WEEKLY Candle-lighting/Shabbos ends Friday, January 9: 4:21/5:25

Vol. III No. 45 (#94) January 8, 2015 • 17 Tevet 5775 Free Yom Hakaddish Haklali Partners In Torah Honors Eldercare II: Observed At YIKGH Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld An Evening To Remember As Part Of Winter Retreat In Stamford

Guest speaker Rabbi Daniel Glatstein SEE STORY ON P. 28, 30 SEE STORY ON P. 29 SEE STORY ON P. 32 Public Affairs Shabbos Inbox Queens As I See It Hooked On Healing Shuls Praying Jewish Link Politics Happy. Happy. Big And Small for Blue Lives To Celebrate Makes Strange Happy. Anniversary By Sergey Kadinsky By Eytan Kobre Bedfellows – By Caroline Schumsky Milestone Especially In Israel A real patriot is the fellow he recent opinion piece igh. If only…then…I’d fi - who gets a parking ticket and At Gala Affair by Brooklyn resident Bar- By Cynthia Zalisky nally be happy. The un- rejoices that the system works. ry Katz, “The Case for Big Next Week ending gimmicks we en- T -- Bill Vaughan S Shuls,” published in the Jan. 2, ith the new Israeli dure to try to achieve what we 2015, edition of The Jewish Press, aving recently com- elections called think we want. merits a deeper look, which pleted tours of duty Wfor Tuesday, March Ah, yes. Allow me to show should include perhaps the two Hin Afghanistan and 17, there is a lot of posturing, you how to be an instant cash CONTINUED ON P. 23 CONTINUED ON P. 11 SEE ARTICLE ON P. 55 CONTINUED ON P. 24 CONTINUED ON P. 22

7 2 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 3 4 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 5 Stories Of Greatness R’ Dovid Hoffman What Will Keep Us Strong?

he winds of enlightenment that protruded forth and held the shoulder. He turned around to see your support is.” He led him into a and reform were overspreading vines in place, until the grapes them- the glistening countenance of a man, huge outdoor playground where peo- TGermany, threatening to swal- selves were fully ripened and ready to dressed all in white, tall and regal in ple milled about everywhere. low the hapless Orthodox communi- be picked. appearance. The man smiled at him The distinguished man pointed to ties that maintained their religious a corner of the playground. There sat identities. Into this hostile environ- rows of elderly men, hunched over ment, rose the great R’ Shamshon Who will support us? from age and years of life experience. Raphael Hirsch zt”l, who fought back Each man sat with his hands folded the taint of the secular invaders with How will we be able to withstand the challenges over and leaning on his cane, a thick the courage of a lion and the wisdom that confront us and menace us with total religious extinction? and sturdy piece of wood, worn with of generations of Torah knowledge. age but solid in its construction, sup- But even in his early days, R’ Hirsch porting each man’s full weight on was unsure of his true calling in life. R’ Hirsch’s initial awe at the beau- kindly and asked, “Tell me, what is its solid round base. “These men,” At the age of twenty, R’ Hirsch trav- ty of the garden quickly turned to bothering you, my son?” said the tall shining man, “are old eled to Mannheim, to study in the ye- angst as he stared at the vines. “At R’ Hirsch explained what he was and frail, yet, at the same time, they shivah of the great Aruch laNer. On least these weak vines have branches thinking, and the man took him by are strong and formidable because the wagon to Mannheim, R’ Hirsch to support them until they are fi rm- the arm. “You are looking for sup- relates in a letter he wrote, he dozed ly entrenched,” he thought. “But, port? Come, I will show you what CONTINUED ON P. 44 off and dreamed he was standing in myself, and the whole of the Jewish a beautiful garden. Flowers were in community, we are also weak; we are Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, fi lled full bloom, and fruit trees were giv- engaged in a battle for our very exis- with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tav- ing off their ripened scent. He no- tence. Who will support us? How lin Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look ticed how the grapevines were grow- will we be able to withstand the chal- for his book, “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the ing steadily, and although they were lenges that confront us and menace Holocaust. They are fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online still weak and under-developed, they us with total religious extinction?” at http://israelbookshoppublications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “To- were being supported by branches Suddenly, he felt a tap on his rah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, e-mail [email protected]

6 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 7 Regular Features As I see it – Cynthia Zalisky ...... 1 Beauty briefs – Risselle Naimark ...... 53 Classifieds ...... 43 Community calendar – Rebecca Wittert ...... 39 Community corner – Susie Garber, Lorey Friedman, Ezra Fridlander, Leah Bleiberg, Marlene Schiffman, Shimmy Blum ...... 27-39 Community snapshots – Aharon Katz ...... 30-31 Delectable dishes – Estee Kafka ...... 47 Financially forward – Gerald Harris ...... 25 For what it’s worth – Warren Hecht ...... 41 Frontlines - Dr. Joe Frager ...... 44 The fun side – QJL Staff ...... 56/57 Hooked on healing – Caroline Schumsky ...... 1 House and home – R’ Gedalia and Sarah Newcomb ...... 40 Politics and ethics - Abe Fuchs ...... 26 Public affairs - Sergey Kadinsky ...... 1 A Shabbat thought – R’ David Algaze ...... 14 Shabbos inbox – Eytan Kobre ...... 1 The Shmuz – R’ Benzion Shafier ...... 16 Snippets of strange – QJL Staff ...... 18-21 Socially savvy – Esti Berkowitz ...... 42 Stories of greatness – R’ Dovid Hoffman ...... 6 Style myths debunked - Meira E. Schneider-Atik ...... 51 Special Articles Partners In Torah Honors Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld as Part of Winter Retreat in Stamford - Leah Bleiberg and Susie Garber .....29 Eldercare II: An Evening to Remember ...... 32 Yom Hakaddish Haklali Observed at YIKGH - Susie Garber ...... 27 Queens Jewish Link to Celebrate Third Anniversary – Jennifer Jaffe ...... 1

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8 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 9 10 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Shabbos Inbox Eytan Kobre Praying for Blue Lives

CONTINUED FROM P. 1 subjected to cruel and anti-Semitic host governments, they understood Iraq, a United States marine enrolled that anarchy is a fate far worse than in college. One day, one of his profes- an antagonistic régime. “And it was in sors—an avowed atheist—declared the course of many days that the king in class, “G-d, if you’re real, I give you of Egypt died, and the Jewish peo- 15 minutes to knock me off this lec- ple sighed and cried from their slave tern.” Ten minutes passed without work” (Shemos 2:23). Paroh’s death incident. As the 15 minutes neared created an anarchistic vacuum, with conclusion, the marine stood up, ap- the Jewish people left to the antipa- proached the professor, and decked thy of the masses. And so the Jewish him. The other students were speech- people cried, not because Paroh was less. a benevolent despot (he was not), “What’s the matter with you?” but because even a bad ruler is better yelled the professor. than no ruler at all (Divrei Eliyahu ad The marine replied calmly. “G-d loc.; Mishlei 29:4). said: ‘Pray for the welfare of the gov- Jews were exiled to Babylon with was too busy today protecting Amer- Of course, one should generally ernment; for if not for fear thereof, the destruction of the fi rst Bais Ha- ican soldiers who are safeguarding show gratitude to local government each man would swallow his neigh- Mikdash. G-d, speaking through the your right to act like a fool. So he sent (Bereishis Rabba 79:1; Shemos Rabba bor alive’” (Avos 3:2; Avoda Zara 4a). prophet Yirmiyahu, instructed the me.” 5:15; Devarim 23:8), and there is a re- In a democracy, this includes praying Jews to “seek the welfare of the city The aftermath of recent events in lated obligation to obey the laws of for the welfare of all governmental where I have sent you into exile; pray Ferguson and Staten Island under- our host countries—“dina d’malchusa authorities—presumably even police to G-d for it, for your welfare depends score just how grateful we ought to dina”—so long as they are not incon- forces (see Tiferes Yisroel, Avos 3:2). on its welfare” (Yirmiyahu 29:7). The be to those who keep us safe. While sistent with the Torah (Gittin 10b). The notion of praying for our host reasonable people can differ on the But we are also told to pray for our government originated when the CONTINUED ON P. 15 minutiae, this much is clear: we are host governments for an entirely dif- safe thanks to their efforts. ferent, far more self-serving reason. Eytan Kobre is a lecturer, writer, and attorney, residing in Kew Gardens Hills with Even when the Jewish people were “R’ Chanina, Deputy of the Kohanim, his wife and children. He can be contacted at [email protected].

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 11 12 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 13 A Shabbat Thought R’ David Algaze If G-d Can Be Here, He Could Be Everywhere “An angel of G-d appeared to him in a does not the bush burn?” he immediately ever, his historiography encountered a se- be everywhere. There is a story about a fa- blaze of fi re from amid the bush. He saw gained the insight that he needed. Against rious obstacle when studying the history mous rabbi who was asked, when he was a and, behold! The bush was burning in the the dark images in his mind, of oppression, of the Jews. Where were the Jews’ rise and little boy, where G-d was. “The interlocutor fi re but the bush was not consumed.” torture, and endless suffering by his breth- fall? Why did Jewish civilization prevail said, “I’ll give fi ve pennies if you can tell me (Shemot 3:2) ren in Egypt, Moses now contemplated a against tidal waves that should have wiped where G-d is.” To which the young boy re- sight that illuminated his mind. it off the map? In answering this puzzling plied, “And I’ll give you ten if you can tell hat is the signifi cance of this “It is for this reason that G-d showed him problem, Toynbee suggests that Jewish civ- me where He is not!” appearance in a thorny bush? a burning bush that was not consumed. It ilization is not really alive but only exists The Jewish People, surrounded always WIf G-d wished to communicate (the sight) was telling him, ‘Just as the fi re as a fossil. This arrogant and self-righteous by the fi res of hate and prejudice, appears with Moses, why did He not do so in the cannot destroy the bush, so the Egyptians attitude was shattered when he heard that vulnerable and weak. However, it will not usual manner in which G-d communicates will not be able to exterminate the peo- the shofar had been blown at the Western be consumed, just as the bush was not with the prophets? What was the necessity ple of Israel’” (Shemot Rabbah 2:5). If the Wall at the conclusion of the Six-Day War. consumed. Moreover, the thorny bush se- of this botanical phenomenon? In fact, the laws of Nature may be suspended, if they Rabbi Herzog reports that on that day Toyn- riously punishes those who touch it, and Midrash narrates that a foreigner asked one are subject to a Higher Law of the Creator, bee admitted his error and acknowledged our enemies will also be punished if they of our Sages, Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korchah, then the laws of history are not immutable. that the Jewish People is indeed alive! dare raise a hand against the people of the “Why did G-d choose to speak to Moses Just as the fi re may at times be unable to As he gazed at the bush and heard G-d’s bush, where our G-d appears. The ubiqui- from inside a bush?” consume a material object, so the historical voice from inside, Moses understood that tous presence of G-d in the universe, even The answer is that the sight instructed laws that could presage the doom of a na- if G-d could be in such a lowly physical be- in a lowly bush, reminds us that He is never Moses in a very important principle. The tion may be controlled by the same Creator ing, He could be also in the palaces of Egypt absent, and it is the greatest assurance to bush was not behaving in the normal way and preserve a nation against greatly de- and infl uence the historical events there, us that His promise of protection will nev- associated with the laws of nature. The fi re structive forces. This was the spark of hope “to teach you that there is no place without er be forgotten or waived. The Eternal of was acting in exact opposition to its na- that was lit inside Moses’ heart. the Divine Presence, not even a little bush” Israel will never lie, nor His charges ever be ture, or the bush was erecting a resistance The British historian Arnold Toynbee, (Midrash, ibid). If G-d can be there, He can disillusioned. that was not seen before in Nature. Amid in his renowned work, A Study of History, burning fl ames, the bush remained intact completed in 1961, describes in great detail Rabbi David Algaze is the founder and Rav of Havurat Yisrael, Forest Hills. He is a and impervious to the ravages of combus- the universal rhythms of the rise, fl ower- noted public speaker and author and is the President of the international Committee tion. As Moses was asking himself, “Why ing, and decline of all civilizations. How- for the Land of Israel.

14 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 even went so far as to pray (Avnei Nezer) was forced to dechai arranged for a choir Praying for Blue Lives for the non-Jewish authori- fl ee his community because to hum when he reached the ties—proof positive that the he refused to recite the prayer words “He shall glorify and CONTINUED FROM P. 11 tan of the Ottoman Empire Jewish community harbored for the welfare of the govern- make great” so that he could (Mehmed V) and for Great no ill will (Yam Shel Shlo- ment on the day Alexander insert the words “You should fi rst formulation of such a Britain. mo, Hakdama). A work by R’ III was anointed Emperor of uproot and break.” prayer dates back to at least Others more cynically saw Menasheh ben Israel was in- Russia. Similarly, R’ Morde- Throughout the genera- the 14th century, when the the prayer as nothing more strumental in securing the chai HaChazan was the can- tions, there have been count- Abudraham included this than an appeasement of host return of Jews to England af- tor in Mogilev for forty years, less formulations of the text prayer in his Siddur, noting regimes, proof that the Jew- ter many centuries of banish- when the government de- of the prayer.1 Today’s most that it is the “custom to bless ish people were not anti-gov- ment, when Oliver Cromwell creed that all shuls recite the commonly accepted version the King, and to pray to G-d ernment. For instance, in the read the book and discovered prayer for the welfare of the is actually a composite of that He may give him victory” introduction to his Yam Shel just how pro-government the government. When R’ Morde- verses (see Tehillim 145:13 and (Abudraham, Laws of Torah Shlomo, R’ Shlomo Luria Jewish people can be (see Te- chai refused to do so, he was 144:10; Yeshaya 43:16; Yirmi- Reading; see also Kol Bo 20; notes that his negative refer- shuas Yisrael, Chapter 3). summoned to a din Torah yahu 29:7; Yeshaya 59:20), Magen Avraham 284:7; Aruch ences to non-Jews do not re- But not all authorities before R’ Chaim Berlin who and begins with “Hanosen HaShulchan 284:15). fer to the non-Jews of his day were so agreeable. It is told ruled that he must recite the Some regarded this not because the Jewish people that the Sochatchover Rebbe prayer. That Shabbos, R’ Mor- CONTINUED ON P. 21 merely as a recommenda- tion but an absolute obliga- tion (Meiri, Avoda Zara 4a; Seder HaYom [regarding the obligation to pray for gov- ernment as a rabbinic qua- si-commandment]). Indeed, the Chasam Sofer states un- equivocally that Jews have a greater obligation to show respect for the government than their non-Jewish coun- terparts, and he likens one who refuses to recite the prayer to one who refuses to don tefi llin (Chasam Sofer 5:190 [hashmatos]). Anecdotal evidence seems to support this understand- ing. Once, the cantor in the Kriniki synagogue omit- ted the prayer for the gov- ernment when R’ Yisrael Salanter was present. R’ Yis- rael turned to the wall and recited the prayer himself, in apparent fulfi llment of the obligation to pray for the government (see HaMeoros HaGedolim; K’dosh Yisroel pg. 104). On unique occasions, the prayer was even be recited publicly. The Chasam Sofer kept a journal in the year 1809, in which he recorded that, at the outbreak of the War of the Fifth Coalition— which pitted a coalition of the Austrian Empire and the United Kingdom against Na- poleon’s French Empire and Bavaria—the Jewish commu- nity held a special service to pray for the welfare of the government (Book of Re- membrances of the Chasam Sofer, pg. 14-15). In 1910, the “Kollel Austreich Galitzia” in Yerushalayim recited a public prayer at the Western Wall for the welfare of Franz Joseph I in honor of his 80th birthday. And based on no- tices posted in Yerushalay- im during the 19th and early 20th centuries, it appears that public prayers for the welfare of the government were held for both the Sul-

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 15 The Shmuz On The Parshah R’ Ben Tzion Shafier One Nation, Indivisible

And he said, “Who placed you as a there were talebearers amongst the judge and ruler above us? Will you say Jews, he understood why this nation to kill us as you killed the Egyptian?” was so fated. And Moshe feared, and he said, “Now the matter is known.” Three questions (Shemos 2:14) This Rashi is very diffi cult to un- derstand for a number of reasons. (1) hen Moshe came of age, he Moshe witnessed two people threat- went out to visit his broth- ening to report him. Two individuals Wers – to share in their suf- don’t defi ne a nation. (2) Didn’t all fering. What he saw caused him great the other nations speak lashon hara anguish. The oppression, subjugation, as well? (3) Even if it were true that and cruelty were present wherever he the entire Jewish People were gossip-

What is so egregious about this sin that an entire nation should suffer cruel, brutal subjugation?

looked. The next day, Moshe again ers, what is so egregious about this “went out to his brothers,” and this sin that an entire nation should suffer time he witnessed two Jews engaged cruel, brutal subjugation? in mortal combat. One was standing The answer to this can best be un- over the other in an attempt to kill derstood with a mashal. him. Moshe called out, “Wicked one, why are you hitting your friend?!” Making a hole in my cabin This put an end to the bloodshed. Imagine a man boards a transat- However, Moshe’s intervention lantic ocean liner carrying an electric wasn’t appreciated. Quite the oppo- saw. Late at night, one of the ship’s site; their response was, “Who ap- personnel hears a distinct rattling pointed you to be a judge over us? Are noise coming from the man’s cabin. you going to kill us as you killed the The crewmember knocks on the door Mitzri yesterday?” The Midrash tells – no answer. The noise continues. He us this was actually a threat. The day knocks again. Still no response. Fear- before, Moshe killed a Mitzri guard, ing danger, he kicks in the door, only who was mercilessly whipping an in- to see the passenger standing poised nocent Jew. The two Jews who were against the ship’s hull, electric saw in fi ghting had seen this, and they now hand, attempting to cut through the warned Moshe they were going to re- skin of the ship. The crewmember port him to the authorities for rebel- screams out, “Stop it! What are you ling against the king – which they did. doing?” When Pharaoh heard that the heir The passenger calmly responds, “Sir, apparent had openly challenged the do you see this boarding pass in my law of the land and defended a Jew hand? Do you see that it states that I against his master, he brought Moshe have the right to a private cabin? Why to trial for tyranny. In the end, Moshe are you disturbing me? Here I am, in had to fl ee Mitzrayim, at the risk of his the privacy of my own compartment, life. doing what I want. If I want to drill Interestingly, when Moshe fi rst a hole in my room, that is my choice. heard their threat, his response was, I have paid for this cabin and I have “Now the matter is known.” Rashi ex- the prerogative to do whatever I want plains that for many years, Moshe had here. Leave me alone.” a question: “Why is it that of all the The Chofetz Chaim compares this seventy nations, the Jews are singled out for oppression?” Once he saw CONTINUED ON P. 45

Born and bred in Kew Gardens Hills, R’ Ben Tzion Shafier joined the Choftez Chaim Yeshiva after high school. Shortly thereafter he got married and moved with his new family to Rochester, where he remained in for 12 years. R’ Shafi er then moved to Mon- sey, NY, where he was a Rebbe in the new Chofetz Chaim branch there for three years. Upon the Rosh Yeshiva’s request, he stopped teaching to devote his time to running Tiferes Bnei Torah. R” Shafi er, a happily married father of six children, currently re- sides in Monsey.

16 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 17 Snippets Of Strange 51 Years After A Wreck, 7-Inch Car Part Found In Arm ifty-one years ago, Arthur Lampitt northwest side and onto the neighboring smashed his 1963 Thunderbird property. Morton Salt Inc. is a more than Finto a truck. This week, during sur- 100-year-old company based in Chicago gery, a 7-inch turn signal lever from that best known for its pourable table salt. T-Bird was removed from his left arm. No injuries were reported. Dr. Timothy Lang removed the lever during a 45-minute operation. Lampitt, now 75, is recovering at home. Cat Accidentally Sold Uniontown police say 29-year-old Eric when he found out we knew he had her, The accident broke Lampitt’s hip, Frey tried to rob a pizza store by hand- he dropped her off at a truck stop in Des drawing attention away from the arm, With Mattress ing an employee a note written on toilet Moines, Iowa,” her family said. which healed. paper that read: “I have a gun. Give me Already some 1,600 miles from home, A decade or so ago, his arm set off a Back Home $300.” Penny somehow ended up days later in metal detector at a courthouse. An X-ray amo is hiding no longer. Police arrived before Frey could leave the care of a veterinarian at a pet hospi- showed a slender object the length of The Oregon cat accidentally sold because an employee hit a panic button. tal in Pennsylvania. A pet hospital con- a pencil, but since it caused no pain or Cwith a mattress set is home after 10 Frey told offi cers he was forced to fi rmed Penny’s Washington state roots hardship, Lampitt was told to let it be. days on his own. commit the robbery by a large, bearded by scanning the dog’s microchip. He was moving concrete blocks a few Roy Dufek wrote in a statement that man with a gun who accosted him in a The dog has been staying in foster care weeks ago when the arm began to hurt his girlfriend caught Camo in a trap after nearby alley. and the family hopes to have her back in for the fi rst time. he was reportedly seen near an airport. But police say a search of Frey’s apart- Washington by the end of the week. “Everything was fi ne until it started The trap was baited with sardines in oil ment wiped out that explanation: That’s Alaska Airlines said it learned about to get bigger,” Lampitt’s wife, Betty, said. and familiar scented clothing. where they say they found a newly the dog and is “fl ying Penny home com- “The arm started bulging.” People across the Portland area and opened roll of toilet paper with the pen plimentary” from a District of Columbia Lampitt decided to have surgery. He beyond had been on the lookout for impression from Frey’s note on an outer area airport to Seattle. initially wasn’t sure what was in the arm. Camo after his unusual disappearance sheet. He wondered if perhaps a medical instru- got national attention. ment had been left during the emergency Dufek sold his girlfriend’s mattress set Sarah Palin Photos Of room visit in 1963. without realizing the cat was likely in a Puppy Heads Home Son Stepping On Dog He unearthed a collection of old pho- favorite hiding spot: the box spring. After 2,400-Mile tos of the mangled Thunderbird taken by Unable to fi nd Camo at the mattress Trigger Online Outrage a friend at the scene. He noticed the met- buyer’s home, Dufek took to social media Road Trip al blinker lever was missing from the left for help tracking down the 5-year-old cat acebook photos posted by Sarah side of the steering column. He fi gured that likely scurried out of the box spring Palin showing her son Trig using that was it, and surgery confi rmed it. when the buyer, who lives near the air- Fthe family dog as a step stool un- “Seven inches long,” Lang told Betty. port, took it off the car roof. leashed online fury last Friday reminis- “Oh, my G-d,” Betty said. Dufek wrote that Camo was 2 pounds cent of the public reaction to the disclo- Lang said a protective pocket grew lighter after 10 days outside, and had a sure that Mitt Romney had once driven around the lever. cut lip, broken nails and a bleeding paw. with his dog strapped on the car’s roof. Camo was examined by a veterinarian Trig, 6, who has Down Syndrome, is and given a bath. shown stepping on the back of the fam- “We can’t even imagine what he’s been ily’s black Labrador while it lies on the through in a week and (a) half running kitchen fl oor in order to reach the sink. wild near the countryside, especially in The dog appears unruffl ed. this weather.” The Facebook post by Palin, who was The couple thanked everyone for their the Republican vice presidential nomi- help, saying it’s great to know friends and nee in 2008, drew more than 12,000 com- “We see all kinds of foreign objects strangers had their back in time of need. puppy called Penny could be ments by midday, ranging from cries of like nails or pellets, but usually not this reunited with her worry-stricken animal abuse to those seconding Palin’s large, usually not a turn signal from a AU.S. owners by week’s end after praise for the youngest of her fi ve chil- 1963 T-Bird,” Lang said. “Something this she went on a nearly 2,400-mile road trip dren. large often gets infected.” that took her to an Iowa truck stop and a “May 2015 see every stumbling block Lampitt wasn’t sure what he’d do with Pennsylvania pet hospital. turned into a stepping stone on the path the lever — maybe make a key chain out The fl oppy-eared dog has one more forward,” Palin wrote on her Facebook of it. stop before returning home to Washing- page. “We’ll fi gure out something, I am ton state. She has to travel from Pennsyl- “Trig just reminded me. He, deter- sure,” he said. “We can’t ever repay or say thank you vania, where she has been in foster care, mined to help wash dishes with an obliv- enough to all the people that spent their to the District of Columbia for a free ride ious mama not acknowledging his signs cherished holiday time, and resources to home from U.S. carrier Alaska Airlines. for ‘up!’, found me and a lazy dog block- Cars Buried help us bring Camo home. It was quite “When she went missing, we thought ing his way. He made his stepping stone,” emotional last night, we’re in shock of she ran off and we were never going to Palin wrote. In Salt After this whole experience, and have been see her again. We’re just happy know- The message earned 50,000 “likes” holding him tight!” ing she’s alive,” Kendra Brown, Penny’s from some of Palin’s 4.5 million Face- Storage Collapses owner, said. “I’m sure if she could talk, book followers. wall at a Morton Salt storage facil- she’d have quite a few adventures to talk But some online commentators were ity has collapsed, burying several Toilet Paper Links Man about.” infuriated. Acars at a next-door auto dealer- Penny’s cross-country voyage began “You want to run your state and the ship in road salt. To Heist Attempt when she got loose from her owners and country, but you don’t have the sense Company spokeswoman Denise Lau- olice say they matched a would-be a truck driver picked her up while she to tell your children to stop stepping on er says a side wall broke, spilling road pizza shop robber to a roll of toilet was wandering in eastern Washington. salt outside of the facility on Chicago’s Ppaper in his Pennsylvania home. “We were able to track him down and CONTINUED ON P. 19 18 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Snippets Of Strange

CONTINUED FROM P. 18 emblazoned with colors of their owners’ favorite soccer club. Fernandez’s dog post got more than 36,000 ‘likes’. What Argentines are less keen on, and what got no mention in Fernandez’s message, was the country’s double-digit infl ation and contracting gross domestic product. used her high school graduation picture The initial blood test showed the driv- Her successor will inherit a pet-friend- from 1970 without her permission. er had a blood-alcohol level more than ly airline policy but an economy left in The lawsuit says the New York-based three times the legal limit. deep trouble by repeated sovereign debt company then defamed Vigil by linking The driver was taken to a hospital defaults and heavy-handed trade and cur- her image to a product that makes light with a broken shoulder. rency controls. of substance abuse. As an afterthought, Fernandez said Court documents say the New Mexico central bank cash reserves rose 2.7 per- resident is an active church member and Alaska Prepares cent in 2014, which could keep her from doesn’t consume alcohol or drugs. being forced into an unpalatable deal The lawsuit seeks an unspecifi ed To Offer Grizzly with hedge funds suing over defaulted amount of compensatory and punitive License Plate your dog’s spine?” bonds. damages. Other followers were full of praise for “Oh yes, I almost forgot, we’ve come to laska drivers will have the choice both Palin and Trig. $31.4 billion in central bank reserves,” the of a retro look when they obtain “Trig is a great problem solver ... and post says. Man Was Locking, Anew license plates next spring. to all you “haters” out there spewing your The next president will be elected in The state is bringing back plates that venom ... this is a little boy with his dog October, so Lolita better make the most Not Stealing From Cars feature red lettering on white plates and who is doing nothing wrong! And Sarah ~ of the time she has left to enjoy the spa- t seemed an unlikely excuse from a a grizzly bear standing on its hind legs. I enjoy your quote for the new year!!” cious Tango 01. Fernandez is constitu- man suspected of breaking into cars It’s a reconfi gured version of an Alaska Palin, a former governor of Alaska, was tionally barred from seeking a third con- Iat an auto yard. But police say it ap- license plate last issued in 1976. the running mate of Republican presi- secutive term. pears a Norwalk man was being truth- Drivers can also choose the current dential nominee John McCain in 2008; ful when he insisted he was just check- style: yellow-gold plates with blue letter- McCain lost to President Barack Obama. ing the vehicles to make sure they were ing that refl ect colors of the Alaska fl ag. Man Calls 911 Department of Motor Vehicles direc- tor Amy Erickson had a sample of the Argentina Starts 2015 When “Babbling” Wife new license plate in hand. The makeover has added new colors. With Lapdogs Keeps Him Awake The old grizzly plates had beige moun- Flying High ll he wanted was a good night’s tains and a brown bear. The new version sleep, but instead, this Connecti- features a darker bear, a silhouette of the Acut man found himself in trouble Alaska Range, a gold sun between moun- with the law. tains and a blue sky. When fi rst responders arrived at Peter Recchia’s home, they expected to fi nd his locked. wife in need of medical help. Employees at an auto body shop However, they soon realied that Rec- caught 20-year-old Alexander Louis and chia was only upset because his wife was held him for police. talking too much, according to police. Louis told police he was simply mak- Recchia, 54, admitted that he had only ing sure each car was locked and if he called 911 because his wife “babbles” found one that wasn’t, he would open when she’s off her medication. Police the door and lock it. “I like it,” Erikson, noting that the fi nal said he’d been gone for 10 days and sus- Police reviewed security video and version may be tweaked. rgentine President Cristina Fer- pected she wasn’t taking it. found his story seemed to check out. “I also am not absolutely certain that I nandez chose an unexpected Firefi ghters and EMTs showed up to They could fi nd no evidence of him go- approve of the colors, because they didn’t Atheme for her year-end message fi nd Recchia’s wife sitting in a chair and ing into any of the cars or stealing any- come out just like our artist rendered to the country: a change in policy at the smoking a cigarette. Because he had a thing. them, but they look very nice,” she said. state-run airline to allow passengers to court date the next morning and wanted Louis isn’t off the hook completely. He The previous version was not without carry their already notoriously-pampered to get to bed early, Recchia called for help still faces a trespassing charge. critics. lapdogs with them on fl ights. and exaggerated his wife’s condition, po- During the legislative session, an An- Punctuated by photographs on her lice said. chorage resident emailed a picture of a Facebook page of the two-term leader sit- Now he’s going back to court, but for Crash Spills, standing woodchuck and urged that the ting on presidential plane Tango 01 with a different reason. He was issued a mis- designers to modify the bear image so her Toy Poodle Lolita, Fernandez said the demeanor summons for falsely reporting Kills 11,000 there was less resemblance. perk will be shared by travelers on Aero- an incident and will face a judge. Erickson said there’s no mistaking the lineas Argentinas, the country’s main car- Fish On Highway image on the new license. rier, starting in mid January. regon state police are investigat- “It’s still very much the bear. And it “Careful! I said only small pets,” the Woman Sues Over Use ing whether the driver of a tanker looks more like a bear from a distance.” post says. “Don’t try to board with a 50 Otruck was drunk when it crashed kilo mastiff. Lolita only weighs two ki- Of Her School Photo and spilled thousands of baby salmon los.” On Novelty Flask onto a road in western Oregon. Seal Found In A Field Hand-held pooches ranging from The Oregon Department of Fish and ake the dog out for a walk and Shih Tzu’s to Pugs are a common sight at New Mexico woman is suing a Wildlife estimates 11,000 juvenile salmon what do you expect to fi nd in the outdoor cafes and on the wide avenues novelty products maker over a died in the wreck. Tfi eld? A seal, of course. of Buenos Aires, which is known as the Afl ask that includes her likeness The truck was hauling salmon from a Police and residents are completely Paris of South America for its European and the phrase, “I’m going to be the most hatchery that’s low on water because of baffl ed after one such water-loving mam- layout and architecture. popular girl in rehab.” problems with a dam on the McKenzie mal was discovered stranded in an inland Lapdogs are a status symbol in Argenti- Veronica Vigil alleges in her federal River. The fi sh were going to be released na, dressed sometimes in fi tted sweaters court that Anne Taintor Inc. obtained and in a river. CONTINUED ON P. 20

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 19 Snippets Of Strange

CONTINUED FROM P. 19 where it was eventually caught. A spokeswoman for Herzliya munic- ipality, said wardens caught the emu and returned the bird safely to its own- er, seemingly unharmed. The emu, which is native to Austra- lia, is the second largest living bird in the world after the ostrich. The bird was fi lmed zigzagging through traffi c in the Israeli coastal town of Herzliya in the pouring rain. Spacecrafts Local authorities say it appeared to fi eld - seven miles from the nearest wa- have escaped from a private farm. Near Pluto ary 2006 and has spent the 1,873 days terway. Footage taken by a 27-year-old vid- After Nine-Year Trip between then and now “hibernating” The seal was spotted by a dog walker eo artist who was driving on the road, to preserve its electrical components. last Monday. showed the emu running between cars. he solar system’s mysterious It had 18 hibernation periods, the Offi cers had warned members of Speaking afterwards, he said it was “ninth planet” is set to be re- most recent ending 162 million miles the public not to approach the animal, an “absurd” situation. Tvealed as never before. from Pluto, when the signal telling sci- which was in a fi eld next to a main road. “It felt like (being in a) cartoon, (it felt NASA spacecraft New Horizons is entists of its activity took almost fi ve He was described as “very distressed.” like in a minute I would hear) the ‘beep fi nally drawing close to Pluto almost hours to reach Earth. Pictures showed the animal looking beep’ and I said to myself in a second nine years after setting off on the three- From January 15 it will begin exam- quite sorry for itself as it lay on a muddy a coyote will appear from behind,” he billion-mile journey from Earth. ining the planet and it is hoped that its patch in the fi eld. said. Pluto is around 3.67 billion miles images will be even better than those The animal has since been contained An unnamed resident said the bird from the Sun and, when it was discov- beamed back to Earth by the Hubble by offi cers, with conservation experts was running at about 25mph. ered in 1930, it was the planet furthest Space Telescope. coaxing him into a trailer using mack- They said: “I called the police and from the solar system’s centre. Project scientist Dr. Hal Weaver said erel. reported the emu sighting. They were But in 2006 it was relegated to being the project was “a journey to a new stunned. As I drove, I noticed that a a “dwarf planet” in the Kuiper Belt, the class of planets we’ve never seen, in a city vehicle had arrived to deal with the group of objects beyond the region of place we’ve never been before.” Runaway Emu emu and was zigzagging between lanes, planets such as Earth. He added: “For decades we thought but I was the only one who managed to The belt and the Oort Cloud, another Pluto was this odd little body on the Zigzags Through Traffic chase after it with my scooter.” band of icy objects that is even further planetary outskirts; now we know it’s otorists in a tranquil coastal The man said he attempted to stop away, are among space’s fi nal frontiers really a gateway to an entire region of town encountered an unlike- the emu, but it tried to attack him. and both are thought to be the source new worlds in the Kuiper Belt, and New Mly jogger at the weekend - an He said he managed to steer it to- of comets. Horizons is going to provide the fi rst emu on the run. wards a lawn next to a shopping center, New Horizons launched on 19 Janu- close-up look at them.”

20 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Snippets Of Strange

kept at Southwest Wildlife Conservation Bobcat Survives Center. The bobcat will likely be released Person Stuck Car Collision beyond Scottsdale city limits. In Chimney Saved After Getting Stuck Trapped Tourist Dangles In 2-Hour Rescue In The Grille From ‘Zoomline’ For An Hour Space Hopper Man Bounced Through Underpass Scottish reveler was caught riding a space hopper through an under- Apass in the early hours of New wild bobcat narrowly avoided Year’s Day. death after it was hit by a car and Offi cers saw the man trying to bounce Agot stuck in its grille. The animal tourist dangled about 80 feet his way through the dual carriageway was struck after darting in front of an above a Las Vegas street from a underpass, which has no pedestrian foot- Arizona couple’s Mazda sedan as they Azip line for nearly an hour before woman stuck path. headed to a restaurant. The couple was being rescued by fi refi ghters. and injured One witness said the man “looked certain they had fatally hit the cat. But The Canadian man was freed from Ain a chimney very drunk” as he was chased down the when they arrived at the restaurant, they Fremont Street Experience’s SlotZilla zip had to be rescued. tunnel by offi cers. found the wildcat in the grille — com- line by Las Vegas Fire & Rescue. The man The rescue took Police in Scotland confi rmed that the pletely unscathed. “We didn’t think any wasn’t injured and refused medical assis- about two hours, after which she was man had been spoken to, but no formal kind of animal could sustain that kind of tance. taken to a hospital with minor to mod- action was taken. hit,” the man said. The $40 “zoomline” rides involve fl y- erate injuries. Witness Jamie Shankland said that the Police offi cers who responded to Mi- ing over Fremont Street superhero-style She was stuck above a 12-by-12-foot man’s reaction was “priceless.” chaels’ emergency call tried to coax the facing the ground. The zip line begins brick fi replace, which she entered from animal out of the space between the radi- at 114-feet from a 12-story slot machine the roof. Firefi ghters were called to the ator and the grille of the car — but the cat sending riders on a 1,750-foot long trip home. had apparently gotten comfortable. Ari- to a platform in front of the Golden Gate The homeowner said the woman is zona Game and Fish offi cials had to se- casino hotel. The company gave the man the mother of his children but that they date the animal in order to remove it. The and his wife, who made it to the end of were not married. He said the woman bobcat was evaluated and is now being the zip-line attraction, a full refund. does not live in the house. Praying for Blue Lives

CONTINUED FROM P. 15 from the general text of our prayers (Lev HaIvri pg. 109), others maintain teshu’a”—“He who grants salva- that if the prayer is to appease local tion.” Though it later was hijacked authorities, it ought to be recited in and mutated into a prayer for the a language those authorities could welfare of the evil, false “messiah” understand (see Kesser Shem Tov pg. Shabsai Tzvi, this iteration has ex- 420 [R’ Shem Tov Gagin, Chief Rabbi isted since the 15th century (see e.g. of the Spanish and Portuguese Com- Sh’yarei Knesses HaG’dola, Orach munities in England circa 1934]). Chaim 284:5). In keeping with the more cynical * * * * or oppositional views of the prayer Regardless of whether it is manda- as an institution, it has been sug- tory, regardless of the motivation, re- gested that the context of the verses gardless of the precise formulation, comprising “HaNosen teshua” belies and regardless of the language em- its stated intent (Writings of R’ Yosef ployed, it is times like these when Kapach, Vol. 1, pg. 492-493). The fi rst we realize just how fortunate we of its verses is Dovid HaMelech’s ex- are for the government and the po- planation of why he cannot trust lice, how much we depend on them, non-Jews (Tehillim 144:10-11), while and how we ought to recognize the the second is a precursor to G-d’s good they do. We would do well to destruction of evil armies (Yeshaya keep these thoughts in mind the 43:16-17). Some maintain that this next time a prayer for the welfare of text was chosen to appease local the authorities is recited—if not for authorities while offering a hidden, their benefi t, then for our own. distrustful message for the Jewish people. (Endnotes) ------There is a difference of opinion 1 R’ Shimon Sofer suggests that the as to whether one should recite the blessing of “V’lamalshinim” in the Shem- prayer in the vernacular or in the oneh Esrei fulfi lls the requirement to language of the verses from which pray for the government because it too it is derived. While those of the lat- is a request that society’s enemies be up- ter opinion see no reason to deviate rooted (Michtav Sofer, Orach Chaim 1).

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 21 Hooked On Healing Caroline Schumsky, LCSW, MS Happy. Happy. Happy.

CONTINUED FROM P. 1 Make a Big Deal about what you Feel. complish or perfect grandiose things and Taking a walk along the boardwalk. actualizing lasting happiness, we lose cow. Follow our three-step ditty and you Inhaling the scent of the ocean. Staring sight that life is actually made up of the too can be pretty! And quick steps to at- at clouds. Spending time with your best little things. tain the ever-elusive happiness. friend, your children? Cooking a yum- “Happiness is like manna: It is to be First off: What exactly is happiness? my meal for Shabbos guests? Hey. If it gathered in grains, and enjoyed every day. After all, if we spend our entire lives try- works for you, it works. There is no uni- It will not keep, it cannot be accumulat- ing to get our hands on it, should we not versal, multipurpose, one-size-fi ts-all hap- ed, nor have we got to go out of ourselves know what it even is? piness generator. or into remote places to gather it, since it What say you, sweet friends? Is it be- And leave your back door open…Hap- has rained down from a Heaven, at our ing cheerful, sunny, and walking on air? piness may just sneak in. very door.” (Tryon Edwards) Is it joyful and jubilant? Is it more peace- ful, pleasant, or blissful? Paying Attention gives Dimension. Hocus Pocus, Where’s your Focus? Is it a refi ned state of mind? Is it getta- When you do fi nd yourself feeling Focus less on yourself and more on ble? And if it is up for grabs, how do we blessed or in good spirits, good humor, others. It’s been said: “Humility is not realize it, achieve it? or good cheer – pause and pay attention. thinking less of yourself, but thinking of Guess what? Be beholden for the good day, for the mo- yourself less.” Work on improving your- ments of inner peace, of contentment. self more for the sake of others, rather You already Own Don’t let them slip away just like that. than for the self-satisfaction that the ole what may not be Known. When that good ole feeling comes ego craves. have hurt you if you feel it will free you. You carry the promise of happiness around again, you will be aware and latch There’s a saying that goes: The best Ditch, discard, and dump the pain from within you at every single moment, wheth- onto it over and over again. You can even vitamin to be a happy person is B1. Heh. the past. Choose peace of mind and joy er you are aware of it or not. Are you sav- anticipate the sweet, positive feelings the instead. vy about what fi res up feelings of happi- way that some look forward to Shabbos. Hakuna Matata. So, sweet friends: Get your happy on. ness within you? Do you know how to The calm. The spiritual uplift. The meal. That’s right. Take it from your four- Whatcha waiting for? activate and launch those feelings? Let The dessert. (Indeed) year-old. No worries. Let go of all the Mark Twain once said: “The best way us start, shall we? And while we are all busy trying to ac- mistakes, worries, and regrets. Holding to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer onto those resentments and hurt feel- somebody else up.” ings for dear life will tie you to the past So please do cheer me up by letting me forever. Forgive some of the people who know one way you chose to be happier.

Caroline is a licensed psychotherapist, crisis counselor, writer, and dance instruc- tor. She has worked extensively with Jewish outreach and is an individual psycho- therapist. She can be reached at 917-717-1775 or at [email protected] or at: facebook.com/pages/Safe-Haven-Healing/575557972480627

22 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Public Affairs Sergey Kadinsky Shuls Big And Small

CONTINUED FROM P. 1 tion where the Orthodox cost of living in both Kehilas Ishei Yisrael and the Young Like many of my Queens neighbors, my America becomes a monthly budget bat- Israel of Kew Gardens Hills across the family has its rabbi, yet we also choose to most glaring differences for many Jews in tle, this generation recognizes that the li- street. The former rents space in the base- attend multiple shuls on occasion, seek- choosing a shul: the cost and the people. on’s share of its checkbook will be signed ment of the Yeshiva of Central Queens ing familiarity but also variety. We seek When a neighborhood has a burgeon- away to building yeshivos and mikvaos. and the latter is a freestanding building. comfort in a cozy space, but sometimes ing Jewish population, it appears natural Without these two institutions, there is The former’s Rabbi Shmuel Marcus teach- we miss the chazan’s booming voice of for a congregation to mobilize a building our childhood shul. We know that today’s fund, lay the cornerstone, and pour con- society is very mobile and we probably crete for a sizable facility. Once complete, As inspiring as we try to make our synagogues, will not be living in Queens for the rest it would offer the aesthetics, acoustics, we recognize that they are ephemeral, of our lives. What we choose in our shul and décor that would declare, “This is our is not necessarily the size and, as much home. We’re here to stay.” because this is the diaspora after all as the cost matters, when a shul has ser- But what happens when children of vices, not just prayers and kiddush, but members choose to move out of their also children’s education, family learning, parents’ neighborhood in search of af- no Orthodox Jewish life. Davening can es at Beis Medrash L’Talmud, a unit within Daf Yomi, and more, we are willing to pay fordability, space, and privacy? What take place in apartments if there are no Touro’s Lander College for Men, while the more because we know that we would be happens when the popular charismat- other options. latter’s Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld also has lead- getting more out of our shul than the fa- ic rabbi retires, makes aliyah, or passes The shtieblach may not have the ership duties at the Orthodox Union and cility alone. away and the successor cannot fi ll his stained glass windows, memorial plaques, the Vaad Harabonim of Queens. As inspiring as we try to make our syna- predecessor’s shoes? Very quickly, the bimah platform, murals, pews, chazanus, Despite their demanding weekday gogues, we recognize that they are ephem- remaining members recognize that their or history, but along with affordability, duties, both of these rabbis are quick in eral, because this is the diaspora after all. once proud “sanctuary” is now a fi nan- they offer an intimacy where one can get responding to sh’eilos, inviting guests to Just as we choose to make kiddush us- cial burden, with its high cost of lighting, to know all the members pretty quickly. their homes, conducting daily classes, ing a silver cup rather than a plastic one, heating, and air conditioning. Depending Urban life often seems dehumanizing. tending to members in times of need (fu- it would be wonderful if shtieblach would on geography, the shul can rent out its We cannot choose if our workplace is nerals, Shiv’ah, etc.) and reaching out to have the facades and interior design as a space for a catering hall, nursery school, in an impersonal offi ce tower and if our Jews beyond the walls of their respective hidur mitzvah, but at the least, when we or summer camp. Preferably, these or- home is in a cramped brick box or a maze congregations. Out of loyalty, I also give all daven in unison, assist each other, and ganizations would be as Orthodox as of cookie-cutter houses spaced widely some of my ma’aser to my childhood syn- form friendships during our brief time in the shul, but when money is tight, some apart. At least in our choice of synagogue, agogue, Congregation Machane Chodosh the same neighborhood, I believe that the wouldn’t ask about the tenant’s religion. we can choose one that has the “human in Forest Hills, where I learned to read in old adage holds true: It’s not the size that Ever seen a shul with a Chinese day care scale” associated with shtieblach. As the Hebrew. matters. on premises? shul is small-size, it means that the rabbi As the younger generation of Jews has a smaller constituency to keep him Sergey Kadinsky is a former editor of The Jewish Star. His articles have appeared in learns from their elders’ stories of declin- occupied in answering sh’eilos. The Jewish Press, Daily News, New York Post, and Queens Chronicle. He is a political ing neighborhoods and their own situa- Now a disclaimer: I am a member of advisor and adjunct professor of history at Touro College.

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 23 As I See It Cynthia Zalisky

Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows – Especially In Israel

CONTINUED FROM P. 1 Deri to urge him to rescind his resigna- in the Israeli political theatre, the Pal- does not want a resolution on the Is- tion. They said he is needed to prevent estinians are emboldened. They sense raeli-Palestinian issue voted on before grandstanding, and harsh rhetoric go- their chareidi constituency from being that the upcoming elections make Isra- the Israeli elections in March. ing on in Israel today. There is also the disenfranchised. Litzman said, “I call el more vulnerable. There are constant Last Tuesday, the UN Security Coun- usual shuffl ing of members of one par- on you, Deri, to prevent the entire ship attacks on Jews, especially in the West cil fi nally brought the Palestinian ty merging with members of other par- from sinking. Reconsider the step you Bank and in Jerusalem. proposal to a vote. Baruch Hashem, ties and then forming brand new par- took and continue your holy work as The Palestinians were determined it failed to garner suffi cient votes for ties with catchy names in order to get head of Shas. This is the time to dis- to have the Security Council of the passage. Eight out of the 15 countries votes. Tzipi Livni of Hatnuah is now in play public responsibility and begin a United Nations vote on a motion that voted yes, two voted no, and fi ve ab- cahoots with Isaac Herzog of the Labor path of unity.” would give Israel two years to leave stained. Nine votes were required for party. Michael Oren is connected to Smelling a chance to make headway the so-called “occupied” territories that passage. The “no” votes came from Moshe Kahlon, formerly of Likud, who in the Sephardic community, Econo- they rightfully won, fair and square, the United States and Australia. Prime started his own party named Kulanu. Minister Netanyahu praised the US Yisrael Beiteinu, former partners with and Australia and commended Rwan- the Likud party, has signed a vote-shar- With all the shenanigans going on in the Israeli political theatre, da and Nigeria for abstaining. Brit- ing agreement with Keanu. Eli Yishai ain and Lithuania also abstained. We has broken his ties with the Shas par- the Palestinians are emboldened should be mindful that France and ty and formed the HaAm Itanu party. Luxemburg voted in the affi rmative. This is the usual stuff that goes on in The next time American Jews wish to every Israeli election. The process is my Minister Naftali Bennett and some in the 1967 Six-Day War. It is uncan- vacation in either of those countries, absolutely excruciating. fellow MKs reached out to potential ny how the double standard exists for they should think twice and save their But this year has even more in- voters in light of divisions in Shas. Israel. No country that I can think of money. trigue. Things are getting pretty dicey, Bennett commented, “This is a his- has had to give away land that it has But the Palestinians are not ready to thanks to the improprieties of some of toric opportunity to bring Sephardic rightfully won in war. (“To the victor go back under their rock and admit de- the members of Avigdor Lieberman’s voters to Bayit Yehudi.” Bennett has go the spoils.” That has always been feat. They are taking a more confronta- Yisrael Beiteinu party. Thirty people been working overtime to attract vot- the motto except when it concerns the tional posture towards Israel and will were arrested this past week on suspi- ers to his party. Bayit Yehudi increased Jewish state. Israel had reclaimed that now, according to Saeb Erekat, plan to cion of involvement in a huge bribery its membership with over 22,000 new territory for almost 50 years and now apply for membership in the Interna- and kickback scheme; the payment of members; several thousand joined the there is a shameless attempt to get it tional Criminal Court in order to press kickbacks was in return for govern- party in the last few days. back.) The Palestinian draft called for charges against Israel for war crimes. ment budgets and contracts, as well as Another interesting development of negotiations to be based on territori- That is certainly a case of “It takes one obvious nepotism with the hiring of this election is emergence of Rachel al lines that existed before Israel cap- to know one.” I have read that Israel relatives of government and party of- Ibenboim, a chasidic woman who is tured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, has been concerned about that devel- fi cials. The scandal, possibly the larg- launching a campaign of inclusion for and the Gaza Strip in the 1967 war. It opment for a long time and is prepar- est in Israel’s political history, has sent chareidi women. Her campaign basi- also calls for a peace deal within 12 ing major legal allegations against the shock waves through the Israeli elec- cally says, “No female candidates, no months and the cessation of the Israeli Palestinians for their own unlawful torate and has put Lieberman’s future female voters.” She wants to empower “occupation” by the end of 2017. behavior in the event that such a possi- in doubt. Orthodox women in the political pro- All 22 Arab delegations had endorsed bility will transpire. Analysts believe that Netanyahu will cess. Ibenboim is urging frum women the proposal through Jordanian Am- But despite all that, Israeli politics benefi t from these escapades, for vot- not to support Shas or The United To- bassador Dina Kawar, the sole Arab rep- chugs along. March 17 is traditionally ers will likely be pulled towards the rah Judaism party if they do not nomi- resentative on the Security Council. Is- Saint Patrick’s Day. Some say that Is- right-wing Likud party which has a nate women lawmakers to their slates. rael, in turn, has said that following the rael could use a little Irish luck to get similar nationalist ideology to Yisrael Ibenboim is creating quite a stir in reli- collapse of the peace talks in April, this through this election season in one Beiteinu. gious circles. She said, “There’s a lot of proposal would deepen the confl ict. piece. In the next two months, any- But that’s not all that’s going on. support and a lot of concern, and there Washington has made it clear that it thing and everything can happen. Things are reaching a high crescen- are a lot of people who are threatened do in the Shas party, where its leader, by it… There is no chareidi who doesn’t Aryeh Deri, has resigned from the par- have an opinion about it.” ty chairmanship and then the Knesset, “Chareidi women,” according to Ra- due to leaked tapes in which Maran chel Ibenboim, “could better advocate HaRav Ovadia Yosef zt”l spoke of him for services like employment coun- pejoratively. Many, including mem- seling, health education, or child sub- bers of Maran’s family, blame Eli Yishai sidies from within the halls of Knes- for this. The Shas Council of Torah Sag- set.” She is beginning to make a dent. es has asked Deri to reconsider and re- Chareidi politicians are beginning to main the leader of the party. Deri met respond to her call. In December, the with all the rabbis on the council in- Shas party announced the formation dividually, but has not yet changed his of a women’s council that will com- mind. This could put the Shas party in pose bills and advise Shas lawmakers; political jeopardy. but the party fell short of endorsing United Torah Judaism leaders Moshe women candidates. Gafni and Ya’acov Litzman called on With all the shenanigans going on

Cynthia Zalisky is the Executive Director of the Queens Jewish Community. She can be contacted at [email protected]

24 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Financially Forward Gerald Harris Are Junk Bonds Sending Wall Street A Message? here are lots of folks who make investor. However, in the event of bank- would continue to plunge. fear that it will. predictions for every New Year. ruptcy, bondholders have fi rst claim on a Birnbaum is not the only one who “I’ve seen over and over again that TSome of them gaze into a glowing company’s assets; since they have priori- sees risk in them. Bill Gross, the former when high yield (junk) underperforms crystal ball while others let their fi ngers ty, presumably even in a worst case sce- head of PIMCO’s immense bond funds, equity, a major credit event occurs,” says glide over an Ouija board. But on Wall nario they would get at least some part observed that “No one is buying them, Larry McDonald, head of US strategy at Street some prognosticators use an even of their investment back. there are only sellers. Everyone is trying Newedge USA’s macro group. “It’s the ca- more exotic tool to fi gure out the future: But that’s not true of stock investors to squeeze through a very small door at nary in the coal mine.” junk bonds. Billionaire investor Howard Marks re- Understanding the zigs, zags, and cently wrote that it would be historically implications of junk bonds is very com- While the unraveling of junk bonds hasn’t spread unprecedented for the energy sector to plicated; fortunately, defi ning them is to the rest of the bond market or the stock market, undergo the terrible selloff that it has much easier. When individuals with a while it’s business as usual in the rest of good credit rating want to borrow mon- there is growing fear that it will the market. “The effects could spread in ey they can get a loan at a very favorable a general ‘contagion.’” rate; however, if their credit rating is poor “If Marks is right,” says Felder “and there’s greater risk involved so they’ll because there may be no assets left by the same time,” he said. investors continue switching from risk have to pay more when taking a loan. the time it’s their turn to collect. The bonds of some small energy pro- to safety…a decline in the S&P to 1800 The idea is the same with companies. “I fi nd it very fascinating that while ducers are now trading at just 60 cents would only be the beginning” of a much Those that are highly rated can sell bonds investors in the debt markets are pricing on the dollar – and some for even lower worse selloff. at low interest rates; but a company with in greater risks, equity investors feel com- than that. Selected energy junk bonds Sources: businessinsider.com; a shaky credit history and an uncertain fortable in paying ever higher prices,” now yield well over 30 percent. cnbc.com; theeconomiccollapseblog.com; future will have to pay high on its bonds says Felder. While the unraveling of junk bonds thefelderreport.com; to entice buyers. Those bonds are called To date, the market has been shrug- hasn’t spread to the rest of the bond mar- The Wall Street Journal; “junk” bonds. ging off the thrashing junk bonds have ket or the stock market, there is growing yahoofi nance.com Back in June, the average yield on junk been taking. The Dow was up 7.5 percent bonds was 3.9 percent higher than it was for the year while the S&P ended the year on Treasury securities. The average yield with double-digit gains. on energy junk bonds at that time was According to Felder, investors in junk 3.91 percent higher, approximately the bonds are more alert to growing risks same. than are equity investors. “The junk The price of oil began to slide in June bond market proved to be fairly prescient and since then there has been a growing in 2000 and 2007, dumping risky bonds divergence between the yields on regular just before the terrible bear markets for junk bonds and those of energy bonds. stocks began in both of those years.” Analysts said this indicates that lenders Does the sharp selloff in the junk bond were keeping a close watch on falling oil market suggest that history will repeat prices and were afraid that small energy itself? Is another awful selloff in stocks companies, particularly those in the frack- just up ahead? ing business, would default on their loans. Felder says the decline in junk bonds But it’s not just the banks and funds implies that the S&P should be 1800, or that purchased energy junk bonds that around 13.5 percent below the price at are worried about the drubbing they are the end of 2014. This gap could be closed taking. Investors on Wall Street are, too. if stocks decline, if junk bonds recover, or Junk bonds and stocks sound like they by a combination of the two. come from two different worlds but, sur- But the chances of bonds recovering prisingly, there is a connection between seem to be dropping along with the price the two. In fact, since March 2009, when of oil, which on Dec. 31 broke below the the bull market began, junk bonds and $53/barrel level to a new fi ve-year low, be- stocks have been moving together 98 per- fore recovering some of the day’s losses. cent of the time, according to Jesse Felder Josh Birnbaum is one trader who of The Felder Report. thinks junk bonds will continue to de- But last summer, junk bonds and cline and he’s putting his money where stocks began moving in opposite direc- his mouth is. Back in 2007, Birnbaum tions and they’ve been doing so ever warned that subprime mortgages would since. get smashed and he made a gigantic bet Why should this matter to stock play- against them, making a killing along the ers? “Because junk bond investors and way. stock investors face the very same risks,” According to The Wall Street Journal, says Felder. Birnbaum has just made another huge The greatest risk for the investor who bet and this time it was against junk buys junk bonds is that the company bonds. Birnbaum put more than $2 bil- defaults. The same is true for the stock lion on the table that said junk bonds

Gerald Harris is a fi nancial and feature writer. Gerald can be reached at geraldhrs@ yahoo.com

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 25 Politics & Ethics Abe Fuchs For A Peaceful City, We Need To Do More Than Attend A Vigil For Fallen Policemen erguson, Missouri, burned, and if discrimination in employment were Martin who attacked a neighborhood according to him, they were even “play- two dozen businesses were de- true, it certainly would explain more fa- watchman, or even that of a youngster ing with their cell phones” during his Fstroyed. Other cities have also therless homes and hence more societal who pointed a gun (with toy markings testimony. The verdict was explained in seen violence. dysfunction. removed!) that later proved to be a toy that a chokehold is actually legal in New Here in New York we’ve seen demon- This is the backdrop, but the match at a policeman but which looked real York State but is only against the policies strations that blocked traffi c with chants that sparked the recent fi re is blacks’ per- enough, we are hard-pressed to see a le- of the NYC Police Department, hence of death to cops, and we’ve seen the assas- ception of being treated in a callous way gitimate example of an unjustifi able kill- the non-criminality of the police action. sination of two policemen sitting in their by the police in the form of more unnec- ing except when it comes to the case of That, however, explains nothing about cars by someone who identifi ed with the essary stops and, in the extreme, the stat- Eric Garner on Staten Island, which was the no-indictment of the cops, because militant New York City demonstrators. there was no reason to escalate their vi- We’re evidencing a crack in the stabili- olence on the man to the point that their ty of our cities from racial tension. The If Eric Garner was a chasidic man actions actually did kill him, despite him reason for the tension is of course com- who was killed over selling cigarettes, having medical susceptibilities of asthma plex, but behind all the slogans against and diabetes. The coroner ruled that it cops, it can be explained as blacks’ or wouldn’t the Jewish community be very upset? was the actions of the police that killed minorities’ perception of getting treated him – namely, choking him and piling differently by the criminal justice system on his back, thereby also preventing his in general, our educational system, and ed tendency of police to shoot and kill caught on cell-phone video. lungs from expanding with air. In my discrimination when it comes to em- black male youths more readily. From This is a case of a black man who had a opinion, the Grand Jury verdict was noth- ployment. We know that poverty does all the recent examples of shootings history of being arrested for illegally sell- ing short of jury nullifi cation, not unlike in fact have a linkage to worse schools leading to death, however, whether it be ing loose cigarettes on the street. This the all-black jury nullifi cation of OJ Simp- (in our current government-controlled Michael Brown who attacked an offi cer past summer, however, when he wasn’t son 20 years ago. monopoly), lesser quality legal represen- (soon after robbing a convenience store) even doing that but reportedly was ac- What happened to Eric Garner over tation in the criminal justice system, and, and wanted to take his gun, Trayvon tually heroically breaking up a fi ght on some silly cigarette sales is tragic and the street, the police were called and disgraceful. Even some who support our decided to arrest him again because of police have acknowledged this but not his longstanding illegal activity with the enough. For instance, our former mayor, cigarettes. Garner, however, felt that he Rudy Giuliani, said that “maybe” the po- was being picked on, and resisted the lice were wrong in the Garner case. Oth- arrest, whereupon four to fi ve cops took ers said that “we don’t have all the facts,” him down with an apparent chokehold even though a clear video exists and the and piled on his back. But in the midst coroner gave a clear ruling of homicide. of all this, he was exclaiming that he People say that we don’t have the evi- couldn’t breathe, and subsequently died dence that the Grand Jury had, and Grand shortly thereafter from what the coroner Jury proceedings are secret so we don’t deemed a homicide that resulted from a know what they saw. If so, the obvious constriction of the airway in the throat question is: How is such a legal system and a compression of his chest. On top fair when it is opaque to the public? of that, when the EMS came to the scene Could it be true that there are too and a medically unresponsive Eric Gar- many other things that police are doing ner was being asked to “come-to,” so to that are not right that we don’t know speak, Garner was still on his side on the about? Is it possible that too many police pavement in cuffs with probably a pha- are acting out by harassing blacks, as Eric lanx of about 30 cops on the side. The Holder says was his experience? Certain- man never fought the police – he simply ly that is possible. The police belong to did not submit his hands for cuffi ng. I’ve a union, and I believe in unions, but not stated in a previous article about the case to the point of protecting bad behavior that all they had to do was for two cops as the teachers’ union notoriously does. to take each arm and the fi fth policeman The fact is that when police offi cers wear or the sergeant to cuff him, and he would body cameras, public complaints are have lived. reduced by over 50%. That could be be- Despite that, however, a Staten Island cause people realize that they can’t make Grand Jury found that none of the po- up stories of what the police did, but it lice were at fault. It was reported that can also be that the police are more on when the man who took the video of notice to act appropriately. It is interest- the take-down of Garner testifi ed for the ing to note that a sizable portion of the Grand Jury, the jurors were decidedly uninterested in what he had to say and, CONTINUED ON P. 43

Abe Fuchs was born in Wash. D.C. and attended high school at the Mesivta of For- est Hills. He spent three years in yeshiva (Rabbinical Seminary, B’nei Torah and Sh’or Yashuv) in NY. He worked 25 years for the U.S Postal Service, retiring in 2009. In 2012, Abe ran against Nily Rozic for NY State Assembly District 25. He can be reached at [email protected]

26 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 27 Community Corner • Recent Happenings Yom Hakaddish Haklali At YIKGH

By Susie Garber Russo spearheaded this annual pro- day of yahrzeit for their death. means thought and that this is inter- (See photos on 30) gram. Rabbi Hayim Schwartz, Executive preted by the Meiri to mean that even if he annual Yom HaKaddish HaK- Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, of the Young Vice President of the Rabbinical Sem- you do not have a good thought about lali observance took place at the Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, welcomed inary of America, told a story about a someone because you dislike him, you TYoung Israel of Kew Gardens everyone. He shared a d’var Torah from 91-year-old woman in Forest Hills who should still greet him with a cheerful Hills on Wednesday evening, Decem- the parshah about a Jew who has no had lost her entire family in the Ho- countenance. He then shared a story ber 31. A large crowd of community one to redeem him. Rashi says this re- locaust. “I have nothing tangible left about Rabbi Sofer who lived during rabbanim and community members fers to the convert. Could a Jew have of their lives except for me,” she said. the Shoah. He would always greet an joined together to observe a yahrzeit for no one to redeem him? Rabbi Schon- She donated a window in the Chofetz anti-Semitic German doctor who he the six million who perished in the Hol- feld stated, “We are here tonight to re- Chaim building. She designated this passed on the street with the greeting, ocaust. The event was co- sponsored by member and talk about the Jews who window to be her parents’ matzeivah. “Good morning, Herr Doctor.” He did Chazaq and the Margaret Tietz Nursing were murdered at the hands of the He gave a d’var Torah from Pirkei Avos this for two years and never received a and Rehabilitation Center. Local shuls Nazis, yimach sh’mam. The rabbanim about greeting everyone with a cheer- greeting in return. At one point, when co-sponsored as well. Irene and Sam declared this day, Asarah B’Teves, as the ful face. He noted that the word sover this rabbi was deported to a camp and was faced with being killed, the Ger- man doctor was the judge and this rab- bi repeated his greeting, “Good morn- ing, Herr Doctor.” This greeting saved his life, as the doctor sent him to the work line, as opposed to the death line. The audience viewed a short video from Yad Vashem, produced by Irene Russo. This poignant video showed photographs of children who were killed during the Holocaust. There were 1.2 million children murdered in the Shoah. Guest speaker Rabbi Daniel Glat- stein, of Congregation Toras Emes, shared divrei Torah and personal sto- ries from his grandparents who were in the Shoah. He related how his grandfather, Rabbi Mordechai Glat- stein, who has been a rav in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, since 1951, survived death camps. His grandfather told how the older men in the camps all cried, “Who will say Kaddish for us.” Rabbi Glatstein’s grandfather took it upon himself to recite Kaddish for these men every day since 1940. Rabbi Glatstein read excerpts from a power- ful article written by his grandfather about the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising: “I am the victim and the witness. No language could describe the enormity of the Holocaust.” He spoke of a gehe- nom of a gehenom. He wrote: “We suf- fered most when we saw children ac- companied by their mothers or alone snuffed out. Their cries for mercy cry in my ears until this very day.” Rabbi Glatstein shared that after the war, when his grandfather was in- terviewed by the secular press, they wanted to know, after all he had been through, if he had lost his faith. His response was, “Yes, I lost my faith in mankind and humanity. How could a civilized society like Germany become barbarians? How could democratic countries like the United States and others turn their back on us? “Never did I lose faith in G-d or Torah. My faith became stronger.” Rabbi Glatstein acknowledged that no words could describe the unbending faith of these Yidden. He shared how

CONTINUED ON P. 43

28 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Community Corner • Recent Happenings Partners In Torah Honors Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld As Part Of Winter Retreat In Stamford By Leah Bleiberg and Susie Garber ing when and where she would ever meet an appropriate match. Danny, n Motza’ei Shabbos, December who began with Partners in Torah, 27, as part of the Partners in To- became so interested in making more Orah’s inspiring Winter Retreat at progress that he moved to a religious the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stamford, community nearby. After integrating Connecticut, they held their Awards into the neighborhood, he sought to Dinner. Among those honored was marry an observant woman and met Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, Rabbi of the Rachel. Rabbi Gewirtz got an e-mail Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, for- saying, “Because of Partners in Torah, mer president of the Vaad Horabonim this match became possible, making of Queens, and a member of the Rab- two people very happy.” binical Council of America. Referring to happiness, Guest of Rabbi Eli Gewirtz, Founder and Na- Honor Harry Rothenberg, who does a tional Director of Partners in Torah, weekly parshah video for Partners in praised Rabbi Schonfeld for his in- Torah, “Harry’s Video Blog,” pointed sightful work that became the inspira- out a conundrum. When asked, both tion and model for the Partners in To- the mentors and the mentees each in- rah program, which since its inception sist that they get more out of the rela- has matched some 60,000 Jewish men tionship than the other. As strange as Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld accepting Founders Award from Rabbi Eli Gewirtz and women for weekly Torah study it sounds, Harry declared, “Both sides sessions. Rabbi Gewirtz, who followed get more out of it than the other!” It’s Rabbi Schonfeld as the rav of a shul in a win-win situation for the people and Twins River, NJ, over 30 years ago, was for the unity of Jews. disappointed when his congregants Dinner Chair Steve Savitsky stated, did not attend the weekly class he gave. “Just as it was impossible to win the “Why don’t you do what Rabbi Schon- war this past summer without ‘boots feld did for us?” they questioned. They on the ground,’ every Torah Jew must explained that Rabbi Schonfeld had es- become an active participant in com- tablished a chavrusa program, pairing bating assimilation.” He lamented the local residents without much Jewish hundreds of thousands falling away education with men from Lakewood. from Jewish identity. He stressed that Rabbi Gewirtz fulfi lled their request what is needed is a paradigm shift and saw how pleased his congregants – not to think only about matching were with this learning arrangement. partners, but to recruit major groups While Partners in Torah did begin with including the ADL, B’nai Brith, and in-person study partnerships, it has UJA-Federation, to work with Partners grown, and now most partners learn in Torah in a positive coalition to keep by phone or even Skype. Jews Jewish. By understanding that While a number of Queens com- we are all working for the same goal, Michal Levine, speaking about her father The Machatzis HaShekel coin, for people munity members came for the entire we can move forward in our ideal of who signed up to take on study partners weekend, many more came on Mot- unity amongst all Jews. za’ei Shabbos to pay honor to Rabbi A touching highlight of the Dinner Schonfeld on his receiving the Found- was when guests were invited to come er’s Award. A number of pages in the up to the podium and use the large Dinner Journal paid tribute to Rabbi sign-in boards to affi rm what they & Mrs. Schonfeld for their devotion were ready to do to further the goals to klal Yisrael, including the Ortho- of Partners in Torah, such as personal- dox Union, the YIKGH Daf Yomi class ly taking on a learning partner, or en- and its Tuesday night Tehillim group, couraging groups to which they belong as well as many congregants, friends, to do so en masse. In exchange for this and family. While he humbly tried to commitment, they were given a beau- deny his “founding” role in Partners in tiful replica of a half-shekel coin, as a Torah, his words brought out a signifi - reminder that no Jew is complete on cant point. When people try to do the his own. The coin reads “Kol Yisrael right thing, as Rabbi Schonfeld did by areivim zeh ba’zeh – One People, One providing learning partners, one never Destiny.” knows the impact that it can make. Besides the delicious food, inspiring Having now affected tens of thou- words, and entertainment from Benny sands of lives, and creating thousands Friedman, there was a very emotional of lifelong friendships, Rabbi Schon- moment when Michal Levine, daugh- Guests signing up to help promote Partners in Torah feld’s bold action in motivating this ter of slain Har Nof Rabbi Kalman vital program has brought many Jews Levine Hy”d got up to speak about her to have received a Jewish education. the best way to keep Jews Jewish. A closer to Torah and changed lives for- father, continuing the love he showed Partners in Torah’s mission, “to offer perfect way to show Rabbi Schonfeld ever for the better. for every Jew. What more perfect way the most satisfying paired learning and appreciation for his pioneering ef- For example, Rachel, alone for most to honor his memory than to take one mentoring for Jewish adults of all affi li- forts would be to tell him that he has of her adult life after a short-lived mar- hour a week to share Torah knowledge ations at no cost,” needs the backing of inspired you to call Partners in Torah riage ended in divorce, was wonder- with someone not fortunate enough every observant Jew. Learning Torah is and sign up to teach someone.

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 29 Community Snapshots Photo Credits: Aharon Katz Lecture on Technology Awareness at YIQV - Monday, Dec. 29, Kew Gardens Hills

Yom Hakadish Haklali at YIKGH - Wednesday, Dec. 31, Kew Gardens Hills

Aharon Katz is a Queens-based photographer who currently works for the Queens Jewish Link and is a photographer at Yaakov Katz Studios. Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Yoni Chetboun Speaks In Great Neck

By Marlene Schiffman

his past Sunday, December 28, the Great Neck Synagogue TMens’ Club and the Jewish Po- litical Education Foundation spon- sored a talk by MK Yoni Chetboun, Deputy Speaker of the Knesset and member of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees. Mr. Chetboun is young and lively, and spoke opti- mistically about Israel and its prob- lems. He spoke to a room full of Israel supporters at the Great Neck Synagogue after breakfast. MK Chetboun related that eight years ago, during the Second Leb- Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Yoni Chetboun (3rd from right), at the Great Neck Synagogue (GNS) on Sunday, December 28, 2014, co-sponsored by the GNS Men’s Club. is flanked on his right by Dr. Paul Brody, and by Hillel Milun, President of the GNS Men’s Club, on his left. CONTINUED ON P. 42 At far left are NYU Professor Dr. Lawrence Schiffman, and GNS President Dr. Hal Chadow. Milt Mitzner, President of the JPEF is at far right. Photo Credit: Hershele the Yiddisher

30 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Community Snapshots Photo Credits: Aharon Katz Annual Cong. Ahavas Yisroel Melava Malka - Saturday night, Jan. 3, Kew Gardens Hills

Aharon Katz is a Queens-based photographer who currently works for the Queens Jewish Link and is a photographer at Yaakov Katz Studios.

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 31 Community Corner • Recent Happenings Eldercare II: An Evening To Remember Medicare and Retirement Planning, led by Steven Kass and Shlomo Bassalian. The room was jammed with middle-agers and seniors, eager to learn all they could about planning for the future. Dealing with Dementia, led by neurol- ogist Dr. Marshall Keilson; dementia spe- cialist Susan Methal, RN; and Mrs. Henny Friedman, RN, whose husband currently suffers from dementia. The overwhelm- ing amount of attendees highlighted the extreme need for information and sup- Eli Weiss, Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky, Eli Weiss, Rabbi Yaakov Bender, Rabbi Boruch B. Bender, port in this particular area. Rabbi Boruch B. Bender Rabbi Ephraim Eliyahu Shapiro, Shalom Jaroslawicz Caring for the Caregiver, led by Dr. Photo credits: Ira Thomas Creations Rachel Lowinger, was fi lled to overfl ow- ldercare II, Achiezer’s long-await- ing with caregivers of dementia patients, ed eldercare conference, was a who headed directly from the dementia Erunaway success in every sense information session to this one, for a of the word. From all walks of life they much-needed dose of chizuk. came: middle-aged children, doctors, rab- When Home May Not Be an Option, led banim, spouses – residents of Manhat- by Brian Rosenman, Mrs. Gittie Neufeld, tan, Williamsburg, Monsey, Connecticut, and Dr. Zev Carrey, provided illuminating Clifton, Lakewood. They all came with direction and guidelines regarding the dif- one goal in mind: to provide the best pos- fi cult decision of placing a loved one in a sible care for the seniors in their lives. rehabilitation or nursing facility. “Even if I had left half an hour into the fi rst session, it would have been 110% Rabbi Yaakov Bender Dr. Zev Carrey CONTINUED ON P. 43 worth coming,” reported one enthusias- tic participant. Indeed, the sessions surpassed all ex- pectations. People were literally turned away at the doors of several sessions, as the wall-to-wall crowd took up every available inch of space. The concurrent sessions included: Asset Protection Planning, led by el- dercare attorney Ronald Spirn, which covered virtually every aspect of Elder Law. The session ran twice – both times, to an overfl ow crowd. Kew Gardens Hills Community Offers Meaningful Support to Children With Cystic Fibrosis By Shimmy Blum ed period has been proven by the medical community to signifi cantly alleviate cystic fi brosis symptoms. Its n Monday, December 15, Kew Gardens Hills resi- aquatic, high-salt properties loosen the mucus that clogs dents attended a parlor meeting on behalf of the their respiratory and digestive systems. The patients’ OChild Life Society organization at the home of breathing diffi culties and other daily hardships see sig- Mr. and Mrs. Itzy Laub. nifi cant relief for as much as 6-8 months after returning The local parlor meeting has been an annual event in home. Lung infections and hospitalizations are reduced recent years. Support from the Flushing/Kew Gardens by about half during that period. Hills community is now an integral part of the organiza- With the grand opening of the new home now with- tion’s efforts to help the American Jewish community’s in sight, Child Life Society looks forward to the ability to children and adults with cystic fi brosis. accommodate at least twice as many families a year on This year’s parlor meeting was particularly dedicated therapeutic respite trips as they did until now. “There to the organization’s newly acquired therapeutic respite aren’t enough words in the dictionary to express the home in Key West, Florida. Child Life Society’s Queens gratitude I feel towards the Queens community,” says Committee, along with the local philanthropists and ev- Rabbi Chaim Wolkenfeld, Child Life Society’s found- eryday donors who have offered generous support, have er and director. “These philanthropists, activists, and enabled the purchase and renovation of the new home other community members have a solid partnership in to go ahead. A group of local baalei chesed have also assisting countless suffering families in the upcoming arranged for a long-term commitment from community years, b’ezras Hashem.” members to cover some of the new home’s overhead ex- Respite Program,” which grants cystic fi brosis patients For more information about Child Life Society and the penses down the line. and their families fully sponsored two-week trips to Key Lifeshine Respite Program, please visit www.childlifesoci- The new home is the Child Life Society’s second West. ety.org or call 718-853-7123. Dedications for the new home home that services the needs of its fl agship “Lifeshine Inhaling Key West’s Caribbean-like air for an extend- are still available.

32 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Community Corner • Recent Happenings In Honor Of Philip Bach’s First Yahrzeit By Lorey Friedman How true the saying is that people don’t know what they have until they don’t t is hard to believe that almost twelve have it anymore. Despite any hardships months have passed without having that may have come along with caring Imy dear nephew Philip with us here for Philip, his family now longs to have physically. In all honesty, not a day has those days with him back. gone by that I have not thought of him, On behalf of his dear family, may he missed him, or dealt with the longing be a meilitz yosher (advocate) for all of us. pain that occurs when reality strikes that Hashem, who gave us the gift of Philip, I cannot see or talk to Philly anymore. has called his precious child back to Him. From the day that he passed, the tremen- My dear sister Mindy and brother-in-law dous impact he had on people during David were chosen as the guardians of his short 27 years became obvious. He this special child. They showered Philip touched lives that most cannot touch in with love and succeeded in making him a full and healthy lifetime. The program blossom into the mature, capable, intelli- he attended held a beautiful memorial gent young man he was. We, the rest of service for him, where the staff all told the family, and all who knew Philip Bach stories about Philip and how he affected were the benefi ciaries of their dedication their lives and what they learned from in our hearts and memories and is as viv- around him. He had family and friends to completing Philip’s mission in this him. The rabbi and congregants at the id and vibrant to us as before. who respected and admired him, and he world. Without any doubt, they succeed- Young Israel of North Woodmere, where Philip Bach left so many of us who imparted a love of life on all who knew ed beyond imagination and should fi nd Philip’s family belong, continue to miss miss him so much. But at the same him. He appreciated kindness; he knew comfort in this. After all, in his short and his presence and constantly refl ect back time, he supplied us and left us with the how to laugh and to make others feel diffi cult life, Philip successfully fulfi lled on his impact on them. An outpouring of strength and lessons we need to contin- good. Philip was smart and witty, seri- his mission on this earth. He changed family and friends gathered together, as ue on. We just have to fi nd those tools ous and deep thinking. How ironic that the lives of his family for the good. In Philip’s life was celebrated at the Familiar now, draw on them to help us, and re- despite his poor eyesight, he saw what fact, he changed and touched the lives of Dysautonomia Now Foundation dinner. member what Philip would expect and mattered most so clearly; he had perfect all who were wise enough to get to know Shiurim, lectures, learning, and tz’dakah want from us. He is our teacher and our vision. It took so little to make Philip him. He will forever be in our hearts and continue to be done on Philip’s behalf, role model. For as much as he didn’t happy, and he was always expressive of we will always learn from his beautiful and the thought of Philip watching over have, Philip had what mattered most: what was on his mind and in his heart. n’shamah. us and smiling that huge, contagious, and he had love – he gave it and received While in his lifetime he was dependent May we all learn the important and genuine wide smile is what we use as the it. His simchas ha’chayim was always on others, it is only now that we realize valuable lessons imparted to us from fuel to keep us running. He remains alive palpable and spilled over to all those how dependent we really were on him. Philip Bach a”h.

Community Corner • What’s New In School YCQ Says Thank You To The NYPD tudents in the Yeshiva The students understand that gifts. The offi cers on duty were the students not to take every- the beginning is always more of Central Queens, along police offi cers risk their lives surprised and extremely grateful thing for granted. signifi cant than the end. Asar- Swith their teachers, spent every single day in order to keep for this thoughtful gesture. During the YCQ Parent-Child ah B’Teves reminds us that we time crafting cards and posters them safe, and wanted the po- To continue with the theme Sunday Learning Program, Rab- should not take what Hashem and baking cupcakes for their lice offi cers to know how much of gratefulness, the Grade 5 stu- bi Rohr discussed why we fast gives us for granted; that is why local police precinct, the 107th, to it means to them and their dents have taken on a project on Asarah B’Teves. He described this fast is so important that we thank them and show their ap- families. On December 25, the that teaches them about appre- that we fast because it marks would fast even if it came out preciation for all they do for the administration at YCQ person- ciating what they have. “The the beginning of the destruc- on Shabbos. school and for the community. ally delivered the hand-made Thankful Project” is teaching tion of the Beis HaMikdash, and

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 33 Community Corner • Recent Happenings Life-Changing Shiurim At Partners In Torah Retreat By Susie Garber someone guilty, then that person goes er for her Evangelical Christian seminar. have to fast on Shabbos. free. The reason for this is that to arrive He explained he was not a minister or He explained the reason. Yom Kippur utside, it was a cold gray winter at the truth, arguments and discussions preacher and that he was Jewish. She still and the Fast of Teves both are not histor- morning, but inside the Stamford are necessary. Everyone voting No right wanted him to come. He asked a sh’eilah ical commemorations. They both in fact OCrowne Plaza Hotel on Sunday, away could mean the jury is prejudiced and he ended up going. He imparted the deal with the future. Yom Kippur is about December 28, the Partners in Torah Win- against the defendant. He taught that lesson he learned from that experience, our upcoming year and the Fast of Teves ter Retreat participants were enveloped the beauty of Torah is through different speaking at their conference. One of the is the day Hashem decides if we will have in a bright spiritual light. The overfl ow opinions and arguments. This is how people at the conference said to him, “I a Tish’ah B’Av this year of mourning and hall fi lled with smiling attendees who one grasps the truth. He shared the sto- wondered why you people were worthy sitting on the fl oor or not. had spent the entire Shabbos there and ry of Rav Yochanan who could not fi nd of so many miracles. I took a trip to Isra- He went on to teach that we live in were drinking in every moment of this a replacement for his chavrusa Reish el. Everywhere there I saw miracles: the a world where reality shapes beliefs. In uplifting weekend. Lakish. Reish Lakish would always pose desert in bloom, the Six-Day War. The truth, reality doesn’t shape beliefs. Beliefs The fi rst keynote speaker, Rabbi Yisrael 24 questions when Rav Yochanan said a last day when I went to the Western Wall, shape reality. “We are a nation of non-re- Meir Lau, Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv and for- halachah. This forced Rav Yochanan to I asked my guide how it is that they let alists,” he said. What is really holding us mer Chief Rabbi of Israel, began his stir- delve deeper. After Reish Lakish’s death, everyone into this holiest place for Jews. back is our perception. When you shift ring speech with a request for everyone Rav Yochanan could not fi nd anyone who The guide explained that there’s a holiday your perception, then you shift your reali- in the audience to pair up and learn some would do this. Rav Lau stated, “You need when every nation will bring sacrifi ces to ty. He taught a fascinating idea that galus of the sources and questions he would be a partner in Torah.” the Temple. He told me that the Jews’ job began with a wall. The spies were afraid discussing. When we go up after 120 years to be in the world is to share G-d with every- they couldn’t conquer Israel because they Lively learning discussions ensued in judged, one of the questions we will be one. So the reason Jews are miraculous saw the walls. In fact the walls meant the small groups that formed. After this asked is: Did you spend time learning To- is,” he said to me, “because your mission the people were not strong and we could brief learning time, Rabbi Lau delved into rah? A more important question we will is to bring G-d into the world.” have conquered them easily. He contin- the material in detail and shared his in- be asked is: What did you do so Torah will Charlie Harary paused at this point in ued: Galus is about our subjective percep- sights and those of Torah commentators. not be forgotten from the people of Isra- his story. “Is that our people anymore? tion. We bring it ourselves. We have all He explained that we follow Beis Hillel in el? He urged everyone: Whatever you do, Are we one people joined together for we need now to bring g’ulah, except we matters of halachah because derech eretz wherever you go, you should ask yourself one mission?” We live in the best of have walls in our mind. and Torah are not two separate things. every night, “What did I do that Torah will times and the worst of times. We have The Fast of Teves says galus starts when Manners are the preface – the gate to en- not be forgotten?” This secret can help access to so many kosher products and they put up the wall. We fail when we say ter Torah. Beis Hillel excelled in derech us forever. to so many shiurim. Yet too many people we are going to fail. He ended with the eretz; they were modest and easy-going Next, Mr. Charlie Harary shared inspir- are leaving us. It’s frightening. He spoke point that our challenge is to use our abil- and they mentioned Shamai’s opinions ing stories and ideas with drama and en- about the fact that this week brings the ity to break down walls that separate us before their own. Without derech eretz, thusiasm. He began with a totally surpris- Fast of Teves. He noted how this seem- in good times – to live in the best of times Torah has no basis. He went on to ex- ing story. A woman with a southern drawl ingly minor fast day has a fascinating rule and make it better. plain that Torah is acquired in a group. called and asked him to speak in a small attached to it. If it falls out on Friday, or Rabbi Gewirtz, founder and director, He explored the puzzling halachah that if town in Georgia. He soon discovered even Shabbos, it is the only fast day oth- urged everyone to get involved in some all the members of the Sanhedrin found she was a Christian looking for a speak- er than Yom Kippur on which we would way with Partners in Torah.

but interesting descriptions. She men- tioned an example from her own writing: Author Yael Mermelstein Presents Writer’s Workshop corn-colored tractor. When a reader reads, she wants to get lost. “When you’re writing, you’re drawing. For Women In Queens You want to create a specifi c picture. Writ- ing is creating pictures with your words.” By Susie Garber characters, and how they crafted plot and can convey an image. If she’s sauntering, Several times throughout the work- suspense and other details in their writing. it tells you about her personality and her shop the participants revisited the para- n Sunday evening, December 28, In other words, she read them like a writer. mood. In that one word you get a lot of graph they had written in the beginning, Mrs. Yael Mermelstein, award-win- In a writing exercise, she had the par- background. She reiterated the old adage and they revised using the strategies she Oning author from Israel, presented ticipants write about a woman walking to of “Show, don’t tell.” taught about specifi c nouns and strong a writer’s workshop for professional and her car and had them describe the weath- She cautioned, “Never overkill any- verbs. aspiring writers in Queens. er and something unexpected happening. thing.” Don’t use adjectives that do not She taught, “The best words are simple Mrs. Mermelstein shared valuable writ- She then proceeded to demonstrate how add any new information. Attach an ad- words that are a little different and create ing tips and her own secrets to writing to take this little paragraph and revise jective to a noun if it tells us something a picture. Words that come more natural- successfully. Her workshop was titled it until it was a polished piece of writ- we didn’t know. ly to you will fl ow more naturally and be “Flat to Fabulous” and the workshop was ing. The fi rst focus was on using specifi c She warned against “Using redundant more natural for the reader to read.” fabulous. nouns. Use names and describe the specif- adjectives. You want adjectives to teach Also, she pointed out that a writer has She began with her writing schedule ic items in the story so the reader can visu- something.” She noted that you could use to separate herself from emotional attach- that includes every morning when her alize them. Then writing becomes more a plain adjective in a creative way. For ex- ment to her work. You can’t be emotional children are in school and every night alive. Specifi c nouns bring you more into ample, “It was hot. Hotter than hot and a about your writing and have it as a parna- when they are sleeping. In addition, she the story. Any specifi c noun will conjure little bit hotter than that.” She loves sub- sah. This means cutting parts you love if writes all day Sunday when her husband emotion in the reader to his experience stituting verbs for adjectives, like “wither- they just aren’t adding to the story. is available to watch her children. An im- with that noun. ing hot.” This is a technique she learned Someone asked if a story can exist portant key is the discipline of working Next, she focused on verbs. Use stron- from another writer and she loved this without a confl ict, and Mrs. Mermelstein on her craft on a regular basis. She also ger verbs that create an image for the craft idea. emphatically replied, “No.” A character shared that to hone her craft she must do reader. Instead of she walked, we can She also cautioned about avoiding cli- has to want something that she can’t get. critical reading. When she fi rst began writ- substitute lumbered, shuffl ed, sauntered, chés. When you hear something a lot, you The confl ict can be internal or external ing seriously, she read over 3350 children’s meandered, raced, zipped, dashed, bolted, aren’t seeing the image anymore in your but there has to be a confl ict. and young adults’ books. She focused on scampered, etc. She noted that the verb mind. She taught if you become too or- She explained that what you should Newberry and other well-written ones, used refl ects on the personality of the nate in your writing, then the reader sees write must have a universal emotional and she analyzed how the author created character doing the action. A strong verb the artist behind the writing. Use simple appeal.

34 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Community Corner • Recent Happenings Governor Mario Cuomo: A True Friend – An Appreciation

By Ezra Friedlander and close relationship with our commu- affected the Jewish community and its As we celebrate the life of Mario Cuo- nity – the Jewish community. It was a ability to thrive in New York State always mo, we remember that the vibrant Jew- he term “true friend” is used so relationship that was embraced by Mario found a receptive ear in Mario Cuomo. ish community that resides in New York often that it’s a cliché, but when Cuomo. It was in many ways a relation- I remember how Governor Cuomo is eternally grateful to Governor Cuomo Tused in context with the late ship that wasn’t too diffi cult to under- used to nostalgically recall his days as a for extending his hand in friendship so Mario Cuomo it’s totally appropriate. stand. Mario Cuomo was someone who young man growing up in a Jewish neigh- many years ago. It is not forgotten. As we mourn the passing of Governor understood both the needs of the Jewish borhood “helping Jews observe the Sab- We extend our condolences to Mrs. Cuomo, I fi nd myself going down mem- community on a practical level but also bath, fondly referring to himself as the Matilda Cuomo and the entire Cuomo ory lane. Growing up, still as a yeshivah on an emotional one. He grew up among Shabbos Goy.” family, most notably his son, Governor student, before I offi cially entered the Jews but also experienced discrimination In truth, Mario Cuomo was a man of Andrew Cuomo, who continues that profession of public relations, I devel- as an Italian-American when embarking faith who understood with every fi ber of remarkable friendship with the Jewish oped a rather strong interest in public on his legal career, so relating to Jews his body the accommodations that gov- community. affairs and the political process. who suffered anti-Semitism came natu- ernment has to provide to communities The Queens Jewish Link will feature a During that time period, Governor Ma- rally to him. During his years in public of faith to fl ourish, including the Jewish more in-depth obituary of Governor Cuo- rio Cuomo enjoyed a remarkably warm service and as Governor, on matters that community. mo in our next issue. Magen New York Presents Powerful Program For Parents By Susie Garber nication and how we interact with one propriate website. One of the facts that your children; show interest in their lives, another has changed because of technol- children don’t realize and which Magen activities, friends – greet them and com- large crowd of junior high school ogy. He posed the question, “How do we New York teaches them is that informa- pliment them. Teach them how to handle parents, community members, function in this framework surrounded tion shared on the Web is permanent. It teasing. Help them to learn to say No. Our Aand principals of local yeshivos by the Internet?” This problem crosses all can make you vulnerable to identity theft. children need to learn calming strategies. gathered at the Young Israel of Queens community boundaries. It is not exclusive It can affect college admission, employ- They need to live a goal-directed, mean- Valley on Monday evening, December 29, to one type of community. He explained ment, shidduchim – in essence, their fu- ingful life. to hear an extremely informative presen- that Internet safety is about avoidance, ture. He offered some possible open-ended tation by Magen New York. Dr. Shlomie but today we need much more, we need Next, Dr. Zimmerman discussed how questions that would help us talk to our Zimmerman, clinical psychologist and digital citizenship. How do we live with to face these issues head on. The fi rst children. What was the best part of your chairman of the advisory board of Magen it? He then broke down the areas that are step is awareness; we have to use Internet day? Who brought the best snack? Refer New York, presented this vital program affected by negative use of technology: so- monitoring software and install fi lters. back to something they mentioned in a on helping our children use technology cial, behavioral, psychological, and day-to- We should limit screen time. Digital en- previous conversation to show that you safely. Magen New York, which promotes day living. He pointed out that something gagement in the home should be public. were listening and care. A crucial discus- child safety in our community, began with enormous power could be used for Children should never be in a locked sion is: “If you got into big trouble, how working on Tech Smart a year and half good or for bad. room with a device. These rules should do you think I would respond?” ago when a number of community ye- He said a crucial skill we need to help shivos requested help in this area. Dr. Eli children to acquire is to learn to defer Shapiro and Mrs. Temima Feldman, Prin- It is important to have dinner hour with no phones. gratifi cation; he cited the famous marsh- cipal of Torah Academy for Girls, collabo- When children come home, try to spend the first half hour with mallow study that proved children who rated to create a curriculum for students can defer gratifi cation are more successful in grades 6-8. The goal of the Monday them by communicating with open discussion and no devices. later in school and in life. evening program was to introduce Tech We have to disconnect to reconnect. Dr. Zimmerman stressed a main goal Smart to parents, and thereby encourage from this presentation: “A positive home them to open a dialogue about technolo- is what matters.” Teach children to say gy with their children. Dr. Zimmerman then explained that apply to adults as well. We should share No to FOMO (fear of missing out). Teach Dr. Zimmerman explained that, in gen- he sees kids are afraid of missing out. Our with our children that we are following them about digital footprints and how eral, negativity is not effective as a preven- children see technology as the quintes- what our rabbanim say and we must have damaging these are. Teach them about tive tool. It may even cause children to sential relationship-building tool. We healthy safeguards. We need to supervise phishing, an attempt to acquire sensitive do the opposite of what the parent wants. need to realize that our children interact all digital engagement. Dr. Zimmerman and personal information from them. Telling scary horror stories just doesn’t in a different way. He stated that 80% of said that we as parents need to model dig- Mrs. Surel Goldfi nger, co-founder and work to prevent negative behaviors. Chil- teens own a mobile device. Our children ital citizenship. Rav Wolbe taught that the director of Magen New York, urged par- dren’s use of technology, and their curios- are exposed to a different language. He best way to teach our children is by exam- ents to sign permission forms for their ity, varies; some children are more vulner- shared information based on surveys that ple; our behavior, mood, and nonverbal children to fi ll out an anonymous technol- able than others to the negative effects of showed that though parents believe they communication is more important than ogy survey, which will then help Magen encountering inappropriate or frighten- know what their children are doing on the what we say. pinpoint areas that need to be addressed ing material. Internet, this is not necessarily true. He It is important to have dinner hour and how to best help our children with Dr. Zimmerman then defi ned digital went on to outline some of the issues our with no phones. When children come this huge challenge of technology. citizenship. He noted how we are living children face, such as cyber bullying, un- home, try to spend the fi rst half hour with (See photos on page 30) in a digital time with monumental chang- wanted contact, shared information with them by communicating with open dis- The co-founders and directors of Magen es occurring faster and faster. Technolo- strangers, technology dependence, and cussion and no devices. We have to dis- New York are Mrs. Surel Goldfi nger and gy is here to stay. Our goal is to identify impulsivity. He noted that there is a cor- connect to reconnect. Mrs. Aviva Hoch. Six local yeshivos will and address issues and to guide healthy, relation between anonymity, which many It is crucial that we talk to children ear- present Tech Smart to their sixth, seventh, productive use in the information age. He social sites promote, and aggression. ly and educate them about their bodies and eighth grade students: Bais Yaakov illustrated positive aspects of technology, Dr. Zimmerman stressed one question and development. We should give them Academy of Queens, Bnos Malka Academy, such as websites like Aish HaTorah, and we need to ask ourselves: Are we model- the information they need so they won’t Yeshiva of Central Queens, Yeshiva Har To- also how scientifi c discoveries to cure ill- ing unwise habits to our children when glean it from an unhealthy source, like the rah, Yeshiva Ketana Zichron Chaim U’Bina nesses have taken place because of easy we are distracted by our own technology? Internet. of Queens, and Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe. access to information on the Internet. He We have to be mindful that an innocent The speaker then went on to detail Magen can be reached at www.magen- pointed out that our method of commu- word search can bring a child to an inap- good communication practice. Listen to newyork.org.

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 35 Community Corner • Recent Happenings Senator Avella Supports Police Young Israel Launches Cost-Cutting With Online Pledge Launch Program For Synagogues

tate Senator Tony Avella called on In a note penned for Take the Pledge, he National Council of Young 45% on their purchasing costs. the community to support the po- Senator Avella stated that, in view of the Israel (NCYI) announced a The list of vendors that Fairway GPO Slice. Senator Avella announced recent tragic events, a show of support is Tnew cost-cutting initiative for works with can be viewed at fairwayg- “Take the Pledge,” an online pledge that now more vital than ever. its branch synagogues. By virtue of po.com/docs/charity-and-non-profits. allows individuals to add their names to Available at its partnership with Fairway GPO, a pdf. Each individual synagogue can the list of people who want to show their nysenate.gov/senator/tony-avella, Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) choose to access contracts for as many gratitude for the men and women risking Take the Pledge launched and is immedi- with over $45 billion in total member- or as few vendors on that list as it wish- their lives every day. ately accessible. ship purchasing volume, the National es. Additionally, every participating Council of Young Israel is presenting synagogue will receive a GPO #, which its branch synagogues with an oppor- allows each synagogue to directly tunity to save money through group access only the contracts that are of Statement From purchasing. unique interest to it. Synagogues that Unlike many other GPOs in the opt to participate in the NCYI group industry that require a member to purchasing initiative retain control of Agudath Israel Of America commit to certain minimum purchas- their purchasing process, as it is not ing requirements or charge annual necessary to go through the NCYI or membership fees, Fairway has no Fairway GPO when buying goods and Upon The Passing minimums or commitments, no fees services. of any kind, and you are not locked “Using collective bargaining power into any contracts. They have nego- is an easy way for synagogues to save Of Governor Mario Cuomo tiated some of the best contracts in money through deeply reduced pric- gudath Israel of America notes the country with vendors that many ing with participating vendors,” said with sadness the passing of Gov- Young Israel synagogues most likely Ari Matityahu, NCYI Assistant Director Aernor Mario Cuomo. already use, including Staples, FedEx, of Synagogue Services. “We are con- Throughout his tenure as Governor and various paper goods companies. fi dent that this partnership will pro- of the State of New York, Mario Cuomo By partnering with the NCYI and vide all of our shuls with signifi cant displayed great friendship to the Jewish Fairway, the only thing that will savings that will have a direct positive community, and played a leadership role change for synagogues is the pricing result on their bottom line.” in addressing many issues of Jewish con- that they receive from vendors. Syn- For more information about the Na- cern. agogues will continue to purchase tional Council of Young Israel’s group Governor Cuomo enjoyed a close goods and services in the same man- purchasing program, contact the NCYI working relationship, and an especially ner in which they currently do, only Department of Synagogue Services at warm personal relationship with the late now with lower pricing. This new 212-929-1525 (x-103) or via e-mail at am- president of Agudath Israel, Rabbi Moshe program can save synagogues close to [email protected]. Sherer. Rabbi Sherer befriended Ma- rio Cuomo even before Mr. Cuomo was willingness to engage them in dialogue elected to public offi ce, and the bonds of on major issues of public policy, set him friendship grew only stronger with the apart from his contemporaries in the po- Yeshivah Student passing years. Their relationship trans- litical world. lated into a number of tangible benefi ts Agudath Israel extends its deep sympa- for the Orthodox Jewish community as thies and sincere condolences to the Competes In US Nationals a whole and for needy members of the Cuomo family, including Governor An- community as individuals. drew Cuomo, who has clearly inherited hen Table Tennis Champion der 1900 rating event (the sixth highest), Governor Cuomo had the historic dis- many of his father’s outstanding leader- Estee Ackerman of West where she made it to the quarterfi nals. tinction of being the only high ranking ship abilities. May Mario Cuomo’s excep- WHempstead saw that the 2014 In doubles, she fi nished 1-2, highlighted American elected offi cial ever to meet tional human qualities continue to serve US Nationals would be held during the by her upset victory over 2014 US Wom- with Agudath Israel’s Moetzes Gedolei as a source of inspiration for the family, week of Chanukah in Las Vegas, she en’s Nationals fi nalist and number-one- HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages). His and for all who aspire to public service in knew that besides packing her racquet, ranked cadet Crystal Wang of Maryland deep respect for the senior rabbis, and his the most noble sense of the term. ping pong balls, and equipment she 3-2 in games. Before the tournament be- would also have to pack her menorah, gan, Ackerman won the Pre-US Nationals candles, and dreidels. On Tuesday, De- warm-up tournament held at the Harris cember 16, the fi rst night of Chanukah, Community Center in Henderson, NV, Ackerman joined Rabbi Harlig on the with a perfect record of 8-0. famous Freemont Street for a public me- Ackerman is an eighth-grade student norah lighting. There she got to meet at the Hebrew Academy of Nassau Coun- Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, who ty (HANC) in Uniondale, NY, and in De- wished her good luck in the tournament, cember was selected as one out of ten as well as being interviewed by FOX5 Las Orthodox Jewish All-Stars at an event by Vegas. The celebration included latkes, the organization Jew in the City, held at jelly doughnuts, and familiar Chanukah the Museum of Jewish Heritage in lower songs. There were magicians, jugglers, Manhattan. and stilt walkers who entertained the Throughout her trip, Estee made sure crowd of 200. to light her menorah each night. The As for the tournament itself, Ackerman saying, “What happens in Vegas stays in fi nished with a record of 6-8 in singles Vegas” was not true, since Estee’s special with her best results coming in the un- menorah came home with her.

36 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Community Corner • What’s New In School Dr. David Pelcovitz Featured Speaker At Bnos Malka Parent Appreciation Melaveh Malkah n Motza’ei Shabbos, December more specifi cally, access to long-forgot- chas ha’nefesh, that we carve out time our attention from the task and mo- 27, hundreds of parents gath- ten or out-of-print s’farim, becomes ac- away from our electronic devices to re- ment at hand. It impacts our work Oered for the Bnos Malka Parent cessible. acquaint ourselves with our thoughts. performance and, even more so, our Appreciation Melaveh Malkah. The Dr. Pelcovitz was quick to note, While we will never turn back the tide relationships with others. We have be- annual event is always well attended. though, that we have become more of technology, it is imperative that we come more connected to our devices The parents, this year, were privileged distracted and our minds more frag- learn to limit its role in our lives. We and less so to people. As parents, it is to hear from Dr. David Pelcovitz, who mented. It is harder to focus and keep must be role models to our children especially important to give our chil- spoke on the impact technology is hav- on task with all the interruptions from and set a good example by putting dren our undivided attention. Their ing on our relationships. The world-re- texting, e-mailing, and surfi ng the Web down our devices from time to time.” personal needs and their socialization nowned psychologist stressed both the from the palm of our hands. Rabbi We- As adults, we may like to say we skills require down time. Studies have positive and negative issues associated ichselbaum, Menahel at Bnos Malka, are multi-tasking when checking our shown that the degree of concentration with the digital world. With a single said, “Parents would be wise to heed Dr. e-mails in the midst of a meeting or on Shabbos, when we are not connect- post, t’hilim is recited around the world Pelcovitz’s words. It is vital to our chil- sending out a “quick text” during din- ed to the digital world, is far greater for a choleh; the learning of Torah and, dren’s future, as well as our own m’nu- ner. But in essence, we are removing than when we are.

Living Torah Museum Visits Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe ow was weaving the largest collection of bib- done in the time of lical archeology anywhere Hthe Gemara? Ask outside of Israel. Among the one of the 90 boys in Yeshiva paraphernalia shown was Tiferes Moshe’s after-school an actual knitting loom that Mishnayos program. As en- was used in the time of the richment and reinforcement Gemara. Rabbi Deutsch also for the Mishnayos Shabbos demonstrated how to spin being learned, the Yeshiva the individual fi bers of a invited Rabbi Shaul Shimon sheep’s hair into wool. The Deutsch, a talmid chacham, boys were then challenged archeologist, published au- to spin wool with the speed thor, and the Director of that Rabbi Deutsch was able the Living Torah Museum. to do it. Rabbi Hersh Kasir- Rabbi Deutsch has a unique er, seventh grade rebbe, who ability to bring many of the has been teaching the Mish- concepts and equipment nayos, was amazed at how discussed in the Gemara to the presentation brought real life. His knowledge is the Mishnayos to life. The so extensive that once a year boys enjoyed watching Rab- he presents to Rav Chaim bi Deutsch and are ready to Kanievsky his latest fi ndings. continue learning the Mish- Rabbi Deutsch has developed nayos.

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 37 Community Corner • What’s New In School “Welcome Home” Campaign In YSZ Focuses On Transforming Your Home Into A Mini-Beis HaMikdash

Midreshet Shalhevet’s Central High School Seniors See Chanukah Extravaganza The Play Wiesenthal

idreshet Shalhevet’s Chanukah by going to different teachers’ homes on Extravaganza was outstanding. Thursday for grade-wide Chanukah cha- eshiva University High School/ War II veteran who helped liberate Bu- MBeginning on Wednesday, De- gigos. More games were played, sufganiyot Central’s senior class merged chenwald. The students were moved cember 17, the Shalhevet students travelled eaten, and divrei Torah shared as the girls Ythe fi elds of history and drama by the play’s stirring messages of tenac- to Powerhouse Studios, where they spent enjoyed spending time with their teachers on their recent excursion to see the ity and heroism, and they had the op- the afternoon enjoying a wild and wacky out of school. After a relaxing weekend off Off-Broadway show Wiesenthal. This portunity to fi nd out more information game show. Students participated in relay from school, the festivities extended on to biographical play recounts the life of during a Q&A session with Mr. Dugan. races, trivia questions, and crazy challeng- Tuesday, December 23, where the students Simon Wiesenthal, known as the “Jew- Thank you to Mrs. Tova Rosenberg for es. Some of the students were even able welcomed children from the Friendship ish James Bond,” a Holocaust survivor securing fully funded tickets from the to pie one another and one student was Circle to share in their Chanukah chagigah. renowned for his work as a “Nazi hunt- Shoah Foundation, whose members even able to pie one of the (unfortunate) They all enjoyed a delicious lunch, enter- er,” tracking down Nazi war criminals thought the play would “align very well faculty members; however, the ultimate taining magic show, and lively dancing. to bring them to trial. Playwright and with the students’ Names, Not Num- prize was getting slimed by the “booger The chagigah wrapped up with a hysterical star Tom Dugan is the son of a World bers© project.” blaster.” Three lucky winners sat in a clear faculty video and scrumptious ice cream box where everyone watched them get bar. Sophomore Rebecca Wein stated, “It “sneezed” on by a gooey, green, sticky slime. was so nice to be able to share our chagigah Following their fun and entertaining trip, with the Friendship Circle. It was a great all of the students continued to celebrate way to end off our Chanukah.” From Generation To Generation n Motza’ei Shabbos, January 3, Bais and how imperative it is for us to thank Yaakov of Queens was fi lled with Him for all He does for us. The girls waited Odaughters, mothers, grandmoth- with eager anticipation for the highlight of ers, and great-grandmothers, all gathered the evening, a choir of songs with music to enjoy the Third Grade Melaveh Malkah. played by Mrs. Karen Daitchman, and, as The girls created puzzles as a chesed project a special treat, the accompaniment of sign to send off to Israel and were entertained language that they all mastered. They per- with the telling of a story that taught about formed with passion and love for Hashem, the importance of trusting Hashem, believ- their school, and their Jewish Heritage, ing that all good things come from Him, bringing nachas to all in attendance.

38 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Community Corner • What’s New In School Inspirational Speakers At The Annual Shabbaton Of Shevach High School In The Long Beach Hotel or the Shabbos of December with the same mindset. Shabbos is a The student body sat spellbound the pasuk of “Sheishes yamim taavod 13, Parshas VaYeishev, She- gift, and each person should sanctify as Rabbi Krohn then told several v’asisa kol m’lachtecha” (Six days you Fvach High School students the day to the best of his ability, max- moving stories. Among them was shall labor and complete all of your were treated to a special Shabbaton imizing what the gift has to offer and one that took place in Mexico, where work). Chazal ask: Can a person com- with the faculty and their families. truly appreciating its value. because of someone’s decision to be- plete all of his work in six days? Rath- Through the array of distinguished After Kabalas Shabbos, the students come a shomer Shabbos, he gave up er, one should consider it as if all his speakers and thought-provoking ses- were addressed by Rabbi Paysach Kro- the opportunity of a major real estate work is done. This requires great bi- sions, the bar was raised for each and hn, noted author, lecturer, and mohel, sale. A few months later an earth- tachon, faith. And one of the greatest every girl’s avodas Hashem. who described the spirit of Shabbos quake hit the country and this gen- challenges to bitachon is the fact that Rebbetzin Rochelle Hirtz, principal of ancient times. In his inimitable tleman became a millionaire, as the we are expected to do hishtadlus, to of Shevach High School, welcomed fashion, Rabbi Krohn cited the Gema- very building he did not sell, was the exert effort. On Shabbos when we the girls before Kabalas Shabbos and ra that told of Amora’im who dressed only building that remained intact. cannot do work, this serves as a work- introduced the theme of the Shabbos; in their Shabbos fi nery and went The Mexican government, which was shop for our bitachon. “Am M’kadshei Sh’vii.” She cited a out to greet the Shabbos, which one forced to relocate, rented a consid- Rabbi Grunblatt then connected Gemara in B’rachos that teaches that called “the Queen” and another called erable amount of space from him in this thought to the parshah, stating HaKadosh Baruch Hu told Moshe Rab- “the Kallah.” He noted that Rav Shlo- that very building. that even Yosef HaTzadik erred by ask- beinu that He had a special gift in His mo HaLevi Alkabetz, the author of The students defi nitely took away ing the Sar HaMashkim for help, fail- treasury – the gift of Shabbos. The L’cha Dodi, who was born in Salonika, the message that Shabbos is truly our ing to realize that the butler was not N’sivos Shalom asks why the mitzvah Greece, and came to Tzfas, wrote that “m’kor ha’brachah.” someone who would do anything for of Shabbos is identifi ed as a precious Shabbos is the “m’kor ha’brachah,” Rabbi Akiva Grunblatt, Rosh Yosef. Rabbi Grunblatt elucidated the gift. He answers that just as a gift is the source of blessing. Rabbi Krohn HaYeshiva of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim, challenge of proper bitachon versus given with no expectations from the suggested that it is perhaps for this and husband of Rebbetzin Chani hishtadlus, with a riveting story of the giver, that there are “no strings at- reason that many parents bless their Grunblatt, Assistant Principal of She- famed Alshich, who impressed upon tached,” similarly HaKadosh Baruch children on Friday night, as the Shab- vach High School, spoke on Shabbos Hu gave Shabbos to the B’nei Yisrael bos is the source of all blessings. morning after Musaf. He discussed CONTINUED ON P. 40

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ductory remarks by Queens Borough JANUARY 7j.0&&f$c$"j^[h[m_bbX[Wcaregiv- President Melinda Katz, and a talk by MARCH ers support group meeting. For more Dennis Weinstein, Director of Advertis- At 9:30 a.m., the information or to register, please e- _d]\ehj^[Jekhe9ebb[][WdZKd_l[hi_jo CHAZAQ will hold Queens Jewish cW_b ?h[d[ MW]d[h Wj mW]d[h_h[d[*6 Ioij[c$8k\\[jYWj[h[ZXoIeoiWkY[$HW\- the Big Event III. Community Coun- ]cW_b$YecehYWbb^[hWj-'.#+**#.).-$ Ô[ZhWm_d]$7Zc_ii_ed'+$

planning and long-term care. At 141-52 Thursday 15 marathon week- APRIL At 10 a.m., elder law and estate plan- 71stHeWZ"A[m=WhZ[di>_bbi$JecWa[W end in Bermuda. ning attorney Jason R. Kornfeld will h[i[hlWj_ed"fb[Wi[YWbb.&&#-,/#'-()$ Commit to reach the fundraising goal Ezra Academy will speak at a free seminar on estate plan- to participate. For more information, hold its Annual ning and long-term care. At 141-52 71st please e-mail YedjWYjhWY[6a_Zie\Y$eh]$ Dinner. Details to HeWZ" A[m =WhZ[di >_bbi$  Je cWa[ W From 7 to 9:30 p.m., follow h[i[hlWj_ed"fb[Wi[YWbb.&&#-,/#'-()$ Jewish Business Sunday 26 Development and Saturday night 17 7j -0*+ f$c$" C[i_ljW J_\[h[j JehW^ the Queens Jewish 7j .0)& f$c$" will present a special lecture for men 14 Link will hold a AIM, the Motzaei WdZmec[dXoHWXX_8[dJp_edI^WÓ- Wednesday networking event Shabbos program er on the topic “Raising Wholesome Wjj^[Oekd]?ihW[be\@WcW_YW;ijWj[i.)# Shabbos 17 for high school Children in a World Gone Mad!” At '&'..thIjh[[j"@WcW_YW;ijWj[i $<[Wjkh- girls, will feature a 9ed]h[]Wj_ed I^WWh[ JehW^" .(#)) B[\- _d] WG@B J^_hZ 7dd_l[hiWho FkXb_i^[hÊi talk by Mrs. Amit Yaghoubi. At Rabbi ferts Boulevard, Kew Gardens. Free ad- H[fehj Xo OWWael I[hb[" mehZi e\ m[b- IY^c_ZcWdÊiI^kb"'*'#+(-'st Road, Kew mission. Yec[XoHWXX_I^bece>eY^X[h]"_djhe- Gardens Hills. Pizza will be served.

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 39 House & Home Rabbi Gedaliah and Sarah Newcomb Diffi cult Situations Arising During A Real Estate Transaction - From The Seller’s End ast week we discussed possible improper use or work done without per- ately grateful, or expressive of gratitude, ity and in all of our potential! complications during a real estate mits, which they were or were not aware we can feel good knowing that we have Never forget that prayers and compas- Ltransaction from a buyer’s side. of, a lien on the property from the IRS or performed what was necessary as is our sion are essential to the success of any Now let’s consider any number of cir- Con Ed or the Water Department, or any job and as is the mentchlich and respon- undertaking and should be displayed and cumstances which may and have come other claim which was unexpected. sible thing to do in the name of chesed. used often and freely. Taken from a book up from the seller’s side. Once again, Some of the above situations may Many of the things we have done for oth- of motivations on self-growth: “Today I this can include the seller/homeowner, disrupt or delay a real estate transaction ers were done quietly. We do not need will practice compassion. First I will be seller’s family/inheritors, and any of the at any stage of its development. An ex- the fanfare. Sometimes they never even kind and loving to myself, but I will not support people on the seller’s end as perienced and wise realtor will be able found out about it. That may be the big- stop there. I will extend this compas- well. The realtor is one of the only peo- to handle most of these issues as they gest form of chesed, we have been told. sion to others; I am one among my fel- ple involved who has the luxury of direct lows. When I offer unconditional love, it contact and communication with both eventually comes back to me multiplied.” sides and all parties of any transaction. I have seen a financial setback occur, And: “Prayer is available any time, any Sometimes, sellers who have lived in loss of employment, theft, any other legal issue, place. It is undetectable to outside eyes, a house for a long time become attached but it bears a seed of transformation that to it. They may not be happy about mov- even an unplanned disruption in the family, can bring the most unmanageable situa- ing. There may have been a life-chang- like an impending divorce, occur tion into perspective.” ing situation that requires relocation in the middle of marketing a home for sale. FYI: Important Real Estate News Alert but is not necessarily by choice. I have from the President of the National Associ- seen what appears to be self-sabotage of ation of Realtors: a sale when in actuality a seller did not arise and know who to contact for help Along that note, I received an email The package of tax extensions ap- really intend to sell or relocate. I have on others. Since some of the above cir- from Bnos Malka Academy, where my proved by the U.S. House and Senate, seen crisis arise in the way of an unex- cumstances may temporarily make the daughter is a student. It was regarding a and headed to the President’s desk for pected death in the family or an accident sellers unavailable, a realtor will have to parent who accidentally scratched anoth- signature, includes important provisions or illness. I have seen a fi nancial setback take the initiative and keep things run- er car on the way out of the parking lot that will help distressed homeowners occur, loss of employment, theft, any ning smoothly along. Sometimes there after PTA. That parent wanted to know and commercial property investors with other legal issue, even an unplanned dis- is a designated relative or friend who whose car it was that was scratched so transactions made during 2014. The Na- ruption in the family, like an impending can step in where needed. It is import- that they could repair any damage and tional Association of Realtors applauds divorce, occur in the middle of market- ant that all the remaining team players apologize. Another case of “doing the congressional leaders in both chambers ing a home for sale. On the fl ip side of stay unifi ed in their goals. Sometimes right thing even when nobody is look- for coming together to pass this legisla- the above may be a simchah, the engage- we will see a seller/homeowner who is ing” always restores my faith in human- tion before adjournment. ment of a child or grandchild, becoming not at ease asking for help. In cases like a parent or grandparent, a promotion in these, and where it is entirely clear that Rabbi Gedaliah and Sarah Newcomb are NY State licensed realtors for over 13 years. employment thereby possibly changing a assistance is truly needed, a realtor can While specializing in Kew Gardens Hills, where they are long-time community mem- relocation plan, receiving an inheritance, wisely and gently fi nd a way to step in bers, they serve all areas in the fi ve boroughs and Long Island. They hold several spe- a re-marriage of a widow or widower or and step up to the plate without being cialty certifi cations and are members of the Long Island Board of Realtors and the their family members, and so on. asked or even without encouragement Multiple Listing Service of Queens and Long Island. Rabbi Newcomb is a beloved rebbe Last minute disruptions have includ- from the seller. Someone has to do what at Yeshiva Tiferes Moshe. Sarah Newcomb has won multiple awards from RE/MAX NY ed: A homeowner discovering that there must be done. In the end, in the vast and RE/MAX International. They make their home in and are proud members of the is a violation on the property either from majority of cases, the seller/homeowner Kew Gardens Hills community, along with their family. Contact information: Direct the city regarding a sidewalk, or the De- will realize what has transpired and be cell: 917-459-7549 • E-mail: [email protected] • Website: QueensReal- partment of Buildings regarding any grateful. Even if they are not immedi- torTeam.com

a slave, and Yehudah is taking a wife. Inspirational Speakers At The Annual Shabbaton However, the Midrash explains that, in actuality, HaKadosh Baruch Hu was preparing for the oro shel Mashi- Of Shevach High School In The Long Beach Hotel ach. So too in galus, HaKadosh Ba- CONTINUED FROM P. 39 simple wagon driver greater than us? and husband of Shevach’s princi- ruch Hu is taking care of us and send- He answered: No, but due to the fact pal Rebbetzin Rochelle Hirtz. Rabbi ing us messages that we just need to his townspeople that if they have that we are more sophisticated than Hirtz stressed that no matter what hear. We may not always experience true bitachon, Hashem would pro- the simple wagon driver and know elaborate efforts we make, ultimately open miracles, but if we take a closer vide for them. A simple wagon driv- there is the necessity of hishtadlus, HaKadosh Baruch Hu runs the world look, we will see His guiding hand. er then decided to put all his trust it is diffi cult for us to ascertain if we according to His master plan. While This in fact was evident this past in Hashem, giving up his job, even are exempt from work. Therefore, it we do our thing, HaKadosh Baruch summer during Operation Protective selling his horse and wagon, and sat is much more complicated for us to Hu is involved in fulfi lling His goal Edge, where even our enemies had and learned Torah all day. Eventu- achieve that pure level of bitachon. of preparing the world for the ulti- to admit that the G-d of the Jews was ally a miracle occurred to him, and For S’udah Sh’lishis, the Shevach mate g’ulah. This signifi cant concept helping them. When we will fulfi ll his horse returned bearing a wagon students joined the Young Israel of is portrayed in Parshas VaYeishev, the mitzvah of “V’Yadata es Hashem,” full of treasures. The students of the Long Beach, where everyone was ad- where m’chiras Yosef is followed by of truly recognizing yad Hashem, we Alshich then asked him, why do such dressed by Rabbi Yonoson Hirtz, Rav the story of Yehudah and Tamar. To will merit seeing the ultimate g’ulah miracles not happen to us? Is this of Utopia Jewish Center, m’chanech, all appearances, Yosef is being sold as speedily in our days.

40 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 For What It’s Worth

Warren S. Hecht Being A Contrarian

contrarian has been defi ned made the request. There is a time and ers. It is worse to act in such a man- is arrogant and shows a lack of respect as “a person who takes an op- place to be unique. It is more import- ner when it is a rabbi who makes the to the spiritual leader of the commu- A posite or different position or ant to compromise and not upset oth- request. To ignore the rabbi’s request nity. attitude from other people.” One of the theories of investing is “contrarian investing.” The theory is that you buy a stock when many shareholders are looking to unload the stock. This usu- ally happens when there is bad news in a particular stock or in an industry. For example, in the past few months, the price of oil has plummeted. The

Although in most circumstances there is nothing wrong with being a contrarian as long as it is halachically permissible, some people go too far typical approach has been to dump any stock in this industry. A contrar- ian sees it as a buying opportunity. Being a Jew is being a contrarian, since Jews are only a small minority. Being a religious Jew is being a great- er contrarian since only a minority of Jews is religious. Some people like to be contrarians in other ways, such as dressing differ- ently or wearing retro clothes. Although in most circumstances there is nothing wrong with being a contrarian as long as it is halachically permissible, some people go too far. I believe the test is whether the con- duct insults the beliefs and sensibili- ties of others. A person who acts in such a manner is not merely being a contrarian but is also being chutzpa- dik. For example, I have seen funerals, lectures, weddings, or other events where the host, speaker, or rabbi wants to have separate seating, but some individuals feel the need to sit in the section of the opposite sex. Many of these people do so because they disagree with the request or re- quirement of separate seating in these venues, and want to make a statement or just want to be different. Most of these individuals would never pray where men and women sit togeth- er. They just believe separate seating should not apply in other situations. These people should realize they have to be sensitive to those who have

Warren S. Hecht is President of the Queens Jewish Community Council and a local attorney. He can be reached at [email protected].

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 41 Socially Savvy Esti Berkowitz New Kosher East Side Café Opens Just In Time For Yeshiva Week Staycation n a little over a week, families will percent pure Piemonte Nutella; White customers two options: coffee slow- want to remarry the magnifi cent team be fi nalizing their Yeshiva Week Chocolate Granny Smith Apple; Bleu ly dripped overnight in Japanese cold of exceptional coffee with magnifi cent Iplans. While some will be heading Cheese Pear; Feta Kalamata Olives; brew towers, and “coffee on tap,” the pastries, a pair that will stimulate pal- to the beach, others will be layering up Farmer’s Cheese Raspberry, and Barri- perfect “draft” American iced coffee, fea- ates and souls and carry them back to for snow- and ski-weather destinations. loche’s Dulce de Leche. turing a powerful extraction of fl avor the Brooklyn I grew up in.” This sounds Then there will be the staycation crowd Everything in this dairy eatery is cer- and caffeine. If you are very invested in like a future meeting place for me and in search of fun activities in the New tifi ed kosher under the supervision and where your coffee is from, you will fi nd my Upper East Side friends. From what York area. Well, I’ve got one more to add certifi cation of Rabbi Melhlman of Con- that Petite Shell’s coffee is roasted ex- I was told, the décor is contemporary and it involves rugelach and coffee. gregation Ohav Shalom on the UWS. clusively by Forty Weight Coffee Roast- and warm, but more than anything, Starting January 14, Petite Shell, a la- As a total coffee lover, I am so happy ers, a boutique, third-wave coffee outfi t it engages all senses as if one was in bor of love from Brooklyn entrepreneur that Shmilly will have the fi nest, high- in Ithaca, NY. Shmilly’s neighborhood in Brooklyn – Shmilly Gruenstein, will open its doors est-quality coffee, brewed utilizing the What else will you take in at Petite the smell of fresh baking and the sooth- and aromas for all to consume delicious most sophisticated and modern tech- Shell as you sip your coffee and eat fl a- ing sound of steaming coffee taking you kosher rugelach. It is located at 1269 Lex- niques. While I am looking forward vorful rugelach? “It was important for back to a time gone by. ington Avenue, at East 85th Street. You to a hot cup of coffee brewed with the me to design the space so that it would If you happen to go to Petite Shell can learn more about the food and the freshest coffee grinds, I was very im- feel inviting. I wanted to encourage the next week, share an image of your cof- inspiration behind this tasty endeavor pressed to hear that the coffee will be warm conversations that I remember so fee or rugelach, and let me know what by Shmilly at www.petite-shell.com. brewed via a Steampunk, a new brew- fondly from gatherings during my child- you liked about your entire dining ex- From what I have read so far, Shmilly ing machine that uses steam and water hood,” says Shmilly. He continues, “I perience. takes the tradition of rugelach by curat- to extract maximum aroma and fl avor. ing various fl avors to infuse inside the While I can only think of hot coffee in Esti Berkowitz is a freelance writer who shares her reviews of food, travel, products, dough, and offering it alongside the per- these blistery days ahead, the summer and family fun on her blog, primetimeparenting.com. Esti also provides social media fect cup of coffee. Some of the creative season will have some delicious iced marketing and brand strategy consulting for companies looking to increase their on- fl avors awaiting the crowd include 100 coffees as well. Shmilly will offer his line presence.

nu (Together, the nation will be with today exceeds the birthrate of the Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Yoni Chetboun us). He intends to gain its core sup- Arabs. He recalled the friendly rela- porters from Habayit ha-Yehudi, a tions that Arabs had with Israelis in religious nationalist party, from the the years following 1967 and hopes Speaks In Great Neck Sephardic religious party, Shas, and that the interchange between the CONTINUED FROM P. 30 boun advocated the right of Jews from the many Israelis who share two populations can be restored. to live in the land of Israel and the traditional Jewish values. His optimism was also tempered by anon War, he was serving in the Is- maintenance of Jewish values in While he believes that in the patience when he stated that many raeli Defense Forces in the Golani the State of Israel. Of the Arab Israe- next election, to be held on March of the things he hoped for must be Brigade that was fi ghting Hezbol- li confl ict, he stated that it was not 17, 2015, Mr. Netanyahu will be re- moved forward gradually in stages. lah in southern Lebanon, in a small a question of territory but an ideo- elected Prime Minister, MK Chet- MK Chetboun was introduced by town called Bint Jbeil. He recalled logical confl ict. As such, it cannot boun would like his party to join Dr. Paul Brody, Vice President of the that there was shooting all around be solved by simply drawing bound- others in the coalition. In this way, Jewish Political Education Founda- him and his company when his aries. However, he stated that this is he hopes that the issues that his tion, who arranged for the Deputy commander, Major Roi Klein, saw not Israel’s most discussed problem party brings to the table will be re- Speaker to address the Great Neck a grenade that was about to ex- at this time. Most of the current de- solved in the way that he feels will community, after the audience was plode, and covered it with his body bates in the Knesset are over ques- best benefi t the country. welcomed by Hilly Milun, Presi- to save the lives of his soldiers. At tions of Jewish identity— the role His optimism was evident when dent of the GNS Men’s Club. MK that point, Mr. Chetboun was some of Judaism in the state. For exam- he retold the story of the conversa- Chetboun’s remarks were followed distance away from the grenade but ple, MK Chetboun cited many bills tion between David Ben-Gurion and with a summation by Dr. Lawrence was informed over his radio that that have been put forward recently Chaim Weizmann three days before Schiffman, Professor of Hebrew and Major Klein was mortally wounded. over the issue of civil marriage and Ben-Gurion proclaimed the inde- Judaic Studies at New York Univer- He led six of his soldiers across an other religious issues, in which he pendence of the new State of Isra- sity. His concluding remarks cau- open fi eld, in great danger and un- favors the status quo. Like a young el in 1948. Weizmann thought that tioned the audience to be wary of der fi re, to retrieve Klein’s body. child who is only interested in his the proclamation was premature those who criticize the Israeli polit- After he left the Army, Mr. Chet- physical well-being and then grows because there were only 600,000 ical system. Dr. Schiffman reminded boun considered a career in busi- up to question who he is, Israel is Jews in the country and over 1 mil- everyone that the plethora of parties ness, but he realized that his true a young state that has come of age lion Arabs. Ben-Gurion responded and the making of a coalition gov- inclination was to continue serving and is now not simply interested that if the state were proclaimed, ernment is a system that is not well the Jewish people by entering the in economic issues and securing a many more Jews would come to understood by Americans. However, Israeli political fi eld. Of Sephar- healthy life for its citizens, but now Israel. Not only was that hope real- it works well in Israel, allowing is- dic parents who emigrated from has come to question the very na- ized through massive immigration, sues to come to the fore that infl u- France, he is fl uent in English, ture of the Jewish state and how it but Mr. Chetboun pointed out that ence the major parties and the ac- French and Hebrew and has been a shall be realized. even today, when many people tions of the Prime Minister. He also Knesset delegate to NATO, the EU, To this objective, Mr. Chetboun think that the Arabs will overcome noted that the Arab-Israeli confl ict and to countries in South America. has joined a new political party in the Jews in Israel demographical- must be seen in the wider context As a Religious Zionist, Mr. Chet- formation, called Yachad ha-Am Ita- ly, the average birth rate of Israelis of events in the Middle East.

42 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Classifieds Eldercare II: An Evening To Remember

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Yom Hakaddish Haklali At YIKGH CONTINUED FROM P. 28 the opportunity to take revenge on his enemies. His response was, “I leave re- his grandfather and his grandfather’s venge to the Ribbono shel Olam.” brother smuggled a pair of t’fi lin into Rabbi Glatstein referred to an alli- the camp and woke very early every ance of Eichmann and the Mufti that morning to put them on. One time, his grandfather had recounted. This a vicious Nazi in charge of the camp is reminiscent of Eisav and Yishmael caught them but miraculously he teaming together. He then quoted the grew frightened and just left. Vilna Gaon that if the two galus per- His grandfather stated that Torah is petrators, Eisav and Yishmael, would what gave them the strength to carry join together, they would destroy the on. Without it, they would have been world. lost in their suffering. It was the Ge- He shared powerful words from mara that they had memorized that his grandmother’s book, Flares of kept them going. In 1945, when his Memory, followed by the reciting of grandfather was fi nally freed, the Al- Kaddish and the chanting of Kel Malei lies handed him a gun and offered him Rachamim.

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 43 Frontlines Joseph M. Frager Is Obama Interfering In The Upcoming Israeli Election? residents of the United States are with his family. In 2011, after Nicolas not supposed to interfere in for- Sarkozy told President Obama on a “hot Peign countries’ democratic process. mic” that he could no longer bear Ben- Elections in Israel, unlike any of its neigh- jamin Netanyahu and called him a liar, boring 22 Arab states, are truly democratic. President Obama responded, “You are fed Israel is a remarkable bastion of democ- up with him, but I have to deal with him racy, rivaling only that of the USA in the even more often than you.” In 2013, on free world. The president of the United the President’s last trip to Israel, he made States has no business injecting himself sure to shake Yair Lapid’s hand in a very into Israel’s election. Unfortunately, vari- energetic and obvious-to-all “endorsing” ous presidents on both sides of the aisle manner. Some call it a “masonic hand- have done so. shake,” indicating “the one who will light The worst offender was probably Bill the torch.” Clinton, who sent over his close friend In contrast, the President does not miss and political guru James Carville to Isra- an opportunity to snub Prime Minister el in 1999 to help Ehud Barak get elect- Netanyahu. In October 2014, the White ed prime minister. President H.W. Bush House denied a request by Bibi’s Defense helped Yitzchak Rabin win his election in Minister Moshe Ya’alon to meet with Vice 1992 – mostly indirectly, by calling for the President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Madrid Conference which embarrassed In contrast, the President does not miss an opportunity John Kerry, and National Security Advisor then Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir, and Susan Rice. This was the very same month played into the hands of the Pro-Oslo La- to snub Prime Minister Netanyahu when Jeffrey Goldberg described relations bor Party. President Obama would very much like to see a Livni-Herzog-Lapid co- CONTINUED ON P. 45 alition in Israel. As Commander in Chief thing in his power to bring this about. in a White House meeting room for over with the largest platform of any political It started in 2010 when the President an hour after President Obama abruptly Joseph M. Frager is a physician and fi gure in the world, he has done every- left Prime Minister Netanyahu to stew walked out of tense talks to have dinner lifelong activist.

What Will Keep Us Strong?

CONTINUED FROM P. 6 an amazing sight. A group of young people were walking together with they enjoy the full support of their an upright and aristocratic bearing. canes. The wood may be worn, but Their faces shone with light and the base is solid and will easily carry they behaved with polished refi ne- their weight.” ment. Just looking at them made He then pointed to another area, one’s heart soar with joy and pride. where R’ Hirsch watched as young They also carried sticks in their children of various ages ran, skipped, hands, and these sticks were objects danced, and played their childish of beauty. Handcrafted wood, pol- games. They, too, were holding ished to a gleam, obviously objects sticks, but their sticks were thin and of better quality. short, and looked as if they might “My son,” the man said to R’ snap at any moment. The children Hirsch. “These are the wise youth. even used the sticks in their games, They have seen the ways of their throwing them about and thrash- fathers and have chosen to walk in ing them in the air. “What you see their footsteps. They are refi ned here,” said the man again, “are the and pure, and they carry sticks that children and grandchildren of the not only support them, but enhance elderly men. They, too, carry sticks the quality of their lives.” He paused but there is an obvious difference for a moment. “Do you know what between their sticks and those of type of stick they are carrying?” their elders. Their sticks are small R’ Hirsch shook his head. “Hold and weak because they have whit- out your hand,” said the man, and tled them down and turned them R’ Hirsch held out his hand. The into playthings. They took their sol- man placed one of these sticks in id stakes of wood and sanded them his hand. “Look for yourself at what down until they are no more than this stick is.” R’ Hirsch opened his twigs. These sticks cannot support hand and in it was... a Sefer Torah. them for if they leaned on them, “Take this as your support,” said they would surely snap!” the majestic man, “and let it guide Now, the man pointed in a third you throughout your life. This will direction, and there R’ Hirsch saw support you!”

44 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 dient – a sense of common destiny, a We are one. One Nation, Indivisible sense of brotherhood, the sense that I For that reason, when Moshe wit- am one with my fellow Jew. And that nessed this act of cruel gossip monger- CONTINUED FROM P. 16 high. This single action shed light is why the nation deserved to be pun- ing, he took it as a sign of the health onto the madregah of the people. ished. of the nation. If the bottom has sunk situation to the Jewish people. He ex- The Chofetz Chaim explains that this low, the head can’t be that much plains that our nation is one unit – ir- the antidote to lashon hara is “loving More is expected higher. He then understood why the revocably tied together in a common my neighbor.” If I, in fact, viewed him from the Chosen Nation Jews deserved such treatment. If any fate. What happens to one affects as connected to me, I would never If the people involved were the other nation degrades one another, another. The state of each individual speak negatively about him. It would French, the Germans, or the ancient there isn’t much fault found with impacts the whole. There is no such be like bad-mouthing myself. Greeks, this wouldn’t have been an them. If a member of the Chosen concept as one person doing what he This seems to be the answer to this issue. They are a people by circum- People speaks badly about another, wants in the privacy of his home and Rashi. The Jewish nation is one. If stance, born of common lineage and that bodes serious consequences. We not affecting the klal. But more than such an incident of vicious slander brought up in a common land, but are held to a higher standard. this, we are one body. Where the tail could occur, it refl ected on the state there ends the connection. The Jew- This concept is a powerful lesson goes, the head can’t be far behind. of nation. If the people had been on ish people are different. As children to us about the unity of the Jewish When Moshe saw the levels that the a higher level, this could not have of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, we people, our common destiny, and the tail had sunk to, he knew that the transpired. It meant that the nation share a common heritage and destiny. power of each individual to impact body of the nation couldn’t be that as a whole was lacking in a key ingre- We are bound together for eternity. the whole.

Is Obama Interfering In The Upcoming Israeli Election?

CONTINUED FROM P. 44

between the U.S. and Israel as a “full-blown crisis,” and a senior Obama Administra- tion offi cial called Netanyahu “chicken-expletive deleted.” Both Livni and Lapid jumped on these situations to say Ne- tanyahu was spoiling the Is- rael-America relationship. In point of fact, it was the Pres- ident who was creating the crises to help Livni and Lapid. The President has become more subtle lately in his in- jection of himself into Israeli politics. He now lets The New York Times do his bidding. In a series of articles by Roger Cohen, Livni and Herzog are touted as the saviors of Israel. He declares, “As the campaign for March elections begins, this disquiet looks like the precursor of political change. The status quo with its bloody and inconclusive interludes has become less bearable.” The New York Times does not offi cially work for the Presi- dent but has been his most steadfast apologist and sup- porter. The Israeli public is very leery of President Obama. Israel is facing increasing ex- istential threats, whether it is from Iran or Hamas. The President’s interference is not helpful to a very worried Israe- li populace. America just sent the President a very clear mes- sage in its recent mid-term elections. I believe Israel will do the same in its upcoming election.

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 45 46 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Estee Kafra, author of three best-selling cookbooks, Delectable Dishes runs KosherScoop.com, an interactive website with all the latest and greatest in kosher cooking, featuring over 1,000 recipes. Estee Kafra, kosherscoop.com Smoky Butternut Squash Soup Ingredients Beef fry or pastrami – 1 Soy sauce – 2 tsp. pkg., cut into thin strips Smoked meat – 2 3-inch Onions – 2, diced cubes, or 1 additional pkg. Butternut squash – 3 beef fry/pastrami medium Salt and freshly ground Maple syrup – for driz- black pepper – to taste zling, plus 2 tbsp. Dried thyme – 1 tsp. Chicken stock – to cover

Instructions and cook until soft. Add the remaining ingredients, letting Preheat oven to 400° F. Slice butternut squash in half the piece of smoked meat cook along with the rest of the 1and drizzle with maple syrup; place face down on a cook- ingredients. Let simmer for 45 minutes to an hour. ie sheet. Roast for about half an hour or until skin can be Let soup cool and remove the piece of smoked meat. pierced with a fork. Scrape out seeds and discard. 3Blend with an immersion blender (taste for seasoning) Preheat a large pot and place the sliced beef fry or pastra- and reheat when serving. If soup is too thick, add chicken 2mi at the bottom. Let cook for about 5 minutes, letting stock until desired consistency is reached. Throw the pieces the fat fry and the meat shrivel up. Remove from pot and set of cooked beef fry back into a pan for 1 minute to reheat. aside on a paper towel. Do not wash the pot. Add the onions Garnish with a spoonful of the fried meat. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse Ingredients Eggs – 8, separated Chocolate chips – 1 9-oz. bag Coffee granules – 2 tsp. Boiling water – 2 tsp. Cocoa powder – 2 tsp. Good-quality peanut butter – 3 tbsp. Instructions eat egg whites until stiff. Melt Bchocolate chips in a double boiler. Dissolve the coffee in the boiling water; then add the cocoa powder immediate- ly and stir to dissolve. When chocolate chips are melted, add yolks, one at a time, whisking vigorously after each ad- combine. Spoon 1 cup of beaten whites incorporated. Refrigerate up to 2 days dition. Remove from heat and add the into the chocolate mixture and fold or freeze. Note: If you prefer a sweet- dissolved coffee and cocoa mixture and together. Pour the mixture back into er mousse, add ½ cup of sugar into the the peanut butter. Whisk vigorously to the whites and fold again until fully egg white mixture.

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 47 48 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Op-Ed Anti-Israel Forces Losing Ground By Moshe Phillips tinians and abstained. Further shifts to making an actual policy decision, the to the number who have a favorable in Third World attitudes toward Israel British government refused to go along view of the other countries in Israel’s ritics of Israel periodically issue could be in the offi ng. According to re- with the UN resolution. neighborhood: Egypt – 45 percent; Saudi doomsday warnings about how cent media reports from India, the New Much the same is true with regard Arabia – 35 percent; Libya – 19 percent; Cthe Jewish state will face interna- Delhi government is seriously consider- to the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanc- Palestinian Authority – 19 percent; Iraq tional isolation if it does not quickly give ing adopting a more pro-Israel position tions (BDS) campaign against Israel. The – 16 percent; Syria – 13 percent; Iran – 12 in to Palestinian demands. Last week’s at the United Nations. As the founder movement’s few successes have generat- percent. United Nations Security Council vote of the Third World/Non-Aligned bloc, In- ed a lot of attention but do not neces- And this is despite decades of un- shows, once again, how wrong they are. dia’s possible new orientation would sig- sarily indicate some new trend in public friendly news media coverage of Israel, Earlier this year, Secretary of State John nal that the underdeveloped nations are opinion towards Israel. Recall that when and despite the Obama administration’s Kerry warned that Israel’s reluctance to no longer in the Arab League’s pocket. the American Studies Association voted frequent statements of sympathy for the make more unilateral concessions will Important Western countries, like- last year to boycott Israel, it received Palestinian Arabs. bring down upon it “an increasing dele- wise, took a stand at the UN last week. enormous international media atten- The gloom-and-doom crowd has an gitimization campaign.” New York Times Australia voted against the resolution – tion. Not many people are aware that agenda. They want to force Israel to re- columnist Thomas Friedman and other despite recent Islamic extremist attacks the ASA’s action was condemned by the treat. So they promulgate self-fulfi lling pundits likewise declared that Israel is and threats that might easily have intim- American Association of Universities, prophecies about Israel being isolated, increasingly “isolated” and is being treat- idated other governments. Great Britain the American Association of University in the hope of browbeating the Jewish ed as a “pariah” state. abstained – despite the recent vote by Professors, and the American Council State and its friends into giving up. They But when Palestinian advocates last the British parliament supporting recog- on Education (representing 1,800 educa- never win at the ballot box, so they look week presented the UN Security Coun- nition of “Palestine.” tional institutions), not to mention the for alternative ways to bring about Israe- cil with a resolution demanding an Is- At the time of that British parliamen- 92 university presidents – including the li concessions. Demoralization is a tac- raeli withdrawal from Judea, Samaria, tary vote, there was much hand-wring- presidents of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, tic. Generating despair is their goal. and much of Jerusalem, they couldn’t ing in the Jewish world. The vote Dartmouth, Cornell, and Johns Hopkins Israel and its supporters understand- muster enough supporting votes – in a seemed to lend credence to claims by – who issued a statement denouncing ably worry about how the Jewish State forum which, in the past, was notorious the doomsday crowd that Israel’s reluc- the ASA’s boycott. is viewed by the rest of the world. But as the scene of international ganging-up tance to make more one-sided conces- The American public at large, like- last week’s events at the UN, and other on Israel. sions was leading “all of Europe” to turn wise, remains fi rmly in Israel’s camp. recent trends, show that skilled diplo- The Third World bloc, which is against it. More sober-minded observers This year’s Gallup annual World Affairs macy, reasonable arguments, and, ulti- thought of as being uniformly anti-Israel, pointed out at the time that symbolic survey found fully 72 percent of Ameri- mately a just cause, can go a long way suddenly cracked. Two African nations, resolutions in parliaments are not the cans have a “very favorable” or “mostly towards blunting the international cam- Nigeria and Rwanda, defi ed the Pales- fi nal word. Sure enough, when it came favorable” view of Israel. Compare that paign against Israel. On Profi ts and Prophets Leading finance expert Jeremy Josse explains the intriguing paradoxes behind our economic system; drawing lessons from the Bible and Jewish sages.

By Daniel Perez in the realm of Judaic studies), as well as the many failings of our current regu- ith advanced degrees in latory system. philosophy and economics Josse’s book also delves into the psy- Wfrom some of the UK’s most chology of banking and fi nance, posit- prestigious universities, it’s fair to con- ing the existence of “white collar psy- sider Jeremy Josse a preeminent scholar chopaths,” and explaining how, just as on the philosophy of fi nance. But with our innermost thoughts are hidden, so more than twenty years experience as too are the laws of economics. He also an executive with major multinational provides alternative perspectives on fi rms like Schroder’s, Rothschild, and several types of fi nancial crises, includ- Citigroup, Josse is no less interested in ing the 2007-08 housing market crash. the practical aspects of the fi eld. Who When he isn’t putting his own twist on better, then, to provide an alternative “It is fair to say that fi nance is a se- teachings from Judeo-Christian canon, take on the complex, contradictory and rious matter, whereas riddles are often Mr. Josse is drawing lessons from other paradoxical world of high fi nance? frivolous,” the author maintains. “Mon- great works of Western literature, or In his new book “Dinosaur Deriva- ey, on the other hand, can be very su- crafting modern day parables of his own. tives and Other Trades,” Josse employs perfi cial, whereas philosophical puzzles “Our objective is to journey over the a multidisciplinary approach to explain to prominence as “Treasury Secretary” are profound.” It is this duality that lies metaphorical fi nancial rainbow,” ex- the basic philosophical notions that of ancient Egypt offers novel insights at the core of Mr. Josse’s book. And the plains Josse, “or perhaps go with Alice make a complex, robust economy pos- for secular and religious readers alike. philosophical tension that results fuels and explore the other side of the fi nan- sible, with all its legal fi ctions and hypo- Although written for a general audience, illuminating discussions of a wide range cial looking glass.” “Dinosaur Derivatives thetical instruments of exchange. And there is something unmistakably Jewish of topics, from the meaning of “value” it- and Other Trades” does precisely that. being a proud member of the Jewish in Josse’s writing. “Dinosaur Derivatives” self, to the infi nite ways in which a con- And while it has something for every- community, Mr. Josse even draws a few is vibrant and intellectually stimulating tract can be interpreted, to the ancient one, it has a little something extra for lessons from the Hebrew Bible and the in a way that should be familiar to those laws of usury (popular subjects indeed the Jewish reader. writings of selected rabbinic commenta- who’ve ever spent time reading and ana- tors. As a seasoned fi nancial analyst and lyzing traditional Jewish texts, yet is ac- Daniel Perez is a freelance writer and consultant based in New York City. His work has corporate leader, Josse’s exploration of cessible to readers from all backgrounds appeared in dozens of Jewish media outlets, including the Jewish Press, Ami Magazine, stories such as the biblical Joseph’s rise and walks of life. and Israel’s Arutz Sheva. Mr. Perez can be reached at [email protected].

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 49 50 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 The Informed Woman • Style Myths Debunked Meira E. Schneider-Atik Decorative Scarves: How To Myth 1: A scarf is just something you wrap around your neck for warmth in the winter. Truth 1: There are other options

that can add style and color to your look. If you’re not married, you’ll want to stick with Myth 2: A decorative scarf can only be tied very narrow, lightweight one way around the neck. scarves so they look more like hairbands. Truth 2: There are so many options I can’t afford real designer clothes, Tied around the waist as a with tying or wrapping. but these scarves sash. This works best with were an inexpen- solid-color scarves in the same remember a time when both of these terest, but not enough for the size of the sive way to get a color or same color value as were not myths. Okay, not entirely. print or shapes to make a difference. I designer name into your top and bottom so that it The fi rst one was my experience. myself love prints for decorative oblongs I my wardrobe. doesn’t break the vertical line. When I was growing up, a scarf was usu- because, to me, they’re just so much more ally knitted, and worn to keep you warm. fun. And that’s the point. That was that. But when I got older, I Do consider fabric weight and texture. was introduced to decorative scarves, and The bigger you are, the more weight and then I saw what would become Myth #2 – texture you can handle. If you’re very the idea that there was only one way to small, then heavier-weight fabrics with tie a decorative scarf. But I didn’t like that textures might overpower you. If you’re one way, so I tried other ways that I liked taller and/or bigger and prefer light- better, and I felt much better too. er-weight fabrics, that’s fi ne, but try to go From me, you get the truth. for longer lengths to keep things in pro- First of all, while there are scarves that portion. Just don’t go too long if you’re provide warmth in the winter, there are petite. also fantastic scarves in lighter-weight Once you’ve found decorative scarves fabrics that are all about color, texture, that fl atter you, it’s all about how you and style. They can add an extra layer and work with them. There are so many ways some depth to basic outfi ts. If wrapped or to wrap or drape scarves, many of which draped just right, they can camoufl age fi g- can fl atter you and camoufl age all kinds ure issues and draw attention to the face. of issues. Here are a few ideas: Second, even winter scarves can add Draped around the neck and hanging some color and style. That part is as sim- in front. This is one of my favorites. I ple as color and print. Don’t feel that have a protruding tummy, and when I your scarf has to match your coat or has would wear oblongs draped in front, my to be dull. Get one in your favorite color tummy wasn’t noticeable. I particularly or with a colorful print. Let’s face it – we liked it when I was actually pregnant but need something to brighten up the winter wasn’t ready to announce anything. The doldrums. vertical lines camoufl age all manner of Back to decorative scarves... I became torso issues and draw attention up to the hooked on them as a young adult. Many face. times, I would fi nd something in a color- Wrapped once around the neck, low, ful print that I just couldn’t put back onto and looped. I didn’t like this one at fi rst the rack. And sometimes, I would even because it always moved up so that the fi nd a scarf from a major designer. I can’t neck was closed up. But then I came up afford real designer clothes, but these with the idea of draping it low in the scarves were an inexpensive way to get a front and then looping the ends through designer name into my wardrobe. When the fi rst drape, which weighed it down Tied around the waist as a sash. This can wear them as head coverings or as designer Oscar de la Renta passed away, enough to keep my neck open. works best with solid-color scarves in the accents to them, as I do. I once wore a I wore my Oscar de la Renta scarf in his The Hacking wrap – folded in half same color or same color value as your top black oblong as a sash with a beret to a memory. lengthwise, then draped, then pull the and bottom so that it doesn’t break the fancy event, and I loved it. (Okay, I loved To wear decorative scarves well, start ends through the loop on the other end. vertical line. being the only woman not wearing hair, with color. Naturally, the color has to I actually like this one best when I do it Tied around your head. If you’re not but there it is.) fl atter your coloring. Printed scarves are on my head as an accent to my mitpachot. married, you’ll want to stick with very These are just a few ideas. As with fantastic and fun, but they must have at Done around the neck, as long as it’s low narrow, lightweight scarves so they look so many other things, you need to play least one color that fl atters you. I know enough to keep the neck open, it creates a more like hairbands. If you’re married, around and see what works. The only rule I’ve said all of this about color many times fl attering V shape. you can wear these with a fall to cov- here is to fi nd what works for you and before, but it’s all true. Decorative scarves Draped over your arms and shoulders. er the join or even just for fun. Or you then own it and love it. Don’t be afraid. are often worn near your face, so they This works best with either triangular have to fl atter. scarves, squares folded into triangles, or Meira E. Schneider-Atik is a wardrobe organizer and personal shopper. She helps One bit of good news: If you like print- very wide oblongs. But it draws attention women weed out their wardrobes, shop smartly, put together outfi ts, and save time, ef- ed scarves, you can wear any size print to the face and actually makes the arms fort, and money, all within tz’nius. Her writing on fashion and style within tz’nius has that you like. Because the scarf is smaller and shoulders less noticeable – people been published both in print and online. She is also a jewelry designer and co-founder by defi nition than your base outfi t, the might look at the color and print, but not of RenaMei Jewelry – Designed Just for You. Her pieces can be seen on www.etsy.com print will show just enough to add in- at the arms or shoulders. (just look up RenaMei). She can be reached at 718-644-6135 or at [email protected].

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 51 52 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 The Informed Woman • Beauty Briefs Risselle Naimark Say goodbye to chapped lips, forever. Winter is a season that is harsh on your lips, as well 8as your face. Keep a Vitamin E stick near your night table. You can apply this to your lips last thing Beauty Resolutions For 2015 every night and fi rst thing in the morning. This will banish those chapped lips and prepare your lips, so that your lipstick will go on smoothly. he road to failure has been paved with good intentions. So many women have Get rid of chipped polish. It will take you lots of resolutions they’d like to incorporate, from losing weight to getting in- about fi ve minutes a day to fi x your existing Tvolved in a new project. Now is the perfect time to commence a new routine, 9manicure (provided you have the same color stick with it, and, of course, succeed. Here are 10 beauty resolutions for 2015. at home). If it’s not possible, and your nail polish

Start adding an SPF. Although the sun is less visible during the winter 1months, the UVA rays are present, and can wreak havoc all year long. Use looks real messy, you’re better a moisturizer or foundation that has an off removing the old polish SPF of 15 to protect your skin from aging. and going au natural. Sloppy Wash off your makeup. Going to nails do detract from looking sleep with makeup Friday night polished. 2for Shabbos will not affect your Give the rest of your skin. However, leaving your makeup on skin attention. Your nightly is unhygienic and will make your 10face is not the only skin break out and look dull. There’s a skin that suffers from winter dryness. Why not incorporate a body moisturizer right reason they call it beauty’s rest. Diligent after you shower? Moist skin will help the lotion absorb better, and will protect your skincare will help protect your skin. skin from the dry indoor heating systems, or the cold outdoor air. Also try to drink Exfoliate twice weekly. Everyone’s skin accumulates dry and dead skin cells, several glasses of water a day in winter, as well as summer, because your skin can be which can be removed with a mask or a scrub. Your skin will certainly benefi t just as dry during the cold weather. 3by looking fresher and more luminous. It will also prepare your skin for the Trying to incorporate too many new ideas at once never seems to work. Start with moisturizer, which will help penetrate the deeper cellular levels. small steps, or one change at a time. This will help you stick with it and lead the way Organize your makeup bag and wash your brushes. This is a good time of year to succeed. to clean out your case, since you will be saving time on those dark mornings. 4When you’re pressed for time, and your makeup case has lots of unusable prod- Risselle Naimark is a Professional Freelance Makeup Artist and Skincare Consultant. She carries an extensive line of personalized skincare, cosmetics, and anti-aging prod- ucts. Risselle is also available for weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, makeup lessons, and all of your beauty needs. She can be reached at 718 263-5517.

ucts to sift through, getting ready can take much longer than necessary. Trash any old or expired products, empty bottles, and items that just do not work for you. You can then wipe down the case with a quick pre-moistened towelette. To keep your brushes from becoming unhygienic, wash them in warm water and moisturizing soft soap or moisturizing dishwashing soap, by swirling around until they become clean. Let the brushes air dry on a fl at, clean surface. They should look as good as new, once again. Try a new look. If you are stuck in a rut and have the winter blues, now is the time to make a change and dare to be different. Why not try a new smoky eye, 5or if you want a quick fi x, add a bold lipstick to transform your look instantly. It’s always fun to incorporate something new. Curl your lashes. Unless your lashes are naturally curly, use an eyelash curl- 6er for 30 seconds. This can safely and effectively open up your eyes and help the mascara do its job. Your eyes will instantly look brighter. Tame your brows. If you do not main- tain your brows, now is the time to 7start. There is nothing more distracting than a hairy, unkempt eyebrow or unibrow. Eyebrows add a polished look to your face and actually frame your eyes, which are your most expressive feature. If you have empty spots or very light and non-existent eye- brows, you can learn how to fi ll them in with the right eyebrow pencil or powder.

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 53 54 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Queens Jewish Link To Celebrate Anniversary Milestone At Gala Affair Next Week By Jennifer Jaffe Queens as well as the rest of the world. It cial honors earned by students and other tioned David Kirschner, Kew Gardens is the goal of the QJL to share important members from our community.” Hills resident and a co-president of the s the Queens Jewish Link gets events and local simchos, as well as trag- The staff at the Link is always open to Kew Gardens Hills Civic Association. “I ready to celebrate its third an- edies that befall am Yisrael and Eretz Yis- new ideas for articles and columns that love this community, and what I would Aniversary as the premier Queens rael, the community and the world, in an will offer its readers interesting news, in- really like to see the QJL promote more Jewish newspaper and the voice of the unbiased way. formation, and advice. It likes to offer its prominently is a push for more civic in- Queens Jewish community, it is not just When on June 12 the entire Jewish reader a menagerie of interesting things volvement. We chose to make this neigh- celebrating milestones of the past three world was faced with the kidnapping of to read. There are weekly columns on les- borhood our home, and we all want what years: It is celebrating a major leap into Naftali Fraenkel, Gilad Shaar, and Eyal sons and thoughts from the Torah, excit- is best for where we live, and the way to the future. Yifrach from a bus stop in the West Bank ing recipes, fascinating facts, information get things accomplished and make chang- An anniversary event is planned for on their way home to their families, the on health and wellbeing, advice on rela- es and improvements is to get involved.” Wednesday night, January 14, at the Young QJL kept its readers informed throughout tionships, games for kids, and a weekly What is different about the QJL from Israel of Jamaica Estates. Rabbi Shlomo the long wait for news on their where- message from Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld, the other Jewish newspapers is that there is Hochberg will give welcoming remarks. abouts. And when the Jewish world re- Link’s Rabbinic Consultant. support from many local rabbanim and The program will include a Jewish busi- ceived the tragic news of the loss of those “Working at a local day school and liv- organization heads. The advertising has ness development networking session. three precious n’shamos on June 30 to a vi- ing in the community, I like to see what its main focus on Queens supermarkets, Yaakov Serle, Advertising Manager for the cious, violent, unspeakable act of murder is going on in other schools, my school, Queens restaurants, Queens businesses, Link, will be sharing a publisher’s report by enemies of the Jewish people, the Link and around the neighborhood. I read it and the schools, camps, and events adver- with the guests, and Dennis Weinstein, Di- covered the story with empathy and of- every week,” said Hadas Goodrich of Fresh tised are located or take place in one of rector of Advertising at the Touro College fered strength through the written word. Meadows. “I grew up in Woodmere and the many Queens local Jewish communi- and University System, will be the guest A writer was at every community-wide most of the papers were just about the ties. speaker. T’hilim gathering to share the incredible Five Towns or Brooklyn; we needed one Shira Kalker, who grew up in Kew Queens has a thriving Jewish com- response and support of the Queens Jew- that is mostly about the Queens Commu- Gardens Hills, said, “I love that the paper munity with a plethora of synagogues, ish community. nity.” offers local news and has different and schools, restaurants, and shopping. What The QJL has covered all major events Though a newspaper cannot please all interesting stories and notifi cations of this Jewish community was missing was that have affected the community. On of its readers in every article, the Link is upcoming events in my neighborhood. a link – one that would connect the resi- June 1, the Link was at the 21st Annual Cele- working diligently towards a paper that It lets me keep up with community af- dents of the many diverse neighborhoods brate Israel Parade and Israel Day Concert offers the Queens Jewish community in- fairs. I also enjoy going through all of to the goings on in their own community celebrating the Jewish homeland, and formation on current events, guidance the pictures in the Community Snap- and as a result to each other. The Link has more recently offered words of thanks as to how to open lines of communica- shots section and looking for faces that covered events in the Queens community: and appreciation to the NYPD, especially tion with local organizations that offer I know.” from local school and organizational din- the Queens local precincts, for all they do services, chesed opportunities, and civic With ongoing support from the com- ners, shared nachas in the many successes to protect the community and keep it safe. involvement like the Kew Gardens Hills munity and event participation of state, and accomplishments of local communi- “Mostly I like to read the Community Civic Association, the Queens Jewish city, and community government offi cials, ty members, to up-to-date news that has section, which has articles about events at Community Council, Tomchei Shabbos, as well as our Borough President, Melin- had a major effect on the local communi- the local schools and camps. As a mother and the Kashrus Division and Chevrah da Katz, who will be giving introductory ty in general, and on the Jewish communi- of two elementary school students in a lo- Kadisha that are under the auspices of the remarks at the Queens Jewish Link Third ty in particular. cal yeshivah, it is fun to read about what is Vaad of Queens. Anniversary event, the Link will continue It is a civic responsibility for the QJL going on,” said Mazal Yusupov, a comput- “The Link has been amazing at really its purpose of bringing the community to report the news and keep the readers er teacher who resides in Fresh Meadows. capturing Queens. There is real commit- together through keeping its readers well well informed as to what is going on in “It is especially nice to read about the spe- ment towards our entire borough,” men- informed.

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 55 Redneck Car Repairs

Solutions to last issue’s puzzles

56 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 Across Crossword Puzzle 1. Droop 29. Decant 51. Vocalized 4. Saturate 30. Front part of a 52. Append 8. Faction vessel 55. Redact 12. Frame of a ship 31. Tender 58. Consideration in 13. Exhort 34. Appointed dealing with others 14. Employee assistant 60. Worship organization 37. Destiny 62. Aquatic bird 16. Auxiliary 38. Fuss 64. Cultivate by 17. Whittle 39. Precipitation growing 18. Paris subway 40. Back muscle 66. Region system 41. Type of golf club 67. Hard material used 19. Iron and carbon 42. Small snake as an abrasive alloy 43. Matured 68. Succulent 21. Portable shelter 45. Wander 69. Asterisk 23. Repair 47. Hymenopterous 70. Window glass 24. For each insect 71. Let for money 25. Double-reed 48. Cooking vessel 72. Amateur radio instrument 49. Mush operator 27. Beam 50. Body of water

Down 1. Matching set of 12. Fastener 35. Alleviate 52. Large artery furniture 15. Show assent 36. Tube 53. Aspiration 2. Type of tree 20. Plunder 37. An interest 54. Having a high 3. Mirth 22. Slow pace of followed with zeal price 4. Consume a little running 40. Allow 55. Female sheep at a time 26. Purchase 41. Mischievous fairy 56. Slightly wet 5. Speaker 28. Wonderment 43. Simian 57. Notion 6. Concur 29. Play on words 44. Caprine animal 59. A great distance 7. Sharp 30. Nocturnal 45. Operate 61. Sprint 8. Total mammal 46. Seaweed 63. Cereal grass 9. Foe 31. Agressive remark 49. Regular customer seed 10. Make 32. Object of worship 50. Austere 65. Encountered reference to 33. Finished 51. Relative 11. Ripped 34. Dreary magnitude

SOLUTIONS WILL APPEAR IN NEXT ISSUE. Can you spot the 10 differences?

17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 57 58 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015 17 Tevet 5775 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] 59 60 QueensJewishLink.com • 917.549.6145 • [email protected] January 8, 2015