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INSIDE FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK A LIVELY, COLORFUL PURIM Popes And Yarmulkes BY LARRY GORDON Rabbi Yair Hoffman 12 Government Unmasked Political Scrabble Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu 27 We need to open this government in Israel. We live MindBiz board. We’re locked into one in new times that demand Esther Mann, LMSW 28 part of the Scrabble board and charting a course with all we have is a bunch of courage and responsible inno-

Overrated Interference unexciting letters that cannot vation, but for now all we are P h o t Hannah Reich Berman o 40 build any words with the getting both here in the B y I r a

potential for any high score. United States as well as in T h o Kitchen Kronicles m a

It’s a frustrating feeling, a Israel—where so much of our s C r Sherry Waldman 68 e a t

sense that the game is about daily attention is focused—is i o n to fall apart as there is just no the same old unworkable for- s place to go. mulas laced with a stigma- Students of the Yeshiva of Far Rockaway visiting their rebbi’s house on Purim afternoon. The streets of Jewish communities around the world were filled This is the feeling I get tized vision of the future. with children and adults adorned in colorful costumes celebrating the watching Benjamin Netan- triumph of the Jewish people in ancient Persia 2,367 years ago. yahu trying to form a coalition Continued on Page 8 See More Photos, Page 81 Levi Zahn, v’’g: A Friend With Style HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE BY LARRY GORDON Kashrus At 35,000 Feet The Far Rockaway–Law- A big BMG Shabbos. rence community was jolted BY LARRY GORDON around-the-clock seeing to it See Page 82 on Sunday as the news spread that all is kosher halachically about the tragic and untimely Here’s a good question for and qualitatively. passing of Levi Zahn, a’h, at you: How much rabbinical And that’s why Israel’s 50. A friendly and engaging supervision do you need five national airline, El Al, has individual, Levi was the cata- or six miles up in the air? Rabbi Yochanan Hayut at its lyst for much good in our Well, probably more than you rabbinical helm seeing to it community including efforts usually need down here on that every aspect of religious to increase communal Torah the ground. When you’re up life as it impacts your flying study and enhance the quali- there sitting quietly in your experience is covered at the ty of the davening in our seat minding your own busi- highest levels and at the shuls. He was an active board ness on the way to Israel, it’s strictest standards. A Jewish good to know that there is a Continued on Page 25 team of rabbanim at work Continued on Page 10 Purim Torah study with Yeshivas Mordechai HaTzaddik. See Page 80 Passing On The Mir Legacy Letters To NOSH SOME The Editor HAMENTASH! Inwood: Revitalization Another Mother’s Musings Or Nuisance? BY PHYLLIS J. Dear Editor, LUBIN Thanks for expressing your concerns in your editorial It’s that time of year again. (“Strange News from In- We begin to get into the wood,” March 6). It’s always Purim spirit on Rosh Chodesh good to see the bigger picture. Adar, and then a mere 14 days With that in mind, I feel it’s later it’s time for us to enjoy Rabbi Paysach Krohn important to understand the the holiday! There is indeed at HAFTR. concerns of all of the resi- something special about this See Page 52 dents of Inwood. Certainly time of year that seems to per- there are a group of residents meate our lives: what cos- CANDLE LIGHTING who may let their emotions tumes should the kids wear; At the 22nd Annual Legacy Dinner of the Mir Yeshiva of Jerusalem at the March 13 – 6:41 PM Brooklyn Marriott, Rabbi Yakov Nayman, guest of honor, addressing the get the better of them and what treats should go into our March 20 – 6:49 PM gathering. At right, the rosh yeshiva, Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, greeting Matis Nayman and his son. Today the yeshiva educates over 6,000 students. Continued on Page 16 Continued on Page 14 2 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 3 4 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 5 FEATURES

Around The Five Towns 44 P.O. BOX 690 LAWRENCE, NY 11559 516-984-0079 [email protected] Ask The Sensei [email protected] LARRY GORDON ESTA J. GORDON Warren Levi 53 Publisher/Editor Managing Editor YOSSI GORDON, YOCHANAN GORDON Book Review Sales Managers CHANA ROCHEL ROSS Rochelle Miller 19 Editorial Assistant SIDI BARON YAKOV SERLE Classified Ads 74 JERRY MARKOVITZ Sales Representatives Halachic Musings SHMUEL GERBER MICHELE JUSTIC Chief Copy Editor Copy Editor Rabbi Yair Hoffman 12 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Irwin H. Benjamin, Hannah Reich Berman Anessa V. Cohen, Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg Insights On The Torah Toby Klein Greenwald, Michele Herenstein Rabbi Yair Hoffman, Miriam Horowitz Rabbi Yanki Tauber 32 Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky Shmuel Katz, Phyllis J. Lubin, Esther Mann Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah 36 Rochelle Miller, Martin Mushell, Naomi Ross Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow, Eli Shapiro, Ari Sher MICHAL WEINSTEIN, BINYAMIN RHODES Luach 8 DOV GORDON Staff Graphic Artists MindBiz IVAN NORMAN, IRA THOMAS Staff Photographers Esther Mann, LMSW 28 FRANKEL & CO. Design & Production Real Estate TALIYE CORLEY Art Director Anessa V. Cohen 30 SARAH GREENBAUM Assistant Art Director That’s The Way It Is! The Five Towns Jewish Times is an independent weekly news- paper. Opinions expressed by writers and columnists are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. We are not Hannah Reich Berman 40 responsible for the kashrus or hashgachah of any product or establishment advertised in the Five Towns Jewish Times.

6 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 7 FROM THE EDITOR those involved could only see a vision view their deeds. Here on our side of One day he stood in front of the Continued from Front Cover of their own futures while demonstrat- the ocean we are navigating our way American people as candidate Obama ing little regard for the country or the through a similar political morass. declaring that his budget and his After several years of Ehud Olmert’s people of Israel. President Obama was supposed to bailout package for the banking and constantly changing and often contra- In Israel today we have the Likud’s bring fresh ideas to leadership and take other industries would exclude all so- dictory view of Israel’s place in the Netanyahu attempting to draw called pork or earmarks that are pet world, we were hoping for a breath of strength and even inspiration from projects of local Congressmen and fresh air, some definitive statements past Likud leaders like Menachem Senators. Instead, his budget for the on how Israel sees itself instead of the Begin and Ariel Sharon. Both Begin year ahead includes a record number wavering and crooked approach to so and Sharon had great accomplish- Here’s a fresh of wasteful allocations, all funded by much that needs to be dealt with over ments in their lives and careers. But our tax dollars. It’s business as usual the near term. not as prime ministers of Israel. Begin parading around disguised as “change Certainly there is a flaw in the sys- was at his best when the Labor Party idea—tell the we can believe in.” tem of leadership in Israel. Leaders are had a lock on power in Israel and he Perhaps it’s still too early, but Obama not leading but are rather looking was the leader of the opposition in the seems to be leading us down a path that backwards, at the history of their pred- Knesset. Sharon, of course, excelled as truth about has already been blazed by Democratic ecessors’ near misses and failures, and a general in the IDF, leading his forces Presidents Jimmy Carter and Lyndon being satisfied simply with the ability in the Yom Kippur War to cut off and Israel. Johnson. The giveaways didn’t work to survive instead of punching their strangle the Egyptian Army in the then, and there’s good reason to believe way into new and bold directions. Sinai Desert. The Egyptians were ulti- they won’t work this time around either. So Netanyahu is not supposed to be mately rescued by Nixon and Kissinger Johnson brought us massive public the Bibi of old. His vision of a broad, who negotiated a cease-fire which works projects that were intended to strong, and secure national unity gov- saved the Egyptians. America in a new direction. After less create jobs but instead redefined the ernment may have been something It’s not only in Israel that we suffer than two months, however, it’s becom- nature and extent of what it means to that U.S. foreign policy people pre- from the craziness of leaders making ing increasingly clear that all he has to waste billions of dollars. Carter’s poli- ferred but was in the end impossible to decisions that impact upon tens of mil- offer is more of the same tired ideas cies created the type of hyperinflation assemble. While under certain circum- lions of people based on how they that are more self-serving for the politi- we have not seen since and hopefully stances it may have been a good thing, believe history will record and someday cal mechanism than anything else. won’t see again. Obama, with the gleam in his eyes and words of hope, is already just repeat- ing the mistakes of his predecessors while spreading billions around so as to assure himself solid support for a second term in office. If the mortgage fiasco is

Continued on Page 11 CALENDAR LUACH March 13-March 21 ZIP Code: 11516

17 Adar – Erev Shabbos Friday, March 13 Daf yomi: Bava Kamma 75 Z’manim*: Earliest tallis/tefillin: 6:16 am Sunrise: 7:10 am Latest Shema: M. Av. 9:31 am Gr’a 10:07 am Candle Lighting: 6:41 pm 18 Adar – Shabbos Saturday, March 14 Shabbos Parashas Ki-Sissa Parashas Parah Shabbos ends**: 7:42 pm 72 min. 8:13 pm 24 Adar – Erev Shabbos Friday, March 20 Daf yomi: Bava Kamma 82 Earliest tallis/tefillin: 6:05 am Sunrise: 6:58 am Latest Shema: M. Av. 9:24 am Gr’a 10:00 am Candle Lighting: 6:49 pm 25 Adar – Shabbos Saturday, March 21 Shabbos Parashas Vayakheil-Pekudei (Chazak) Parashas HaChodesh Blessing of Chodesh Nissan Shabbos ends**: 7:49 pm 72 min. 8:21 pm

* from MyZmanim.com ** add a few minutes for tosefos Shabbos according to your minhag 8 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 9 BAGEL STORE Hayut is proactive in this direction, and chometz prior to Pesach and who only party for all the staff. Continued from Front Cover his success to date is based on his not produce kosher for Passover products “There’s a great thirst for knowledge viewing the role of a rabbi at El Al as over the holiday season. about Jewish life, Torah, Talmud, and airline, or the airline of a Jewish coun- being involved exclusively with the food Rabbi Hayut is a firm believer in so much more on the part of our staff,” try, is not only about lox and bagels. service dimension of the company. improving more than the important vis- Rabbi Hayut says. And the rabbi is Of course the food service is a vital That doesn’t mean that the food ible face, so to speak, of El Al. He active, engaging, and literally out there cog in the successful running of the served on all flights to all points in the believes that there is more that is vital in the forefront to bring Yiddishkeit to company, but it’s far from the totality of world that the carrier flies to is less to the success of the airline. That Jews in the Jewish state who know so what the rabbinical department does important than it was. In fact the means imbuing the very large El Al unfathomably little about the depth for El Al. Sitting with me the other day opposite is true—the quality of the staff with a sense of the substance of and meaning of what it means to be a during his visit to the Five Towns, food served, along with the kashrus, Jewish life. The Rabbi says that in Jew, especially in these both modern Rabbi Hayut assured me that passen- Rav Hayut says, is impeccable. Israel El Al has over 8,000 employees, and trying times. gers and customers of El Al can feel Since we are drawing close to the most of whom of course work in and Another hat that Yochanan Hayut secure that the airline “features the best Passover season, the rabbi is anxious to around Ben Gurion Airport. As one can wears is interfacing between the strict- security and the highest level of kashrus ly observant passengers and the El Al in the industry.” staff on a plethora of issues. He says Since Rabbi Hayut assumed the that people call at all hours of the day position of Chief Rabbi of El Al two and night on his cell phone for a broad years ago, he has revolutionized opera- His success is based on his not viewing variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s an tions at the airline. He has done this emergency situation where someone with large doses of sensitivity training the role of a rabbi at El Al as being needs a seat on a flight that is oversold. for El Al staff who were sometimes More frequently, he says, it’s more sorely lacking in their understanding mundane things like the need to take a of the needs of religiously observant involved exclusively with the food service. third suitcase without being charged passengers. I don’t know if this can be or requiring a seat change for any com- directly attributed to Rabbi Hayut, but bination of reasons. a couple of months ago, flying from Tel I’ve seen Rabbi Hayut at work in Ben Aviv to New York, I noticed for the first deal with this issue first. All new dishes imagine, impacting a company with Gurion Airport over the last couple of time a flight attendant wearing a have been purchased for Pesach use in that size employee base is tantamount years both early in the morning and late kippah. the first and business class sections for to running a little city. at night. Very often, as a flight boards I brought this fact to the rabbi’s all El Al aircraft. This, of course, also Since Rabbi Hayut took over as for the nightly 1:00 a.m. to New York, attention and he confirmed that being includes the utensils used. He adds that Chief Rabbi he has implemented a full Rabbi Hayut is there helping the El Al observant and working for El Al is now in coach class, paperware plates and schedule of minyanim and shiurim for staff in a hands-on capacity. One more natural and compatible with one cups that are attractive and of high El Al staff, and the interest and moment he’s talking to passengers on another. While it may have established a quality have also been acquired. All the response to date has been outstanding. the security line, the next he’s behind new avenue of employment for young ovens as well as any coffee pots or any Six days a week there is a morning the check-in counter looking up some- Israelis, the rabbi’s overall emphasis on other kitchen related items will be thor- minyan at sunrise (netz), and two daily thing on a computer. the religious character of Judaism and oughly made kosher for Passover by the forty-five minute shiurim in the daf For Rabbi Hayut it’s not just a matter its inseparable association with being rabbinical staff of the airline. In addi- hayomi at noon and at 4 p.m. He has of a pretty good and secure job. For him Israeli has opened up opportunities at tion, food is only purchased from com- also instituted a daily shiur in Mishnah the airline on a number of levels. Rabbi panies who have certifiably sold their Berurah and a monthly rosh chodesh Continued on Page 13

10 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES FROM THE EDITOR does not see as viable the cre- tell us that something needs to again as a condition for peace. sions. He says that he’s cer- Continued from Page 8 ation of a Palestinian state as be fundamentally changed in Moving people out of their tain that the Arab side will it is currently envisioned by the formula. If Bibi is the homes, forcibly or otherwise, balk and be unable to accept what served as the catalyst for Arab or American leadership. Rightist that he’s cracked up is a symptom of the opposite what Israel offers, regardless our country’s current economic The concept of peace between to be, perhaps he should try of peace. of its generosity. The brief his- problems, then it’s wrong and two states and the implemen- acting the part instead of mak- One of Netanyahu’s confi- tory of these negotiations has dishonest to lay that blame at tation of this idea are vastly ing these veiled and useless dants in the upcoming new proven his theory true. It’s a the doorstep of President Bush different from one another. attempts to convince the government in Israel is new and interesting approach or the Republicans. It was Netanyahu said this week world of the contrary. Menachem Begin’s son, to an old problem. This is the clearly Democratic leadership that he will deal with the Here’s a fresh idea—tell the Benny. The junior Mr. Begin, kind of thinking that opens up in Congress that sponsored and Palestinian track before get- truth about Israel. State cate- a true and uncompromising the board and creates a possi- encouraged awarding mort- ting involved with talks on gorically that Jerusalem will Rightist, has recently recom- bility for progress where until gages to countless homeowners peace with Syria. That none of remain undivided as the capi- mended that the new govern- now there has been virtually who could not afford to main- these off-and-on-again discus- tal of the State of Israel. Make ment offer a quick two state none. O tain payments on those loans. sions have gotten anywhere it known that families will not solution to the Palestinians Comments for Larry Gordon are Now those who defaulted for nearly thirty years should be thrown out of their homes that is loaded with conces- welcome at [email protected]. on those mortgages are going to be rewarded further with stimulus checks and tax breaks. It’s very unclear whether this old and worn way of doing things is going to stimulate anything other than a continuation of the nation’s financial woes. Where is the youthful creativity and the new vision for America’s future? All I see is Obama boxing us into a corner that will take years for him to maneuver out of. And the same is true of Netanyahu. The same double- talking and backtracking on twisted pronouncements is not going to get anyone anywhere. Bibi needs to be bold and move closer to something that’s usually foreign to political machinations—the truth. He should be saying that he

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 11

it has since developed into a custom according to the Debreciner), there Of Popes And Yarmulkes that all the people observe. would be a prohibition involved in walk- ]]Well, firstly there is a very impor- ing seven feet without the blown-off tant debate between the Maharshal yarmulke. According to the other opin- Halachic Musings people who entered the cathedral did and the TaZ with which we must famil- ions, there would not be. BY RABBI YAIR HOFFMAN not all enter at one time. The doors iarize ourselves. The Maharshal (72) There is another issue, however. were quite large, and every time they writes that wearing a yarmulke is only Nowadays it has perhaps become the Last month, Pope Benedict XVI met were opened the clergymen would a midas chassidus, a pious act. The accepted norm in K’lal Yisrael to wear a with Nancy Pelosi, the first time some- experience a blast of cold air. The Taz, however, writes (Orech Chaim yarmulke. This may change the ruling, one from the Vatican met with an cathedrals had no central heating sys- 8:3) that the reason walking four amos in that a new minhag might have been elected U.S. official since the Obama tem (nor any heating system at all). (seven feet, according to Rav Moshe established. Indeed, the minhag may administration took over. The occasion The zucchetto was clearly a direct Feinstein) without a yarmulke is for- have made things more stringent, in was marked by a strange incident. It result of bitter cold. bidden is that gentiles used to do this; that it would apply even to walking less was an extremely windy day, and the The yarmulke, on the other hand, as a sign of honor, they would take off than four cubits and perhaps even to pope had lost his yarmulke. brings one to fear of Heaven, accord- their hats (as in “How do you do, sitting or standing without a yarmulke Well actually, it is not technically con- (see Tzitz Eliezer, Vol. 13, No. 12). sidered to be a yarmulke. Rather, it is This, however, would depend upon the called a “zucchetto,” which literally custom in the particular locale under means “skullcap” in Italian. The reasons discussion. Boro Park and Williamsburg why the popes and cardinals wear them The zucchetto was created to warm might be different than Rome. are actually quite different from why It should be noted that Sephardim, Jewish people wear yarmulkes. The zuc- as a general rule, follow the opinion of chetto is worn because it has been a up the clergymen, now mostly bald, in the Maharshal and not the TaZ in this Christian tradition for clergymen to wear regard. They are therefore more them since the dawn of the 13th century. the cold and windblown cathedrals. lenient than Ashkenazim when it This custom developed because of comes to the wearing of the yarmulke. extremely cold weather. It seems that, There are other issues with regard based on a verse in the Christian bible, to the yarmulke, as well. Even if one it is considered unbecoming for a is standing still, if he is in a beis ha’k- Christian to wear long hair. Christian ing to the Talmud (see Shabbos, 156b Madam?”). This is a violation of nesses he must wear a yarmulke or clergymen would shave their heads and 118b). The Shechinah, G-d’s “U’bechukoseihem lo seileichu—do not other head-covering. This is the rul- bald to fulfill this verse (the haircut presence, is above us all, and the yar- walk in their ways.” Rav Moshe ing of the Shulchan Aruch in Orech resembled typical male pattern bald- mulke reminds us constantly of G-d’s Feinstein has a responsum (O.C. 1:1 Chaim (151:6). ness and was called a tonsure). presence. The Sefer Chassidim writes and 4:2) that this TaZ is no longer If it was not the pope but the chief At the same time, the traditional that it also develops the trait of humil- halachically applicable, since nowa- rabbi who lost his head-covering, the cape and hood that everyone wore ity within its wearer. Although the days gentiles walk bareheaded all the odds are that he is in a shul. On the (called the cope) had lost its hood due quote of Rav Huna found in the time. Rav Moshe Stern, z’l, better other hand, since he is speaking to to new fashion design. The zucchetto Talmud (Shabbos 118a) seems to indi- known as the Debreciner Rav, writes Nancy Pelosi, the odds are that he is not was created to warm up the clergy- cate that in Talmudic times only the (Be’er Moshe 8:40) that the opinion of in a shul. However, even if one is not in men, now mostly bald, in the cold and very pious made sure never to walk the TaZ is still applicable nowadays. windblown cathedrals. It seems that four cubits with their head uncovered, So, according to the TaZ (at least Continued on Page 15

12 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

BAGEL STORE regular Torah reading on board on the in-flight audio and video able to accomplish it. He is El having him aboard. O Continued from Page 10 El Al flights (there are already a systems), then Rabbi Yochanan Al’s Mr. Can Do, and as you Comments for Larry Gordon are dozen shiurim to choose from Hayut is the person who will be can see, we’re all better off for welcome at [email protected]. it’s a mission of bringing greater sanctity to the El Al staff as well as to the El Al experience. Somehow we got on the subject of the always-interesting gathering for morning minyanim in the back of the planes traveling to Israel. Poskim in Israel have said over the years that it is preferable to pray in your seat than to disrupt other passengers so that you can participate in a minyan. Rabbi Hayut said that he is of course aware of that and agrees, though he has no objection to a minyan in back of the plane as the sun comes up over the Atlantic as long as it is orderly. As for the matter of carrying Torah scrolls on board some flights so that the weekly Torah reading can be heard on Monday and Thursday mornings, he says he has nothing against it as long as someone either furnishes or donates the Torah to the airline. In fact when Rabbi Nosson Tzvi Finkel, the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Mir in Yerushalayim, recently traveled to America for the yeshiva’s annual dinner, he brought a small sefer Torah with him from Israel for this specific purpose and it indeed was read on board the plane. If there is ever going to be

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 13 Mother’s Musings bunk, and magically it passed over me! Continued from Front Cover Everyone else thought that I must have somehow had it as a youth (given my shaloch manot; what should we serve frequent exposure) or that I had devel- for the Purim seudah; and what oped an immunity to it, but not me! Megillah readings should we attend? As soon as I knew that chicken pox In days of yore, I was more meticu- was going around the Flatbush com- lous with my preparations. I remem- munity, I began to fear that I would ber the first few Purims of my married contract it. I had two small children at life, while we were living in Brooklyn the time, and I knew that we would all for a few years, were overtaken by the be exposed. And so the year of the cat holiday for at least a month before- hand. I guess I somehow had more time on my hands, and I was very much into making homemade cos- I raced against the tumes for my kids and coming up with shaloch manot with a “theme.” Sew clock to finish in Materialistic (I googled it—it’s still in Brooklyn) would have a costume con- time to submit the test every year. One year I decided that I had a chance to win: I purchased the picture of my kids raw materials at the store, and raced against the clock to finish in time to wearing their mag- submit the picture of my kids wearing their magnificent creations! Suffice it nificent creations! to say that my cat costumes didn’t win. However, they were so busy, with stripes (sort of tiger-like cats) that they were able to mask the chicken costumes, as we left the Young Israel of pox that began to pop out while we Flatbush after listening to the read the Megillah that year. Megillah reading, I noticed some sus- Somehow, growing up, I never picious spots beginning to form on my caught the chicken pox. Not that I did- son’s arms. In the car ride home I n’t have opportunities; my younger noticed those same spots on my own brother had it and I was sure I would arm. The pox had found us! Suffice it catch it during an epidemic in my ele- to say, that was a difficult Purim! mentary school, yet somehow it avoid- Having chicken pox as an adult is not ed me. And then, when I was 11 years easy, but imagine having it with a old and about to debut as Mary three-year-old boy and a one-year-old Poppins in the Hillel sleepaway camp girl! Somehow the holiday cheer (and a play, there was an outbreak in my borrowed Megillah for the morning

14 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES reading) helped divert the uncomfortable pox, and we made it through. Fortunately, when child number three entered this world the chicken pox vaccine had been created and we must have been the first ones to have their child vaccinated (I’m exaggerat- ing for effect). And so in recent years I have become more lazy: bought costumes have infiltrated my home, and I have somehow lost the themed shaloch manot idea, but the happiness still pervades! It’s a time for community unity, when we share our shaloch manot delectables with our friends and neighbors and enjoy family togetherness at our Purim seudah and dressing up in silly costumes. As this is being written prior to Purim, the plan so far is: Lea is a witch (only make- believe, a hand-me-down from her big sister Rochel); Rochel is a cowgirl; our eldest daughter in Binghamton is actually getting into the spirit of the holiday and dressing up as “winter” (rather appropriate for Binghamton); it’s still a mystery what Rivka and Naftali will be; and Yussie (courtesy of Rochel’s creativity) is a rock star— spiked hair, a very cool rock-star kippah, and a leather(like) jacket along with cool rock-star jeans! Purim will always be close to my heart, since Lenny and I were married on the tenth of Adar, and we had sheva berachot while eating hamen- tashen! Happy anniversary, Lenny. May we celebrate many, many more happy Purims together. O

Phyllis Joy Lubin is an attorney with Rosenfeld & Maidenbaum, LLP, who resides in Cedarhurst with her husband Leonard and six children: Naftali, Shoshana, Rivka, Rochel, Yosef, and Lea. She welcomes your questions and comments at [email protected].

Halachic Musings Continued from Page 12 a shul but is speaking words of Torah, then he must have his head covered. This is the ruling as seen in the Mishnah Berurah (2:12). Since our theoretical person is the chief rabbi and not the pope, the odds are that he is speaking words of Torah. On the other hand, since our theoretical person is speaking to Nancy Pelosi, the odds are that he is not speaking Torah. If he does wish to speak words of Torah and his yarmulke blew away, he may place his sleeve over his head and then speak words of Torah while he retrieves his yarmulke. This is the ruling of the Shulchan Aruch (see O.C. 91:4). But he may not use his bare hand (see Mishnah Berurah, 71:4). He may, however, use someone else’s hand (but not Nancy Pelosi’s). O

The author can be contacted by e-mail at [email protected].

WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? WE WANT TO KNOW! E-MAIL US AT [email protected]

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 15 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR school because of all these school have already had a full Shabbos min- Welcome, Kids Of Courage Continued from Front Cover buses potentially blocking my path? I yan in the beautiful Yeshiva Ketana Dear Editor, also understand that classes are held beis midrash. The Kids of Courage article in the have expressed them inappropriately, on Sundays. So now my quiet Sundays As an active member of the Inwood Five Towns Jewish Times (February 27 as you have pointed out. I live on Alvin will not be quite so peaceful anymore. Civic Association, I can tell you first- issue) highlighted several elements of Place in Inwood, across the street from I respect revitalization. But are they hand that there are definitely two dis- the West Coast trip, including the mis- where the school is to be built. I willing to compromise in their effort to tinctive lines of thought here in sion of Kids of Courage, the dedication understand that this project may revi- revitalize? Mr. Gordon, is this school Inwood. There are those who are of the entire staff, and particularly the talize a “depressed” area in Inwood. being built directly across the street resistant to change in the neighbor- vision and expert planning of a few As you have mentioned, Inwood is from your home? Your home, where hood demographics (and upset about special individuals who made it all the forgotten town of the Five Towns. one seeks peace and sanctity? What loud school buses and schoolchildren happen. The article was a good start, I call it the “stepchild” of the Five would be your concerns about such an in their backyard, which I can under- but what was written was an under- Towns, because it is the poorest. With enormous project being built across stand); but there are many more who statement of the reality. Having deliv- that, comes all of the stereotypes. the street from your home? feel that by moving in we will help the ered my son Itzy to the Kids of Many residents of the other towns These are the concerns of this one growth of the neighborhood. I’m sure Courage staff that late Sunday after- feel that the residents of Inwood are resident. My concern is that other res- there were similar concerns years ago noon, I was able to witness the mis- poor and ignorant and cannot stand idents, who feel the same way I do, are when Orthodox Jews were beginning sion, the dedication, and the results of up for themselves or express their not being heard. I had no hand in the to move into Cedarhurst. the expert planning. I also witnessed concerns in any type of forum. I, for flyers you are speaking about. I don’t At the past Inwood Association the response from the guests of one, beg to differ. want to be bunched into that group. meeting, one of the members men- honor—the kids of courage. I can certainly respect that this proj- But will my concerns be addressed? tioned to me that he feels that our What I saw was quite indescribable. ect may revitalize the area. However, Are my concerns valid? Or will I be movement is a “rebirth” of the neigh- Mind you, I only caught a glimpse of will this school bring employment to seen as just another unimportant resi- borhood. Many people aren’t happy that special week, as I was just there to the town of Inwood? Are they going to dent of that poor stepchild of the Five that Inwood doesn’t get the same deliver my son. However, I did get hire teachers and paraprofessionals Towns, Inwood? Will Inwood once respect as the other four towns. (In quite an earful from my Itzy. In fact, he and maintenance staff and bus drivers again be given the cold shoulder and fact, one person often jokes that we is still talking about the trip, and I and other needed staff from the com- the short end of the stick? should put the big “Welcome to would predict he will continue to go on munity? Are my taxes going to go up as Deydamia Fernandez Inwood” sign in Cedarhurst.) They feel and on about the events, the gifts, and, a result of this project? With the econ- that by having young, wholesome fam- mostly, about his time with the boys. omy in bad shape, people losing their Any News From Inwood ilies move into their community, we This last item—his time with the homes to foreclosure, and inflation Is Good News will help Inwood flourish as a respect- boys—cannot be emphasized enough. eating up our paychecks at a rapid Dear Editor, ed neighborhood. The camaraderie was the hidden story, pace, will I be forced to live paycheck First of all, I must say that being on All of us here in Inwood are excited not mentioned in the article, but was to paycheck? the front page of the 5TJT two weeks about being part of the growth of a probably more significant than the Concerns about traffic and noise are in a row is quite a feat, one that I’m “community within a community,” and events and the toys. The Kids of valid. I cherish living on a quiet, dead- very excited about, being a resident of we invite others to join us. If anyone Courage leaders, staff, organizers, and end block. That will certainly all Inwood. We moved in a few months has any questions about the neighbor- financial sponsors should know they change. There will be a numerous ago and, along with a handful of other hood, feel free to e-mail me at provided a vehicle for both tangible amount of school buses bringing stu- frum families, have begun to establish [email protected]. and hidden goodness that the trip pro- dents in to the school. Will I have trou- an Orthodox Jewish presence here. We Respectfully, ble leaving my home to go to work or often have a Friday-night minyan and Pinny Ackerman Continued on Page 18

16 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 17 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR who brought plentiful mishloach came with their sons Joseph, Gabriel, agenda, purely feminist in nature, Continued from Page 16 manot for our residents. The Young and Amichai (they just happen to be that may or may not promote values Israel of Woodmere and the Young related to me). alien or even antithetical to norma- vided. It was clear the planning and Israel of Hewlett are among those who On behalf of all the residents of tive religious practice. Rather, any execution represented an enormous brought goodies. I would like to be Woodmere Rehabilitation and Health approach should always have effort. I hope they realize how much able to thank each individual and each Care Center, I would like to express “l’hagdil Torah u’lehadirah” as its success was achieved! organization by name, but many of the appreciation and gratitude to you starting point. Stuart Cagen, Ph.D. gifts came without names. So I will (and to any others that I might have Having posited that, I found the Houston, Texas say a collective thank-you to all who missed) for enhancing our Purim article written by Rabbi Feitman thought of our residents this Purim! experience. Thank you, and please regarding this issue (“We Do Not Need A Wonderful Purim But that was only the beginning. visit again! Yoatzot Halachah,” 5TJT March 6, At Woodmere Rehab Many wonderful neighbors came with Sincerely, Page 84) to be problematic both from Dear Editor, children in costume to visit, sing, and Leba Sonneberg, the form/substance analysis as well as Today is Purim and I am at my place dance with our residents. I cannot Director of Marketing and being counter-logical. This I feel may of work, Woodmere Rehabilitation and begin to describe the joy that they Community Relations lead to, chas v’shalom, ridicule of the Health Care Center. What a wonderful brought here. Woodmere Rehabilitation and Torah position or worse. Purim it turned out to be! Of course These are some of the wonderful Health Care Center In the area of taharas ha’mish- we had our scheduled Megillah read- neighbors that came today: Jesse and pachah, we are dealing with issues ings by Rabbi Chaim Miller and two Jacqueline Kramer came with their Yoatzot Halachah: that quite potentially enter the arena fabulous Purim parties. Our entertain- parents, Dr. Solomon and Mrs. Marci Substance Over Form of issurei d’Oraisa. To decry a mecha- ers today were the Henry Covner Band Kramer. Mr. and Mrs. Gofer came Dear Editor, nism created to avoid such aveiros and musician Mr. Jerry Markovitz. with Tehilla and Chana and the chil- I do not presume to possess the based upon the gestalt of “Torah form” However, what made this Purim extra- dren’s grandfather. Chaya Reiss came knowledge with which to weigh in on in such areas as learning at a shtender special for all our residents is the with her two young daughters. Chavi the controversy of whether or not in fact prioritizes form over sub- warmth and generosity of the Five Lederman and Ilana Dubin came yoatzot halachah are consonant with stance. Another example of Torah Towns community. with seven-year-old Bassy Solash and traditional Torah values. Neither do I form Rabbi Feitman uses to illustrate First, I would like to thank the her six-year-old brother, Yehudah feel that we in the Torah-observant his point is the acceptance of tzuras many shuls, schools, and individuals Solash. Yardena and Geoffery Miller community should countenance an ha’daf. In all likelihood, the tzuras ha’daf derives back to Daniel Bomberg, a Christian printer, who is believed to have formatted the blatt Gemara we learn today. Would Rabbi Feitman contend that a form based upon Christian antecedents consti- tutes one of the bases of our immutable Torah and mesorah? Finally, Rabbi Feitman states that a woman should feel absolutely comfortable consulting a rav regarding niddah issues while at the same time promot- ing a rebbetzin as the conduit through which women uncomfortable speaking to a rav can have her she’eilos addressed. As we say when learning Gemara, “Mimah nafshach.” On what basis can Rabbi Feitman claim “she will be familiar with all the contextual facts mentioned earlier and is in the best position to transmit these details to the rav”? Perhaps a yoetzet halachah, having devoted herself to the rigorous study of the relevant sug- yos, may be in a better position to con- vey she’eilos to a rav. Finally, I take contention with Rabbi Feitman’s assertion that “nothing is broken and no fixing is necessary.” No rav would be satisfied with less than a universal adherence to the halachos of taharas ha’mishpachah. Any rav would have to acknowledge that, Rachmanah litzlan, this adherence does not exist today. Ultimately our question must be what approach will serve the greatest good, that of Torah observance. Sincerely, Abraham Herzberg

18 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Kitchen Keepsakes is dedicated by In 2000, a group of mothers of chil- special needs participate—in Shabbat Kitchen Keepsakes: Ellyn and Jay Weinstein and their dren with special needs helped to groups, Sunday-morning social activi- daughters, Beth and Dana, in loving found Kulanu. Two years later, Kulanu ties such as art, music movement, and A Treasury Of Recipes By Kulanu memory of their father and grandfather, took a giant step forward by launching cooking with mainstream peers, Sidney Feld, z’l. By dedicating the book its educational program, a unique Talmud Torah classes, social-skills REVIEWED to her father, Ellyn wanted to share his “school within a school.” Today, groups, parent-support groups, com- B Y ROCHELLE MILLER love of having his family around, espe- Kulanu’s educational programs provide munity classes, and more. The entire cially at the kitchen- and dining-room individualized education in both gen- community benefits, by recognizing Whoever coined the adage “You can’t tables. “What better way to honor his the lessons all our children have to judge a book by its cover” certainly did memory than by doing a chesed project offer: patience, love, acceptance, and a not have Kitchen Keepsakes in mind. A where Kulanu families and their chil- celebration of each and every individ- collection of delicious culinary cre- dren benefit and all families can make All families can ual’s place in our vibrant community. ations, the book’s charming cover beck- their own great memories with favorite Whether you are purchasing a copy ons you to peruse its pages, and features recipes? You can give tzedakah, support make their own of Kitchen Keepsakes for yourself or as recipes shared by some of the most cre- Kulanu, and get a Kulanu kitchen keep- great memories with a gift, this cookbook will be appreciat- ative cooks in the Kulanu family, as well sake, just by purchasing the book.” ed by everyone, including children as by outstanding cooks of different Kulanu (“All of Us”) works together favorite recipes. who are spending the year in Israel or communities. Kitchen Keepsakes repre- to make a difference in the lives of are away at college. Kulanu’s sents the collaborative efforts of a team children with special needs. The trials Cookbook Committee is seeking spon- of dedicated individuals, every one of and tribulations in parenting a child sorships for the second printing of whom volunteered their talents, time, with special needs are stressful on the eral and Judaic studies, along with Kitchen Keepsakes, which will be pub- and efforts. family unit. These parents are inundat- valuable therapies and vocational and lished and available for purchase at Working in tandem with her Kulanu ed with social, emotional, medical, and life-skills training. Kulanu students the Kulanu Carnival in May. Cookbook Committee and volunteers, religious worries. Kulanu’s state-of- benefit from interaction with school Sponsorships are available for $36, and with the help of Mark Honigsfeld the-art programs and services respond peers through participation in various $54, and $100, the latter including a and Allysa Sterba, Chairperson Ellyn to these needs and are a testament to classes and activities at the organiza- complimentary copy of the book. To Weinstein has brought this fundraising the organization’s vision, determination’s host school, HAFTR. learn more, please visit the website at endeavor to beautiful—and deli- tion, and triumph. Presently, over 300 children with www.kulanukids.org. O cious—fruition. Although three of the four committee members are not parents of children in the Kulanu program, they are committed to Kulanu’s vision of blending families with children of varying abilities. That its first printing is almost sold out, by word-of- mouth alone, is not surprising. Compact enough to be an integral and valued part of every kitchen, Kitchen Keepsakes features over 450 treasured recipes, every one tested and approved by volunteers. Because no one was paid in the creation of this book, all of the proceeds go directly to benefit Kulanu’s precious children. Designed to be durable, Kitchen Keepsakes will afford every cook years of culinary artistry. It is a three-ring binder “go-to” book, packed with valuable information on the inside covers. As well, it features 16 pages of food facts, helpful hints on the back of every tabbed category divider, and a recipe pocket on the back in which to store your papers, with a reminder on how to properly set a table. “Our objective was to make a book of recipes from some of the best cooks and help create new family favorites.” Ellyn Weinstein told the 5TJT. “We tried to make the recipes family-friendly, so that even a beginner cook could follow the recipe directions, or parents and children could cook together. Kitchen Keepsakes has something for everyone: vegan, sugar-free, lactose-free, and nut-free.” We found the recipes absolutely delicious, and the directions to be beginner- friendly, child-friendly, and allergen- avoiding. Of special interest is the book’s “This and That” section, which tells the readers how to make their own herb blends, flavored oils, and vinegars and is a treasure trove of valuable information. From appetizers and beverages and soups to salads and entrees, vegetables and side dishes to breads and desserts, Kitchen Keepsakes has the perfect recipe for every occasion. Elegantly presented, yet unpretentious, the directions are clear-cut and easy to follow. Even a novice cook will be able to prepare Herbed Rack of Lamb, Stuffed Veal with Meat, Duck in Orange Sauce, and any of the 450 other fabulous menu choices to perfection. 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 19 was presented with the Department, FDR belatedly punish anyone involved in Purim 1944: opportunity to use his influ- established the War Refugee persecuting Jews, and pledg- ence to help save European Board. Its declared purpose ing to provide havens for FDR Adviser Could Have Been An Esther Jews from the Nazis. was to rescue refugees from Jewish refugees. By early 1944, millions of the Nazis. Although given Pehle and DuBois felt such Jews had already been slaugh- only token funding, the a declaration was needed in B Y DR. RAFAEL save the Jewish community tered by the modern-day Board, under the leadership part because the most recent MEDOFF from Haman’s planned geno- Haman, but there were many of Treasury lawyers John Allied statement regarding cide. What the Purim revel- more still alive who could be Pehle and Josiah E. DuBois European Jewry had been so Sixty-five years ago this ers of March 1944 did not rescued. The Roosevelt Jr.—both Protestants—dove disappointing. The American, week, American Jews gath- realize, however, was that at administration had long into the task of rescue with British, and Soviet foreign ered in their synagogues to the very moment they were opposed taking special steps passion and determination. ministers, meeting in Moscow celebrate Purim, the holiday reading their Megillahs and to save them, but in January One of the War Refugee the previous October, threat- recalling how a Jewish shaking their graggers, a sen- 1944, under strong pressure Board’s first proposals to ened postwar punishment for woman used her influence ior Jewish adviser to from Jewish activists, Roosevelt was that he issue a Nazi war crimes against con- with the king of Persia to President Franklin Roosevelt Congress, and the Treasury declaration threatening to quered populations, but named only “French, Dutch, Belgian or Norwegian hostages …Cretan peasants … [and] the people of Poland”—with no reference to the Nazis’ primary victims, the Jews. Arthur Szyk, the famous artist and Holocaust rescue activist, remarked that the suf- fering of European Jewry was being treated as taboo—“you cannot discuss it in polite society.” Obscuring the Jewishness of the victims made it harder to mobilize public interest in their fate, and sent a message to the Nazis that the Free World was not terribly interested in their plight. In consultation with Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau Jr., Pehle and DuBois prepared a draft of the proposed declaration. It immediately ran into opposition.

20 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Assistant Secretary of War John McCloy Rosenman had already turned the pres- cutting-room floor. ers”—but not Jews. The plight of the wanted to tone down the text to make it ident against their draft: Stettinius had Rosenman made other significant Jews was pushed all the way down to “less lurid.” State Department officials told Pehle that Roosevelt said the word- changes as well. Three of the six refer- the fourth paragraph. opposed issuing the declaration at all, ing “was too pointedly on the Jews.” ences to Jews were deleted. A pledge to The weakened statement was issued on the grounds that the Germans would Rosenman was already at work on a give refugees temporary haven in later that month. It was, of course, bet- use it as proof that the Allies were fight- revised version of the declaration. America was watered down to “We ter than nothing, but it could have ing for the sake of the Jews. The White been much stronger. And its fate fore- House, too, had objections, as Pehle dis- shadowed the obstacles that the War covered on the evening of March 8, Refugee Board would face, from with- 1944, when he met with Samuel in the Roosevelt administration itself, Rosenman, FDR’s closest Jewish adviser Now, faced with the proposed in trying to carry out its mission. and a leading member of the American That this all took place on Purim is, Jewish Committee. of course, bitter irony. Both Queen Just down the road from presidential declaration, Rosenman had Esther and Samuel Rosenman were Rosenman’s office, at Washington’s uniquely positioned to influence the famous Adas Israel synagogue, the one more chance to do the right thing. highest authority in the land to inter- Purim holiday was getting underway. vene on behalf of the Jews. Esther’s Worshippers listened to the ancient heroic response has been enshrined words of the Purim story, recalling how for all time in the celebration of Queen Esther pleaded with King Purim. How different history might Achashverosh to scuttle Haman’s plan Morgenthau was particularly con- shall find havens of refuge for them,” have been had Rosenman chosen to to slaughter the Jews. Rosenman now cerned about the fate of the draft’s without specifying the United States follow Esther’s example. O found himself with the opportunity to “very strong” second paragraph, which as a haven. Three paragraphs were become a kind of modern-day Esther. acknowledged that the Jews were added at the beginning of the state- Dr. Medoff is director of the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies The problem was that Rosenman being slaughtered “solely because they ment about the German mistreatment (www.WymanInstitute.org). His next book, was a deeply assimilated Jew who had were Jews.” Morgenthau’s worries of “Poles, Czechs, Norwegians, Dutch, Blowing the Whistle on Genocide: Josiah E. DuBois Jr. and the Struggle for an American always been uncomfortable calling were justified; sure enough, that key Danes, French, Greeks, Russians, Response to the Holocaust, is to be published attention to Jewish concerns. For paragraph ended up on Rosenman’s Chinese Filipinos—and many oth- this summer by Purdue University Press. example, after the 1938 Kristallnacht pogrom, he warned FDR that admit- ting more refugees would “create a Jewish problem in the U.S.” In 1943, he counseled Roosevelt to snub the “medieval horde” of four hundred rabbis who had marched to the White House to plead for rescue. Rosenman also tried to undermine the campaign that brought about the creation of the War Refugee Board. Now, in March 1944, faced with the proposed presidential declaration, Rosenman had one more chance to do the right thing. But he chose otherwise. He told Pehle that he had “advised the President not to sign the declaration because of its pointed reference to Jews.” According to Rosenman, such explicit references to Jews “would intensify anti-Semitism in the United States.” Pehle was sur- prised and disappointed by Rosenman’s position. The next day—Purim—Pehle discussed the matter with Assistant Secretary of State Edward Stettinius, and then reported back to Treasury Secretary Morgenthau. It had become apparent, Pehle told Morgenthau, that

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5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 21 Riding With The Long Island RangeR

Not Enough Room To Get By…Or Is who should clearly stay at home. He is with a knife and he is actually dying! Open the doors, chuck him out, and There? sick. He is sneezing and coughing. But Should I get up and check it out? get to work happy and alive. I rode home the other night on an “live and let live,” right? Then, at the Convinced that it is an unlikely sce- Was coming to work so important? extremely crowded car (I had a seat, next station it starts…the coughing nario, I begin to wonder if he is cover- Stay home, Mr. Sicko! fortunately) in which passengers and sniffling. Again and again. Louder ing his mouth. Are we all going to get stretched down the aisle from one and louder, more and more disgusting. sick? Is the air in this train car recy- Dear LIRR Cell-Phone User: vestibule to another. Most conductors He is wiping his nose with his tattered cled? Are we breathing in his germ-rid- I really, really don’t need to hear: would not bother to go up and down overcoat. den disgusting air? Why are you using Your business dealings; checking tickets until the situation Thank goodness I am not sitting next my air, Mr. Sicko?? The latest shopping spree you went on; cleared up somewhat. (Conductor to him. Pity the poor soul who is. At first, I believe I am going to be sick so I Your dear, dear grandchild, who just has Stickler doesn’t work on a crowded it’s an annoying, non-stop loud cough- take my pulse and think it is getting to hear from you right at this very train, at least not to my knowledge.) ing, then a hard deep throaty cough. The faster. I feel my face getting flushed. moment. (Actual quote from a cell phone The humorous part of this ride in par- user who was shushed: “I’m a grandma!”); ticular was not that the conductor The different languages you speak checked tickets in this situation, but in (I actually heard a person use three the guy must have been 6'4" and 265 languages in three different phone pounds to boot. The sight of him com- Would it be out of line to pull the calls within the span of ten minutes); ing down the aisle was comical— The 20-minute phone call talking squeezing and squishing these poor about absolutely nothing of any impor- ladies with bags and a couple of over- emergency cord, make the train stop, tance; weight gentlemen who were forced to The most annoying cell phone rings drape themselves over seated passen- (When The Saints Come Marching In?) gers, including yours truly, who was and get Mr. Sicko off the train? on the loudest volume; subjected to the seamy underbelly of a Anything that disturbs the peace world I would never want to visit again. and quiet of the a.m. rush. Needless to say, if you are a conduc- If you continue this pattern of tor reading this post, keep in mind the conductor just waves as he passes by, Would it be out of line to pull the abuse, I will be forced to purchase a consequences of your actions when refusing to take the guy’s phlegmy, dirty emergency cord, make the train stop, cell-phone jammer. O deciding to go down the road to ticket to punch it, not wanting to catch and get Mr. Sicko off the train? There is an entire culture associated with chron- Squeezeville. the multitude of diseases living on the All I want to do is sleep, and now I ic use of the LIRR; those who commute daily paper. There is so much bacteria on it, caught “hepati-flu-ebola” from Mr. can appreciate it. This series of articles is dedi- Mr. Sicko they occupy three zip codes on the card. Sicko three rows behind me. Get me cated to those for whom the numbers 5:32 p.m. and 6:56 p.m. have special meaning. We have This morning I was riding the train Free ride for you, Mr. Sicko! off the train! If we all subdue him, we taken note of some of the quirks and oddities when all of a sudden Mr. Sicko gets on After 15 to 20 minutes of non-stop could dump him at one of those sta- that are a part of life on this railway of the future. Please send us feedback, stories, vents, the train. Every now and then you get hacking, I start to wonder: Maybe tions after Jamaica on the way to Penn and any other topics at one of these on your train. The man somebody stabbed this guy in the gut Station. No one goes there anyway. longislandranger.blogspot.com.

22 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 23

voice against hatred and per- March Of The Living: ‘Boycott Geneva Summit’ secution, have been invited to lead the march, which this Precisely while many coun- Rights Declaration. hatred and intolerance have genocide through participa- year is under the sponsorship tries will be convening in Organizers of the March of no place in international dis- tion in the March of the of Guma and Jamie Aguiar. Geneva to condemn Israel the Living saluted the deci- course,” said Dr. Shmuel Living 2009 at Auschwitz.” Canadian MP and former and foment anti-Semitism sion of the United States gov- Rosenman, chairman of the As a further means to Justice Minister Irwin during the Durban II gather- ernment to abstain from the International March of the counter the messages that Cotler, internationally recog- ings, 10,000 youths—Jewish nized human rights advocate, and non-Jewish—will be at announced his decision to the gates of Auschwitz, on come to Auschwitz from the Tuesday, April 21, to give the conferences he will be next generation a strong plat- “It is a compelling reminder of the dangers of state- attending then in Geneva— form to “Say no to hatred together with other well- today!” The event will com- known human rights memorate several important sanctioned incitement to hatred and genocide.” activists—to join the youth- milestone dates: International ful participants at March of Holocaust Remembrance Day the Living (www.motl.org). (Yom HaShoah), the 70th “Auschwitz is the most anniversary of the beginning planned proceedings in Living. “We call upon all gov- are expected to emerge from powerful symbol with which of World War II, and the 60th Geneva. “This is a compelling ernments with conscience to the Geneva event, tens of to memorialize evil found in anniversary of the ratification moral position by the U.S. follow suit and demonstrate contemporary victims of Jewish history—in fact in the of the International Human leadership, displaying that the ultimate repudiation of genocide, offering a united history of mankind,” said Cotler who also serves as the honorary co-chair of the International March of the Living Advisory Board. “It is a compelling reminder of the dangers of state-sanctioned incitement to hatred and genocide, and the indiffer- ence and inaction left in its wake. This global effort is a call to remembrance and action so that never again will we be indifferent in the face of mass atrocity and injustice.” In addition to Cotler, honorary co-chairs include Dan Kurtzer, Lord Greville Janner, Jennifer Laszlo- Mizrahi, Tal Brody, and Daniel Ayalon. Since 1988, the March of the Living has brought over 120,000 students to Poland to participate in educational missions aimed at better understanding the horrors of the Holocaust. The March of the Living, with an expected attendance of over 10,000 young people from around the world, will include a three-kilometer march from Auschwitz to the death camp at Birkenau where over 1.5 million Jews perished. Most of the participants will then visit Israel during the week of that nation’s Memorial Day and Independence Day. “The increasingly hate-filled rhetoric of demagogues like Iran’s President Ahmadinejad is beyond unacceptable. We have invited victims of today’s oppression, including Iranians, to serve as ambassadors of hope and peace in leading the next march,” said Dr. David Machlis, vice chair of the International March of the Living. O Attracting the participation of youth from over 40 nations around the world, the March of the Living has been recognized as an international leader in furthering Holocaust education. The program works to ensure that the lessons gained while on the march are then channeled towards strongly combating acts of anti- Semitism and intolerance and pro- moting a heightened sense of communal responsibility and Jewish identity. 24 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Levi Zahn, a’h of my husband’s illness,” she said. Continued from Front Cover Levi was known by many in the neighborhood for his extraordinary member and a prime moving force uplifting abilities as a ba’al tefillah. behind Congregation Shaaray Tefila in When he took to the amud, the shul Lawrence. “He was an extremely knew they were in for a treat as he had unique individual,” said Rabbi Dovid an amazing talent to beautifully merge Weinberger, who eulogized Levi as not contemporary niggunim with tefillos in only a shul member but as a very dear combinations that may have never and close friend. “His focus on bein been tried prior to his introducing adam l’chaveiro—relationships bet- them. “When he sang at our family ween people—was exemplary,” the simchas,” said his sister, Esther, “the rabbi said. “He is already sorely missed place would come alive. It wasn’t just by all of us.” singing, it was an actual concert.”

He had an amazing talent to beautifully merge contemporary niggunim with tefillos.

Levi’s sister, Esther Feigenbaum of Levi was born in the Bronx, then Far Rockaway, said on Wednesday moved with his family to Boro Park that she just doesn’t know how she’s and Kew Gardens in Queens. He going to continue, considering that attended Yeshiva Chasam Sofer, Mir Levi—her only sibling—was such an Yeshiva, and Mesivta Tiferes anchor in her life and the one who Yerushalayim and was a graduate of was at her side as she navigated her the Parsons School of Design with a way through the loss of her husband, degree in design. When asked about Ira, a little more than a year ago. “He the somewhat unusual profession for a was always at my side and even yeshiva graduate, his sister says, “That arranged for a weekly shiur that he was Levi; he was conventional in an was instrumental in organizing to be moved to our home during the period Continued on Page 26

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 25 Levi Zahn, a’h While he worked as an interior Continued from Page 25 designer in many homes in the area, he was also an important participant unconventional way. He had a way, or in the interior design of several of rather a flair, when it came to color,” the new shuls that were built and are she said. in the midst of being built. His pass- At the funeral on Monday morning ing leaves a void and a gaping hole in at Shaaray Tefila, Rabbi Weinberger our community. He leaves a legacy as talked about a sensitive and caring an inspiring and energetic personali- man who told him on many occasions ty whose influence will be felt for that he just could not understand how many years to come. He is survived people can pass one another on a by his wife, Lisa, his mother Chaya, street on Shabbos and not greet one and children, Gabriella, 20, Zev, 18, another by saying “Good Shabbos.” Sara, 14, and Riki, 11. We pray that And while one could discern that he Levi’s memory be a blessing for his enjoyed leading the davening, he was family and that they be comforted actively involved in recruiting others to amongst the mourners of Zion and become ba’alei tefillah in the shul. Jerusalem. O

This they shall give…half a shekel (Sh’mos 30:13) The mitzvah of the half-shekel is that each should contribute a coin that [is valued at] half of the dominant coin of that time. If the prevailing coin is takal, they should give a half-takal; if it is a selah, they should give a half-selah; if it is a darcon, they should give a half-darcon.

(Midrash HaGadol) Why not a complete coin? To teach us that no man is a complete entity unto himself. Only by joining with another can a person become a “whole thing.”

(The Chassidic Masters)

26 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Likud Government Begins To Take Off The Masks

BY TZVI BEN GEDALYAHU

Senior Likud Knesset Member Silvan Shalom hosted a Purim party Sunday night and called for unity despite his apparently being skipped over to return to his former post as Foreign Minister. MK Shalom told his supporters he is more interested in maintaining Likud ideology than he is in having an important Cabinet post. Dan Meridor, whom Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu recruited to run in the new Knesset and even included in top-level meetings before the election, is less placid. He is known to have wanted the Justice Ministry and adamantly opposes current Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann’s policies. However, Israel Is Our Home (Yisrael Beiteinu) chairman MK Avigdor Lieberman apparently has won his demand that Friedmann continue as Justice Minister. He was chosen from outside the political establishment by outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and has aimed to curtail wider and self-empowered authority by the High Court. MK Meridor is important to Likud chairman Netanyahu because of his dovish outlook which offsets the Likud’s nationalist image that has wor- ried Western nations. One of his views that contradicts the Likud platform is his readiness to negotiate with Syria over the strategic Golan Heights. It is widely assumed that former IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya’alon will become the Defense Minister and that MK Lieberman will become the Foreign Minister. One question mark is the Finance Ministry, which may be held by Netanyahu along with his being Prime Minister, or it might be offered to MK Shalom. It is seen as the toughest Cabinet post because of the recession, demands for more government outlays and a bulging deficit resulting from lower tax revenues. MK Gideon Sa’ar, who was head of the Likud caucus in the last Knesset, is believed to be headed for the Education Ministry. A scheduled Likud party vote on Monday for his successor as caucus chairman was delayed by Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu because of MK Ofer Akunis’s running for the post. Netanyahu’s nominee is Zev Elkin, who deserted Kadima, and the Prime Minister-designate is scheduled to speak with MK Elkin before a vote takes place. Former Education Minister Limor Livnat is the frontrunner to head the Communications Ministry, leaving several Likud Cabinet hopefuls with less important posts or none at all. Livnat served as Communications Minister for three years from 1996. Waiting in the wings are MKs Benny Begin, Yisrael Katz, Michael Eitan, Yaakov

Continued on Page 30 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 27 roll their eyes, and prefer to do their wouldn’t have given for a sister or two! own thing. But lucky you, you were blessed with How do I get my daughters to real- three wonderful daughters. Though ize that their sisters are probably the they can never take the place of a sis- best thing that will ever happen to ter, nor should they feel that you them? How do I get them to appreciate would want them to, it would probably each other and be close? It’s so hurtful be helpful for you to focus on your spe- for me to see them act as though sis- cific relationships with each one of Dear Esther, I grew up with four brothers and ters are disposable, like no big deal. I them and treasure how much they add I have three daughters, ages 12, 9, always envied my friends who had sis- have to wonder what’s wrong with to your life. The better you are able to and 7. They look as different from one ters. (Truthfully, I still envy them.) them! come to terms with having only broth- another as they are different in person- Whenever I see groups of sisters hang- What’s a mother to do? ers, and the faster you can find a way ality. My 12-year-old is very serious ing out together, I get a pang of jeal- Hurt to accept the hand you were dealt, and very studious. Sometimes I think ousy, wishing that I could do the same. focusing on your blessings, the easier she believes that she is the mother of I guess I’ve never really accepted the time you will have watching your the family. She’s constantly telling her fact that I was meant to have only daughters act in ways that you can’t sisters what to do and reprimanding brothers. It remains a very disappoint- understand. them when they don’t listen to me or ing and sad part of my life. Here I thought that I In general, most siblings fight. to her. Though she is a goody-goody, So why am I telling you all of this? was giving my daughters Certainly, it’s much more rare to see she is also a bit of a tyrant. I can easi- Because my three daughters have young siblings getting along famously ly see why her sisters resent her and almost nothing to do with one another. the most precious gift than it is to see them bickering and get angry at her. They don’t seem to have anything in preferring to spend time with friends My second daughter is creative and common, don’t really seem to enjoy when I was blessed rather than with one another. kind of flaky. She loves to draw, dance, one another’s company very much, and However, no matter how different they daydream, and have a wonderful time. would rather be alone or with their enough to have these are in temperament or personalities, She’s not driven to get all A’s like her individual friends. Here I thought that three daughters. interestingly enough, when they reach older sister, but is well-liked by all, I was giving my daughters the most adulthood, their relationships often including herself. She’s a lot of fun to precious gift that any mother could change radically. Suddenly, other have around, and even though she’s give their child, when I was blessed issues become more important, and only 9, I can tell that she’ll probably enough to have these three daughters. the focus is on what they have in com- never take life too seriously. But not only do they take one another Dear Hurt, mon. It may be their marriages, chil- Our youngest daughter is the typical for granted, but they act as though It is certainly understandable why dren of their own, issues related to baby of the family. Cute, cuddly, very they couldn’t care less if their sisters you would feel so upset and maybe their parents, or just life in general. sweet, and a little spoiled. We let her were even in their lives. even a bit betrayed by your children. Ultimately, most people, once they get away with some things because This is very painful for me to see. Having provided for them the most mature into adulthood, recognize that she’s just so delicious. Of course, our I’m constantly telling them that they meaningful thing you can imagine giv- their siblings are precious and not to oldest daughter doesn’t let her get need to be best friends to one another. ing to anyone, and seeing them not be taken for granted. away with anything. In fact, I think she I tell them how lucky they are and that only take it for granted, but ignoring I suggest that you have faith and be gets annoyed at us for sometimes they should appreciate this fact. No it—or, even worse, resenting it—must patient. Your children may turn out to allowing our youngest daughter so matter what I tell them, they still bick- be more than you can bear. much slack. Maybe she’s jealous. er constantly when they are together, Life is often full of irony. What you Continued on Page 31

28 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 29 high in the air, and said, “You had bet- before he got married? ter behave!” and then dropped him on A: Ruth-less. the floor like a bag of potatoes. Weeks Q: Who was the greatest comedian later, the other teachers, seeing how in the Bible? well-behaved the yeshiva boy had sud- A: Samson. He brought the house denly become, asked him, “What did down. the rabbi say that was any different N NN Important Purim Real Estate pitch a tent in for simchas without the than what we tried to say to you?” The May we have lots to laugh about and Questions To Ponder trees and swing set getting in the way? boy answered, “The rabbi explained it enjoy for the rest of the year—Happy Even though by the time this issue • If we never find out why the to me better!” Purim to everyone! O goes to print we will have already fin- owners are selling and where they NNN ished reading the Megillah, had all of are going, is it OK to buy the house Q: Why did Moshe wander in the Anessa Cohen lives in Cedarhurst and is a licensed real-estate broker (Anessa V Cohen our seudahs, and piled up all the anyway? desert for 40 years? Realty) and a licensed N.Y.S. mortgage broker mishloach manos in one place, trying NNN A: Even then, men wouldn’t ask for (A.C. Action Mortgage Corp.) with over 20 years to figure out how we are going to fin- A chassid walked into a bar with a directions! of experience, offering full-service residential and commercial real-estate services in the Five Towns ish all of it before Pesach, I feel there parrot on his shoulder. The bartender Q: Who was the greatest financier and throughout the tri-state area. She can be is always a little more room for levity reached at 516-569-5007 or via her website, www.AVCrealty.com. Readers are encouraged to even a few days post-Purim, so here send questions or comments to are some super-important real-estate [email protected]. questions that need to be answered as we sit and make all our real-estate decisions. Do we pay a premium if the Such as: When we shop for a new Likud Government home… Continued from Page 27 • Do we really require a “gift-wrap- house is next door to the best ping room” on the first level off the Erdan, Dr. Yuval Steinitz, and Yossi kitchen? Peled. Several of the MKs want a • Is a soundproof shower a “must baker in town? Cabinet post so badly that they are have” for those of us with husbands suggesting a rotation of ministers. that love to sing—albeit off-key—in One position that is certain is that the shower? of Speaker of the Knesset. Veteran • Do we pay a premium if the house Likud MK Reuven Rivlin was unani- is next door to the best baker in town? asked, “Where did you get it?” And the in the Bible? mously elected to the post on Monday. • Do we pay a premium for the parrot said, “Oh, there are lots of them A: Noah. He was floating his stock The Knesset also named him as the house if the bus stop is in front? in Williamsburg.” while everyone else was in liquidation. temporary head of the Finance • Should we pay a premium if the N NN Q: Who was the greatest financier Committee until permanent members satellite minyan is next-door? A yeshiva boy was misbehaving in in the Bible? and chairs are chosen. MK Tzachi • How much is a master bedroom school. Many teachers tried to speak to A: Pharaoh’s daughter. She went HaNegbi, past chairman of the revolving closet worth? And can it be him but couldn’t get through to him. A down to the bank of the Nile and drew Foreign Affairs and Defense put on a Shabbos clock? 6' 4" rabbi with muscles like Shimshon out a little prophet. Committee, will remain in the post • Is the backyard large enough to grabbed him with one hand, lifted him Q: What kind of man was Boaz temporarily. (Arutz Sheva) O

30 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES MINDBIZ s”xc Continued from Page 28 be the very best of friends eventually. In the meantime, I don’t think it’s a great idea to force them to be super close at this stage. Sometimes putting that kind of pressure on your children can backfire and they may feel resent- ful—and, when old enough to decide for themselves, may head for the hills. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t expect your children to treat one another with respect and kindness. Anything less shouldn’t be OK. However, if one of them enjoys reading and the other enjoys playing make- believe, you can’t force them or convince them that they will enjoy playing together; hopefully they have friends to turn to for that. But you do want them to get along. And speaking of friends, take a closer look at some of yours. Though the sharing of DNA and family history is certainly a major factor in connecting with other people, there are other fac- tors that can feel just as powerful. Finding that person whom you can call and talk to about everything and anything; feeling safe and secure with another individual; knowing you have someone to call day or night should an emergency arise; feeling loved, cher- ished, appreciated, and protected by a person of your choosing—these all define what sisterhood is all about. Try to fill your void in a way that is within your power. Find and nurture sisters that you’ve hand-picked. Your daughters’ relationships will go through many ups and downs. Hopefully, the time will come when they are mature enough to discover the wonderfulness within one another. Esther

Esther Mann, LMSW, has a private practice in Lawrence. Esther is a psychotherapist and life coach and can be reached at 516-314-2295 or [email protected]. She works with individuals, couples, premarital couples, and families.

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5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 31 From The Chassidic Masters Engraved In Stone

And Moshe turned and went down which exemplify our innate inability from the mountain, and the two to fathom the Divine will. tablets of the Testimony were in his The literal meaning of chok is hand: tablets inscribed from end to engraving. Indeed, explains Chassidic end, on the one side and on the other master Rabbi Schneur Zalman of were they written. Liadi, the difference between the And the tablets were the work of G-d, supra-rational chok and rational law or and the writing was the writing of G-d, testimonial is the difference between engraved upon the tablets. engraved letters and written letters. —Sh’mos 32:15–16 The Torah was given to us in writ- The Torah refers to its 613 Divine ing: By Divine command and dicta- commandments by an array of syn- tion, Moshe wrote it in physical ink on onyms: mitzvah (commandment), physical parchment, giving us the dibbur (word), mishpat (law), eid Chumash (the five books of Moshe), (testimonial), and chok (decree), also referred to as Torah shebi’chsav, among others. the Written Torah. Even in its spiritu- Chok implies a supra-rational al incarnation, before G-d willed that it decree—a law observed in submis- be translated into a guide to physical sion to an authority which we have life, the Torah is described by the neither the right nor capacity to Midrash as written in black fire on question. Thus, chok is also the name white fire—the supernal equivalent of of a certain class of mitzvos—the ink on parchment. chukim—which the human mind But there is also a more basic state cannot rationalize: mitzvos such as of Torah—Torah not as written law, the prohibition to mix meat with but as engraved law. The Zohar speaks milk, and the laws of ritual purity, of a level on which the Torah exists as

32 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES the genesis of the Divine will, engraved in the supernal purity. In its transmission to man, the written Torah was also preceded by an engraved Torah: the entirety of the Divine law was first given to us encap- sulated in the Ten Commandments, which were etched by the hand of G-d in two tablets of stone. When something is written, the substance of the letters that express it (the ink) remains a separate entity from the substance upon which they have been set (the parchment). True, the two have bonded to form a single entity— the document—but this remains an entity that consists of two things: the ink and the parchment; the message and the medium; the definitive forms and the abstract background. On the

G-d instructed us to not only implement His will but also to study it, analyze it, debate it, and expound upon it.

other hand, letters engraved in stone are not added to their medium but are forged in it: the words are stone and the stone is words. A person’s understanding and feelings are inked upon his soul. These are things he has acquired and has come to identify with, to the point that they comprise his personality; nevertheless, they remain an addition to his quintes- sential self. He distinguishes between his “I” and his intellect and emotions: the former is set and unalterable, while the latter are in a state of flux, developing and changing as he pro- gresses through life. Thus, the rational mitzvos, which we observe with an understanding and appreciation of their positive function—as they indeed should be observed, for it is to this end that they were garbed in garments of reason—are as ink written upon the parchment of our souls. Something has been added to our self, appended to our psyche with the adhesive of reason and emotion. I am doing the mitzvah only to the extent that intellect and feelings are “me”—to the extent that ink and parchment become one in the document. The chok, however, is an engraved decree. We do it for no reason other than our innate obedience to G-d. And our obedience to G-d is not something we acquire or develop (though there might, at times, exist the need to waken it, when it is silenced and suppressed by the dross of material life). It is something that is of our very essence— something impressed in the spark of G-dliness at the core of every soul.

The Veneer Of Reason Chok, however, is not only a certain type of mitzvah; it is also a general

Continued on Page 34 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 33 FROM THE CHASSIDIC MASTERS Continued from Page 33

name for all of G-d’s commandments. This is expressed in the opening words of the Torah section that bears the name of the engraved mitzvah— the section of Chukas (Bamidbar 19–21). Chukas begins with the law of parah adumah (the red heifer), which is prefaced with the statement “Zos chukas haTorah”—“This is the chok of Torah.” The simple meaning of these words is that this mitzvah is the chok of Torah—the ultimate supra-rational law. Indeed, the law of the red heifer is often cited as the pro- totypic chok—the law of which Shlomo haMelech, the wisest of men, said: “I sought to be wise to it, but it is distant from me.” There are other mitzvos that defy rationalization; but the law of the red heifer is also counter-rational, replete with paradoxes and logical inconsistencies. But the words “this is the chok of Torah” have another meaning, as well. As Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi reads it, the verse is telling us: This is the mitzvah that expresses the chok of Torah; the most poignant example of the supra-rationality of the entirety of Divine law. All of Torah is chok, the unfathomable will of G-d. Thus, the very quality that distinguishes parah adumah from all other mitzvos is the quality that makes it the essence of all of the mitzvos. For each and every mitzvah is an expression of the Divine will. Obviously, no reason or function— and certainly no reason or function that the human mind can conceive or understand—can possibly explain or describe a Divine desire. So it is wrong to think of Torah as consisting of two parts—rationally inked laws on the one hand, and supra-rational chukim on the other. Rather, these are two dimensions of Torah as a whole, with each mitzvah possessing a written element in addition to its engraved essence. If the human mind agrees with the mitzvah “Do not murder,” or if it appreciates the profound impact the weekly observance of Shabbos has on our lives, it is only grasping at an aux- iliary garment in which G-d chose to clothe His expressed will. On the other hand, even the most mystifying chok can be studied and analyzed, and profound lessons derived from it to guide and inspire our lives. Indeed, the engraved Ten Commandments (which, incidentally, are all rational mitzvos) embody the entire Torah, while also the most supra-rational chukim were inked by Moshe upon parchment. Every mitzvah can, and ought to, be related to as the unfathomable will of G-d, driven by the obedience to G-d etched in the core of our souls. And every mitzvah can, and ought to, be appreciated intellectually and emotionally, and thereby appended to our thinking and feeling selves. The only reason we classify mitzvos into logical laws, rational testimonials, and supra-rational decrees is because certain mitzvos have been heavily

Continued on Page 37 34 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 35 never return unanswered)” (Rosh tivity. In fact, I’ll make it nice and sim- Hashanah 17b). ple for you. I’ll write down a detailed Here, however, is where we may schedule for you to follow, showing seem to find a discrepancy. We recite exactly when to inspect this part of the this “formula” on various occasions: on production line and when to go to a fast days, in the Selichos service during different part. Stick to the schedule, the High Holy Days, etc. However, we and you’ll be fine.” have not always been granted what The man’s uncle proceeded to do we’ve asked for. What happened to the just that and handed him a paper that covenant that seemed to have guaran- delineated the exact times he was to Mishnas Chayim teed a fulfillment of our prayers? conduct each inspection. They made The Chofetz Chaim explains with a up to meet again at the end of the parable. month, at which point the newly On The Parashah Following directions. A certain appointed supervisor would report his individual in need of a livelihood findings to his uncle. At that point, he turned to a rich relative. This uncle of would collect his salary: 50 gold pieces Who Knows Thirteen? “R’ Yochanan said: The Holy One, his was quite well-to-do, being the for the month, a hefty sum indeed. Blessed be He, taught Moshe this owner of numerous factories. Much to When the appointed day came, the Kindly take a moment to study Mishnas Chayim in the merit of Aidel bas Eliyohu, a’h, a fellow special order of supplication. He told the good fortune of the nephew, the supervisor went eagerly to see his Jew who passed away with no relatives to arrange him: ‘If it should ever happen that magnate had a position that had uncle, eager to impress his new boss Torah study on behalf of her neshamah. the Jewish people shall sin, they recently become open. with his performance and even more should repeat this order (literally, “I’m glad you came to me,” his uncle eager to collect his pay. One of the most stirring and dra- “Okay, tell me how things went,” his matic moments of our prayers takes uncle said to him. place on those occasions when we The proud nephew proceeded to recite the Yud-Gimmel Midos shel repeat verbatim the exact contents of Rachamim (Thirteen Divine Attributes What happened to the covenant the schedule he had been given. “At of Mercy). These traits are revealed to 9 o’clock, inspect the workers at this Moshe Rabbeinu in this week’s that seemed to have guaranteed a site; at 10 o’clock at that site…” He parashah: “And Hashem passed over in recited it all by heart, down to the front of him, and He called: ‘Hashem, last detail. His uncle was duly Hashem, the Merciful and Gracious fulfillment of our prayers? impressed. G-d…’” (Sh’mos 34:6–7). “I see you’ve memorized the whole The power inherent in these char- schedule,” he told his beaming acteristics cannot be overstated. In nephew. “Now, please inform me how fact, from the words of Chazal it they should ‘perform this procedure’), told him. “I need a supervisor at one of the inspections themselves went.” appears that mentioning these and I will forgive them.’… R’ Yehudah my plants. It’s a good job—clean, Suddenly, his nephew grew flus- Thirteen Attributes provides an said: A covenant has been forged respectable work, with a nice, fat tered. “Ummm…what do you mean?” almost automatic guarantee that our regarding the Thirteen Attributes, salary to boot. All you have to do is he asked. prayers will be answered. As recorded that their recital shall always be oversee the workers and ensure that in the Gemara: accepted (literally, that they will they maintain proper levels of produc- Continued on Page 38

36 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES FROM THE CHASSIDIC MASTERS Continued from Page 34 garbed in reason, so that our natural and initial reaction to them is a rational-emotional one, while others come to us as less veiled expressions of the Divine will, with the immediate effect of stimulating our innate obedience to their commander. This is not to say, however, that we are to confine our observance and experience of a mitzvah to the most obvious face it pres- ents to us. In the case of the ostensibly rational mitzvos, we must strive to nevertheless observe them with a simple, self-negating obedience to the Divine will. Regarding the chukim, the challenge is to study and ponder their significance (including the significance and function of their non-rationality as stimulators of our unequivocal obedience to G-d) to the point that we observe them with the passion and intellectual involvement that charac- terize the most profoundly appreciated law or testimonial.

End To End But why bother with such externalities? If the mitzvos, in essence, are the unfathomable will of G-d—if every soul, in essence, possesses an innate obedience to the Divine will—why not keep our mitzvos pure? Why not strive only to awaken our intrinsic loyalty to G-d and observe His commandments, without the extraneous ink of intellectual inquiry and emotional empathy? Because G-d commanded otherwise. G-d clothed His unqualifiable will in the patent logic of the mitzvah of charity; in the genius of the Torah’s judicial code; in the emotional experience of Shabbos; in the subtle insights we glean from the most esoteric chok. G-d instructed us to not only implement His will but also to study it, analyze it, debate it, and expound upon it. Why think and feel when it comes to G-d’s decrees? Because this, too, is a Divine decree. This is the ultimate meaning of the statement, “This is the chok of Torah.” All of Torah is chok: not only is every law and testimonial essentially a supra-rational decree, but also their written surface, also our intellectual- emotional quest to comprehend and appreciate them, is to be undertaken in supra-rational obedience to the Divine will. For this, too, we have a metaphor in the two engraved tablets Moshe brought down from Mount Sinai. If the difference between rational appreciation and supra-rational obedience is the difference between writing and engraving, then the difference between obedience sans reason and obedient reasoning is the difference between two types of engraving. Usually, engraved letters penetrate below the surface of the stone but do not cut through it from end to end. In other words, while the letters form an integral part of the stone, not every part of the stone is of the defining substance of the letters. If the letters are carved one inch deep in a two-inch- thick tablet, then only the front inch of stone is engraved.

Continued on Page 39 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 37 MISHNAS CHAYIM Continued from Page 36

“The inspections. What did you observe during the inspections?” his uncle per- sisted, beginning to show signs of agitation. “Oh, ummm… I didn’t know that… I mean… ” Realization began to dawn on both faces. “You imbecile!” the uncle burst out. “I didn’t give you the schedule just to memo- rize the instructions! You think for that I’m paying you such a high salary? Couldn’t you figure out that you were supposed to carry out the instructions and simply use the schedule as your guidelines?!” And so it is with the Thirteen Attributes, explained the Chofetz Chaim. The idea is not just to recite them; that is a necessary step, but only a first one. Their power lies in one’s actual performance of them; that is, Hashem desires that the Jewish people walk in His ways and emulate His pristine and compassionate traits. It is when they “perform this procedure,” and not just “say” it, that their prayers will certainly be answered (Otzros HaTorah, Sefer

And he threw the tablets out of his hands (Sh’mos 32:19)

The Tablets were each six handbreadths long and three handbreadths wide. Moshe held two handbreadths [of the Tablets’ length], G-d held two handbreadths, and in between were two handbreadths of space. Moshe’s hands prevailed, and he grabbed hold of the Tablets and broke them.

(Jerusalem Talmud, Taanis 4:5)

38 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Sh’mos, pp. 283–285). Controlling your destiny. And so we begin to understand that “the order of the Thirteen Attributes” is not just some “magical formula,” whereby enunciating certain words guarantees that the supplicant will be automatically granted whatever he wants. Rather, the matter is conducted through Hashem’s system of perfect justice. When a Jew emulates Hashem’s traits of compassion, Hashem will reciprocate and bestow upon him an extra measure of compassion. This notion is based on the classic concept described in the Mishnah in Sotah (1:7): A person is treated (by Heaven) in the same manner in which he conducts himself. If a person displays harshness and inflexibility in his dealings with others, he can expect similar treatment from the Al-mighty; his personal fail- ings may be scrutinized, and he will be dealt with accordingly. However, if a person adopts the attributes of Hashem—for instance, to exhibit great patience and understanding for his fellow man—he has cause to hope for Divine patience. In this manner, he may witness the fulfillment of another dictum of Chazal, which expresses a similar sentiment: “To whom does Hashem grant for- giveness (for their shortcomings)? To someone who overlooks the flaws and misdeeds of others” (Rosh Hashanah 17a). O

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FROM THE CHASSIDIC MASTERS Continued from Page 37

This is comparable to a mindless obedience to the Divine will. The person’s performance of the mitzvah is engraved in his soul’s essence, but it does not cut through it from end to end. Certain aspects of his being— his intellect and emotions—remain untouched. True, these are the more external, appended aspects of his being—the reverse of his stone, if you will—but they are part of it nonetheless. However, regarding the two tablets that embodied the Ten Command- ments, we are told that they were inscribed from end to end. Each letter was a complete hollow, bored front to back; every inch of stone was both the medium and the substance of the letters. This represents a state of being in which also the externalities of the soul—the elements of self usually associated with writing—are part and parcel of the engraving of the Divine desire in the human essence. O

Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe; adapted by Yanki Tauber. Courtesy of MeaningfulLife.com via Chabad.org. Find more Torah articles for the whole family at www.chabad.org/parshah. 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 39 understand what is so terrific about But what about tomorrow’s chil- those “before” pictures. The whole dren—the ones whose genes are thing escapes me. Either my eyesight being engineered? One has to wonder is failing or perhaps I simply lack what some of these future designer imagination, but when someone babies will say when they’re old proudly shows me the picture of her enough to know that their parents lit- baby before he’s actually born, all I erally chose their characteristics. really see is a fuzzy triangle with blur- What if a kid gets to be a teenager Overrated Interference ry white lines running through it. and wishes she had green eyes Now and then I can make out that instead of the brown ones that her What will they think of next? Some what their children will be like—until there’s something (someone?) inside parents chose? Or possibly a blonde, members of the scientific community now, that is. that weird-looking triangle. The green-eyed beauty decides that she announced last week that they have Back in the 1960s, people had no whole thing reminds me of a televi- would have much preferred blue eyes made extraordinary progress in the idea if they were having a boy or a girl. sion screen with a horizontal visual and flaming red hair. There are so field of genetic engineering. The term There was still some mystery in those disturbance. But, not wanting to many combinations! genetic engineering says it all, and the years. But, thanks to the advent of appear lame, I act on cue. I know Parents might opt to have a baby idea of playing around with nature is sonograms, that changed quite a few enough to shriek with glee, “Oh look, who will become an accomplished creepy. This latest development led tel- years ago, and these days expectant there’s the baby!” I don’t actually see pianist, only to discover that when evision news broadcasters to bill the the kid grows up he fiercely wishes segment “Designer Babies.” What it that he were proficient at playing the means is exactly what it sounds like. drums. And what if a kid, gifted in Young couples will soon be afforded math and science, would much the opportunity to select their babies’ We did it the old-fashioned way: rather have been endowed with the hair color, eye color, and who knows ability to be multilingual and desper- what else! ately harbors the wish that languages Luck was with us when my hus- we took the pictures came easily to her? She might be band, Arnie, and I started our family pretty angry with her folks. The same years ago. Although selecting hair might be said of a boy who discovers and eye color would never have been after the kid was born. that his folks could just as easily have our preference, it is possible that if chosen to have him be a terrific ath- other options had been available we lete and instead he can’t even hit a just might have availed ourselves of a ball. His ability to be a world-class few. Our choices would undoubtedly parents are able to learn, with a good a baby, but pretending that I recog- violinist might not hold much appeal have been in the categories of charac- deal of accuracy, the gender of their nize the shape as a human one makes for him. ter and intelligence. But we were baby well before they ever hear the the soon-to-be mother very happy. So The bottom line is that prospec- blessed with good fortune because, kid’s first wail. what’s the harm? Really! tive parents should leave well even without available options, our We didn’t have pictures of our Today’s options were even more enough alone. Let the kid have the children turned out to be everything babies before they arrived. We did it remote back in the 1940s when my appearance he was meant to have that would make a parent proud. It the old-fashioned way: we took the folks had me. They didn’t know any and let him have the abilities that wasn’t something we could have pre- pictures after the kid was born. more about us before we were born dicted. No one can ever be certain Although, I must confess that I don’t than we did about our offspring. Continued on Page 42

40 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 41 THAT’S THE WAY IT IS! Continued from Page 40

were G-d-given instead of medical- science-given. Had my parents been able to order a designer baby, I would have had preferences. Then again, my wish list might not have jived with what my parents had selected. It would have been nice if I’d been granted bright blue eyes and silky blonde hair. And while they were at it, maybe my folks might have seen to it that I was pos- sessed of a trim figure and a small waist—in fact, any waist would make me happy. And I wouldn’t have objected to having been born with a Mensa-worthy I.Q., either. But none of that happened for me. Alas, I got what I got. We all did. Hashem did the planning. Despite the fact that I have a wish list that includes a specific appearance along with abilities and capabil- ities other than what I was granted, I recognize it for what it is—a pipe dream. In truth, I wouldn’t trade myself for anything (make that anyone) else. True, I don’t have much of a waist. But I have a wrist. And a wrist is way smaller than a waist any day, and more useful too. And so what if my hair is an ordinary brown? Being a blonde wouldn’t guarantee that I would have more fun, in spite of those commercials for hair-color products that claim otherwise. It’s not that fun is overrated, but I’m having my fair share of fun as a brunette. Most people feel the same way. The majority of us are glad to be who and what we are and thankful that it was left to chance. There’s way too much interference going on today! The entire concept is ridiculous. Now that I think about it, maybe it was appropriate for the announcement about designer babies to have been made just before Purim because it could easily be a joke. Unfor- tunately it isn’t! O

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

For the next issue, deadline for reserving ad space is Monday, March 16 at 5:00 P.M.

All graphics for ads must be in by Tuesday, March 17 at 5:00 P.M.

Call 516-984-0079

42 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 43 There is no admission charge and the perish but also of those who survive public is welcome. O them. There are hundreds of victims of horror who “fall through the cracks” of Ohr Meir And Bracha: Picking Up the Israeli government’s aid initiative. The Pieces Of Shattered Lives They do not receive help because they By Rochelle Maruch Miller are still in the process of being Terrorism does not discriminate. assessed for disability (which can take Jewish Music Series Comes To of the Cantorial Council of America. Terrorists seek out innocent people two or more years). Ohab Zedek Of Belle Harbor, Cantor Beer, who is a graduate of YU and attempt to garner media attention Terror attacks do more than destroy March 19 and the Belz School, attended the by causing the greatest possible buildings and cause physical injury; On Thursday, March 19, at 8:00 p.m., Columbia University Music Depart- tragedy. Even when the attacks sub- they cause great psychological duress Congregation Ohab Zedek of Belle ment and the Julliard School of Music. side, the pain never dies. Terror attacks in individuals and interfere with the Harbor is scheduled to begin its Henry He has held positions as chazzan in the do more than cause physical injuries. longtime livelihood of families. Many Kaye lecture series on Jewish music. Rockwood Park Jewish Center in They crush the spirit. workers lose their jobs because of The program, entitled “Ashkenazic Howard Beach and in the Jewish For Liora Tedgi, founding Ohr Meir extended absences from work as a Synagogue Music: Past and Present,” Center in Atlantic Beach. He has also U’Bracha was personal. Both her result of their own or a family mem- discusses the development and analy- written and recorded a series of CDs grandfather and her husband had been ber’s injuries, yet often they do not sis of Ashkenazic nusach (liturgical on the nusach of the High Holy Days, victims of horrific terrorist attacks. qualify for unemployment subsidies. music formulae) and includes a live which is taught at YU. He has written Liora, a mother of ten, herself was a Others are “unrecognized” or known performance of the synagogue chants numerous articles on Jewish music victim of terror and knows firsthand as secondary victims: individuals trau- of the Ashkenazic tradition. The pre- and serves on the board of directors of the effects of such a tragedy. Since matized by having witnessed an attack, senter is Cantor Bernard Beer, director and consults for Sounds of Jewish 2002, she has dedicated her efforts to or relatives of victims—people whose of the Yeshiva University Belz School Music (Chicago), Musica Judaica providing support and succor to other lives have been inexorably altered due of Music, and the guest vocalist is (New York), and the Journal of Jewish victims of terror. Liora set up the to the death or disability of a beloved Cantor Beryl Zucker. Music and Liturgy. organization to respond to the unmet, family member as a result of an act of Cantor Bernard Beer, in addition to Congregation Ohab Zedek is located unrecognized needs of victims of terror terror. The pressures on the family fol- being director of the YU Belz School of at Beach 135th Street and Rockaway and their families. Terror attacks lowing a terror attack can wreak havoc, Music, is the executive vice-president Beach Boulevard in Belle Harbor. destroy not only the lives of those who straining relationships to the breaking point, leading to divorce, depression, chronic unemployment, and dissolu- tion of family functioning. The grief and pain of losing a loved one or enduring ongoing extensive medical treatment can make it difficult for many families to cope with the daily caretaking needs of their children. Other families fall into acute financial crises and do not have enough money to pay bills, buy food, or find psychological counseling. The Terror Victims Support Center provides support for these victims by offering a plethora of services to help rebuild their shattered lives. Ohr Meir U’Bracha does not use lengthy evaluation processes. It does not have eligibility criteria other than verifying that the individual is a primary or secondary victim of terror. This exemplary organization gives immediate assistance whenever possible. Ohr Meir U’Bracha provides numerous services to victimized families. Its flagship service is its weekly food distribution project, which brings together volunteers from all over to package and deliver food to 400 families each week. The organization is open, however, to any provision that will improve the lives of those afflict- ed, and habitually provides shivah costs and catering services; hospital visits; psychological and legal services; open-line, 24-hour emergency call-in service; weekly and holiday food distribution; new household electrical appliances; clothes and school supplies, and financial assistance. Through its Adopt-a-Family program, generous families commit to providing for victimized families’ monthly needs. The center arranges visits to families’ homes, to show support and bring joy, through its Homes Visit program. Big Brothers is com- prised of dedicated volunteers who act as mentors to young victims. Through its Family Therapy Vacation program, the center brings families from all over Israel together for a welcome respite in their most difficult times. “Our mission is to provide financial and moral support for terror victims and their families,” Liora explains. 44 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES “We stress to relieve the • Expect a lot from each mental therapies; and possible. “Summertime has always intense pressure that most of child by providing him or her • Support parents, the chil- When asked about Camp been extremely challenging these families endure. The with a wide variety of made- dren’s primary support sys- Yaldei, Menachem Leifer, organization survives through to-measure intensive develop- tem, to the maximum degree Yaldei’s founder, explained, Continued on Page 46 the generosity of its donors worldwide. We are always looking for help, monetary or otherwise, and to increase awareness of our non-profit organization and the crucial services it provides.” You can touch a victim’s life through a simple act of chesed. Please join Ohr Meir U’Bracha in its noble endeavors by mailing your generous donation to: Ohr Meir U’Bracha; 455 Viola Road; Monsey, New York 10977. Tizku l’mitvos! O

Yaldei: Sleepaway Camp In Quebec For Children With Special Needs Nestled amongst the trees in the heart of the Laurentian Mountains, 45 minutes north of Montreal, lies Quebec’s first and only sleepaway camp for shomer Shabbos children with special needs. Yaldei is a thriving, state-of- the-art, intensive early inter- vention center dedicated to helping special-needs children—or, as Yaldei likes to call them, exceptional children— reach their maximum potential. There are two tenets that underpin everything that the organization does:

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 45 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Ben Baer, Yaldei’s clinical director, Continued from Page 45 says, “Give exceptional children the right tools, as soon as possible, as for parents and children alike. intensively as possible, and they will Exceptional children rarely have the turn around and give you unimagined opportunity to enjoy and benefit from improvement. We’ve seen it time and summer camp like other kids do. We time again. We focus and build on wanted to provide children aged five each child’s particular strengths. With and up with this opportunity, and we us, children feel that they are suc- wanted their parents to benefit from a ceeding instead of failing and thereby much-needed and well-earned rest.” build and improve on their strengths, Rabbi Yisroel Schwab, the camp developing new skills and abilities director, says, “We offer parents the along the way.” comfort and peace of mind to know A father from New York City con- that their children are in a warm, car- veyed a sentiment shared by many par- ing environment. There is a one-to-one ents when he said, “Camp Yaldei was a camper-to-counselor ratio. The kids wonderful respite for my wife and me. thrive on the warm and caring individ- We left our son for the summer, secure ual attention. The growth and progress in the knowledge that he would be well we see in so many of our campers is cared for and would have fun, learn, truly amazing. Living as part of a close- and grow. We were able to enjoy this knit camp family fosters a sense of time with true peace of mind. It was belonging and helps them form strong the first occasion in six years that we and lasting friendships. The kids have were able to have a moment to our- fun, never realizing that they are learn- selves and really and truly relax and ing, improving, and stretching their unwind. Even staying at home sur- personal boundaries.” rounded by the same four walls felt The camp has two lakes, a swimming like a real vacation.” pool, a huge rec room for rainy days and In a thank-you letter, a parent from indoor activities, a huge strictly kosher Montreal said, “Until our son went to kitchen/dining room in a shomer Camp Yaldei, we had not been aware of Shabbos environment, beautiful well- the intense anxiety that we had sur- maintained infrastructure, and many rounding his well-being… Thank you, nature trails. The staff works very hard Yaldei, for giving him and all of us the to ensure that all activities, whether opportunity to replenish our inner swimming, boating, arts-and-crafts, resources. If not for you, this would drama, music, or sports, are modified to not have been possible.” meet each camper’s specific needs and Parents interested in more information challenges. Even in this relaxed, natural about Camp Yaldei are invited to call 514- setting, skills learned year round are 279-3666 ext. 1, write to [email protected], reinforced and new ones are taught. or visit www.yaldei.org. O

46 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Tnuva Cheese Spread Makes A Bnot Shulamith Torah Bowl Victory Smooth Debut The Bnot Shulamith Middle School Torah Bowl Team rolled to its third consecutive match sweep, by winning all five of its games in the recent Metropolitan League Torah Bowl competition. Once again, Bnot Shulamith defeated each of the five teams in the Eastern division, from HALB, HAFTR, HANC, YCQ, and NSHA, by a combined score of 108–28. This brings their record to 15–0 for the season, and earns them a bye in the upcoming divisional championship. A victory there would Tnuva USA has just unveiled a give Bnot Shulamith a shot at a per- creamy smooth Tnuva Cheese Spread fect season and a chance for its sec- that is available in the deli and cheese ond consecutive Metropolitan Torah sections at area grocery stores and Bowl League crown! supermarkets. For this most recent competition, The secret to Tnuva Cheese the students mastered the entirety of Spread’s lip-smacking delicious taste Parashiyos Ki Seitzei, Ki Savo, and can be traced to the pastoral Galilee Nitzavim, together with Rashi’s com- region in the Holy Land, where dairy mentary. The division championship cows produce some of the richest tast- round will test the students on ing milk in the world. Parashiyos Vayeilech, Ha’azinu, and For over a century, cheese spreads V’zoz HaBerachah. The league cham- have become a popular staple at pionship will go to the winning team breakfast and dinner tables across of a competition which will test the America. Tnuva Cheese Spread can students on the entire Sefer Devarim be smeared on toasts, bagels, breads, with Rashi. and crackers. It makes for a great- The B’not Shulamith team features tasting dip at dinner parties and can 8th-graders Reva Black and (co-cap- also be used as a base ingredient for tains) Miriam Klahr and Esther creating luscious cheesecakes. Tnuva Wilamowsky, as well as 7th-graders Cheese Spread is available in three Gabriella Englander, Tabi Fink, and delectable flavors—plain, olives, and Este Stollman. Proud principal and garlic/dill. coach, Rabbi Nosson N. Schreiber, Tnuva Cheese Spread features the commented, “Our students’ success renowned Orthodox Union (OU) and Vaad Mehadrin kosher symbols. O Continued on Page 48

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 47 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Knowing Your Jewish Genetic Heritage, March 15 Senator Skelos Visits MAY Continued from Page 47 On Sunday, March 15, Nishmat’s and these runaway scores reflect the Miriam Glaubach Center, which pro- hours of disciplined time they put in vides resources and programs across to learning and mastering the North America for individuals, fami- Chumash. It is a true labor of love for lies, synagogues, and mikvaot on top- them, and I’m thrilled they get to ics of taharat ha’mishpachah (laws enjoy the reward and acclaim for related to women and mikveh) and their wonderful work!” O women’s health, will present a Jewish genetics symposium entitled MAY Marks Yarhzeit Of “Knowing Your Jewish Genetic Mercaz HaRav Heritage: Awareness for the sake of Mesivta Ateres Yaakov marked the your children and their children—A yarhzeit of the eight boys from medical and halachic discussion.” Mercaz HaRav by participating in The event is scheduled to take place the worldwide program sponsored by 10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at Cong- B’Lev Echad. Eight sifrei Torah were regation Kehilath Jeshurun, 125 East dedicated in their memory, and a 85th Street in Manhattan. siyum was held. Rabbi Baruch The Nishmat program offers a Rabinowitz, 11th-grade rebbi in the unique opportunity to hear from med- mesivta, recounted the horrific ical and halachic experts about genet- events of a year ago and gave divrei ic testing and the halachic implica- chizuk. tions of certain modern-day medical State Senator Dean G. Skelos visited Mesivta Ateres Yaakov on Sunday The mesivta also held a blood drive procedures. The program will consist morning, March 1. He met with the students, explained the legislative to benefit bikur cholim. Over 80 of a panel discussion led by Susan process and the different economic plans being offered on the national and pints of blood were collected in this Gross, M.D., chairperson of the state levels, and answered questions. student-organized drive. O department of obstetrics and gynecol- ogy at North Bronx Healthcare Network and Jacobi Hospital, and yoetzet halachah Atara Eis, a halachic advisor in the area of taharat ha’mishpachah. Eis is currently on staff at nine synagogues throughout Manhattan and Kemp Mill Synagogue in Silver Spring, Maryland. Gross and Eis will discuss issues that include the halachic background related to encouraging genetic testing, the preferred model of testing for Jewish genetic diseases, and how to keep testing a private matter in order to prevent stigmatization. They will also touch on halachic issues related to in vitro fertilization (IVF) and pre- implantation genetic diagnosis (the process of screening embryos so they are deemed healthy prior to implantation during IVF). Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center was established in 2006 through a generous grant from Drs. Miriam and Felix Glaubach to enhance women’s observance of the laws of taharat ha’mishpachah and bring the expertise and compassion of Nishmat’s yoatzot halachah to Jewish communities across North America. To find out more about this program and other programs of Nishmat’s Miriam Glaubach Center, call 212-983-6975 or e-mail [email protected]. O

Jerry And Essie Meyer To Be Honored at YI Of Queens Valley, March 14 Jerry and Essie Meyer are to be honored by the Young Israel of Queens Valley gemilas chesed-chevrah kadishah at their 43rd annual melavah malkah, on March 14 in the shul’s social hall, 141-55 77th Avenue in Kew Gardens Hills. Jerry and Essie are the owners of the well known Jerry Meyer Studio of Cedarhurst, with an office in Kew Gardens Hills. They will be presented with two awards: one because of the chesed activities that they have been involved with in the Queens and Nassau communities, and Jerry will officially become a “Chover” in the exclusive European society. The Young Israel Gemilas Chesed 48 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES organization has actively been involved Mimi, the synagogue has provided with outright gifts and loans since the community with an environment 1967. Close to $2 million have helped of exceptional hospitality, warmth, many here and in Eretz Yisrael. O and friendship. RSVP by calling 516- 889-9650. O Lido Beach Synagogue Annual Dinner, March 29 Combined Passover Fund Lido Beach Synagogue’s 42nd In Full Gear Annual Dinner will honor Evelyn and The Jewish Community Council of Manny Gross and will take place the Rockaway Peninsula and the Sunday evening March 29, at the Jewish Services Coalition are, for the Lawrence Village Country Club. 18th year, conducting their annual Evelyn and Manny and their beautiful Combined Passover Fund appeal. Last family have become an integral part of year, working with an array of shuls the community. After 32 years of from the Five Towns and Rockaways, membership at the Lido Beach enough money was raised to give Synagogue they felt compelled to do checks to 132 local families. This sup- their share by lending support, as port helped them afford the enormous guests of honor, to a very special costs of food and wine for Pesach. Orthodox synagogue known in the The fund is jointly administered by Jewish community as a role model for Harvey Gordon of the Jewish its spirituality, educational endeavors, Community Council of the Rockaway outreach, and acts of chesed. Peninsula and Esther Schenker of the Inspired by the leadership of Rabbi Jewish Services Coalition. In addition Daniel H. Mehlman and his wife to the funds raised, they coordinate vouchers for needy families provided by the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty. The JCCRP and JSC staff can easily identify appropriate families for this aid, as they work with needy Jewish families throughout the year. Workers interact with staff from other local agencies and rabbis who help the Jewish needy and often receive referrals for services. Harvey and Esther expect the need to be greater this year than in the recent past due to the poor economy.

Evelyn and Manny Gross. Continued on Page 50

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 49 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS this service at no cost to the borrow- Continued from Page 49 er—even if the borrower receives a modification or other concession To help the Jewish poor at this time from the bank. There are no hidden of the year, please send a donation to fees or costs ever—the mortgage fore- the Combined Passover Fund at 1525 closure counseling service is Central Avenue, Far Rockaway, NY absolutely free. 11691 or make a credit-card donation New York Mortgage advocates has at www.jccrp.org. Should you have any an office conveniently located right in questions, call Esther Schenker at the heart of the Five Towns at 112 718-327-6060 or Harvey Gordon at Spruce Street (in the building with 718-327-7755 ext.11. O the “LIFEHOUSE” awning) and can be reached at 516-374-4564. They North Shore Students Awards At are also opening up a second office in Toshiba ExploraVision Competition Hempstead. Borrowers are asked to The team of Daniel Goldsmith and bring in certain documents to facili- Jonathan Weinreich, along with the tate the assistance process and then team of Megan Garber, Ashley Khalili, schedule an appointment with a and Daniel Younger, students of the counselor. Each counselor has been North Shore Hebrew Academy, have Five research program members at North Shore Hebrew academy were awarded specially trained in the mortgage fore- Honorable Mention in the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision competition. been named as Honorable Mention closure prevention process and each Award recipients in the 2009 has a real estate background. ExploraVision contest, sponsored by LIFE is a social services agency Toshiba and NSTA, the National team’s vision of what the technology their payments but fear they will fall that has been providing many impor- Science Teachers Association. Daniel will become in 20 years. behind. New York Mortgage tant services and programs to the and Jonathan competed in the 7th–9th As Honorable Mention awardees, Advocates’ highly trained counselors people of the Five Towns and Far grade category, while Megan, Ashley, Daniel, Jonathan, Megan, Ashley, and will work with borrowers and attempt Rockaway, as well as to the greater and Daniel participated in the Daniel will receive a special gift from to help borrowers work out loan New York City and Nassau County 10th–12th grade category. This recog- Toshiba/NSTA, along with a certificate modifications with the banks. In sit- areas, for over 30 years. The execu- nition places them in the top 10 per- of recognition. O uations where modifications are not tive director is Rabbi Simcha cent of all entries from the United possible, New York Mortgage Lefkowitz. Please do not hesitate to States and Canada. LIFE Foreclosure Prevention Advocates will help advise borrowers call upon them for their mortgage Daniel and Jonathan discussed Counseling on alternative remedies. foreclosure prevention services and the technology of “microencapsula- Labor & Industry For Education, LIFE has been working closely with to find out what other services they tion,” while Megan, Ashley, and Inc. (LIFE), under the name of New Project Eliezer for several months and provide to the community. O Daniel explored the technology of York Mortgage Advocates, has com- is already assisting several of Project “molecularly imprinted biosensors.” menced free mortgage foreclosure Eliezer’s clients in the mortgage fore- Enjoy Bourekas Bachar Pizza In both a written report and graphic prevention counseling for people closure prevention process. Bourekas Bachar is a family-owned design of a potential website, the who are having difficulties with their Many claim that they can help bor- business that started in Israel over 40 students presented information mortgage lenders. They also counsel rowers modify mortgages for a fee. years ago when founder Yehousha about their technology and the people who are not yet behind on New York Mortgage Advocates will do Bachar moved his family from Turkey

50 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES to Israel. He came with a family recipe and a dream. His bourekas are now famous in Haifa and the recipe was handed down to his nine children who continued the bourekas tradition. This is the first store to open in New York. They are certified by the VAAD HaRabbonim of Queens with a mash- giach on premises every day. All dairy products are chalav Yisrael. They make quality kosher bourekas, pizza, pasta dishes, sandwiches, falafel, and salads that are healthy and delicious. Bourekas Bachar Brick Oven Pizza caters breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner—and everything in between. They provide freshly made meals and deliver them on time, ready to be served. Everything is prepared and cooked in their immaculate kitchen. The consistent quality of the food is second to none. They are building their reputation by providing the finest quality foods to customers. They can design and/or customize each order just for your budget. They can also match competitor’s prices. Take a look at the menu and call 718- 591-3111 to discuss your catering needs. You may also fax your order to 718-591-3113 or order online at www.bourekasbachar.com. You are also invited to taste their food or just come see the pizzeria. Choose Bourekas Bachar, and get quality, service, and much more. O

OHEL And JCC Address Student Needs On Long Island In every community and in every school system, students face emotional challenges. And, in turn, those challenges often affect the entire family. Yeshivas and day schools of the greater Five Towns have been working to meet the challenge to provide sufficient on-site services addressing the emotional needs of students, support for families, and relevant training and assistance for educators. OHEL and the JCC of the Greater Five Towns have partnered to respond to this challenge. As part of a joint project called CHINUCH (Children Need Chizuk), funded by UJA Federation of New York’s Caring Commission, seven schools (grades 6–12) are staffed once a week by an OHEL social worker. Participating schools include Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR), the Brandeis School, Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys (DRS), Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls (SKA), Hebrew Academy of Nassau County (HANC), Yeshiva Darchei Torah, and Bnos Bais Yaakov. In addition to the one-on-one counseling for students in need, OHEL staff is there to make teachers and administrators aware of the mental- health needs of their students and suggest effective ways to address the needs of students who experience difficulty. This team of professionals also lead groups and workshops in the classroom on various topics related to mental health, including self-esteem, relationship building, peer pressure, and substance abuse prevention. Often children who face chal-

Continued on Page 52 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 51 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS It is vital that we continue to properly Continued from Page 51 address the growing needs of our students. Project CHINUCH has given us lenges in their home environment that opportunity!” O show difficulty in the classroom. OHEL social workers are there to HAFTR Celebrates Hundreds Of interact with them, ensure the stu- Brachot On Its 100th Day Of School dents’ emotional well-being, and offer Since Rosh Chodesh Shevat, HAFTR short-term counseling for the family. students have been preparing for their Needless to say, the current financial 100th day of school. This year the crisis is a new and significant con- theme was “Hundreds of Brachot.” tributing stress factor to individuals After learning the laws of brachot, and entire families. Through various blessings, in their Judaic studies class- OHEL and JCC programs, such as es, students then kept a line plot in OHEL Family Case Management their general studies classrooms to col- Services Program and the JCC’s Food lect data on the number of brachot Pantry and Entitlement Program, they made in class. Each time they counseling and support is available to completed 100 brachot, they started a families in crisis due to today’s finan- new graph. On the 100th day of cial challenges. school, classes were able to compile Rabbi Paysach Krohn with students and teachers at HAFTR. Project CHINUCH not only their groups of “hundreds” into a grade addresses the needs of the students wide display. and their families, but also aims to “The 100th day was a great oppor- making brachot and answering amen. each brachah has a special segulah, promote a broader perspective of emo- tunity for us to plan a joint project Students learned that each amen cre- and that brachot must be made in a tional health to schools and communi- between Judaic and general studies. ates another malach, or angel, to pro- specific order. ties. Several educational seminars on With our integrated curriculum, we tect us. “This rabbi was funny and This very special 100th day taught the subject of mental health are avail- continue to strive for our students to interesting! He grabbed my attention HAFTR students that math and able throughout the school year. Some make connections between Torah and now I’m going to try to make more Yahadut go hand in hand. “We hope of the topics already covered are u’mada,” said Yasmine Javdanfar, brachot. It’s so cool that he speaks that these experiences encourage our “Raising Children to Respect math coach and student council around the world.” said Allison Scharf, students to meet their own goal of Themselves and Respect Others,” and coordinator. a fifth grade student. making 100 brachot a day,” reveals “Assertive Training for Parents: To start their celebration, students To put theory into practice, stu- Joy Hammer, principal of |HAFTR Knowing when and how to say ‘no.’” were inspired to make more brachot by dents also participated in the annual Lower School. O Even in its infancy, the positive renowned lecturer and author Rabbi “Brachos Out Loud” communitywide results of Project CHINUCH have Paysach Krohn. This event was spon- event, facilitated by Mr. Menachem OU Objects To Clinton Statement been clearly recognized and acknowl- sored by HAFTR’s student council and Fientuch and friends. To culminate On East Jerusalem Houses edged. Rabbi Dovid Kupchik, principal a member of the HAFTR family in the event, Mr. Fientuch sponsored a The Orthodox Union wrote to of HAFTR Middle School, relates, “We memory of Chizkia ben Chaim, brachot party for the entire school. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last tremendously benefit from the profes- zichrono livracha. Rabbi Krohn shared Students made brachot and respond- week to object to a statement in which sional involvement of the OHEL social some moving stories, followed by a ed amen to those made by their worker who is assigned to our school. short video, and showed the power of classmates. Students learned that Continued on Page 54

52 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES AskBY WARREN The LEVISensei

Working The Bag niques for one round, then only kicks, Q. Dear Sensei Warren: I enjoy bag or only spinning kicks. work. Can you recommend how I can If you want to only improve your derive the maximum benefit out of power, then you should: doing bag work? • Keep the rounds longer (2 to 3 A. Bag work is an excellent way in minutes) and the rest periods at 1 which to build stamina and power as minute to ensure full recuperation. well as to perfect your technique. The • Perform techniques with full delivery of your punches and kicks to a power. solid object prepares you to become • Focus on aiming. O comfortable with ducking, weaving, blocking, and hitting without the pres- Sensei Warren Levi may be contacted at 516- 569-0808. His website is at www.warrenle- sure of actually getting hit. You can vikarate.com. To ask any questions or send increase your stamina and endurance comments, e-mail [email protected]. by breaking your workouts into rounds and giving yourself rest time in between in order to recuperate. You will need to break down your workout Submit your photo to the depending on what area of your training or individual technique you need 5 Towns Jewish Times! to improve. To improve speed, but not lose power: You can upload your • Keep your rounds short (1 to 2 minutes) and your rest periods short digital photos and see them (30 seconds). printed in the weekly edition • Focus on moving around the bag throughout the workout to improve of the 5 Towns Jewish Times footwork. • Perform the techniques with speed. www.5tjt.com/sendphotos • Plan what techniques you will use per round, for example, hand tech-

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 53 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Continued from Page 52

she expressed opposition to Israel’s plans to demolish more than 80 houses constructed illegally by Palestinians in East Jerusalem. The OU’s leaders wrote as follows: Dear Secretary Clinton: As you visit the holy city of Jerusalem—which you have long recognized is the eternal and indivisible capital of Israel and the Jewish People—for the first time as our Secretary of State, we write to you to express our disappointment and dis- agreement with your statements regarding illegally constructed Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem. You stated that Israel’s plans to demolish more than 80 such illegally constructed homes are “unhelpful and not in keeping with the obliga- tions entered into under the ‘Road Map’” and that it is an issue you “intend to raise with the government of Israel.” Madame Secretary, as you well know, Israel is the sole democracy in the Mideast and thus possesses a fea- ture integral to democratic nations— an open and fair legal system. Thus, it is not only appropriate but necessary for the rule of law to govern. As such, illegally constructed homes in East Jerusalem should be removed, and any suggestion to the contrary mocks the laws of a just and democratic state. We note that the enforcement of similar Israeli laws has been urged by the United States regarding illegally constructed Israeli homes in other parts of Israel. We hope and expect that as Secretary of State you will champion democracy and the rule of law throughout the globe, and not sacri- fice such bedrock American values in the furtherance of competing diplomatic goals. We request that you reassess and clarify your statement on this matter. We would be pleased and honored to discuss this matter with you further if this would be helpful to you. Sincerely, Stephen Savitsky, President Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Executive Vice President Mark Bane, Chairman, Public Policy Nathan J. Diament, Director, Public Policy For more information about the OU’s activities, visit www.ou.org. O

The M.V.P. Basketball Camp MVP Basketball Camp is an intense week of basketball playing, tournaments, clinics, and skills sessions for boys. The camp will take place on Sunday, August 23 through Thursday, August 27 at Camp Seneca Lake, Honesdale, PA. The camp features indoor and outdoor sports facilities which are all lit for night play, indoor and outdoor pools, and an indoor Jacuzzi available for use after games. MVP Basketball will be run by Irv Bader, Judah Rhine, and Josh Schwartz. In addition, there will be division one players, yeshiva high school coaches and more. There will

Continued on Page 56 54 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 55 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS basketball. Interaction and connec- our fourth donation to the soup the profits from every cookbook sold to Continued from Page 54 tions with fellow players and division kitchen.” Joanne said. “In total we Carmei Ha’ir. “We have sold over one players will result in the growth of have given them $72,000.” 20,000 cookbooks in a little over one be three daily minyanim, three deli- each player both individually and as a “We wanted to make sure that year,” Joanne said. cious glatt kosher meals served daily, team player. Carmei Ha’ir had enough money to Jewish groups such as Hadassah and barbecues every night. The cost is $350 per player before buy food for Purim and Passover.” chapters, ORT chapters, temples, syn- The players will be divided into April 1, $375 after April 1. Coach and Joanne said. “This is a special time for agogues, schools, JCC’s, Holocaust three divisions: middle school age team discounts are available. For more Jewish families and it is important that museums, and Jewish federations are (entering 7th and 8th grade); junior information or applications please con- they have enough food.” purchasing the cookbook at the whole- varsity age (entering 9th and 10th tact Irv Bader at 718-261-2267 or “This past January my husband and sale price to sell as a fundraiser for the grades); and varsity age (entering 11th [email protected] or Judah Rhine at I visited the soup kitchen. They told us important work they do. and 12th grades). For each division, 516-707-2638 or [email protected]. that the world economic crisis had “Our goal is to raise millions for players will be divided into teams and There will be a separate girls MVP forced other Israeli soup kitchens to Carmei Ha’ir and millions more for receive in-depth instruction clinics Basketball Camp that will take place close their doors. But they remained Jewish groups all over the world,” and skills sessions and will also partic- from August 19 through August 23 at open only because of our cookbook!” Joanne said. “In total we would like to ipate in 3 on 3 tournaments. In addi- Camp Seneca Lake and will be run by In 2005 Joanne visited Carmei Ha’ir sell 6 million cookbooks as a tribute to tion, teams will play several league Stephanie Amos, coachsteph42@ for the first time. She was so the memory of those Jews who did not games every day. aim.com. impressed that she came home deter- survive the Holocaust.” The camp will focus on enhancing MVP Basketball applications can be mined to raise money to support them. Every cookbook sold creates three the fundamental teachings of basket- downloaded at www.senecalake.com Carmei Ha’ir serves over 500 meals mitzvahs: it raises money for Jewish ball and provide serious competition and click the MVP link. O each day to poor and hungry Israelis. groups; it helps to support the soup for each level so every camper will For two years the Caras family worked kitchen in Israel; and it honors all sur- improve their game. Attention will be Holocaust Survivor Cookbook tirelessly to collect recipes and stories vivors and keeps their stories alive for given to improving the basic skills as Keeps Israeli Soup Kitchen Alive from Holocaust survivors all over the generations to come. well as an overall “court sense.” The Holocaust Survivor Cookbook world. Joanne then compiled them “I am very proud that our cookbook workshops will emphasize building author Joanne Caras recently donated into an unforgettable Holocaust is now being used to teach Holocaust self-esteem and sportsmanship during another $18,000 to the Carmei Ha’ir Survivor Cookbook. studies in public schools in Palm a fun and enjoyable week of playing Soup Kitchen in Jerusalem. “This is The Caras family is donating all of Beach County, Florida and in Cleveland, Ohio.” Joanne said. “We have touched the hearts of thousands of people.” Holocaust Survivor Cookbooks can be purchased at www.survivorcook book.org. For more information please call Joanne Caras at 443-604-2643. O

And He gave to Moshe, when He had concluded speaking to him upon Mount Sinai, two Tablets of the Testimony (Sh’mos 31:18) This means that when G-d handed the Tablets to Moshe, the people had already made the Golden Calf! Thus the Midrash says: It is usual for an earthly king to bestow gifts on his subjects and furnish supplies for them, as long as they are loyal to him, being then obliged to support them; but as soon as they rebel against him, G-d forbid, he has no obligation whatsoever towards them, and he immediately cuts off their supplies as a penalty for denying his royal authority.With G-d, however, it is not so; for while they were busy provoking Him to anger below, He was occupied in heaven with bestowing upon them a Torah of life… (Midrash Rabbah)

56 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES overs. After a day or two, the flavors have a chance to meld together to become more intense. This is a flavorful roast chicken recipe that can be made over in lots of different ways:

Lemon-Garlic-Rosemary Roast Chicken And Potatoes Leftovers Makeover Ingredients: 3 1 whole roasting chicken (3 ⁄4 pounds) Combine 1 tablespoon oil, rose- 2 Tbsp. olive oil, divided (1+1) mary, rind, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 tea- How often do we work hard to sauté the last of the steak with sliced 2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary spoon pepper, and garlic in a small make a dinner or a Shabbos meal and onions and peppers to make a stir-fry, 1 tsp. grated lemon rind bowl. Rub seasoning mixture under 3 1 1 then find ourselves left with a fridge or with Mexican seasonings and serve ⁄4 tsp. salt, divided ( ⁄2+ ⁄4) loosened skin and over breasts and 1 full of leftovers? If your family is like on warm tortillas to make fajitas. ⁄2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper, drumsticks. Place chicken, breast side 1 1 mine, they do not get excited about • Toss leftovers in a salad with divided ( ⁄4+ ⁄4) up, on a rack coated with cooking eating the same dinner two nights in cooked or raw mixed vegetables. 3 garlic cloves, minced spray, and place rack in a roasting a row. What if we could plan ahead so Adding a little protein like chicken cooking spray pan. Toss potatoes with the remaining that the extra food would not go to breast, tuna steak, or feta cheese cre- 3 baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 tablespoon oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1 waste, but instead would make a ates an instant meal that’s ready to go. 1 ⁄2-inch pieces (about 2 pounds) and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Arrange whole new dinner? With a little • Make a soup or stew. Cooked 4 lemon wedges potato mixture evenly around chick- strategizing, you can easily turn one chicken and beef can be a delicious Directions: en. Bake at 375° for 40 minutes. meal into three, each with its own addition to a vegetable or barley soup Preheat oven to 375°F. Clean chick- Increase oven temperature to 450°, distinct flavor. When you already to make a hearty, one-bowl dinner. en and trim excess fat. Loosen skin and bake an additional 20 minutes. have cooked meat or chicken, you’re Remember, some things just taste from breasts and drumsticks by insert- Remove chicken from pan; let stand ahead of the game. Making dinner better the next day. If you make a soup, ing fingers and gently pushing between 15 minutes. Cut up and serve with will be a snap. stew, or chili, don’t think of it as left- skin and meat. potatoes and lemon wedges. O Leftover helpers. When you have a refrigerator full of leftovers and no ideas for dinner, try these easy options: • Roast chicken made with potatoes and herbs is a delicious and simple dinner for any family. The next day, slice up some of the breast, lay across romaine lettuce, and top with Caesar salad dressing to make chicken Caesar salad. Cut up the rest of the chicken to make quesadillas using soft tortillas, canned black beans, salsa, and pareve sour cream. That’s three dinners with only a third of the effort! • A big steak, like a London broil, can be re-created to make a variety of meals. Rub it with a spice mix, pop it in the broiler, and enjoy slices of juicy steak. The next day, layer some slices on a crusty roll, add caramelized onions and sliced tomato, and enjoy a hearty, big-flavor lunch. That night,

And the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to make the Sabbath (Sh’mos 31:16) There are two dimensions to Shabbos, referred to in the dual commandment to “keep” it and to “make” it. It is a day possessing an intrinsic holiness from the very beginning of time; this holiness the people of Israel are commanded to keep and preserve.And then there is the command “to make the Shabbos”—to impart greater sanctity and meaning to it by our actions. (Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch)

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 57 58 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

up. And then? “And then,” they said, “we’ll wait and see.” They warned me A Life-Changing Experience that it could take days till he woke up. The rosh yeshiva and principal asked me what they could do for us in addi- BY TOBY KLEIN medical team arrived, in record time. system—cut the response time down tion to the recitation of Tehillim. I GREENWALD They gave him BLS, Basic Life by at least two critical minutes. These said: “Please encourage any student Support, and ALS, Advanced Life phones were provided by Ichud who wants to volunteer for MDA.” On January 1, when much of the Support, or, in layman’s terms, Hatzala of Israel. We heard later that Every high school in Israel has dealt world was celebrating the beginning of shocked his heart till they got a pulse, there are synagogues in the U.S. where with the dilemma of how much time to a new year, the universe stood still for and rushed him to Shaarei Zedek it is standard to have a defibrillator on allow students to skip class to train our family. My husband, Yaakov, was Medical Center. the premises. and work for MDA. giving a calculus lesson to his 11th- The doctors who greeted me at the I also requested that every student grade class in the Neve Shmuel High hospital used phrases like “if he wakes have in mind one person against whom School yeshiva in Efrat when his heart up” and explained that the procedure he now holds a grudge (I made the stopped. He collapsed and lost con- Over the next few they were about to do was “to minimize same request of my friends), and work sciousness. It is called “ventricular fib- brain damage.” They induced a coma on the quality of being “dan l’kaf rillation” and can happen at almost and hypothermia, lowering his body z’chut”—trying to give that person the any age. When you hear of people who days we slowly let temperature to about 93 degrees benefit of the doubt. Later I received just “dropped dead” in their sleep, or in Fahrenheit. After 24 hours they would deeply moving e-mails and phone calls the street, it is often a result of this. him know that he slowly stop the coma-inducing medicine Unlike with a heart attack, there is and slowly bring his temperature back Continued on Page 61 usually no warning—it just happens. had, well, died and His life was saved by students. The class immediately sprang into action. One student positioned him with his come back. feet slightly raised, another ran to call the dormitory rabbi, who is a trained army medic, a third called the emergency number of Magen David Adom, Dr. Yitz Glick, who helped establish and others shouted “Mada! Mada!”— the Efrat emergency medical team, the acronym for Magen David Adom said, “There were many links in the (MDA), and a signal to anyone who is ‘chain of survival’ that were perfectly in in the vicinity that there is a medical place in order for Yaakov to be able to emergency. walk around Efrat today. There was Yechezkel Rosenstark, 16, grandson immediate bystander CPR, immediate of Helen and Ben Rosenstark of West calls for help, immediate ALS Hempstead and a veteran volunteer in (advanced life support), and defibrilla- MDA, pumped my husband’s chest, tion as fast as possible.” Dr. Glick said keeping the blood flowing to his brain that the communication between the until members of the Efrat emergency Mirs “phones”—better than the beeper

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 59 60 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Life Experience Continued from Page 59 from friends who said that they had shared the idea with their children as well, and were feeling the positive consequences. I asked that prayers and acts of goodness also be intended for the safe return of our soldiers, who were still at war, and for the recovery of the wounded. We experienced the longest 24 hours in our family’s history. The doctors said they were optimistic because the students and the emergency medical team had worked so quickly, but warned that his condition was defined as “critical.” There is a very low rate of survival when this happens outside of a hospital. Three of our children spent Shabbat with me in the hospital, and stayed nearby with friends. The nurses wouldn’t let me stay in the ICCU all night, so I curled up in a little corner room, though sleep didn’t come. Bizarrely, one of our married daughters spent Shabbat in our home in Efrat, hosting her in-laws, who had come for a respite from the rockets falling near their home in Ofakim. So we were steeped in life-threatening situations from all sides. At 4:30 a.m., I slowly climbed the few flights up to the ICCU, afraid to face my husband still in a coma. As I approached the open door of his room, I saw, from a dis- tance, the flutter of an eyelid. I drew closer and saw his eyes were open. I clutched his hand and said, “Squeeze my hand if you recognize me.” He did. I tried to hide my tears. He couldn’t speak because a breathing tube was still in his mouth but he asked, through a hand motion, “What’s going on?” I said, casually, “You were teaching and fainted, so they brought you here to check you out.” He was the most concerned about his matricula- tion students, who had an exam looming on the horizon. Over the next few days we slowly let him know that he had, well, died and come back. When the rosh yeshiva came to visit him, he said the blessing “mechayeh ha’meitim”— “Blessed be He Who returns the dead to life”—invoking the name of G-d. By Shabbat afternoon Yaakov sat up and ate a regular Shabbat meal. Our children and I sang “Hishtapchut HaNefesh” with him, a melody by an 18th-century Chabad rebbe that he had played on his flute for other students, in the largest synagogue of the city of Landzhut, Poland,

Continued on Page 62 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 61

Life Experience Continued from Page 61

where the Chozeh of Lublin began to lead his flock. When a friend stopped by to visit and asked what he was teaching before he lost con- sciousness, he proceeded to give him a lesson in calculus. His mind was as sharp as ever. On the Friday morning that he was in a coma, a medical clown—a Friday volunteer whose day job was as a professor of mathematics—stopped by and told me that Yaakov had been his teacher 25 years earlier, at a school in Jerusalem. The medical staff of Shaarei Zedek was highly professional, expert, thoughtful, and kind. Dr. Michael Naroditsky, the first doctor who treated him, told us that in his native Siberia, hypothermia had been used decades ago in a variety of medical situations. I had also turned to alternative healing. A friend of mine, Phyllis Krug of New York, who was visiting elsewhere in Israel, did “Consegrity” sessions on Yaakov from afar, and the report she gave me Saturday night, including the hours at which the coma lifted, and the breathing tube was able to be removed, corre- sponded amazingly with the times these things had occurred. Several days later, Yaakov came home with a defibrillator in his chest. Four days later he was teaching part- time; a week later, full-time. The week after he came home, he was reading the Torah in our synagogue again. One of the doctors told him, at a follow-up visit, that he was considered one of their big successes in recent history. His story has become a leg- end. How miraculous it was, people say, that he was in the classroom, which he loves so much, when it happened. How meaningful that the first response was from his beloved students. We are very fortunate. The question I find myself asking now is, “What does G-d want from me, now?” I am trying to be a better person, and am finding it exhausting. On the Saturday night after Yaakov awoke, I sent a one- line SMS to friends and family—“Hodu l’Hashem ki tov”— “Give thanks to G-d for He is good.” Later I added another sentence, a play on words (reminiscent of the slogan of a recent Israeli TV campaign, “A good teacher is a teacher for life”)—“A good student is a student for life.” O

Toby Klein Greenwald is a contributing editor to the Five Towns Jewish Times. 62 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Dubai Organizers matic relations with Israel, (WTA) rules, which states denied Shahar Pe’er a visa for that no host country should Justify Blocking the tennis tournament. The deny a player the right to rejection of the tennis player’s compete at a tournament for Israeli Tennis Player visa application violates which she has qualified by Women Tennis Association ranking. (Arutz Sheva) O

Dubai tournament organizers said recently that had Israeli tennis champion Shahar Pe’er participated in its women’s championships, local tennis fans would have boycotted the games. “Public sentiment remains high in the Middle East and it is believed that Ms. Peer’s presence would have antagonized our fans who have watched live television coverage of recent attacks in Gaza,” stated tournament director Salah Tahlak, who added, “We don’t wish to politicize sports.” The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has no diplo- Bank Of Israel Cuts Interest Rate To All-Time Low Of 0.75 Percent

B Y TAL LEVY AND NATHAN SHEVA

Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer reduced the interest rate by 0.25 percent to 0.75 percent in February— the lowest level ever seen in Israel. This is the seventh consecutive rate reduction by the central bank since September 2008, when the rate was 4.25 percent. The Central Bureau of Statistics released data on the second half of 2008 that showed Israel’s economy has been in a recession since then. In the fourth quarter of 2008, Israel’s growth domestic product decreased by 0.5 percent, after increases of 0.9 percent and 3.2 percent in the third and second quarters, respectively. The overall growth domestic product for the second half of 2008 only increased by 1.1 percent, following a 4.8 percent increase in the first half of last year. (Haaretz) O

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5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 63 Israeli Cancer-Sniffing Nose Yields Promising Results

B Y SARIT ROSENBLUM the Technion’s Faculty of Chemical cer patients treated in the hospital. cess rate. Dr. Haick was not available Engineering heads the team that The patients taking part in the exper- for comment, but Professor Kuten A cancer sniffing nose developed developed the nose. Some six months iment suffered from lung, breast, said, “These findings are impressive, by a Technion-Israel Institute of ago, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that colon, prostate, head, and neck can- but initial, and must be verified in Technology researcher yielded prom- Haick and his team have proven their cer. The participants breathed into research on a larger number of ising results in a study conducted on system could differentiate between bags which were transferred to the patients.” (YNetNews.com) O some 100 people at the Rambam sick and healthy people tested under Technion for testing, and the results Medical Center in Haifa. The lab conditions. Research has now were compared to details of the research showed that the electronic reached the experimental stage of patients’ diseases according to the nose is capable of efficiently and [When Moshe] saw accurately distinguishing between cancer patients and healthy people, the calf, and the and could even detect the location dancing…he threw and nature of the tumor. The success Scientists have known for some rate for the detection of the type of the tablets out of his tumor stood at 92%. One of the most difficult battles time that dogs are capable of hands and broke in fighting cancer is the early detec- them at the foot of tion of tumors. The sooner it is detected, the wider the variety of detecting cancer by sniffing the the mountain treatments that can be made avail- (Sh’mos 32:19) able to the patient who therefore has patient’s breath. a greater chance of recovery. Moshe already knew about Scientists have known for some time now that dogs are capable of detect- Israel’s worship of the ing cancer in earlier stages by sniff- Golden Calf; but when he ing the patient’s breath. Dogs are clinical trial, which showed that the hospital’s records. In the future, peo- able to identify molecules created by nose could not only tell the differ- ple being tested will be able to saw how much they were a tumor that circulate through a ence between healthy and sick peo- breathe directly into the device. All enjoying their fall, he real- patient’s blood to the lungs, and ple, but could also identify the type of samples were tested by the electronic ized that their covenant leave the body when the patient tumor in question. nose, and the findings showed that exhales. The Israeli “artificial nose” In the trial, which was conducted each type of cancer has a particular with G-d had been utterly was developed based on this knowl- in cooperation with Professor pattern of characteristic components. repudiated by them. edge, and the final product is very Abraham Kuten, director of the The electronic nose was able to dis- close to a dog’s olfactory system. Rambam Medical Center Oncology tinguish between healthy and sick (Soforno) Dr. Hossam Haick, of the Russell Institute, breath samples were taken patients, and could also identify dif- Berrie Nanotechnology Institute in from 40 healthy people and 62 can- ferent types of cancer at a 92% suc-

64 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Yemen Releases 170 Al-Qaeda Suspects

Yemen released 170 men once suspected of being members of al-Qaeda just two weeks after the terror group announced that Yemen had become the base of its activities for the whole Arabian peninsula, security officials said. The announcement also came as government forces announced they were poised to sweep through the northern city of Marib to combat an entrenched al-Qaeda presence that includes both Yemenis and Saudis, said a security official earlier. All officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they are not allowed to speak to the press. The suspects were freed last month after signing pledges not to engage in terrorism, a technique the Yemeni government has often used with those suspected of fighting in jihadi causes abroad. Local tribal leaders are also expected to guarantee the good behavior of the released. The practice stems in part from the powerful role played by the tribes across the rugged Yemeni countryside as well as the com- parative weakness of the central government. In the past, such releases have raised concern in the United States and increased its reluctance to release Yemeni detainees from the Guantanamo Bay deten- tion facility. Yemen has said it expects most of the 100 remaining Yemenis there will be sent home after President Barack Obama ordered the prison shut. Yemen has long har- bored elements of al-Qaeda in its remote hinterland, but last month Saudi al-Qaeda fugi- tives in Yemen and their Yemeni associates announced in an Internet video that they were joining forces to form a single group. Saudi Arabia issued a list of 85 most wanted living abroad, that including two Yemenis. Many of the Saudis on the list are suspected of hiding out in Yemen as well. (AP) O

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5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 65 outside it. This makes the long-term defeating. That is why it is past time escalation of terrorism against the for an active and honest discussion Freeman: United States a certainty, not a mat- with both Israel and the government ter of conjecture.” Palestinians have elected, which—in Freeman also is a strong advocate an irony that escapes few abroad—is Yesha Settlers Are Colonists of talking to Hamas, which he calls the only democratically elected gov- “the only democratically elected government in the Arab world.” ernment in the Arab world.” In his In another speech Freeman said: B Y DAVID LEV loathing to Americans. This has had speech, Freeman said that “Hamas is “We destroyed the Iraqi state and the effect of universalizing anti- showing that if we offer it nothing catalyzed anarchy, sectarian violence, Chas W. Freeman Jr., a former Americanism, legitimizing radical but unreasoning hostility and con- terrorism, and civil war in that coun- U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Islamism, and gaining Iran a foothold demnation, it will only stiffen its try. Meanwhile, we embraced Israel’s and considered a sharp critic of among Sunni as well as Shiite Arabs. position and seek allies among our enemies as our own; they responded Israel, had been set to be named to a For its part, Israel no longer even pre- enemies. In both cases, we forfeit by equating Americans with Israelis top intelligence post in the adminis- tends to seek peace with the our influence for no gain.” Israel as their enemies. We abandoned the tration of President Barack Obama Palestinians; it strives instead to paci- must be pressured to accept the role of Middle East peacemaker to (see related article on next page). Mr. back Israel’s efforts to pacify its cap- Freeman, who was U.S. ambassador tive and increasingly ghettoized Arab to Riyadh from 1989 to 1992, was to populations. We wring our hands be named chairman of the National while sitting on them as the Jewish Intelligence Council, which has a state continues to seize ever more strong influence on the content of Freeman also is a strong advocate of Arab land for its colonists. This has the intelligence briefings presented convinced most Palestinians that to the president (and puts together talking to Hamas, which he calls Israel cannot be appeased and is per- the National Intelligence Estimate, suading increasing numbers of them or NIE, which in 2007 dissuaded the that a two-state solution is infeasible. Bush regime from attacking Iran). “the only democratically elected It threatens Israelis with an unwel- The Council chairman is also often come choice between a democratic called on to give direct briefings to government in the Arab world.” society and a Jewish identity for their the president. state. Now the United States has Typical of Freeman’s viewpoints is brought the Palestinian experience— a statement he made in a speech of humiliation, dislocation, and before the Washington Institute of death—to millions more in Foreign Affairs in 2007, in which he fy them. Palestinian retaliation American point of view, which does Afghanistan and Iraq. Israel and the more or less blames international ter- against this policy is as likely to be not coincide with Israel’s. “We must United States each have our reasons rorist acts on Israel. “American iden- directed against Israel’s American talk with all parties, whatever we for what we are doing, but no amount tification with Israeli policy has also backers as against Israel itself. Under think of them or their means of of public diplomacy can persuade the become total. Those in the region the circumstances, such retaliation— struggle. Refusal to reason with victims of our policies that their suf- and beyond it who detest Israeli whatever form it takes—will have the those whose actions threaten injury fering is justified, or spin away their behavior, which is to say almost support or at least the sympathy of to oneself, one’s friends, and one’s anger, or assuage their desire for everyone, now naturally extend their most people in the region and many interests is foolish, feckless, and self- reprisal and revenge.” (Arutz Sheva) O

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66 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES tion of falsehoods, and an utter dis- Obama’s Anti-Israel Choice For regard for the truth.” For the next issue, Stiff Republican opposition to Intelligence Council Backs Out Freeman. Had he accepted the deadline nomination, Freeman would have faced stiff resistance from all seven Republican members of the Senate for reserving B Y HANA LEVI JULIAN been taken out of context. “The Intelligence Committee, although libels on me…show conclusively the post does not require Senate ad space is Charles (Chas) Freeman, chosen that there is a powerful lobby deter- confirmation. In addition, two lead- by U.S. President Barack Obama to mined to prevent any view other ing Republican Congressmen, Monday, head the White House National than its own from being aired, still backed by at least one Democrat, Intelligence Council, has turned less to factor in American under- demanded an investigation into March 16 down the job. Dennis Blair, director Obama’s choice, questioning of the National Intelligence Agency, Freeman’s financial ties. at 5:00 P.M. announced the decision on Tuesday Freeman’s appointment has been afternoon in a statement “with contested due to his outspoken crit- regret.” Freeman icism of some key government poli- Blair had cited Freeman’s “wealth cies in Israel and China. Freeman All graphics of knowledge and expertise in accused the has also disagreed with some of the defense, diplomacy, and intelli- U.S. policies regarding the nation’s gence” last month when he recom- war on terror. for ads mended the former U.S. ambassador “Israel lobby” A past apologist for Saudi and to Saudi Arabia for the post. It was a Chinese behavior, he has chaired must be in by controversial choice; Freeman has Projects International, a group repre- blamed Israel for the current unrest of deliberately senting American business interests Tuesday, in the Middle East between Arabs in both countries. He also served as and the Jewish State and in the past the director of the Saudi-funded March 17 has implied acceptance for Hamas slandering him. Middle East Policy Council, an Arab terrorist attacks. lobby that routinely promotes anti- at 5:00 P.M. Freeman slams “Israel lobby.” In Israeli messages. an angry letter sent to U.S. foreign If the appointment had gone policy officials following his standing of trends and events in the through, Freeman would have announcement, Freeman accused Middle East,” Freeman said. “The chaired the top think tank for the the “Israel lobby” of deliberately tactics of the Israel lobby plumb the U.S. intelligence community, one Call slandering him. The former ambas- depths of dishonor and indecency that is tasked with providing sador claimed that several quotes in and include character assassination, “national intelligence estimates” on 516-984-0079 the media that had raised red flags selective misquotation, the willful security issues and global hotspots among pro-Israel Americans had distortion of the record, the fabrica- for policy makers. (Arutz Sheva) O

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 67 beside my knife offered encourage- Kitchen Kronicles: Bobble-Head-Doll Soup ment to my empty stomach, which was making really embarrassing gur- B Y SHERRY WALDMAN and special. But if I needed further tov. She beamed and kvelled; I moved gling sounds despite all my chidings to proof of its uniqueness, my experi- away to allow others their chance at it to “cut it out we’re in public.” Here’s a little “foodecdote” (def. ence at another wedding in NY a hug. As I edged back to my seat I A waitress (is that a PC term for food anecdote) of recent memory. I’m recently did the trick. was smacked by a sudden sense of wait staff at a wedding?) approached still working on dealing with the emo- Brooklyn, 2009. Lovely chasunah, gnawing emptiness. Not from miss- our table with a tureen, followed by tional aftermath of the event; any wise happy dancing young’uns, and a not ing my friend’s presence, but for my another server (sounds more PC, I counsel—I guess any counsel whatso- excruciatingly long wait for choson appetizer plate—practically think) with a second tureen. This is ever—is welcome. and kallah to rejoin the festivities untouched—which I could see in the the true gilded lily—choice of soups! Last month I attended a wedding after picture-taking—I mean, yichud. arms of a waitress, making its way I should have been exuberant but it’s in Seattle where the dining service While the room was still in pre- back to the kitchen. I was desolate, time to admit to one of my truly was remarkable. For example, a music-blaring mode, we sat down to not to mention hungry. whacky attributes; my childish dis- minor mess at our table (okay, not so may whenever choice is offered at the minor—salad dressing spilled across soup course: How am I to choose? I the breadth of three table settings) am devoted to all soups and the (okay, okay—it was me—but those prospect of excluding one is almost Aladdin lantern-type dishes are con- I was raised to eat what was on my plate, worse to me than having no soup at fusing under dim lights, have really all. At many restaurants and take-out slender handles, and besides I did- joints, counter staff or servers will n’t…oh, let me just move on…) was the whole of what was on my plate, and offer a small-ish or medium-ish quickly and graciously cleaned by the (yessss!) taste of both/all choices so wait staff. Not even a whiff of a scent the selection process offers full dis- of derision for the perpetrator—I nothing but what was on my plate. closure and acceptable levels of satis- mean messer-upper—I mean…well faction. Now, I’ve never asked, but I you know what I mean. The staff had suspect the wait staff at weddings are just the right touch when asking if not empowered to offer diners more everything was all right—not annoy- the appetizer course—a delicate, I rallied and took heart in the future than one pass at the soup selection. I ingly cloying or blandly uncaring and three-bite serving of roasted salmon of this meal as I noticed something am reluctant to request a taste of the obviously prepared to fix whatever with rather nice-looking greens on less frequently seen at weddings second soup for fear of facing the might have been off. Most impres- the side. Lacy crunch of candied wal- recently: A soup spoon. I like soup. kind of supercilious sneer only sive, at the end of the main course nuts adorned the greens. Yum. No, let’s be flat out honest, I adore underpaid food servers can put on for the waitress for our table brought Having arrived too late to partake of soup. I crave it, long for it, yearn for it seemingly better-to-do diners several sturdy and attractive take-out the smorgasbord, I was more than in almost any form. Cold or hot, sweet requesting…anything. Besides, I was boxes. She had noticed that some of ready to eat. Wait staff hovered near- or savory, brothy or chunky, fatty or raised to eat what was on my plate, the guests had not touched their by, appearing harmless. As I savored clear, protein-rich or fruity-light, the whole of what was on my plate, main course and suggested we take it my first of the three salmon bites the emulsified-smooth or grain-pebbly, and nothing but what was on my home for later. There were many choson’s mother, my friend, familiar or exotic, homemade or plate. (In my high school the girls- more nice touches and I knew at the approached our table. I stood up to canned—I never met a soup-style I only drama club staged the musical, time this service was both delightful give her a big hug and a hearty mazel didn’t like. So the large spoon nestled Oliver! I refused to audition for the

68 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES title role, knowing it would be country. But we’re talking about soup although I could not be certain that Butternut Squash soup. Surprising unbearable to me to utter Oliver’s here, and…and…I just could not, this was in fact the soup about to be and wonderful crunchy bits came up poor, hungry chant, “Please sir, can I could not let it go. I mean, I enjoy served until it was in my plate—pos- with spoonfuls from the bottom of have some more?”) So in public, vegetable soup so that choice could sibly not until a bit of it was in my the bowl. So good. So good, in fact, faced with the painful necessity of have even turned out to be the right mouth—it was worth the risk of being that I didn’t break a sweat obliterat- choosing one soup over the other, I one for me. But I make a delicious wrong to find out it was so. Because ing the memory of the server’s sneer usually mutter a silent, fervent prayer vegetable soup quite often in my own if loving Butternut Squash Soup is while I savored the soup’s delights. I that one of the two choices will be kitchen and what if the other choice wrong, I don’t want to be right. I hung around for the main course way farther down my preference list at this wedding hall was a truly spe- looked the server hard in the eye and which was probably fine but com- than the other, and often enough my cial one, a soup I make either infre- said I wanted that soup. A slight flick- pletely unmemorable in the wake of prayer is granted. Other times my quently or not at all?! It was beyond er in her cornea/retina/pupil…oh that soup. enjoyment of the entire event is like- my endurance to contemplate the something in her eye suggested she And yet now, hours later, I cannot ly to be unhappily marred by suspi- potential for disappointment in seeing deeply wanted to refuse me or at least taste the soup any longer but I remem- cion that the soup not chosen would others eat a soup I could only wish I short-shrift my serving by a half- ber the sneer, and the confusion, and have been superior to the one cho- had asked for. So I am about to ask ladle. She avoided my glance as she the fear of soup-deprivation. But most- sen. (I’m really a very small-spirited the server to try the name one last ladled the full quota of soup into my ly the sneer. Was the soup worth it person, n’est ce pas?) time when she does the nasty…she bowl. I lifted the soup spoon from its despite the briefjevity (what is the To continue. The first-tureen lady sneers at me and walks around me to place near the knife, dipped it into opposite of longevity, anyway?) of its approaches to my right and I am the serve the person on my left. She has the soup bowl, and brought up my enjoyment? I’d have to say yes. And first to be served. Tureen-lady states abandoned me and seems happy to do first taste of Bobble-Head-Doll soup. that tells me I’m way more likely to the names of the two soups on the it. Woe. Oh, woe. It was after all a golden-orange, vel- learn to disregard server-sneers than to menu and I hear, “Gobbledojugbluey Well I hadn’t the rent, the rent, the vety sip of perfection in the guise of ever forgo soup. O soup or Vegetable soup.” One rent but I did have a savior. The per- choice—the second, of course—is son on my left was a dear, lifelong clear. But the first remains a mystery. friend who somehow continues to I ask her to repeat the first choice, enjoy our friendship after 40+ years determined to listen real close to of witnessing my peevish moments. every syllable. She frowns but angrily My friend had been trying to solve spits out what now sounds like, the mystery of the inscrutable soup (I “Bobble-Head-Doll-Soup.” Hmmmm, suspect everyone at our table was mystery unsolved. I should have let it working on it as well), and had deter- go at that, I knew it then and I know mined that part of the name included it now. I’m supposed to care more the word, “squash.” Considering the about the simcha at hand than any consonant and vowel sounds we had gustatory experience. It was just too heard in garbled fashion and possible silly to prolong that ridiculous follow-ups to the word “squash,” my moment by trying once more to friend timidly asked the server, extract a sensible name of the soup “Butternut Squash Soup?” The server from a person whose comfort with the wasn’t happy about it but seemed English language did not extend to compelled to nod in the affirmative. I food-stuffs not produced in her native love Butternut Squash soup and

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 69 70 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 71 happened did not happen and he from the former head of the Senate Livni And Pollard should be pardoned.” In other words, Intelligence Committee, former it sounds like Biden supports clemen- Arizona Senator Dennis DeConcini, in cy for Pollard. It is clear from her com- favor of Pollard’s release. We ments on Pollard that Secretary of approached some of President Bush’s BY FARLEY WEISS President Shimon Peres was asked State Hillary Clinton will not be an closest and wealthiest friends in the repeatedly to make a request to impediment to his release and Jewish community and asked them to Jonathan Pollard is right to blame President Bush to free Pollard, and President Barack Obama, being a for- lend their support; some agreed and Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni for Peres refused to raise the concern. mer law professor and one concerned apparently raised the issue with the the failure to obtain his release after This much is certain: if there were about civil rights, should be an easy president directly. We even got some of over 22 years in prison. Tzipi Livni has indeed quiet efforts made to secure sell on the matter. To paraphrase the the closest people in the Jewish com- been foreign minister for three years Pollard’s release, then they were too Obama campaign mantra, it is time for munity to two of the three Attorney and there has not been any indication quiet. In any case, these efforts did not a change in the Israeli government’s Generals for President Bush (people during that time that she made any work, and one must wonder why Livni approach to the Pollard affair. who were so close to the AGs that they progress in obtaining the approval of the apparently made clear that she and I worked under the leadership of had their home phone numbers), and United States president to release this Israeli government will continue Rabbi Pesach Lerner of the National they raised the Pollard issue with Pollard, despite the obvious argument them. We worked with the Conference that the average sentence for crimes of Presidents to get a letter from them similar to Pollard’s is between two and in support of Jonathan’s release; addi- four years. Furthermore, whatever quiet tional letters came from the Reform diplomacy she claims she used quite This policy of not letting people raise the and Conservative Jewish community clearly failed, something she needs to be as well. We even worked with those able to readily acknowledge. issue only furthered the view of the White formerly connected to the President’s Of course, Livni is not solely to Administration—non-Jews and great blame. Defense Minister Ehud Barak friends of the Jewish people who apparently took no action to help House that it was not important to the understood the injustice—who kindly Pollard—a fact that is particularly dis- helped press the case. Finally, we also turbing some eight years after he helped Jewish community. solicited support for Pollard’s release get President Bill Clinton to pardon the from the likes of Pastor John Hagee of very controversial Mark Rich. You would the evangelical Christian community. think he would try to correct his record Remarkably, what we did not get right before the coming Israeli elections, the same failed policies with the Council of Young Israel, the leading was any assistance from the govern- but he did not do so. Obama Administration. One can only figure in the effort to try to obtain the ment of Israel, nor any sense of a joint Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was hope that there exists a better chance commutation of Pollard’s sentence to effort to help get Jonathan Pollard out. also part of this failed policy when he to obtain approval with the Obama time served. This effort included There is a famous story in American publicly told Eli Yishai not to raise the Administration, in part because Vice- obtaining the support, in a public Jewish history when a friend of Harry Pollard issue with President George President Joe Biden stated in a 2007 interview, of former CIA Director Truman, Eddie Jacobson, was Bush when he visited Israel, ostensibly interview on Shalom television that James Woolsey for Pollard’s release, a approached by Chaim Weizmann and because Olmert had already raised it “there’s a rationale in my view why fact that helped refute the well-publi- the soon-to-be government of Israel to and the president in turn said no. It is Pollard should be given leniency. But cized opposition from the intelligence obtain a meeting with the president. also public knowledge that Israel’s there is not a rationale to say what community. We also obtained a letter Jacobson acquiesced and the meeting

72 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES helped lead to Truman’s support for the State of Israel. Today, while undertak- ing all of these actions for Pollard we were only aware of assistance from Natan Sharansky in Israel. We heard nothing from the government of Israel. It is not surprising that Sharansky helped, considering his personal experiences and the fact that he himself visited Pollard. It is not surprising that Binyamin Netanyahu was the last prime minister to make a serious effort for Pollard, and he also has actually visited Pollard in prison. Neither Livni, Olmert, nor Barak ever took the time to visit Pollard on their many trips to the U.S., and therefore it is not surprising that they failed in their efforts, if in fact there were any, to obtain his release. One would have hoped, on the last weekend of Bush’s presidency, that Livni would have asked, as part of a face-sav- ing agreement to leave Gaza without Gilad Shalit, to at least have Pollard released. But, truth be told, there is no indication that she even raised the issue, despite others working tirelessly the last week to try to get the president to commute Pollard’s sentence. I am writing this not to place blame, but rather to request a change of policy. Fact: the policy followed by the government of Israel has failed. Pollard must now be made a major issue of discussion by both the government of Israel and the American Jewish community. I met once with the Jewish liaison to President Bush and he expressed surprise that I was raising the Pollard issue. He asked why, if the matter was so important, it is not being raised by American Jewish leaders. I happen to know that not only was it not being raised, but those going to the White House were specifically told not to raise the Pollard issue. Clearly, this policy of not letting people raise the issue only furthered the view of the White House that it was not important to the Jewish community. It was not sufficient to try to change this view in the last two months of an eight-year Bush presidency. The Obama Administration needs to hear from the Jewish community at every meeting that this is a major issue for the Jewish community. Former Prime Minister Netanyahu showed at the Wye summit that Pollard’s release could be secured at any time by the president, if only the matter is pressed by Israel. Albert Einstein once famously said that one who thinks that they can follow the same actions and obtain a different result defines the essence of insanity. For Israel to continue the same failed policy is insanity, because it has not and will not achieve the desired result. The Pollard case must become an imperative for the Israeli government and the entire U.S. Jewish community; and its leaders must reflect that urgency beginning right now. There has been a joint effort to try and prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and there needs to be a joint effort on Jonathan Pollard as well. After all, even “now” is two decades too long. (Arutz Sheva) O

Farley Weiss is Second Vice President of the National Council of Young Israel, National Vice President of the Zionist Organization of America and President of Young Israel of Phoenix. 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 73 SERVICES SERVICES PROVIDED PROVIDED

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[email protected] Want to floor, large 2 BR, 2 new baths, updated Hebrew speaking a plus. know how you can save $25K - $55K kitchen. Rent $2300, sale under $300K Fax resume to 516-812-7607 on the purchase of your new home? Sue Schachter Realty 516-295-1860 Call David C. Welner at 718-928- Local retail store in Cedarhurst is hir- 4775 Lawrence — New to market — Totally ing part-time / full time sales associate [email protected]. restored grand 3 story grand brick col. will train. 516-792-1191 7+ BR, many details large property Lawrence Co-op’s Open Houses by appt New salon looking for experienced: hair Attention: Large property, corner Far Rockaway: Coop, 3Br, 1Bth 261 Central Ave apt. B1 — 2BR 1st flr dresser/sheitel macher, make-up Cedarhurst and Woodmere 150x100 apx. Lr/Dr, Walk to All ...... $179K ...... $189K artist, manicurist, masseuse in central 13 large rooms, 3 baths. Good for Call 516-322-3555 284 Central Ave apt. D6 — 2BR, 2 bth . Cedarhurst area. kindergarten, elementary school, yeshi- ...... $234K Please call 516-791-2520 or 646-270-3381 Far Rockaway/Lawrence: 2 BR/ 2 BA, va, synagogue, or other institution. 1 Rosalind Pl. — 3 BR, 3 bths, kosher Parking garage for 4 cars and 2 buses. Newly Renovated, Dead-end street. EIK ...... $300’s Male shadow needed in Far Rockaway Immediate. Reasonable. Price...... $539K 250 Central Ave — Jr 4 E219 . . . $145K yeshiva full time. Must be physically Owner 347-439-8234 Call Owner: 516-750-9257 Woodmere able to assist wheelchair-bound teenage 137 Park St — 6 BR c/h col beautiful boy. Good hourly wage. Please e-mail Woodmere Spacious 3 bedroom 3 full Far Rockaway: 2 Family. All NU, Tree St. area ...... $800’s resume to [email protected] 3 over 1 Bdrm, 3 full baths. Great bath Woodmere Park Exp Ranch with 63 Captains Rd. — Multi-level home Location ...... $599K large den, cac ...... $899,000 with waterview ...... $600’s Call 516-322-3555 516-295-3000, pugatch.com 75 Wood Lane Woodsburgh — Renovated COMMERCIAL 5 BR home on beautiful property REAL ESTATE Lawrence — 18 Berkley Place Lawrence Location! Location 4 bed- 603 Church Ave — Dramatic balcony Center hall col., 4 BR, 3 bths, stunning room CH Colonial o/s rooms, new roof, split basement, IGP ...... $625K cul-de-sac, best location ...... $850K all systems, IGP ...... $1,399,000 West Lawrence 156 B. 9 — New condo Call 516-902-0936 516-833-6004, pugatch.com bldg — steps to beach sale or rent Far Rockaway Investment property Sunday 12-2 p.m. for sale. Small multi-family building Milky Forst Properties, Inc. 516-239-0306 Stable tenancy, well-maintained. Hewlett — Commercial strip center. Far Rockaway: 2 Fam. All NU Stable tenancy, good cash flow. 3 over 3 Br. 4Fbth, Dr, Full bsmt West Palm Beach — Bulk condo pack- All features ...... $779K age. For additional information, Call 516-263-6417 please contact Ari Schulman at Lawrence — NU 2 Mkt. Col., Brk., Weissman Realty Group 516-791-6100 Large property, near ALL, 5Br, 3.5Bth, Den, full bsmt ...... $1.9M REAL ESTATE Call 516-322-3555 FOR SALE Luxurious apartments: Penthouse in Bucman, Modiin. 5 BR, balconies, Shabbos elevator, 2 sinks, 2.5 bths. Valley Stream: Nu 2 Mkt. Brick ranch, ...... $350K great condition, quiet street. Nu EIK, Villa 6 BR, c/ac, parking, storage, back- LR, Den, Lg Prop ...... $439K yard ...... $550K For Rent ...... $2,500 Call 718-471-8888 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 Cedarhurst: Nu to Mkt. Handyman Woodmere/Cedarhurst Oppty! Special/ Builder, 50'x100',Quiet Block, 12,000 sq. ft. approx. 90’x150’, Colonial, Prime loca'n, Quick Sale: . . . . . $329K 17 rooms, full bsmt. with hi ceilings, 5 Town Homes 516-569-5710 clean 2 car garage plus storage, 6 space parking, 2 family, professional use, Woodmere — Brand new construction on accountant, Esq., medical and/or educa- Clubhouse Road in the heart of tional and religious uses. Grand colonial Woodmere Park. Contemporary style with charm and great possibilities. home. 6 BR, 4 Bths, custom granite Available at once . . . $875K Negotiable kosher kitchen, Radiant Heat, Alarms, Owner 516-322-3555 Camera equipped, hardwood floors, plus much, much more. Price reduced. Hewlett — Col. MIC, 4br, 2bth, 2fpl, full Motivated seller!...... $1.45M deck, wood flr, Lg. den. Walk to all. Woodmere Park — Brand new ...... $729K 5 TOWN HOMES 516-322-3555 Mediterranean style construction. 6 BR, 3.5 Bths, kosher granit kitchen, Radiant Law: Hi Ranch. Must see, 4br, 2.5bth, heat, Alarms, Camera equipped. fam rm, CAC, 2 car garage, large Motivated seller! ...... $1.4M prop ...... $800sK Call Sherri 516-297-7995 Ced: Nu2Mkt, 2Fam, 3br/3br, 2fpl, Weissman Realty Group, LLC deck, all new, grt loc, full bsmt $795K 516-791-6100 Cedarhurst: CH col., new quality Kings Point Delray Beach condo for construction. 7 bedroom, 4.5 bths, den, sale 1,100 sq. feet. 2 BR, 2 bths, new LR, DR, oversized gourmet, granite European kitchen and appliances, EIK, huge FDR, 9' ceiling, finished updated bath, new carpets, 24-hour basement prime location. guarded community. Golf, theater, Asking ...... $1.25M library ...... $199,999 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 Call 631-664-0075

Cedarhurst Open House Sunday 1-2:30 pm 451 Summit Avenue — 5 BR, 2.5 Bath, Classified Ads are 50x150 lot, low tax. Price reduced ...... $499K Continued on the Next Page. Jessica Silver Realty 516-295-0306 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 75 CLASSIFIED ADS REAL ESTATE Continued from Page 75 FOR SALE FOR SALE FOR RENT

Reduced price! Inwood — 346 Grand Moving sale! Sunday, 3/15 10 am-4 pm. Far Rockaway — Lg. Hse Rental: 4br, REAL ESTATE Central. Great investment. 2 family 173 Briarwood Crossing [corner of 2bth, bsmt., hi-ceilings, NU bths, W\D. FOR SALE colonial. 7 BR, 2.5 bths, new siding and Barrett Road], Lawrence. . . . . Books, Call 516-322-3555 roof, fully alarmed with igs, large yard. Furniture, Hats, and lots more! Boca Raton, FL — Passover 10 days. Walk to all! $449K. Broker 516-523-0488 Beautiful house. 3 BR, completely kash- Miami Beach — Tower 41. Ocean View. ered kitchen, pool, kosher stove, across 1 bdrm, 17th floor. Stunning. Lawrence: OURS ONLY!! FOR RENT from BRS shul. 732-522-0813 BRICK, C/H COL, Stately BRICK, w/old 561-361-8104, 561-542-3680, Mr. Murray world charm, Hi ceilings, 6Br, 4.5 BTHS, Kosher Eik, Lg. LR W/FPL, Lg. Cedarhurst: Office rental: Executive 2 Cedarhurst Co-op — Central Avenue. FDR, Library, Fin. Bsmt., Lg Prop., Bths, Fully Web wired, 1,250 sq. ft., 1 BR, 2nd floor, good condition, large WALK ALL. Nicest house rental in Far Rockaway rooms, porch. 516-374-0469 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 Beautiful, Ready to move in, 5 BR CAC. 5TGR 516-322-3555 house on excellent block in Far Cedarhurst — Nu House CH Col. LR, Rockaway. Brand new kitchen and very FDR, Kosher EIK, Den, 4BR, 3BTHS. spacious backyard. Bsmt. For Rent ...... $2,500 Call owner 917-617-0768 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710

Inwood — 8 offices available for rent. Far Rockaway — Apartment available. Total 3000 square feet. Newly renovated. Brand new construction. Furnished or Can also be used as a warehouse. unfurnished. 3 BR, 2bths. Cleaning and For more information, Danrich Realty laundry services available. Perfect for 718-441-28008 the elderly. Call Sherri 516-569-5450

Lawrence — 247 Rockaway Tpke, Far Rockaway — Large One Bedroom Spacious house for rent, newly renovat- Apartment for rent. Beautiful elevator ed, 4/5 bedrooms, 2 Bath, LR, FDR, new bldg. Nice tenancy. Great location at granite kitchen, fireplace, large yard, Neilson and Cornaga, near Shor Yoshuv, garage ...... $2,700 transportation, and shopping. 917-642-4308 or [email protected] Asking $1,100. Call 718-692-2525 ext. 180

Cedarhurst — All new, bright 3 BR, 1.5 Cedarhurst — NU House, CH bths, ground floor apt in 2-family house, Col.LR,FDR, Kosher Eik, LR, FDR, EIK/ w new appliances, new Den,4BR.3BTHS. Bsmt...... …$3,200 carpet, w/d included, yard and parking. 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 Walk all ...... $2,250 Woodmere — For rent by owner. 2 bed- 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 room, 1 bathroom, eat-in-kitchen, living room/dining room, private entrance. N Wdm. — house rental. Hi-ranch in Minutes from all shuls $1,600+utilities. MIC. 4 br, CAC, den, on quiet street. Call 917-327-1291 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710

76 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES COMMERCIAL FOR RENT FOR RENT Jordan Turns Against

Cedarhurst — House Rental LR/FDR, Cedarhurst — Store for rent. Low $ per den, 3br, 2.5bth, Fin. Bsmt . . . . . $2,300 square foot. Great location. Israel In Hague Call 516-322-3555 For additional information, please contact Ari Schulman at Lawrence — 18 Berkley Place Weissman Realty Group 516-791-6100 BY HILLEL FENDEL of its Palestinian citizens—to deal Center hall col., 4 BR, 3 bths, stunning with international crimes.” cul-de-sac, best location. $4K monthly The Parliament of Jordan, with Prof. Sinai Deutsch, president of Call Irene 516-652-7099 MISCELLANEOUS which Israel signed a peace treaty in the Netanya Academic College, said Cedarhurst: Garden apt. Nu 2 Mkt. 1994, has filed war-crime charges in that international law guidelines 2BR. 2Bth, Mint, 1st Flr, heat & prk the Hague against Olmert, Barak, and regarding terrorism must be rewritten: incld. $2,500. other top Israelis. The head of the “Spain, England, and other countries 5Town Homes 516-569-5710 Free DIRECTV 4 Room System! 265 Channels! Starts $29.99/month. Free Jordanian legislature’s law committee, need not have a right to file charges Rockville Centre — 3,500 sq ft, fully HBO + Showtime + Starz! Free Mubarak Abu Yamin, announced that against countries fighting wars uncon- wired for Web, partitioned, will divide. DVR/HD! 130 HD Channels! No Start the charges against Israel’s leadership nected to them. Such countries thus Up Costs! Ends Soon! Local Installers! Call 516-322-3555 were filed because of Israel’s Operation become a tool in the hands of anti- 1-800-306-1953 Cast Lead military offensive in Gaza. Semitic and other political elements Far Rockaway — 2 Huge Office Spaces. DIRECTV Free 4 Room System! 265+ The three-week offensive, which who seek not justice, but revenge.” 6,000 and 2,500 Sq Ft. 2nd Floor. Near Channels! Starts $29.99/month. Free ended in mid-January, was Israel’s Deutsch said that the “so-called Subway & LIRR. Build to Suit. Can be HBO + Showtime + Starz! Free attempt to wipe out the terrorist pursuit of civil rights [in this case] divided. Owner 917-359-9776 DVR/HD! 130 HD Channels! No Start infrastructures that were responsible is, in essence, a defense of terror- Up Costs! Ends Soon! Local Installers! for the firing of over 10,000 rockets ism.” He said that current interna- Woodmere/Cedarhurst — 2 BR avail- 1-800-973-9027 able. Secure buildings, new EIK, close at Israeli homes, farms, and schools tional law guidelines “relate chiefly to all and train station. 1 month’s free Ocean Corp. Houston, Texas. Train for over the preceding eight years. to wars between regular armies of rent! $1600 Call Sherri 516-297-7995 New Career. Underwater Welder, Named in the charge sheet were countries; they do not supply an Far Rockaway listings: Commercial Diver, NDT/Weld Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, answer for war between a nation and Inspector. Job placement and financial Hicksville Road 2 BR, 1 bth, ground aid for those who qualify, 1-800-321-0298 Defense Minister Ehud Barak, a terrorist organization such as floor, new windows, new kitchen, per- Deputy Defense Minister Matan Hamas and Hezbollah.” fect for elderly, available immediately. Want To Purchase minerals and other Vilnai, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Earlier in the year, the Cabinet Call Weissman Realty Group oil/gas interests. Send details to: IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi approved Defense Minister Barak’s 516-791-6100 P.O. Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201 Ashkenazi, and Public Security proposal to grant IDF officers and sol- Far Rockaway — 1 BR and 2 BR apart- Minister Avi Dichter. diers legal backing in the event that ments. some balconies. New kitchens, lots of closets, 24 hr doorman, security Deadline for Advertising in the Classifieds Dichter responded angrily to the charges related to the war in Gaza are news: “Jordan is in no position to raised against them. Justice Minister cameras. Close to White Shul, Shor for the Next Issue is Yoshuv and train. teach Israel about combat ethics. Daniel Friedmann will head a team of Monday, March 16 at 5:00 P.M. Call Sherri 516-297-7995 There is no bigger hypocrisy for legal experts who will formulate Weissman Realty Group, LLC Call 516-569-0502 Jordan—which just 39 years ago, in responses to legal questions that may 516-791-6100 September 1970, murdered 10,000 arise in this regard. (Arutz Sheva) O

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 77 compound the original insult.” In South Africa Politician Apologizes For the beginning of the earlier radio apology, Hajaig deplored “the attempts of Zionists to justify poli- Saying ‘Jewish Money Controls America’ cies that have worsened the crisis in the Middle East” and “unmitigated state violence directed against BY CNAAN LIPHSHIZ stated government policy. She subse- apology,” the board’s national chair- unarmed civilians.” She reserved the quently apologized unreservedly and man, Zev Krengel said. “Without a same criticism for “indiscriminate Following increasing pressure unequivocally for the comments and doubt, it’s the result of pressure that attacks against Israeli unarmed from South Africa’s Jewish communi- agreed to withdraw them uncondi- we’ve applied.” Krengel added the civilians.” ty, the country’s deputy foreign min- tionally.” The cabinet also termed board has not yet decided on whether After delivering 300-odd words ister apologized to the republic’s Hajaig’s comment, which she made to withdraw the complaint against about her regional vision, Hajaig president for saying that “Jewish on January 14 at a pro-Palestinian arrived at the controversial statement money controls America.” Mean- rally in Lenasia, “anti-Semitic.” and said: “I conflated Zionist pres- while, the South African dock work- Last week the South African sure with Jewish influence. I regret ers union said its workers would Jewish Board of Deputies filed a the inference made by some that I refuse servicing an Israeli ship. complaint of “hate speech” against “I regret am anti-Jewish.” She added: “To the “Deputy Minister [Fatima Hajaig] Hajaig with the Human Rights extent that my statement may have expressed her deep regret to Commission—a government body the inference caused hurt and pain, I offer an President [Kgalema Motlanthe],” with some judicial and executive unequivocal apology for the pain it the government said. “She accepted powers. may have caused to the people of our that the comments were contrary to “We are quite happy with this made by country and the Jewish community in particular.” Just hours before Hajaig’s apology some that to the president, South Africa’s largest trade union federation I am announced its members intend to refuse to service a ship scheduled to come in from Israel to Durban Port. anti-Jewish.” The union called this a “historic development.” The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu)—which has approximately Hajaig. But the cabinet said that the 1.8 million members—added that president has accepted her apology following Israel’s military campaign “and trusts that the matter has been in Gaza last month, it is resolved to concluded satisfactorily.” “strengthen the campaign in South Hajaig offered an earlier apology Africa for boycotts, divestment, and over the radio, which the board sanctions against Apartheid Israel.” rejected, saying it only “served to (Haaretz) O

78 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 79 Purim Torah Study

The annual Yeshivas Mordechai HaTzadik at the Yeshiva of South Shore drew over 200 partcipants on Purim day as fathers and sons came out to spend a part of the great day of celebration immersed in the study of Torah.

And Aharon and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet…when they come near to the Altar to minister (Sh’mos 30:19) Every person, upon waking in the morning…should wash his hands with [a minimum of] a quarter-log of water poured from a utensil… Man entrusts his soul [to G-d at night] tired and exhausted, and G-d restores it to him rejuvenated and refreshed so that he may serve his Creator with all his capacity, this being the purpose of man.Therefore we should sanctify ourselves with His holiness and wash our hands with water from a vessel before serving Him and ministering to Him, like the Kohen who would wash his hands from the Basin each day before beginning his service…

(Shulchan Aruch HaRav) All dirt and all filth betake themselves to the “other side” (the forces of evil) which derives sustenance from them; therefore it is a mitzvah to wash the hands…

(Zohar)

80 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES A Lively, Colorful Purim Photos By Ira Thomas Creations

Above, students of Yeshiva of Far Rockaway enjoy the Purim yom tov in the home of their rebbi, Rabbi Moshe Brown. Right and top: Celebrating Purim at Yeshiva Sh’or Yoshuv in Lawrence.

And on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed (Sh’mos 31:17) Resh Lakish said: On Shabbos eve, G-d imparts an additional soul to the person, and at Shabbos’s end, He takes it away.

(Talmud, Beitza 16a)

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 81 A Great Lakewood–5 Towns Shabbos Photos By Ivan H. Norman

At the reception for Bais Medrash Govoha at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Edelman on Saturday night, February 28. Above, L-R: Lawrence Mayor Shimon Felder, host Alex Edelman, and Rav Matisyahu Salomon.

Above right: L-R: Rav Salomon, Rav Aryeh Malkiel Kotler, and Rav Yeruchim Olshin.

At right: Rav Dovid Schustal greeting Rav Leib Rand and his sons at the Kollel Avreichem in Far Rockaway.

82 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 13, 2009 83 84 March 13, 2009 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES