$1.00 WWW.5TJT.COM VOL. 8 NO. 32 27 NISAN 5768 ohause ,arp MAY 2, 2008

INSIDE FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK DEAL OR NO DEAL? Welcome Back, Pilgrims BY LARRY GORDON Hannah Reich Berman 26 MindBiz Reading Kahane Esther Mann, LMSW 31 He was a solitary, heroic, School-Board Strategy PhotoByIvanH.Norman Larry Gordon 42 and tragic figure all wrapped up in one unassuming man Leaving A Legacy with a towering conscience. James C. Schneider 67 He was a man who could not be still or rest if Jews anywhere The traditional halachic sale of chametz for parts of the Five Towns and Far Five Towners In Israel in the world were not being Toby Klein Greenwald 75 Rockaway took place prior to Passover, at which time rabbis represented their afforded the same opportuni- congregants in a sale of their chametz (leavened products) to a non-Jew so ties available to those of us liv- that the products are not in the possession of Jews during the holiday. ing in freedom. As a result, After the conclusion of the holiday, the items are transferred back to their original owners. there was very little time for Pictured above (L–R): Rabbi Yisroel Meir Blumenkrantz, Rabbi Shaul Chill, Rabbi Dov Bressler, Duke Walters (to whom the chametz was sold), Rabbi Continued on Page 8 Rabbi Meir Kahane, a’h Yitzchok Frankel, and Rabbi Pinchas Chatzinoff. A GLIMPSE OF GREATNESS HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE

Part 2 and her grandparents would Inside The Bubble B Y RABBI be severed at her generation. Engagement of Robert YAIR HOFFMAN The woman had one sister, BY LARRY GORDON ting shivah in his father’s Shechter and Rochelle who unfortunately was inter- rather worn and very humble Frankel. See Page 23 Deep in the heart of married. Indeed, not only did I didn’t know that he was so abode in Brooklyn. I decided Brooklyn lived a Jewish she intermarry, but she had open and talkative. Until just to go visit him and, as our woman who, sadly, never mar- wed a gentile leader of what a few weeks ago, this acquain- commentators say, help pro- ried. She was also, Racha- was known as the “Hebrew tance of many years usually vide him some comfort at a manah litzlan, dying of can- Christian movement.” nodded his head in my direc- time when he was no doubt cer. While not particularly This sister had one child. tion, gave me one of those dealing with a great deal of observant, this woman was The child was a 12-year-old seemingly forced, minimal emotional pain. proud of her Judaism. But, boy who had been, alas, deeply smiles, and sometimes said It didn’t matter to me at the aside from her cancer, she indoctrinated with the hereti- “good Shabbos,” but that was time that I was going to be was also deeply pained about cal beliefs of his parents. The it. But then, a couple of weeks uncomfortable. Sure, there something else. She was sad- child’s aunt, dying of cancer, before Pesach, his father dened that the link from Sinai passed away, and he was sit- Continued on Page 10 connecting her, her parents, Continued on Page 20 Josh and Shlomo Hauser, formerly of the Five Towns. The Ultimate STRESS-BALL See Page 75 Acheinu Kiruv Conference Solidarity Trip THERAPY B Y LISA SILVERBERG BY MICHELE HERENSTEIN The plane descends, flying closer towards its final destina- We live in a particularly tion. The excitement in the stressful time, with our wor- cabin is palpable as the passen- ries and concerns—often gers get ready to disembark. related to events in the world Music plays over the loud- and in our lives—looming speaker—“Heveinu Shalom larger and scarier than ever Significant scientific finding Aleichem.” The wheels of the before. We live in a post-9/11 by students at Touro. airplane screech to a halt. world, where many of us are See Page 47 Thunderous applause erupts. on high alert in many areas of We have landed in Israel. our daily lives. And, of course, CANDLE LIGHTING The year is 1986. Every there are the normal, everyday May 2 – 7:34 PM HaRav Matisyahu Salomon, shlita, among the crowd of participants that passenger on that flight had a stressors, which I’m sure is May 9 – 7:41 PM attended the second conference on kiruv-outreach, which took place prior to Pesach in Israel. See Page 42 Continued on Page 17 Continued on Page 12 2 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 3 4 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 5 6 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 7 FROM THE EDITOR number of followers created organi- FEATURES Continued from Front Cover zations intended to emulate the rabbi’s Jewish Defense League, but Around The Five Towns 42 him to sit back or relax. none could replicate his genuineness P.O. BOX 690 LAWRENCE, NY 11559 I spent some of the just-elapsed chag or fortitude, and they became mostly 516-984-0079 engrossed in a new book that I received not-so-glorified support groups for [email protected] Classified Ads 72 [email protected] just before yom tov. The book was years those mourning the loss of their in the making and was written by Rabbi leader. One such organization was LARRY GORDON ESTA J. GORDON Insights On The Torah Publisher/Editor Managing Editor Rabbi Yanki Tauber 33 Meir Kahane’s widow, Libby, who called Kahane Chai. This group, YOSSI GORDON, YOCHANAN GORDON resides in Jerusalem. What essentially incorporated both in the U.S. and in Sales Managers Luach 14 emerges from this rather beefy first vol- Israel, was supposed to be founded CHANA ROCHEL ROSS ume, which covers Meir Kahane’s life and directed by Rabbi Kahane’s eld- Editorial Assistant MindBiz from his birth (in 1932) through 1975, est son, Binyomin Zev. The junior Esther Mann, LMSW 31 SIDI BARON is that all the while as Rabbi Kahane led rabbi, known as Binyomin, was tragi- YAKOV SERLE struggles to free Soviet Jews and stand cally murdered along with his wife, JERRY MARKOVITZ Nutrition Counts! up to the most powerful people in the Talia, by Arab terrorists who shot up Sales Representatives Miriam Horowitz, RD 38 world to defend Israel, there was a their car in the West Bank as they SHMUEL GERBER MICHELE JUSTIC onlySimchas! 23 strong and heretofore silent personality returned from a Shabbat in Jerusalem Chief Copy Editor Copy Editor behind the scenes that probably provid- spent at the home of Libby Kahane. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS ed him with much of the strength and Five of their six children were in the Irwin H. Benjamin, Hannah Reich Berman Real Estate Anessa V. Cohen, Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg Anessa V. Cohen 27 encouragement needed to carry on. family van at the time of the shooting Toby Klein Greenwald, Michele Herenstein With the publication of this book, but, thankfully, were not injured. Rabbi Yair Hoffman, Miriam Horowitz That’s The Way It Is! Libby Kahane is silent no more. I first Coincidentally, I maintained an Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky received an e-mail from Mrs. Kahane a office in the late 1990s in the same Shmuel Katz, Phyllis J. Lubin, Esther Mann Hannah Reich Berman 26 Rochelle Miller, Rabbi Yoni Posnick, Naomi Ross few years ago asking if I could provide office building as Kahane Chai on Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow, Eli Shapiro, Ari Sher her with some of the articles I had Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn. I MICHAL WEINSTEIN, BILLY LEWIS, DOV GORDON written about Meir Kahane during the was never a member of JDL or any of Staff Graphic Artists 1970s and 1980s when he was evolv- their offshoot organizations. In 1997, IVAN NORMAN, IRA THOMAS Submit your photo to the ing as an important and potent force in the Kahane Chai organization was Staff Photographers Jewish life. Because Kahane was so branded by the United States govern- FRANKEL & CO. 5 Towns Jewish Times! principled and determined, he was also ment as a terrorist organization, Design & Production You can upload your persecuted and prosecuted by the though it accomplished seriously little. TALIYE CORLEY authorities in the United States and During that time, someone associated Art Director digital photos and see them Israel through those two decades. with Kahane Chai had appropriated SUZETTE LEE Rabbi Kahane was murdered in New some of my possessions from my office Assistant Art Director printed in the weekly edition York in 1990 by El Sayyid Nosair, an to their office. Those things included The Five Towns Jewish Times is an independent weekly news- of the 5 Towns Jewish Times Arab terrorist who was later identified lists of people who were clients of paper. Opinions expressed by writers and columnists are not as being involved in the planning of companies, or donors to organizations, necessarily those of the editor or publisher. We are not responsible for the kashrus or hashgachah of any product or www.5tjt.com/sendphotos the first bombing of the World Trade that I was consulting for. Shortly after establishment advertised in the Five Towns Jewish Times. Center in 1993. After Rabbi Kahane’s death, a Continued on Page 11

8 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 9 HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE in this particular case, he spoke at great least a temporary friendship of this The point is that no matter how Continued from Front Cover length. As a result of making a small type. These relationships are little minimal a relationship between two and even innocuous comment—some- more than hypothetical realities, with people, or even a couple, may be, have been times, over the years, that I thing to the effect of, “So, your father sometimes only vestiges of anything something gets added to it that didn’t go pay a shivah call to someone lived here”—he just seemed to jump at lasting. enhances the connection once you because it would have impinged on my the chance and went on, almost with- Other places and/or situations where quickly come to realize that you are comfort. But that wasn’t the case this out taking a breath, about his father’s something similar may occur include sharing this common objective of time. Maybe, I thought, I was growing life, their relationship, memories from the El Al terminal at Kennedy Airport traveling to Israel. Perhaps there’s not up, if only a little. when he was a child, and so on. or aboard one of those jumbo jets that much more that you share, but for Anyway, as I sat down opposite this We expressed our condolences and shuttle between New York and Tel Aviv now this is enough. Once again you gentleman, whom I’ve known casual- left, but I walked out of there awed regularly. Once you are checked in at are stepping inside this bubble that ly for at least ten years, I found and spellbound. I must have the El Al or Israir counter, you have manages to resist the usual outside myself over the next 15 minutes pressures present in everyday life. learning everything anyone could So you become curious, talkative, possibly want to know (as well as and chatty. It may even look to an things you would not want, or cer- observer as if you are best friends tainly not need, to know) about him Of course, the shivah house is not the who happen to be traveling together. and his family. I had been anticipat- In reality, though, you may never ing an extended awkward silence, and have met or, more likely, only know once I left and got back into my car, I only place in this world where you are one another from a distance. Perhaps said to my wife, “I never knew that he your children attend the same school could be so talkative.” able to step into this so-called bubble. or you recognize one another from What changed our usual relation- the pediatrician’s office or from those ship, which had consisted mostly of a incessant trips you make to the nod or a smirk? Could it be that expe- supermarket. riencing the loss of his parent created Now, the airport encounter proba- a whole new person and that he would expressed my observation, several also entered into this seemingly life- bly does not work for everyone. For from here on in be different or overly times, that in the last few minutes size bubble. As to why those invisible those unmoved by the Israel-bound congenial? Or, more likely, it’s that this guy talked to us more than he did barriers that exist between us some- excursion to step out of their other- during that quarter hour when I was in total over the last decade. This was times break down in a place like this, it wise solitary traveling routine and visiting him the other week, the usual not the first time I’ve witnessed is no doubt quite an interesting socio- into the bubble, the Kotel never fails. reality that identified the nature of our something like this, but this may have logical phenomenon. Perhaps this is more than a matter of relationship became suspended. When been the first time I became aware of I was considering saying that this is social convenience and an arena in I stepped into the house in which he this altered-reality phenomenon. the case with all travel, that a cama- which something unusual actually was sitting shivah,I stepped into a Of course, the beis aveil, or the shiv- raderie gets struck between travelers on happens. After all, how can you spy new, albeit temporary, reality. It was as ah house, is not the only place in this a common trip or adventure. But that, I someone that you recognize near the if I had stepped inside some kind of world of ours where you are able to believe, is only partly true; I believe that aura of the Holy of Holies and not bubble and an altered state of his (and step into this so-called bubble. I travel to Israel—even in the early stage, demonstrate some recognition perhaps even both of our) reality. believe there are a few other such as you wait out your departure in the through a smile and a few—if not In this case, it wasn’t just a matter of places, in Jewish life in particular, airline terminal—adds a magical dimen- a friend talking a little more than usual; where you are likely to strike up at sion to personal communications. Continued on Page 15

10 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES FROM THE EDITOR right came from within the Jewish Continued from Page 8 community. That morning, Rabbi Kahane said 9/11, I received a visit from two FBI unequivocally into our studio micro- agents inquiring about my association phones, “Nazis who march in Skokie with Kahane Chai and was asked to have to be killed.” As soon as that explain why some of my things were in statement was uttered, I was ordered their offices. Clearly the items had by station management to cut the been stolen. The agents were con- interview and stop immediately, or cerned that I might have been support- else there would be consequences ing them, thereby aiding and abetting that would jeopardize the future of terror—quite a serious crime. Over a the entire program. Ultimately, I very short period that followed, which negotiated an agreement with the sta- I presume involved some investiga- tion that would allow Kahane to be on tions, the government became con- in the future, but only if the interview vinced that I was not a supporter of was recorded in advance of the broad- whatever the organization was doing or cast. It was one of my first introduc- that I was not the terrorist type. tions to extreme hypocrisy. I was puz- My association with Rabbi Kahane zled why so many would fight for the over all those years was strictly that he Nazis to march in America (a march was a subject for newspaper articles as that would call for the death of Jews well as a series of interviews we did on and others) while Kahane had to be New York radio stations WFMU, shut down and silenced. WNYM, and WMCA. Anyway, that anecdote is not in Each of those radio stations (two of Libby Kahane’s new book because I which still feature Jewish programs don’t believe I ever recounted that more than 30 years later) are stories experience to her and, in any event, it unto themselves. For now, suffice it to is out of the purview of the current vol- say that in 1979 Meir Kahane was in ume’s timeline. the WFMU studio with me for an The new book, Rabbi Meir Kahane: interview. The subject turned toward His Life and Thought (Volume One: the planned march of Nazis in Skokie, 1932–1975), runs to over 700 pages Illinois that was scheduled to take and provides the reader with small yet place a few weeks later. There was fascinating insights and details into the great protest over the march, but, thought processes of Meir Kahane. intriguingly, there was the argument Unfortunately, because of the fashion in that no matter how repugnant and which our national sound-bite-dominat- offensive such a march would be, ed media works, the only portrayal of Nazis were as entitled as anyone else Meir Kahane and the old JDL that most to freely express themselves. Needless to say, the greatest proponents of that Continued on Page 22

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 11 Stress-Ball Therapy And the cool thing about the stress I never would have thought this Besides the larger-than-life stressors Continued from Front Cover balls is that many of them, at first would be a best-selling item, but it that have arisen post-9/11, there are glance, do look like toys. seems that it is. One toy store told of always everyday frustrations that make partly why there are so many insomni- There are more types of stress balls selling between 400 and 500 smiley- us want to grit our teeth, yell in aggra- acs in today’s world. then I could ever have imagined exist- faced stress balls this year. Fun fact: vation, or sometimes even punch a I was recently going through a ed. There is the rubber-band ball They used to sell stress balls with a wall. Obviously, most of us try not to super-stressful week when my mom (yes, it is made up of colored rubber frown face on them, but those didn’t make a scene when we’re super- presented me with a wrapped gift. It bands), the troll ball (has crazy blue sell; when they switched to the smiley- stressed, and thankfully there are many was smaller than a breadbox but larger hair and a crazy expression on its faced ones, they sold like hotcakes. things people can do to de-stress. than a jewelry box, and I was clueless face), the cactus ball (yes, scarily, it At another toy store, the person I Going to the gym, or working out in as to what it was. I opened the gift and actually resembles a cactus), the spoke with said they’d sold out of any capacity, seems to be a fantastic laughed in amusement when I saw light-up fluorescent gel ball (has a stress balls and were waiting for more way of loosening up after a hard day, or what it was: a stress ball. A yellow color-changing light-up mechanism to come in. And yet another store’s week, or even month. Some people mushy ball with a smiley face painted when you squeeze the ball), the management described the stress balls deal with stress by eating more than on it. I didn’t take it seriously at first, laughing stress ball (has a big smile as being a huge seller. usual and/or by eating things that thinking it would be just another “trin- on its face and a wacky tuft of feath- Besides the typical stressors we live make them feel happy (never underes- ket” for my bookshelf. But as the week ery orange-and-white hair on its with every day, this is a time when a timate the power of yummy food!). moved onward and my stress did not head), the aroma ball (comes in many war is being fought abroad; we’re There are those who find shopping abate, I found myself palming the different aromas, such as melon, apparently in the middle of a recession; (no, not food shopping—yes, clothes stress ball and squeezing it to relieve mint, and pink grapefruit), the gravi- we have a very important presidential or shoe shopping) to be an excellent my stress. I have since grown to love ty grip (one-pound ball which maxi- election coming up, which could affect way of de-stressing. I de-stress by read- my “happy” yellow stress ball. mizes strength in fingers, hands, America and Israel in significant ways; ing novels, writing articles, and watch- Until I did a bit of research, I had wrists, and forearms for an awesome we’re in a drastic housing crisis; and, of ing American Idol. Snacking and shop- no idea how popular stress balls are. workout), the Icky Yicky Fuzzy stress course, there’s the fighting in Israel, ping? I must admit to dabbling in these As it turns out, they are extremely ball (looks as yicky as it sounds), the which seems to be a constant struggle “vices,” as well. popular indeed. For those not in the baseball stress ball (comes in golf, with no clear end in sight. Is it any These are all great ways of unwind- know, a stress ball is “a malleable toy, football, tennis, and basketball, too), wonder we are stressed above and ing if they work for you. But, as I am which is squeezed in the hand and the eyeball slide balls (pretty gross- beyond the norm? the current owner of two new stress manipulated by the fingers, ostensi- looking, but if they help someone, In addition, we are all too aware of balls, I would highly recommend that bly to help relieve stress and muscle who am I to judge!), the inside-out the security measures in our lives. you go out and buy one (or more) and tension or to exercise the muscles of stress ball (smooth, squishy ball but There was a time when going to the try this method, as well. Each mem- the hand.” Although it is called a toy turn it inside out and it’s a soft, spiky airport was not a big deal, but it is now. ber of a family could own a different by some, I prefer to think of it as ball), and one that my parents bought I used to look forward to flying and kind. In fact, I have a feeling that alternative medicine. me, the IsoFlex stress ball, which has getting away, and I never minded hang- they will end up being collector’s If you mosey into a toy store or a a happy person/cartoon character on ing around the airport until my flight items, like bobblehead dolls. Stress five-and-dime, you will usually find the one side with an uplifting saying writ- was called. In today’s world, the airport balls come in so many different forms stress balls right up front by the check- ten underneath, and on the other experience is generally a negative one. and shapes and colors that you can out counter. Many people, who would side a frustrated, crying character How many of you have stood for hours own a different one for every day of never think to look for a stress ball, whose hands are on his head in dis- on a security line only to be so thor- the month. will buy one or more upon seeing it at may with a statement below that oughly checked that even you start to the checkout. (Excellent marketing.) reads, “I can’t stand it!” believe that you might be a terrorist? Continued on Page 14

12 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 13 Stress-Ball Therapy Continued from Page 12

As described on the Web, “the squeezing action (of the stress ball) has a number of effects on the body, including improvement of blood circu- lation, the relief of muscle tension by relaxing muscles and joints, and the promotion of sleep.” So why are you still reading my arti- cle? Go on, now! Go buy a stress ball. And my wish for all of you is that your days are as stress-free as possible. O

Michele Herenstein is a freelance journalist who lives and works in New York City. She can be reached at [email protected].

CALENDAR LUACH May 1 – May 10 ZIP Code: 11516

27 Nissan – Erev Shabbos Frida y, May 2 Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Memorial Day Daf yomi: Nazir 43 Omer:12 Z’manim*: Earliest tallis/tefillin: 4:52 am Sunrise: 5:52 am Latest Shema: M. Av. 8:46 am Gr’a 9:22 am Candle Lighting: 7:34 pm 28 Nissan – Shabbos Saturday, May 3 Shabbos Parashas Kedoshim Blessing of Chodesh Iyar Avos: Ch. 1 Shabbos ends**: 8:39 pm 72 min. 9:06 pm 30 Nissan – 1 Iyar Monday and Tuesday, May 5–6 Rosh Chodesh Iyar 3 Iyar Thursday, May 8 Yom HaAtzma’ut – Independence Day (Israel) 4 Iyar – Erev Shabbos Friday, May 9 Daf yomi: Nazir 50 Omer: 19 Earliest tallis/tefillin: 4:43 am Sunrise: 5:44 am Latest Shema: M. Av. 8:41 am Gr’a 9:17 am Candle Lighting: 7:41 pm 5 Iyar – Shabbos Saturday, May 10 Shab bos Parashas Emor Avos: Ch. 2 Shabbos ends**: 8:47 pm 72 min. 9:13 pm * from MyZmanim.com ** add a few minutes for tosefos Shabbos according to your minhag Municipal Calendar For 5 Towns and NYC Thursday, May 1 NYC: alternate-side parking regulations suspended; other parking regulations remain in effect. Sunday, May 4 SAT exams 14 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE Continued from Page 10 more—words that exude some Jerusalem-like warmth and friendliness. Other bubble opportuni- ties take place at, among other places, hotels you may park yourself in for Pesach. The fact that Pesach is as long as it is, gives those par- ticipating in this bubble exer- cise an opportunity to take their time prior to entering. But, once you’re in—that’s it, you’re in. Regardless of where you were on Pesach, you no doubt came in contact with many people you may not have known or whom you know through a relative or someone else down through your or their familial line of descendants. The question is: what hap- pens after the bubble experi- ence concludes? For exam- ple, what will it be like the next time I see that acquain- tance whom I went to visit when he was sitting shivah? Will he once again just breeze by me with that little nod of the head or with that little meaningless almost reflexive smirk that gets formed on his face as he tries to send a millisecond smile in my direction? Yes, sometimes great friendships do indeed evolve out of these encoun- ters in those controlled environments. I think it’s rare, though, as once every- one steps out of their travel or holiday experience they get back into a daily and routine reality that may not have any time for new things in their old lives. I don’t want to say that it can’t happen, but then again neither do I want to be responsible for bursting anyone’s bubble. O Comments for Larry Gordon are welcome at [email protected].

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 15 16 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

N NN Solidarity Trip who has just marked a significant mile- around Yerushalayim retelling the story Continued from Front Cover stone: as of this year, I have been living It was my first Purim in Israel as a of how we met Sharansky to all of our in Israel longer than I lived in the new immigrant. Natan Sharansky had friends and neighbors. different reason for their trip to the United States. miraculously left the gulag and made Fast-forward 20 years. It is the Holy Land. For some it was a vacation, One of my first experiences in Israel aliyah to join his wife, Avital. My evening of my oldest daughter’s gradu- an opportunity to tour the country when I arrived was seeing roses in friends and I lived in the same neigh- ation from high school. My heart is from the northern tip to the southern bloom in the middle of winter. When I borhood where they were residing. We bursting with pride. I feel as though I border. For others, it was one of many was growing up, a relative had a poster decided to bring the Sharanskys too am “graduating” from high school. business trips, rushing from one meet- in the bedroom that read “Israel, we mishloach manot . We very nervously As newcomers, my husband and I mas- ing to another. Many travelers were never promised you a rose garden.” walked up the steps to the apartment. tered the words to almost every returning from abroad to the land of And here I was on Rechov Herzl in We knocked on the door and Natan Hebrew nursery rhyme with our chil- their birth. For me, a 22-year-old sin- Jerusalem, one of the main thorough- Sharansky—our hero and the hero of dren in preschool; we focused on gle, that airplane ride was a trip of a fares of the city, seeing this beautiful the Jewish nation—appeared before studying the grammatical terms for lifetime. It was my aliyah flight—a rose garden. So, while I knew that liv- us. No fanfare, no bodyguards, just a elementary-school mathematics; and one-way ticket home. ing in Israel has its challenges, I also Jew wishing us a Purim Sameach. We we learned all about bagruyot (the On the eve of the 60th anniversary recognized that extraordinary things handed him our Purim baskets and he Israeli equivalent to Regents exams) of the birth of the State of Israel, I happen under the most ordinary cir- in return gave us, as well. Needless to reflect back on my life as an Israeli cumstances. say, this made our day! We walked Continued on Page 19

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 17 18 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Solidarity Trip ever before. Continued from Page 17 Every day there is an opportunity to make a difference. Nineteen years ago, during our oldest daughter’s high- my husband and I bought land in a school years. In short, we had made small city that most people abroad had it—through all of the parent-teacher never heard of. When my parents told conferences, late-night school plays, their friends that we were building in weeklong class trips, and much more. Bet Shemesh, their acquaintances To add to the excitement of the evening, Natan and Avital Sharansky were also in attendance at the ceremo- ny, as their daughter was graduating This is the true from the same high school. My joy knew no bounds. At the end of the cer- Eretz Yisrael—not a emony, I went over to Avital to tell her what nachas I had, seeing her daughter memorial plaque on stage at the ceremony. For a man who had been imprisoned for 12 years, at a hospital, separated from his wife by thousands of miles one day after their marriage, but a living and to be sitting in that hall watching his daughter graduate was nothing short breathing entity. of a miracle. NNN Miracles happen every day in Israel. responded that the only thing they Each and every citizen has seen or knew about Bet Shemesh was the heard of these extraordinary occur- cemetery, Eretz HaChayim, located a rences. That is indeed the miracle of few minutes from the city. living here. The fact that we can live Now, the population of Bet and breathe, go to school and work, in Shemesh has quadrupled since we our own country and live amongst a moved in. From the handful of English nation of Jews—that is a miracle. speakers almost two decades ago, We are one of the smallest nations on today there are over 2,300 English- the planet, yet, in 60 short years, Israel speaking families. No longer is Eretz can boast of high-tech companies that HaChayim cemetery the landmark of have revolutionized modern medicine Bet Shemesh. Today Bet Shemesh is and science. In addition, the amount of truly an Eretz HaChayim—a land of Torah learning in Israel is at an all-time the living. What was once a mountain high. Whether it is a small neighbor- of rubble is today a bustling city with hood class, a seminary, or a yeshiva, more people are learning Torah than Continued on Page 21

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 19 Glimpse Of Greatness livrachah, the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas limud ha’mussar b’hispa’alus, studying sonal actions and deeds. Continued from Front Cover Chofetz Chaim in Queens. He was its mussar in an emotional way, allowing its His talmidim saw and heard the the- rosh yeshiva since 1941—lovingly guid- concepts and ideals to affect our own ory and the practice—and both deeply begged her sister, “Please! I am dying of ing and instructing three entire gener- personal behavior; and chinuch ha’mus- impacted them all. cancer. My one request of you is to ations of talmidim. No other contem- sar, the practical implementation of the Some of the hashkafos differed sub- allow your son to attend a yeshiva—so porary rosh yeshiva in America could concepts of mussar in our daily life. He stantively from what one would call that at least he will be given a chance lay claim to such a long tenure. demonstrated and made practical the the “conventional wisdom.” An exam- to be exposed to the beauties and The rosh yeshiva’s illustrious father notions of limud ha’mussar with s’fasay- ple might be about the proper role of a truths of his own religion.” was the great-nephew of the Chofetz im dolkos—lips aflame. He made it a yeshiva. I remember vividly one such She begged and pleaded—and, Chaim himself, known for his unparal- point to join his talmidim in the mussar “theory” discussion. finally, her sister relented. leled ahavas Yisrael. His maternal seder in yeshiva whenever he could. Rav Leibowitz began with an expla- In the dying woman’s building lived grandfather, for whom he was named, The highest ideal in his yeshiva was nation of the role of a loan officer in a an elementary-school rebbi who was a was the famed Rav Chanoch Henoch to be a ba’al mussar, a master of mus- bank. He explained that the loan offi- talmid of Rav Henoch Leibowitz, zt’l. Shershevsky, a Torah sage who loved sar, and Rav Leibowitz ingrained this cer with a perfect record of never hav- The dying woman had consulted very talmidei chachamim so much, he would in the heart of each of his students. ing made a bad loan was actually not closely with this talmid. She had final- literally hug and kiss them just as But there was something even greater doing the bank any favors at all. He ly convinced her sister about her child, Chizkiyahu haMelech used to do. The in his instruction, something deeper was obviously being too conservative in but where to send him? What yeshiva rosh yeshiva clearly inherited a profound and more profound. Rav Leibowitz com- his role and not maximizing profits for would take a 12-year-old child who love for talmidei chachamim and for bined his loving instruction with unpar- the bank. A loan officer that makes firmly believed in a different religion each and every member of K’lal Yisrael. alleled insights in hashkafah—the prop- loans at 6% interest with a perfect entirely? Where would he go? As a rosh yeshiva and as an heir to the er Torah outlook that all b’nei Torah record of no defaults is not as valuable N NN rich traditions of the Slabodka Yeshiva should have. He did it using two aspects to the bank as a loan officer who On the 10th of Nissan, but two in Europe, Rav Leibowitz guided his of instruction, theory and practice. The makes loans at 10% with a one percent weeks ago, thousands of talmidim talmidim, of course, in both the sub- theory involved hashkafah sessions that default record.1 across the country and throughout the tleties of Talmudic dissection and in the took place at times in his blatt shiur. In “A yeshiva iz, lehavdil, der zelbe zach,” world lost their beloved and precious full gamut of the mussar oeuvre— these sessions, Rav Leibowitz spelled he said.2 He continued, “Anyone can rebbi, Rav Alter Chanoch Henoch chochmas ha’mussar, the wisdom and out the hashkafic ideals of Torah establish a yeshiva with 100 percent Leibowitz, zecher tzaddik v’kadosh intellectual component of mussar; Judaism. The practice involved his per- frum talmidim with good hashkafos. The chochmah is in reaching out to others, too, while maintaining the proper mix.” He further honed his message by explaining that the role of a yeshiva is to ensure that the atmosphere and ruach permeating its halls, classrooms, and recess yard is one of true Torah growth. “What makes up this atmosphere and ambiance?” he would ask. “It is the combination and delicate balance of three factors: (1) inspired and dynamic teachers and rebbeim; (2) the mix of the student body; and (3) the inspired lead- ership of administration. The yeshiva leadership must carefully weigh, bal- ance, and readjust this delicate combi- nation to ensure that the atmosphere prevailing in the yeshiva is one of growth and inspiration.” But the goal and role of a yeshiva is not just to provide chinuch for our chil- dren. It is to do the ratzon Hashem and to be the vehicle in which we can fulfill our thrice-daily recited mitzvah of “Ve’ahavta es Hashem Elokecha bechol levavcha u’v’chol nafshecha u’v’chol me’odecha.” In other words, like the aforementioned loan officer, the goal is to maximize profits to Hashem—any- thing less is an abnegation of the mitz- vah of ahavas Hashem and an under- mining of the true role of what a mossad of chinuch is all about.3 The rosh yeshiva was not just refer- ring to out-of-town yeshivos. He was referring to the very heart of Jewish Torah communities. “And the talmidim and talmidos will grow even more from it,” he said. One might think that this was pret- ty heady stuff for naive, unworldly talmidim to make a part of their Torah outlook. But they did. They all did. And it affected the future policies of many, many mosdos of Torah in which these talmidim took leadership roles. This is a vivid illustration of a Torah leader “planting seeds” that soon “turn to saplings” and later into “great oaks.” N NN But that was theory. What of practice? Let’s go back to our original story. Where would this child go to yeshiva? What yeshiva would accept a boy from

Continued on Page 77 20 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Solidarity Trip s”xc Continued from Page 19 the sounds of children playing and youth and adults learning Torah. This is the true Eretz Yisrael—not a memo- rial plaque at a hospital, but a living and breathing entity. My family feels so privileged to have been part of this historical event of putting Bet Shemesh on the map, once again, as in Biblical times. This, too, is the miracle of the Land. Those of us who have the z’chut to live here are part of history, changing the landscape and the facts on the ground. In such a short time, we can see how so much has changed: the quality of services and products, advancements in technology, and so much more. Even little things that make life easier for new immigrants we do not take for granted. When we first moved to Bet Shemesh, I could not find gefilte fish or horseradish in any of the stores, as almost the entire population was Sephardi and many do not eat this Ashkenazi fare. Today, A&B and Unger’s brand gefilte fish, together with Israeli brands of fish, are sold in all of the local supermarkets, along with a plethora of different types of horseradish. Americans, as well as many other immigrants from countries all over the world, have improved the lives of those living both in Israel and abroad. I recently had the privilege of hearing Professor Robert Aumann, a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics. Professor Aumann is an American who made aliyah 52 years ago. We see other examples of olim having a great impact on society, whether it is in Torah learn- ing, education, the sciences, law, or customer service. The beauty of living here is that one does not have to be a famous scientist, per se, to enhance life in Israel. Every citizen, no matter his or her occupa- tion, is contributing to society. Whether it is grocery shopping or pay- ing an electric bill, that spending is going into the Israeli economy. NNN We have experienced many hard- ships in our long history as Jews, most recently the expulsion from Gush Katif and the mortar attacks on S’derot and Ashkelon. There are those who say that the country is headed for disaster. Many citizens feel that the country is not worth fighting for, as the values of the government and its people have changed over the course of time. This is very shortsighted. The Jewish nation, throughout every generation, has been tested by HaKadosh Baruch Hu.We have lived in every foreign land imaginable and have walked through many forests as well as plodded through the deserts on the planet. Now we are home. As every good Jewish mother will tell you, home is where the heart is. Home is where you are nurtured and kept safe and warm. There is no place like home. If we keep our promise as a nation, then Hashem, the Master of all promises, will shower us with goodness, the likes of which we could never imagine. I am grateful to have a front-row seat and look for- ward to what is in store for the Jewish nation. O

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 21 FROM THE EDITOR palpable, so is the deep and abiding and Brezhnev received the trade agree- Kahane knew his mail was being read Continued from Page 11 faith in G-d and the fact that if Meir ments his country needed with the U.S. and that just the reading of these Kahane would not have gotten without those pacts being tied to open- threats—without anyone actualizing people have encountered is that of a involved to the extent that he did in ing the Iron Curtain and letting Jews them—was enough to stop the Nixon- group of Jewish terrorists—a parallel to the things that he got involved in, then out, then there would not be another Brezhnev meetings. the PLO or to the modern-day Hamas, no one else would have. opportunity to make progress in this The book is rich with anecdotes from and considered to be potentially as vio- Two items that stand out in my mind direction for many years to come. Rabbi Kahane’s notes, speeches, and lent as those groups. Painting these are how he spoke with his then very Additionally, there was little pressure articles that appeared in the Jewish Press mental images helps the media do its young children by phone after being on the U.S. from Israel—and then- over many years. In addition to a few job, but by just scratching a half-inch arrested and held in an Israeli prison. Prime Minister Golda Meir—because stints in prison in Israel, he also spent beneath the surface, one will find this to He explained to his oldest son, Israel felt that it needed American sup- almost a full year in prison in the U.S. be a total misrepresentation of reality. Binyomin, that he didn’t think that any port more than it needed Russian Jews. for crimes associated with protests that Reading the new book takes you kids in the youngster’s class would be Kahane advocated drastic action from he organized and in which he participat- through page after page of self-sacrifice ed in New York and Washington, DC. and, more often than not, frustration, Even if you do not read the book in its as Rabbi Kahane first tries to protect entirety, it’s an important book to have Jews in changing neighborhoods of in your library or even just to read a few New York and then becomes involved In addition to a few stints in prison in chapters from time to time. in what would ultimately become the In one of the letters written to his struggle to free Soviet Jews from the children from a Jerusalem prison in oppressiveness that accompanied Israel, he also spent almost a full year in 1972, he stated, “Thirty years ago (dur- Communism. There is the detailed ing the Holocaust) no one did what had recounting of Kahane’s frustration in prison in the U.S. to be done for Jews, and if someone trying to raise needed funds, to get his had, he would have been condemned. books published—and the fact that Today, when Soviet Jews are faced with when he finally succeeded, they sold a catastrophe and the Israeli govern- poorly—and, ultimately, his attempts to ment knows of it and sells them out for win election to the Knesset in Israel. able to say that their Abba was in jail his supporters in the U.S. and was Nixon’s favors, we cannot be quiet. It is He finally succeeded in attaining a because he was trying to free Soviet hampered by his inability to legally win the tragedy of the State of Israel that is Knesset seat in 1984, but the Israeli Jews who were being religiously perse- back his passport, which had been con- so un-Jewish that—at Washington’s government barred him from running cuted, two of whom were sentenced to fiscated by the authorities in Israel. At pressure—it arrests a Jew for doing again in 1988, and in 1994 his political death by the Kremlin. He was certainly that time, the only way Kahane could what it should have done. party, (Kach) was outlawed. Though right about that. communicate with his organization in “In any case, do not worry. All Kahane won only one seat in 1984, A portion of the book is devoted to New York was by sending letters. The important things are achieved through political prognosticators believed that the rabbi’s effort to interfere with then- Israeli Secret Service, of course, inter- yisurim (suffering) and I always hope I had he been allowed to run in 1988, Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev’s meet- cepted the letters. In them he called for will do and not only say what should be his party would have won 12 seats and ing with then-President Richard Nixon. some very drastic actions, like kidnap- done. I will be home soon, with G-d’s would have become the third-most- Kahane was determined to do all he ping or shooting a Soviet diplomat. Of help, and until then, remember what is powerful in the country. could to make sure that the Nixon- course, no rational person would sup- important and what is not.” O Throughout the book, while the Brezhnev meeting would not take place. port this course of action and there is a Comments for Larry Gordon are welcome at frustration at seemingly every turn is He felt that if the meeting was a success school of thought that believes that [email protected].

22 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

5TJT Presents

Mazel tov to Robert Shechter of Passaic, NJ, and Rochelle Frankel of Los Angeles, CA, on their recent engagement.

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 23 The Book That Changed How We Look At The Holocaust

B Y DR. RAFAEL MEDOFF who had shepherded America through In 1964, he was named to succeed away from America’s shores even the Depression and led the Free World Fred Friendly as executive producer though the immigration quotas were In the spring of 1968, it seemed that to victory over the Nazis. of the CBS Reports series. He soon largely unfilled. Reports about the everything to which Americans were Moreover, the 1950s and early began work on a segment about a mass killings that were suppressed by accustomed was being challenged. 1960s were a time when presidents question that had long troubled him the State Department, because it Hippies were testing cultural bound- were not subjected to the kind of but which had never before been seri- aries. Civil-rights protesters were fight- scrutiny that later became routine. ously examined: how did the U.S. ing the racial status quo. The public’s Journalists often refrained from inves- government respond to news of the assumptions about America’s military tigating rumors of presidential indis- Holocaust? FDR’s fear of this prowess were being sorely tested in the cretions. Many biographies of FDR Morse began filming interviews with jungles of Vietnam. The conventional resembled press releases from the U.S. diplomats and government offi- report’s reaching the wisdom about America and the Roosevelt Library at Hyde Park. cials who had been involved in making Holocaust, too, was about to be turned Then along came Arthur Morse. policy decisions in the 1940s. But, for public helped convince on its head. As a reporter and director for reasons which are unclear, CBS spiked NNN Edward R. Murrow’s “See It Now” the project. The footage from the In the aftermath of World War II, series on CBS Television in the interviews has been gathering dust in a him to establish the Franklin Roosevelt enjoyed near-iconic 1950s, Morse authored influential CBS warehouse ever since. Morse status in the public mind. It was exposés about race relations, the dan- resigned from CBS, and he spent the War Refugee Board. unthinkable to criticize the president gers of smoking, and McCarthyism. next three years writing a book instead of filming a documentary. He called it While Six Million Died: A chronicle of American apathy. feared such news would increase pub- The book’s very title made clear lic pressure to rescue the Jews. Gas Morse’s conclusion. So did the stun- chambers and crematoria that could ning cover illustration of FDR averting have been bombed, if the U.S. had his eyes, drawn by renowned political been willing to exert a minimal effort caricaturist Gerry Gersten. With an to save Jews from Hitler. advance feature story in the New York Morse also described how Treasury Times and serialized excerpts in Look Department lawyer Josiah E. DuBois magazine, While Six Million Died was Jr. and his colleagues blew the whis- a sensation even before its official tle on the State Department’s release in the spring of 1968. obstruction of rescue opportunities Although some important archives and helped force FDR to belatedly were not yet open to researchers, take limited steps to aid the Jews. Morse was able to piece together key Morse was the first to discover and aspects of this difficult, sometimes quote from the extraordinary exposé shameful chapter in American histo- that DuBois prepared, titled “The ry: Refugee ships that were turned Acquiescence of This Government in

24 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES the Murder of the Jews.” 0º. Despite its small budget and staff, the Board helped rescue over 200,000 Jews from Hitler near war’s end. Raoul Wallenberg’s famous rescue cam- paign was initiated and financed by the War Refugee Board. Morse’s book cracked the ice and made it possible for large numbers of Americans to begin considering the fail- ings of a long-idolized president. In the years after While Six Million Died, his- torians such as David S. Wyman would gain access to archives that Morse did- n’t see, and they would reveal many additional chapters to this sordid tale. Morse died in an automobile acci- dent in Yugoslavia in 1970. Sadly, he did not live long enough to see the pro- found impact that his book had on so many people. For example, Stuart Eizenstat, the U.S. envoy who later led the successful effort to compel Swiss banks to pay restitution to Holocaust survivors, has cited While Six Million Died as a cen- tral influence in shaping his under- standing of America’s response to the Nazi genocide and thereby influencing his own work. Prominent Soviet Jewry activists, such as Glenn Richter of the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry and Joseph Smukler of the Philadelphia Soviet Jewry movement, have said that While Six Million Died helped motivate their activism. Many pro-Israel activists, too, say their efforts on behalf of the Jewish State were galvanized by what they learned from Morse about American apathy during the Holocaust. The knowledge that his book had such an impact no doubt would have given Morse much satisfaction, in view of the final words of his preface: “If genocide is to be prevented in the future, we must understand how it happened in the past—not only in terms of the killers and the killed, but of the bystanders.” Forty years ago this spring, Arthur Morse took the first important step in helping the American public understand what happened. O

Dr. Medoff is director of the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies, www.WymanInstitute.org. His next book, Blowing the Whistle on Genocide: Josiah E. DuBois Jr. and the Struggle for an American Response to the Holocaust, will be published this summer by Purdue University Press. 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 25 Of course not all escapees went to shape about a few showers on the morn- Florida. Some made their way to ing of the very last day. Arizona, Mexico, and any other loca- It’s never Pesach per se that gets to tion that featured a kosher l’Pesach us; it’s the matzah crumbs that get car- hotel for the week. We hope every one ried from one end of the house to the of you had a fantastic yom tov—and other. Anyone with a degree of ingenu- glorious weather to go with it. ity could have made an entire box of Not to be forgotten are those of you new matzah with the crumbs that were Welcome Back, Pilgrims who made your own personal Yetzias vacuumed from the carpet. And at $20 Mitzrayim by heading to the Holy a pound for shemurah matzah, it might The friendly skies just got friendlier. ened face will be enough to make Land—a true reenactment if ever there have been a worthwhile endeavor. Or, if not friendlier, they got more many of us who stayed behind margin- was one. The only difference, of course, In ordinary matzah, the wheat is crowded. All of you who flew the coop ally jealous, but not me. I have no envy is that once you arrived in Israel you watched only from the time of the for the winter, along with those who in my heart, because I caught enough went directly to a five-star hotel or, at milling or kneading. In the case of she- were simply escaping a home-made of a glare from aluminum foil during the very least, to comfortable quarters murah matzah, the wheat used in the Pesach, are on your way back. And it’s Pesach to make me feel as if I was star- in the home of a relative. Either way, baking is carefully watched and pro- highly unlikely that any of you are walk- ing up at “old Sol” all week long. It was we’re happy to have you back. tected against any contact with water ing! With very few exceptions, most of inescapable. Aluminum foil covered We, who kept the home fires burning, from the moment of harvest. Water you aren’t returning by train or car, counters, stove top, and refrigerator can’t complain too much. Weatherwise, could cause leavening, which would either. All of which means that this week (out of long-standing habit). the “first days,” as we so lovingly refer to disqualify it for Pesach use. With all of there should be another plane departing Admittedly, I didn’t get much facial them, were great. And most of chol ha’- that babysitting going on, it’s no won- the Sunshine State for New York and color from any of it, but that was my moed was spectacular. Temps hovered in der the price is so exorbitant. landing here every few minutes. fault, because I spent too much time the 65 to 75 degree range and were And, speaking of shemurah matzah, Some of you weary travelers stayed indoors. Had I bothered to take all that accompanied by glorious sunshine. The this year for some reason was particu- out of the sun and will return as pale- foil outside and direct it towards the “last days” could have been less cloudy larly problematic. Every year, a few faced as when you left; others will April sun, I probably could have and somewhat drier, but most of us were days before yom tov, the male members come back with fantastic suntans. One tanned as well here in New York as any so happy that Pesach was coming to a of my family show up at the house glance at a relaxed-looking, sun-dark- of you who traveled South. close that we didn’t get too bent out of where the Seders are being held to drop off one or two boxes of shemurah matzah. This brings to mind that old phrase, “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.” What’s more applicable here would be a simple revision: “Beware of guests toting shemurah matzos.” The guests themselves are always A- OK. The shemurah matzos however, often are not. And Pesach 2008 was not a bumper crop in the perfection category. I say this for the following reason. We were blessed with a grand total of eleven pounds of shemurah matzah, which came in the form of one-pound boxes, two-pound boxes, and four-pound boxes. While I don’t know what the matzos looked like when they arrived, I can attest to the fact that by the time those boxes were opened at the first Seder, the number of whole ones we had numbered exactly five. This is not much of a success story, when one considers that we’re talking about $220 worth of the stuff. But that’s history. Now it’s time to get down to the painful realities of life—for all of us. These are the facts: vehicular traffic will be heavier, park- ing spots will be scarcer, and lines at store registers will be longer. But the most significant feature of this week, and possibly the next, will be the annu- al long-range holiday prediction. This refers specifically to Pesach 2009, and it’s not exactly a prediction. It’s a fact, and it should be starting right about now, if it hasn’t already. It goes like this: Guess what! Next year,Pesach is a three-day yom tov again, but in reverse. The first Seder night is Wednesday. So it’s Thursday,Friday, and Shabbos. I’m not sure why anyone feels the need to state the obvious. If the first Seder night is Wednesday night, it’s clear which three days are involved. But most people like to spell it out. It’s part of the package that comes with being the one to deliver the “news.” What will undoubtedly follow this scintillating piece of information is the usual commentary about whether or not next year’s Pesach setup is easier or more difficult. Chances are it will be a split decision. Half of the females will

Continued on Page 28 26 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Packing And Moving

Each year at the beginning and end kitchen is just a part! When I think of Pesach, I take some time to think about it and the job it entails, I would about the resilience of home owners think that people would do anything to who have sold their homes and are not have to deal with all the packing now packing up their possessions in and labeling of boxes and then unpack- preparation for moving. I have to start ing once again when they decide to several weeks in advance with plans as move to new homes. to what I am moving and where I am But such is not the case with the moving it before Pesach, with just the excitement of buying a new home and chametz dishes in my kitchen, and preparing for the move. I think the thrill then what to do with and where to put of the new home erases any thought of all the boxes of Pesach paraphernalia I how much work goes into furnishing have accumulated over the years. that new home, together with the Somehow every year there is more to exhaustion involved with the packing put away before Pesach and more and moving of existing stuff into the Pesach stuff that I have packed away new living space. from the previous year that needs to Ironically, it is usually just after find a home in my kitchen for the week Pesach when many sellers decide that of Pesach. If that is not difficult now is the time for them to put their enough, once I have completed this homes on the market. Prior to Pesach, task (and all the yom tov cooking) and they have completed cleaning out that have gotten used to where I have put garage or basement, packing and dis- all the Pesach dishes, it is time once carding lots of stuff that is either ready again to box everything up and put it for the garbage or to be given away, and away, and take out all the chametz stuff cleaning out the house, so they have I put away before Pesach. already begun a large portion of the And this is just the kitchen we are work necessary not just for Pesach but talking about—imagine what a big job for preparing their house for sale. They people have who are moving the entire contents of their homes, of which the Continued on Page 28

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 27 THAT’S THE WAY IT IS! Continued from Page 26

state unequivocally that it will be more challenging, because we won’t have all day Shabbos to rest up. The other half will claim that it will be easier, because, if the first Seder does- n’t start on a Saturday night, prep time will be more liberal and there will be no decision- making about whether to eat egg matzah on Shabbos or to carefully consume challah in a house that is Pesach-ready! Yada, yada, yada! Some things never change. Advance holiday talk ranks right up there with the other (post) Pesach chatter that goes like this: Pesach was great; thank G-d it’s over! What sense that last statement makes, I am not certain. But it’s what we all say. And the important thing to note is that whether discussing the Pesach just past or the one ahead, it’s a conversation in which we can all participate— regardless of where we spend the holiday week. Welcome back, one and all! 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.

REAL ESTATE Continued from Page 27

figure, “The house now looks its best; let’s take advantage of how good it looks.” They are on a roll, cleaning out most of the stuff they have accumulated over time and are now at the best time to try and benefit from the fruits of their cleaning accomplishments by putting the house on the market and looking for their own next place to live and to move the rest of their stuff. So I guess that means we will be seeing a lot of very clean houses coming up on the market very soon. B’ruchim ha’ba’im! O

Anessa Cohen lives in Cedarhurst and is a licensed real-estate broker (Anessa V Cohen Realty) and a licensed N.Y.S. mortgage broker (A.C. Action Mortgage Corp.) with over 20 years of experience, offering full-service residential and commercial real-estate services in the Five Towns and throughout the tri-state area. She can be reached at 516-569-5007 or via her website, www.AVCrealty.com. Readers are encouraged to send questions or comments to [email protected].

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28 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 29 30 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Dear Esther, identity. I started making friends who I’m writing to you about my had never even met my sister. I have to younger sister. We are only 15 tell you that this feeling of being inde- months apart in age and have always pendent was the greatest. been lumped together. Sometimes I Well, maybe I’m destined to be tor- think it was easier for my parents to tured by my sister, but guess what? think of us as twins. My mother liked She and her husband bought a house to dress us alike, make play dates for six blocks away from me! They plan on us with the same person, and do joining the same shul as the one we other things like that. I was expected belong to, sending their children to to share all my stuff with my sister— the same schools, and basically and if I didn’t, I was accused of being destroying my life! She has already a very selfish girl. Anyway, growing told me that she can’t wait to meet all up, my sister always copied me. If I my friends and invite them over for got a certain haircut, you could be meals to get to know them. sure that, in no time, she’d get the I am so frustrated and angry, I don’t same haircut. If I bought a special know what to do. I feel like my life is pair of shoes, she’d get the same pair. once again being sucked out of me. I It used to drive me crazy. I would told my husband I want to move. complain to my mother about it, but That’s not really the truth, since we are she just acted as though it was no big very happy with this community. But I deal. In fact, when I was young, my know that things will change for me, mother would force me to take my and I will once again feel like I only sister with me and my friends when I have half a life. would go places on my own. My sister So what do you suggest? How do I was my biggest nightmare. survive the invasion of my sister? Anyway, I’m now in my thirties and Frustrated so is my sister. I moved to the Five Towns two years ago, leaving my sister Dear Frustrated, behind in Brooklyn, and, for the first I certainly understand and hear time in my life, I felt like my own per- your pain. As I’m sure you know, it’s son. I had my own space, my own com- munity, my own friends, and my own Continued on Page 32

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 31 MINDBIZ First and foremost, it’s important for the ownership you might feel toward her. Invite her over for a Shabbos Continued from Page 31 you to know that you’re not selfish. It your individual sense of self or even meal with your friends, before she is the most normal thing in the world toward your stuff. starts getting desperate and needy not unusual for a younger sibling of for you to want to carve out your own I don’t believe your sister is cut and starts courting everyone she the same sex to emulate an older sib- individual place in the world, separate from the same cloth as you, and she knows you’re friendly with. However, ling ad nauseam. In fact, it’s to be and distinct from your family. This is probably will never even be capable have her over with your casual expected. As small children, they will not to say that family isn’t very impor- of understanding your need for indi- friends, not necessarily those few copy everything their older sibling tant, but there is room in our lives for viduation. I doubt that you will be very intimate friends that you treas- says, want to play with everything the many separate and distinct pieces, able to explain it to her, because ure. Invite your sister out for coffee older sibling is playing with, and basi- which sometimes overlap but some- being a part of you—“owning” a part every now and then, so that she feels cally be the older sibling. As you’ve times do not. For many of us, that for- of you, appearing to be part of you— welcome and not needy. Tell her noticed, as you get older, the stakes mula makes for a very balanced and is her reality and greatest joy. about community and school func- become more personal and frustrat- fulfilling life. Therefore, you need to figure out a tions. The safer and more welcome ing. The older sibling begins discover- she feels, the less energy she will use ing her or his own personal style, only to break into your world and stake to have it mimicked by the younger out her territory alongside yours. sibling. Suddenly, you’re not feeling Most important, feel good about unique or special. The younger sibling yourself. You’re not a bad person for wants nothing more than to hang out It is the most normal thing in the world having the feelings that you have. We with the older sibling, even if hanging all have needs. But if you can find the out involves being abused. There is for you to want to carve out your own proper balance between time spent just something incredibly special with your sister and time spent alone about this bond—at least, according or with your own friends, without any to the younger sibling. individual place in the world, separate guilt, you’ll be fine. Furthermore, if Parents can either encourage this you can find it within yourself to rec- enmeshed relationship, or try to find and distinct from your family. ognize your sister’s neediness—and, ways to separate the two children in rather than view her as an aggressive healthy ways. It sounds as though individual, view her with compassion your parents had no idea how much as someone who hasn’t quite man- you hated being paired with your sis- aged to figure out yet who she is, sep- ter in every way. So to begin with, Yes, we all know families that func- strategy that will work for you once arate and distinct from you—you will your feelings were never validated. tion in a very specific way: if you’re she moves in. move from anger to empathy. Believe Apparently, no one understood how friends with one of the siblings, you You need to know that the more in your heart that you’ll be fine once difficult it was for you to never have are automatically a friend of everyone you pull away, the more she will push she moves in—and you will be. your own space, your own stuff, and in the family, with very blurry lines of forward. If you try to keep her sepa- Esther your own friends. That sense of not separation. And if it works for those rate from your friends, she will try being validated is obviously still with families and their friends, that’s that much harder to break into your Esther Mann, LMSW, has a private practice in you, and to boot probably on some great. But for many people like your- circle of friends. Sometimes, we have Lawrence. Esther is a psychotherapist and life level you feel that you are a selfish self, friendships sustain you in a very to act in ways that feel counterintu- coach and can be reached at 516-314-2295 or [email protected]. She works with individual for wanting to have your special way that requires almost a itive. This is probably just such a sit- individuals, couples, premarital couples, and separate space. sense of ownership, not dissimilar to uation. My advice would be to engage families.

32 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES From The Chassidic Masters A History Of Love

Man, by nature, is a selfish crea- have toward a fellow who has wronged ture. Even in his relationships with him, or whom he sees behaving in a others, he tends to focus primarily on morally deficient manner: One, he can himself or, at most, on his self-colored despise him in his heart, regarding him perception of his fellow. “Love” is the as a “sinner,” and perhaps even perse- endeavor to transcend this intrinsic cute him for his “sins”; or two, he can selfishness and truly relate to one’s rebuke him in the effort to convince fellow, to be sensitive to and devoted him of the folly of his ways and seek to to his or her needs as an individual influence him to change them. The distinct of oneself and one’s own stake path of love, says the Torah, is not to in the relationship. “hate your brother in your heart” but And yet, when the Torah speaks of to “repeatedly rebuke” him and seek to the mitzvah to “Love your fellow as better him. yourself” it does so in the context of Obviously, the desire to influence is man’s duty to influence, and even consistent with the idea of love. No change, the behavior and nature of his one would stand by as a loved one suf- fellow man. In Vayikra (19:18–19), the fers hunger or is threatened by vio- Torah commands: lence; no less so, if one sees someone “Do not hate your brother in your he loves suffering from spiritual mal- heart; repeatedly rebuke your fellow, nutrition or moral blindness, he will and do not attribute sin to him. Do not make every effort to reach out to him, take revenge or harbor hatred toward to enlighten him, and to offer guid- your people, and love your fellow as ance and assistance. But this aspect of yourself; I am G-d.” loving behavior carries an inherent As the commentaries explain, there are two possible reactions a person can Continued on Page 34

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 33 FROM THE CHASSIDIC MASTERS Chanoch still “walked with G-d.” T he 120-Year Failure tion of his generation, unlike Avraham Continued from Page 33 But Chanoch’s righteousness was Several generations later, we and Moshe who pleaded with G-d to wholly selfish: he was preoccupied encounter another righteous man in a spare the wicked. This implies that, paradox: On the one hand, the only with the refinement and perfec- corrupt generation: Noach, builder of ultimately, it did not matter to Noach endeavor to influence and change tion of his own spiritual self. The the Ark and regenerator of humanity what became of them. Had he truly implies a departure from one’s self and Midrash even relates that, for many after the Flood. cared, he would not have sufficed with concern with the well-being of the years, he disassociated himself from In Noach, we find the first stir- doing his best to bring them to repent, other. On the other hand, it implies a his corrupt generation and secluded rings of a departure from self to but would have implored the Al- seemingly selfish view of the other: a himself in a cave. improve and rehabilitate one’s fallen mighty to repeal His decree of rejection of the other as he is and a Not only did Chanoch fail to have fellow. In the year 1536 from cre- destruction—just as one who is per- desire to impose one’s own perception a lasting impact on his society, but he ation (2225 B.C.E.) G-d told Noach sonally threatened would never say, of what is good for him upon him. was ultimately in danger of being that “the end of all flesh has come “Well, I did my best to save myself” and leave it at that, but would beseech Four Biblical Prototypes G-d to help him. An exploration of the history of In other words, Noach’s involve- humanity, as recounted in the Torah, ment with others was limited to his reveals four figures who personified Noach and his family entered the sense of what he ought to do for four different points of reference on them, as opposed to a true concern the relationship between self and for their well-being. His “self” had fellow. Ark—alone. His 120-year campaign sufficiently broadened to include the Each of these individuals was con- imperative to act for the sake of sidered the most righteous of his gen- another, recognizing that the lack of a eration. Thus, their lives can be seen yielded not a single ba‘al teshuvah! “social conscience” is a defect in to reflect four stages in the spiritual one’s own character; but he fell short development of humanity—four of transcending the self to care for stages in the movement from an others beyond the consideration of instinctive selfhood toward the com- influenced by their corrupt behavior. before me, for the earth is filled with his own righteousness. plete abnegation of self and self- This is why Chanoch died at the violence” and that He therefore This also explains a curious aspect interest in relating to others. Our “tender young age” of 365 (compared intends to “bring a deluge of water of Noach’s efforts to reach out to his examination of this process will also with the 800- and 900-year life spans upon the earth, to destroy all flesh” generation. When the flood came, shed light on the acceptance/non- of his contemporaries): “G-d took and start anew with Noach and his Noach and his family entered the acceptance dilemma inherent in the him to Himself” before his time, lest family. Noach is instructed to build Ark—alone. His 120-year campaign love relationship. the only righteous man of the gener- an ark so that they may survive the yielded not a single ba‘al teshuvah! The first of these four outstanding ation also be lost. flood. Our Sages relate that Noach Perhaps public relations was never individuals was Chanoch, a great- For such is the relationship of an worked on the Ark’s construction a Noach’s strong point, but how are we great-great-great-grandson of Adam, individual with his environment: full 120 years; all this time, he called to explain the fact that, in all this who was born in the year 622 from there is no sustained equilibrium. out to his generation to mend its time, he failed to win over a single creation (3139 B.C.E.). By his time, Where there is contact there is a ways and avoid catastrophe. individual? humanity had abandoned the One G-d flow, in one direction or the other; However, the Zohar criticizes But in order to influence others, of their fathers and had succumbed to one either influences his society or is Noach for the fact that, despite his one’s motives must be pure; in the idolatry and pagan perversity. Only influenced by it. efforts, he did not pray for the salva- words of our Sages, “Words that come

34 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES from the heart enter the generation. Wherever he destroy these cities for their he was prepared to incur cause. Sixty-five years later heart.” Deep down, a person went, he “caused G-d’s name wicked ways. Avraham peti- G-d’s wrath upon himself, giv- he was able to say to his ser- will always sense whether you to be known in the world.” tioned G-d on their behalf, ing precedence to their physi- vant Eliezer, “When G-d truly have his interests at Avraham also concerned him- using the strongest terms to cal lives over his own relation- summoned me from the heart, or you’re filling a need self with the more mundane demand of G-d that he spare ship with the Al-mighty. house of my father, he was of your own by seeking to needs of his fellows, offering these cities for the sake of the And because people G-d of the heavens but not of change him. If your work to his tent as an open house of few righteous individuals they sensed that he had their own the earth: the inhabitants of enlighten your fellow stems refreshment and lodging for might contain. “It behooves good, and only their own the earth did not recognize from a desire to “do the right all desert wayfarers, regard- You not to do such a thing,” good, at heart, they respond- Him and His name was not thing”—to observe the less of spiritual station. he challenged G-d, “to slay ed. When Avraham and referred to in the land. But mitzvos to “love your fellow as The selflessness of Avra- the righteous with the Sarah left Charan for the now that I have made His yourself” and “rebuke your ham’s concern for his fellow is wicked… Shall the Judge of Holy Land, they were joined name familiar in the mouths fellow”—but without really demonstrated by his daring the Universe not act justly?!” by the “souls which they had of His creatures, He is G-d in caring about the result, your intervention on behalf of the Avraham put his own spiritual made in Charan”—the com- both heaven and earth.” call will be met with scant five sinful cities of the Sodom integrity at risk for the sake of munity of men and women response. The echo of person- Valley. G-d had decided to the most corrupt of sinners; who had rallied to their Continued on Page 36 al motive, be it the most laud- able of personal motives, will be sensed, if only subcon- sciously, by the object of your efforts, and will ultimately put him off.

The Departure From Self Ten generations later was born an individual who raised the concept of man’s devotion to the welfare of his neighbor to new, selfless heights. This man was Avraham, the first Jew. Avraham, too, faced a cor- rupt and pagan world; indeed, his title, “the Hebrew,” is associated with the fact that “the entire world stood on one side, and he stood on the other.” After coming to recog- nize the Creator, he devoted his life to bringing the belief and ethos of one G-d to his

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 35 FROM THE CHASSIDIC MASTERS soon as he became aware that the Continued from Page 35 wicked of Sodom were beyond hope, he ceased his prayers. No Strings Attached Such love and concern—for the But even Avraham’s love is still not sake of the potential good that one the ultimate. It took another four cen- sees in another—is a love that is taint- turies for the epitome of selfless devo- ed, however minutely, with selfish- tion to one’s fellow to emerge, in the ness: one is relating to one’s fellow person of Moshe. not as one’s fellow sees himself, but Avraham’s virtue over Noach was with an eye to one’s own vision of that his objective in relating to others him. This allows for a reaction on his lay not in realizing the potential of his part (expressed, unexpressed, or even social self (as was the case with unconscious) that “You don’t care for Noach) but in achieving the desired me as I am, only for what you wish to result: to transform their behavior and make of me; so you don’t really care character, bringing to light their good about me at all.” True, one’s only and perfect essence. But therein also desire is to reveal the other’s essential lies the limitations of Avraham’s love: self; but this is a deeper, still unreal- ultimately, Avraham’s kindness had an ized, self. One’s love fails to address ulterior motive. True, it was not a per- the other as he now expressly is, sonal motive; true, it was a motive that focusing instead on one’s knowledge spells the recipient’s ultimate good of what he latently is and what he can and is consistent with the recipient’s and ought to make of himself. true self—but it was an ulterior In contrast, Moshe’s love for his motive nonetheless. people was utterly selfless. His was Our Sages describe how Avraham’s an unconditional love, one that is hospitality was but a means to unassuming of what they ought to be achieve his goal of converting his or what they are on a deeper, yet guests to a belief in G-d. The same is unrealized level. He loved them as true of Avraham’s valiant prayer on they were, and did everything in his behalf of the Sodomites. He power to satisfy their needs, both beseeched G-d to spare them because material and spiritual. of the righteous in their midst—as When Moshe pleaded with G-d on long as righteous individuals remain behalf of the worshippers of the Golden in a city, there is hope for the wicked Calf, he did not say “forgive them as well. On a deeper level, he was because they will repent” or “forgive referring to the “righteous one” with- them for they carry great potential,” in the wicked person, his inner only “forgive them; and if You won’t, potential for good; spare them, erase me from Your Torah.” Either You Avraham was saying; perhaps the accept the sinner as he is, or put togeth- good in them will triumph yet. As er a nation and Torah without me.

36 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES The difference between Moshe and avoid a moral transgression—if this his predecessors is also reflected in leads to a greater involvement, and the extent of their influence on their ultimately, a complete transforma- fellows. Chanoch, with his wholly tion. But when confronted with a self-directed righteousness, had no “lost case” they feel it’s a waste of influence, and was himself suscepti- time; why bother? ble to influence. Noach—who ex- Why bother? Because you care tended himself to his fellows, but about him, not only about what he only because he recognized that con- ought to be, what he will be, or what cern for one’s fellow is an integral you see in him. He lacks something part of a perfect self—was not influ- now, and you are privileged to be of enceable, but did not influence. assistance. If you care for him because Avraham’s teaching and instruction, you expect to influence him, then free of such personal bias, was chances are he won’t respond. But if embraced by multitudes of followers; you care for him whether he responds but since even Avraham’s efforts fell or not, then he will respond. short of the pure definition of self- (Chabad.org) O lessness, his influence was corre- Based on the teachings of the Lubavitcher spondingly limited. Rebbe; adapted by Yanki Tauber. Courtesy of Today, we have no traceable heirs to MeaningfulLife.com. Avraham’s disciples (what, indeed, ever became of the “souls they had made in Charan”?). But the effects of Moshe’s utterly selfless love are eternal: his guidance and leadership of his people Submit your photo to the yielded a nation whose endurance and unbroken continuity, to this very day, 5 Towns Jewish Times! defies all laws of history.

‘ Outreach’ Redefined You can upload your In order to truly influence a fellow, we must devote ourselves to them digital photos and see them without regard to whether they will printed in the weekly edition be influenced or not. He is a fellow human being who needs your help; so of the 5 Towns Jewish Times help him. If she lacks something material, help her. If she is spiritually lost, help her. Many see the point of www.5tjt.com/sendphotos influencing a fellow Jew to do a good deed, a mitzvah—to put on tefillin, to perform a single act of charity, to

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 37 favorite, stocks and bonds. products he uses every day. So in his Let us discuss the next area of asset portfolio you will find lots of the mun- The Keen Capitalist allocation—general investments. dane, such as furniture stores, bever- Today one can invest in the stock mar- age companies, and insurance. ket in almost any sector, including In a similar vein, a client came to BY MARTIN MUSHELL investors should avoid real estate or health care, commodities, and private me a few months ago and said that he technology stocks. Instead, it’s impor- equity. There are safe investments like feels that the BlackBerry is so good tant to research other sectors and municipal bonds and blue chips, as that he wants to invest in its parent Save, Diversify, And Invest For The attempt to get a pulse on which sectors well as risky assets such as biotechnol- company, RIM. I mentioned to him Long Haul are up and coming as opposed to those ogy. There are high growth and income that he is on the right track since he is In recent months, the real estate that are fully valued. If you do not strategies. No matter the situation in thinking like Warren Buffet, the and credit bubble has finally burst understand all your investment the economy or the market, there are “Oracle of Omaha.” If you patronize a with an exclamation point. Bear options fully, consult with a profes- opportunities galore. The stock market particular brand, such as Crocks, Gap, Stearns, one of the largest underwrit- sional you can trust. is a great place to diversify and manage or Nike, and feel that it will gain in ers of securitized mortgage loans, and popularity, you can buy stock in that the fifth largest investment bank in the company and join in their success. world at one time, has paid the ulti- Jack Welch is well known as the mate price. The value of Bear has mastermind behind General Electric. decreased $19 billion in less than one I mentioned to him that he is on As you may know, GE owns various year’s time. The housing market, businesses as diverse as technology, according to most experts, will take energy, media, and financial services. years to recover until the glut of inven- the right track since he is thinking Thus, if one division was struggling, tory finally is sold off. the other could be flourishing. We Before you begin to lament, consid- need to do the same and follow the er how successful real estate has been like Warren Buffet. model laid out in the Gemara. the past few years. Many bought So how do we invest in the future? homes before the prices skyrocketed My advice is to understand that all and either have small mortgage pay- businesses to some extent are cyclical. ments or were able to tap into the Furthermore, understand that you risk. However, it is equally important We need to not assume that the mar- equity of their home. Many mortgage always need to diversify. The Gemara to be disciplined and astute and know kets will follow the same pattern from brokers, real estate developers, and concurs with this statement. It states when to exit. We can learn this from one year to the next, and to keep some agents amassed tremendous capital that one third of all assets should be two seasoned investing professionals, assets in reserve, waiting in the wings. during this exciting time. invested in karka, which literally Warren Buffet and Jack Welch. And if you were successful in one sec- However, like many other sectors, means land, referring to real estate. Warren Buffet—the wealthiest man tor, consider taking that profit and real estate is cyclical and there will be One third should be in cash, which in the world, according to Forbes— investing it elsewhere. Good luck. O a point when the market picks up allows you the opportunity to encom- believes in value investing. He buys Martin Mushell has seven years of valuation again. If you remember the late 1990s, pass the capital available for new assets that he feels are undervalued experience and manages assets for LPL Investments. He can be reached at everyone was buying technology stocks investing ideas. The last third should and holds them long term until he [email protected]. as if they were going out of style. As a be in general investments. That could believes that he has earned enough NOTE: The discussion of various companies in result they did, and the NASDAQ took be a venture that was presented to you over time to relinquish it and invest in this article is not intended as a recommendation to a nosedive. This does not mean that from a friend or relative—or, my something new. Secondly, he invests in buy, sell, or hold stock in any particular company.

38 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Nutrition Counts!

sweet potatoes and winter squash. Start Over For a quick alternative, stock your pantry with low-sodium canned B Y MIRIAM HOROWITZ, chick peas or beans, which can be RD, CDE used as a side dish or an addition to a great salad. Now that Pesach has come and gone, we can all take this opportunity to “start over.” Whether we were the host, away at a hotel as guests, or Ask yourself if you spent the yom tov with family, we all made compromises in our diets. Upon really need to buy restocking our pantries, freezers, and certain processed snack cabinets, we should think twice before replenishing the old and famil- foods like Wacky Mac, iar. We can take this opportunity to improve our diets. The popular adage or can you get along is true: if it is in the house, you will eat it—and if it is not in the house, you with a healthier will not eat it. alternative. The following are some tips on how to improve the quality of the foods that are stocked in your kitchen. Try to keep these tips in • Cereal aisles can be very challeng- mind on your endless shopping trips ing, especially with young children over the next few weeks. (and even with older children). • Remember, whole grains are one Establish new ground rules. Reject of the best sources of complex carbo- cereals that have more than 8 grams hydrates. Choose the whole-wheat of simple sugar per serving (check the breads and multi-grain pastas. Do food label; the “sugar” listing should not reach for the five-minute white be less than 8 grams). Choose cereals rice; choose delicious brown basmati that offer more than just carbohy- rice or a beautiful nutty wild rice drate. Make sure they have fiber instead. Avoid the aisle with the instant mashed potatoes; stick with Continued on Page 41

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 39 the holiday are met. Somehow for the in relative freedom! week we become “super kosher.” We And so, my dear readers, the holi- A Mother’s Musings wouldn’t think of drinking a random day has ended, and the kids are cup of coffee from a coffee house: returning to school (hurray!). Yet everything must be specifically kosher hopefully some of the Pesach spirit The Morning After understand these temporary changes l’Pesach! We fear finding something will stay with us a little longer. Maybe B Y PHYLLIS J. LUBIN in life? I think it gave him great com- in our homes over the holiday that we the spiritual cleansing of the holiday fort this morning to know that he can might have missed. We are on high will take us through these seven Here we are: the morning after the have his Rice Krispies again in his alert to make sure we are totally weeks of the omer to the holiday of last day of Pesach. Everything has blue bowl. Just as it was a great com- observant. And we somehow feel Shavuos and the giving of the Torah been schlepped back up to the attic fort to me to drink my German more “religious.” I felt it at shul, as on Mount Sinai! O and we are slowly replacing the Coffee Cake flavored coffee from well as around our yom tov table. chametz articles that we have missed Toddy’s this morning. There is a special feeling in the air. Phyllis Joy Lubin is an attorney with Rosenfeld & Maidenbaum, LLP, who resides in Cedarhurst this passed week. When I asked Yussie But, alas, somehow I miss it Perhaps on our stark diet there is a with her husband Leonard and six children: this morning what he wanted for already. I miss the creativity of heightened sense of spirituality? Naftali, Shoshana, Rivka, Rochel, Yosef, and Lea. breakfast, he didn’t even ask me for Rice Krispies (which he had been ask- ing for until today), and when I offered them to him he was happily surprised. For the next issue, “Pesach is over,” I explained. “School I miss the creativity of Pesach— today?” he asked. With a grin on my deadline for reserving face I said, “Yes, school today.” We seem to always be in a state of finding something tasty to eat made ad space is transition: new schools, new jobs, M onday, May 5 new seasons. Life seems to change out of matzah, potatoes, and eggs. somewhat with every new experience. at 5:00 P.M. Pesach is an interesting event, though. It is a vast change in our lives—it alters our diet completely and changes the atmosphere of the Pesach—finding something tasty to Somehow we feel closer to our All graphics for ads house totally. But as quickly as it eat made out of matzah, potatoes, brethren who left Egypt so many comes, it swiftly ends. The week ends and eggs. My husband requested years ago—as we read in the must be in by and we return to the status quo. What something “chametzy” for dinner this Haggadah, G-d directs us to feel as if a difficult adjustment that is for any- evening—maybe a side of spaghetti to we ourselves left Egypt! We were Tuesday, May 6 one, let alone a child! go along with the leftover chicken? blessed this year with beautiful at 5:00 P.M. We explain that we can’t eat bread Sure, that’s doable. But I think there weather. I actually took my kids to or anything that is not specifically is something cleansing about Pesach the beach on chol ha’moed. What bet- kosher for Pesach every day for a full besides the obvious. We rid ourselves ter way to visualize the miracles of week—and then just as swiftly we of the chametz in our lives. For one the splitting of the Red Sea than Call 516-984-0079 suddenly can! I wonder what goes full week, we focus on our families when I looked out at the vast ocean! through my son’s head. Does he and making sure the requirements of How lucky we all are to be able to live

40 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

NUTRITION COUNTS! after the cooking process is complete. Reexamine your favorite recipes. task that requires commitment. Often Continued from Page 39 This will significantly reduce how Can they be “made over” to be health- spearheaded by one member of the much of the sauce you will use. ier? Can you substitute whole-wheat family, it can be an uphill battle of (greater than 3 grams) and preferably Most importantly, upon stocking flour for some of that white flour? Can willpower as well as wills. Remember some protein (a great example is your kitchen with chametz, think you cut the margarine in the recipe that small changes do add up. Take the Mighty Bites by Kashi). Carefully before you purchase. Ask yourself if and substitute apple sauce? Can you opportunity of the empty kitchen to examine the Nutrition Facts label; do you really need to buy certain items, choose a margarine that is transfat- make both small and large changes not be deceived by smaller serving such as processed foods like Wacky free? Do you really need non-dairy that will put you and your family on sizes that manipulate the numbers Mac, or can you get along with a creamer in kugel, or can you replace it the right path of healthier eating. O and make the product appear better healthier alternative, such as whole- with soy milk? Can wheat germ be than it truly is. Reject cereals that grain pasta with real part skim moz- substituted for bread crumbs in your Miriam Horowitz is a registered dietitian have food dyes and artificial ingredi- zarella? Do convenience foods really recipes? These are important ques- (American Dietetic Association) and a certified diabetes educator (National Certification Board ents—children have enough of those help us out, or do they create more tions to answer before you shop, so for Diabetes Educators) with a private practice additives in the candy they eat. problems in the long run? Conven- you will have the proper ingredients to for adults, adolescents, and children focusing on weight loss, health management, and • Try to reduce the amount of ience foods tend to be high in fat and allow for those improvements. preventative care. She can be reached at canned vegetables you use. sodium, while being low in fiber. Changing eating habits is a difficult [email protected] or 917-774-3253. Understandably, it is difficult to rely solely on fresh produce. Though they have the most nutrients, their shelf life is limited. Choose more frozen vegetables, especially for the favorites like corn niblets. The sodi- um content of the canned vegetables is too high to consume regularly. The frozen alternatives will allow for a more liberal intake. • Choose snacks carefully. The snack drawer in your kitchen does not have to be fully stocked in the next few days. Search out some new low-fat snacks, test them out, offer them to your family, and then decide if they are worth restocking. Try products such as baked potato chips, low-fat popcorn, whole-wheat pretzels, baked tortilla chips with salsa, baked apple chips, and flavored soy crisps. Set limits; avoid the sugary or high-fat snacks. It may take some time to acclimate, but it is worth the effort. Choose snacks that have less than 150 calories per serving and have less than 3 grams of fat per serving. Again, be mindful of serving sizes, as the packaging can often be deceiving. • Cross off soda and other sweet- ened beverages from your list. There is almost no benefit to these products. Flavored seltzer and water should take their place. This is a great habit to start, since most of us are rid of the high-fructose corn syrup in our homes. Although soda was available for Pesach, now is a great time to change this habit. Empty calories are easily consumed in the form of sweetened beverages. The bottles are constantly getting bigger, and some of the prod- ucts have more than two serving sizes per individual bottle. • Choose monounsaturated cooking oil—canola or olive oil are the best choices. Although they are the health- ier choice, keep in mind that they are still fat and should be used sparingly in cooking, baking, and salads. • Scrutinize marinades and sauces before restocking your pantry. Look at the serving size on the food label. Some of the sauces are the culprit when it comes to hidden calories, often in the form of sugar, honey, and corn syrup, and they often contain additives like MSG or preservatives. Choose the lower-calorie options, like honey mustard and lighter barbecue sauces. If you enjoy the spicier flavors, choose the sauces with some “heat,” which usually are lower in calories, since they contain less sugar and are used more sparingly. Remember to use the marinades and sauces sparingly; they can often be added to your favorite chicken, fish, or meat dish 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 41

more important this year than in any nificent partnership between the previous election. United States and Israel. Still, the question that needs to be Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, founder asked is that even if they are successful and president of Hineni, has been and manage to push their two candi- invited by President Bush to join his dates in, aren’t they still significantly delegation for the celebration. outnumbered on the board? The answer Rebbetzin Jungreis has been a pioneer Curious School-Board Race pour out and vote as they have over is that yes, they are still outnumbered. in the outreach movement and is Taking Shape the last few years, standing on line to However, the target of the plan is the credited for bringing multitudes of By Larry Gordon vote even as the time for the polls to defeat of the school budget. Sending the Jews from every continent back to On the surface, it would seem to close passes? The answer is that it budget into defeat would mean that the their heritage. many that those dedicated to slowing could be extremely difficult to mobi- district would have to operate once The municipality of Jerusalem has down the progress of Lawrence School lize and motivate people to vote under again under an austerity budget. The also invited the rebbetzin to speak on District 15 have either given in or these circumstances. first victim under these circumstances Yom HaZikaron, the solemn day desig- given up. It would seem that way, And that is what it seems those com- would be groups who use school facili- nated by the State of Israel to memori- because as the filing deadline expired, mitted to undermining the progress the ties, because when the district operates alize all of the soldiers and civilians no candidate had filed petitions to district has made these last few years under an austerity budget, a fee must be who have fallen in battle. The rebbet- oppose Board President Murray are hoping for. A casual perusal of the assessed for such usage. zin will be addressing the audience in Forman and returning candidate Dr. “Save SD 15” blog site will illustrate to As laid out for now, the upcoming Hebrew and, on the same night, she Asher Mansdorf. I guess one can easi- the reader frequent references and budget calls for an increase of a half will also be speaking in English to a ly get the feeling that either they have even instruction on how to go about of a percent, the lowest of any school worldwide Internet audience and a seen the wisdom of the new, responsi- writing in a candidate for a school- board on Long Island. The virtual large assemblage at Heichal Shlomo, ble, board’s leadership or they just feel board seat as permitted by law. A non-increase in education taxes for the seat of the Chief Rabbinate. O outmaneuvered or outnumbered. school-board insider (who requested district residents also comes with no But in reality, according to informed anonymity because they are not plan to cut or curtail any education- Acheinu’s Second Annual school-board sources, assuming any of authorized to speak about the plan) has al programming. The key to the International Kiruv Conference the above would be a terrible mistake. indicated that voters who have failed to upcoming election is to stay alert, By Chaim Gold The fact is that although sane and push through their candidates (such as beware of these evolving opposition It was 1:00 a.m., and Rabbi M, a responsible school-board leadership former school-board member Pam tactics, and plan to come out and member of the Dirshu North American has won the last few elections, those Greenbaum and candidate Andrew vote on May 20. O delegation, had arrived in Eretz Yisrael elections have been very close. Those Levey) may be resorting to a write-in that evening from America. He had who concern themselves with all the plan for these two or perhaps other Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis To Join barely slept on the plane and, after district’s children, both public- and prospective candidates. Presidential Delegation being awake for two days, was antici- private-school, which today is most of The objective of the plan is to lull By Fern Sidman pating a modicum of sleep. Instead, he the school board members, have won the private-school constituency into a As Israel celebrates its 60th year spent two hours learning non-stop the last few elections only because of lethargic view of the entire school- since the founding of the modern with tremendous cheshek in the nearly very well run, pinpointed, and thor- board and budget election scheduled state, President George W. Bush has empty beis midrash of the Mir Yeshiva ough election campaigns. for May 20. The hope is that enough announced that he will be visiting of Yerushalayim. Without opposition candidates, people will think that, since there is Israel on May 14 and 15 to mark this What propelled the feet of this how will Mr. Forman and Dr. no opposition, voting in the election is auspicious occasion and will be host- Mansdorf motivate the electorate to not important. But it may, in fact, be ing a celebration in tribute to the mag- Continued on Page 44

42 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 43 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS accountability to kiruv rechokim. Continued from Page 42 This level of accountability will ensure that all kiruv resources are exhausted man to the beis midrash being used to the utmost to guarantee rather than to sleep? He had seen, that every boy or girl who comes clos- heard, and been bitten by the highly er to Yiddishkeit to embark on the path contagious Acheinu “Torah bug.” to Hashem will be accompanied on Yes, the North American delega- that path by a mentor. It will guarantee tion’s first one-on-one contact with the that every such boy or girl will be contagious Acheinu atmosphere of assisted in the inherent challenges Torah took place in the evening not faced when undergoing such massive long after their arrival. They participat- lifestyle changes. And there should be ed in a mesibah that not only aroused an assurance that every such boy or them from their exhaustion but inject- girl who begins to learn Torah and lead ed them with a renewed ahavah and a Torah life will be lent support dedication to Torah. At the mesibah, throughout the process, enabling them bachurim from Acheinu’s yeshiva to experience the ultimate sipuk ha’ne- received awards for creating their first fesh of kirvas Elokim and overcome chiddushei Torah. Just several months some of the inevitable bumps along ago, these boys were languishing in the road to their destination. Israeli public schools, knowing noth- The kiruv conference: Bringing ing of Torah. The sparks in each of together the greatest kiruv resources their holy Jewish neshamos lay dor- under one roof. mant. Through Acheinu’s systematic The Acheinu Kiruv Conference approach to kiruv, relentless dedica- united some of the greatest names in tion, and follow-up, these bachurim Israeli kiruv and featured fascinating, ultimately progressed from Acheinu spirited panel discussions about battei chizuk to yeshivos. numerous challenges and difficulties Acheinu kiruv stems from ahavas facing mekarvei rechokim. Torah. In addition, the American delega- The Acheinu Second Annual Kiruv tion was treated to a highly inspira- conference, graced by HaRav tional and informative presentation by Matisyahu Salomon, shlita, mashgiach one of the most effective mekarvei of Lakewood, was a milestone in kiruv rechokim in America, Rav Benzion rechokim. Anyone observing the vast Twerski of Milwaukee. He spoke of the hall, with hundreds of kiruv workers in ability of every Jew to reach out to his attendance, could recognize how— lost brethren and that one need not be through the available resources, tech- a kiruv professional to show the beau- niques, and expertise of various kiruv ty of Yiddishkeit. organizations and kiruv experts—it is possible to bring a new level of Continued on Page 46

44 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 45 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Jewish generations. Continued from Page 44 “Yes, we have accomplished so much,” said Rav Dovid. “Who would The keynote session and dinner at have believed that so many people the Keter Harimon hall in Bnei Brak could be brought tachas kanfei offered deeply inspirational derashos haShechinah through the influences of from Rav Matisyahu Salomon, Rav the wonderful kiruv organizations Dovid Hofstedter, Rav Boruch throughout the land? Nevertheless, we Greineman, and Rav Chananya cannot rest on our laurels. Even when Chollak. Over 1,000 kiruv activists we become so exhausted from our gathered to derive and give chizuk in work on behalf of our brethren, even their avodas ha’kodesh. when we feel we have no strength We must emphatically say, “yesh left—‘ein koach’—we, like our fore- koach.” bears in Mitzrayim, must say, ‘yesh Rav Dovid Hofstedter reflected on koach, ’ we have strength!” the lessons that must be learned as At the conference, a fascinating Acheinu reaches the milestone of its video presentation was shown, with Second Annual Kiruv Conference. He footage of HaGaon HaRav Yosef explained the Gemara that asks why (L-R): Rav Dovid Hofstedter, patron of Acheinu; Rav Chananya Chollak, head of Ezer Mitzion; Sholom Elyashiv, shlita; HaGaon Avraham Avinu was punished, to the and Rav Matisyahu Salomon, shlita, at the conference. HaRav Aharon Leib Shteinman, shli- extent that his children were forced ta; and HaGaon HaRav Michel into enslavement by the Egyptians in Yehuda Lefkowitz, shlita, speaking Mitzrayim. He explained in the name about the importance of kiruv of the mefarshim that the enslavement rechokim in our time and how the in Egypt was retribution because only way to be truly successful in Avraham Avinu, despite bringing so kiruv is by exposing baalei teshuvah to many people under the wings of the the light of limud haTorah. Shechinah, could have brought even “V’yishmu rechokim v’yavo’u— more people to Hashem and his Torah. Those from far off will hear and they He, according to his exalted will come.” madreigah, was taken to task for tiring In Rav Matisyahu Salomon’s in his mission. address, he gave over daas Torah on the Rav Dovid went on to explain how, proper attitude and approach that in Mitzrayim, Klal Yisrael did teshuvah every ben Torah should have toward and was mesaken Avraham Avinu’s kiruv rechokim. The mashgiach began lapse by establishing new generations by saying that when he entered the against all odds in the midst of the hall at the beginning of the evening, he worst oppression. In Mitzrayim, thought that he had come to give despite their extreme fatigue and lack chizuk, but with the program under of energy and koach, the Bnei Yisrael way, he realized that it was he who was were moser nefesh to establish new Festive dancing by participants at the Second International Kiruv Conference. receiving chizuk!

46 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Rav Salomon raised a fascinating dation of what should be our approach question. On the surface, he said, it to kiruv rechokim. The purpose behind would seem that Dirshu, the Torah rechokim hearing about Hashem is, movement, and Acheinu, its kiruv arm, v’yavo’u—they should come to us.” are contradictory. After all, how is it The mashgiach then related a per- possible for a yungerman who is sonal story about HaGaon HaRav immersed in Torah to also be Eliezer Shach, zt’l, and Rav Shach’s immersed in kiruv rechokim? phenomenal mesirus nefesh to return “Tonight,” the mashgiach said, “I have a lost neshamah to Hashem and His seen that the two are not contradicto- Torah. ry at all. They complement each other. Kiruv: Extending the walls of the In fact, one without the other repre- beis midrash. sents a lack of sh’leimus, for if one is “Acheinu,” the Mashgiach conclud- involved in learning without feeling ed, “is in no way a contradiction to per- the pain and suffering of another, he is sonal Torah growth, because, as Rav lacking an integral component of Shach taught with regard to kiruv Yiddishkeit.” rechokim, true Torah kiruv does not The mashgiach then related a pro- pull the mekarev out of the beis found thought outlining the ben midrash—it causes him to expand and Torah’s approach to kiruv. “One of extend the walls of the beis midrash to the climaxes of the Yamim Nora’im include his fellow Jew who has not yet davening is the beautiful, powerful had the opportunity to enter the walls piyut that begins with the words, of the beis midrash!” ‘Veyesau kol l’avdecha.’ The piyut This is Acheinu’s mission—to describes the exalted time during the expand the beis midrash and encourage yemos haMashiach, when all of the the rechokim to come into our beis nations will come to serve Hashem midrash and bestow the keser and recognize His sovereignty over meluchah on Hashem Yisbarach. O the world. The piyut eloquently describes how the nations will aban- T ouro Students To Present don their idols and offer sacrifices to Findings At Microbiology Hashem. It culminates with the tri- Conference: umphant words, ‘Veyitnu lecha keser Fruit Juices Destroy Viruses meluchah—they will give You the Two students at Touro College’s crown of sovereignty.’ The final words Lander College of Arts and Sciences– immediately preceding veyitnu lecha Flatbush (LCAS–Flatbush) have dis- keser meluchah, are ‘V’yishmu covered that bacteria that cause cavi- rechokim v’yavo’u—Those from far ties in teeth and the viruses that off will hear and they will come.’ plague hospitals can be destroyed by “These words,” the mashgiach thun- dered emotionally, “contain the foun- Continued on Page 48

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 47 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS same bacteria-fighting properties in Continued from Page 47 pomegranate juice that prevented cav- ities were also found to destroy methi- properties in pomegranate juice and cillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), a other readily available beverages. bacteria that is responsible for deaths The students, Zev Zelman and Elliot in hospitals and is rampant in locker Lutz, have been invited to present their rooms and gyms. research at the 108th General Meeting “These two students were enthusi- of the American Society for Micro- astic and brilliant,” said Dr. biology (ASM), which is scheduled to Schiffenbauer. “It was a pleasure to be held at the Boston Convention and work with them. They took existing Exhibition Center on June 4. The ASM data and brought it to a new level of is the world’s oldest and largest single groundbreaking research. This is a life science membership organization, very prestigious conference and only with more than 43,000 members. very select papers are chosen for Both young men will graduate in presentations.” O June with honors from LCAS– Flatbush and plan to enter dental Chabad Of The Five Towns school. Working with Dr. Milton Friendship Circle: Honoring Teen Schiffenbauer, a professor of microbi- Volunteers, May 18 ology at Pace University who also What makes this dinner different Touro College students Zev Zelman (center) and Elliot Lutz (right) have been invited to present teaches at Touro, the students studied their scientific findings at the upcoming meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, the from all other dinners? the antibacterial and antiviral effects world’s oldest and largest life sciences membership organization. Pictured at left with students is This dinner celebrates and pays trib- of 34 natural beverages on fighting the Dean of Students, Robert Goldschmidt. ute to the teenage volunteers who self- harmful bacteria that cause cavities lessly dedicate time each week or and other health problems. After 10 month to perform miracles. In our months of research, they concluded dients, avoiding the side effects and on the knowledge that cavities are not community there are volunteers who that some beverages, most notably complications of antibiotics and other caused directly by the consumption of look forward to visiting a child with pomegranate juice, efficiently inacti- medications,” said Elliot Lutz. “We are sweets, but rather the bacteria that fer- special needs on a weekly basis. It will vate the bacteria that cause cavities very grateful for the guidance we ment the dietary carbohydrates to pro- be a very momentous and inspiring and bacteria that commonly occur in received from Dr. Schiffenbauer and duce lactic acid, which eats away at event. “Seeing all 80 volunteers who hospitals and locker rooms. These nat- our great teachers at Touro College.” tooth enamel. However, pomegranate have been changing the lives of chil- ural additives also inactivate a bacteri- “We are honored to be able to pres- juice, and to a lesser degree pomegran- dren with special needs in one room at al virus that affects E. coli B. The ent our findings at the ASM confer- ate tea, effectively deactivate the bac- one time will be so beautiful, I can’t research suggests other pathogenic ence, especially because most of the teria within 10 minutes of contact. even imagine!” said Mrs. Batsheva viruses may be equally affected. presenters are microbiologists, not stu- Other beverages tested that were Borenstein, program director of the “All our research was done in test dents,” said Zev Zelman. “The implica- effective included grape juice, cran- Jean Fischman Chabad Center’s tubes, and there is still a lot of work to tions for strides in eliminating cavities berry juice, and some wines. The other Friendship Circle. be done, but we are excited by the is especially important to us, because beverages tested in the research had The special event is scheduled to prospect that common health prob- we both plan to become dentists.” slight or no effect on the bacteria. take place on Sunday, May 18 at the lems may be solved with natural ingre- The students based their research The students also learned that the Chabad Center (74 Maple Avenue in

48 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Cedarhurst) at 7:30 p.m. The Friendship Circle is proud to rec- The Friendship Circle offers chil- ognize these outstanding individuals: dren with special needs regular oppor- • Yehudit Aidelson, Randi Alenick, tunities to play and socialize through Ahuvah Blau, Muskie Bronchtain, Jewish and recreational activities. Orah Talia Chatzinoff, Meira Cohen, Every week, pairs of teenage volun- Channah Daphna, Shaina Daskel, teers visit participating families in Rachel Dufler, Esther Eishcowitz, their homes, offering friendship, love, Chaya Ezagui, Stephanie Friedman, and opportunities for a range of enjoy- Aliza Friedman, Simi Friedman, able activities. Bracha Gefen, Danielle Goldberg, The Sunday Circle and holiday pro- Aliza Goldsmith, Jennifer Goldstein, grams are geared exclusively to the Shaindel Greenberg, Alyssa Greenberg, special-needs children and their fami- Sara Grosser, Yehudis Jacobson, Bat- lies, allowing siblings to participate, as sheva Jaeger, Aliza Kessler, Temima well, and spend time together in a Kessler, Liz Kirshenbaum, Aviva Klam- comfortable setting. mer, Dina Korn, Batya Kupferstein, As the Friendship Circle provides Michal Kurman, Yael Leiderman, assistance to families who have chil- Daniela Lerner, Atara Levine, Jacklyn dren with disabilities, the program Lokshin, Shana Lyampee, Yonina simultaneously “helps the helper,” Martin, Tzippy Montane, Nicole empowering the teenage volunteers to build their own moral character. Continued on Page 50

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 49 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Continued from Page 49

Obshatcko, Devorah Paley, Heather Plaut, Samantha Plaut, Talia Reich, Monica Rosenthal, Chava Ross, Atara Schultz, Menucha Schwartz, Aliza Schwartzblatt, Chanie Schwerd, Daniella Shatzman, Eliana Shulman, Chanie Spirn, Talia Stein, Pessy Stein- hertz, Rochi Stern, Deena Sturm, Goldie Taub, Esther Weissman, Miriam Werzberger, and Zahavah Zimmerman. • Shmuly Allman, Natan Amos, Shlomi Begun, Shalom Beinstock, Priel Boaron, Avraham Daphna, Moshe Daphna, Yechiel Friedman, Jordan Goldschmidt, Benjamin Green, Barak Klammer, Ben Langstein, Rafi Margules, Aryeh Metzger, Avi Miodowitz, Effie Pill, Jeremy Rosenberg, Lior Shai, Haysha Shatzman, and Mathew Stupak. For reservations or more information about joining the Friendship Circle as a participant, volunteer, or supporter, please contact Mrs. Batsheva Boren- stein at 516-295-2478 ext. 13 or [email protected]. O

Upcoming OU Events Bikur Cholim Symposium—May 3, 9:30 p.m. Congregation B’nai Yeshurun, 641 W. Englewood Avenue, Teaneck, N.J. Free admission. Latest Developments in Prevention and Treatment of Cancer—May 4, 9:30 a.m. Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, 150-05 70th Road, Flushing, N.Y. Free admission. Orthodox Union Weekend Retreat Yarchei Kallah—May 16–18, Hudson Valley Resort and Spa, 400 Granite Road, Kerhonkson, N.Y. $600 per cou- ple; call 212-613-8188 to reserve. What Every Parent Must Know about Internet Safety—May 29, 8:00 p.m. Westchester Day School, 856 Orienta Avenue, Mamaroneck, N.Y. Free admission. Latest Developments in Prevention and Treatment of Cancer—May 18, 9:30 a.m. Congregation Shaaray Tefila, 25 Central Avenue, Lawrence. Free admission. When Serious Illness Strikes—May 18 , 8:00 p.m. Ohr Torah Cong- regation, 48 Edgemont Road, Edison, N.J. Free admission; call 732-777- 6840 to reserve. Singles Weekend Retreat—May 30–June 1. Sponsored in conjunction with Sasson V’Simcha and National Council of Young Israel, to take place at Holiday Inn Grand Island, 100 Whitehaven Road, Grand Island, N.Y. $299 per person (double occupancy); call 416-256-4497 to reserve. Marriage Enrichment Retreat—July 11–13. Hudson Valley Resort and Spa, 400 Granite Road, Kerhonkson, N.Y. $350 per person (double occupancy); call 212-613-8188 to reserve. O

Young Israel of Oceanside: Singles Shabbaton, May 16–17 The Young Israel of Oceanside is planning a special shabbaton for single Orthodox professionals ages 35 to 49 for May 16–17, Shabbos Parashas Behar, with a gala barbecue on Saturday night. Guests may attend for Shabbos ($135/person) or for the bar- 50 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

becue only ($30/person). To register, please call (evenings, 7–10 p.m.) Mrs. Barbara Glaser at 516-594-7858 or Mrs. Suri Greenbaum at 516-763- 1729, or e-mail [email protected]. For more information about the Young Israel of Oceanside, please visit w ww.yioceanside.org . The Young Israel is located at 150 Waukena Avenue in Oceanside, telephone 516-764-1099. O

Israeli Film Festival In The Five Towns Six Gesher films are scheduled to be shown next week at the Israeli Film Festival as part of the “Israel 60” cele- bration co-sponsored by the Five Towns Jewish Council and the JCC. Admission is free of charge and will be shown at the Hewlett/ Woodmere Public Library. The sched- ule is as follows: Monday, May 5, 2:00 p.m.: Wasserman. Monday, May 5, 7:30 p.m.: Like a Fish out of Water. Tuesday, May 6, 2:00 p.m.: Green Chariot . Tuesday, May 6, 7:30 p.m.: Did Herzl Really Say That? Thursday, May 8, 2:00 p.m.: And Behold There Came a Great Wind. Thursday, May 8, 7:30 p.m.: Sisai Short clips of some of the films can be viewed at www.youtube.com/user/ Gesherusa. Gesher’s Multicultural Film Fund encourages the production of television and movies that reflect the diversity of Israeli culture and help correct the stereotypical images of minority seg- ments of society. O

Continued on Page 54

For the next issue, deadline for reserving ad space is Monday, May 5 a t 5:00 P.M.

All graphics for ads must be in by Tuesday, May 6 at 5:00 P.M.

Call 516-984-0079

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 51 How Kosher Can You Really Get? Photo By Ira Thomas Creations

A sign in the window of Max’s Appetizing on Broadway in Woodmere reads “We Now Carry An Assortment of Baked Farmer Cheese — Glatt Kosher.” The sign caught the eye of a roving photographer who wanted to share the seemingly contradictory proclamation of the availablity of “glatt kosher” cheese. The store’s website says that it is under the supervision of an “Orthodox rabbi.” An additional certificate in the window of the store identifies the rabbi as Rabbi Israel Steinberg.

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52 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 53 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS in the hospital continued over yom tov. Continued from Page 51 People from all walks of life, with vary- ing dietary traditions—single people, Pesach With Bikur Cholim Of mothers with children, the elderly vis- Boro Park And Masbia iting their spouses, or others visiting In the days leading up to Pesach, family in the hospital—were all able to the team at Bikur Cholim of Boro Park get warm Pesach meals at the recently was extremely busy in preparing for opened Bikur Cholim annex. The the yom tov. The goal was to ensure annex was open twice a day for hot that anyone in need of a hot meal, a meals prepared by Wise catering, place to stay, some quiet respite, and a known for their gourmet food. Yom tov little simchas yom tov would not be meals included chicken, kugels, denied these needs. matzah, eggs, fish, soup, and top-qual- Patients and relatives who had the ity fruits and vegetables. Other delica- misfortune of having to shuttle in and cies included nuts, cookies, bottled out of hospitals over Pesach this year water, seltzer, grape juice, Seder plat- were assured that their needs were ters, and more. taken care of with the utmost care and “Having the annex gave the people attention. in need greater peace of mind, both in Leading the efforts was Rabbi terms of strict adherence to kashrus Naftali Teitelbaum, who recently took Delivering food before Pesach to the Bikur Cholim annex. and by providing a degree of comfort in over the Bikur Cholim operations at time of need,” said Chaim Methodist, who was in charge of the Schoenblum, executive officer of logistics. He was busy overseeing the Bikur Cholim of Boro Park. “In the koshering of the hospital facilities. He annex, you felt like you are in your own shuttled back and forth throughout dining room at home.” chol ha’moed to ensure a constant food In addition, the Bikur Cholim room supply. Matzah, grape juice, bottled at Maimonides was fully stocked and water, and the like were made available operational 24/7 for anyone who throughout the week. found themselves visiting relatives at While Pesach preparations are noth- the hospital. At Methodist Hospital, ing new for Bikur Cholim—they hap- where the Bikur Cholim facilities are pen annually—the recent addition of bigger, the hot meals were served in an annex down the block from the hospital itself. Maimonides Medical Center, at 5017 But the service didn’t stop there. In 10th Avenue, meant that this year’s addition to the daily meals and food Pesach was made all the more com- supply, Bikur Cholim conducted a fortable and convenient for people beautiful Seder at Maimonides. with relatives in the hospital. Roughly 30 attended the first night, The daily hot meals that many have and about 20 the second. All logistics come to rely on when visiting relatives Rabbi Shmule Steinharter supervises as the large freezer is delivered to the Bikur Cholim annex. were taken care of so that patients who

54 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Cleaning for Pesach: the Bikur Cholim room at New York Methodist Hospital. wished to attend were transported to postcards to 150 single women in Boro the Seder . Mr. Herschel Reiss led the Park letting them know they would Seder with his whole family at accommodate anyone in need of Maimonides hospital, and Chezki Klein meals. Thirty women called to inquire. oversaw the logistics. Seventy personal For the past three years, Masbia Seder plates were made available to was closed over Pesach, but the patients who couldn’t make it to the expansion of Bikur Cholim enabled cafeteria where the Seder took place. Masbia to expand and to help needy This year marked another mile- men, women, and children, who were stone, a Pesach merger between the able to have a Pesach meal at the new Masbia soup kitchen and Bikur Bikur Cholim annex. “This ‘merger’ Cholim. Mr. Alexander Rapaport, co- was a great example how chesed founder of the Masbia soup kitchen, organizations can effectively pool brought the two organizations together their resources to help the k’lal,” said to ensure that the neediest wouldn’t be Yisroel Hershkowitz, executive officer forgotten over Passover. Masbia sent at Bikur Cholim. O

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 55 Gas In Israel At $7.19/Gallon

BY EZRA HALEVI

Fuel prices in Israel were set to rise to an all-time high of $7.19 a gallon at midnight Wednesday, an increase of 4.6 percent. Self-service 95 octane gas will be priced at 6.58 shekels per liter, with 96 octane at 6.60 per liter, an increase of 29 agorot per liter for both types. Gas prices have risen for three months straight, increasing 5.6 per- cent since the beginning of the year. The rising prices are due to a general rise in oil prices worldwide, with the cost of a barrel nearing the $120 mark.

W here Does Israel Get Its Oil? Israel’s gas prices have always been relatively high, as it must buy its fuel from middlemen and smaller oil-pro- ducing nations across the globe. Israel has purchased oil from Mexico, the

Swiss newspapers alleged that Israel continues to purchase oil from the Islamic Republic through a European intermediary.

UK, and Norway, and, more recently, from Russia and Kazakhstan. A steadi- ly increasing amount of natural gas is bought from Egypt, and Israel also imports coal for some of its power plants from Australia, Angola, South Africa, and Colombia. For the decade following the 1967 Six Day War, Israel benefited from direct, reasonably priced fuel piped in from Iran, when it was ruled by the Shah. In 1979, when Iran underwent an Islamic revolution, the pipeline was closed. Israel also lost a major source of oil when it relinquished the oil fields of the Sinai Peninsula in exchange for a treaty with Egypt in 1982. In 2004, Minister of Infrastructures Yosef Paritzky (Shinui) revealed that most of Israel’s oil imports originate in countries with which the Jewish state does not maintain diplomatic rela- tions. He did not elaborate. In response to Israel’s recent con- demnation of a Swiss oil deal with Iran, Swiss newspapers alleged that Israel continues to purchase a large amount of high-quality oil from the Islamic Republic through a European intermediary. About 3 percent of Israel’s energy consumption is supplied by solar power, mostly in the form of rooftop solar panels to heat water for residen- tial buildings. Several projects to expand solar power through large facil- ities in the Negev are currently under way. (Arutz Sheva) O 56 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Yom HaShoah: A Lesson In Free Will BY STEVEN GENACK but was unaware of how Von Braun accomplished his feat, namely, I recently watched a film called The through the deaths of thousands of Good German. The title itself seemed innocent Jews. The bookkeeper, to be an anomaly. After viewing the according to Blanchett, was the film many times, I couldn’t identify Good German. one actor that fit the title’s description. Yom HaShoah remembers the deci- Finally, after pressing many people mation of the Jewish population at the about this puzzle, I realized the hands of a dictator who chose to answer. During the film, Lena Brandt engage in evil acts that far exceeded (Cate Blanchett) says to Jake Geismer the norm. Hitler executed a plan that (George Clooney) that she was guilty was specifically geared toward tortur- along with the rest of the Nazis ing the Jewish people through barbaric because she merely “survived” the means. The question is whether Hitler Holocaust. She survived because she exercised his own free will, or G-d’s was married to an SS officer who was will, which would make Hitler a mere the bookkeeper for Werner von Braun, messenger of G-d, fulfilling a predeter- the designer of the V-2 rocket. mined mission. The V-2 rocket (German: Certainly one of the most enduring Vergeltungswaffe 2) was the first bal- paradoxes of scriptural narratives is listic missile and first man-made the seemingly irreconcilable conflict object to achieve suborbital space between the free will of humanity and flight—the progenitor of all modern the sanctity of Divine will. If, in fact, rockets, including the Saturn V free will can be alleviated by the moon rocket. More than 3,000 V-2’s Divine, can free will even exist at all? If were launched as military rockets by G-d can relieve man of his free will, the German Wehrmacht against what are the conditions of such degra- Allied targets in World War II. As dation? That is to say, what willful acts many as 25,000 slave laborers died incur the loss of free will as Divine constructing V-2’s, compared to the punishment? It is a question that 7,000 military personnel and civil- engenders questions of sin and ians that were killed from the V-2’s redemption. use in combat. Ramban introduces the idea of pre- Lena identified her husband as the determinism in relation to the avos. He “Good German” because he merely took meticulous notes for Von Braun, Continued on Page 58

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 57 Yom HaShoah future. When an event occurs enslavement, and he con- we see G-d hardening will from Pharaoh, then He Continued from Page 57 to one of the prophets who cludes: “Avraham van- Pharaoh’s heart over and over takes from him the capacity are our forefathers, he will quished four kings and like- again, such that he will not for repentance—or, for that explains the idea of “maaseh know that it will be decreed to wise Israel will strike fear permit the Israelites to leave matter, sin—and, therefore, avos siman l’banim,” (every- his descendents in some into other kings and their Egypt (at least not on their undermines the covenantal thing that happened to the form…and the event will take kingdoms… Just as G-d went own terms). As a result, G-d relationship. fathers is a sign for the chil- place no matter what.” out and fought Avraham’s unleashes upon Egypt a series Maimonides sets down a dren) in a literal sense. For He continues by drawing enemies, so He will act simi- of terrible plagues. general principle that example, the Torah tells sto- parallels between G-d’s love larly with his children.” What is the purpose of attempts to explain the para- ries at length about well-dig- for Avraham and his love for There is nowhere in the G-d hardening Pharaoh’s dox. He is of the opinion that ging and the like. The Am Yisrael; between scriptures that characterizes heart and the subsequent free will can be taken from Ramban writes, “You might Avraham’s descent to Egypt these questions more than plagues? Is it retribution for those who engage in behavior think that these are meaning- and the troubles he found the story of the Israelites’ the persecution of G-d’s that surpasses the evil neces- less details, but in reality they there and the later exile in Exodus from Egypt. For chosen people? If not, what sary to carry out the mission. all tell us something about the Egypt and the subsequent example, in the Exodus story then? If G-d removes free Though it might have been predetermined that the Jews would be enslaved under Pharaoh, he didn’t need to bathe in the blood of Jewish children, decree that all young males be thrown in the river, and force the Jews to build pyramids that would never stand. These dehuman- izing acts stripped Am Yisrael of their dignity and self- worth. He exceeded his role in history, though it was already predetermined. As Maimonides writes in his Laws of Teshuvah, it is possible that a person may commit a grave transgres- sion, such that teshuvah will be withheld from him. Maimonides’ position is fairly straightforward: our free will is ordained by our covenantal relationship with G-d, and, if our sins are grave enough, free will can be stripped from

58 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES us. The Exodus narrative does seem came out of Egypt in the Wilderness to lead the reader to the conclusion was realized on that day. that, though G-d may generally Later in history, on this exact date, respect human freedom, in critical the Jewish people suffered at the situations He does not hesitate to hands of the Crusaders, and they were withdraw this privilege in order to expelled from England in 1290, achieve His objectives. France in 1306, and Spain in 1492. In 70 CE, the Roman army burned Also, on this day in 1882, the pogroms down Herod’s Temple in Jerusalem. It against the Russian Jews began, and happened on the 9th of Av. On the WW I was declared. same exact date, 657 years earlier, On the 7th of Av in 1941, SS the Babylonians burned down Reinhard Heydrich was appointed by Solomon’s temple. The destruction of Göring to carry out something called Herod’s temple in Jerusalem in 70 the “Final Solution”—the murder of CE by Titus and Vespasian and the all the Jews of Europe. Two days later, destruction of Solomon’s temple by on the 9th of Av 1941, SS Chief the Babylonians were foretold in Heinrich Himmler formally presented astonishing detail by passages in the his plan to the Nazi party on this “final Book of Ezekiel. The correlating solution” to the Jewish problem. And, dates for both events, coupled with one year later to the day, that plan was Ezekiel’s almost verbatim account, formally implemented, with the first ties both destructions to the same Jews being killed at Treblinka. prophecy. It seems clear that the date All these preordained events did not for the outset of the meraglim was absolve the perpetrators who, based on calculated retroactively, out of a their free will, engaged in extreme acts desire to connect the day the spies of barbarism. As we come to observe were sent and Tishah B’Av. Yom HaShoah, we must emphasize The Mishnah lists five disasters that Hitler had free will in deciding to that happened on Tishah B’Av, some gas the Jews and encourage Joseph from the Bible and some from later Mengele to engage in human experi- periods: “Five things befell our ances- mentation, including the dissection of tors… On the ninth of Av it was live infants. decreed against our ancestors that G-d strips away free will from such they would not enter the Land [on barbarians. Hitler might have had the day that the spies returned from the chance to repent if he chose to their mission]. Both Temples were recognize G-d before carrying out the destroyed on that day. On the ninth Final Solution. However, once he of Av, Beitar was captured, and the decided to implement the plan, G-d city was ploughed” (Ta’anis 4:6). stripped him of his free will and Lastly, the decree of 40 years of wan- dering and the death of all those who Continued on Page 60

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 59 Yom HaShoah Continued from Page 59

allowed Hitler to carry out his excessive carnage. There is a famous phrase put forth by the Sages, “Whoever adds detracts,” which was originally coined to explain the sin whereby Adam and Eve “added” their own calculations regarding G-d’s commandment not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. However, Adam and Eve’s choice differed from the free will that was exercised by the depraved leaders who over- reached their powers. Adam and Eve were given the choice as to whether to engage in acts of life or death, and right or wrong—not decisions of whether to engage in excess cruelty. Though Von Braun’s book- keeper might put forth a (los- ing) argument that he was a “Good German” since he was unaware of the atrocities and didn’t actively engage in depraved acts, Hitler would not survive such an argu- ment. He, like Pharaoh, lost his free will to repent when he exploited his position of power. This exploitation of power granted G-d a free pass, so to speak, to strip him of his free will and punish him for his acts of cruelty. O

60 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Rice’s Prices Crisis BY DANNY HERSHTAL Asia, the food price hikes have already sparked political upheaval and drastic This, at least, is not Olmert’s fault. government measures. What should Rice is the issue. we do in Israel to avoid a crisis which For a change, the issue isn’t could potentially cause mass hunger America’s Secretary of State or her and death? demands for further Israeli security Before tackling the issue, it is concessions. This time, the problem is important to examine the background with the eponymous long grain, a sta- of the problem. Here, it is important to ple for almost two and a half billion of state that these price hikes on basic the world’s residents. foods are in no way the fault of the Consumers all across the globe, Israeli government. Israel, a net food including Israel, will see a steep exporter, is a tiny country which can- increase in the price of rice in the not have a major effect, for the positive coming week, to complement the or the negative, on the world food sup- recent rising prices of many other food ply. While I am no fan of the current products. In Latin America, Africa, and East Continued on Page 62

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 61 Rice’s Prices Crisis Continued from Page 61

government or its policies, this partic- ular problem is not their fault. So, too, any action Israel undertakes cannot reverse the worldwide problem, but can only help its own citizens cope as best as possible. Many experts who have examined the food crisis pinpoint several factors contributing to the shortage of supply, which has led to the increased prices. These include increased consumption in developing countries such as China and India, biofuel subsidies, and urbanization. The huge countries, China and India, have a burgeoning middle class who can now afford to consume more local goods, leaving less for export. Biofuel subsidies

If bread bakers can make a fair market profit—who knows? They just might bake more bread.

granted by Western governments have made it more worthwhile for American, Canadian, and French farmers to grow fuel crops and aban- don food crops. Also, the wealth in these Western countries has led to greater demand for meat, so South American countries like Argentina and Brazil have left their grain fields to the cows, instead of harvesting them for people. In the majority of countries on the planet, young people have aban- doned their family farms for more lucrative and social city life, leaving large tracts of agriculture in the hands of an aging population, without suffi- cient capital to modernize and increase yields. The causes of mass urbanization present an interesting topic in itself, which lies beyond the scope of this article. The main focus here must be the initial question: What should the Israeli government due in light of the increase in food prices? And the answer: nothing. The Israeli government must avoid any excessive intervention, which could only cause the problem to worsen, or create strange, unpredictable side effects, such as bureaucratic corruption and the advent of a black market.

Continued on Page 64

62 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 63 Rice’s Prices Crisis Continued from Page 62

On the other hand, by doing noth- ing, the market cycle will self-adjust, as it always has. Higher prices for food products will make growing them more worthwhile. City congestion may con- vince new families to move to the farms where higher prices for their products will grant them a decent standard of living. Alternatively (and more likely), huge conglomerates will buy and modernize farms to maximize their yields. As always, high-priced goods attract attention. All of this increased attention will create increased market competition, which will eventually lower prices (in real terms—don’t expect the number on the price tag to become smaller). If the Israeli government just can’t help itself, and needs to take some action because of political pressure, or because parties like Labor, Shas, and Gil are interventionists by ideology, I do have some suggestions: Remove all price controls. If bread bakers can make a fair market profit— who knows? They just might bake more bread. Remove tariffs. Mutual tariff-reduc- tion agreements will make Israeli food exports more attractive, and greater revenues will bring more people into the food-growing business. Reduced import tariffs will subject Israeli farm- ers to greater competition, which will increase the quality or reduce the price of goods in Israeli stores. Grant more foreign work permits. No matter how much money a farmer can get for a tomato, few computer pro- grammers will leave their air condi- tioned office to pick hothouse vegeta- bles. A greater willingness to grant work permits will reduce the amount of illegal immigrants in legal indus- tries, as well as the problems that ille- gal immigration causes. Other than the above suggestions, let the market tide ebb on its own. It will only be a few months before a new, lucrative crop can be planted. The market reacts quickly, more quickly than most government programs can be put into place. Also, when the crisis does ebb—and it will, at least in a modern country like Israel—the mar- ket can shift again in much less time than a government decision can be repealed or a bureaucracy disbanded. The main beneficiaries of non-inter- vention will be the kibbutzim and col- lectives, poised for a revival after years of decline, and periphery towns, which are local centers for farming communi- ties. The growth of kibbutzim may cause a growth in the natural electoral base of parties such as Labor or Meretz, and the wealth of farmers spent in development towns will enrich the electoral base of Shas—the best incentive for these parties to adopt my ideas. So, why should I encourage this if I am a member of Yisrael Beitenu, a nationalist party that represents a pre- dominately urban immigrant popula- tion? For the simple reason that when I come home tonight, I’d like to eat din- ner. (Arutz Sheva) O

Danny Hershtal is a member of Yisrael Beiteinu and headed the party’s English-language campaign in the 2006 elections. 64 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 65 Newsweek Publishes Annual “50 Most Influential U.S. Rabbis” List

BY ANSHEL PFEFFER the selectors. Setting aside tive public-relations opera- this year, while keeping the largest and richest commu- petty rivalries and the squab- tion and high-visibility media main list more or less the nities in Jewish history, none Newsweek has published bling about why so-and-so presence. same (with changes in the of them have any significant its second annual list of the made it into the top 10, why The three who compiled rankings, of course) added a influence in that other major “50 most influential rabbis in he (or she) is absent, and the list are all major players second list of the “Top 25 Jewish community, Israel. the U.S.” As was the case last how they could have him on a in the American media mar- Pulpit Rabbis in America,” Almost none of them are year, the first time the list list of rabbis to begin with, ket, and besides being quite those with the ability to even known in Israel, out- came out, the top 50 is des- the most pertinent observa- obviously warm Jews who inspire and lead communi- side a very small group of tined once again to become tion that has been made enjoy calling themselves ties and individuals. people concerned with the subject of intense debate about last year’s rankings, machers, it is difficult to say Israel-Diaspora relations. surrounding the names on and again now, is that the what other expertise they Marvin Hier, founder of the the list, the criteria for select- obvious prerequisite for mak- have that enables them to Simon Wiesenthal Center in ing them, and the identity of ing it onto the list is an effec- assess a rabbi’s influence. In other words, Los Angeles, appears at the And the criteria they put top of the list for the second together for grading the rab- 60 percent of time. He might be one of the bis says as much. best-connected Jews in A total of 30 points is their ranking is Hollywood, but I’m willing awarded depending on how to bet that 99 percent of well they are known nation- based on factors Israeli Jews have never even ally and internationally and heard of him or the whether they have a media not usually Wiesenthal Center, or else presence. Another 30 points they think that it deals with are available for political and connected Nazi-hunting. social influence and having a with a rabbi’s Number two on the list greater impact beyond the (up from 12 last year), Eric Jewish community. In other traditional role. Yoffie, president of the words, 60 percent of their Union for Reform Judaism, ranking is based on factors might have been interviewed not usually connected with a twice over the last few rabbi’s traditional role. Their However, this column is months in Haaretz, but his Jewish leadership, their not going to be about what influence on anything that influence on Judaism, their makes a rabbi influential in happens in Israel is less than work with their own commu- America; you can read about negligible. Even within the nities, and the size of those that in dozens of blogs. small Israeli Reform com- communities counts for What really interested me munity, his power is limited another 40 points. is that when looking at this due to the independent posi- The compilers took this combined list of 75 influen- observation to heart, and tial rabbis of one of the Continued on Page 68

66 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Teaching even young children about cient way to transfer your assets. By children the difference between wants Leaving A money—saving, earning, budgeting, leaving money to your children, other and needs. This can help promote wise investing, and charity—is one of the family members, and charitable organ- spending habits as they become young most important responsibilities you izations, you can help perpetuate your adults. By encouraging thoughtful Legacy: have as a parent. After all, these les- family’s values and culture. Discuss spending, you can teach children the sons may not be taught in school, and your legacy, family history, and impor- value of budgeting—to avoid spending are often critical to communicating tant family stories. What have been everything they may have today, so More Than Wealth your family’s values to your children. the most important values in your fam- they can accumulate funds for more No one can shape, influence, and ily? What is the most important value meaningful things they may want in strengthen the financial and philan- you can pass on to your children? the future. BY JAMES C. SCHNEIDER thropic habits young people develop Reach consensus on those values that The ability to set and fulfill person- better than their parents. al goals is central to appreciating the When it comes to deciding how, Often, children who inherit wealth benefits that come with wealth. when, and with whom to share your grow up with a sense of entitlement. Teaching your children to identify and wealth, careful planning is essential Therefore, it is crucial to establish an Discuss how there pursue their own goals—both finan- for a smooth and successful transfer of ongoing dialogue with your children cial and social—will help motivate assets. Today, the technical process of on the issue of financial responsibility. are limits to and give them a sense of responsibili- passing on assets can be accomplished Smith Barney proprietary research also ty for their future. Avoiding this topic with relative ease. Passing on your per- showed that many parents of teens and may lead your children to assume sonal values, however, is a more tweens find it just as difficult to talk spending, no matter they never need to worry about money nuanced exercise that requires a deep about money as to talk about the dan- and may leave them unprepared to understanding of what drives your gers of drugs or sex. The reality, how- what you, as a make important financial decisions. family. Proactive planning and discus- ever, is that most children are curious Educating your children will help sion among family members will help about the concept of money and what family, may have. empower them. prepare you and your loved ones for a it entails, and they will accept educa- Smith Barney proprietary research smooth intergenerational transfer of tion and guidance from their parents. also indicated that many parents are wealth and values. As teenagers, kids often begin to per- concerned that a significant inheri- Talking to your children about ceive personal financial responsibility can help guide your children’s finan- tance could undermine their chil- money: An essential first step. as a symbol of adulthood and inde- cial behavior. The culture of shared dren’s work ethic. Reinforcing a Raising children who are born into pendence. family history and identity can create a strong work ethic can help ensure wealth has obvious benefits, as well as Make it a priority to have regular sense of responsibility, productivity, that family wealth does not under- challenges. The Smith Barney Target open forums with your family. While at and appreciation of the opportunities mine your children’s capacity to be Marketing & Wealth Planning the dinner table or on a vacation, focus that come with wealth. productive and maintain a strong HNW/UHNW Research Survey, Fall your family conversations on the Instilling your values begins with sense of self-worth. 2004, indicated that many affluent importance of hard work and philan- establishing continuous communica- Passing on your legacy: parents are concerned about whether thropic affairs. The returns on the tion with your children. At an early Philanthropy and your children. their children will be able to handle time and energy invested can be age, why not begin by explaining to Charitable giving is a powerful force their inherited assets responsibly and invaluable to your child and you. your child what it means to live within within the United States. On average, gracefully. Thus, it is important to ini- Instilling your values in the next one’s means? Discuss how there are Americans give close to $249 billion to tiate discussions about wealth with generation. Intergenerational transfer limits to spending, no matter what you, your children at an early age. of wealth is more than just a tax-effi- as a family, may have. Explain to your Continued on Page 68

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 67 Leaving A Legacy world. In fact, bring your children along “Most Influential Rabbis” chassidim (well, at least some of Continued from Page 67 when you do charitable work. It could Continued from Page 66 them) has a middle-sized community be a life-changing experience for them. also in Israel, but their radical anti- charities annually, according to • Third, allocate some family funds tions taken by the Israeli Reform Zionist ideology renders them entire- “Giving USA 2005,” the annual report to teach your children the decision movement and the uneasy relation- ly irrelevant outside the charedi from the American Association of process behind charitable donations. ship it has with its American “parent world. The rest of the list are total Fundraising Counsel. Of the $41 tril- Use their allowance to teach financial organization.” nonentities in Israel, and indeed lion in wealth expected to be trans- responsibility and giving. An allowance Last year’s number two, down to almost anywhere else in the Jewish ferred over the next 50 years, $6 tril- can teach every child—even the very four on the current list, Yehuda world outside the U.S. lion, or 15 percent, will go to charities, young—the concepts of charity, sav- Krinsky of Lubavitch, and arguably A list of the most influential rabbis according to Millionaires and the ing, planning, and responsibility. the most powerful figure in the in Israel would read like this: Yosef Millennium: New Estimates of the Consider creating three separate Chabad establishment in the U.S. fol- Elyashiv, Ovadia Yosef, the Gerrer Forthcoming Wealth Transfer and the “accounts” with each allowance pay- lowing the Rebbe’s death, while not Rebbe, Mordechai Eliyahu, and so Prospects for a Golden Age of ment—one third for daily spending being a household name, is probably on—elderly ultra-Orthodox leaders of Philanthropy by John J. Havens and needs, one third for long-term needs the only rabbi on the list with some chassidic sects, Litvak yeshivas, or Paul G. Schervish, October 19, 1999, (including a car, college expenses, a kind of influence outside America, their Sephardi counterparts and Social Welfare Research Institute at vacation with a friend, or a graduation due to the international character of groups of radical young settlers. These Boston College. trip), and the last third for charitable the Lubavitch movement. rabbis command the allegiance of For many affluent families, philan- contributions. When children donate But since the whole Lubavitcher tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of thropy becomes a tradition—a way to their own money—no matter how structure is based on strong shlichim followers, control political parties and contribute to their communities, make much it is—they feel greater owner- (emissaries) running their own show whole government coalitions, who a difference in other people’s lives, and ship over their decisions. wherever they’re based, and anyway, with one word can launch huge pass on their values to succeeding gen- Intergenerational transfer of wealth even when the Rebbe was alive, it was demonstrations, block the entrance to erations. Following a few relatively extends far beyond legal, tax, and already seriously factionalized, Jerusalem, ruin businesses, build or simple steps will help ensure that phil- financial implications. Planning begins Krinsky would find it hard to overrule dismantle settlements, and decide the anthropic values are instilled in your with creating an environment in which the Israeli leaders. Besides, Chabad fate of peace treaties between Israel children at an early age: your entire family can talk openly has a lot less influence on Israeli pol- and its Arab neighbors. (Haaretz) O • First, work together with your about issues surrounding wealth, val- itics today than it did a decade ago, children to draft their personal mission ues, and philanthropy. Once you, as a when it had the ear of Prime Minister statements. Have your children reflect family, define your goals and values, Benjamin Netanyahu. on the needs of their community and your financial advisor can help create a Another Lubavitcher on the list, Remember that article? how they, as community members, can strategy to help ensure your assets will Shmuley Boteach (number nine), contribute to help meet those needs. be used to support them. By doing so, enjoyed in the 1990s a brief period of Visit our archive section Help them identify the special skills or your values, family legacy, and philan- notoriety in Israel for his books on and find any issue of the talents they possess that can be used thropic goals can best be passed to sex, but that has long since passed. to make a difference. succeeding generations. O Number 11, Kaballah guru Yehuda 5 Towns Jewish Times • Second, be a role model for your Berg, gets a brief mention in the online @ children. When parents donate, volun- James C. Schneider is a financial advisor with Israeli press whenever his acolyte, teer, or participate in charitable organi- Smith Barney located in downtown Manhattan Madonna, comes for one of her visits, and may be reached at 212-428-5212. Smith www.5TJT.com zations, kids can often see firsthand the Barney is a division and service market of but that’s it. Number 16, Zalman impact philanthropy can make in the Citigroup Global Markets, Inc. Member SIPC. Teitelbaum, leader of the Satmar

68 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES describe me as an uncompromising Jewish leader to reject his own people’s Thanks For Nothing, Rabbi Yoffie and committed “G-d-fearing liberal.” unrelenting aspirations and prayers to Now I know that very combination inherit a complete Eretz Yisrael and B Y ELLEN W. HOROWITZ and assert ourselves as a unique and would cause a man like Pastor John their longings for Mashiach and the sovereign nation with exceptional obli- Hagee to plotz. But truth be told, there rebuilding of the Third Temple. A response to “After their verbal spar- gations. And we are paying a high price are far more menacing contemporary Eric Yoffie has lost that part of him- ring, Hagee and Yoffie may meet” in the for our inability to politely and firmly couplings like “Judeo-Christianity” or self. And until he finds it, he will be J erusalem Post’ s April 9 issue. say “no.” “Islamo-fascism.” unable to address and define the cru- You know, I spend my day and most And just when I think my efforts cial lines which separate us from the of the night doing my very small part in have the possibility of making a minor Christian fundamentalists. And he will trying to ensure Jewish spiritual dent, along comes Reform leader Eric lose in any confrontational or reconcil- integrity and physical continuity in Yoffie. He and his comments are so Yoffie is simply not iatory dialogue with John Hagee. Eretz Yisrael. irrelevant and detached as to cause any Yoffie, and all of us, will lose when To the chagrin of some, most of my Jew who cares about the integrity of rabbi enough to he meets with Pastor Hagee, because recent efforts have focused on the the Land of Israel to run blindly in the while Yoffie, on a gut level, may still Israel-Evangelical alliance, trying to opposite direction—into the no-ques- explain that what’s possess a natural Jewish aversion to get my fellow Jews to take a more pro- tions-asked, loving arms of Christian that which is foreign and forbidden to found and critical look at that relation- fundamentalists. ultimately sacred for us, he is incapable of expressing what’s ship and all that it entails. This is not a political or social/cul- in his Jewish heart. He is so alienated I feel that our serious flirtation with tural issue. It is a Jewish/halachic one Pastor John Hagee is from his heritage and so immersed in a Judeo-Christian union is made of the of the highest order. But a halachic political correctness, that he is loathe same common commitments, values, system that builds fences around the blasphemy for us. to say the fundamental truth. and trust stuff that compelled us to Torah means nothing to the Reform Yoffie is simply not rabbi enough to walk, arm-in-arm with our American “rabbi.” Maybe Yoffie’s “inner Jew” is explain to the Jewish people that partners, down aisles which culminat- genuinely uncomfortable with the what’s ultimately sacred for Pastor ed in the disastrous Oslo and the apocalyptic megapreacher—but Yoffie G-d-fearing liberals really crave John Hagee is blasphemy for us. And Disengagement agreements—com- sure manages to come up with all the Jewish unity, and we feel a bit crippled we Jews do have significant irreconcil- plete with all of those irreversible wrong reasons. And his inability to without our “left” hand, but then able spiritual differences with our strings which came attached. The les- firmly grasp and grapple with the true again, we suspect that Jews like Rabbi evangelical allies, which is why we sons to be learned are not necessarily Jewish issues at stake results in a Yoffie have lost their “right” mind. need to exercise extreme caution—and strategic, tactical, or political in ridiculous floundering and skirting— It’s really very okay and extremely why Pastor Hagee cannot act as nature. They may be more ethical and and an eventual surrendering of all normal and healthy for a Jew to feel spokesman for the Jewish people. religious in makeup, and I wonder if that really matters. uncomfortable with the magnanimous So Yoffie best sit down, and the rest our failing grade in emotional and I was raised as a Reform Jew and gestures and powerful rhetoric of a of us better hope and pray that an artic- intellectual maturity as a nation also appreciate the social consciousness fundamentalist megachurch leader ulate, effective, proud, and Torah liter- plays a role. that was instilled in me via that pro- who loves Israel and the Jewish peo- ate Jewish leader will stand up soon. O We cannot reap the benefits from gressive and pro-active movement. My ple—and who acts as our any of our alliances if we cannot estab- fierce commitment to Zionism also spokesman—but who aspires to see The writer and her family live on the Golan lish and respect red lines. The reality stems from that upbringing. Jesus sitting on the Temple Mount, Heights. She is the author of The Oslo Years: A Mother’s Journal and is working on a new book on the ground in Israel today reflects But Torah observance entered the ruling the world with a rod of iron. which takes a critical look at the Israel- our inability to keep our fences intact picture, and I guess you can now best But it’s downright pathological for a Evangelical relationship.

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 69 70 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 71 AUTOS SERVICES FOR SALE PROVIDED

Cars are 4-Door and automatic shift Study with Steve. One-on-one tutoring. unless specified. Most cars have a 1- SAT Math prep, regents, high school year bumper to bumper warranty. and elementary math, high school 2008 Pontiac G-6 GT 1,200 miles. ABS, physics. Call 516-371-5522 Onstar, black, 4-door, factory warranty ...... $15,999 Simchas Naava 2006 Buick Terazza luxury minivan. Share your simcha flowers! Be 12,000 miles. Factory warranty, leather, m’sameach other simchas! Donate your DVD, all-wheel drive. Loaded ...... fresh flower arrangements! We will match your simcha date with ...... $13,999 simchas following yours or deliver them 2004 Hyundai XG-350L, Luxury Sedan, to nursing home residents. leather, heated seats, sunroof, power To donate or obtain flower everything, ABS, 16K...... $9,999 arrangements. Call 516-239-6066 2004 Chevy Malibu, tan, 4-door, 25K, In memory of a special friend, Naava Wassner power windows and locks, ABS, 4-cylin- Katlowitz der ...... $7,500 2003 Mitsubishi Galant, silver, 4-door, Thorough cleaning of houses or offices 3 4-cylinder, power windows & locks. 23K times weekly; own transportation; ...... $7,500 great references; reasonable prices. 2003 Pontiac Montana, minivan, power Call Maria 516-208-9631 sliding door, power everything, 31K, ABS ...... $7,999 Photography - Small Event Specialist 2003 Chevy Malibu, silver, 4-door, 47K, Bar/Bat Mitzva - Bris - Yeshiva/Shul power windows and locks, ABS. . $6,300 Functions - Family Portraits 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix GT, 2-door, Reasonable prices - Quality Work - Fast black, 48K, power everything ABS Turnaround...... $5,999 Call Eli - 516-319-7709 2001 Chevy Camaro, 2-door coupe, Too Much to Type? Too Much to Do? t-tops, 80K, power everything, ABS College Reports, Simcha Lists, ...... $5,999 Secretarial Support. Call Gold Star 2001 Ford Taurus, silver, 4-door, 27K, Typing Service for help. Reasonable power everything, ABS ...... $5,999 rates. Call 718-471-9712 2001 Ford Taurus, 4-door, red, sedan, power everything, leather, sunroof, ABS. 57K...... $5,500 2000 Hyundai Sonata, green, 4-door HELP sedan, power windows, locks. 58K ...... $4,999 WANTED Many, many more—New arrivals daily! Automaven 516-996-5555 New salon looking for experienced: hair dresser/sheitel macher, make-up SERVICES artist, manicurist, masseuse in central Cedarhurst area. PROVIDED Please call 516-791-2520 or 646-270-3381

Professional child care for children 2-4 The Computer Place years of age in a loving heimishe envi- Computer Consultants, Technical ronment is seeking loving and caring Support, Network, Internet Solutions. teachers, teachers' assistants, and sub- Call 800-613-2634 stitutes. Call 516-371-6858

Plumber/Handyman — Water filters, sump pumps, leaks, unclog sewer line, Your Real Estate, toilet and faucet repair. Also handy- work, shelving etc. Great Rates. Service, or Insured. Yossie Hardoon 718-986-6007 Help Wanted Ad G'Mach Chasdei Yisroel — Lending money to people in Klei Kodesh & for Here Klei Kodesh purposes. In the Far Rockaway-Five Towns area. Please call Every Thursday 917-822-9910 for more info. Or email [email protected]. In Memory of 100,000 readers look R' Yisroel Ben Binyamin, a"h. forward to what’s Kollel Yungerman available to learn with your son Gemora or Mishnayos. happening in the Review class material or undertake a challenging project. Available after 5 Towns by reading Yeshiva and some hours during Yeshiva. Call 917-842-2587 The Five Towns

Master Teacher Tutors Jewish Times. Limudei Kodesh/Secular Subjects Deadline is Monday Specialize grades 1-8. Adults; Boys; Girls. Call 718-868-3968 at 5:00 p.m.

New Table and Chair Gemach for 1 Week...... $35 short-term simchas. 740 Mador Ct., Far 2 Weeks ...... $60 Rockaway. Call 718-471-0368 4 Weeks ...... $100 Wallpapering/Painting Every home needs a woman's touch. Weekly Ads of up to 25 words Consultations available. Wallpapers, paint- ing, and borders for any room of your Call: 516-569-0502 house. 20 years experience in the area. Fax: 516-977-0608 Call Sasha at 516-812-0089

Plumbing and Heating: Sundial Or E-mail ads to: Plumbing. Boilers/water heaters serviced [email protected] and installed. All leaks fixed. Bathrooms, kitchens, basements. No job too big or Include payment info. small. Call 718-252-1234 72 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

HELP HELP REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE WANTED WANTED FOR SALE FOR SALE

College Instructors May 25th – July Teacher's positions available. BBY of Woodmere/Cedarhurst Oppty! Law: Hi Ranch. Must see, 4br, 2.5bth, 24th. Sundays and/or evenings in June, Far Rockaway. General Studies depart- 12,000 sq. ft. approx. 90’x150’, Colonial, fam rm, CAC, 2 car garage, large prop weekdays and/or evenings in July. ment Sept. '08. Due to opening new 17 rooms, full bsmt. with hi ceilings, ...... $800sK Education, Psychology (computer classes, grades 1-4 and all junior high clean 2 car garage plus storage, 6 space Law: Nu Construc’n, 6br, 5bth, parking, 2 family, professional use, based), Music History, and Statistics. subjects. Minimum 2 years experience a lg prop, walk all, with all goodies. Plans accountant, Esq., medical and/or educa- can be seen in office. Brooklyn and Monsey locations. must. Teacher's assistant positions also tional and religious uses. Grand colonial Ced: Nu2Mkt, 2Fam, 3br/3br, 2fpl, deck, Email: [email protected] available. Monday-Thursday 12:20-4:30 with charm and great possibilities. all new, grt loc, full bsmt...... $795K Fax: 718-435-0115 PM. Transportation from Brooklyn Available at once . . . $875K Negotiable Wdm: Reduced. Ranch, 3br, 3 bth, lg available. Fax resume 718-337-9160 Owner 516-322-3555 prop, grt loc, walk all ...... $749K Education Assistant Administrator for attention Mrs. C. Katz, Oceanside: Col, renov’d, lr, dr, nu EIK, Yeshiva-based Special Ed Program. Call 718-337-6000 ext. 320 Woodmere— 3 bedroom, DR, LR, den, den, 3br, fin bsmt. Best Buy! . . . $439K Must have educational experience, good new kitchen, 60x100 lot, fenced yard Cedarhurst: CH col., new quality con- struction. 7 bedroom, 4.5 bths, den, LR, organizational, supervisory, and inter- with deck, low taxes, walk to YI, priced Title company in Five Towns looking for DR, oversized gourmet, granite EIK, personal skills, classroom management to sell, reduced...... $499K, FT assistant. huge FDR, 9' ceiling, finished basement skills, computer skills, and flexible Please fax resume to 212-805-8119 516-974-7795 prime location. Asking ...... $1.25M hours. 5 Towns/Far Rockaway Special or e-mail [email protected] 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 Ed Program. Fax resume 516-295-2899 Far Rockaway: 2 Fam. All NU or e-mail [email protected] Warm, enthusiastic, boys' elementary/ 3 over 3 Br. 4Fbth, Dr, Full bsmt JHS Yeshiva looking for secular studies All features ...... $779K Call 516-263-6417 Service Coordinator F/T position avail- teachers for next year. Please call 917- able. Bil Hebrew, Spanish, or Russian a 742-8909, 718-969-1000 or fax resume 718- Cedarhurst — Nu 2 Mkt. Lg Lr, Dr, 969-9600 or e-mail [email protected] plus. At Queens location. BA in Human EIK, Den, 5 Br, 3bth, Skilits, Cabana, Services or related field required. Lg prop., IG pool, Walk to all. . . $699K LMSW preferred. Excellent benefits Seeking experienced and qualified 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 package. Fax resume: 718-851-3392 Spanish, Accounting, and Earth Science teachers. Master degree Attention: Large property, corner required, for Shevach High School, for Cedarhurst and Woodmere 150x100 apx. September 2008. 13 large rooms, 3 baths. Good for Please fax resume to: 718-263-3759 kindergarten, elementary school, yeshi- or email [email protected] va, synagogue, or other institution. Parking garage for 4 cars and 2 buses. Experienced secretary wanted for elec- Immediate. Reasonable. trical business in Hewlett area. F/T. Owner 347-439-8234 Hebrew speaking a plus. Fax resume to 516-812-7607 Far Rockaway/Lawrence: House For Sale 2 BR/ 2 BA, Newly Renovated, Administrative Assistant F/T for North Woodmere (Sale-Rent) Dead-end street, Price ...... $539K Queens location, Mature, Detail-oriented (Extended Woodmere 400). Price drasti- Call Owner: 516-750-9257 and responsible. Office experience and cally reduced! 7BR, 3FBA, Finished Computer skills a +. Basement, Lg property 84x100, Walking Fax resume 718-851-3392 Miami Beach — Tower 41. Ocean View. to 4 shuls...... $639K 1 bdrm, 17th floor. Stunning. Call 917-238-0098 Looking for top teachers, experienced 732-522-0813 with degrees, for a new innovative boys Hewlett — Col. MIC, 4br, 2bth, 2fpl, full yeshiva in Queens. 9th grade general Far Rockaway: 2 Family. All NU, deck, wood flr, Lg. den. Walk to all...... $729K studies: Math, Biology, Global 1, 3 over 1 Bdrm, 3 full baths. Great Location ...... $599K Lawrence — NU 2 MKT. Legal 3FAM. English Language Arts, and Computers. Lg. 3Br/2/2, Full FIN. bsmt., walk to all. Full Time Bookkeeper/Secretary for Call 516-322-3555 Beginning '08. Excellent pay and work- NYU sep. mtr, htg & Wtr . . . . . $949K Yeshiva in the Five Towns. Knowledge ing conditions. Phone 718-337-7055 leave Far Rockaway — House For Sale 5 TOWN HOMES 516-322-3555 of Quick Books, Excel, Word and basic a message. 3 Bdrm, 2 Bath plus guest room. bookkeeping is required. Must be organ- Renovated w/New Kitchen, New Ced: Nu 2 Mkt. Col, 4Br, 2.5bth, All NU, ized, team player, energetic. Administrative Assistant wanted. Bathrooms. Huge Master Bedroom. Den, Mrbl EIK, Full Fin. Bsmt, walk to Please send resume to: email Growing, innovative, frum company is Price...... $499K all...... $799K [email protected] or fax. seeking an energetic, organized, and Call Owner 917-836-6838 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 detail-oriented person to join our team, Full time route driver for Cedarhurst with room to grow. No previous insur- West Lawrence-Far Rockaway — Brand new construction on Clubhouse dry cleaning company. Ideal person ance experience required, will train. Open Houses Road in the heart of Woodmere Park— Contemporary style home. 6 BR, 4 Bths, should be detail and service oriented Located in Queens, right off the Grand 797 Empire Ave new construction. 11-12 pm Central Parkway and near the Q-46. Radiant Heat, Alarms, Camera who is good with established routines...... $800's equipped, 85X100. Buyer has ability to Fax resume to 718-504-6304 or e-mail Hourly wage & commission. 225 B3rd St. beautiful townhouse, customize interior before completion [email protected] Contact Jerry Pozniak HR director at access to pvt beach. 12-1 pm ... $600's ...... $1.899M 212-677-3949 156 Beach 9 new construction condos for Call Avi 917-512-5442 sale or rent. 12-2 pm. Woodmere Park—Brand new Mediterranean style construction. 6 BR, School positions available September '08. REAL ESTATE Lawrence — 4/5 bdrm homes for rent 3 Full Bths, 91X100, Radiant heat, ELA teacher JHS — hours 2-5:30, FOR SALE Cedarhurst—Woodmere — Open Houses Alarms, Camera equipped. Buyer has Fourth Grade general studies — hours 349 Westminster Rd., Cedarhurst 12-1. ability to customize interior before com- 2-5, Afternoon secretary — Immediate All new col...... $400'sK pletion ...... $1.899M opening 1-6 pm. 5 Towns Area Yeshiva. 409 Oakland Ave., Cedarhurst 2-3:30. Call Avi 917-512-5442 Excellent salary. E-mail: Kings Point Delray Beach condo for Cedarhurst—New to the market. Won't sale 1,100 sq. feet. 2 BR, 2 bths, new Mint col., finished basement [email protected] Last! Beautiful 5 Bdrm Split located on European kitchen and appliances, Pine St., Woodmere by appt. a Cul-De-Sac block. New roof, windows, updated bath, new carpets, 24-hour Assistant Manager wanted. Must be Magnificently renovated 6 bdrm col. ban- working fireplace, and a sunroom with guarded community. Golf, theater, quet FDR, den library, 150 deep prop. a skylight off a spacious Eat-In-Kitchen. early riser and energetic. library ...... $199,999 1005 Dartmouth La., Woodmere 10:30- Walk to all Call Jackie 516-526-8841 Call Joel at 516-233-5808 Call 631-664-0075 Hewlett—Brand new construction. 5 12:00 new to market...... $599K bedrms, 2.5 baths, office, wood floors, Teachers— Excellent Opportunities. 115 Harold Rd., Hewlett Neck 12-1:30 CAC, Laundry room on 2nd flr .. $749K Girls school in Far Rockaway is seeking Submit your c/h col. on beautiful cul-de sac. $900'sK Call Jackie 516-526-8841 Milky Forst Properties, Inc. Woodmere—Sprawling ranch on deep experienced 8th grade science teacher. 516-239-0306 property. 4 bedrms, 3 baths, Master Qualified applicants are invited to Fax Five Towns suite, walk to all...... $1.250M Call Jackie 516-526-8841 resumes to TAG, attention Mrs. Cecile Woodmere — For sale by owner. Weissman Realty Group, LLC Weider, at 718-868-4612 Events/News 5 BR, 2.5 bths, large LR, FDR, kosher 516-791-6100 EIK, den, playroom. Near YI Woodmere Teachers— Excellent Opportunities. for the and Island ...... $765K Luxurious apartments: Penthouse in Girls School in Far Rockaway will have Call 516-295-6884 Bucman, Modiin. 5 BR, balconies, several available vacancies in the 5th Shabbos elevator, 2 sinks, 2.5 bths. Next Issue by Beautiful Bayswater house for sale...... $350K Grade of its General Studies 6 BR, library, Jacuzzi, huge kosher Villa 6 BR, c/ac, parking, storage, back- Department for the 2008/2009 school 5:00 P.M. Monday kitchen. Fully renovated ...... $699K yard ...... $550K year. Qualified and interested appli- Please call 917-325-0302 Call 718-471-8888 cants are invited to FAX resumes to Send e-mail to: N. Wdmr: HiRanch, 4Br, 2.5Bth, Nu Classified Ads are TAG, attention Mrs. Sarah Goldstein at [email protected] Kit, Lg. Den, deck, Overlg Property. 718-868-4612 or call Mrs. Honickman at Reduced ...... $659K Continued on the Next Page. 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 718-471-8444 ext. 2 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 73 CLASSIFIED ADS Continued from Page 77 FOR RENT FOR RENT FOR RENT

WANTED Office space for rent. Cedarhurst — House Rental LR/FDR, Cedarhurst — House Rental; kit, den, Central Avenue. Includes utilities, AC, den, 3br, 2.5bth, Fin. Bsmt . . . . . $2,300 3br., 2.5 bth. bsmt ...... $2,400 alarm, internet. Call 516-322-3555 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 Call 516-569-4949 x104

Want to purchase minerals and other Far Rockaway — Apartment available. Far Rockaway — 2 Huge Office Spaces. Ced. — 3+ br apt, 1.5 bth, lg FDR, new Brand new construction. Furnished or oil/gas interests. Send details to: 6,000 and 2,500 Sq Ft. 2nd Floor. Near EIK, on quiet street, walk to all . . $2,200 unfurnished. 3 BR, 2bths. Cleaning and P.O.Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201 Subway & LIRR. Build to Suit. Can Be N Wdm. — house rental. Hi-ranch in laundry services available. Perfect for Divided. Owner 917-359-9776 the elderly. Call Sherri 516-569-5450 MIC. 4 br, CAC, den, on quiet street. LOST AND FOUND 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 Far Rockaway/West Lawrence — Apt and rooms for rent. Private house, good location, near Shor Yoshuv, synagogues, The deadline Found on Reads Lane in Far Rockaway yeshivos, and public transportation. — Pair of Tefillin with no name on Good for office. 718-337-5753 or Tefillin bag. Please call 718-938-8282 347-263-4638 Your for placing Woodmere — For rent by owner. 2 bed- room, 1 bathroom, eat-in-kitchen, living classified ads FOR RENT room/dining room, private entrance. Minutes from all shuls $1,800+utilities. Ad Call 917-327-1291 in the next issue

Cedarhurst — The Carlyle. Beautiful Miami Alexander Hotel — Short or long top floor 1 BR sublet, 1.5 bths, w/d, a/c, term rental. 2 BR, 2 bths, luxury, of the 5TJT is terrace, parking, steps to Lawrence. Shabbos elevator, swimming pool, bal- Could Rent neg. Call 516-374-3336 ext. 318 cony, parking, beachfront. Call Zeev Kolman 212-245-1715 Monday, May 5 2-3 BR rental apt 2 family house 2 BR, or 917-287-5858 lg LR, DR, EIK, den, quiet location. Be ...... $2,200 Woodmere/Cedarhurst— 1 and 2 BR at 5:00 P.M. 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 available. Secure buildings, updated EIK, Shabbos elevator close to all and Far Rockaway — Walk-in Apt on Beach train station. Call Sherri 516-297-7995 Call 9. Newly renovated. Close to syna- Far Rockaway— 1 BR, 2 BR and 3 BR apartments. some balconies. New Here. gogues ...... $675 including all kitchens, lots of closets, 24 hr doorman, Call 646-342-4030 or 718-350-6303 security cameras. Close to White Shul, 516-569-0502 Shor Yoshuv and train. Far Rockaway — Lg. Hse Rental: 4br, Call Sherri 516-297-7995 2bth, bsmt., hi-ceilings, NU bths, W\D. Weissman Realty Group, LLC Call 516-322-3555 516-791-6100

74 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Five Towners Barbecue For 800 Soldiers On Independence Day

BY TOBY KLEIN The Hausers came with their chil- Hadassah Optometry School, in both How have you managed with the lan- GREENWALD dren—Miriam, Josh, Tamar, and Hebrew and English, and is a clinic guage? Shlomo, then ages 4–10. The family supervisor. “Leah knew Hebrew because my in- When Ira and Leah Hauser made has integrated into Israel, Gush Leah’s parents, Bracha and laws are Israeli. My kids are great. I aliyah from Cedarhurst in 1998, they Etzion, and Efrat, where they live in Avraham Glickman, divide their time still struggle—no tenses or gender in probably didn’t expect to spend every the Zayit neighborhood. (Zayit means between Queens and Florida. Ira’s my Hebrew.” Yom HaAtzma’ut at the Gush Etzion “olive,” and is one of the seven parents, Frieda and Herbert a’h from And your social life? crossroads, barbecuing for soldiers species of the Land of Israel, for Brooklyn are buried on Har HaMenuchot in Jerusalem. 5TJT: What did you do in Cedarhurst? “Aliyah is a leap of “Before we made aliyah,” says Ira, “we were involved in the shuls, the faith. You can’t really schools—pretty much the same thing we do nowadays, just trying to help sit there and say, ‘I’m wherever we can.” going and everything’s The Hausers made aliyah directly to Efrat, “if you don’t count the Ramada going to be great.’ It’s Renaissance for three nights.” What are you involved in, within the not always.” community? “ Well, the shul in our neighborhood. I am one of the shamases. We see that the dues and bills are paid, maintain “We’re fine, and the kids are very the shul—we do whatever is needed happy. Miriam is finishing her sec- and then some. It’s a trait we learned ond year of national service, working from our parents, growing up.” at Shaarei Tzedek at a Melabev Day Ira is also on the building commit- Care Center for Alzheimer’s patients. tee of Orot Yehuda Yeshiva High Josh will begin learning in a yeshivat The Hauser family in front of the Kotel. School, and he ran the raffle in Orot hesder in September. Tamar learns at Etzion elementary school for three the ulpana in Kiryat Arba, and years. “And I’ve been involved in Little Shlomo will start Orot Yehuda next from all over the area and sending the which the neighborhood hills of League in one capacity or another ever autumn.” food out to those who couldn’t make it Efrat are named for.) since I got off the plane.” Did your wonderful sense of humor to the “pinah chamah” (“warm cor- In Cedarhurst, Ira was an They own their own home and gar- help during the aliyah process? ner”), the little house which serves as accountant, and he continues to do den. The kids have settled in beautiful- “Sure. Aliyah is a leap of faith. You a home-away-from-home for those accounting in Israel. Leah is an ly; they’ve celebrated four bar and bat serving in the area. optometrist. Now she teaches in the mitzvot since their arrival. Continued on Page 76

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 2, 2008 75 Five Towners In Israel the organization, and sees that the pop- Continued from Page 75 corn gets delivered. “And if one of the volunteers can’t make it at the last can’t really sit there and say, ‘I’m minute, they may call me to go in and going and everything’s going to be hand out goodies to the soldiers.” Most great.’ It’s not always. Some things of the pinah chamah volunteers are are the same. We get up, make the women, hence they’ve earned the affec- kids’ lunches, and send them off to tionate name “the dodot (aunties).” school, but we can be at the Kotel in Regarding the barbecue on Yom 20 minutes—something we couldn’t HaAtzma’ut, “We’ve been doing it for do in the Five Towns.” the last six years. We serve soldiers I had interviewed Ira while Leah coming in and we send out to the was at work. When she got home, she chayalim who cannot leave their concurred with everything he said. posts. It’s the one time a year that we Regarding community work, Leah is provide real food for the chayalim. one of the women who take a char- We provide between 600 and 800 tered bus from Efrat to the Tomb of servings—hamburgers, hot dogs, Rachel every Tuesday morning. “I try steaks, salads, and whatever else may my best to be there every week,” she be available. People in the area and says. It is an important element of her from as far away as Bet Shemesh life in Israel. bring over their barbecue leftovers The Hausers had gone to Camp The Hauser children. from their own Yom HaAtzma’ut Mesorah in the States to work for the BBQ, and someone is at the pinah last few years, “so our kids still saw chamah from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. their old friends and had some expo- in simchas; we’ve been at each one has not been here, and that’s or a little later (if needed).” sure to life in the States. Also, our other’s events on both sides of the very special.” This year on Yom HaAtzma’ut, while extended families have always made ocean. There has not been a year But the pinah chamah is Ira’s pet many Israelis will be at the beaches or it a point and been able to participate since we’ve been in Israel that some- project. He’s the treasurer, helps with on family picnics in the country’s forests, the Hausers will be at the pinah chamah, serving those who serve the State of Israel. Anyone wishing to contribute to the pinah chamah can contact Ira at 516-214-0537 or [email protected]. O

You shall not take vengeance nor bear any grudge (Vayikra 19:18)

What is revenge and what is bearing a grudge? If a person said to his fellow, “Lend me your sickle,” and he replied “No,” and on the following day the second person comes to the first and says,“Lend me your ax,” and he replies:“I will not lend it to you, just as you would not lend me your sickle”—that is revenge. And what is bearing a grudge? If one person says to his fellow, “Lend me your ax,” and he replies,“No,” and on the morrow the second asks,“Lend me your garment,” and the first answers:“Here it is. I am not like you who would not lend me”—that is bearing a grudge.

(Talmud,Yoma 23a)

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Glimpse Of Greatness was concerned for this cancer patient Rav Leibowitz inspired his students laden presence that was absent when Continued from Page 20 and her nephew spoke volumes to us all. to grow in their mitzvah observance he spoke to the b’nei ha’yeshiva. When In one Shabbos-afternoon mussar and in their midos with the depth and quizzed about this, he responded that an entirely different religion? Enter shmuess, he spoke of the famous busi- profundity of his shmuessin. One it was done purposefully—to provoke Rav Leibowitz, zt’l. ness practices of some rural restaurants Shavuos, he spoke of how the Targum within his talmidim intellectual inspi- He told his talmid to reassure the having two different sets of menus: One Yonasan discusses the two components ration in its purest form as opposed to dying woman and that he would take for the business traveler passing of Boaz’s message to Rus: Boaz noted emotional inspiration. him into his ninth grade. He would set through—the proverbial big spender how Rus, a former Moabite princess, NNN the boy up in the dormitory and would who can afford big-city prices—and the left it all and converted to Judaism. He His hashkafic lessons broached arrange that the boy learn with kollel other menu for the locals who needed also noted the tremendous chesed she quite a range of topics—from daf yomi, yungerleit chavrusos here and there. In the local restaurant but could only did with her mother-in-law. to poker, to how to best learn Gemara short, they would do their best to try to afford more modest prices. Boaz, apparently, equated the two. in b’kiyus seder—and he explained how get the boy back on track—a daunting “We also have to have two menus, so The rosh yeshiva asked, “How could all these topics affected one’s ability to and, in all probability, impossible task. to speak—two standards of behavior. it be? Imagine Princess Diana leaving delve and learn b’iyun. The boy came. One standard is what we expect of our- all the wealth and glamour to join the And the rosh yeshiva certainly loved Although it was clear that the boy selves. Pass someone in the street with- Jewish nation as a poor indigent con- iyun. would have no negative influence on out saying good morning? Chas v’shalom! vert in need of tzedakah. Imagine the He loved to teach his talmidim how anyone, I decided to ask Rav Leibowitz We would never do such a thing. The z’chus generated for her in Shamayim. to unfold the latent processes of rea- about the decision to take him in. other person is a tzelem Elokim. How How could this supreme act be equal soning in a Rashi. His questions still “Rebbi,” I asked, “At best there is a 20 could we ever infringe upon that by not to chesed w ith one’s mother-in-law?” resonate in the minds of his talmidim percent chance of success here. After saying good morning or hello?” The answer he gave was that there is decades after having left the yeshiva. the promised year, in all probability the And the rosh yeshiva expounded infinite depth to any mitzvah. Chesed “Rashi invokes the term ‘k’lomar.’ boy will return to the concepts that he, upon the flip side. “Someone didn’t say can be performed on many, many lev- K’lomar always means that there is in essence, drank with his mother’s good morning or hello? Chas v’shalom els. The more we put into the chesed, another manner in which to under- milk, and end up a leader in that to be upset! It is not a big deal if they the greater the level. And yes, it could stand the Gemara, which Rashi reject- Hebrew Christian movement himself. don’t say hello or good morning—peo- often be equal with the most remark- ed. What was that other manner and He eventually may even brag, ‘Sure! I ple are busy and preoccupied. We are a able act of self-sacrifice. what factors caused him to reject it? even learned in the Chofetz Chaim tissue-paper generation if we get upset The talmidim heard this and were Did the ba’alei Tosefos reject it, too? Yeshiva!’ Isn’t the rosh yeshiva con- about such things.” inspired. What is the difference between Tosefos’ cerned about this possible eventuality?” Two menus. Two standards of Rav Leibowitz often said that inspi- two answers as seen in the ‘iy nami’? He responded, “Yes, I am very con- behavior. Mussar thought dictates that ration must be intellectual, not emo- What is the point of contention cerned about it. But we have to do it. we cannot extrapolate from one to the tional. Emotional inspiration and exu- between these two answers?” Both for the sake of the boy’s aunt and other. We must hold ourselves to a dif- berance are often associated with the The talmidim saw him remove his for the boy himself.” ferent standard of behavior and never exuberance of youth, and they tend to jacket and roll up his sleeves when delv- This was a personal lesson in the correlate the two. Most people, of tone down after a few years. Not so ing into a difficult Rishon. He did this to practice of chinuch, not just the theo- course, do correlate the two. “This is intellectual inspiration. show that iyun was serious business and ry. The story did not end positively— what I expect of both myself and of Intellectual inspiration remains one had to work hard at it. But the rosh but not for lack of trying.4 others” is a common refrain. The rosh even after one has matured beyond the yeshiva went beyond this, and often Rav Henoch Leibowitz practiced yeshiva, however, taught otherwise and exuberance of youth. When the rosh employed boxing terminology in explain- enormous mesirus nefesh for chinuch. All demonstrated that it was, in fact, a yeshiva spoke publicly for ba’al ha’ba- ing, for example, a difficult Rashba. his students saw it. And the fact that he mussar obligation. tim, he often had a dynamic, emotion- (Interestingly enough, Rav Shach used

77 May 2, 2008 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES to employ boxing terminology, as well.) of the subject matter, drawing out a lacuna that he had detected in some- yeshiva spoke quite emotionally of The rosh yeshiva placed extraordi- logically and textually compelling one, and wanted to quietly disabuse how deeply he loved her and how she nary stress on the halachos of lashon insight, but then stopping short. He that talmid of his misperception. was everything to him. They lived on ha’ra, even maintaining for the b’nei did not make the application—that On Shabbosos, his shmuessin took a Groton Street in Forest Hills for ha’yeshiva a twice-weekly seder in crucial next step in the process where slightly different turn. This was the more than 40 years, a home that they Sefer Chofetz Chaim. He had also the ethical lesson is applied to oneself. time when he would amass his vast kept open for their thousands of mastered every nuance of every Be’er Why didn’t he? repertoire of other shmuessin said talmidim. (Later, the rosh yeshiva Mayim Chaim and kept to all the hala- He once answered that he wanted throughout four or five decades and remarried, to Rebbetzin Daniella chos very rigidly. us to make the applications ourselves. compare and contrast the subtleties of Leibowitz, yblc’t, who was also an And then I saw it in practice. Many Spoon-feeding it to us would remove a the various closely related insights. enormous help to her husband.) years after I had left the yeshiva, a very important component. The real- Few were those who grasped every The rosh yeshiva is buried next to his friend of mine possessed an advance ization of its application must come point in its entirety. But that was why rebbetzin of nearly all his life in the copy of a book about the Torah world from within, or the power of the mes- there was something called “chazaras Tifereth Jerusalem section of the of Europe. I was loaned the copy (the sage is lost. (In the same vein, Rav ha’shmuess,” where the students could Mount Judah Cemetery in Cypress friend was the author’s cousin), and Dessler explains that Moshe Rabbeinu review what they had missed. Hills, Queens. O while reading it I discovered that it had only hinted to K’lal Yisrael that they N NN a huge amount of material on the rosh should pray for his entry into Eretz Rav Leibowitz’s lifelong friend, con- The author can be reached at [email protected]. yeshiva ’s father, Reb Dovid. I told the Yisrael. Had he told them explicitly, the fidante, and partner was, of course, his NOTES: rosh yeshiva about the book and saw prayer would not be efficacious; it beloved rebbetzin, Pesha, a’h, who 1. Examine the math: If a loan officer makes his utter excitement about reading must come from within.) passed away in 2002. She was a grand- 100 loans of $1,000 each at 6% interest a year, at the end of the year he will have turned a prof- about his father. He was emotional He knew each of his talmidim quite daughter of HaRav Naftoli Trop, the it of $6,000 for the bank. If a loan officer makes about it and I felt a remarkable z’chus well. He would often describe the Alter rosh yeshiva in the Chofetz Chaim’s 100 loans of $1,000 each at 10% interest a year, with a one percent rate of default he will have in being able to give such nachas to the of Slabodka as a master pedagogue yeshiva in Radin. Rebbetzin Leibowitz, turned a profit of at least $8,900 at the end of rosh yeshiva by giving him the book. I who knew the inner workings and spe- a’h, was a pedagogue in her own right, the year. Which loan officer is more valuable to then joked that the rosh yeshiva should cific talents of each of his talmidim. as well. She had taught many talmidos the bank? 2. Note, by the way, the subtle humor combined finish reading it quickly because no The rosh yeshiva, zt’l, shared this abili- at Rav Meir Levi’s Bais Yaakov in with the highest ideals of Torah hashkafah, one doubt the book was destined to be put ty, although in his humility he would Brooklyn. In many ways, she served as of the lesser-known but highly effective aspects of his remarkable success with talmidim. in cherem. He asked me why, and I never admit to it. At every simcha of his eyes and ears. 3. Note also the fact that the rosh yeshiva was explained that there was material in it one of his talmidim where he was asked Aside from her role as rebbetzin, she “wise to the ways of the world” in his grasp of the that should not have been included. to speak, he would focus on the midah was a mother to all the b’nei ha’yeshiva. effective loan officer’s benefits to the bank, an aspect of gadlus that not coincidentally appears The rosh yeshiva then refused to take that most represented that talmid. I recall when an older roommate of in the semichah that Rav Moshe Mordechai the book so as not to be nichshal in the He gave shmuessin on Wednesdays mine had spray-painted something a bit Epstein, zt’l, gave to the rosh yeshiva’s father, Rav Dovid Leibowitz, zt’l. aveirah of lashon ha’ra, chas v’shalom.I and on Shabbos. On Wednesdays, he bizarre on the back wall behind the din- 4. It is interesting to note that Rav Pam, zt’l (a had forgotten that I was standing would focus on what he perceived was ing room. His tenure in yeshiva was not talmid of the rosh yeshiva’s father) gave over a mussar shmuess about the meisis found in the before a gadol ha’dor, and I cannot a particular need that the b’nei something people would have bet on, first few chapters of Sefer Devarim. The meisis imagine what I was thinking. ha’yeshiva should work upon. He once but it was the rebbetzin who saved him. is the prototype of non-success. He tries to influ- N NN asked what the definition of a “ba’al Now he is a chashuve talmid chacham ence an upstanding Jew to worship idols, fails miserably, and is even turned in by the very peo- In his shmuessin, he would often chesed” is. I vividly remember his and marbitz Torah in K’lal Yisrael. Her ple he tried to influence! Rav Pam says: But employ the Slabodka methodology of answer. He said, “A ba’al chesed is wisdom and insight were held in the look at his enormous punishment. If such is the punishment for unsuccessful efforts at evil influ- deeply examining a ma’amar Chazal, what most people would call ‘a suck- highest esteem by the rosh yeshiva. ence, how much more so is the reward for comparing the various things we know er.’” He was clearly addressing some After she passed away, the rosh unsuccessful kiruv!

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