayeshiva replied that son noticed that although his eyes he hadn’t yet opened the envelope. were closed, his lips continued to Stunned, the man asked if the debt move, speaking words of Torah. When obligation didn’t weigh heavily on R’ Moshe Shmuel awoke, the son his shoulders. With characteristic expressed his amazement to his father, simplicity, R’ Moshe Shmuel answered who replied with a question: “What that he just hadn’t had the time to open else should I do while sleeping?”

22 2 Iyar 5781 Isaac Lefkowitz

While he was sick, and weakness the fate of the yeshiva. Everyone knew panicked people were likely to violate left him unable to open his eyes, one how much time and effort had been Yom Tov, so it would be appropriate to of his sons noticed his lips moving. invested into collecting funds to buy quickly review the pertinent halachos, “What is Father saying? Does Father the shacks, and now the yeshiva was which he proceeded to do. need something?” With A talmid testified: difficulty, his father opened “In the 35 years I his eyes and said, “No, I While sleeping during a long trip, his merited to know him, don’t need a thing, I’m in son noticed that although his eyes including many years Bava Basra daf lamed bais were closed, his lips continued to in his inner circle, I amud bais!” move, speaking words of Torah. When never saw him angry, In the early days of Be’er or even anywhere Yaakov, the yeshiva was R’ Moshe Shmuel awoke, the son ex- close. It seems that housed in a cluster of pressed his amazement to his father, anger was completely flammable wooden shacks. who replied with a question: “What removed from his On Yom Kippur night, at else should I do while sleeping?” nature and character. the height of davening, “Once we visited him someone yelled “Fire!” together with a bride Everyone scurried to safety. Fathers lost. R’ Moshe Shmuel, however, was and groom and requested marital searched for their sons. When the the picture of equanimity. He called advice for them and us. He thought for people were secure, worry shifted to over a talmid and suggested that the a moment and said that the foundation

April 14, 2021 23 R’ Moshe Shmuel Shapiro zatzal

of the home is the complete absence of how bad it was, and undertook to was a foundational matter in building anger. Anyone who doesn’t understand distance himself from it totally. I was a home and in general behavior, how bad anger is, he said, should look stunned that the epiphany of a child especially for a ben Torah. in the mirror while angry and see how had led him to achieve complete self- R’ Menachem concludes that he he looks. One of could go on about R’ those present then Moshe Shmuel for said that while all “Once we visited him together with a bride many hours, but that this is certainly true, and groom and requested marital advice for the primary traits the Rosh Hayeshiva them and us. He thought for a moment and that describe his couldn’t possibly said that the foundation of the home is the life are scholarship, understand regular complete absence of anger” people, who have humility, and it in their nature to become angry. control, against his nature, to such sterling character. These attributes He answered that he certainly had effect that all those years later it was radiated upon and influenced anger in his nature, but he had had clear that anger remained banished everyone with whom he came in a burst of anger at age twelve, saw from his domain. He clearly held this contact. K

24 2 Iyar 5781 MD CARE IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR HOME

• Home Visits • COVID Medical Management • IV HYDRATION to avoid KIDNEY DAMAGE from dehydration • Also offering • High Dose of IV Vitamin C - 25 grams for Infection, Inflammation, Malignancies (50 -75 grams) • Cutting Edge IV Therapy for Anxiety, Depression, Stress, Parkinson’s, Dementia • IV Cocktails for Headache Exacerbations, Nausea and Immune Boost

DR BORUCH LEKHT, MD Internal Medicine 347 386 0158 – text only 732 534 0394 – leave a message

April 14, 2021 25 R’ Yeshaya Ben R’ Moshe

Kehiloth traces the wondrous life of the Rebbe R’ Yeshayaleh Kerestirer zatzal, 96 years after his passing.

26 2 Iyar 5781 The amazing tzadik R’ Yeshayaleh Kerestirer was a phenomenon. His court in Kerestir was the ultimate destination for seekers of Torah and knowledge. Multitudes streamed to his door to hear his holy word or receive advice, a bracha, or a yeshuah. Above all, R’ Yeshayaleh sanctified the mitzvah of chessed and made it his primary holy work, on an unparalleled level. He worked and worried, every day and night, so that no Jew would be without food, shelter, or clothing. It was known across Hungary and beyond that in the holy court of Kerestir there was hachnasas orchim for great and small, rich and poor, and that R’ Yeshayaleh’s home was open to all guests, including those fleeing conscription into the anti- Semitic Hungarian military and the impoverished grape treaders from the nearby vineyards in Tokaj. Those who entered hungry and downtrodden would emerge satisfied and content. R’ Yeshaya Steiner was born in 5612 (1851) to a simple family in a town near Bardejov, Slovakia. When he was orphaned from his father at three, his righteous mother sent him to Liska (Olaszliszka), Hungary to the holy R’ Tzvi Hirsch of Liska, author of Ach Pri Tevuah and a leader of Chassidus in Hungary.

April 14, 2021 27 R’ Yeshaya Ben R’ Moshe

R’ Yeshaya grew and flourished under multitudes, though they had come to bais medrash to hear his Torah. Many his rebbi, who cherished him like a seek his advice and blessing. would raise their eyebrows in wonder, son, and was eventually appointed In addition to humility and chessed, and some had the gall to ask whether his assistant. Already as a bachur, he he had endless patience. Sometimes this was necessary—couldn’t the help was recognized as a tzadik. His rebbi’s downtrodden Jews who heard about serve the guests? love for him is evident from this story: his hospitality would settle into his He would laugh at these questions Before his passing, the Liska Rebbe home as members of the household, and not allow anyone else to do the declared that it was difficult for him including some that were insane. mitzvah in his stead. to leave this world not having seen his R’ Yeshaya treated them all with his The Rebbe’s chessed never ceased beloved talmid establish a home. After characteristic warmth and listened for a moment. Before shofar on Rosh the Rebbe’s passing, on Erev Shabbos attentively to their problems and Hashanah, he would cut cake for the Parshas Tazria, 4 Nisan, 5635 (1875), R’ stories. people. When asked, he would say, Yeshayaleh married “Great tzadikim are Sarah, daughter of With extraordinary simplicity, he of- involved at this time R’ Yitzchak Yonah with meditations on Weinstock of Mád, fered hospitality in his home to all who secrets (“razin”), but and settled in Kerestir came through the area, and the Hun- I’m a simple Jew, busy (Bodrogkeresztur). garian Jews who came in droves knew making Jews satisfied He would regularly rather than hungry travel to see great that they needn’t worry about food or (“razon”). men, including lodging when coming to the Rebbe. R’ Yeshaya would R’ Mordechai of expend particular Nadvorna, R’ Shmuel effort for melava Frankel of Dorog, and others. He He would expend special effort malka, when double the usual number also became a talmid of R’ Chaim and display particular fondness for of people would attend. He would Halberstam of Sanz, the Divrei Chaim. guests who toiled in Torah and served serve from after Shabbos until the After his marriage, he began leading Hashem. He would ensure that they wee hours, and the Shechinah could the chassidim of the Liska Rebbe, who ate and rested before coming to the be felt. He would speak at length about had sought him out. the secrets of the Torah. Throngs of Though he quicky achieved renown chassidim and regular guests drank within Hungarian Jewry, he acted his words thirstily, drawing from them with great humility. He would sign his wisdom and encouragement to last all sefarim, “the small one, Yeshaya son of week. He would personally make sure our teacher R’ Moshe, who served in that no one lacked food and that all holiness the Tzadik of Liska, may his would sate themselves from this meal, merit protect us.” the food for the Resurrection of the With extraordinary simplicity, he Dead. offered hospitality in his home to all People who lived in our time recalled who came through the area, and the how he had a basket of challos at his Hungarian Jews who came in droves feet from which he would draw and knew that they needn’t worry about distribute to the participants—as food or lodging when coming to the numerous as they were—but it never Rebbe. R’ Yeshaya himself, in his great ran out. He once revealed something of humility, would stand and serve the this phenomenon when he explained

28 2 Iyar 5781 Isaac Lefkowitz

that he keeps the basket under the that he wasn’t seeking a gabbai, on his own family’s needs and borrow table because “blessing is only found but that he pays a Jew in need of a heavily. in hidden things.” This supernatural livelihood to serve him. The Rebbe even honored the local event occurred in secret, obscured by The Rebbe’s Shabbos preparation gentiles, including the lowliest among the table. began on Thursday, when he would them. When his son-in-law asked why So great was the fourth meal of distribute tzedakah to the poor of the he greeted gentiles, he explained: Shabbos in his eyes that he asked in city and its environs. Simultaneously, “Jews who make a living among his will to inscribe on his tombstone the Rebbetzin would distribute to gentiles feel the burden of exile. How that he had worked extensively for the them meat and challos. The Rebbe can I feel it? By greeting them, I feel meal of Dovid Hamelech. would stand over the pots, adding their importance, and I thereby feel His humility was exceptional and wood to the fire and salt to the dishes. the burden of the exile.” rare. He hid his greatness in Torah, Many paupers ate at his table, and he In his great humility, he didn’t leave leading some to question it. At would walk among them, distributing behind sefarim or Torah novellae, meals he wouldn’t say Torah in his portions of food and listening to their but his name became especially own name, instead reading No’am woes. known across the Jewish world even Elimelech aloud without comment. The climax of the Rebbe’s Shabbos, after his passing on account of the He hid his scholarship even from his as noted, was melava malka, when all miracle of protection from mice—his assistants and his household, some of the Jews of the region would assemble. picture is placed in homes, hotels, and whom recalled pretending to sleep in On Erev Pesach he would fulfill the warehouses until today as a segulah to order to watch him toil in Torah when mitzvah of kimcha depis’cha with great keep mice at bay. he thought no one was watching. care, sending wine, meat, fish, and When one attempts to find an When one of his chassidim matzos to the poor of the region and explanation or a source for this, two volunteered to serve him, he replied beyond. Sometimes he had to scrimp different stories emerge.

April 14, 2021 29 R’ Yeshaya Ben R’ Moshe

In the first version, a Jew who owned came to the Rebbe and told him that animals feared R’ Yeshayaleh’s holy a large granary complained to R’ a plague of mice had struck his home image. Yeshayaleh that hundreds of mice had and was consuming his belongings. His great students, including the overrun his stores, and all his attempts The Rebbe quietly gave the man his great rabbanim of Hungary, explained to drive them out had failed. R’ picture with instructions to hang it in that the primary opposition to Yeshayaleh summoned two prominent a corner of his house. He did so, and the chessed and tzedakah comes from the local men. Sitting with them as a bais mice were never seen again. It became creatures that Chazal called “these din, he decreed upon the mice that clear to all that these damaging wicked mice.” They steal and destroy they move to the neighboring gentile- at every opportunity. R’ Yeshayaleh, owned granary. The mice complied. the paragon of chessed and giving, is The second version has it that a their polar opposite, so they fear him Jew went AWOL from the army and and flee from him. Thus did this tested was sentenced to death. His family segulah spread among Klal Yisrael. approached R’ Yeshayaleh, who Bonds of deep love continue to bind promised he would work to save the the Jews of Hungary to R’ Yeshayaleh. soldier. When the court clerk went to Many whose fathers and grandfathers retrieve the man’s file from the judge’s were among his acolytes, and many chambers, he found it had been eaten others who only heard about him, by mice. travel to his gravesite from around Eventually, R’ Yeshayaleh’s picture the world. Many who found a yeshuah became a segulah for protection from there or descend from those who mice. The story that spread among obtained one from him directly Hungarian Jews was that a man once continue to make their way there,

30 2 Iyar 5781 Isaac Lefkowitz

as stories of miracles experienced It appears that the primary reason the faith of all present. by those who daven at his graveside for the increase in travel to Kerestir is R’ Yeshayaleh led his flock for nearly continue to this day, and this writer the yeshuos that people have received. 50 years, including the dark days of has met people who recount such During R’ Yeshayaleh’s lifetime, stories World War I, during which he provided experiences. abounded of his miracles. At melava food for hundreds of starving Jews. Even when the borders were sealed, Malka, he would distribute sugar It is told that after his marriage he even when Hungary was under cubes (called “Kotzker sugar”), from wished to live in his rebbi’s town of communist rule, people managed to Liska, but some people find their way to the sought to undermine small town in the Many who found a yeshuah there or Tokaj wine region to descend from those who obtained one him, and he wanted to pray at the tzadik’s avoid conflict. He went tomb, and to pray from him directly continue to make to consult with the Yetav in the room where their way there, as stories of miracles Lev, who advised him to he received visitors experienced by those who daven at his leave, saying “You’ll find and helped them, graveside continue to this day, and this your livelihood even by natural means on a mountaintop.” The or otherwise, which writer has met people who recount tzadik’s words came true: remains intact to such experiences. Though R’ Yeshayaleh this day. lived on a flat plain, on In recent years, which people said they received much the main street of Kerestir, he was mass travel to R’ Yeshayaleh’s grave buried on a mountaintop. has exploded, with thousands arriving bracha and yeshuah. R’ Yeshayaleh, from across the globe. Toward the end bereft of self, would tell stories of On 3 Iyar, 5685 (1925), R’ Yeshayaleh of the day on his yahrzeit, 3 Iyar, the tzadikim at that time, sometimes returned his holy soul to his Maker. site is mobbed, reminiscent of Miron even stories of miracles he himself May his merit stand by all of Klal on Lag Ba’Omer. experienced, and thereby strengthen Yisrael. K

April 14, 2021 31 The special story of Princess Alice of Battenberg

The ‘Righteous Among the Nations’ buried on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem

32 2 Iyar 5781 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh died last Friday in England at the age of 99. The Prince, who was married to the Queen of England for over seventy years, is of special interest to us because of the good deeds of his mother, Princess Alice von Battenberg.

‘Kehiloth’ delves into the history of Princess Alice, of European nobility who rose to the occasion to prove her humanity against the rising Nazi powers. Princess Alice was born in England in 1885 as a Princess of the Battenberg-Hesse nobility and a granddaughter of the British royal family. She married Prince Andrew of Denmark and Greece and lived in and out of Athens for several decades while the Greek royal family was exiled and re-instated more than once in the first half of the 20th century. After the German occupation of Greece in 1943 Princess Alice helped hide Jews from the Nazis and saved several from the deportation and extermination of most of Greece’s Jews. After the overthrow of King Constantine II and the 1967 military coup, Princess Alice moved in with her son Philip (who had married Princess Elizabeth of England) at Buckingham Palace in London, where she died in 1969. She had requested that she be buried on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, and in 1988 her bones were transferred to Jerusalem for burial in the convent on Har Hazeisim.

April 14, 2021 33 The special story of Princess Alice of Battenberg

In September 1943, Athens was his brothers to Egypt. Earlier, in 1913, the poor during the First World War occupied by the Nazis following the Rachel’s husband, Haimaki Cohen, and later in France in the difficult surrender of Italy, and the persecution had aided King George I of Greece. In period following the war. of the Jews began. During the Nazi return, King George had offered him Surprisingly, while Princess Alice hid occupation, thousands of Jews lived any service that he could perform a Jewish family in her home in Athens should Cohen ever need during the war, her daughters lived in it. Years later, during Germany and were close to the Nazi At that time, Princess the Nazi threat, Cohen’s regime, her sons-in-law were German son remembered this, Princes who became Nazi supporters Alice hid several Jews, and appealed to Princess and high-ranking officers in the including a Jewish widow Alice, who, with Princess German army. Sophie, the youngest by the name of Rachel Nicholas, was one of only daughter, was married to Prince Cohen, along with two of two remaining members Christoph von Hesse, a senior member of the royal family left in of the Nazi regime who served under her five children. Greece. Princess Alice Herman Goering. Princess Margarita, honored the promise and the eldest daughter, married Gottfried, in Athens seeking refuge from the saved the Cohen family. The Cohen who fought in the German uniform on Gestapo, which deported 60,000 family remained under the auspices the Russian front. Another daughter, of the 75,000 Greek Jews to the of Princess Alice until the end of the Cecilia, was married to German extermination camps. At that time, German occupation. Prince Georg Donatus who was also Princess Alice hid several Jews, The princess’ long history of affiliated with the Nazi Party. including a Jewish widow by the name charitable work included establishing Although the Nazi Gestapo of Rachel Cohen, along with two of military hospitals and serving as a suspected Alice and interrogated her her five children. According to Yad nurse during the Balkan War (1912- several times, she was known to be Vashem, they were later joined by 13). She helped the poor and destitute congenitally deaf and she overplayed another son who failed to escape with and set up soup kitchens in Greece for her handicap. They were largely

34 2 Iyar 5781 Eli Fishamn

convinced that she was pro-German previously referred to his family’s Nazi lives on the line to save Jews from the because of her daughters and sons-in- connections, but claimed he himself clutches of the Nazis) at Yad Vashem in law, but she was not at all. When she had not witnessed any of them express Jerusalem, for which purpose Prince was once visited by a German general antisemitic views. Philip came to Israel to plant a tree in who asked her, “Is there anything I can Princess Alice’s daughters were not her name. do for you?”, she replied, “You can take invited to Queen Elizabeth’s wedding In 2016, her grandson, Prince your troops out of my country.” to Prince Philip in 1947 because of Charles, took advantage of his visit Her youngest son, Prince Philip, their pro-Nazi German connections. to Jerusalem after attending Shimon who served in the British Navy In 1994, Princess Alice received the Peres’ funeral and went to her tomb during World War II and took part title of “Righteous Among the Nations” on the Mount of Olives, but the story in battles against the Nazis, had (a title given to non-Jews who put their was almost untold at the time due to the fact that East Jerusalem is defined in England as “occupied Palestinian Her youngest son, Prince Philip, territory.” Prince Philip himself also who served in the British Navy paid an unofficial private visit to during World War II and took part Israel in 1994, but has since been in battles against the Nazis, had unable to visit his mother’s grave previously referred to his family’s due to opposition from the British Nazi connections, but claimed he government to a visit by members himself had not witnessed any of them of the royal family to the territory express antisemitic views. defined as occupied by the State of Israel. K

April 14, 2021 35 The Cutting Edge Tech Trends from around the Globe

Creating the fuel of the future? American researchers have grown seaweed that can be farmed for biofuel

For a number of years already, biofuels used in cars, According to reports, the institute’s researchers jet planes, ships and large trucks came mainly from investigated how to allow the kelp to grow to a maximal corn and other agricultural products, such as soybeans. degree and invented a unique method that enables it to American researchers from the USC Wrigley Institute for grow four times as fast as its natural growth rate. The Environmental Studies searched for a greener solution special technique involves using a contraption called a in the ocean, and discovered that sources for fuel can be “kelp elevator”, which speeds up kelp’s growth by raising grown very efficiently by using algae. and lowering the plants to different depths in the ocean. Macroalgae (kelp) usually grow in shallow areas near the The team’s new findings suggest that it will be possible shore, and thrive only when there is much sunshine and to use the open sea to grow kelp, from which biological, nutrients. Most of the ocean surface is poor in nutrients. environmental-friendly fuel can be produced. Deep water, on the other hand, is rich in nutrients, but no The study, published recently in the journal, Renewable sunlight penetrates to those depths. and Sustainable Energy Reviews, focused on the macroalgae

36 2 Iyar 5781 The Cutting Edge Devorah Jacobowitz

– macrocystis pyrifera, this is a type of seaweed that creates the open sea. A young kelp plant is attached to a horizontal underwater forests along the shores of California. plank, and the entire structure goes up and down This kelp’s natural rate of growth is one of the fastest in automatically. nature, and its lifecycle is well known to science, so it is very “Forging new pathways to make biofuel requires proving convenient to use. that new methods and feedstocks work. This experiment on When the study began in 2019, the scientists dived and the Southern California coast is an important step because it collected samples, attached them to the special elevator demonstrates kelp can be managed to maximize growth.” writes and then placed these elevators along the shores of Catalina Diane Young Kim, one of the authors of the USC Wrigley island in California. For one hundred days straight, the Institute research paper. elevator raised the kelp to a depth of 9 meters below water She adds that they found that the algae that grew with during the day, so that it would receive sunlight, and their method grew much faster than the control group. lowered it to a depth of about 80 meters at night, so it would It should be noted that producing biofuels from crops such be able to absorb nitrates and phosphates in the deep water. as corn and soybeans could cause water pollution. Farmers At the same time, the team checked the water and the use pesticides and fertilizers that could reach groundwater, temperatures and compared the algae’s rate of growth to rivers and lakes, and pollute them. Also, growing crops for that of a control group of kelp growing in natural conditions. biofuel on land means using valuable natural resources and The kelp elevator comprises fiberglass horizontal tubes water. In contrast to other biofuel sources, the algae does attached to stainless-steel cables that support the kelp in not need land, fresh water or fertilizers. K

April 14, 2021 37 We want to reach the clients of our clients. In their head and in their heart.

Our work encompasses brand design and identity, products and packaging, exhibitions and installations, websites and digital experiences, advertising, and marketing campaigns. Our name is in our work.

chat. 718.581.6274 [email protected] www.Nameless.team 38 2 Iyar 5781 40. Personal story 44. Personal Angle 46. Delicious recipes 50. BeneFit Health 51. Kehiloth Kids 54. Jewish Gallery chat. 718.581.6274 [email protected] www.Nameless.team April 14, 2021 39 Personal story

Estranged!

No answer – again! For the fifth spot in the many challenges I had vindication. Such a daughter! Such a time that day I was being told by an endured as a wife and mother for the shidduch! I couldn’t have been such a annoyingly carefree voice that my past 25 years. A beautiful family, it’s bad mother, after all. oldest daughter, Miri, was not available true, but with a son with behavioral The birth of a precious baby within and had not set up a voice mail. issues… a daughter with an eating the year, further added to my joy. Little Strange! She hadn’t told me she was disorder… a child with learning did I know that only two months later, going anywhere. Where could she difficulties… a husband with an my whole world would fall apart. have been for so many hours? ongoing health condition, it hadn’t It didn’t make any sense, but lurking been easy! beneath my obvious concern I had a But then there was Miri! A model sneaking suspicion … student… a gentle soul… a kind and I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a Miri was deliberately not taking my helpful person – Miri always managed “worrier;” after a day and a half of calls! to take-away the pain. From the time unanswered calls, I was frantic. Was she was born (she barely cried as a anything wrong with the baby? What baby!), her ability to please never about Miri and Berish? A perennial wavered. Even as a young girl, she pessimist, my thoughts turned to Estrangement! I was barely familiar became my “right-hand,” my listening sickness and accidents. Should I call with the word before my beloved ear, my cheer-leader. the emergency room? Should I call 22-year-old daughter, mother of my Miri became engaged to Berish, my son-in-law’s mother, my choshuve adorable first grandchild, decided – an aspiring young talmid chochom macheteiniste? without warning – to cut me out of shortly after leaving seminary. Trying not to appear a panic-monger, her life. And if I had been familiar with Naturally, I was thrilled, not only for I did nothing. Instead, I called Miri the word, and its terrible meaning, Miri but also for myself. Her upcoming again… and again. No answer! I would never in my wildest dreams marriage not only compensated for Unable to hold back any longer, I have thought it could apply to Miri. the disappointments I had suffered urged my husband to visit the Kollel Miri! The light of my life, the bright over the years, but gave me a sense of where my son-in-law learned. A half-

40 2 Iyar 5781 Chaya Baumwolspiner

hour later, he came back to say he’d drenched with love and concern. encouragement I needed. Now there seen Berish and everything was fine. “How are you?” was no Miri to confide in; in fact, there Fine? With my fears thankfully There was an awkward silence and was no one to confide in at all. My dear allayed, I was engulfed by a flash of then she spoke in a cold, matter-of-fact husband, as I expected, dismissed irritation. If everything was fine, why tone so unlike her own. Miri’s behavior with anger and told wasn’t Miri picking up my calls? What “Mommy! Why did you come? I can’t me to not to think about her until she was she playing at? speak to you now. Please go home.” apologized. That was something I Although I wasn’t ready to admit it, I I laid down the treats and, my whole didn’t expect to happen. sensed that this was no game. If Miri, body trembling, I scurried to my car. I And it didn’t! Instead, a letter came the wonderful young woman whom did not allow myself the parting glance from Miri about two weeks after I’d I’d spoken to daily was now making I craved. I would not allow Miri to see visited her. Miri, to her credit, felt I herself mysteriously absent, things my tears. deserved an explanation, but there were anything but fine! was no trace of an apology. In its place, Not knowing what to do next – but was an indictment! knowing I must do something – I Miri’s talented prose and beautiful gathered some of Miri’s favorite treats I am not a writer and I’ve never been penmanship could not disguise the and took a 15-minute drive across town all that good at expressing myself. But, brute force behind her words. In short, and knocked gingerly at her door. She even if I was, I doubt that there is a I had “ruined her life” by making her opened quickly with a jovial flourish (I way to describe the heart-wrenching my “golden child.” Sensitive to the imagine she was expecting someone emotions of a mother rejected by her difficulties I faced, she had felt an else), but as soon as she saw me, her closest daughter. Grief, confusion, unmitigated obligation to please me face froze and her eyes narrowed. I and at times (I have to admit) moments and, though that it is not a bad thing in noticed that she sucked in her breath of annoyance; above all, there was an itself, it had come at a price. The price in an attempt to regain her composure, intense loneliness. For so many years of friendships… outings… overnights… but her nervousness remained. I had shared my sorrows with Miri, camps. While I’d always thought that “Miri!” I exclaimed, my voice who always gave me the comfort and Miri was a homebody who chose to

April 14, 2021 41 Personal story

stay put, the awful truth was that result of her upbringing. The therapist Miri would have liked to have fun like had not only validated her feelings, but everyone else. Realizing my neediness, told Miri to cut off ties with her family however she felt forced to stay home; in order to give her time to “heal.” she didn’t want me to worry and she Now was the time! I should know – didn’t want me to be alone. Berish told me – that when Miri had And that, unfortunately was only “worked through” her resentment, she the beginning of Miri’s complaints. would remake contact, albeit on her Relentlessly, Miri accused me of terms. imposing my own anxiety on her I am still waiting for that glorious because I had made her my confidante. moment, although almost a year has No, she hadn’t wanted to hear me passed. Initially I was wracked by guilt voice my anguish with my struggling and remorse for causing Miri pain, but children or my husband’s inability to after some time – on the advice of a help. She didn’t want to be my shrink! Rav – I sought out my own therapist. If I’d needed to unload my woes (as I Our many tear-filled sessions taught surely did), why had I not sought the me that my dependence on Miri was help of a professional? the result of my circumstances and Why, indeed? not ill-meant. Mothers make mistakes! I have certainly made mine, but that doesn’t make me a terrible mother, a mother who should be deprived of a It was not until several days later loving connection to her daughter and that I learned why Miri had decided her grandchild. to air her grievances at this point, In recent months, I have learned although she was already married and bore the brunt of my dependence less that my case is not unique. There are often than before. With, no doubt, other children who, like Miri have some feelings of embarrassment, her been wrongfully told to estrange husband Berish called me to fill in themselves from their mothers as the some of the gaps. Miri, it seems had result of an unhealthy relationship. A been seeing a therapist for some time mother is a mother! Look at my tear- because she’d been deeply troubled by stained pillows and you’ll know there feelings of anger and bitterness as the has to be a better way. K

42 2 Iyar 5781 April 14, 2021 43 Personal Angle

Musings from Jerusalem On your mark get set… fizzle out

I feel like the Ford Cortina that my family owned eons and, in general, the gears of daily life sound a bit rusty ago: It had a problem with the ignition. It was so hard to get (squeak, groan). Even the one cake I have baked already started that even the luckless thieves who tried to steal it came out rather flat, refusing to rise to the occasion. And couldn’t get it going and abandoned it a block away. the first batch of pitas purchased is not as fluffy as usual. Post Pesach this year, it is difficult for me to get into gear. So One thing seems to have started going, with a bang: It far, this “car” has managed only to push the ignition button seems that people are battering down the doors of the on the washing machine and to hang the resulting wet nurses’ rooms in the health clinics; the earliest available laundry. Okay, I’ve also managed to help put the house back appointment for a blood test is in three weeks… But, Israel in order (my husband did the rest). being Israel (Baruch Hashem!) I hope to be squeezed in By the way, I found out that amongst German Jewry, the (ouch), sooner than that. night after Pesach was known as Rumpelnacht, meaning The political system seems to be suffering from the same “the night of disorder”. It sounds better in German: in the problem, except there the goal is to form a government, and word Rumpelnacht you can hear the bustle and commotion the problem didn’t start after Pesach; it appears to be chronic. of moving around plates, silverware, pots, tablecloths and If I didn’t believe in Mashiach, I think I would have given all those odds and ends like can-openers (which have a up already. As it is, it’s hard to imagine anything working phenomenal ability to get lost, no matter what you do). And out in the near future. A budget? Making permanent job the goal is… chametz! appointments? Metaphorically, they haven’t even swept up So, we’ve gotten through that night and eaten quite a bit the matzah crumbs, not to mention pulling the tape off the of chametz already. We have even purchased the necessary sealed cabinets. I’m definitely not holding my breath, but I ingredients for challah baking. But to actually move forward would so much like to hear that the country is on its way, big and get on with life? Hey there, the body is still recovering time, to where it should be in the long run! (It probably is, from the matzah overload! but it’s hard to see that at the moment.) I guess I’m not the only one, though. The yeshiva boys But back to the home front: haven’t gone back yet, the weekly classes haven’t restarted, Routine is nice, I’ve got to admit. I really don’t like getting

44 2 Iyar 5781 Yael Goldwasser Lily nail salon • Waxing -nails -eybroow tinting • Private waxing • Hot stone massage • Special! Manicure & pedicure now only 35$ • Spiceal! Gel color manicure now only 25$ • Special! All body waxing 20% off *excluding facial -only Monday and Tues- day

(coupons may not be combined with other offers credit card mini- mum 10$)

Attention :all pedicure files, up in the middle of the night and home, we found the headlights’ switch buffers , pumice bars are all staggering down a hallway lined was broken, so we had to stay there for disposable. One time use only . with kitchen implements left out to the night. All the guest houses in town dry. Routine living doesn’t require were taken, but we finally found two We do eyebrow and eyelash so much thinking, as in: “Um, I need a rooms in a run-down pension. We split coloring. peeler. Where is it???”, and “How do up, my mother and I in one room, and we usually heat water for coffee on More employees to serve my father and the boys in the other, to you better! Pesach?”, and “Did we find the pot- get ready for a pajama-less, toothbrush- holders yet?” (Hint: they were stuffed less night to be spent on ancient and/or Hours : away in the linen closet in one of those Mon- wed : 9:30 am -8:00 pm makeshift beds. And then… someone Thursday- 9:30 am -8:30 pm desperate last-minute moves). stepped into the shower and turned on Friday- 9:00 am -8:00 pm In routine times, one feels more in the water. BANG!!! The showerhead Saturday- 10:00 am – 7:00 pm control, whether for real or not; the Sunday- 10:00 am – 8:00 pm came apart and hit the wall, sounding ship, if to continue with the metaphors, for all the world like a gun going off. I is all equipped and even has its supply still remember our hysterical laughter system up and running; the days have – relief that it was not an actual gun, some sort of structure to them. Not and a letting out of all the frustrations that anything is actually predictable, we had gone through. of course, but for starters, at least you have a prediction. Not a routine night. K Speaking of that ole’ Ford Cortina, one day we took off for the beach in For comments and remarks Email me Ashkelon in it. When it was time to go at: [email protected] 732.370.8877 Walk-in welcome 1091 River Ave. Rt. 9 April 14, 2021 45 Todd plaza Lakewood NJ 08701 Delicious recipes

Best Natural Strawberry Ice Cream

This week we chose to bring you two very simple and especially delicious desserts. Sweet, refreshing and light desserts that are especially suitable for the long Shabbosos of the summer. These are easy recipes that even the young children can prepare for the family, -especially the strawberry ice cream, which takes a short time to prepare and the instructions are straightforward and simple.

Ingredients: • 16 oz (Parve) Whipping Cream • 1 lb thawed frozen strawberries or fresh strawberries • 1/2 cup sugar

Preparation: • Blend the strawberries in a blender. • Remove 1/2 cup of the strawberries to a container, add a third cup of water and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Stir and keep in the refrigerator. This is the ice cream sauce. • Whip the whipping cream with the sugar to a stiff cream. • Gently pour the rest of the blended strawberries into the whipped cream and mix briefly on low speed. • To upgrade the ice cream: Cut 4-5 strawberries into small cubes and fold gently into the ice cream mixture. • Pour into a container or serving cups and freeze.

When serving: Pour a tablespoon or two of the sweet strawberry sauce over each serving.

46 2 Iyar 5781 Toby Klein

April 14, 2021 47 Delicious recipes

Biscuit Ice Cream Mousse in Two Layers

Ingredients: • 30 plain biscuits • 7 oz of dark chocolate • 3.5 oz margarine • 6 separated eggs • 3/4 cup sugar • 8 oz whipping cream • 3 tablespoons sugar • 3 oz instant vanilla pudding

Preparation: • Dip 15 biscuits in wine or liqueur and cover the base of a pan/container with them. • Gently melt the chocolate with the margarine (in hot water bath). • Stir the egg yolks into the warm (-not hot) chocolate mixture. • Beat the egg whites with 3/4 cup sugar to a stiff foam. • Carefully combine the chocolate mixture with the foam in slow folding motions. • Pour the mousse mixture over the biscuits in the pan. • Moisten another 15 biscuits with wine or liqueur and arrange over the mousse layer. • At this point you can put the mousse in the freezer. • Whip the (Parve) whipping cream with the instant pudding and 3 tablespoons of sugar • Spread the whipped cream over the mousse.

48 2 Iyar 5781 Toby Klein

April 14, 2021 49 BeneFit Health Shaindy Oberlander

Shaindy Oberlander is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, mothers, tracks for gut health and tracks geared towards common certified through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and intestinal issues that can be healed with proper nutrition. Shaindy through Mercy College in New York City. She has a private practice will be contributing to the Kehiloth magazine via a Q&A series. in Lakewood along with many virtual clients worldwide. Shaindy caters to teens and adults and creates customized lifestyle and food We want to hear from you! Email your health and wellness plans geared towards overall wellness, nutrition, weight loss and questions to [email protected] subject: ‘Benefit Health’ and get hormone balancing. She has specific tracks for pregnant/nursing your questions answered!

I know it is so important for me to try to join a gym to work out! Exercise can be fast, fun, cheap and incorporate exercise into my daily routine. effective when done in the comfort of your own home. I like But is it really that important? Just thinking to teach my clients that they can incorporate movement Q. about exercise adds pressure to my day as I while they are anyway doing housework. For instance, work full time and I am a mother to a large when washing dishes, focus on strengthening and lifting family. Your advice is very appreciated. your pelvic floor. When bending down to bathe your kids, you can work on strengthening your pelvic floor as well. (You can learn the proper way of doing so from a personal Thank you for your question. trainer, or your doctor) Do the exercises that work for To answer it, let us first understand you. Enjoy what you are doing. It is important to want to the health benefits of exercising. By exercise. There are various forms and styles of exercise. A. incorporating exercise into our daily Find the one that speaks to you most. You can opt for cardio, schedule, we are doing ourselves a big yoga, swimming, walking, running, or dancing. Simply favor and protecting our bodies. Exercise helps improve your dancing with your children and getting your heart rate up memory and brain function, protects against many chronic is amazing for you! Brisk walking on a crisp spring morning diseases, lowers blood pressure, improves heart health, can do wonders for your physical and mental health! improves your quality of sleep, reduces feelings of anxiety Swimming in a community or backyard pool can literally and depression, and helps with weight management. Now, make you feel like a new person! enough said! These are all great benefits for incorporating The bottom line is that you need to choose a form of exercise a few minutes of movement daily! that works for you. Being rigid with your workouts will What does exercise actually do to our heart, muscles and make it stressful and this added stress can have the opposite bones? Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues effect on your health. Also, I always tell my clients, while 30 and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently. minutes of movement daily is the recommended amount of When your heart and lung health improve, you have more exercise, it does not have to be an all or nothing approach. If energy to tackle daily chores. Exercise plays a vital role in you can only add 10 minutes of movement to your schedule building and maintaining strong muscles and bones. As daily, enjoy these 10 minutes! These 10 minutes can add up people age, they tend to lose muscle mass and function, to an hour of movement at the end of the week, and yes, an which can lead to injuries and disabilities. Practicing hour of movement is significant! Listen to your body. Do regular physical activity is essential to reducing muscle loss not stress about working out and do not overstress your and maintaining strength as you age. Also, exercise helps body by introducing too many new moves at once. Slow and build bone density when you’re younger, in addition to steady wins the race! Take one day at a time and you will see helping prevent osteoporosis later in life. significant improvement. If you are pregnant or suffer from I think I may have convinced you to want to exercise daily. medical/health conditions, please consult with your doctor Now let’s try to see how we can include this into your daily before incorporating any form of movement. routine without adding stress or pressure. For starters, please understand, that you do not have to Happy, healthy ‘n hearty week to all! Shaindy K

50 2 Iyar 5781 Gift Card

Send in your answers to P.O. Box. 237 lakewood nj 08701 or Email to: [email protected]

Make sure to include your name, address,K and telephone number. Correct submissions will be entered into a raffle to win a gift card for a local toy store. Recognize this place?

5 6 2 7 5 1 4 9 3 6

4 6 2 5 7 1 3 Last week picture 7 6 4 is the Kever Rabbi Baal Hanes 8 1 9 4 2 5 9 6 2 4 The 4 9 7 winner is! 6 8 Aaron Segal Gift Card April 14, 2021 51 Kehiloth Kids

Unseeing Chapter 2

Recap: Goldie Bergman writes to her grandmother in braille to tell her how nervous want her mother to get upset and call she is about starting sixth grade in Bais Yehudis after her old school closes down. Being the school. Goldie felt like she was old blind, Goldie is lucky to have her best friend Shana with her to explain the things she enough to take care of this on her own. can’t see. In science class, their substitute teacher asks Goldie to sit apart from the class After she finished eating, she because she has something special for her to do. touched her hand to her braille watch. It was almost 6:00. Shana’s mother, Goldie was packing up her knapsack believe Goldie if she did. Mrs. Spitzer, would be there soon to at the end of class when she heard They waited apart from the other pick her up. Every year, Mrs. Spitzer her teacher’s voice. “I’ll walk you to students for the bus to arrive. Morah got free tickets for Shana and Goldie to the bus, Goldie,” she said. And then Weitzman was taking care of her as see the production at the music school Goldie understood everything. She if she were a little child who couldn’t where she taught. It was always an understood why Morah Weitzman find her own way. She didn’t think amazing experience. had given her a CD with songs about Goldie could make it to the bus safely. Hearing a honk from outside, Goldie science to listen to, instead of doing the She didn’t even think Goldie could get grabbed her white cane that was lab experiments that her classmates on it alone. And she sure didn’t believe hanging by the front door. “Bye, Ma!” were doing. Goldie could do science experiments. she called. She understood it as Morah In that moment of understanding, Goldie made her way to the car and Weitzman walked at her side down Goldie felt her blindness. greeted Shana and her mother. the hallway and opened the doors for “I wish I wasn’t blind,” she sobbed “Why did Morah Weitzman walk her and kept saying, “Watch it, Goldie. into her pillow as soon as she got into you to the bus?” Shana asked from There’s a door here. A step here,” her bedroom and slammed the door the front seat. “Were you not feeling though Goldie’s long white cane told behind her. And she was upset at well?” her everything she needed to know. Morah Weitzman for reminding her “I was feeling fine,” Goldie answered. All she had to do was move it back and that she was. “She didn’t think I could find the bus.” forth in front of her to see if there were After Goldie had calmed down, she “Are you serious? Why would she any steps, or garbage cans, or anything did some of her homework and went think that?” else in her way. She didn’t know Morah down to the kitchen to eat supper. She “Because I’m blind, silly,” Goldie Weitzman well enough to tell her any purposely didn’t tell her mother about answered, at first annoyed that her of that, and maybe she wouldn’t even Morah Weitzman, because she didn’t friend had to be reminded.

52 2 Iyar 5781 Dina Karni

She heard the giggle from the front Shana told her once it was a charm usually told her when something seat as if they had shared a special bracelet that Tehila wore that made exciting or dangerous was going to joke, and as usual it was contagious. the clinking noise. happen. Goldie joined Shana’s laughter. They settled into their seats In the moments of silence, As the two girls approached the and began to share a bag of chips Goldie heard charms jangling nearby, auditorium, Shana offered more news. when the production began. but she refused to ask Shana where “I was talking to some girls at “What’s going on?” Goldie Tehila Neuhoff was sitting. school today. They told me that Tehila whispered to Shana. “It’s so quiet.” “She likes you,” Shana told her Neuhoff is supposed to be seeing the Sometimes Shana forgot that she on the way home. “Why did Morah Weitzman walk you to the “Who?” Goldie pretended not to know, though they had the same bus?” Shana asked from the front seat. conversation almost every day. “Were you not feeling well?” “You know who. Tehila “I was feeling fine,” Goldie answered. “She Neuhoff was sitting in the row didn’t think I could find the bus.” behind us. She came in just when the “Are you serious? Why would she think production started.” “So?” Goldie was starting to feel annoyed. same production tonight that we are.” needed information, so Goldie had to “She could’ve sat anywhere. “I don’t care if Tehila is here,” ask. But she didn’t. She sat right behind you. Goldie protested as they found their “A woman is walking through seats. Lately, Shana was always telling a forest. She’s holding a baby. She looks She always tries to sit near you,” Shana her when Tehila Neuhoff was around, scared,” Shana answered. answered. “She’s the most popular as if it mattered if she was or wasn’t. From that point on, except for some girl in our grade at Bais Yehudis, and I Anyway, Shana didn’t need anyone long periods of silence, Goldie kept think she wants to be your friend.” to tell her, because she could tell by track of the action by the conversation the noise that traveled with Tehila. and songs, and the background music To be continued…

April 14, 2021 53 Jewish Gallery Pictures by JDN

Yortzeit of the Beirach Moshe of Satmar Zy”l

Melitz Rebbe davening at Kivrei Tzadikim in Tzefas

Yortzeit of The Tzehlim Rov Ztl

54 2 Iyar 5781 Cate a better you you deserve it! [email protected]

JOIN SHAINDY OBERLANDER, BS, INHC ON THE TRACK THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU! New!

TEEN WEIGHT LOSS PRENATAL HEALTH NURSING MOM GUT HEALTH HORMONE HEALTH WEIGHT LOSS LONGEVITY TRACK TRACK TRACK TRACK TRACK TRACK TRACK

FOR WOMAN AGES 45+. LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE YOUR NEXT STAGE IN LIFE AND FEEL GREAT.

April 14, 2021 55 [email protected] • 347.228.1198 • WWW.BENEFITHEALTHPROGRAM.COM • BENEFITHEALTHPROGRAM Jewish Gallery Pictures by JDN

Yortzeit of the Divrei Chaim of Tzanz Zt”l By Satmar Monsey Rov

Yortzeit of the Divrei Chaim of Sanz Zy”l

56 2 Iyar 5781 Advertise where people read!

Please contact by email, Phone phone or WhatsApp. 732.285.9936 Advertising [email protected] SWISH • GROUP טראכט איר פון מאפען אויף book your next trip with comfort.

אדערלעיקוואד WITH COMFORT, YOU CAN RELAX AT HOME, AND COMFORT WILL BOOK AND ARRANGE YOUR NEXT COMFORT TRAVEL.

SALES - Nameless.team RENTALS

דער אגענט וואס האט שוין געהאלפן DEVELOPMENTS

זיך הונדערטער ארויסציען קייןמשפחות לעיקוואד און טאמס ריווער

LIPA DANZIGER 718.415.0818 TRAVEL OFFICE: 732.905.5511 EXT: 480 | WWW.IMPERIALNJ.COM | 212 2ND STREET SUITE 405 LAKEWOOD NJ 08701 CELL: 347.628.6565 | EMAIL: [email protected] April 14, 2021 | INSTAGRAM: @EFRAIMFEDER.REALTOR 57 Jewish Gallery Pictures by JDN

Yortzeit of the Pinsk Karlin Rebbe Ztl

APPLIANCES REPAIR

58 2 Iyar 5781 Zeke stretch pants & blazers: For guys that want some stretch for their stretches!

Zeke Stretch Pants And Blazers Now In Stock For Men and Boys!

VISIT ANY OF OUR LOCATIONS! BALTIMORE • BROOKLYN • CEDARHURST CHICAGO • LAKEWOOD • MONSEY • TORONTO

HB OUTLET A DIVISION OF HATBOX

605 E. County Line Road (Former location of The Hatbox) | 732.961.2262 April 14, 2021 59 Sun, Mon, Tues 11:00-7:00 | Wed & Thurs 11:00-8:00 | Fri 11:00-2:00 ﬁanltouchny.com

Just STEP IN STEP OUT& in elegance

Our beautiful store was built with you in mind, giving you a shoe shopping experience like never before. With our wide selection of men’s shoes, topped o with the best fast and reliable hands on service, Scarpé will walk with you step by step.

STORE HOURS Sunday: 11:00 - 6:30 Wednesday: 11:00 - 8:00 Monday 11:00 - 7:00 ursday: 11:00 - 7:00 Tuesday: 11:00 - 7:00 Friday: 10:30- 1:30

32 CROSS STREET LAKEWOOD NJ

60 2 Iyar 5781