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INSIDE FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK PRIORITY-1 AT TWENTY-ONE The Perfect Veep BY LARRY GORDON Lawrence Kulak 18 MindBiz Esther Mann, LMSW 25 Are You A Talker? Defenses Down I was planning on doing a the story was going to be Hannah Reich Berman 26 story this week about changes about, the people I spoke to— at a shul that could serve to those who daven in the vari- World Of Real Estate teach us all an important les- ous shuls as well as the elect- P

Anessa V. Cohen 32 h

son about how we deal with ed officers—talked about a o t o B

our houses of worship on all great number of things, but y I v a

Letters to the Editor n levels. I did the research, con- the conversations kept gravi- H . N

Our Readers 35 o r ducted interviews, and was tating to one central theme— m a ready to go with it when just a the need for more refined n day or so ago I was asked not decorum in shul, especially Priority-1 celebrated its 21st annual dinner on Wednesday, June 18, at the Lawrence Country Club. Pictured above, Rabbi Shaya Cohen (left), founder to at this point. I will defer to during the long Shabbos- and director of Priority-1, recognizing Shelley and Roberta Lang, longtime this request at this juncture. and well-known Cedarhurst businesspeople and supporters of the important Although it was not what Continued on Page 6 work of Priority-1, as the Guests of Honor. See Story, Page 54 HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE A LIFE OF SANCTITY Those Ten Days A Talmid’s Recollection Of Yeshiva Mercaz HaRav BY LARRY GORDON astronaut is tethered to the Maran HaGaon Rav Henoch Torah dedication. spacecraft, except that in this Leibowitz, zt’l See Page 51 This is not about the ten case there is no tether. B Y RABBI ARYEH Z. days of introspection between You must have seen it: GINZBERG Rosh Hashanah and Yom teenagers by the hundreds, Kippur. This is about those scooting around in groups up When Eliyahu haNavi died, other, less-than-solemn, ten and down the avenues in his devoted disciple, Elisha days between when school search of something to do, haNavi, cried out amidst great ends and summer camp something to buy, something pain and emotion, “Avi avi begins. These are days mostly to eat, or just something, any- rechev Yisrael ufarashav”— without a script or an identity. thing. They are free after a “My father, my father! Israel’s They are free-floating—the ten-month rigid regimen with chariot and its horsemen!” equivalent of one of those walks in space where the Continued on Page 12 Continued on Page 8

OHEL Bike-a-thon. See Page 53 My Shining Moment Solving The WHY I CRIED Yeshiva Tuition AT AIPAC Crisis BY JONATHAN ISLER BY TOVA ABADI

It’s been an exhausting four I never expected to exit the year journey from angry yeshi- ballroom after a speech by va parent to activist to angry Condoleezza Rice and break yeshiva parent and back to down in tears. Why did it hap- activist. Thankfully, my efforts pen? It was not because of her have culminated in viable words. Clearly, her words and solutions I am proud to share actions are not worth the In memory of Reb with people today. tears of a bat Yisrael. I cried Eliahu Soffer, a’h. See Page 49 When I began my cam- because I had just become a paign for tuition reform my witness to the majority of the CANDLE LIGHTING primary goal was to find a way 7,400 Jews present applaud- June 27 – 8:11 PM Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot (left) with author Paul Freedman, a member of making yeshiva tuition ing Rice after hearing that we July 4 – 8:11 PM of the Jesse Aaronson Choir, at the Congregation Beth Sholom cantorial concert on June 12. See Story, Page 67 Continued on Page 23 Continued on Page 22 2 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 3 4 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 5 FROM THE EDITOR you of course go to daven but if the FEATURES Continued from Front Cover opportunity presents itself you do some talking, too. What I’m trying to Around The Five Towns 36 morning service. I came away with the say here is that there was a time when P.O. BOX 690 LAWRENCE, NY 11559 impression that the challenges faced I was not sensitive to the issue and 516-984-0079 today by shuls—vis-à-vis membership, that it was perfectly normal to both [email protected] Ask The Sensei [email protected] Warren Levi 47 growth, or the shul’s place in the daven and talk in shul. community—seem to flow from the When I say that it’s normal I do not LARRY GORDON ESTA J. GORDON Publisher/Editor Managing Editor Classified Ads 64 issue of the level of respect we accord mean that it’s acceptable to do so, so YOSSI GORDON, YOCHANAN GORDON our shuls. Sales Managers Insights On The Torah Then, while I was thinking about CHANA ROCHEL ROSS Rabbi Yanki Tauber 28 this, I received an e-mail from another Editorial Assistant Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah 34 shul (I’m on a lot of shul e-mail lists) Who among us SIDI BARON decrying the fact that a nearly yearlong YAKOV SERLE Letters To The Editor 35 effort to minimize and eventually elim- JERRY MARKOVITZ inate talking in shul during davening cannot benefit Sales Representatives Luach 12 was just not working to the extent SHMUEL GERBER MICHELE JUSTIC MindBiz desired. When I first began receiving from some Chief Copy Editor Copy Editor these e-mails a while ago, I was defi- Esther Mann, LMSW 25 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS nitely intrigued by the concept. Irwin H. Benjamin, Hannah Reich Berman additional Divine Anessa V. Cohen, Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg Mother’s Musings How do we explain why people Toby Klein Greenwald, Michele Herenstein Phyllis J. Lubin 52 come to shul, don their tallis, and sit Rabbi Yair Hoffman, Miriam Horowitz down at a table or a pew and begin to largesse? Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky discuss the latest news or summer Shmuel Katz, Phyllis J. Lubin, Esther Mann Real Estate Rochelle Miller, Martin Mushell, Naomi Ross Anessa V. Cohen 32 vacation plans with whoever is willing Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow, Eli Shapiro, Ari Sher to listen? I’ve come to believe that peo- MICHAL WEINSTEIN, BINYAMIN RHODES That’s The Way It Is! ple talk in shul largely because people please do not walk away from reading DOV GORDON Hannah Reich Berman 26 talk in shul. And, as with other addic- this believing that I am endorsing the Staff Graphic Artists tive types of behavior, once you get concept of talking in shul. I am not. IVAN NORMAN, IRA THOMAS started it’s difficult to stop. We go to shul to recite tefillos and Staff Photographers The question I found myself pon- praise as well as pray to G-d. He is FRANKEL & CO. dering over the last few days was the Creator of our world and uni- Design & Production WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? whether talking incessantly (or at all) verse; He gives us life and all the TALIYE CORLEY in shul is merely a problem unto itself, things that are good in our lives. He Art Director WE WANT TO KNOW! or whether it is also a catalyst for all is merciful and, as we have seen SUZETTE LEE kinds of other problems that might countless times in our Torah, can be Assistant Art Director E-MAIL US AT exist in shul. And on a personal level I dissuaded from pursuing a certain The Five Towns Jewish Times is an independent weekly news- have to add that up until I became Divine course if He is beseeched in a paper. Opinions expressed by writers and columnists are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. We are not [email protected] aware that this was a pervasive shul genuine and sincere manner. responsible for the kashrus or hashgachah of any product or problem, I, probably like many others, We live in complex times. Who establishment advertised in the Five Towns Jewish Times. just thought that when you go to shul among us cannot benefit from some

6 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES additional Divine largesse? That, in a To my recollection, talking has nutshell, is why we go to shul. Can you always been a problem in our shuls to see yourself in a situation like that— some extent. No, not in all shuls, but dealing face-to-face in a situation that probably most shuls. I remember may have dramatic impact on your life being in a community for a series of or the life of a loved one, and right in weeks many years ago as a teenager. the middle of this session turning to We went to shul there every Shabbos, the side and engaging in chit-chat, if and now that I look back I can recall it only for a moment, about what the being extremely noisy throughout the Yankees did last night? entire service. I bring that up now It’s a difficult subject that needs cre- because apparently the gabba’im had ativity and sensitivity if it is going to be “thrown in the towel” on the talking dealt with successfully. Shuls in this situation. They still patrolled the and other neighborhoods in our region aisles of the shul, but they did not ask continue to grapple with the issue. people to stop talking. I found it odd Some shuls have gone so far as to ask at the time, and I find it especially odd members to sign a form on which they as I recall it today. If you were talking, pledge not to speak at all from the time they would walk over to you, lean in they enter shul on Shabbos until they your direction and say, “Be so kind and leave. Shuls that have dealt with the please whisper.” problem and have managed to get hun- Yes, it’s funny—and sad. No, I’m dreds of men to sit in silent contempla- not suggesting that we start a tion with their tefillos have done so by “please whisper” campaign in shuls instituting a similar program, where where the talking is on the border of people either sign their name on a being out of control. To me, whis- pledge or are listed on a large oak-tag pering and talking is all part of one board as being part of a group commit- much bigger problem—that you are ted to not indulging in idle chatter dur- missing a golden opportunity to ing services. daven, to thank Hashem for that So, while the talking may be perva- good day and if need be ask Him for sive in some shuls, the silence that something a little better when the has been introduced in others has next day comes around. demonstrated the ability to be just as Our law books—the Shulchan infectious as the simmering low hum Aruch and Mishnah Berurah—write of the talking. People who perhaps did extensively about the sanctity of our not always talk in shul are more likely shuls and the way in which we are to to do so if they see their neighbors conduct ourselves in their environs. doing it. Interestingly enough, the And there is also a great deal of fore- silence throughout the service in boding prognostication about the fate some shuls is now working in precise- ly the same fashion. Continued on Page 9

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 7 Rav Leibowitz The first part, to attempt to explain HaGaon Rav Dovid Leibowitz, zt’l, was extremely impressed with the abil- Continued from Front Cover the depths of the feelings of the because they were one unit and one ities of his grandnephew and request- talmidim ,is truly an immense task. neshamah. As the rosh yeshiva always ed that Reb Dovid be sent to learn in (Melachim II, 2:11–12). The com- Every day since the untimely passing said, “I am only an extension of my Radin. In 1903, Reb Dovid entered mentaries question why Elisha first of the rosh yeshiva, one or more father.” To understand the rosh yeshiva, Radin and quickly grew to become one uses lashon yachid—“avi,” “my talmidim have called or e-mailed me we need to focus briefly on Reb Dovid, of the prime disciples of the world- father,” rather than “our father”— with their heartfelt thoughts and zt’l, “the beloved of Slabodka.” renowned rosh yeshiva, HaGaon Rav but then says, “rechev Yisrael memories of the rosh yeshiva, because Naftali Trop, zt’l. u’farashav,” including all of Yisrael, of their need to find someone who HaRav Dovid Leibowitz, zt’l When Reb Dovid was not yet 20 not just himself. could identify with their pain and In 1889, a son was born to Reb years old, Rav Naftali testified that One of the maspidim at the levayah sense of loss. I share some of their Aryeh Zev Leibowitz, zt’l, in the town Reb Dovid was already a lamdan. of HaGaon Rav Shlomo Zalman thoughts with you in this article. of Zhetyl Warsaw, where the family During his time in Radin, he learned Auerbach, zt’l, explained that there N NN was known as kohanim meyuchasim, as with his great-uncle the Chofetz were two aspects to the loss of Eliyahu On Tuesday, the 11th day of Nissan, they traced their ancestry directly back Chaim, zt’l, as his chavrusah (study haNavi; there was the personal loss felt only days before families in K’lal to the Shach, zt’l, who in turn (in the partner) while the Chofetz Chaim only by Elisha the talmid, and then wrote the final part of the Mishnah there was the great loss to all of K’lal Berurah and learned with him hilchos Yisrael. When an adam gadol passes sukkah. Reb Dovid related to the rosh away, there are two different feelings yeshiva, zt’l, that his learning seder of loss and pain. One is felt by the He was convinced that the young talmidei with the Chofetz Chaim was from talmidim, which is an emotional, 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. each and excruciating, and all-consuming feel- chachamim who would dedicate themselves to every day. ing of loss; and then there is the pub- In 1908, the Chofetz Chaim said to lic awareness of the loss of one of the Torah and mussar could rival the best products Reb Dovid, “You can learn; now go gedolei hador, especially in an era like become a ba’al mussar,” and he sent ours, when Torah leadership is suffer- from the yeshivas in Europe. him to the world-famous Torah leader, ing with the recent loss of so many the Alter of Slabodka, zt’l. It was there gedolei Yisrael. that Reb Dovid found his rebbi for life. Having recently observed the He became attached to the Alter, heart sheloshim of our beloved rosh yeshiva Yisrael joined together in the celebra- introduction to his peirush on and soul, and became one of his clos- and rebbi, Maran HaGaon Rav Alter tion of the yom tov of Pesach, the Shulchan Aruch) traces his lineage all est talmidim. As a matter of fact, Reb Chanoch Henoch Leibowitz, zt’l, members of “our family”—the collec- the way back to Aharon haKohein. Reb Dovid once confided to the rosh yeshi- there is a great need to attempt to tive family of the talmidim of Yeshiva Aryeh Zev was a nephew of the va, zt’l, that the Alter had wanted him express in words the personal loss felt Chofetz Chaim—had their lives ripped Chofetz Chaim, zt’l. to join the hanhalah of the yeshiva, by the hundreds of talmidim from his wide open with the passing of our In 1893, the family moved to but, for reasons that he didn’t explain, more than 64 years of being the rosh beloved rebbi, rosh yeshiva, and father, Warsaw, and in 1902, young Reb he demurred. yeshiva of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, as HaGaon Rav Henoch Leibowitz, zt’l. Dovid was sent to the Lomza Yeshiva, In 1915, he married Rivka Leah well as to attempt to portray briefly To even begin to talk about who the then under the leadership of Rav Shereshevsky, the daughter of Rav the depth of the loss to the entire rosh yeshiva was, we must digress to Eliezer Shulevitz, zt’l. Following a visit Henoch Shereshevsky, zt’l, the rav of Torah world community. the end of the 19th century and the to Warsaw, where the Chofetz Chaim The second part is the easier one. birth of his great father and rebbi, stayed at the home of his nephew, he Continued on Page 10

8 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES FROM THE EDITOR Continued from Page 7 of shuls that are treated cavalierly, nonchalantly, or without the proper respect. We do not understand the logic of the Heavens, and though we try to stretch our minds to grasp the way He thinks—so to speak—time and again our efforts are nothing but futile. I admire the shuls where there is absolute silence from the time you walk in until after davening is over, and that includes the parts of the service where it’s usually considered okay to talk. No talking at all—the whole time—is a beautiful and respectful discipline. Just a little talk- ing, a tiny insignificant bit of conver- sation, no doubt leads to more and more, and then, G-d forbid, in an instant it can all be lost. I was at Minchah in a shul on Shabbos recently and someone was talking to me, and I was answering with one- and two-word answers just—if you’ll excuse my excuse—to be polite and respectful. There was another young man in the shul who I do some business with and who is not usually there. We glanced at one another and nodded “good Shabbos.” I guess he observed me answering this other gentleman—perhaps it was during chazaras ha’shatz. After daven- ing as the crowd was filtering out of shul, we passed each other and shook hands. Once again we said, “Good Shabbos,” and then he said to me, “I didn’t know you’re a talker.” The words—as you can see—stuck with me. I wanted to say that he was mak- ing a mistake and that I’m really not. But I didn’t say anything. There was nothing to say. O Comments for Larry Gordon are welcome at [email protected].

And Dasan and Aviram (Bamidbar 16:1) They were the ones who forced Moshe to flee from Egypt (by informing on him to Pharaoh that he killed the Egyptian, Shmos 2:13—15). They were the ones who hurled harsh words at Moshe and Aharon in Egypt (ibid., 5:20—21). They were the ones who left over from the manna (in defiance of Moshes instructions, ibid., 16:20) and went out to gather the manna on Shabbat (ibid., v. 27).And they joined in Korachs mutiny.

(Torah Sheleimah)

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 9 Rav Leibowitz ceeding in building Torah in Yeshiva Torah Vodaas. Reb Dovid zt’l gave of himself Continued from Page 8 America. First of all, he had a presti- In 1933, due to a major difference completely to inspire his talmidim gious position as a rosh yeshiva in a of opinion with the administration of with the vision and grandeur of the town in Lithuania called yeshiva in Warsaw waiting for him the yeshiva in methodology and in the Slabodka and Radin, as well as try to Selechnick and Biniakon. Soon after upon his return. Second, in a letter goals of the yeshiva, Reb Dovid left the hold the yeshiva together in those the wedding, Reb Henoch passed that he wrote several years later to yeshiva. He was convinced that the difficult days of the Depression. This away, and Reb Dovid replaced him as the then mashgiach in Yeshiva caliber of dedicated young talmidei took a great toll on him, and after the rav of these towns. In 1916 their Chofetz Chaim (and today rosh yeshi- chachamim who would dedicate them- just eight years, in 1941, on the 15th only child was born, a son whom they va of Yeshivas Torah Ohr) he writes, selves to Torah and mussar could rival day of Kislev, Reb Dovid passed away named Henoch, after his maternal “How painful it is to see the degrada- the best products from the yeshivas in at the young age of 52 years. (The grandfather. tion of Torah’s status in general and Europe. The yeshiva administration at day of the levayah was December 7, In 1922, the Alter called Reb Dovid particularly here in America. How that time thought differently and felt 1941, and as the participants back to join the newly organized Kovno returned home from the levayah, Kollel, under the direction of HaRav they were greeted with the news that Issac Sher, zt’l, which in essence was Pearl Harbor had been bombed. A the training ground for the future talmid noted that on that day, our gedolei haTorah who would bring Could a sickly young man spiritual world exploded, as did the Torah to America and to Eretz Yisrael physical world of our country.) in the next generation. As part of the curriculum of the kol- even think of stepping into Rav Henoch Leibowitz Becomes lel, after several years of intensive Rosh Yeshiva learning in Torah and mussar each Almost all of the participants at member would travel to the United his father’s place? Reb Dovid’s levayah, including many States to raise funds for the kollel. In of the talmidim, predicted that on 1926, Reb Dovid arrived in New York that day the dream of transplanting for that very purpose. Slabodka-trained b’nei Torah who Several months later, one of the first despised is she, and forlorn. How that what America needed in those would spread the ideals of Torah and Yeshivas in America, Yeshiva Torah estranged she is! People relate to the years were learned ba’alei batim who mussar throughout the United States Vodaas, decided to open a yeshiva abandonment of Torah as something would be shomrei Torah u’mitzvos. This died along with Reb Dovid, zt’l. gedolah and was looking for someone entirely acceptable. They look at peo- disagreement resulted in Reb Dovid’s However, there was one person who qualified to be rosh yeshiva. They nar- ple who learn…with derision and leaving with 26 of the 28 boys then just wouldn’t—or rather, couldn’t—let rowed it down to two choices; one was loathing.” enrolled in the yeshiva, and he then that happen, and that was the yasom, a world-famous ilui and the other was Facing this dilemma, he wrote to founded Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, Reb Dovid’s 24-year-old-son, Rav Reb Dovid. The yeshiva administration his granduncle, the Chofetz Chaim, named after his great-uncle who had Henoch Leibowitz. approached the Kovno Rov, the D’var zt’l for guidance. The Chofetz Chaim recently passed away. His only son, the Reb Henoch was a young man of Avraham, who was in America at that responded, “Dovid du kenst young Rav Henoch, arrived in America 24, and not yet married. He had just time, and asked him for his opinion. lehernen, zei a marbitz Torah” with his mother in 1929 (after being concluded a two-year period of severe He replied, “If you want a rosh yeshiva, (Dovid, you can learn; be a dissemi- told back in Slabodka that he should illness. Two years earlier, Reb Henoch take Reb Dovid.” nator of Torah). In 1926, Reb Dovid remain there and not join his father in had suffered a ruptured appendix; for Reb Dovid, zt’l, had serious mis- accepted the position, and for seven the “treifa medinah”), and he joined several weeks, his life hung in the bal- givings about the possibility of suc- years he was the rosh yeshiva in the yeshiva as well. ance. (In fact, the name “Alter” was

10 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES added to his name at that time and father so much that he wanted him to remained with him throughout his live on by having his goals, methods, life). Could a sickly young man even and mesorah continue to live on. He think of stepping into his father’s was totally committed to his father’s place? Most thought not. The rosh vision; he would claim, even 50 years yeshiva thought differently. later, when his yeshiva was already Rav Nota Greenblatt from Memphis well established and his talmidim were was present at Reb Dovid’s levayah and spreading Torah throughout the coun- he remembered the impression that try, that he didn’t embellish his the rosh yeshiva left on all those assem- father’s teachings and didn’t make any bled as he rose to be maspid his innovations; he only served as a con- beloved father and rebbi. As he duit to spread Slabodka and Reb describes it, “It was as if he had been Dovid’s derech and mesorah to the next blessed with a new strength, a new generation. resolve. He spoke powerfully, clearly, The Philadelphia rosh yeshiva, Rav passionately. He spoke of the hash- Elya Svei, shlita, at the dedication of pa’ah and influence that his father had the yeshiva’s new campus several on his talmidim, and we heard a prom- years ago, said that he remembered ise in his voice. It was then that we (L–R): Rav Yosef Shaolm Elyashiv; Rabbi Avrohom Kanarek of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim; Rabbi the rosh yeshiva’s challenges and knew the yeshiva would survive.” Moshe Chait, rosh yeshiva of Chofetz Chaim in Yerushalayim; and Rav Leibowitz. struggles during those early years, and that to look at what he had built The Early Years today was truly a “vunder” (a won- To describe the early years as diffi- der). Years ago, this author heard cult would be a gross understatement. from Reb Nochum Partzovitz, zt’l (the Describing it as nearly impossible late Mirrer rosh yeshiva), that the would be more accurate. A young rosh yeshiva’s accomplishments under the yeshiva thrust into his new position in rosh yeshiva is a “pele pela’im” (won- early 1940s America, with a small stu- der of wonders). dent body, many of whom were older The rosh yeshiva, zt’l, never saw it as than him, in extremely difficult eco- such. He often quoted what Rav nomic times—it was a seemingly Moshe Feinstein, zt’l, told him years impossible situation. earlier—that the yeshiva’s phenomenal But the rosh yeshiva accepted upon success was due to Reb Dovid’s great his young, frail shoulders the respon- suffering for the sake of Torah. sibility to carry forth his father’s meso- The Gemara in Shabbos tells us rah and vision for Torah in America. that when Shlomo haMelech attempt- He threw himself into his new role ed to place the Aron Kodesh in the with every fiber of his being and every newly built Beis HaMikdash, the ounce of strength that he had, and doors would not open until he then some. The rosh yeshiva would Rabbi Avrohom Ginzberg, shlita (the author’s father and longtime executive director of Yeshiva always tell us that he had loved his Chofetz Chaim), with the rosh yeshiva. Continued on Page 16

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 11 HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE to do it on their own. The ones that the office just so we can keep an eye Of course it certainly wouldn’t be Continued from Front Cover want you to go along with them, to on them or so they can keep an eye on fair to these young people to have to drive them, to guide them—well, it’s us. The point is that it is during this jump directly from school into camp lots of work and responsibility and, for those experiences that can get a little without some kind of break, interrup- the most part, little time off. taxing for some. tion, or interlude. So they get a break, This is the season of their freedom. Tell me, please, can a kid ever have which is fine and good; but essentially But are they perhaps too free? enough underwear or socks to take to they are lost in space with few places Probably not, because our children are camp? Sometime during the winter For some, this ten-day to go and little to do. Sure, it would be in school the entire year and endure a (when this is the furthest thing from nice if they would voluntarily spend double Jewish–secular curriculum. your mind), our camps, and I suppose prelude to summer part of the day studying or learning in With the work behind them now and all camps, send a list of the quantities summer camp for many still a seem- of things that kids should bring to camp is nothing more Continued on Page 17 ingly eternal few days away, there’s camp. Granted, no matter how much really nothing to do but just hit the you send along with them, most of it than one elongated streets and let it all be. is not going to make its way back. In our community here, and That’s not a prediction or even specu- shopping frenzy. CALENDAR specifically on our shopping strip, lation. I think there is a scientific for- kids are on the streets all day until mula that has long ago been figured way past nightfall with money in their out regarding how many things you LUACH pockets and purses buying things, send to camp are not coming back. period that we experience—how which brings a bump in business for Perhaps it is the law of diminishing should I put this—a profound or even many establishments; other commu- returns, or at least a philosophical unusual togetherness. It is perhaps a June 26–July 5 nities have similar experiences. For derivative of that reality. Divinely ordained togetherness that ZIP Code: 11516 some, this ten-day prelude to summer But this is about those ten days, the could only be alleviated by a mini- camp—sleepaway or day camp—is days we are experiencing as you read mum of four weeks of total separation 24 Sivan – Erev Shabbos nothing more than one elongated this, with kids in our kitchens at in sleepaway camp or, if you’re not as Friday, June 27 shopping frenzy. No doubt many of 11:00 a.m. looking for something to deserving, at least eight hours a day in Daf yomi: Sotah 34 the kids are capable and even prefer eat and sometimes being sent along to a local day camp. Z’manim*: Earliest tallis/tefillin: 4:18 am Sunrise: 5:27 am Latest Shema: M. Av. 8:36 am Gr’a 9:12 am Candle Lighting: 8:11 pm 25 Sivan – Shabbos Saturday, June 28 Shabbos Parashas Korach Blessing of Chodesh Tammuz Avos: Ch. 3 Shabbos ends**: 9:21 pm 72 min. 9:42 pm 30 Sivan Thursday, July 3 1st day Rosh Chodesh Tammuz 1 Tammuz Friday, July 4 2nd day Rosh Chodesh Tammuz Daf yomi: Sotah 41 Earliest tallis/tefillin: 4:22 am Sunrise: 5:30 am Latest Shema: M. Av. 8:38 am Gr’a 9:14 am Candle Lighting: 8:11 pm 2 Tammuz – Shabbos Saturday, July 5 Shabbos Parashas Chukkas Avos: Ch. 4 Shabbos ends**: 9:19 pm 72 min. 9:41 pm * from MyZmanim.com ** add a few minutes for tosefos Shabbos according to your minhag Municipal Calendar For 5 Towns and NYC Thursday, June 26 Last day of school for NYC and Hewlett-Woodmere public schools. Friday, June 27 Last day of school for Lawrence public schools. Thursday, July 3 Extra LIRR Far Rockaway train from Penn Station at 3:48 pm. Friday, July 4 Independence Day. NYS banking holi- day; local post offices closed; no garbage collection; NYC parking regulations sus- pended, except where in effect 7 days a week. Transit: Saturday schedule 12 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 13 14 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 15 Rav Leibowitz Continued from Page 11 referred to the deeds of his great father, Dovid haMelech. The rosh yeshiva understood that attaching oneself to the mesorah of Slabodka through his father’s vision was the only way to succeed in harbatzas Torah. The rosh yeshiva once related to this author, on a trip to Eretz Yisrael for the celebration of the dedication of the new building in Yerushalayim, that when Reb Dovid was niftar, he believed with all his soul that “the Eibishter would not forsake him.” The rosh yeshiva would share with us that The rosh yeshiva at Rabbi Ginzberg’s home the source of his strength in those days earlier this year during his latest visit to the comprised two factors: the faith that Five Towns. his rebbi and father had in him, and the encouragement and support he received from his mother, a’h. whose reputation began to spread well beyond the yeshiva’s walls. This The ‘Blatt Shiur’ was not a shiur where the rebbi just The rosh yeshiva continued the tells his students what the p’shat is; learning derech of his father in giving rather, it was, in the words of Chazal, shiur, and would say a daily blatt shiur The author (Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg) with the rosh yeshiva. a “milchemta shel Torah.” The rosh

yeshiva wouldn’t “teach” the sugyah; he learned it together with students in a give and take (sometimes even a lit- tle shouting) over each step. The rosh yeshiva would throw out a question, it would be debated, discussed, and

Rav A. Z. Ginzberg, Rav Leibowitz, and Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky.

analyzed backward and forward. There was no question too big or too small; it was a search for the p’shat and for the emes. The mashgiach of the yeshiva, HaRav Shmuel Niman, shlita, who came to the yeshiva in 1947 after hearing about the rosh yeshiva’s blatt shiur, said publicly in his sheloshim hesped of his rebbi of almost 60 years, that the two years that he spent in the

Continued on Page 21 16 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

IN THE BAGEL STORE tightrope without a safety net unaccustomed to seeing on Central Avenue in But this period of unbridled Continued from Page 12 beneath to catch you in case them in. I still can’t get over Cedarhurst. Quite possibly freedom does not really come you fall. But everyone seems seeing the rabbi of one of the the lines in the food stores to its annual conclusion once yeshiva, as I’m sure some do. to acclimate quickly, and after shuls I attend standing in during lunchtime will not be the June page gets ripped off And it would also be just fine a few days it’s like there never line for challah in a bakery. that long and the noise level the calendar and July arrives. if they would spend some of really was any yeshiva classes It’s very much the same as will have diminished dramat- This thing gets replayed all this time becoming addition- and the new daily reality is seeing a math teacher in ically. Even in the morning over again at the end of ally culturally enriched, visit- that the streets, the shops, Hapina or your science when you go to shul as well August, and it doesn’t even ing a museum or something and the pizza stores are filled teacher in Central Perk. as in the evening during get played in reverse. along those lines, as I’m sure with teenagers living it up, or Hey, the good news is that Minchah and Ma’ariv you Hopefully everyone will have some do, as well. But this is the closest thing they can by the end of next week the may be able to count how had a wonderful, fun-filled, about the majority celebrating conjure up. streets will once again be many people are actually in and productive summer and their freedom and liberation And then there’s the mat- nearly desolate. You will have shul instead of thinking that will be back, but this time from the educational but still ter of seeing your teachers to jog your memory in order you’ve never seen so many instead of school having just otherwise confining experi- and rebbis out of context, in to recall what it was like to people come to Ma’ariv dur- ence of being in school along an environment you are have to inch along in traffic ing the week. Continued on Page 21 with the associated responsi- bilities of going back to September. The burning social issue and question is: was it always like this? Was there always such a lapse of time between the con- clusion of the school year and the start of camp? For my part, I can only remember spilling right out of school and into camp and then from camp, with a few days in between, back to school. I know that there’s some- thing liberating and really refreshing about suddenly finding yourself with the priv- ilege of having absolutely nothing to do. All of a sudden the end of June arrives and there are no exams, no study- ing to do or papers or reports to hand in. It may be some- thing akin to walking a

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 17 justifiably have what to fear? If so, then it is highly ironic, because in The Perfect Veep For Obama light of the very public anti-Israel comments that have been made over BY LAWRENCE KULAK quiet and put to bed rumors that can stir up and the violence they can a 20-year period by Obama’s rev- Barack Obama was secretly a practic- inflame.” erend and mentor, Jeremiah Wright, “Why is he here?” is the question ing Muslim. I don’t know for sure, but it seems it would seem that Israel-loving Jews that Jewish Federation fundraiser “Let’s call those rumors what they to me that if there had been any would have more reason to be wary Ellen Sarnoff told the New York Times are—lies,” Bloomberg said. Referring Muslims in attendance at the Boca of the brand of Christianity that everyone was asking in anticipation of to rumors that Obama is a Muslim, he Jewish Community Center where he Obama and his reverend have appar- Mayor Bloomberg’s pro-Barack Obama ently decided to endorse. speech in front of a Jewish audience in Mayor Bloomberg, moreover, who— Boca Raton, Florida last Friday. “Is it as the writer for the Times pointed to endorse Obama and make nice with out—rarely makes allusion to his faith, the Jewish community here? Or is it to So if Mayor Bloomberg has not decided did so pointedly by referring to “our endorse McCain?” people” while cautioning his audience The confusion apparently stemmed yet to support either candidate, what was not to resort to labels unfoundedly. He from the fact that Michael Bloomberg, failed to explain, however, how simply who had once been a Democrat but categorizing Barack Obama as a prac- has since opted for being an independ- his purpose for being in Florida? titioner of his father’s faith would in ent after a brief status as a Republican, and of itself “be hurtful” or “stir up apparently came to Palm Beach evil.” Was the slightly demagogic County to buttress support for Barack mayor simply trying to lecture the Jews Obama. Speaking before a breakfast said, “This is wedge politics at its spoke, they would have had a reason of the Sunshine State on how to be meeting of about 200 people at the worst, and we’ve got to reject it—loud- to be offended. Was Mayor Mike try- good people? Jewish Federation of South Palm ly, clearly, and unequivocally… Of all ing to say that ipso facto if Barack The mayor, who said that he has yet Beach County, where he apparently is people, we know how hurtful these Obama was indeed a follower of to endorse either side, told his audi- well admired, Bloomberg sought to forces can be. We know the evils they Islam then the Jewish People would ence that he would “speak out against intolerance for both candidates.” Again, however, he failed to adequate- ly explain how deeply held suspicions by voters could constitute “intoler- ance” per se or articulate what possible intolerance against the Republican presidential candidate he was referring to. If Bloomberg was referring to Senator McCain’s age, then I am sure he could have chosen many less toler- ant venues in which to do his preach- ing, because the state of Florida is probably close to being the senior citi- zens capital of the world. So if Mayor Bloomberg has not decided yet to support either candi- date, what was his purpose for being in Florida? Rumors have been circulating that Mayor Bloomberg is trying to get himself selected to be on the ticket as vice-presidential candidate for either Barack Obama or John McCain. Although the gregarious yet sometimes pugnacious mayor was trying to appear bipartisan before his Florida audience, by specifically gearing his speech toward whitewashing any damage that may have been caused to the reputa- tion of Barack Obama during the pri- mary process, he left little to the imag- ination about which side he is leaning toward supporting. Moreover, if Bloomberg’s appear- ance before a crowd that overwhelm- ingly approved of him in the critical swing state of Florida was not set up by Barack Obama’s campaign team, then it was a highly strategic maneu- ver by the mayor to have himself seen as an important asset to have on board with either candidate. There is a strong possibility that it was a not-so- subtle message to John McCain that he’d better get Bloomberg on board soon, before Bloomberg gets a call from the Obama camp. For Mayor Bloomberg to accept an invitation to join the Democratic ticket would not be a major surprise, since he was, for most of his life, a Democrat. In some ways, moreover, his short yet successful career in pol- itics has echoed the sentiments of “change” that the Obama camp has been promoting, being a billionaire businessman who supposedly entered 18 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES politics not for personal status or some degree by Bloomberg’s notions of aggrandizement (or salary—he works “free speech,” Almontaser later sued for $1 per year) but in order to effect and lost, her case recently being dis- substantive change in the way gov- missed by the U.S. Court of Appeals ernment works. He undoubtedly has for the Second Circuit on the grounds met with a good measure of success, that as an employee of the public- having been elected to a double term school system she was not entitled to as mayor. unrestricted free speech. In many ways, Mayor Bloomberg The Almontaser case, however, was can be seen as the ideal candidate for not the first or only time that Mayor Barack Obama to select as his part- Bloomberg has resorted to notions of ner on the ticket. This is because by free speech to defend what seems to being Jewish—but not too Jewish— be the rearing of the head of radical Bloomberg could have a powerful Islam in the city’s administration. In effect in offsetting the damage that early 2006, the chief chaplain for the has been already caused to Obama’s New York City Corrections Depart- reputation by the Jeremiah Wright ment, Imam Umar Abdul-Jalil, made debacle and by his recent backtrack- a remark in a speech before a group ing from remarks that he made to the of Muslim students that “the greatest AIPAC conference that were wholly terrorists in the world occupy the supportive of Israel. White House” as well as taking a shot In addition, Mike Bloomberg’s at the “Zionists in the media.” upbeat, engaging nature seems to fit in Bloomberg permitted Mr. Abdul-Jalil well with the Democratic nominee’s to keep his $76,000-per-year taxpay- plans to engage bellicose nations like er-funded job—despite the fact that Iran and Syria in dialogue. Unlike his there are more converts to Islam from predecessor Rudolph Giuliani, who the prison system than anywhere else refused throughout his eight-year and that Mr. Abdul-Jalil was probably tenure to speak with Al Sharpton, feeding them with hate-filled rheto- Mayor Bloomberg has rendered him- ric, as well. Ironically, the mayor just self virtually at Sharpton’s beck and a few weeks earlier, after a trip to call and has met with him at City Hall Albany, had arranged for a city on numerous occasions. employee working in the state capital Bloomberg has also been somewhat to be fired for committing what many apologetic for ousted Khalil Gibran would consider to be the much more Academy principal Debbie Almontaser innocuous infraction of playing a after she was fired, stating that she game of solitaire on his government gave a reasonable explanation of why computer. she refused to condemn the wearing of If it has been Bloomberg’s style to a T-shirt by a student extolling the use of the word “intifada.” Buttressed to Continued on Page 20

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 19 Veep For Obama Continued from Page 19

insulate city employees who spout religious venom at the country and government which employs them, one can only imagine what kind of Teflon coating he would apply to Barack Obama, who for 20 years tolerated the hateful invective of Jeremiah Wright, who was certainly exercising his free-speech rights. Bloomberg’s game of polit- ical “hot potato” with the candidates that he supports would likely make him an ideal match for Barack Obama, who seemed to have difficulty within a two-day span a few ago deciding whether he was for Jerusalem’s being the undi- vided capital of Israel or against it. If selected to become Barack Obama’s run- ning mate, Mayor Bloom- berg, through his support of Israel, will give the Democratic candidate the extra credibility that he needs among Jews to be able to have a strong chance in win- ning the key states of New York and Florida. In fact, with the vivid recollection by Democrats of the disaster that occurred in Florida in 2000 that many believe cost Al Gore the presidential elec- tion, he may be already con- sidered indispensable.O

Lawrence Kulak is a freelance writer and an attorney. He can be reached at [email protected].

And they, and all that was theirs, descended into the abyss (Bamidbar 16:33) Rabbi Berechia said in the name of Rabbi Chelbo: Even their names flew off all written documents. Rabbi Yossei bar Chanina said: Even a needle of theirs on loan in the hands of another man was swallowed up with them.

(Jerusalem Talmud)

20 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Rav Leibowitz decided to bring the whole seven decades, the strongest BAGEL STORE days of freedom, this time Continued from Page 16 yeshiva to Eretz Yisrael in connection and the most Continued from Page 17 with camp behind them and 1964 for a year of learning in powerful tool the rosh yeshiva school off in the distance but blatt shiur were the best years the holy atmosphere of used to make that connec- ended, they will be headed still ahead. The crowds and of his life. (This from an indi- Yerushalayim, the student tion with them was the blatt directly toward another the noise will be the same, vidual who has been saying body of 40 talmidim went shiur. The vision is so clear: school year. They will be out parking will once again be a his own shiur for half a cen- with him. The Mirrer rosh the rosh yeshiva comes in, on the streets with the same problem, and you’ll have to tury). HaRav Dovid Chait, yeshiva, Rav Laizer Yudel takes off his jacket, rolls up energy and enthusiasm, jump- wait a few extra minutes for shlita, the rosh yeshiva of Finkel, zt’l, asked him what his shirt sleeves, and is ready ing around from store to your Chinese food or shwar- Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in his secret was—how did he to do battle—a battle that store, looking for something ma. It will once again be the Eretz Yisrael, described it get all the talmidim to follow wouldn’t just last the hour or to eat, perusing the racks for season of their additional best when he said in his hes- him? The rosh yeshiva replied, two of the shiur, but a battle something to wear—this time freedom, running up and ped of the rosh yeshiva, “The “I just learn with them.” whose effects are still felt in looking at some point for down the streets. But then blatt shiur was not a shiur; it For all the many conversa- the hearts of his talmidim school supplies, as well. that school bell rings. O O was a training ground for tions with talmidim and for- many decades later. In all likelihood it will be Comments for Larry Gordon are life.” HaRav Simcha mer talmidim over a span of (To be continued.) another seemingly eternal ten welcome at [email protected]. Sheinberg from Yeshiva Torah Ohr related to the author that his father, the rosh yeshi- va of Yeshiva Torah Ohr in Yerushalayim, HaRav Chaim Pinchas Sheinberg, shlita, was for more than 20 years the mashgiach in the yeshiva, and had originally sent his son to the Telz yeshiva in Cleveland for mesivta in order to keep him away from the many distractions so prevalent in the Lower East Side in the 40s and 50s, and he stayed there for five years. It was then that his father called him back to attend the rosh yeshiva’s blatt shiur. His father explained, “Just as Reb Dovid’s pilpul shiurim were classic, so too is Reb Henoch’s blatt shiur a classic; there is no other like it.” When the rosh yeshiva

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 21 Crying At AIPAC cost in Jewish blood. and reaping praise from one another. Where in our Torah is there mention Continued from Front Cover Not to mention that both Rice and As the ballroom doors opened and of a Palestinian a.k.a. Arab state inside Obama stated that there should be no the huge crowd made their way out, our precious homeland? must have a “Palestinian” state inside more settlement construction. (In my mind wandered to Jews being So, as I was leaving with my friend of Israel. other words, they actually stated that herded into cattle cars, irrespective of Rob Muchnick (U.S. director of The AIPAC leadership did its best to Jews should not continue to build in the fact that they were willing to be Manhigut Yehudit—an organization make certain that the invited speakers that b’H represents Jewish pride and would receive a hearty and warm identity), I spontaneously burst out reception no matter what words were crying outside the ballroom of the DC spoken. This message from AIPAC was Convention Center. e-mailed to registrants, spoken repeat- AIPAC’s guest speakers called for an I wasn’t crying for the outside forces edly, and even appeared on a ticker that seek to destroy Am Yisrael, but for inside the convention center. The Arab state inside of our land, which our own Jewish brethren who are speaker could have called for the death blinded by weak and opportunistic and destruction of the Jewish People, will be a launching pad for terror Jewish “leadership” (Olmert and his and the participants were mindlessly Oslo co-conspirators) in Israel and are prepared to applaud. willing to follow them on a path of Actually, that is what happened— attacks throughout Israel. national suicide. AIPAC’s guest speakers called for an AIPAC’s stated mission is to Arab state inside of our land, which strengthen the U.S.-Israel strategic will be a launching pad for terror alliance. Apparently this means sup- attacks throughout Israel. This will certain parts of our G-d-given Land.) “good Germans.” Similarly, many porting those following a strategy lead- pose a danger to not only the seven In spite of this, there was more AIPAC attendees told me that they ing to the destruction of Israel. We million Jews living in Israel but to Jews applause from AIPAC attendees. are proud, good Americans and Israel need leadership in Israel and the U.S. and non-Jews everywhere in the world. To make it worse, if that is possible, is not their country. that has a moral compass and will not So congratulations, AIPAC leaders, on the AIPAC leaders seem extremely And I thought to myself, “When will fall prey to those who are willing to “leading” your members to applaud for proud of this accomplishment and were we stop being a stiff-necked people sacrifice our Jewish values. a terror state which will, G-d forbid, engaged in a lot of patting on the back and follow the will of Hashem?” Later, I joined an AIPAC delegation and proceeded to Congress. I heard an AIPAC group leader argue with a U.S. senator. The senator stated that if it were his country and rockets were falling, he would take swift and aggres- sive action and that there was no part- ner for a “peace” process. The repre- sentative from this group argued, stat- ing that he hoped this peace process would continue unabated. Many AIPAC participants told me that they have to follow whatever the Israeli government says and does, because America, and not Israel, is their home. This is true even if the Israeli government is seeking to remove every last vestige of Judaism from our land seeking a “new Middle East” with- out religion. How very sad. Was it worth the tears? I believe it was. I am crying for my people, who are so lost. My tears were short-lived and then I went back to spending 20 hours a day trying to change this reali- ty by working for Manhigut Yehudit— led by Moshe Feiglin—to bring authentic Jewish leadership. Our dele- gation from Manhigut Yehudit did our best at the public forums to “wake peo- ple up” to the reality in Israel. O

Tova Abadi is the U.S. director of communica- tions and media spokesperson for Manhigut Yehudit. For more information about bringing true Jewish leadership log onto www.jewishis- rael.org or to volunteer/contribute e-mail [email protected].

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22 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Tuition Crisis those arguments as they fall on deaf Continued from Front Cover ears to those who are supposed to act on those issues. So where do we go affordable to all of us who value the from here? I will detail my vision on importance of a Jewish education for how to solve these problems and rattle our children. Most of us realize that a the cage of the status quo which I proper Jewish education for our chil- think we all can agree must be dren is an expensive proposition, but is changed. As an institution it is easy to also the only option as opposed to the say no and to be content with the exist- available education offered by our ing flawed and broken system and local school districts. Is there a possi- structure. However, when it comes to bility to get the State of New York to rebuilding a broken and unaffordable pay for the secular portions of our chil- system, we must be open to creative, dren’s private school education? Can groundbreaking, and necessary steps they supply teachers and educators for to ensure the viability of a system of math, science, music, art, and all other education which we all believe must be subjects, and have those teachers affordable and sustainable. come to our schools to teach? Since they already come into our yeshiva Long Term: Political Solution buildings for special education, why Bureaucratic government is an not build on that precedent that was ever lingering problem that makes it set years ago? Why can’t the school difficult to accomplish political gains. districts pay the yeshiva an equivalent To pass legislation for the benefit of amount that they already spend per the people involves a united and full student on a public school education? court press on politicians who can After all, they pay the same school effect change. Whether those in taxes but don’t use the services. Are office now or future elected officials, there not any legal remedies that can it must be clear that their con- be pursued by some of the leading and stituents are demanding action. respected lawyers within our commu- When I was lobbying for change on nity that can break new ground and my own a number of years ago, I was obtain more government aid? Is there a able to secure meetings with many reason why we all continue to sit back local and state officials whom all and accept the universal answer of “it asked the same question: “Do you can’t be done”? I’m not even going to have any rabbinical support behind begin to outline the argument as to your proposals?” My greatest wish why this is so crucial. We all know the was to be able to say “yes”! What is obvious pain and suffering cases, the painfully clear, is that political fig- “open your books” argument, and the ures will listen to people that are in quality of education discussion. There is no need to outline the details of Continued on Page 24

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 23 Tuition Crisis many parents, grandparents, and vot- the absence of a suitable partner an The elimination of the discriminato- Continued from Page 23 ers does that represent? If politicians organization called “United ry, embarrassing, and inappropriate are not receptive to helping, we must Organization of Yeshiva Employees” scholarship process must be changed. positions of power and leadership. field our own candidates to run (UOYE) should be formed. As a large The judging by friends and neighbors What is the obvious conclusion? We against them. You are either with us group they can jointly purchase all of of one’s financial situation is an unac- need our rabbinical leadership to step or against us. This charge must be led the necessary services, such as health ceptable practice that must be altered up to the plate, and unite for a com- now. Local rabbis should organize insurance, life insurance, and pre- to create a fair and just method of dis- mon cause and lead the charge. They and call a conference to form a lobby- scription drug coverage. Each tribution of funds to those truly in must blaze a united path to every ing committee and begin the process employee will remain an independent need. The answer is a centralized not elected official and together pressure with a united front. They can’t con- employee of their respective school, for profit scholarship organization that them to address the concept of gov- tinue and sit by and wait for someone but as a member of this “organization” handles all New York State scholarship ernment intervention and aid to our else to do it. They can’t continue to bulk discounts and centralizing and requests and distributes money direct- private school community. We need ignore it, or we will continue to lose streamlining a process being replicat- ly to the school on behalf of the needy government aid in the form of money, faith in those who don’t lead. ed at hundreds of schools across the family. This organization will handle grants, subsidies, tax credits, lunch Which of our rabbis will step up and state will be implemented. This scholarship applications and the quali- programs, security, physical educa- accept these challenges? There is now organization can also centralize fication process needed to ensure that tion, art, music, and all subject areas. one of the largest problems facing our billing, purchasing, food services, there is a fair and equitable system for Not just yeshiva, but all private communities today. security, maintenance, and custodial the needy. There will be no more schools. This at minimum must services. All of these should be put scholarship dinners by the individual involve not just our own rabbis, but Short Term: Macro Solutions out for bidding and allow companies schools, or concerns as to how the on a larger scale religious leaders The centralization of expenses and to compete for the business. This will money is to be used. The donations across all faiths. An article entitled power by numbers must be imple- allow the respective schools to free up will be deposited directly with this cen- “Cardinal Says U.S. Should Aid mented. On a large scale, all employ- resources that are dedicated to those tral not for profit organization on a tax Catholic Education” was run in ees of every yeshiva must join and activities, thereby cutting costs and deductible basis. We can refer to Newsday last week. Has any religious become a member of a central organ- for these services to be obtained at a another recent Newsday article refer- leader reached out to him to help? ization. Existing organizations such as substantial discount. ring to “The Tomorrow’s Hope How many private school students the Orthodox Union (OU) should be Which of our rabbis will step up and Foundation” set up by our Catholic are in the State of New York? How viewed as potential partners, and in accept this challenge? brethren. It is essentially implement- ing this exact solution for Catholic schools and raising millions of dollars. The board consists of Lewis Ranieri (former chairman of Computer Associates), Peter Quick (former pres- ident of the American Stock Exchange), former Senator Alfonse D’Amato, and former Rep. Rick Lazio. The organization raises funds through direct mail, dinners, and many other events with all scholarship recipients assessed with respect and confidential- ity. Are there not any Jewish business owners and political leaders that can put together such an organization for Jewish education? Consider this a challenge to those of you who are in a position to help. After an extensive analysis of the tuition crisis a few years ago by the OU (triggered by my previous article), one of the conclusions reached was for grandparents to help pay the cost of their grandchildren’s education. This of course is a lovely idea, but one with- out much merit. It should not be the responsibility of those who have suf- fered through this process to educate their children, to now have to contin- ue this struggle instead of enjoying their retirement and golden years. We need to have a fundamental restruc- turing of the basic foundation of how tuition is charged, and not just throw more money to help perpetuate a sys- tem of failure and injustice. By failure I simply mean a broken and wasteful bureaucracy without transparency or accountability. There is a solution to this problem: The majority of those setting policy and board members of our schools are non salaried volunteer parents with a few more dollars than the rest of us. How did they assume positions of power and policy setting in our schools? Did they submit resumes with their qualifications? Are these the best suited leaders to determine our children’s educational strategy and to manage our financial affairs? While we respect their dedication and admire their work ethic, our positions of authority are not for sale. A large dona- tion of $100,000 is given, in turn pur-

Continued on Page 61 24 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Many of them are feeling exactly the community at large, but by taking on way you feel and they are too embar- more than is within your comfort zone, rassed to admit that it’s just too much. you and those around you will ultimate- Of course there will always be those few ly suffer. Whether you come down with “superwomen” with boundless energy some illness, which is often the body’s who, like the Energizer bunny, just keep way of saying “slow down,” or you start going and going and going. They are suffering from some mental anguish blessed with enormous stamina, need (which it sounds like you’ve already Dear Esther, dren dearly, I sometimes fantasize little sleep, and probably thrive on the begun to feel), or whether you just one I’m probably not very different from about just walking away from it all and kind of schedule that requires them to many women in my neighborhood. I’m starting again in some strange new go from task to task. Often this type of 30-something, the mother of four. I place where no one knows me or wants individual doesn’t particularly want or work part time and I am involved in anything from me. I know that I’ll need time for introspection or even the community, in my shul, and in my never actually live out this fantasy, but quiet time. In fact, some of them would- Bring some joy children’s schools. When a friend or I hope that I don’t act it out in some n’t know what to do with ten free min- neighbor has a baby, I run over with a more acceptable way that is still dam- utes, and the thought of it might even back into your life. nutritious dinner for the family. When aging to those around me. make them feel uneasy. my husband hands me a list of errands I really don’t know how I got here. I But trust me when I tell you that that he needs done for him, I take care don’t know why others seem to thrive many women feel as pressed as you to We all need perks of them, usually with a smile, because in this life and how I’ll keep it up much keep up. Somehow, women like yourself I know he works very long hours. I take longer. But something’s got to give. have not learned that sometimes it’s okay his shirts to the cleaner, take his shoes What do you think? Is there something to say, “No, I’m unable to do that.” No now and then. to the shoemaker, take care of his wrong with me or am I living in the becomes a dirty word that must never drugstore needs, deal with insurance wrong neighborhood, with the wrong come out of your mouth when asked to problems, call the plumber, tell the family, or the wrong something? Help! step up to the plate. Whether this mes- gardener what needs to be done, and I feel lost and scared. sage came from your parents, your day finally snap and start lashing out at so on. I’m the banker, the baker, and Lost schools, or your peers, it is something anyone unlucky enough to cross your the ball-player with my sons. Dear Lost, that you have absorbed to the point of path, you will, at least subconsciously, I say all of this without feeling par- I’m so sorry to hear you sounding so exhaustion. And so, as you proceed to find a way to effect change. ticularly amazing, since it appears to overwhelmed by the life you are living. live the life of the perfect everything, as My advice to you is to figure out me that most of the women I know It sounds as though you have an enor- you say, it feels as though your needs got when enough is enough—when it’s time have very similar schedules. And some mous amount on your plate, with prob- buried a long time ago, and now you’re to take a pass on running the PTA’s sup- of them seem to be able to juggle even ably little or no downtime to relax a bit, feeling the backlash of all of that giving perette, or hosting 12 teenagers for a more than I, making gourmet meals, regroup, and yes, even to have some and maybe never really taking. Shabbaton, or having the bake sale in running to shiurim, and always looking fun. Though it appears to you that the I don’t believe this is a recipe for suc- your house. It’s hard to say “no” when relaxed and “together.” I’m just trying women around you are able to handle cess in life. Of course it’s wonderful to to keep up. But often I feel like a per- your load and then some, don’t be naive. be there for family members and for the Continued on Page 27 son on a treadmill who is trying so hard just to stay in the same place, and often I fear that I will simply slip off— that I just can’t keep up any longer. That is one of my greatest fears. But I have other fears, too. I fear that I am forgetting who I am, with all of this doing and schlepping and serv- icing. Where am I? What happened to my interests, my fun, my personality? I can sort of relate to the women of The Stepford Wives—trying to be the per- fect wife, mother, and member of our community, while keeping a great big smile plastered on my face. I feel like it’s not working for me anymore. Maybe this isn’t the life I bargained for, the life that I need to live. I don’t dare mention any of this to my husband or friends because I’m sure they wouldn’t understand what I’m saying and would either think I’m going off the deep end or that I’m some sort of misfit. Why does it seem as though all the women around me are doing just fine, the first ones to volunteer for a chesed project or be ready with a helping hand? I wonder what’s wrong with me and why I’m feeling more and more over- whelmed, underappreciated, and not very happy with the quality of my life. Though I love my husband and chil-

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 25 them—ever! We do, however, get sick gressed to the age of one and then two, from them. It’s a simple equation. it started all over again. Once more, Grandchild has runny nose, grandparent Arnie and I were often getting sick, just hugs and kisses grandchild, and grand- as we had when the others were little. parent inherits virus, causing symptoms. Suddenly it clicked. We finally saw the There’s no puzzle there! The only conun- pattern, and we realized that our brief drum is that grandparents usually suffer with symptoms for three weeks, while Defenses Down the little one recovers in three days. Where’s the logic there? Does a virus Toddlers, who are know when it’s living in the body of a How did it happen? And when did it become toddlers, all bets were off. For mature adult, as opposed to a toddler? Is happen? One day we were healthy some reason, one- and two-year-olds get a virus so much more comfortable in this normally not big on adults who caught cold viruses as often, colds and sore throats that they don’t like environment that it decides to extend its or as infrequently, as the next guy. Then to keep to themselves. Toddlers, who are visit? I don’t pretend to understand. The sharing, make an we had grandchildren! Well, we didn’t normally not big on sharing, make an only thing I do know is that, on average, exactly have them; our kids had them exception with illness. That’s something whatever Hubby and I catch from the exception with for us, and we became a proud and lov- they share! They were passing everything kids keeps us sick for a long time. ing set of grandparents. There’s nothing on to us. What’s not entirely clear is how Oddly, although Arnie and I are illness. unusual about that! It’s a normal and kids manage to bypass their parents and wiser than we were in our younger joyous life-cycle event. direct what they have in the virus depart- years, it took a while for us to catch on. At first we didn’t notice any changes. ment straight to the grandparents. Moms When our oldest grandchildren were We visited the grandchildren every and dads don’t get sick from their kids. well past the toddler stage, we began to respite in the cold-and-virus depart- chance we got. They were babies at the They may occasionally get sick of their notice that we were getting sick less ment occurred during the period when time, and for a long while they remained kids, but never from them. often. That was fine with us, but we we had no toddler grandchildren. healthy. They didn’t catch cold viruses. It works in reverse with grandparents. didn’t see a pattern. Then another of In response to this newfound aware- Or at least they didn’t catch any that they Bubbys and Zaidys, or, as in our case, our daughters started her family, and as ness, we became more discriminating. passed on to us. But once those babies Sabbas and Savtas, don’t get sick of each new child was born, and then pro- As each new baby born to this daugh- ter entered the toddler stage, we got sharper. We were wise enough to keep our distance when we knew that any of them was sick. The problem was that our daughter thought we were crazy. Maybe she har- bored even worse thoughts. Possibly she was disappointed in us and perceived us to be disinterested grandparents. She’s far too respectful to voice such senti- ments, so we never knew for sure what she thought. In fact, we still don’t know what she was feeling when we would say, “You know, sweetie, if the kids are sick and have runny noses, maybe we’ll pass on our visit today.” Sometimes that con- versation was conducted in person, min- utes after we would arrive at her house and discover that the kids were sick. I noticed that she would raise her eye- brows and look at us in disbelief—actu- ally it was me she was looking at, since I’m the designated “bad-news messen- ger” in our family. Arnie’s the good guy. He may have backed right out the front door at the first sign of a kid’s runny nose, while I stuck around long enough to explain—but I was still the bad guy. Occasionally the conversation took place via telephone. My daughter would tell me the kids were sick, I would tell her we’d visit another day, and then there would be a sudden silence. First I would discern her exaggerated intake of breath, followed by a slow exhalation, all of which told me she was heaving a deep sigh, before she said, “Ohhh, okay.” And I had the sense that it was far from okay. We stuck to our guns, however, and— unless there was a dire emergency in which we were needed to babysit—we made sure to keep our distance when the kids had coughs and/or runny noses. From our perspective, there wasn’t much choice in the matter, since we both remembered how often we’d got- ten sick when we didn’t exercise that caution with earlier grandchildren. Poor Arnie once contracted pink eye that was probably unparalleled in the history of conjunctivitis cases. He liter- ally couldn’t see well enough to drive. It was a full month before he was able to leave the house without wearing dark sunglasses, and considerably longer than that before his vision improved. It 26 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

was, according to the ophthalmologist friends in the long run. to take on. Each of us is an individual, tasks that we must do and give us (the one that he had to visit three times And try not to worry so much about and we all have different strengths and something wonderful to look forward during the siege), the worst case of con- keeping up. Life shouldn’t feel like a different gifts to offer up to the uni- to. Create a reality that works for you junctivitis he had ever seen. constant marathon, or as you say, like verse. Be true to yourself, reconnect and find the proper balance for a Although I was lucky enough to running on a treadmill. We sometimes with the life that feels authentic for happy, rewarding, and generous life. escape the conjunctivitis, I often caught feel up for mini-sprints and we some- you, and do the best that you can do— Esther colds, accompanied by symptoms that times need to take a break and relax. not the best that your neighbor thinks left me feeling punk for ten days or But we must listen to our hearts and (or you believe thinks) you can do. Esther Mann, LMSW, has a private practice in more—and then kept me coughing and minds and take on only that which And finally, bring some joy back into Lawrence. Esther is a psychotherapist and life coach and can be reached at 516-314-2295 or wheezing for several weeks after that. makes sense for us and not necessarily your life. We all need perks now and [email protected]. She works with individu- Remembering all of that, we decided that which we believe we are expected then. They fuel us for the difficult als, couples, premarital couples, and families. we could live with our daughter’s disap- pointment over the fact that her parents weren’t willing to visit unless her chil- dren were reasonably healthy. We knew she’d get over it, and so she did. Now the toddlers are older. The youngest of our brood is well past that stage, so they now get sick less often. And happily, so do we! O

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

MINDBIZ Continued from Page 25 asked, particularly when saying “yes” has been ingrained by your training and is all that you know. Some women actu- ally need the help of a professional ther- apist to give them the support that is often required in order to learn how to be gentler with themselves. This enables such individuals to ultimately feel strong and confident and to begin to function in a healthy way. Ultimately, by taking care of themselves, they are more likely to be available for family and

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 27 Priest). The Yisraelim—the farmers, In a number of talks, the merchants, craftsmen, soldiers, and Lubavitcher Rebbe analyzes the argu- statesmen of Israel—were to pursue ments, motives, and spiritual profile of the “normal” existence of physical Korach and his compatriots. If Korach man—a life and vocation that involve is the essence of divisiveness, says the the bulk of a person’s time and talents Rebbe, then an understanding of the in the material world. The tribe of dynamics of conflict and harmony will Levi, however, was “distinguished by explain Korach’s challenge to Moshe. the G-d of Israel from the community Conversely, an understanding of the From The Chassidic Masters of Israel, to be brought closer to Him,” subtleties of Korach’s argument will to serve as spiritual leaders and priests, shed light on the very fine line separat- “instructing Your laws to Yaakov and Who Was Korach? Your Torah to Israel; placing incense in Your nostrils and burnt offerings upon Your altar” (Bamidbar 16:9; Devarim Korach comes A study of the Biblical account of be as Korach and his company.’” But if 33:10). Within the tribe of Levi itself, Korach’s rebellion against Moshe, and there is more to Korach—the person Aharon and his descendants were con- of the numerous midrashim and com- and the idea—than a jealousy-driven secrated as kohanim and entrusted across a champion mentaries describing Korach’s person- power struggle, why does every petty with the primary role in serving G-d in ality and actions, yields a complex, squabbler fall under the umbrella of the Sanctuary. Aharon himself was of equality, railing even contradictory picture. Korach “Don’t be like Korach”? appointed Kohein Gadol, “the greatest was no ordinary rabble-rouser. He was Obviously, there is something at the of his brethren” in this hierarchy of against a “class a leading member of the Kehasim, the heart of Korach’s contentions that is holiness. Korach seems to be objecting most prestigious of the families of the essence of all disunity. to this spiritual elitism. system.” Levi. Joining him in his mutiny against The particulars of Korach’s cam- But from Moshe’s response—“Is it Moshe and Aharon were “250 men of paign also require explanation. What not enough for you that the G-d of Israel, leaders of the community, of exactly did Korach want? His argu- Israel has distinguished you from the those regularly called to assembly, men ments against Moshe and Aharon community of Israel…that you also ing divisiveness from true peace. For of renown.” Korach’s difference with seem fraught with contradiction. On desire the priesthood?”—we see that although divisiveness and peace look Moshe was an ideological one, driven the one hand, he seems to challenge Korach actually desired the office of very different from each other in their by the way in which he understood the very institution of the kehunah the Kohein Gadol for himself! full-blown, actual states, in their Israel’s relationship with G-d and by (priesthood), declaiming to Moshe and This paradox appears time and again essence and origins they are amazingly the manner in which he felt the nation Aharon: “The entire community is in various accounts of Korach’s mutiny similar. In fact, they are very nearly ought to be structured. holy, and G-d is within them; why do in the midrashim and the commen- indistinguishable from each other. Yet Korach is regarded as the father you raise yourselves over the congrega- taries. Korach comes across a champi- of all quarrelers: his very name is syn- tion of G-d?” on of equality, railing against a “class What Is Peace? onymous with disharmony and con- Moshe had divided the people of system” that categorizes levels of holi- Chazal have said, “Just as their faces flict. The Talmud goes so far as to pro- Israel into several classes of holiness: ness within the community. Yet, in the are not alike, so, too, their minds and claim, “Anyone who engages in divi- “ordinary” Yisraelim, Levi’im, kohanim same breath, he contends that he is characters are not alike.” Such is the siveness transgresses a Divine prohibi- (priests) and, at the pinnacle of this the more worthy candidate for the nature of the human race: individuals tion, as it is written: ‘And he shall not pyramid, the Kohein Gadol (High High Priesthood. and peoples differ from each other in

28 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES outlook, personality, talents, and the many other distinctions, great and small, which set them apart from each other. It is only natural to expect these dif- ferences to give rise to animosity and conflict. And yet, at the core of the human soul is the yearning for peace. We intuitively sense that despite the tremendous (and apparently inherent) differences between us, a state of uni- versal harmony is both desirable and attainable. But what exactly is peace? Is peace the obliteration of the differences between individuals and nations? Is it the creation of a “separate but equal” society in which differences are pre- served but without any distinctions of “superior” and “inferior”? Or is it nei- ther of the above?

The ‘Firmament’: Separation Of Spirit And Matter In the Torah’s account of G-d’s six- day creation of the world, each day’s work concludes with the statement “And G-d saw what He had created, and behold, it was good.” Each day, that is, except for the second day, which is the day that “G-d made the firmament [i.e., the “heavens”], and divided between the waters which are below the firmament and the waters which are above the firmament.” Explains the Midrash: “Why does it not say ‘it was good’ on the second day? Because on that day divisiveness was created; as it is written, ‘It shall divide between water and water.’” However, the Midrash then goes on to point out that on the third day the phrase “it was good” appears twice, because then “the work of the waters,” which was begun on the sec- ond day, was completed. In other words, the division effected on the second day was a less-than- desirable phenomenon, but only because it was not yet complete. On the third day, when the “work of the waters” was completed (involving even further division of the lower waters’ domain into “dry land” and “seas”) this divisiveness itself is deemed “good.” Chazal tell us that G-d’s six days of creation correspond to the six millen- nia of human endeavor that follow. Therein lies the significance of the Midrash’s words: in the third millen- nium of the world’s existence, the ele- ment that resolves the conflicts creat- ed by diversity was introduced into our lives. This is the Torah, revealed to us at Sinai in the year 2448 from creation. Indeed, the Talmud states that “the Torah was given to make peace in the world.” The Midrash expresses the peacemaking quality of Torah with the following metaphor: Once there was a king who decreed: “The people of Rome are forbidden to descend to Syria, and the people of Syria are forbidden to ascend to Rome.” Likewise, when G-d created the world He decreed and said: “The heavens are G-d’s, and the earth is given to man.” But when He wished to give the Torah to Israel, He rescinded His original gezeirah (“schism” and “decree”), and

Continued on Page 30 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 29 FROM THE CHASSIDIC MASTERS peace between the conflicting drives tual pursuits while “ordinary” Yisraelim Korach And The Spies Continued from Page 29 within the heart of man, peace must contend with the mundanity of Korach’s challenge to Moshe’s and between individuals, peace between the marketplace. But “within them is Aharon’s leadership followed another declared: “The lower realms may peoples, and peace between the cre- G-d”—they serve the Divine purpose tragic mutiny among the Jewish peo- ascend to the higher realms, and the ation and its Creator—by defining no less in the fulfillment of their role ple, that of the spies, of which we read higher realms may descend to the and differentiating, rather than by than does the Kohein Gadol in the ful- in last week’s parashah. lower realms.” blending and homogenizing. fillment of his. Ten of the twelve tribal leaders sent The schism and decree to separate This is why, explain the Chassidic Korach was not opposed to a divi- to scout the land of Canaan returned the heavenly from the earthly, effected masters, the Torah is associated with sion of roles within the community, to dissuade the people from their mis- by G-d’s “division of the waters” on the the third day and the third millenni- nor to the distinction between spiritu- sion of conquering the land. Here in second day of creation, was thus allevi- um. The number “1,” connoting a sin- al and material. On the contrary, he the desert—they argued—sustained by ated on the third “day” of history with gle entity or collection of identical himself yearned for the spiritual path manna from heaven and shielded from the revelation at Sinai. No longer were entities, can spell unanimity but not of the High Priesthood, to serve G-d a corporeal and hostile world by the the material and the spiritual two peace. If “1” represents singularity and utterly free from worldly affairs. What heavenly “clouds of glory,” our souls irreconcilable realms. The heavens “2” represents divisiveness, then “3” he did contest was the way in which are free to pursue the Divine wisdom descended to earth, and the earth was expresses the concept of peace: the Moshe defined this division of roles. in Torah and soar in meditative attach- empowered to ascend to the heavens. existence of two different or even polar “Why do you raise yourselves over ment to G-d; there, in the Land, we But the Torah did not come to blur entities, but with the addition of a the congregation of G-d?” he argued. shall be subject to the political and the distinction between the heaven third, unifying element that embraces Why this “ladder” of spirituality, on economic mundanities intrinsic to an and earth. In fact, its self-proclaimed and pervades them both, bringing which the Moshes and Aharons of the earth-bound existence. “It is a land task is “to differentiate between the them in harmony with each other by generation occupy a higher rung than that consumes its inhabitants,” they holy and the mundane, between the defining their common essence and the farmer who works his land or the warned the people, reminding them pure and the impure” (Vayikra 10:10). goal, but also their respective roles in merchant engrossed in his accounts? that many a spiritual giant had been Nor does Torah endeavor to create a the actualization of this essence and Why is the “ordinary” Jew told to corrupted when exposed to the uniform world society: its detailed laws the attainment of this goal—and thus regard Aharon as the one who repre- enmeshments of material life. So why delineate the many different roles their relationship with each other. sents him in the Sanctuary and who abandon our spiritual idyll for a life of (man and woman, Jew and non-Jew, So the “third day” does not undo the facilitates his relationship with G-d? Is subsisting off the land? Yisrael, Levi, and Kohein, full-time divisions of the second. Rather, it G-d closer to heaven than to earth? Is The spies erred in confining their Torah scholar and layman, etc.) to introduces a “third” all-transcendent serving Him by transcending the mate- relationship with G-d to the realm of comprise the overall mission of element which these divisions serve. rial a more important part of humani- the spirit, rejecting, in effect, the pur- humanity. And it is this dynamic of harmony by ty’s mission than utilizing the material pose of the Exodus and the very Indeed, a uniform world could no diversity that “completes” their differ- existence to fulfill His will? essence of Israel’s mission: to conquer more represent a harmonious state ences and renders them “good.” Give me the High Priesthood, said and settle the land of Canaan as the than a single-hued painting or a sym- Korach, and I will eliminate the con- “Holy Land”—to realize the land’s phony composed entirely of identical Back To Korach notations of “leadership” and “superi- potential for holiness and sanctity. notes could be said to be a harmo- In light of this, Korach felt, how can ority” that Moshe and Aharon have Korach took the lesson of the spies’ nious creation. Like the third day’s we speak of “higher” and “lower” roles given it. To me, the most spiritual and error to the other extreme, contesting “work of the waters” that harmonizes in G-d’s world? How can one say that the most material of lifestyles, and all the very distinction of spiritual life as the divisiveness of the second day by the Kohein Gadol is loftier than the gradations between, are all distinct but something loftier and more desirable means of further delineation, the common laborer? True, the Kohein parallel paths in our endeavor to serve than material life. The spies spurned Torah makes peace in the world— Gadol’s life is wholly devoted to spiri- the Al-mighty. the mundane; Korach and his follow-

30 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES ers denied that there was anything and prayer, are somehow loftier and ation. “G-d desired a dwelling in the ing; any other existence or reality we mundane about the mundane. “holier” (i.e., closer to G-d) than the lowly realms,” states the Midrash; may identify—the objects and forces rest of his harvest or day. Yes, agreed “This,” writes Rabbi Schneur Zalman of the physical universe, the axiomatic The Uplifted Part Korach, the materially involved indi- of Liadi in his Tanya, “is what man is truths we contemplate, the “I” of our This also explains Korach’s particu- vidual ought to designate a certain por- all about; [this is] the purpose of his identities—are not existences “besides lar aversion towards the matanos kehu- tion of his life and wealth for matters creation, and the creation of all Him” but expressions of His all- nah, the gifts to the Kohanim, institut- of the spirit. But to see these as the worlds, supernal and terrestrial.” But embracing reality. ed by Moshe. The giving of the “choicest” elements of his life? As the Korach erred in his understanding of This is why the physical reality is the matanos kehunah was commanded by ultimate objective of everything he the nature of this “dwelling in the “lowest” element of G-d’s creation. G-d, but Korach argued that Moshe does? Why, demanded Korach of lowly realms” that G-d desires, and the The more “existence” a thing possess- had misinterpreted their function and Moshe and Aharon, do you insist on manner in which man can indeed fash- es, the more presence it presumes and significance. defining it as the apex of our commu- ion a Divine home out of his material exudes, the greater a distortion it is of Why was the Jew commanded to the Divine truth. While spiritual reali- “separate” and “uplift” a portion of his ties also possess definition and exis- crop, the “first shearings” of his flock, tence, these are far more ethereal than and other “gifts”? On the practical the brute tangibility of the physical. level, Kohanim and Levi’im need to A uniform world could no more More importantly, the spiritual entity eat. The tribe of Levi was to be given is of a “selfless” nature, always express- no allotment in the Land of Israel, ing and serving a reality greater than since “G-d is their lot” and the perfec- represent a harmonious state itself, while physical matter manifests tion of the spirit their vocation. Their only the “I am” of its tactual being. An material needs would therefore need idea or an emotion is always about to be provided by their brethren, in than a single-hued painting. something else; a stone or tree is whose stead they serve in the Holy ostensibly about itself. A person pray- Temple and whose lives they supply ing or studying is demonstrably relat- with the spiritual dimension of Israel’s ing to a higher truth; a person dealing mission. On a deeper level, the nal and individual endeavors? The self and world. or eating is demonstrably affirming his matanos kehunah represent the entire community is holy, and G-d is But first we must understand why it individual being. resources that each and every individ- amongst them and in their every posi- is that the material is regarded as To again quote the Tanya, of all the ual reserves for the “kohein” within tive effort. Why do you raise your- “lower” than the spiritual. Should not “worlds” and realities created by the himself—the time, energy, and posses- selves, and the spiritual ideal that the focus and objective of G-d’s cre- Al-mighty, the physical reality is “the sions he allocates for his own spiritual you—and, indeed, I myself—repre- ation be considered its loftiest ele- lowest in degree, of which there is pursuits. sent, above the congregation of G-d? ment? And yet, in the very sentence in none lower—‘lowest’ in the sense that Here, again, Korach did not object which the Midrash states that the it most conceals His manifest reality. to the matanos kehunah per se. But ‘Lowly’ Defined Creator’s desire lies specifically in the It is a world of doubled and redou- why do we speak of these gifts as Korach was right: our involvement physical existence, it refers to it as “the bled darkness, so much so that it things “uplifted” (terumah) to G-d? with the material can be no less G-dly lowly realms”! even contains ‘evil’—elements which Korach refused to accept the notion an endeavor than the most transcen- The Chassidic masters explain: The oppose the reality of G-d, declaring: ‘I that the bushel of grain that the Yisrael dent flights of spirit. Indeed, our Sages cardinal law of existence is, “There is am the ultimate.’” farmer reserves for the kohein, or the consider man’s sanctification of mate- none else besides Him” (Devarim daily hour or two he devotes for study rial life the ultimate objective of cre- 4:35). G-d is infinite and all-pervad- Continued on Page 33

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 31 remember what the house looked like, the crawl space to see the wonderful since they were distracted. floor he installed and all the storage Showing a house for sale properly space for suitcases and trunks down and pointing out its advantages to a there, the buyers are going to be side- buyer is one of the most important tracked from the more important pri- steps in getting an offer for a house. If orities of the house, such as the room a homeowner is distracting the buyer layouts, perhaps a lovely eat-in with conversation that has nothing to kitchen, etc. The Importance Of How do with the proposed sale of his house, When choosing a real-estate broker he is lowering the odds that the buyer or sales agent, how that broker is going The House Is Shown will choose his house for purchase, to show your house should also be simply because the buyers will not considered. Does the broker take the remember what they saw in the house time to show your house in a manner Sellers prepare their homes for sale Jewish geography and all the people or whether or not they even liked it, so that makes your house shine to its full in many ways. They may paint the you and the buyer have in common, or the house essentially “falls through the potential by pointing out its attributes, rooms, giving the entire house a fresh maybe he or she gets involved with cracks.” or does the broker bring in buyers, and bright look. They may scrape and looking at all those fabulous family The same rule holds true when a stand to the side, and just walk them polish worn-out wood floors, making photographs hanging on the walls of homeowner is too anxious and tries to through the house like they are going them look new and lovely once again. through the subway turnstile? Small repairs are usually tackled so the Just as you take time to prepare your house’s maintenance is not an impedi- house for sale by sprucing it up, the ment to a possible offer. Outdoor land- same time and thought should go into scaping may even be tackled in nice Although the conversations were great, who will “present” your home and how. weather to show the house at its best, Everything is in the presentation! O with nice lawns and pretty flowers. But, with all the preparations for the the potential buyers ended up leaving Anessa Cohen lives in Cedarhurst and is a licensed real-estate broker (Anessa V Cohen sale, usually no time or effort is put Realty) and a licensed N.Y.S. mortgage broker into preparations for presenting the your house after “visiting” with you. (A.C. Action Mortgage Corp.) with over 20 years house to the public once it is put offi- of experience, offering full-service residential and commercial real-estate services in the Five Towns cially on the market. and throughout the tri-state area. She can be What do I mean by presentation? reached at 516-569-5007 or via her website, www.AVCrealty.com. Readers are encouraged to Now that the house is ready to be send questions or comments to shown, when a buyer is offered your your house or strewn strategically on “overshow” the buyers things in his [email protected]. home as an option to be purchased, the different tables throughout the house, which takes away from the larg- you want to make sure that he or she is home. In this scenario, your house is er picture of more important amenities going to view it in the best possible going to be the one that loses and, as a of the home. If a homeowner is going At 5TJT.com you can light, by noticing the special attributes result, maybe you too. Although the to stress the beautiful coat hangers that your house has to offer. conversations were great and the lined up in the front hall closet or how enjoy articles in 3 ways: A buyer comes into your home and potential buyers were wonderful peo- the faucets open and close without the is sidetracked by getting into a discus- ple, they ended up leaving your house smallest squeak, or even invite the 1. Read 2. Print 3. E-mail sion with you, the homeowner, such as after “visiting” with you and did not potential buyers to crawl with him into

32 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES FROM THE CHASSIDIC MASTERS If we refer back to the Midrash’s divide them. Without a reciprocal rela- and the ultimate refutation of his own Continued from Page 31 parable of the Romans and the tionship between them—without any divisive “peace.” His own desire for the Syrians, we can see where Korach’s sense of where they stand vis-à-vis High Priesthood, his yearning upward Nevertheless—indeed, because of vision departs from the Torah’s defini- each other—their separateness for a rung on the “spiritual ladder” this—the “lowly realm” of the material tion of peace. The distinction between inevitably disintegrates into factional- higher than his own (though he, him- world is where G-d’s purpose in cre- the two realms (the material and the ism and conflict. self, would not have defined it as such), ation is realized. For G-d desired more spiritual) is preserved, but there is By pointing to Korach as the father demonstrated the truth that whatever a than the spiritual’s natural affirmation movement and interrelation between and prototype of divisiveness person’s place and role in life, his com- of His truth. He desired that the phys- them. And their relationship is defined (machlokes) the Talmud is saying: This mitment to it must be coupled with the ical world, whose nature is inhos- in terms of “higher” and “lower”: the pseudo-peace, this “parallelism” that desire for something higher. Korach’s pitable—indeed contrary—to the heavenly descends to earth and the says, “I do my thing, you do yours, but failing was twofold: that in regard to his Divine truth, be made to “house” Him, earthly ascends to heaven. it’s all equally good, there’s no objec- own self, he had the desire but lacked to serve and express His all-transcen- tive ‘higher’ and ‘lower,’ so there’s nei- the commitment (a state analogous to dent, all-pervading reality. False Peace ther need nor responsibility of one being “consumed by fire”); and in We achieve this by living a materi- This is also why Korach’s approach, toward the other”—this is the source regard to what he was advocating, he al life, but doing so in the service of a ostensibly the very picture of harmony, of all conflict in our world. saw only the commitment, and not the higher, spiritual goal. When a person is actually the source of all divisiveness desire (a state analogous to being “swal- spends 90 percent of his life earning and discord. Korach The Parashah lowed by the earth”). a living, eating, sleeping, recreating, Korach’s vision seems the paragon Interestingly enough, although This explains why an entire section and otherwise attending to his physi- of harmony: diverse elements unified Korach disavowed a “vertical” relation- of Torah carries the name “Korach,” cal and material needs, yet does so in by a common goal. But while his “sep- ship between matter and spirit, he the name of an unrepentant sinner. a way that demonstrates that all this arate but equal” world may unite its himself was a prime example of it! For For we are to derive the positive aspect is only to enable the 10 percent he various components in that they all Korach himself was not content with of Korach’s deed—his striving for an devotes to prayer, study, charity, and serve the same overall goal, it fails to his Divinely ordained role as a Levi, existence more spiritual than his other G-dly endeavors, he or she is provide for any true connection and desired the High Priesthood. own—and apply it to our lives. O transforming the very nature of the between them. The paths may con- So in the final analysis, Korach’s own Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher physical. The “I exist” of the physical, verge at the destination, but they are internal state constituted the ultimate Rebbe; adapted by Yanki Tauber. Courtesy of which so blatantly belies the Divine separated by walls which isolate and rebuttal of his argument against Moshe MeaningfulLife.com. truth, has now become partner to the reality that “there is none else besides Him.” It has acknowledged its sub- servience to that which is greater than itself. In other words, as long as the material is not made to express its subservience to the spiritual, it remains the element of creation that is “furthest” from its Divine source. Yet when the “inferiority” of the material is made manifest, when the materially involved individual orders his priorities so that his every materi- al act is for the sake of the kohein— and the kohein within himself—then the “lowliest realm” of creation becomes its G-dliest—its greatest assertion of the Divine truth.

If You Feel Inferior, You’re Superior This is where Korach’s mistake lay. The different levels of spirituality among the various segments of the people, and within each individual’s life, do take the form of a “hierar- chy”—a ladder on which the material- ly involved individual looks up to his more spiritual brother, and regards his own spiritual moments as the loftiest part of his day. The farmer regards the produce that he gives to the Kohein as the holiest part of his yield, for it rep- resents the spiritual focus of all his endeavors. The businessman looks to the scholar as his ideal; he feels trapped and stifled by the demands of his vocation and lives for those few precious moments which he manages to devote to study. This is not because those who fill the more spiritual roles occupy a more important place in G-d’s world. On the contrary—the “lowly realm” of the material is the arena in which the Divine purpose in creation is realized. But the specialness of the materially involved individual lies precisely in that he deals with the lowest elements of creation (that is, those which least express the reality of G-d in any manifest way) and, rec- ognizing their lowliness, directs them toward the higher purpose of serving his spiritual endeavors and spiritual brethren. 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 33 Apparently, the “earth’s mouth” nethermost level of Gehinnom. which was to swallow Korach and The Tosefos Yom Tov wonders: Given company had long been in existence the fact that this entire awesome spec- already, having been created at the tacle served as a warning and instruc- very beginning of the world. How do tion for all of K’lal Yisrael who wit- we square this idea with Moshe’s char- nessed these climactic events, it would acterization of the earth’s mouth as a seem logical that they should be privy newly created phenomenon? to this aspect as well (that the rebels had reached the very bottom of Mishnas Chayim On The Parashah Pirsumei Nisa: Broadcasting Gehinnom). How, though, were the Miracles rest of the Jewish people able to per- To resolve this apparent contradic- ceive such a thing? Big Talker tion, the Tosefos Yom Tov on Avos (ibid.) Next, the Tosefos Yom Tov focuses on advances a novel interpretation, which the wording of the passage, and discov- brings to light a fascinating, if little- ers that two different expressions are At first glance, there exists what mouth and swallow them…and they known, aspect of this episode. used in connection with the opening appears to be a direct contradiction descend alive into the netherworld, of the earth’s “mouth.” In verse 30, between the Chumash and the then you shall know that these men when Moshe Rabbeinu predicts their Mishnah regarding the earth-shatter- have antagonized Hashem.’ And it was, demise, he says, “U’phatz’sah ing events of this week’s parashah. as he finished speaking…and the earth ha’adamah es piha.” Yet in verse 32, When Korach and his rebellious fol- opened its mouth and swallowed When Moshe Rabbeinu when the actual “groundbreaking” lowing assembled against Moshe them…and they descended alive into occurs, the Torah says “Va’tiphtach… Rabbeinu and Aharon, a type of “con- the netherworld…” (Bamidbar referred to the ground es piha.” In both instances, the Targum test” was arranged to clarify the issue 16:30–32). translates them as referring to “open- of the priesthood: All involved were to These verses seem to imply that the opening its mouth, he ing”; so what is the import of the bring offerings, and those whose offer- opening of the earth’s mouth was a Torah’s usage of these disparate terms? ings were accepted by Hashem would new creation that was originated then was actually referring to At this point, things really begin to be designated as the rightful kohanim. and there, as Moshe said, “If Hashem get interesting. Citing other pesukim, As we know, Korach and company will originate a creation, and the the ground speaking! for example, “…n’dorai…asher patzu lost—big time. His assembly of 250 ground shall open its mouth and swal- s’phasai v’diber pi…”—“…my vows… men was burned alive, and Korach, low them.” which my lips have uttered and my together with Dasan and Aviram, Yet, the Mishnah in Pirkei Avos (5:6) mouth has spoken” (Tehillim descended alive into the netherworld, seems to state clearly that this was not He begins by identifying the eventu- 66:13–14), the Tosefos Yom Tov shows when the earth split to swallow them. the case at all. The Mishnah states: al destination of Korach’s band. As that the term patzsa refers to dibbur “Ten things were created on erev quoted above, they descended to the (speech). Hence, when Moshe New Or Old? Shabbos at twilight: the mouth of the netherworld, usually known as sh’ol, Rabbeinu referred to the ground open- Right before Korach’s (literal) down- earth (that swallowed Korach), the but referred to here by the pasuk as ing its mouth—“U’phatz’sah ha’ fall, Moshe addressed the people, noti- mouth of the well (that supplied the sh’olah. Based on Rashi on Tehillim adamah es piha”—he was actually fying them of the impending disaster: Jews with drinking water in the (9:18), the Tosefos Yom Tov under- referring to the ground speaking! In “‘If Hashem will originate a (new) desert), the mouth of the donkey (who stands that the extra letter hei denotes other words, when describing the creation, and the ground shall open its spoke to Bilam), etc.” that they were cast into the absolute actual opening of the earth’s mouth to

34 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

ingest the sinners, the Torah says ment that the Lawrence mayoral “Va’tiphtach…es piha.” When the election is a farce. Torah says “U’phatz’sah,” it is referring Avi Goldstein, to a different action of the earth’s Far Rockaway mouth: namely, that it would talk! What did the earth have to say? Second Call For Community The earth itself broadcast to the Tzedakah Fund Jewish people that the condemned I am so appalled at the lack of inter- had indeed arrived at their final desti- Looking For A Real Election tems that are anathema to us. The est in the letter on a community nation: rock-bottom! It was through Dear Editor, one-candidate system was suited to tzedakah fund (Five Towns Jewish the earth’s mouth that K’lal Yisrael I am not a resident of Lawrence, the Soviet Union and its satellite Times, May 9 and May 16). Where are was made aware of the ultimate fate and so perhaps your whitewash of the states. Today it can be found in Cuba all the chesed-minded people in this of the rebels, bringing the instructive mayoral “election” in the village and in the handful of autocracies that community? This area is known for aspect of this whole wondrous should not concern me (“Simon continue to impose their will on their chesed and tzedakah. I mentioned that episode to its completion. Felder Elected Mayor of Lawrence,” citizenries. The United States is sup- I have been trying to secure some With this understanding, the afore- June 20). However, as an American posed to be different; we relish a good funds for a very special couple in our mentioned difficulty is resolved. The who cleaves to the democratic sys- campaign, and we reject the notion area, a couple that is right up front Chumash and the Mishnah don’t con- tem, I am troubled by a system that, that there is some sort of entitlement when someone needs help—and now tradict each other, of course; they are as you write, “traditionally” seeks to that awards certain individuals, that they need help, nobody cares. merely referring to the different rig the election by having only one regardless of their qualifications, a When people hear that someone aspects of the earth’s “mouth” which candidate run. free ticket to political office. needs money, all of a sudden their displayed themselves during Korach’s I don’t doubt that Simon Felder is a You state that Mr. Felder was chesed goes out the window. I am more punishment. The pasuk (v. 30) which capable administrator and will make a “encouraged that 138 residents made likely to get something from the aver- implied that a new opening was to be good mayor for the village. But the it their business to come out and age person than from someone who fashioned right then was referring to fact is that there was an effort to vote.” Whereas thousands of regis- really could afford it. There seems to the actual splitting of its surface to mount an opposition campaign for tered voters live in Lawrence, to be something wrong with that logic. engulf the rebels. The Mishnah in the mayoralty. The pressure exerted to declare that 138 voters constitutes a Pirkei Avos that states that the earth’s block a true election smacks of sys- mandate amounts to an acknowledg- Continued on Page 46 “mouth” had come into existence already at the very beginning of cre- ation refers to the other aspect of the earth’s mouth: namely, its faculty of speech. The Tosefos Yom Tov brings support for his interpretation of “pi ha’aretz” in the Mishnah from its juxtaposition to the other “mouths” mentioned there: the mouth of Bilam’s donkey, and the mouth of the well. The claim to fame of Bilam’s donkey was that it opened its mouth to speak to its master. The mouth of the well (that supplied B’nei Yisrael with its drinking needs in the wilderness) also refers to speaking ability: The Bartenura cites an inter- pretation that the Mishnah is referring to the “Song of the Well” (mentioned in Bamidbar ch. 21) which was sung by the well itself, as stated there (v. 17): “Arise, O Well, intone (song).” It stands to reason, therefore, that the “pi ha’aretz,” the mouth of the earth, mentioned by the Mishnah is likewise referring to its power of speech. O

Kindly take a moment to study Mishnas Chayim in the merit of Velvel ben Yeshaya, a’h, a fellow Jew who passed away with no relatives to arrange Torah study on behalf of his neshamah. Mishnas Chayim is brought to you by Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah, a network of Torah scholars dedicated to bringing the merits of Mishnah study to the greater Jewish public. Encompassing Mishnah, Gemara, and a variety of other services, Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah primarily assists mourners interested in acquiring the merit of Torah study for their loved ones. They can be contacted at 732–364–7029 or at www.societyformishnahstudy.org.

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5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 35 The Young Israel Of West the team—Daniel Kirshblum, Kevin Hempstead Dream Team Rhine, Dovi Levine, Tyler Pere, David Champions Orenbuch, Jordan Ginsberg, and At their National Council of Young Benjy Ritholtz—has become a “dream Israel basketball league game this past team.” According to Coach Rhine, Sunday in Lawrence, the Young Israel “Although the boys knew they were of West Hempstead team defeated the playing against boys older, bigger, and Young Israel of Woodmere team by a more experienced, their confidence final score of 58–43. never wavered. They came to each The YIWH team is composed of game prepared and determined to play high-school freshmen and sopho- hard and win. Most importantly, they Jordan Ginsberg, Tyler Pere, Dov Levine, David Orenbuch, Daniel Kirshblum, Benjy Ritholtz, mores. This year they played in the played together as a team.” and Kevin Rhine, along with the team’s coach, Judah Rhine. Senior Division against high-school The team is thankful for all the par- juniors and seniors. The core of this ents and family members who showed YIWH team has been playing basket- up for every single game, no matter schools, it is the end of an era for an the Furtherance of Jewish Education ball together for the last eight years, when or where the team played. amazing group of boys. O (NCFJE), is scheduled to address an starting in the West Hempstead PAL, Thanks are also due to Ari Kirshblum Independence Day rally on July 3, 7:30 then in the Island Garden league, and, and David Pere, who kept the time Rabbi Shea Hecht To Address p.m., at the Leon and Toby Cooperman for the last four years, in the Young and the records, respectively, through- Independence Day Rally, July 3 JCC, 760 Northfield Avenue in West Israel league. out the season. As these young men Rabbi Shea Hecht, chairman of the Orange, N.J. This event, combined Under the coaching of Judah Rhine, move on to play varsity for their board of the National Committee for with a “freedom concert,” will launch a grassroots drive for national legislation to restore equal educational opportuni- ty for every child. At a planning meeting with educa- tors from the tri-state area, Rabbi Hecht stated, “We don’t have the liber- ty to decide that school choice is unachievable. For the sake of the chil- dren, we must do what we can and leave the rest to our Creator.” Rabbi Hecht serves NCFJE as liai- son with various local, state, and feder- al government officials, with legal counsel and with the news and com- munications media. He was selected and appointed by Mayor Giuliani to serve as Commissioner of Human Rights for the city of New York. Despite these time-consuming respon- sibilities, he also keeps his finger on the pulse of the people, with crisis counseling for individuals and families in need. Featuring the music of the fast-ris- ing Jewish rock band Yaakov Chesed and the popular Reality Addiction, Independence Day Rally 2008 is expected to spark a national movement for equal educational opportunity. Comedian Reuven Russell will present The Great Debate, exploring the issue of school choice in a most insightful and humorous manner. Leading the drive for national legis- lation to require equitable disburse- ment of educational funds is Roland Straten, candidate for U.S. Congress from New Jersey’s 8th District. He is a firm believer in less government and more individual freedom. Although more than 50 years have passed since Milton Friedman first introduced his voucher plan, this is the first time his idea is being proposed as national leg- islation. Discounted tickets are available at www.JewishTickets.com. For further information call 973-267-4213 or e-mail [email protected]. O

Touro Graduate Division Commencement Ceremonies At Madison Square Garden Thousands of graduates and their families assembled at Madison Square Garden on June 12 for commencement 36 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Dr. Anthony Polemeni, vice-president of the Division of Graduate Studies of Touro College, with Dr. Mehmet Oz, vice-chair and professor of surgery at Columbia University. Dr. Oz was the keynote speaker at the Madison Square Garden commencement of Touro’s Schools of Education and Psychology, where 2,100 graduates were awarded diplomas. ceremonies of the Touro College Division of Graduate Studies, Schools of Education and Psychology. The grad- uates had completed their programs in school psychology, mental-health coun- seling, teaching literacy, teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL/bilingual), instructional tech- nology, school leadership, and educa- tion and special-education programs at the early childhood, elementary school, and middle school levels. The keynote speaker was Dr. Mehmet Oz, vice-chair and professor of surgery at Columbia University. Dr. Oz outlined for the graduates ten tech- niques for being successful in one’s career and happy in life. The first, he said, is to “make the driving force in your life love, even more than wisdom. Humans die not of darkness, but of cold.” He also encouraged the gradu- ates to “live in the present, find a men- tor, generate expertise in an area other than the profession in which you earn your living,” and “every day feel pro- ductive and challenged in a way tailor- made for your unique and individual desires and strengths.” Dr. Oz directs the cardiovascular institute and complementary medicine program at New York Presbyterian Hospital. His research interests include heart replacement surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, complementary medicine, and health care. He has authored over 400 origi- nal publications, book chapters, and medical books and has received sever- al patents. He performs over 300 heart operations annually. Dr. Oz has a longstanding relation- ship with Touro College through the Children’s Health Education Found- ation (CHEF), a partnership between Touro College and Columbia Uni- versity. CHEF is just one of several Touro projects aimed at educating New York City children and their fam- ilies on children’s health issues. O

A Community Awakening To Autism “My ignorance shames me,” com- mented a rebbetzin from Long Island. “I have found renewed strength,”

Continued on Page 38 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 37 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS entitled “A Community Awakening to Continued from Page 37 Autism,” was billed as an event that would fuel awareness, understanding, said Jonathan, a parent of an autistic and inspiration—and it certainly did. child from Queens. The seminar, which took place on OHEL Bais Ezra’s Queens seminar, May 18 at Lander College in Kew

(L–R): Mrs. Chana Tomsky; Mrs. Susan Senator; Mrs. Adeena Penner; Rabbi Marc Penner; Asher Fogel, COO of Bais Ezra; and Rabbi Dr. Boaz Tomsky.

Gardens Hills, drew hundreds of par- ticipants from across the tri-state area and beyond. The diversity of atten- dees—parents of autistic children, (L-R): Batsheva Gutwirth, a coordinator of the seminar; Councilman David Weprin; and David extended family members, friends, and Mandel, CEO of OHEL Bais Ezra. community and rabbinic leaders—

Mrs. Chana Tomsky, a parent of two children with autism.

highlighted the reality that autism is a developmental disability that impacts so many people. The seminar was made possible through a generous grant from the offices of Councilman David Weprin, who spoke passionately at the event about education and the growing need for services to address autism—the fastest-growing developmental disabili- ty, yet one of the most misunderstood. The seminar began with an emo- tionally moving and inspirational film produced by OHEL Bais Ezra, which focused on the personal trials and tri- umphs of three exceptional Jewish families with autistic children. Not a dry eye could be found. After the showing, Mrs. Chana Tomsky, a parent of autistic children and one of the subjects of the film, shared her personal story and spoke of the need for community awareness and action, inspiring the audience with her words of self-sacrifice, dedi- cation, and the joys of her family. Keynote speaker Susan Senator, herself a parent of an autistic child, led an informative and interactive exchange, drawing on her book, Making Peace with Autism, sharing her experiences, and providing practical steps—help in getting through the early days, developing key coping strategies, helping to keep a marriage strong, and how to have fun as a fami- ly with autism. Rabbi Marc Penner, a well-known community rabbi, spoke from the insightful perspective of a rav and a 38 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

parent of an autistic child. Rabbi learn more or to register for an event, ences, both academic and personal. Toot.” Penner focused on the importance of call 516-295-2478 or visit A little boy and his family came to “Good, very creative. Let’s write it,” educating the community, instilling www.chabad5towns.com. visit with her on Shabbos. The tutor, said the tutor. Together, the tutor and greater sensitivity, and the responsibil- A Meeting of Souls: An evening of speaking to the boy’s mother, was the boy figured out the spelling. ity of pulpit rabbis to drive community tribute for men and women. July 1. expounding on her love of tutoring. “Is the flute happy playing just in and individual engagement in actively Commemorate Gimmel Tammuz, the The little boy said, “I play the flute. your home, or does he want to go helping many families in need, 14th yahrzeit of the Lubavitcher But it’s broken. Since you are a tutor, somewhere else?” whether through respite, fostering Rebbe. Reservations are required by will you come to my home and make it “Oh, he wants to go the park and friendships with children, babysitting, calling or e-mailing rabbi@chabad toot again?” play for the people.” or helping with other needs and offer- 5towns.com. The event is scheduled to The tutor looked down at the boy “When he gets there, what would he ing true chesed. take place at Ohel Chabad Lubavitch, with her characteristic warmth and say?” OHEL Bais Ezra intends to build 226-20 Francis Lewis Boulevard in compassion. “After Shabbos, I will The boy puffed up with a deep upon the success of this seminar and Cambria Heights, at 7:30 p.m. come to your home. We will see what make-believe voice, “Attention, all expand to a national campaign of aware- Fireworks for the Soul. July 2. The we can do.” The boy was happy and ladies and gentlemen! I am the best ness. The film shown, A Community Women’s Circle will present Mrs. sang zemiros with his family. and greatest flute. Let me entertain Awakening to Autism, can be viewed Chaya Franklin, who will discuss the Sometimes, after singing one of the you.” online at ohelfamily.org/autism. spirituality of summer in her intense, zemiros, he would toot a make-believe “That sentence is too hard. I don’t OHEL Bais Ezra is a pioneering social colorful, and dynamic style. Every flute, while giving the tutor a look of think you can write it,” challenged the services agency that delivers a breadth of month Chabad’s Women’s Circle offers wide-eyed expectation. tutor with the wave of a hand. innovative programs and services for indi- an evening for women to relax and That Monday evening, after speak- “Yes I can,” said the boy. viduals and families at risk and individu- indulge in discussions that stir the ing with the boy’s mother, the tutor So the boy and the tutor proceeded als with developmental or psychiatric dis- mind and soul. arrived at their home. “Can I see your to write the sentence together. abilities, in both residential and outpa- Farbrengen for Men: 3rd of Tammuz. flute?” she asked. The boy ran into his “You’re a very good writer,” said the tient settings. Founded in 1969 and with July 5 after morning services. room and brought out a chest of toys. tutor, respectfully. “Now, about that close to 100 residences and apartments Community Trip to the Ohel. July 6. He reached all the way in and pulled flute. I just happen to have a brand- and more than 30 diverse programs, An opportunity to pray at the out his flute. new one here in this bag. If we finish OHEL services have been consistently Lubavitcher Rebbe’s resting place. Men, “Let’s draw a picture of it,” said the writing our story together—about five ranked number one by New York City. women, and children are welcome. tutor. The boy took out his crayons and more pages—would you mind asking Touching the lives of thousands of individ- Reservations are required. Meet at began to draw. “You put the straight your flute if he’s willing to share his toy uals at every stage and every day, OHEL’s Chabad, 74 Maple Avenue at 10:00 a.m. lines and the curly lines just where chest with the new flute?” professional services are available Kashrus and Cooking. The women’s they belong,” said the tutor. He smiled “No problem!” said the boy, beam- throughout New York and New Jersey. summer series will take place on July a wide grin. ing. These services include housing, foster 14 and 21 at 8:00 p.m. O “What’s your favorite sound that the And so a beautiful ten-page story- care, outpatient counseling, home-based flute makes?” book was written and illustrated. services, school-based services, services to The Tutor Who Couldn’t Toot “Toot, toot, toot,” went the boy. The boy’s mom walked the tutor to help abused persons, and camps. O By Hindy Lieberman “That’s beautiful. Let’s write it. T-o- the front door. “Thank you,” the moth- Once upon a time there was a tutor o-t. T-o-o-t. T-o-o-t! I never heard a er said. “I’ve been trying to get him July Events At Chabad Of The living in the Five Towns. She had a lot flute speak in words like boys and girls excited about writing, without any suc- Five Towns of excellent experience in many yeshiv- do, but if it could, what do you think cess. I see why you love tutoring—and Chabad of the Five Towns is located os in the Five Towns and Far he’d be saying in this picture?” at 74 Maple Avenue in Cedarhurst. To Rockaway, along with many fine refer- “I am the singing flute. Toot. Toot. Continued on Page 40

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 39 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS HaRav Matisyahu Salomon, shlita, Continued from Page 39 addressed the many avreichim and bachurim at the Lakewood testing cen- I hope you’ll come back to toot-er him ter, saying, “I was asked to come and some more.” give a five-minute derashah of chizuk, The tutor smiled, looking forward to but in truth, it is I who have derived their next meeting. the chizuk. Just walking into this room Hindy Lieberman is a professional and seeing so many people sitting here tutor, grades K–6. She is a professional and diligently taking tests on halachah writer and a licensed educator, with a was a profound chizuk for me. I don’t master’s in special education, ABA cer- know if even you who are taking the tification, P3’s, and SEIT. For a free tests appreciate the magnitude of what trial session, call 516-569-8074. is taking place this evening!” Summer openings are available. O Halachah L’Bais Yisroel—a three- track program that provides for the Thousands Take First Dirshu daily learning of halachah and mussar, Halachah L’Bais Yisroel Test along with monthly tests—has become By Chaim Gold the most popular of Dirshu’s programs The inaugural bechinah for and has permeated a wide cross-sec- Dirshu’s Halachah L’Bais Yisroel pro- Skverer Dayan, HaRav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz, Boro Park tion of Torah-observant Jewry. One gram was administered on June 15 in member of Dirshu’s hanhalah almost a hundred locations, spanning exclaimed, “I don’t think people five continents, with many thousands appreciate the magnitude of the popu- of participants. HaRav Yitzchok larity of the Halachah L’Bais Yisroel. Scheiner, shlita, rosh yeshiva of the Eight thousand five hundred people Kamenitz Yeshiva, noted the momen- taking part in a program that demands tous nature of the occasion when discipline, constant review, and test- addressing those at the Dirshu testing ing is simply an amazing number; center at the Belzer Bais Medrash in 8,500 people are prepared to take Yerushalayim. He said, “As I stand tests on all simanim of Shulchan here, I feel that I am speaking in front Aruch together with Dirshu’s own of the Chofetz Chaim himself! The bi’urim and ha’aros; 8,500 people are Chofetz Chaim, gaon and tzaddik of learning mussar daily from the sefarim the last generations, was moser nefesh of the Chofetz Chaim.” for K’lal Yisrael. One of his greatest The fact that so many gedolei Yisrael projects was the Mishnah Berurah addressed Halachah L’Bais Yisroel that took him 22 years to complete. It testing centers worldwide showed the is the greatest z’chus to participate in great esteem felt by our preeminent the daily learning and testing of poskim, rashei yeshiva, and rabbanim Mishnah Berurah.” towards the Halachah L’Bais Yisroel Similarly, the Lakewood mashgiach, HaGaon HaRav Nissim Karelitz, Heichalei Malchus Hall, Bnei Brak program. Testing centers were addressed

40 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES learning Mishnah Berurah and mussar for halachos daily is assured that he will be in approximately a half hour per day has the World to Come.” Why did Chazal use changed their lives. One avreich the word shoneh to indicate study and remarked that when he awakes every not the more common world, lomeid? morning, gets changed, puts on his Rav Salomon explained that shoneh tzitzis, tallis, and everything else, he feels contains within it a second connotation; such a deep connection with Hashem shoneh also means “review.” Reviewing just by virtue of the fact that he now halachah—constant chazarah—is the knows exactly what he is doing and why key to becoming a ben Olam HaBa! With he is doing it. He said, “The daily half these words, he explained the secret of hour learning of halachah has impacted Dirshu’s success. It is the constant 24 hours of my day. It is simply amazing.” review inherent in the Dirshu system The third avreich enviously looked at his that ensures that each participant will two friends and asked if he could still join gain extensive spiritual benefit by being the program… part of the program. Whereas some of the other Dirshu Rav Solomon concluded, “Ashrei- programs cater to those that are able to chem! Fortunate are you Halachah devote a considerable part of their day to L’Bais Yisroel participants that ‘your work HaGaon HaRav Moshe Sternbuch (Ra'avad Eidah HaChareidis), learning, the Halachah L’Bais Yisroel has been done by others.’ Instead of hav- Romema in Yerushalayim program, as its name implies, is for every- ing to devise your own chazarah method, one. This was clearly discernible at the your own approach to accountability in testing centers throughout the world. learning and the associated chizuk, by prominent rabbanim in Eretz Yisrael, Halachah L’Bais Yisroel. Just walking There were Kollel avreichim sitting adja- Dirshu has done it for you.” Europe, North America, South America, into a local beis midrash in Lakewood on cent to those that spent a considerable To join Halachah L’Bais Yisroel or any and Australia. They included the Skverer the afternoon preceding the test afforded part of their day earning a parnasah. other Dirshu program, please call 1-888- Dayan, HaRav Yechiel Michel Steinmetz, a wonderful sight: Two avreichim, sitting Bachurim were sitting next to older 5DIRSHU. O at the Boro Park location; Dayan Aharon at a table with their Dirshu special edi- baalei batim; chassidim sitting next to Dovid Dunner, HaRav Pesach Eliyahu tion Mishnah Berurahs before them, Yeshivish yungerleit and a large cadre of Saving Lives On The Green With Falk, and HaRav Yaakov Myer were testing each other. One avreich Mizrachi types. The common denomina- Ezer Mizion Rosenbaum (Gerrer rosh yeshiva and posed a question to his friend and then tor between them all was that they had It’s not about statistics. It’s not about head of Agudas Yisroel of Britain) at the his friend posed a question to him. They sought a way to enhance their ruchniyus spreadsheets. It’s about people…chil- Manchester, Gateshead, and London were even asking each other questions throughout the day. They desired to be dren with life-threatening disease and locations, respectively; and HaRav on the mussar component of the program cognizant of Hashem’s presence in every- their families, whose lives are suddenly Nissim Karelitz, HaRav Yitzchok from the Sefer Chofetz Chaim and Sefas thing they did, and they found a way to put on hold. Scheiner, HaRav Moshe Sternbuch, and Tamim, both written by the Chofetz accomplish that—via Dirshu’s amazing On May 5, a group of eminent New HaRav Gamliel Rabinowitz, among the Chaim, zt’l. halachah and mussar program. Yorkers attended Ezer Mizion’s fourth many rabbanim who spoke at testing As they quizzed each other, a third No better incentive for chazarah annual Golf and Tennis Classic on behalf centers in Eretz Yisrael. avreich, who had been watching, than a test. Rav Matisyahu Salomon of the organization’s international Jewish But one needn’t have to come to the approached and asked them, “What are explained the words of Chazal, “Kol bone marrow registry for cancer patients. testing location to witness the over- you doing?” The two avreichim began to ha’shoneh halachos b’chol yom muvtach whelming revolution shaped by describe the program and explain how shehu ben Olam HaBa—He who studies Continued on Page 42

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 41 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS arrived in droves and enjoyed a weather- relationship between body and soul—the the dreidle: the miracles in our lives. Continued from Page 41 perfect, 70-degree day at Trump physical and the spiritual—with the goal Each subject is dealt with as a medita- National. Attendees were invited to a gala of allowing the reader to divine greater tion, rather than as a mere chapter. Thus, Players teed off amid the breathtaking dinner after a tiring day under the sun. meaning in his or her life. the title of the book. scenery at Trump National Golf Club. Stuart Sugarman, a very personable din- Rabbi Safran, senior rabbinic coordi- “Too often,” Rabbi Safran writes, “our These leaders of the financial and real- ner MC, doubled as an auctioneer. Who nator and vice-president of communica- modern world demands that we choose estate world had gathered with a pur- could resist the excitement of bidding for tions and marketing at OU Kosher, is the the physical or the spiritual. But how do pose: to raise funds for genetic testing, a ticket to a Jerry Seinfeld show? But author of several well-received works, we decide between the two? For Jews, thus greatly increasing the database of amid the lively fun and laughter was a including Kos Eliyahu: Insights in the there is authentic holiness in the physi- the registry. sense of determination among the Haggadah and Passover, and his recent cal, in the embrace of the world, and Often, a cancer patient’s best and only guests: “We’re here to save lives!” Sometimes You Are What You Wear! An physical expression in the spiritual. We chance of survival lies in a bone-marrow Marlene Arbess, whose son has been Argument for Tzniut-Modesty. In this see it in every aspect of Jewish ritual transplant. To be successful, both donor off treatment for two years following an behavior.” How, then, does one create and recipient must genetically match. aggressive course of chemotherapy, por- the proper balance between the two Time is of the essence. The transplant trayed the anguishing experience of par- worlds? “It is important to engage in this must be done before the patient’s condi- ents living with the uncertainty of not discussion because the demands of our tion deteriorates. Ezer Mizion is the having a match immediately available. modern world have thrown the two pow- largest Jewish registry in the world, but it Ms. Arbess argued that if the registry can erfully out of balance, even affecting the is still not large enough. Genetic testing attract the support it needs to keep inner meaning of kashrus, modesty, and is expensive and funds are urgently need- growing at the pace that it has in the honesty,” Rabbi Safran writes. ed. It is essential that the registry grow past few years, the chances of finding a Rabbi Safran’s essays, based on a life- further so that virtually any Jew in need match for everyone will be much higher, time of study and his experiences as an of a transplant can receive a positive meaning that other families could avoid educator and author, besides his work at response—before it’s too late. this anxiety. OU Kosher, frame the 613 mitzvos of the Michael Greenblatt, an enthusiastic For more information about Ezer Torah as “specific ways to engage every golf player, commented that his cousin Mizion, please visit www.ezermizion.org part of one’s body and every part of the had received a transplant but, he or call 718-853-8400. O world in harmonious, sacred action.” For believes, it had been done too late. His example, he notes that “hunger is an cousin’s condition had worsened and he ‘Meditations At Sixty’: OU Rabbi’s essential physical drive of all living died two years later. If only… New Book Explores Relationship things. But like all essential drives, unless Ezer Mizion’s dedicated committee Between Body And Soul it is satisfied in a way that is both permis- members, Daniel Arbess, Marc Brodsky, When Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Safran sible and holy, it is impossible to enjoy a Dr. Aaron S. Cynamon, Alex Dembitzer, turned 60, he went beyond having a Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu Safran spiritual life. The essential truth is that Lawrence J. Levine, Howard Lorber, birthday party or getting nice gifts from there is no bodily desire or function that David Lyons, Manny Malekan, Mark Zev his family—he wrote a book. His book, he goes beyond modesty to explore is not rooted in an essential soul desire.” Marmurstein, Benjamin Ringel, and Meditations at 60: One Person, Under an entire range of issues dealing with Rabbi Safran credits his late father, Stuart Sugarman devoted many hours G-d, Indivisible has just been published how to live a spiritual Jewish life. Rabbi Dr. Joseph Safran, with the stim- creating awareness of the vital need for by KTAV Publishing House. In the book, In addition to those already men- ulus for writing the book, because in his funding among their friends and busi- he explores kashrus, modesty, mourning, tioned, topics include the power of para- will, written more than 20 years before ness associates. Due to the great efforts prayer, and love, among other topics, dox in Jewish tradition; honesty and his death, he urged his children to “fre- of the committee members, players seeking in each area to articulate the ethics in Jewish law and tradition; and quently and insightfully” study and

42 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES “look into the books” that not only he, but also his own father, had written, and to have their own children study these works, as well. “As a young man, I confess that my father’s words did not fully resonate with me, but as I advance in years and I too began to meditate on the world after I am gone, I find myself sharing my dear father’s sentiments that my children, and please G-d, their children—and their children, too—might be able to share in something real and meaningful that I have left behind.” He notes with pride that his father’s works, and those of his grandfather, Rav Bezalel Zev Safran, continue to be read and studied. “Of my grandfather’s physi- cal possessions, none remain. Of my father’s physical possessions, too, noth- ing remains. But their thoughts and ideas…? These endure. The ideas, les- sons, and messages transmitted from father to son to grandson and to the many generations yet to come continue to live and thrive.” Like father (and grandfather), like son. “And if one day, someone will ask my children and grandchildren, ‘What did your grandfather Eliyahu do in this world? I will be blessed if they are able to reply that I left some Torah thought and teachings—these meditations and oth- ers,” Rabbi Safran writes. Meditations at Sixty is available from the publisher or at Jewish book- stores everywhere. Rabbi Safran can be reached at [email protected]. Rabbi Eliyahu and Mrs. Klari Safran are resi- dents of Brooklyn, N.Y., and West Long Branch, N.J. O

Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim Physician referrals, transportation to doctors, building an ambulance shelter and purchasing life-saving heart equip- ment and new radios for the ambulance in Hashmonaim, establishing a beautiful hospitality room in Rusk NYU Hospital, paying medical bills based on need, arranging for kosher food in hospitals, providing telephone assistance, moral support, encouragement, kind words, and valuable advice to all who seek their help, providing funds for Pesach for the needy, distributing electric menorahs for Shabbos in hospitals, holding holiday parties in nursing homes, maintaining apartments near hospitals for Shabbos/ Yom Tov, purchasing a van to transport developmentally disabled adults in Jerusalem, donating a wing in a convales- cent home in Israel, helping set up emer- gency clinics in the West Bank far from a hospital, maintaining a Shabbos apart- ment near Hadasssah Hospital, aiding victims of terrorism, and donating defib- rillators and specific life-saving heart equipment to Hatzalah’s Bikur Cholim Hospital in Jerusalem and for Nof Ayalon, building a state-of-the-art play- ground at a Jerusalem preschool for chil- dren with special needs, aiding in estab- lishing a medical center in the town of Arad in Negev—this is just a partial list of what Rivka Laufer Bikur Cholim has pro- vided over the years. For 43 years the Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim has been a source of strength and chizuk for K’lal Yisrael, both in sick- ness and in health. Whenever there is a need for support—whether emotional,

Continued on Page 44 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 43 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS You can send your tax-deductible Continued from Page 43 contribution to Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim, 360 Central Avenue, physical, or financial—Rivkah Laufer Lawrence, NY 11559. O Bikur Cholim anticipates the need and answers the call. Intestinal Health Awareness Fran Laufer and Miriam Lubling Seminar A Huge Success enthusiastically accepted the challenge By Deanna Goldberg and created, together with Belle Brodt On Sunday, June 1, Brooklyn’s Sorotzkin and Pearl Pinter, this outstand- Torah V’Yirah Hall was packed with ing organization. Mrs. Laufer has worked hundreds of people who came to hear selflessly and tirelessly to grow this doctors and patients speak openly and organization, which presently services candidly about living and coping with thousands of needy people every year. intestinal disorders. Awareness was Mrs. Laufer, a Holocaust survivor, has raised about an encouraging approach presided over the Bikur Cholim from its that has brought relief to thousands of inception. Sara Teicher has been Fran sufferers of inflammatory bowel dis- Laufer’s able partner in this holy endeav- ease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome The pioneers of the Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim, pictured in 1975 (L–R): seated—Miriam Lubling, or, along with so many hardworking vol- Regina Peterseil, Fran Laufer, and Melanie Berger; standing—Pearl Pinter, Linda Mandelbaum, (IBS), and celiac disease. unteers: Jean Gluck, Roseanne Judith Summer, Regina Gutfreund, Edzia Kominsky, Frieda Laufer, Helen Lubliner, Lola Tenenbaum, IBD sufferers who had previously Rosenthal, Regina Peterseil, Loraine and Sara Teicher. Not pictured: Lorraine Nelson, Rosanne Rosenthal, and Henia Pilchik. tried everything in the modern medical Nelson, Gaily Yashar, and many more. arsenal—only to experience disap- Whoever has the z’chus of being pointing results and devastating side involved with the Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim offers the patient the chizuk luncheon, thereby avoiding the addi- effects—passionately shared how their Cholim, either by volunteering time, needed to have this partnership with the tional expenses involved. The Rivkah lives were turned around after they energy, or money or by being a recipient physician to heal the non-medical Laufer Bikur Cholim has no overhead simply changed their way of eating. of kindness while recuperating from an aspect of the illness. operating expenses; it is entirely a vol- Health-care practitioners, patients, illness, can attest to the tzidkus of the The Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim unteer organization and every penny and concerned family members were organization. The Rivkah Laufer Bikur also has an extensive network of refer- that is raised in this fundraising cam- moved and inspired by the heartfelt Cholim Organization’s volunteers visit rals that are of great help for a patient paign will go to underwrite the med- testimonies of those who had achieved patients in the hospital and arrange for who is adjusting to dealing with a newly ical and ancillary expenses of the success with the specific carbohydrate delicious home-cooked Shabbos meals, diagnosed illness and to the new reali- patients. Please respond with an open diet (SCD). accommodations for family members to ties that will be part of the daily rou- hand and a full heart to honor and Presented by Digestive Wellness , ™ stay near the hospital, bedside refrigera- tines of patient and family. The support those who seek the help of the the seminar began with a medical tors, financial support, and almost any- Mishnah tells us that he who saves one Bikur Cholim and consider the cholim overview of intestinal diseases and thing non-medical in nature to facilitate person saves an entire world. Certainly, the guests of honor this year. It is our their treatments. Sam Weissman, the patient’s refuah sheleimah. Most the Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim has tefillah that in this z’chus they will M.D., gastroenterologist and former doctors agree that they can only accom- saved many worlds! merit a refuah sheleimah. Your spon- chief of endoscopy at New York plish half a refuah—the other half is This year, the administrators of the sorship will enable the Rivkah Laufer Methodist Hospital, presented a physi- contingent upon the mindset of the Rivkah Laufer Bikur Cholim have Bikur Cholim to continue its vital cian’s perspective on Crohn’s disease, patient. The Rivkah Laufer Bikur decided to skip the annual fundraising work of chesed. ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syn-

44 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES drome, and celiac disease. He shared s”xc scientific evidence for the role of diet and probiotics (beneficial intestinal bacteria) in the prevention and man- agement of these conditions, and observed that the medical community is focusing its research on this area now more than ever before. He described the mind-boggling increase in intestinal disease in our time, refer- ring to it as a modern-day machalah. Our standard sugary, starchy diet has taken its toll on the lives of countless children, teens, and adults. Eating the wrong kinds of foods puts our bodies in a state of imbalance, making us more susceptible to disease. Mr. Raman Prasad, author of Colitis & Me: A Story Of Recovery, came from Massachusetts to share his extensive experience and knowledge. He began with an emotional reading of a passage from his book, providing a highly per- sonal glimpse into the life of an ulcer- ative colitis sufferer—the severe pain, the side effects of medical treatment, and the apparent hopelessness of cop- ing with an incurable condition. Mr. Prasad went on to introduce the spe- cific carbohydrate diet, based on the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle: Intestinal Health through Diet, by the late Elaine Gottschall, M.Sc. This diet gave him a whole new lease on life— just as it has for so many others (including this author), who were helped by Mrs. Gottschall in her life- time, and who continue to find relief, thanks to her book and to the many flourishing SCD support groups around the world. Raquel Nieves, M.D., believed so strongly in this meeting and its mes- sage that she made a special trip from her pediatric clinic at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Herself a Crohn’s disease sufferer, she shared her unique perspective, having discovered the SCD while still in medical school. She attributes the success of this diet with enabling her to complete her medical training and give birth to a healthy baby. Dr. Nieves presented the scientif- ic basis for the SCD, and she drove the message home with before-and-after images of her own intestines. She also shared her vision for a future when doctors will integrate dietary modifica- tion as the “gold standard” for manage- ment of inflammatory bowel disease— in conjunction with standard medica- tions when needed—in much the same way that diabetes is currently managed by patients and their physicians. Mr. Yaakov Shain introduced each speaker and proudly related his experi- ence with having followed the SCD diet for a year and a half after having surgery. He is now seven years off the diet, symp- tom-free, and looks and feels healthier than ever. With the help of the SCD, Mr. Shain gained back 60 much-needed pounds, following five years of medica- tion with little results. Aware that symp- toms reoccur in half of patients after sur- gery, Mr. Shain committed himself to the diet to heal his gut. Like most people, he did not consider following the SCD until he became “sick and tired of being sick and tired,” but he highly recommends giving the diet a try—long before symp- toms worsen.

Continued on Page 46 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 45 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Continued from Page 45 Continued from Page 35

Mr. Benny Shore, an optician at Something is wrong somewhere. Of Diamond Vision in Boro Park, shared course, you know that if a rav of his personal success on the SCD prominence would ask, the check after many years of suffering, culmi- would be in the hands within ten sec- nating in surgery. “I am now on the onds. A simple Yid asks—nobody is diet for one and a half years, and I home. don’t want to get off, since I feel I am appealing to all those who are much better than ever before.” He in a position to help this couple out to stressed the importance of a strong please get in touch with me. It would commitment as well as support and be a great mitzvah. If anyone knows help with food preparation. He urged where I could secure some funds for the audience to weigh the alterna- this couple, please let me know. Just tives: a delicious diet—or a lifetime write or call the editor and he will get of devastating pain and a regimen of me in touch with you. medications. Thanking you in advance, Every participant received an Tzivia Schwartz informative booklet, which explains the basis of the diet, outlines its fun- damental precepts, and includes a number of written testimonials. It also features a directory of promi- Submit your photo to the nent, respected gastroenterologists 5 Towns Jewish Times! who are proud to be listed as “SCD friendly” doctors because they have personally witnessed the amazing results achieved by their patients who You can upload your followed the SCD. Samples of deli- cious cookies—prepared in accor- digital photos and see them dance with the diet (free of grains, starches, and hard-to-digest sug- printed in the weekly edition ars)—were enjoyed by all. For more information, or to order books, tapes, of the 5 Towns Jewish Times CDs, or DVDs, contact Digestive Wellness at 845-356-4557 or [email protected], or visit www.digestivewellness.com. O www.5tjt.com/sendphotos

Continued on Page 48

46 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

AskBY WARREN The LEVISensei Exercising With Chronic Back Pain

Q. I suffer from chronic back pain. I ing exercises. would like to exercise, but am worried • If you are using weights, limit the that exercise will be hard on my back. weights to not more than 10 to 20 per- A. Exercise can actually reduce cent of your body weight. chronic back pain, as it strengthens • Rest and limit your exercise work- your back muscles and increases blood out when you have severe back pain; flow to the discs. Exercise also can consult with your medical adviser if control weight gain, which aggravates the pain persists. back pain. It is more beneficial for • When lifting weights, squat while your back if you exercise rather than keeping your back straight; grab the remain sedentary. object, bringing it close to your body, You should: then stand up, ensuring that your • Select appropriate exercises that thigh and bottom muscles are taking will not aggravate your back. Low- some of the strain. O impact aerobic exercise, swimming, or walking is recommended. Contact Sensei Warren Levi at 516-569-0808 to • Warm up first by doing stretching set up a free consultation to discuss your health and fitness needs. You may also visit exercises that increase blood flow to www.warrenlevikarate.com or e-mail your health your back muscles, making them less concerns to [email protected]. likely to strain. • If necessary, adjust the exercise to ensure that it does not cause you pain while you are doing it. Remember that article? • Obtain approval from your med- Visit our archive section ical adviser prior to undertaking the exercise. and find any issue of the • Be aware of your posture. It is important not to slouch, and to main- 5 Towns Jewish Times tain good posture even when you are online @ www.5TJT.com not exercising. • Be cautious when doing any twist-

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 47 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Continued from Page 46 Hebrew Academy Of Long Beach Class Of 2008 HALB Junior High School, Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls (SKA), and Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys (DRS) had their grad- uations last week. The graduations were held at the DRS campus in Woodmere. HALB Junior High School had 88 graduates, SKA had 59, and DRS had 64. HALB’s 8th-grade graduation took place on Tuesday, June 17. The vale-

Elisheva Zinberg - SKA Valedictorian

Yair Saperstein - DRS Valedictorian

Ahava Muskat - HALB Valedictorian

Yonatan Mehlman - HALB Valedictorian 48 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

dictorians were Ahava Muskat of Oceanside and Yonatan Mehlman of Woodmere. Ahava and Yoni have both chosen to remain with the HALB family for high school and will be attending SKA and DRS. SKA’s graduation took place on Sunday, June 15. The vale- dictorian was Elisheva Zinberg of Woodmere. Next year, Elisheva will iy’H be going to Israel for a year of learning at Michlelet Mevaseret Yerushalayim. When she returns, she hopes to attend Yeshiva University’s Stern College. DRS’s graduation was held on Thursday, June 12. The valedictorian was Yair Saperstein of Lawrence. Yair plans to attend Yeshiva University next year. We wish all the graduates of the class of 2008 a Mazal Tov! O

The Sheloshim Of R’ Eliahu Soffer, z’l

Reb Eliyahu Soffer, z’l

The sheloshim for R’ Eliahu Soffer, z’l, took place this past Sunday afternoon in the Mesivta of Long Beach. Benjy Soffer, son of R’ Eliahu, began the sheloshim by making a siyum. Rabbi Cooper of Long Beach, a rebbi in the mesivta and a neighbor and close fam- ily friend of the niftar, touched upon the extent of the relationship between R’ Eliahu and the mesivta. He described how the mesivta was forever grateful for the multi- tude of generosity R’ Eliahu bestowed upon it and the hundreds of bachurim who learned within its walls. The rebbeim always felt they could never give back to R’ Eliahu for all that he gave to them, while R’ Eliahu felt that he could never give enough to the yeshiva for all they had given to him. Shmaryahu Miller, broth- er-in-law of the niftar, added a few points when he spoke

Continued on Page 50 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 49 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Continued from Page 49

about the relationship he had with his brother-in-law. He spoke about R’ Eliahu’s tremendous sense of hakaras ha’tov and loyalty that he had towards all people, especially his parents. Bobby and Zeidy Soffer of Far Rockaway raised him to be a real mentsch and makir tov. The way he took care of their every need is a true life les- son for us all. Menashe Miller, Shmar- yahu’s son and nephew of the niftar, continued with a re- counting of his own yeshiva days as a bachur in the mesiv- ta, where he considered him- self the “luckiest bachur alive” to be able to have a true yeshiva education far away from home and yet be so close to Tanta Nancy and Uncle Eliahu, where he was a ben bayis in their home for seven years. He watched R’ Eliahu come to daven in the yeshiva every Shabbos morn- ing and greet everyone with his welcoming smile and a hearty “Gut Shabbos!” He remembers R’ Eliahu staying to learn after Shabbos morn- ing davening before going home to the Shabbos seudah and how he would take such pride and true happiness at being able to learn in such a holy makom Torah. Charlie Kindler, a close friend of the entire Soffer family, spoke about the heartfelt thanks and grati- tude he felt towards “Eli and Nancy,” as he affectionately referred to them, for includ- ing him in every aspect of their lives. Charlie was a part of every Shabbos seudah, b’ris, kiddush, and affair that involved a Soffer, and so it was befitting that he received a phone call early one morn- ing to come to the hospital to be with the family as R’ Eliahu returned his soul to its Maker. Daniel Soffer, son of R’ Eliahu, concluded with a say- ing from Chazal, “Ein ba’al mes elah l’ishto,” it is the fam- ily that bears the brunt of a loss. In a community and in the world, none of us are indispensable. But in a family, the father, the husband, is indispensable. Ta was such a great husband and father. He always considered his wife to be his queen, and that is an example for everyone to take home to their own families. He had the wisdom to treat each child individually and fairly and to do what was right for each of them. Somehow he always knew when to push or when to step back and let them learn a les- son for themselves. 50 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES It is written in Parashas Noach: “Eileh toldos Noach, Noach ish tzaddik.” Rashi learns that the Torah is teaching us that the main off- spring of tzaddikim are their good deeds. While we may not understand the ways of Hashem, in His infinite wis- dom, R’ Eliahu was taken from us in the prime of his life. But during that short time, he accomplished Rashi’s explanation of what a true tzaddik is. He left behind a loving and devoted wife, wonderful brothers and sis- ters, and numerous children and grandchildren. In his dealings with his family, he lit the fire of Torah. He taught them the love of Yiddishkeit and devotion to Hashem, as well as love and devotion to one another. Their actions should always be a z’chus to his memory, and may they all continue on the derech that he started them on. Yehi zichro baruch. May his mem- ory be blessed. O

Sefer Torah Dedicated By American Yeshiva Students In Memory Of Mercaz HaRav Boys By Ilana Keilson Despite the overwhelming crowd at the hachnasas sefer Torah, the absence of eight exceptional boys who were murdered in cold blood was felt immeasurably. Attended by over 500 peo- ple, this hachnasas sefer Torah’s message was not only of the continuity of Torah and the Jewish people and their everlasting resilience, but of the love of Jews worldwide for their brethren. A glance at the decorative mantle might have given a casual onlooker insight into the uniqueness of the occasion; it was embroi- dered with the names of eight young Torah students who were murdered barely three months before. While every attack in Eretz Yisrael causes Jews world- wide pain, few were as mind- numbing as the recent attack in the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva. On March 6, a lone gunman took the lives of eight bud- ding talmidei chachamim, shining lights killed while immersed in Torah study. The enormity of the tragedy was stunning; the loss of such pure young souls was heart- wrenching. Yitzchok Fuchs of Flatbush and Yosef Wartelsky of Far Rockaway could not get the tragedy out of their minds. They felt a keen desire to bring some small measure of nechamah to the families. At the same time, they felt that youngsters in America, most

Continued on Page 54 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 51 appreciate every nuance of life. As Mrs. Gruen stood in shul, trying to garnish A(nother) Mother’s Musings her prayer with some spiritual meaning, she observed a young girl davening: “She was around eight years old, her B Y PHYLLIS J. LUBIN I’m sure this book was in the making it: I went into this “read” not wanting glossy brown hair held back by a beau- longer than my column, but I must be to be impressed. I wanted to hate it. I tiful ribbon that matched her floral honest…I was jealous. Another one of wanted to be able to say that I would dress. In her hands was a shiny new sid- The Same Thing, Only Different my ideas “stolen.” have done a better job. dur. What struck me was the way in When I began writing this column a I would like everyone to know that it As I began reading I was already dis- which she was praying. Small head bent few months ago as “A Mother’s was my idea 20 years ago, as a new appointed: this book was good. This over the pages, lips articulating each Musings,” it truly started on a whim. I mother, to create a stroller to house an book captured much of my own life, word carefully, she was entirely have always loved writing, and I thought infant car seat—I even tested it out on only different. Bassi Gruen is a moth- engrossed in communicating with her the readership of the Five Towns Jewish an old stroller and utilized the idea er living in Israel, with different chil- Maker. Nothing distracted her…[she] Times might be interested in what I had myself until a number of years later my dren, different needs, and basically a prayed with a single-minded intensity… to share: a mother, bringing up a few I realized this young girl was a Down children, while juggling a job—a glim- syndrome child… Looking at this per- mer into the life of almost any mother fect soul in an imperfect body, I could- (perhaps with an added ingredient of a “While they consider me strong because I can n’t help but compare it to my own situ- child with special needs). Along the way, ation, a perfect body perhaps, but hous- I had thoughts that maybe I could even- ing such an imperfect soul… A shining tually formulate my musings into a full- carry a full case of Coke, they know nothing soul clothed in a limited body had length book. helped me reach that state.” Lo and behold it recently came to my about the strength involved in speaking Oh my, I thought, I have lived with attention that another mother has my youngest son for the past almost recently written a book entitled A quietly when all I want to do is yell.” eight years and have witnessed his per- Mother’s Musings. Obviously I began my fect soul on a daily basis! She struck a quest in this column before the book chord: we must all remind ourselves of came out, but to make sure my reader- the perfect souls that lie within all of ship would not become confused after idea was “stolen.” How about the con- different life…and yet she is the same us, and we must strive to bring out seeing advertisements for the book, I cept of the lightweight vacuum—yes, as me—only different. I was very their inherent perfection more often. opted to change my column’s name to my idea as well. And finally, how about impressed by how she related all her As Mrs. Gruen takes us on a tour of “One Mother’s Musings.” Still, I didn’t muffin tops? I’ve been eating the tops experiences within the Jewish calen- her life, I am humbled by her observa- feel comfortable. After all, I began my off muffins forever! The list of my bril- dar, and she even includes some fic- tions and impressed with her honesty. column as an “a” and now I am a “one”? liant ideas goes on and on. And so this tional historical mothers to make her She is truly a mother who attempts to All semantics, huh? I think not. When I was another case of one of my creations own experiences even more timeless. reach all mothers. We can all learn saw the book jacket with the words “A being snapped up by the competition… In fact, without her realizing it, in the from everyone’s experiences. Of course, Mother’s Musings” I began to muse Finally, I decided that I had better very beginning of the book, as she many of her experiences are similar to some more… This was my idea! How read this book. ArtScroll was kind described her attempt at Rosh our own. How often do we find our- could this woman have stolen my con- enough to send me a copy of the book, Hashanah davening, she reminded me selves overwhelmed with too much to cept? Of course I am being silly, since and I begrudgingly began to read. Face of how much I, in particular, must do? Mrs. Gruen illustrates how,

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52 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES although difficult at times (numerous her job “increasingly draining, both times), everything can be managed physically and emotionally.” After the OHEL Bike-A-Thon while appreciating the amazing chesed birth of her fourth child she was look- that Hashem has given us—life. ing for a “different job and stumbled When the supper burns, and the upon writing.” She has written for a kids have not done their homework number of Jewish magazines and yet, and they are arguing about some newspapers and most recently became injustice among themselves, and the the editorial director of Targum Press. dirty laundry is waiting to be washed or This is her first book and she “hopes Yussie and Lea will have no clean it’s the first of many”—as do I. First clothes to wear the next day, and a and foremost, though, she is a mother. major deadline at work is looming over With her book, Bassie Gruen has my head, and basically the whole certainly offered me (and all of you) a house is in an uproar…how comfort- view on life and motherhood that we ing it is to hide out in my room (until I can all strive to achieve. am discovered) and read a chapter of Now that I have finished reading A Mrs. Gruen’s book to give me perspec- Mother’s Musings, the book, what will tive on the chaos that oftentimes the title of my column be? Am I an “a” seems to occur in my life. or a “one”? I am the same thing, only “While the little people around me different. Each of us is unique in our think I’m smart if I know the diet of a own way and yet we are all the same. turtle, they are oblivious to the wisdom Just “another” mother, just “another” I need to react correctly when they life story. Therefore, my column here- throw their food on the floor. While they after shall be named “Another consider me strong because I can carry Mother’s Musings.” O a full case of Coke, they know nothing A Mother’s Musings is available in hardcover about the strength involved in speaking and paperback at local Judaica stores and at quietly when all I want to do is yell.” www.artscroll.com. Phyllis Joy Lubin is an attorney with Rosenfeld & Mrs. Gruen teaches us to try to always Maidenbaum, LLP, who resides in Cedarhurst keep in mind that we are the molders of with her husband Leonard and six children: Naftali, Shoshana, Rivka, Rochel, Yosef, and our children. What an awesome task! Lea. She welcomes your questions and comments After corresponding with Mrs. at [email protected]. Gruen, I have discovered that she has an interesting life history. Born and bred in Cleveland, Ohio, as a teenager she and her family made aliyah. After WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? marrying and getting her degree in WE WANT TO KNOW! social work from the Hebrew E-MAIL US AT Duvi Simon, Marc Herskowitz, Ephraim Seif, Rabbi Ezra Berenholz, and University, she worked in several dif- [email protected] Norman Gildin were among the participants in OHEL’s first Bike-A-Thon on ferent government agencies. As a Sunday, June 15. Riders biked 10-, 25-, or 50-mile trails between Hewlett and mother of young children she found Jones Beach to raise money for OHEL/Bais Ezra’s summer camp programs.

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 53 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS will know that they are very much in Continued from Page 51 the hearts and minds of their broth- ers and sisters abroad, as the inscrip- of whom had heard of the tragedy, tion on the mantle ends with should be given a tangible way to feel “nedovat tinokot shel beit rabban connected to the plight of their fellow b’Artzot haBris” (a gift from the Jews in Eretz Yisrael. Fuchs and schoolchildren in the United States). Wartelsky, together with the staunch Hopefully, this feeling of achdus and support of Rabbi Yaakov Bender, “areivim zeh lazeh” will go a long way hatched a plan: to collect money for a toward bringing the geulah sheleimah bimheirah b’yameinu. O

The Priority-1 Annual Dinner In Lawrence The past decades have seen phe- nomenal growth of mosdos haTorah and chesed in America, yet there are still just a handful of yeshivos that cater specifically to talmidim who have not found success in other yeshivos. These schools deserve much Yitzchok Fuchs and Yosef Wartlesky with the Sefer Torah dedicated by American yeshiva students, credit for the important work which shortly before the procession began at Yeshivas Mercaz HaRav. is so often overlooked by others. A pioneer in this area is Torah Academy sefer Torah for Mercaz HaRav from June 12. of Lawrence–Cedarhurst, a program yeshiva students in America. The hachnasas sefer Torah began of Priority-1, which provides an alter- More than 10,000 students from with dancing at Beit Sefer Maimon in native high school that has been nur- over 30 schools in the U.S. and Kiryat Moshe and continued to the turing success in “at-risk” teenagers Canada participated in the project. Mercaz HaRav yeshiva. Besides the for over two decades. Children were asked not to raise students of Mercaz HaRav, the over On Wednesday of last week, money, but to donate money from 500 people in attendance included Priority-1 held its 21st anniversary their own funds. And donate they did. family members of the slain boys, stu- dinner, in Lawrence. The event hon- In denominations of singles, fives, dents from Yeshivas Mir, students ored two special families who have tens, and twenties, the money came from Shuvu, and members of the shown their genuine commitment to in. Many envelopes contained odd Knesset. It was remarkable how palpa- K’lal Yisrael and to the future of our amounts that were clearly a child’s ble the simcha was despite the tragedy children. entire savings. It was evident that the that was its prelude. The mother of The Guests of Honor, Mr. and Mrs. tragedy of the kedoshim had touched one of the victims told Yosef that this Shelly Lang, are involved in many the children’s hearts. Over $30,000 was the biggest nechamah she could communal activities, both in the Five was ultimately raised, and a dedica- possibly have received. Towns and in Brooklyn. They have tion was planned for Thursday night, Returning to the United States been involved with Priority-1 for after attending the hachnasas sefer many years and have always shown Torah, Yosef and Yitzchok felt that exceptional concern for its students their mission had been well accom- and programs. plished. Every time that sefer Torah is Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Benedict of used, the students of Mercaz HaRav Kew Gardens were honored as Patrons

54 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES of Our Youth for their role as teenager away from their More importantly, the pro- founders of the Five Towns home, their school, or their gram also addresses the future Community Kollel. The kollel community are most often of “mainstream” children— was established this past year preventable if addressed early, children who have not exhibit- to bring chizuk to the stu- before they spiral out of con- ed any kind of rebellion or dents of Priority-1’s Torah trol. Parents can help their misbehavior. With new forms Academy and to teenagers children before the challenges of negative and enticing influ- and parents in the Five Towns become too difficult to bear; ence assailing our children area. The kollel could have teachers can help their stu- every day, even the most inno- never become a reality with- dents before it gets to a point cent and well-behaved chil- out the generous support and that they need to be suspend- dren are truly at risk. The encouragement of the ed or expelled; and communi- Jewish community must wake Benedict family. ty leaders can help their com- up to this frightening new In line with Priority-1’s munity by addressing these reality and be ready to fortify mission to empower Jewish critical issues before they every child against these youth, there was a special become an epidemic. extraordinary challenges. tribute to Torah Academy’s All that is needed is train- There is no way to shelter a graduates of 2008. Each grad- ing—for parents, teachers, child from everything that is uate spoke movingly about the and community leaders. The antithetical to our way of life. impact that their school and Community Training Initiative Instead, we must work to rebbeim have had on their gets to the heart of what turns instill a deep passion for lives. All the graduates made teenagers off from Yiddishkeit. Yiddishkeit so that when faced exceptional accomplishments It teaches how to avoid these with a challenge, they will during high school and each problems proactively so that know and truly feel that one plans to continue this every child gets the individual Yiddishkeit is more enticing growth by studying in Israel attention and care that they and more fulfilling than any- next year. deserve and desperately need The dinner celebrated not to thrive. Continued on Page 57 only the impressive achieve- ments of the past 21 years, but also the forward-thinking proj- ects that Priority-1 has recent- ly initiated. Most notable is the Community Training Initiative, which aims to entirely prevent the “at risk” phenomenon from continuing its frightening growth in the Jewish community. Experience has shown that the difficulties that lead a

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 55

front were without diesel fuel and in a IDF Commander Of Hostages Slams Government state of disrepair. He also reported that BY HANA LEVI JULIAN there were communication failures the Second Lebanon War, as well as the July 12, 2006 cross-border attack that prevented officers from knowing The commander of the reserve unit the captives, paid the price for the in which they kidnapped Goldwasser where their soldiers were located at of kidnapped IDF soldiers Ehud government’s abandonment of the and Regev, they had rearmed for the critical times. Goldwasser and Eldad Regev sharply northern border in the year 2000. start of the Second Lebanon War. The Hezbollah-affiliated Al Akbar criticized the government. The com- Then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak Not so Israel. Six years of govern- newspaper reported that the terrorist mander said in an interview with ordered a hasty withdrawal from ment budget cuts had taken their toll. group will raise its price for the Voice of Israel government radio that Lebanon at that time. The commander of the reservists’ unit return of Goldwasser and Regev if the soldiers who fell in battle during By the time the terrorists initiated revealed that vehicles on the Israeli Israel does not soon agree to its cur- rent terms. The present deal would include the release of Lebanese Druze terrorist Samir Kuntar, who is serving four con- secutive life terms in an Israeli prison for the brutal murders of four Israeli civilians, including two toddlers, dur- ing an attack he led on Nahariyah in 1979. The editor of the newspaper wrote that contrary to claims by the Israeli government, the proposed deal includes the release of hundreds of other Arab terrorists as well. In an effort to blunt the terror group’s ability to drive the price high- er, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert asked IDF Chief Rabbi Avichai Ronsky earlier in the week to make a determination as to whether the two captives could be declared legally dead. If so, the negotiating price for their return would be greatly reduced. (IsraelNN.com) O

56 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Continued from Page 55 thing negative that the world has to offer. Priority-1’s workshops and semi- nars teach parents and educators how to instill this excitement for Torah and mitzvos. To date, over 1,000 parents and 500 educators have benefited from this program and have brought its innovative ideas back to their homes and classrooms.

But the ones who have benefited the P h o t o s

most are their children and students. B y I v a

Priority-1 is working hard to ensure n H . N that every child grows to be a proud o r m a and productive member of the Jewish n community. O Torah Academy graduates of 2008 with principals Rabbi Yossie Feintuch and Mr. Reuven Kamin.

Rabbi Shaya Cohen presenting the Patrons of Our Youth award to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Benedict.

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 57 58 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Yeshiva Of Far Rockaway Graduating Class Of 2008 Photo By Ira Thomas Creations

The 2008 class of Yeshiva of Far Rockaway. The commencement ceremony took place on Wednesday, June 25.

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 59 Ateret Cohanim Annual Dinner

The Ateret Cohanim/Jewish Reclamation Project annual dinner took place at the New York Marriott Marquis on Monday, June 2. The featured guest speaker was Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas. Top: JRP vice-president Melvyn B. Wadler, executive councilmember D. Bernard Hoenig, and executive vice-president Shoshana Hikind presenting the Rabbinic Leadership Award to Rabbi Daniel and Mrs. Mimi Mehlman. Rabbi Mehlman is the rav of the Lido Beach Synagogue. Bottom: Mati Dan, founder and chairman of Ateret Cohanim/JRP; Melvyn B. Wadler; D. Bernard Hoenig; and Shoshana Hikind presenting Robert and Laurie Koppel of Woodmere with the Guests of Honor award.

60 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Tuition Crisis will compensate for the lower tuition or its leadership institutes the suggest- involving various collaborative Continued from Page 24 the Silver Tier parents are paying. It’s a ed reforms. There can be rolling efforts. They must all ultimately be simple mathematical equation that strikes from school to school or a col- done, however something has to chasing a board seat, in turn setting ignites competition and allows the free laborative effort against multiple begin to take shape now. It is not sup- bad policy, which will then chase away market to take hold in the system. schools. We can also organize groups posed to be through the efforts of 30 students and will cost the school Schools can be forced to compete on of 25 families that begin to shop for myself as an individual that this $300,000 in lost revenue at $10,000 price, thereby regulating expenses and bulk discounts at other schools and process begins, but through our per student. This represents a net loss better managing their finances. It’s the move as groups to where we can get established leaders that were of $200,000 to the school. The flip free market economy without collu- the best rate. Why shouldn’t we apply assigned the task of leading. They side is, a qualified individual who is sion, or a cartel like mentality. our traditional way of “shopping” to also need to collectively unite for this elected to a leadership position, who how we pay for education? Of course cause or they should resign in favor sets the right policies and attracts 30 Alternatives the final push if all else fails, is the of those who can solve the most students, $300,000 in revenue is then What recourse do we have as par- large scale movement to public pressing of problems. We are a bril- added with a $300,000 net gain. The ents if this essay fails to be a catalyst schools, thousands of students at a liant people who have survived and bottom line is: We as parents need to for change, or if our leaders continue time, which will then force the state to continue to endure tragedies, dis- take back our schools! Every school to fail us? Surprisingly if we unite we work something out with the yeshivas crimination, and injustices over board member, board of education have tremendous power and strength or simply flood the schools with our thousands of years. We have reached member, and decision and policy in numbers. To begin with, we can own kids to eliminate the issue of the positions of influence and power that maker is voted on in a school board hold large demonstrations and rallies “public school environment.” This are the envy of the world in fields of election, they campaign on a platform, for tuition relief and reform which will would be a drastic measure, but neces- medicine, law, finance, science, and and are elected by the parent body and generate publicity and media atten- sary to cure a terrible disease that is government. Are we to believe that tuition paying parents. There is a rea- tion. This will pressure and force the killing us all financially. we have lost the ability to address the son our public schools are run in a rabbinical leadership to join the cause basic sources of our achievements public form with all board meetings thereby ensuring political leaders to Conclusion and the ability to provide our chil- held, open to the community: It is the take notice. If that fails we can lead a There is no single answer that will dren with an education? O only correct way to do it. We live in a revolt against the establishment by ini- solve the cost of the educational Jonathan Isler can be contacted via e-mail at democracy, but our schools are not tiating a “Tuition Strike.” Nobody pays dilemma, but laid out in this mani- [email protected]. Please include a run like one. We need to have this anything until the school closes down festo is a multi-pronged approach phone number with all inquiries and contacts. become a democratic process, func- tioning in an open forum with full transparency. This by nature takes care of the “open your books” argu- ment. It becomes a public budget voted on by all the parents in a gener- al election. Have your candidate run on an “open you books platform” and I assure you they will win. Who among us will step up and accept this challenge?

Micro Solution The entire structure of how tuition is calculated needs to be overhauled. A new voluntary system that eliminates scholarships and creates an affordable environment needs to be established. The answer can vary by school or by community, and would allow legiti- mate need to be determined on a strictly voluntary basis. The school will set up a two tier tuition schedule with a Gold and Silver Tier. The Gold Tier will be the existing tuition schedule or slightly higher, and the Silver Tier will be 25% less than the full tuition. The Gold Tier parents will be entitled to various perks and benefits, including being the only people permitted to attend the annual school dinner (no longer the scholarship dinner, as scholarships will be eliminated), to have the monetary difference between the Gold and Silver package be tax deductable, front seats at all school sporting events, golf outings and vari- ous other perks that can be initiated to create a “country club” atmosphere. Those that can afford the Gold Tier and want to be part of an exclusive par- ents club will pay the higher rate and many people will stretch to pay as they will want to be included. Those that can’t afford will be part of the Silver Tier package at a 25% discount. There will be no impact on the children as there will be no educational benefits including preferential class placement or teacher selection. A mailing or plaque ceremony will also be held to “honor” those who have agreed to shoulder more of the tuition burden. This new structure will become a mag- net to attracting additional students, and the volume increase of students 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 61

62 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Your Ad Could Be Here.

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College Instructors May 25th – July Far Rockaway: 2 Fam. All NU 24th. Sundays and/or evenings in June, 3 over 3 Br. 4Fbth, Dr, Full bsmt weekdays and/or evenings in July. All features ...... $779K Education, Psychology (computer Call 516-263-6417 based), Music History, and Statistics. Brooklyn and Monsey locations. Woodmere/Cedarhurst Oppty! Email: [email protected] 12,000 sq. ft. approx. 90’x150’, Colonial, Fax: 718-435-0115 17 rooms, full bsmt. with hi ceilings, New salon looking for experienced: hair clean 2 car garage plus storage, 6 space dresser/sheitel macher, make-up parking, 2 family, professional use, artist, manicurist, masseuse in central accountant, Esq., medical and/or educa- Cedarhurst area. tional and religious uses. Grand colonial Please call 516-791-2520 or 646-270-3381 with charm and great possibilities. Available at once . . . $875K Negotiable Full Time Bookkeeper/Secretary for Owner 516-322-3555 Yeshiva in the Five Towns. Knowledge of Quick Books, Excel, Word and basic bookkeeping is required. Must be organ- Why beg to be noticed? Teacher positions available. Secular Far Rockaway: 2 Family. All NU, COME HOME to OCEANSIDE ized, team player, energetic. 3 over 1 Bdrm, 3 full baths. Great department middle grades, English gen- Please send resume to: email Location ...... $599K Where every family feels welcomed, [email protected] or fax. eral studies, computers. 12:30-4:30 PM, Call 516-322-3555 connected and involved. alternate Fridays. Also, 7-8th grade sci- Beautiful, affordable homes as low as ence. Mon-Thurs 3:15-4:30 PM. Yeshiva Professional child care for children 2-4 North Woodmere (Sale-Rent) $400K years of age in a loving heimishe envi- Ateres Yisroel 8101 Ave. K. Canarsie, (Extended Woodmere 400). Price drasti- Call Robert Manel at Hal Knopf ronment is seeking loving and caring Brooklyn. Fax resumes to 718-763-1798 cally reduced! 7BR, 3FBA, Finished teachers, teachers' assistants, and sub- Basement, Lg property 84x100, Walking Realty 516-458-4847 stitutes. 516-371-6858 Bnot Shulamith Middle School seeks to 4 shuls...... $639K To enjoy a Shabbos in Oceanside Call 917-238-0098 experienced teachers for Limudei and see why so many young families Kodesh and Lashon for grades 5-8. are buying homes here. Teachers — Boys yeshiva high school. Please e-mail resume and references to Hewlett — Col. MIC, 4br, 2bth, 2fpl, full deck, wood flr, Lg. den. Walk to all. Call David C. Welner 718-928-4775 5 Towns area. Afternoon classes, all [email protected] ...... $729K subjects including Hebrew language. or fax to 516-569-1714 5 TOWN HOMES 516-322-3555 Coop For Sale/Rent — Lawrence. 2 bed Fax resume to 516-374-1834 1.5 bath coop for sale. Mint condition, Seeking experienced and qualified Attn: Mrs. Tausch. Far Rockaway — By owner. 4 BR, fully renovated, Hardwood floors, Jewish history teacher and part-time semi-attached on double lot. New gour- enclosed terrace, No board approval Limudei Kodesh teacher for Shevach needed. A must see ...... $259K Seeking experienced and qualified met granite kitchen, new 1.5 bths, new HS for September 2008. deck ...... $589K Call Sherri 516-791-6100 Earth Science teacher. Masters degree Please fax resume to 718-263-3759 [email protected] Weissman Realty Group LLC required for Shevach High School for or e-mail: [email protected] September 2008. Please fax resume to Lawrence — Open House, Sunday, 6/29 Far Rockaway: Coop, 3Br, 1Bth Seeking experienced and qualified 718-263-3759 or e-mail dungar@she- 12-2, 110 Barrett Road 4 BR, 3bth ranch, Lr/Dr, Walk to All ...... $179K vachhs.org Earth Science, AP US History, and Art pool ...... $1M+ Call 516-322-3555 teachers. Masters degree required, for Lawrence — Condo. First floor. Large 2 Experienced secretary wanted for elec- Shevach HS for September 2008. Please br, 2 bth ...... $500'sK trical business in Hewlett area. F/T. fax resume to 718-263-3759 or e-mail: Far Rockaway/Lawrence: House For Hebrew speaking a plus. [email protected] Woodmere — Open House, by appoint- Sale 2 BR/ 2 BA, Newly Renovated, ment. 756 Addison Street. Exclusive. Fax resume to 516-812-7607 Dead-end street, Price ...... $539K Warm, nurturing and experienced Country Street 4 BR, 2 bths, col. Fin. Teachers positions available, due to Call Owner: 516-750-9257 Moros wanted for Bnos Bais Yaakov's basement ...... $729K opening new classes. Bnos Bais Yaakov Preschool in Far Rockaway. Also look- Smolinsky Properties 516-295-4444 Law: Hi Ranch. Must see, 4br, 2.5bth, of Far Rockaway general studies ing for assistants who love working with fam rm, CAC, 2 car garage, large prop department September '08, grades 2 and children. Please call Mrs. Freund at ...... $800sK 718-337-6000 ext. 132, for more Lawrence: Ours only! Brick, C/H Col, 4, minimum 2 years experience a must. Ced: Nu2Mkt, 2Fam, 3br/3br, 2fpl, deck, Hi ceilings, 5 BR (1 level), Kosher EIK, information all new, grt loc, full bsmt...... $795K Teachers assistants positions also avail- Lg LR, Lg. FDR, Library, Fin. Bsmt. Cedarhurst: CH col., new quality con- able Mon-Thurs 12:20-4:30 PM. Teachers needed for Yeshiva in Queens Lg Prop ...... $1.250K struction. 7 bedroom, 4.5 bths, den, LR, due to expansion. Secular Studies 5TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 Transportation from Brooklyn available. DR, oversized gourmet, granite EIK, Elementary grades (girls' and boys' Fax resume to 718-337-9160 att: Mrs. huge FDR, 9' ceiling, finished basement divisions), Junior High School (girls' N. Wdmr: Open House 1-3pm 6/22 Katz or call 718-337-6000 ext. 320 prime location. Asking ...... $1.25M division), Morot needed — middle 732 University St...... $739K 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 grades. In search of qualified and Nu 2 Mkt, MIC, Deco Dream, Nu devoted staff, certification a plus. Send Teachers — All-boys Queens Yeshiva. resume to 718-268-5470, 718-268-3447 Granite EIK, Nu Bths, Wtrvu, 4 BR, 2.5 Cedarhurst - Lovely 2 flr stucco on Grade 1 - General Studies Mon-Thur Bth, spa in yd. 60X100. Prime loc., 4BR, 2bth, FDR, LR Noon-4 PM, Fri 11-1 PM. Assistant Yeshiva Darchei Torah located in Far 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 w/fpl, updated EIK, lg den, deck, very Rockaway, NY seeks qualified and cre- pvt back yard. Walk to all...... $595K. Teachers – half day/full day. Excellent ative general studies teachers (after- Attention: Large property, corner Bkrs okay. Owner 516-239-8873 opportunity for creative and dynamic noon hours) for grades 1-5. Excellent Cedarhurst and Woodmere 150x100 apx. educators to join a great educational compensation and transportation from Far Rockaway — House For Sale 13 large rooms, 3 baths. Good for team. Send resume to: Principal, Brooklyn provided. Please e-mail 3 Bdrm, 2 Bath plus guest room. kindergarten, elementary school, yeshi- Yeshiva Tifereth Moshe 83-06 [email protected] with resume. Renovated w/New Kitchen, New va, synagogue, or other institution. Bathrooms. Huge Master Bedroom. Abingdon Road Kew Gardens, NY Local Organization/Yeshiva looking for Price...... $499K a Controller/Bookeeper. Parking garage for 4 cars and 2 buses. 11415 Fax: 718-441-3962 Email: Call Owner 917-836-6838 Responsibilities include A/R, A/P, Immediate. Reasonable. [email protected] Payroll, Taxes, Tuition Contracts, budg- Owner 347-439-8234 Kings Point Delray Beach condo for ets, presentation of financial state- sale 1,100 sq. feet. 2 BR, 2 bths, new ments. Must be proficient in Quickbooks Miami Beach — Tower 41. Ocean View. European kitchen and appliances, and Excel. Please email resume to 1 bdrm, 17th floor. Stunning. updated bath, new carpets, 24-hour [email protected] or fax to guarded community. Golf, theater, 516-295-5737 732-522-0813 library ...... $199,999 Call 631-664-0075

Woodmere— Lovely col. On dead end, 4 BR, 4 bths, large FDR, skylit den, huge master, office, finished basement with wood built-ins, 60x100, close to shuls, train, mic...... $679K Must see 516-569-2156 owner/broker Classified Ads are Continued on the Next Page. 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 65 CLASSIFIED ADS Continued from Page 65 FOR RENT FOR RENT FOR RENT REAL ESTATE FOR SALE Office space for rent. Cedarhurst — House Rental LR/FDR, Miami Alexander Hotel — Short or long Central Avenue. Includes utilities, AC, den, 3br, 2.5bth, Fin. Bsmt . . . . . $2,300 term rental. 2 BR, 2 bths, luxury, alarm, internet. Call 516-322-3555 Shabbos elevator, swimming pool, bal- Call 516-569-4949 x104 cony, parking, beachfront. Woodmere— Brand new construction on Far Rockaway — Lg. Hse Rental: 4br, Call Zeev Kolman 212-245-1715 Ced. — 3+ br apt, 1.5 bth, lg FDR, new Clubhouse Road in the heart of 2bth, bsmt., hi-ceilings, NU bths, W\D. or 917-287-5858 Woodmere Park. Contemporary style EIK, on quiet street, walk to all . . $2,200 Call 516-322-3555 Summer Rental in Maalot home. 6 BR, 4 Bths, Radiant Heat, N Wdm. — house rental. Hi-ranch in MIC. 4 br, CAC, den, on quiet street. Dafna/Ramat Eshkol— 1st floor, 2 bed- Alarms, Camera equipped, 85X100. Far Rockaway — 833 Central. 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 rooms, very nice furniture, beautiful Buyer has ability to customize interior 1 Bedroom renovated, Shabbos elevator, doorman. $1400 per month Available porch, DSL line, great price. Available before completion ...... $1.899M Cedarhurst: Office rental: Executive 2 immediately. Call Sherri 516-791-6100 July 20th-Aug 30th. Call 718-887-9150 or Call Avi 917-512-5442 Bths, Fully Web wired, 1,250 sq. ft., Weissman Realty Group LLC 052-761-4030 Woodmere Park— Brand new CAC. 5TGR 516-322-3555 Mediterranean style construction. 6 BR, Far Rockaway — 1 bedroom, 1 bath for Cedarhurst: Office Rental: Executive 2 3 Full Bths, 91X100, Radiant heat, Cedarhurst — House Rental; kit, den, rent. Secure elevator building, off Bths, Fully WEB wired, 1250 sf, CAC Alarms , Camera equipped. Buyer has 3br., 2.5 bth. bsmt ...... $2,400 Cornaga ...... $750 per month 5TGR 516-322-3555 ability to customize interior before com- 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 Avail immediately. pletion...... $1.899M Call Leah B. 516-791-6100 Call Avi 917-512-5442 Far Rockaway — Apartment available. Weissman Realty Group LLC Brand new construction. Furnished or Hewlett—Brand new construction, 5 MISCELLANEOUS unfurnished. 3 BR, 2bths. Cleaning and Far Rockaway — Walk-in Apt on Beach bedrms, 2.5 baths, office, wood flrs, laundry services available. Perfect for 9. Newly renovated. Close to syna- CAC, Laundry room on 2nd flr..... $699K the elderly. Call Sherri 516-569-5450 gogues ...... $675 including all Call Jackie 516-526-8841 Call 646-342-4030 or 718-350-6303 Working Jewish women over 19 years Woodmere—Sprawling ranch on deep Far Rockaway — 2 Huge Office Spaces. of age needed for PhD Dissertation Woodmere/Cedarhurst — 1 and 2 BR property 4 bedrms, 3 baths, Master 6,000 and 2,500 Sq Ft. 2nd Floor. Near study. Please visit http://home.mind- available. Secure buildings, updated suite, walk to all...... $1.250M spring.com/~carlsons/ to participate or Subway & LIRR. Build to Suit. Can Be EIK, Shabbos elevator close to all and Call Jackie 516-526-8841 for more information. Password is Divided. Owner 917-359-9776 train station. Call Sherri 516-297-7995 Weissman Realty Group, LLC 11406. Far Rockaway — 1 BR and 2 BR 516-791-6100 Far Rockaway— House for rent. apartments. some balconies. New Free DIRECTV 4 Room System! All Annapolis St. (b/w Beck & Almont Rd) kitchens, lots of closets, 24 hr doorman, 265+ Channels Free 4 Months! 95 HD Prime loc— beautiful block full of Luxurious apartments: Penthouse in security cameras. Close to White Shul, Channels! Ends Soon, Ask How! Free Bucman, Modiin. 5 BR, balconies, young families with kids. 1 block from Shor Yoshuv and train. DVR/HD! Packages Start $29.99/Month! Shabbos elevator, 2 sinks, 2.5 bths. Agudah, Shor Yoshuv and White Shul. 2- Call Sherri 516-297-7995 No Start Costs! We're Local Installers! ...... $350K 3 bedrooms on 2nd floor, 1 bedroom 1st Weissman Realty Group, LLC 1-800-306-1953 Villa 6 BR, c/ac, parking, storage, back- floor, playroom & bedroom with bath- 516-791-6100 yard ...... $550K room in basement. Call Owner at Call 718-471-8888 917-617-0768 DIRECTV Free 4 Room System! All Valley Stream professional office space 265+ Channels Free 4 Months! 95 HD Lawrence — NU 2 Mkt. Col., Brk., Large, bright and beautiful office avail- available for rent. 1 month free! From Channels! Ends Soon, Ask How! Free Large property, near ALL, 5Br, 3.5Bth, able with parking in Cedarhurst. 1,000-3,000 sq. ft. available. 1 block to DVR/HD! Packages Start $29.99/Month! Den, full bsmt ...... $1.9M Shared waiting area. Available immedi- LIRR and Sunrise Highway. No Start Costs! We're Local Installers! Call 516-322-3555 ately . . . . $800/month. Call 800-388-9299 Call 516-695-7222 1-800-973-9022

Ocean Corp. Houston, Texas. Train for New Career. Underwater Welder, Commercial Diver, NDT/Weld Inspector. Job placement and financial aid for those who qualify, 1-800-321-0298

LOST AND FOUND

2 cameras found in Adventureland on Chol Hamoed Pesach. Call 516-569-9017

Lost white gold and diamond bracelet on Central Avenue in March. If found, please call 917-714-9657

For the next issue, deadline for placing a classified ad is Monday, June 30 at 5:00 P.M. Call 516-569-0502

66 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES music than at Beth Sholom? I am not the spokesman for my tal- A Few Moments In The Shade ented comrades, those denizens of the night who devoted themselves effort- BY PAUL I FREEDMAN mons Moshe, Aharon, and the heads noble enough to endow their emotions lessly every Thursday evening for this of the twelve tribes, and tells them, to every choir member on the bimah as event. But for me, it was definitely a Well, it’s over. The concert tickets “Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem—You we all sang in unison. There we were, Wall Street moment. The realization that were strewn about the entrance to are all standing this day, all of you,” all of us, standing on the stage of life that maybe, just perhaps, my davening Congregation Beth Sholom are long before Hashem your Lord. at my shul. Some of us tall, some and my kavanah, my hopes and beliefs vacuumed and thrown away. The extra At around 9:30 p.m. on June 12, short. Some in our 70’s, bordering on all these years, may have reached programs, thrown into the garbage and 2008, in my home shul, Congregation 80’s, some of us just teens, bordering sha’arei Shamayim. My humility before hauled off to be incinerated. The Beth Sholom, I realized after all these on 20’s. All of us, “Kulchem.” Chazzan Helfgot? Total. My bitachon Great Chazzanim—Avi Albrecht, Joel years, the importance of Parashas As for the Jesse Aaronson Memorial atzmaii? Purified. My belief in Kaplan, Zevi Muller, Acharon Chaviv, Nitzavim to me as a frum Jew, and to Choir, it was our job to settle the Hashem at that moment in time, just and Yitzhak Meir Helfgot—all gone where it should be. It was Jackson back to their other appearances and Browne, my hero of another lifetime ovations elsewhere. that I thought of in the midst of the Once again our annual Cantor event. He predicted my future almost Moshe Ehrlich Memorial Concert has I saw that the sweat running two decades ago, when he wrote, closed its doors and has been put to “Everyone I know, every place I go, rest for another year. people need some reason to believe… While on line at David’s Pizza last down Chazzan Helfgot’s face was I’m not talkin’ ‘bout anyone but Motzei Shabbos, concert-goers asked: me…”(Running on Empty, l974) “Paul, what was it like to sing “Avenu, L’havdil. Shebashamayim” alongside Chazzan actually tears! Shortly after our medley which Helfgot?? “What did you feel during received nothing short of an ovation that glorious moment?” from the crowd, Chazzan Helfgot Two thoughts came to mind at that stepped up to the main microphone. point that personified my “real–feel” all the guests and members in atten- crowd down with our opening song of This gadol hador of song sang “Aveenu” on that experience. dance that night. “Yivarech-Yivarech.” Our middle per- with such emotion that the entire olam First, the scene from the movie Wall I stood there next to Chazzan formance on the program included stood in tribute at its conclusion. From Street. Budd Fox (played by Charlie Helfgot in the shade of his sunlight. “Oseh Shalom,” part of a full medley as my vantage point, I could see that even Sheen) is about to walk in to the meet- “It was spectacular,” I answered my well as “Sholom Aleichem” all of them those with walkers and canes attempt- ing that is the turning point of the friends at Dave’s. executed flawlessly. Benny Amar, our ed to stand during the resounding movie. Fixing his tie, he whispers to Oh, chevrah!!! What gadlus was it to leader, ran the show with energy that applause. We all were nitzavim as one, himself out loud, “Life comes down to enjoy a moment, basking in the light of outdid his performance this past win- standing in awe at this chazzan’s level just a few moments. This is one of these giants of the Jewish music ter in shul. Then, Chazzan Albrecht’s of emunah. I look back now, and I them.” world? To have the z’chus of mixing my medley included a rendition of “There’s believe that we were all expecting him L’havdil. emotions with those of Chazzans a Place For Us” which combined to have some kind of aura, an anan Second, toward the end of Sefer Albrecht, Kaplan, Fuller, and Helfgot! “Torah ‘ and “Madah” in one presenta- Devarim, Hakadosh Baruch Hu sum- These giants of our dor, who were tion. What better place for class and Continued on Page 68

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 67

Moments In The Shade my visions too overpowering to con- davening. He would always cup the Helfgot. The red carpeted floor where Continued from Page 67 trol. I finished my solo of “Vhu Keilee” face of a child that ascended the pulpit we stood seemed to melt under my in Adon Olam, continuing as always to to sing “Ein Kelokainu” with his mas- feet, as I was humbled to be standing hakavod hovering over him. We also lift my eyes to the ceiling. Then, I sive left hand. And when he performed so close to such a great accomplished expected this chazzan, a true superstar, stepped back to assume my appointed chazaras hashatz, there was silence chazzan. Yet, as I glanced to my left to to be detached from the emotion he place in the choir. Looking out over throughout the shul. His voice acted observe the chazzan’s demeanor as he generated in others. Not true. We all the crowd with adrenaline still pump- as our shaliach, beseeching Hakadosh sang, to my shock I saw that the sweat learned that “Yitz Meir” as he is known ing through my veins, I felt as if Baruch Hu to look down on us as a running down Chazzan Helfgot’s face amongst his chevrah, was just a simple Congregation Beth Sholom had trans- kehillah, just the way the chazzan did. was actually tears! Two precious Yid, a humble ben adam, just like every formed herself into an angelic queen, a Looking back with a smile on my face streams of pure water emanating from other Jew in that olam. timeless eishes chayil waiting for her I identified Chazzan Ehrlich as the the eyes of this virtuoso. As we sang “So Paul, how did you feel?” asked husband to come home. My mind ultimate shaliach tzibbur. His songs together, he stood solid as a rock and of me again, this time in Toddy’s the began to reel backward 10 years, to the used regular nigunim, which the kahal chanted those sacred words of following Sunday with more intensity last part of the life of Cantor Moshe was used to and comfortable with, “Aveenu.” (a longer line than in David’s). “The Ehrlich, zt”l. As I sang with the great- always joining in with him when he That was it for me. short time I spent in the chazzan’s light est fervor, I lowered my eyes from sang them. Then, after a full program, we had changed me in a big way.” I answered. above and observed the crowd below. And then, in my mind, I saw so the Hatikva experience. “My dear chevrah, know this! It Then, I imagined seeing the neshamah many other gedolim of my shul from “Kol od bleivav penimah.” Absolute changed me!” Standing on the bimah, of Chazzan Moshe Ehrlich before me. years past, sitting before me in the purity. I still cannot believe how high I I was somehow drawn to Reb Yitzchak There he was, with his majestic audience. Although all of them passed was able to sing! Hashgachah pratis! Of Meir. I tiptoed sideways just a bit to my presence adding to his 6’2” plus frame, away, some over 20 years ago, I envi- course I could not keep up with left as he reached the crescendo of he towered over the average member. sioned them sitting right there before Chazzan Helfgot, but I tried. Yet as “Tzur Yisroel V’goaloh.” Through a few Yet, with his white hair and glorious me. All of them, now just a memory. high as I went, not one phrase was quick maneuvers, I found myself just a sideburns, the classic chazzan’s cap Thus, our memorial concert was not strained. From my vantage point I few feet from the stairs. I was now (making him appear a foot taller) only a zicharon for Chazzan Moshe, looked over the huge shul, and I was shoulder-to-shoulder with the greatest Cantor Moshe Ehrlich was simply but an aliyas neshamah for his entire simply humbled by what I saw. chazzan in the Jewish music world greater than life. He appeared below generation as well. Hundreds of Jews, all of them devoted today. I was committed to seizing the me, striding across the vast carpeted What a priceless moment for me! so deeply to Zionism and Israel. I felt moment. Just as Chazzan Avi Albrecht space between the bimah and the sht- Although it only lasted for less than a that the entire shul was “Kulanu, bnei completed his beautiful operatic ender, to assume his rightful place as minute. Just reliving the experience of ish echad” as Joseph’s brothers said to tefillah, I spoke in a whisper with our shaliach tzibbur. As he traversed davening with my chazzan was enough him in their plea in Egypt, “All of us, Chazzan Helfgot in Hebrew. Baruch that distance to start the Mussaf serv- memory to last me till next year. are the sons of one man” Hashem, he not only remembered me ice, he would always turn his head just Hopefully Chazzan Moshe will appear Then with the conclusion of from last year, but he knew my father, a bit, unwavering from the presence he to me once again. Hatikva, it was done. Yet one could see Rav Zushye Freedman, alav hashalom, established, and smiled at Reva, his Now, shaking my head for a brief that not one person in the room want- as well. So, dad, from your keesei beloved wife, across the mechitzah. moment, I came back to reality. I could ed that concert to end. The men in the hakavod in olam haba, sitting on your The team of “Chazzan Moshe only think to myself, “Dor holaich v’dor crowd converged on the bimah where bimah in your rabbinic robe with our v’eeshto Reva” personified the class of ba.” Alas, Paul, whole generations the choir stood with the chazzanim, to Chazzan Moshe Ehrlich, you both can Beth Sholom. Yet, as glorious as he come and go. Nestled between Cantor daven the Ma’ariv service. It was clear shepp nachas. was, Chazzan Ehrlich gave kavod to Avi Albercht and myself I felt the pres- that everyone wished to extend the By that point I was in a cold sweat, each member he met before and after ence, the aura and ruach, of Chazzan kodesh into the chol. Even those that

68 June 27, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

began to leave the Main Shul, began to stopped our movement on stage and know how Jay-Lo feels in front of her before I go, until next year: turn back to experience the moment. answered with respect. If I in my fans). “The feeling was very real.” l) I must truly apologize to that As long as the program of the entire 52 years, could have extracted I frightened off a black bear near Russian woman in the flowered dress evening was, it suddenly became way four percent of the kavod given to Avi Camp Seneca Lake last summer. I with the 200 pound pocketbook, that I too short. Guests who shifted in their Albrecht in those few moments, I’d be wrestled an alligator in Camp Morasha “may” have knocked over by the chairs (just a few), now remained, michubad for life. three years ago as part of my wildlife entrance to the ballroom as I rushed waiting for a song, any song. They Chazzan Kaplan was a wonderful show. Nothing came close to this. I past her, dragging my mother in tow, to were all like moviegoers at the end of a teacher, mentor, with a voice that held was trembling with excitement. grab an open two seats at the recep- Spielberg mega-hit. No one wanted to everyone in complete rhapsody. Here Chazzan Helfgot sensed this, too. He tion. leave the movie. No one was ready to was a true master, his smile never knew it was an emotional moment for 2) There’s a cute story going around bentch. Everyone wanted more. diminishing. And Chazzan Fuller, the me. So, he pushed through the crowd the mechitzah in our shul last As for me, having returned to the “new kid on the block” of chazzanim, and stood for our photo together. He Shabbos. One woman, when dis- 21st century from my dream of my hit a grand slam with a melodic voice just wanted to calm me down, and tell cussing the concert, asked her friends chazzan, I could only wish that Barak that made us all consider joining me it was okay. That he was my chaver. (after davening, of course), “Who was Obama could have been at the Moshe “Belz” at Yeshiva University the next Now, the ballroom. The food that that bald guy singing with such perfect Ehrlich concert. If he showed up, Mr. morning. And Chazzan Daniel Gildar, the Brafman family provided showed harmony next to Chazzan Helfgot?” Obama would have been able to sing a bichvodo, led his troops to victory with the community just how generous and Just down the same row, at the very separate aria, performing Julie the poised mastery. In the short time I magnanimous Ben, his wife and chil- same time, another woman asked her Andrews’ “Getting to Know You, served under his command, I was hon- dren are to us all. Ben himself? He was friends, “Who was that little chassid in Getting to know all about you,” when ored. And Mimi Levinson on the radiating with happiness. knickers, singing so beautifully in har- it comes to the Jewish American piano? A chazakah of success for years Alan Bankhalter and his wife mony with Paul Freedman?” Zionist experience. to come. Michelle and their children, will be Beautiful moments. Priceless mem- Had Barak been at Beth Sholom What more can I say? My mother rewarded for their efforts for years to ories. that night, he would have seen for had tears in her eyes as she hugged me come. Our esteemed rav, Rabbi Just a few, precious moments in the himself how strong we all stand for after Ma’ariv. Loved ones flooded the Kenneth Hain, bichvodo, and our reb- shade. O Israel. How every fiber of “Hatikva” is staircase going up to where the choir betzin too, shared the sanctity of every a strand of golden hair that wraps itself stood. My son Justin gave me a price- moment throughout the concert. My around our souls. Chazzan Helfgot less “high five.” I saw the respect he home shul. Our home rav. “Uknai combed our collective hairs. And, had for me in his innocent brown eyes. lecha chaver.” amidst the chaos of the crowd surging A truly faithful friend, seizing the And, I can guarantee you all, that Remember that article? toward him, I found peace. opportunity, filtered her way through Chazzan Ehrlich, zt”l was looking Ma’ariv itself was priceless. As I the surging crowd and snapped this down from olam haba, where he has Visit our archive section stood next to Chazzan Albrecht by the photo of me and Reb Yitzhak Meir already been singing for a sell-out and find any issue of the Aron Hakodesh, I beheld the breadth Helfgot. The “Man.” You should all crowd in “The Shamayim Annual of his overpowering baritone voice. As know this: that right when the photo Concert” just a few feet above our 5 Towns Jewish Times if Yitzhak Meir wasn’t an experience was snapped, the chazzan put his arm event; and he too was smiling. Perhaps enough, I literally stopped my own around my shoulder, in a gesture of in my vision there was a tear rolling online @ Amidah, to watch Chazzan Albrecht true chibah. down his cheek as well. After all, he www.5TJT.com clench his fists in silence as he dav- “How did you feel at the moment of definitely was proud of me. Proud of ened. Then when he recited the that photo?” The public badgered me us all. Kaddish for his departed, we all at Wok Tov earlier this week. (Now I So, that’s about it. Two quick points

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES June 27, 2008 69 Camp Shoresh BBQ

David and Joy Devor hosted a BBQ at their Far Rockaway home on Sunday, June 22 to benefit the outreach programs of Camp Shoresh. Pictured (L-R): are David Devor, David Greenbaum, and Pace Devor.

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