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$1.00 WWW.5TJT.COM VOL. 8 NO. 1 ROSH HASHANAH 5768 ubhztv ,arp SEPTEMBER 14, 2007

INSIDE vcuy vnh,ju vch,f Heard In The Bagel Store Larry Gordon 12 Wishing you a happy and healthy sweet new year. MindBiz Esther Mann, LMSW 34 A Brand New Day Hannah Reich Berman 36 Head Of The Year Rabbi Yoni Posnick 39 Universal Introspection Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz 43

Bar Mitzvah of Jesse Gordon. See Page 71

“Tashlich.” Oil on canvas, by Miriam Michaelov. Available exclusively from Avi Polinsky/Your Art’s Desire, www.yourarts.com.

Preparing for Rosh Hashanah at Woodmere Rehab. MISSED FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK A SWEET, See Page 66 OPPORTUNITY BY LARRY GORDON SWEET YEAR A Rosh Hashanah Message The Big Meeting BY RABBI DR. TZVI For 5768 HERSH WEINREB I have a meeting with the have the ability to figure out EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT, B Y RAV ARYEH Z. King later this week, and I’ve the way in which He runs His ORTHODOX UNION GINZBERG got to try to get myself ready. enterprise—which just so CHOFETZ CHAIM TORAH CENTER This is not our first meeting. happens to be the entire world In these days of the month Actually, it’s somewhat of an that we inhabit? Still, I believe of Elul, we are already wish- As rabbis the world over are annual event and, while I look it’s my natural inclination to ing each other “Shanah tovah busy putting the final touches forward to it with anticipation, want to know. In fact, I think u’mesukah,” a “good and on their derashos for the the whole thing also makes me that this is all we do—spend sweet new year.” To many, this Rabbi Shlomo Bochner upcoming yamim nora’im, kind of nervous. I’m not sure time trying to know things. may seem like just a trivial, of Bonei Olam. they are sure to touch upon what it is exactly, but some- Not that this is a bad thing, perhaps even empty, greeting. See Page 76 many of the important and times I feel like I know this considering that this is the But obviously it has a deeper pressing issues facing the King and sometimes I just nature of who we are and our and more profound meaning, CANDLE LIGHTING Jewish community today. can’t figure Him out. function in this world. expressing the wish of each of Sept. 12 – 6:51 PM We live in troubling times. Then again, if I am really So, He’s the King and I’m us that others—individually, Sept. 14 – 6:48 PM His subject, where do I get Continued on Page 16 the idea that it’s my role to Continued on Page 3 Continued on Page 10 2 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES FROM THE EDITOR holiday spirit that has always warmth to mark a holiday Continued from Front Cover left me troubled. And the focused on goodness and thing that troubles me most thanksgiving, if only half a day just one of His many billions about this scenario is that later everything reverted to a of subjects. Okay, I accept despite all the good cheer and state as though nothing of the that; but why do I have to care extended to the less for- sort ever existed? have a special and particular tunate, the next day they are As Jews the world over time of year during which to back on the street in the stand together on Rosh take a couple of days and November cold, maybe in the Hashanah, no matter our focus on and contemplate this freezing rain or quite possibly level of observance, the goal fact and coronate Him as even snow. The next day they is always to sustain that King? Does He need me to do are once again sleeping on which we can incorporate that? And if He does, the subway grates to keep warm, into our lives as part of the question is Why? For me, this lying stretched out in door- arrival of our New Year. In is evidence of the fabric and ways or tucked away inside fact, some commentators substance of the relationship. old refrigerator boxes that observe that this is the rea- It’s not just something that they call home. son why, traditionally, the speeds by us like so many What was the purpose of Torah portion that precedes other things in our lives. this wonderful holiday display Rosh Hashanah is the sec- Among the myriad experi- if there was no lasting effect? tion of Nitzavim. At the out- ences in a lifetime, how often Where was the people’s con- set of that sidrah, it is stated can you actually take two days science and what was the and devote them entirely to value of a few hours of Continued on Page 9 cerebral contemplation of our existence and the essence of feeling our contiguity to Hashem? This is the Jewish New Year. This is Rosh Hashanah, the meeting with our King. Living in the times and days that we do, I believe that it is equally important to contrast this New Year opportunity with similar themes that exist in the society at large that surrounds us today. Our concept of celebrating a New Year is markedly different as compared to other, similar observances. Sure, in a sense there is a countdown, but it’s not of the fleeting 60-second variety that is televised around the world, culminating with the explosion of fireworks. Our countdown begins with solemn contemplation at the outset of the month of Elul, 30 days prior to our New Year. For us, Rosh Hashanah is a celebration of another year that has passed along with the anticipation, hopes, and wishes for the year ahead. More than the conventional New Year’s celebration, it’s more like a personal and introspective April 15—a time for balancing the books and making an accounting, so to speak. Another great day on the calendar that is celebrated in this country with superficial overtures and demonstrations is Thanksgiving. I’ve always been enamored with the outreach and brotherly love that is extended particularly to the indigent and homeless on Thanksgiving Day. On this day, no matter how desperate a person’s life may be, in many locales around the country one can be assured that he will be given an opportunity to come inside and be served a warm dinner featuring turkey, sweet pota- to, cranberry sauce, and all the holiday fixings. It’s a wonderful display of a 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 3 4 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 5 6 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 7 FEATURES

Around The Five Towns 54 P.O. BOX 690 LAWRENCE, NY 11559 516-984-0079 [email protected] Our Aliyah Chronicle [email protected] Shmuel Katz 24 LARRY GORDON ESTA J. GORDON Publisher/Editor Managing Editor Bagel Store YOSSI GORDON Larry Gordon 12 Director of Sales CHANA ROCHEL ROSS Classified Ads 84 Editorial Assistant Cooking Concepts SIDI BARON YAKOV SERLE Naomi Ross 50 JERRY MARKOVITZ Sales Representatives Daf Yomi Insights SHMUEL GERBER MICHELE JUSTIC Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow 49 Chief Copy Editor Copy Editor CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Halachic Musings Howard M. Adelsberg, Irwin H. Benjamin Rabbi Yair Hoffman 14 Hannah Reich Berman, Anessa V. Cohen Danny Block, Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg Hock Of The Rock Yochanan Gordon, Michele Herenstein Eli Shapiro 78 Rabbi Yair Hoffman, Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky Shmuel Katz, Esther Mann, Rochelle Miller Rabbi Yoni Posnick, Naomi Ross Insights On The Torah Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow, Eli Shapiro Rabbi Yoni Posnick 39 MICHAL WEINSTEIN, ROB FILONUK Rabbi Naftali Silberberg 53 Staff Graphic Artists IVAN NORMAN, IRA THOMAS Letters To The Editor 28 Staff Photographers FRANKEL & CO., CREATIVE DESIGN LLC Luach 17 Design & Production TALIYE CORLEY MindBiz Art Director Esther Mann, LMSW 34 SUZETTE LEE Assistant Art Director Real Estate Anessa V. Cohen 32 The Five Towns Jewish Times is an independent weekly newspaper. Opinions expressed by writers and columnists are not necessarily those of the editor or publisher. We are not That’s The Way It Is! responsible for the kashrus or hashgachah of any product or Hannah Reich Berman 36 establishment advertised in the Five Towns Jewish Times.

8 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES FROM THE EDITOR Continued from Page 3 that “You are standing firmly today, all of you together, before Hashem, your G-d.” This, they say, refers to Rosh Hashanah, our New Year, when all of us stand in judgment before the Heavenly courts. But then, the next verse goes on to enumerate the different categories of people who constitute the People of Israel, not unlike any people or nation: “The heads of your tribes, your elders, your police officers, your young children, the women, the converts to Judaism, your woodcutters and water drawers…” To some, these two juxtaposed pronouncements can be per- ceived as contradictory. In the first we are all not simply standing, but standing firmly and collectively as one unit before Hashem as Rosh Hashanah approaches. In the next pasuk, we are enu- merated and divided into different classes and levels of life. So, which one is it? Are we one before Hashem, or are we all in fact individuals and on our own as Yom Tov approaches? I think the answer is that both are accurate. It’s true that we are all individuals with different lifestyles filled with triumphs and disap- pointments, with ups and downs, winning and sometimes the opposite. As individuals, we can easily appear to be unequal, as well. Some are brilliant and others, it seems, not so brilliant. Some are wealthy while others struggle for their daily bread, and so on. There is, in reality, a dichotomy in our lives, on the surface as well as inwardly. There is, however, one very vital instance in which we are indeed all equal, standing together with no differences between us. And that is in our relationship with Hashem and the fashion in which we stand before Him on Rosh Hashanah. In that sense, we are truly one complete unit and, at that time, whatever distinguishes us outwardly from one another falls away. So whoev- er we are and whatever we’ve achieved or have not achieved during the last year, this is our chance. As we go into this big meeting, let’s take one extra step back before entering and extend wishes to one another for a very good, happy, and sweet New Year. L’shanah tovah u’mesukah. O Comments for Larry Gordon are welcome at [email protected]. 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 9 Sweet Year and also a ‘sweet’ new year? upon miracles, and not even to lation, however slight, of inter- include, of course, Anwar al Continued from Front Cover What would be wrong with pray for them. So, setting them national conflicts, is certainly Sadat’s visit to Jerusalem and simply saying, ‘Have a good aside and trying to be very real- something in the realm of the speech to the Knesset, the col- and the Jewish people as a year’?” He answered by distin- istic, what are some of the expectable. lapse of the Soviet Union and community—will experience a guishing between the defini- sweet things that could really In our own community, we the exodus of millions of Jews, new year that is indeed good tion of good and the definition happen this year, things that can anticipate continued and the amazing rebirth and and sweet. of sweet. we can wish and pray for progress, if not total and per- growth of Torah study and reli- The hard-boiled cynics After all, the question “What wholeheartedly and can rea- fect success, on many trouble- gious dedication. among us may respond, “What is good?” is not a simple one to sonably expect? some fronts. These include From this perspective, we good year? What sweet year?” answer. Defining good has I would suggest that one of domestic violence, the agunah have every right to aspire to, Perhaps for individuals, their been a popular philosophical them is the freeing of the issue, substance abuse, and certainly to wish and pray year will have moments of problem from ancient times Israeli soldiers who are being teenage drop-outs, and proper for, a good and sweet year in goodness and sweetness and until today. Indeed, from a held in captivity—Gilad remediation of learning dis- every respect. Good, not just in perhaps even an absence of Jewish perspective, everything Shalit, for example. His abilities. We can hope for the philosophical sense but in real tzores. But for the Jewish is for the good. The believing return home is certainly not progress, too, in our efforts to the objective sense, and sweet people as a whole? There may Jew follows the lesson of the impossible, and is something alleviate the heavy tuition bur- for sure. be good news here and there, ancient sage Nachum who, in we must pray for and have den on parents who want a Let us hope that in Elul of but it is certainly not likely to the most tragic of circum- every right to wish for. quality Jewish education for next year we can look back and be a sweet year. After all, stances, would still say “Gam That the inhabitants of their children. say that this year was good. But threats to Israel’s security zo l’tovah, even this is for the Sderot can live a year with- And we can certainly look to not only was it good—it was abound, and anti-Semitism in good.” So when we wish some- out rocket attacks is some- see more fellow Jews connect- also a sweet, sweet year. Shanah its most vile and vulgar form is one a “good year,” who knows thing which is very possible ing in meaningful ways to our tovah u’mesukah to all! O clearly on the increase, while what we are really wishing and wouldn’t take a major, religion and heritage. we are clearly decreasing in him? However, pointed out this unexpected diplomatic victo- All these are within the numbers and perhaps in influ- Chassidic sage, when it comes ry to attain. realm of the possible. Yet, even At 5TJT.com ence as well. In short, the to a definition of sweet, things We can certainly hope to see in recent decades, there have Jewish people face tremendous are far less ambiguous. Sweet major breakthroughs in cures been unanticipated, unherald- you can enjoy articles challenges at every turn. is sweet. And therefore we add for significant illnesses—scien- ed events that we have wit- in 3 ways: As a possible retort to our the additional wish of a “sweet tific discoveries are continually nessed and have experienced. “hard-boiled cynic,” I draw year,” a year which is clearly accelerating, and we have every Had they been predicted in 1. Read upon a deep insight I heard and obviously positive, without right to expect some sweetness advance, no doubt they would 2. Print long ago from an old Chassidic the necessity of any philosoph- there. The reconciliation of have seemed to our “hard- sage. He asked, “Why do we ical spin. individual differences, family boiled cynic” to be beyond the 3. Email wish each other both a ‘good’ We are taught not to rely conflicts, and even the modu- realm of possibility. They

Happy New Year

10 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 11 ‘Ah Goot Yur’

It’s a universal and seasonal slogan for them, and of course for all mem- that cuts across all lines of linguistic bers of the Jewish community every- demarcation. You don’t have to know where. If things are good for every or understand a single word of individual Jew everywhere, then there Yiddish to wish a friend, family, or must be some kind of mathematical neighbor “Ah goot yur.” How else can formula to prove that this will, ipso you say it? Can you in good con- facto, translate into it being a good science wish someone a simple “good year for the Jewish communities year” without conjuring up images of around the globe. steel-belted radial tires? Somehow Of course, you do not have to say wishing someone a plain old good the words “ah goot yur” in order to year ahead misses the mark; it fails to convey this sentiment. The words convey the essence and substance of “shanah tovah,” the Hebraic variation your intentions. of “ah goot yur,” also does the trick “Ah goot yur”—Yiddish for “Have a fairly well. While the two different good year,” has a schmaltzy deepness word selections basically mean the to it, a depth and a meaning that liter- same thing, there are regional cus- ally communicates to those you are toms, even here in the Five Towns, wishing it to your sincere wishes that that get called into consideration they do indeed have a successful, about how you greet and express New healthy, and genuinely good year. And Year’s wishes to friends, neighbors, you do not have to be selective about and those whom you just pass on the whom you wish a goot yur to. It’s a street. There are certain parts of town wish that at this time of year applies to where you only hear the words ah goot everyone. After all, why shouldn’t yur and others where it is exclusively everyone you meet or even just pass on shanah tovah. I think, though, that the street really have a good year? We unless I hear the words shanah tovah want it for ourselves, and we want it from an authentic Israeli, it sounds

12 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES kind of contrived. It’s like the person the words you choose to convey your ple “Have a nice year” or “Have a good timents to friends with feeling and saying it is thinking “ah goot yur” but New Year’s greetings very often come year.” Yet, you can be wheeling your depth of meaning? I suppose for them, the words come out a bit more hip in from the depths of the heart. Telling shopping wagon down the aisle and, and to an extent for us, there are things the form of “Shanah tovah.” someone to have a “nice” year just without even stopping, make brief eye appropriate for this time of year in Now, even though I like Yiddish and doesn’t cut it. I suppose if you are contact and say “ah goot yur,” and they Hebrew, the holy language, that are just find myself genuinely comfortable know that you mean it. as sincere and expressive as ah goot yur. with the expressive nature of the lan- The words you choose make all the One of my favorites from that selection guage, it still strikes me as a little odd difference in the world. Expressing is “Shanah tovah u’mesukah” (“A good hearing the words ah goot yur emanat- Expressing yourself in Yiddish communicates an and sweet year”). That sums it up: sweet. ing from someone who I definitely Old World warmth. I’d like to suggest Sweet like the honey in which we dip know does not know a word of Yiddish. that, by using these terms, you are the apple and the challah for precisely Chances are that all they know are yourself in Yiddish expressing an Old World sincerity; that reason, to invoke a sweet year. If these three little words and that’s it. At you are exuding a message steeped in you think (and taste) sweet, perhaps it’ll the same time, while it strikes me as communicates an a time when spin meant to turn catch and everything else around you somewhat odd to hear the words, I also around very quickly. Saying “ah goot will be sweet, too. respect the thrust of the meaning and Old World yur” means that you really mean it, Think sweet and it will be sweet, or the genuineness of what those doing that you genuinely are parting with think good and it will be good. And we the wishing really want to express by words of berachah, and that you will wish all a kesivah vachasimah tovah, that using those words. But I hear “ah goot warmth. incorporate those ideas and senti- you be inscribed and sealed into the yur” so many times around Rosh ments into your prayers at the points Divine books of good. With that wish, Hashanah from people who I know when it is appropriate to have all of we seal the deal on a year of good have no association with anything Am Yisrael in mind. things, a year of blessing, and a year of Yiddish that I cannot help beginning to speaking to your Sprint customer-serv- So what about people who speak good health. In other words, Ah goot, wonder whether they understand what ice representative, then “nice” is an Yiddish as a matter of course—people in gezunt, and gebenched yur to you, yours, they are saying. okay or even nice thing to say. But you Williamsburg, Monsey, or Boro Park, and all of Israel. O “Happy New Year” or “Have a good don’t want to pass your friends in the where for so many Yiddish is their first year” will just not do it. The sound is aisles of Brach’s or Gourmet Glatt and, and language of choice? What language Comments for Larry Gordon are welcome at too common and insincere. Those without even stopping, rifle off a sim- do they use in order to convey these sen- [email protected]. words already have their time and place, and it is not Rosh Hashanah. Saying “Happy New Year” around January 1 is the right time and context for the sentiment. You are not going to walk around your office New Year’s party wishing your colleagues ah goot yur. There’s a time and a place for everything, but that’s neither the time nor the place for ah goot yur. Some, I’m sure you’ve noticed, have an even more expressive sentiment that just might be the one that is reserved for people they may feel particularly close to. This variation, “Ah goot gebenched yur,” means “Have a good, blessed, year.” This also loses something in the translation. You just can’t walk around saying to friends, “A good and blessed year”; you’ll run the risk of sounding too much like Bishop Murphy. And if you wish people a blessed year without referencing a “gebenched yur,” then you are sounding too much like the President of the United States who always concludes his remarks in speeches by saying, “May God bless the people of the United States.” I like that much better than just wishing everyone a good night, but still, after hearing it so many times over so many years, it begins to lose some of its potency. Now if George Bush could say, “Ah goot gebenched yur,” we just might have something there. So how is ah goot yur different from ah goot gebenched yur or ah goot gezunt yur? “Gebenched” (which has nothing to do with sitting down) is the offer or the expression of hope that the person on the receiving end of these New Year’s wishes be the recipient of blessings in the coming year. It’s an all- inclusive sentiment that covers just about everything one can ask of the good L-rd during these Days of Awe. On the other hand, gezunt, or healthy, is more specific, but good health is certainly the thing that all else in life flows from. One needs one’s health in order to navigate through the maze of life. If you have that—ah goot gezunt yur—everything else becomes a bit more simplified. I guess the point of all this is that 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 13 halachos pertaining to kohanim, particularly about when and where they may or may not come in contact with Kohanim And Halachah meisim (the dead). The Talmud (Kiddushim 35a) tells us that the BY RABBI YAIR HOFFMAN Mitzrayim—i.e., Aharon HaKohein. the program. He presented a presen- verse in Vayikra (21:2-3) that pro- DIRECTOR, TIFERET CHAYA PROGRAM This genetic discovery was made tation on “The Discovery and hibits kohanim from becoming tamei FOR GIRLS famous a number of years ago in an Significance of the Cohen Genetic from a meis only applies to male article published in Nature. Signature” this past July 16 at kohanim, not female kohanim. This is This past July, there was a fasci- also the halachah as codified in nating conference in Jerusalem. It Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 373:2). was a very special type of family Rabbeinu Bachya and Baal HaTurim gathering. Those gathered were all The researchers performed the same explain (Parashas Emor) the reason is kohanim—descendants of Aharon that women have a special obligation HaKohein. The conference centered to do chesed—more so than men. around the notion of the “Cohen genetic tests on Levi’im a few years later, Therefore, the Torah exempted them Modal Haplotype.” from the requirements of purity in The Cohen Modal Haplotype is this venue. essentially a Y-chromosome DNA lin- and they found no such genetic markers A kohein who is yet a child should eage signature that over 80 percent not enter a cemetery, either. Indeed, of both Ashkenazic and Sephardic as were found for the kohanim. adults are obligated to ensure that that kohanim possess. This demonstrates the child not become impure. If he is a direct patrilineal descent of pres- so young that he has not reached the ent-day kohanim from one ancestor age of instruction, then there is no in the distant past. This ancestor has Professor Karl Skorecki, of the HaKotel Hall auditorium, located in such obligation. Nonetheless, one may been genetically dated to have lived Rambam-Technion Medical Center, Jerusalem’s Old City above the steps not actively bring such a child to a approximately 3,000 years ago, a is the project director and is also one of the Kotel plaza. funeral or cemetery (see Biur time corresponding to yetzias of the main researchers involved in In this article we will discuss some Halachah, O.C. 143). Expectant mothers who are married to kohanim, generally speaking, are permitted to attend funerals and enter cemeteries (See Shach, Y.D. 371:1). However, some poskim limit this general heter. The Sheilas Yaavetz (Vol. II, No. 177) rules that she is forbidden from doing so after having entered the ninth month. The concern is that the child may be male and would therefore become impure. Nonetheless, most poskim have rejected this position (see, for example, responsa Har Tzvi, Y.D. 281). Rav Isser Zalman Meltzer, the father-in-law of Rav Aharon Kotler, zt’l, however, ruled that when a woman is past her due date, she may not (see Even HoEzel Hilchos Aveilus chapter 21). There is also a debate between the author of the Shulchan Aruch and the Rema as to whether a kohein may visit someone who is on his or her deathbed (see Y.D. 370:1). This situation exists in most ICUs in large hospitals, since almost every day there is a death. Even the Rema, however, states that it is good to be stringent in this regard. There is a huge debate regarding kohanim and the dead of gentiles. The Rambam writes (Hilchos Tumas Meis 1:13) that a dead gentile does not create tumas ohel—a state of impurity under the same roof. However, Tosfos is of the opinion that it does. The issue is discussed in Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 372:2), and the Rema concludes that it is proper to be stringent. If it is absolutely necessary, a kohein may enter in the same room as the deceased gentile, but should be careful not to touch him nor to create an ohel above him (to form a horizontal covering of any length at all above him). The issue becomes rather complicated on flights to Israel. Most poskim are of the opinion that a kohein may not travel on an airplane to Israel if it is transporting a body. Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt’l, writes (Igros Moshe, Y.D. II No. 164) that a kohein should attempt to ascertain whether there is a body being transported to Israel on the flight that he 14 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES plans to take. It is the opinion of this author that most non–El Al flights do not carry Jewish human remains to Israel. This issue poses another problem, however. There is a verse in the Torah forbidding lifnei iveir—placing a stumbling block before the blind. This verse refers to halachic stumbling blocks as well as a stumbling block in advice (and physical ones, too). Is there an obligation upon those people who are involved in travel arrangements for the deceased to inform the kohanim on that flight that there are human remains on board? The consensus is that at this time there is no such obligation, since the majority of those who fly are not kohanim. One may perhaps question this leniency, since, although the majority of passengers are not kohanim, the majority of flights do have kohanim on board. The answer is that we look at each passenger individually, and we do not pose the lifnei iver question as a whole on the entire airplane. It should be noted that it is theo- retically possible for a kohein to enter a cemetery as long as he does not come within seven feet of a grave or walk under a tree that covers both him and a cemetery plot. Practically, this is nearly impossible in most cemeteries. A kohein whose close family member has passed away may become impure for them, but must be careful on the way out of the cemetery. Getting back to the genetic markers, what is interesting, and perhaps less known, is that the researchers performed the same genetic tests on Levi’im a few years later. The result of their research was that they found no such genetic markers as were found for the kohanim. Scientifically, the same statistics should exist for Levi’im as well as kohanim. Perhaps the best explanation for this quirk is that people are more honest in regard to kehunah. O

The author can be reached at [email protected].

And so shall he do for the Tent of Meeting, which dwells amongst them in the midst of their defilement

(Vayikra 16:16)

Also when they are in a state of defilement, the Shechinah (Divine Presence) dwells with them.

(Talmud; Rashi)

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 15 Missed Opportunity Continued from Front Cover

The challenges facing us in the coming year are complex, and the direction we need to take is uncertain. The frightening security crisis in Eretz Yisrael—the suffering of people in Sderot; the fate of the missing soldiers; the prospect of a nuclear Iran— consumes us with fear and concern. The community’s distress here in the United States—the shidduch crisis, the ever-growing burden of yeshiva tuition, and the increasing number of young people and children being diag- nosed with serious illnesses—are tear- ing at our core. The only solace we have is that this is exactly what the navi predicted for us in ikvesa d’meshicha (in the days preceding Mashiach), so we are hopeful that the end of our suffering is close at hand. This year I chose to focus on the individual, rather than on the k’lal—to focus, if you will, on “Reb Yisrael” rather than K’lal Yisrael. The message for 5768 for Reb Yisrael is not to allow “missed opportunities” at this very important time of the year. Our history is replete with the stories of missed opportunities that reshaped and per- manently altered our destiny as a people, destined to suffer until the coming of Mashiach. There is a painful midrash that tells us about Nevuchadnetzar’s actions after the destruction of the first Beis HaMikdash. After his army destroyed and laid waste to the Beis HaMikdash, he instructed his gener- als to lead K’lal Yisrael into exile. When doing so, he had one specific request to his lead general, Nevuzardon: he said that until B’nei Yisrael has crossed the Euphrates, they should not be allowed to rest. If given the time to rest, they would have the time to weep and to entreat Hashem—which could result in foil- ing the attempt to exile them. After crossing the Euphrates, the Jews were given the opportunity to rest, and there, by the rivers of Bavel, they wept. The navi Yirmiyahu met them there, found them weeping, and told them, “I would bring heaven and earth to testify that had you shed but one tear while you were still in your land, you would not have been exiled.” What a missed opportunity! Had they cried just one day earlier, our entire history—the oceans of blood spilled of our people—would have been different. This has been our fate again and again. We have often missed the opportunity that could have reshaped our destiny. This is the season of opportunities. Dirshu Hashem b’himmotzo, search for Hashem when He can be found (Yeshayah 55:6). There is no other time throughout the entire year that the opportunity for connecting to Hashem is more appropriate. Let’s learn from our mistakes and not once again miss this wonderful opportunity to turn our hearts and minds to HaKadosh Baruch Hu and proclaim Him for all the world to hear, the Melech Malchei HaMelachim. Kesivah vachasimah tovah to all of K’lal Yisrael. O 16 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES CALENDAR s”xc LUACH September 12–22 ZIP Code: 11516

29 Elul – Erev Yom Tov Wednesday, September 12 Erev Rosh Hashanah Eiruv Tavshilin Candle Lighting* (1st night): 6:51 pm 1 Tishrei – Yom Tov Thursday, September 13 1st day of Rosh Hashanah 5768 Tashlich Candle Lighting* (2nd night): 7:54 pm (or later) 2 Tishrei – Yom Tov/Erev Shabbos Friday, September 14 2nd day of Rosh Hashanah 5768 Daf yomi: Kesuvos 13 Z’manim*: Earliest tallis: 5:40 am Sunrise: 6:35 am Latest Shema: M. Av. 9:06 am Gr’a 9:42 am Candle Lighting (Shabbos): 6:48 pm 3 Tishrei – Shabbos Saturday, September 15 Shabbos Parashas Ha’azinu Shabbos Shuvah Shabbos ends**: 7:46 pm 72 min. 8:17 pm 4 Tishrei – Ta‘anis Sunday, September 16 Tzom Gedalyah Dawn: 5:13 am Midday: 12:49 pm Earliest Minchah: 1:21 pm Fast ends: 7:33 pm/7:36 pm 9 Tishrei – Erev Shabbos Friday, September 21 Erev Yom Kippur Kapparos Daf yomi: Kesuvos 20 Earliest tallis/tefillin: 5:48 am Sunrise: 6:42 am Latest Shema: M. Av. 9:08 am Gr’a 9:44 am Candle Lighting: 6:36 pm 10 Tishrei – Shabbos Saturday, September 22 Yom Kippur Yizkor Shabbos/Yom Tov ends**: 7:34 pm 72 min. 8:05 pm * from MyZmanim.com ** add a few minutes for tosefos Shabbos according to your minhag

Municipal Calendar For 5 Towns and NYC Wednesday, September 12 & Friday, September 21 LIRR holiday eve service: extra Far Rockaway train from Penn Station at 3:48 pm. Thursday–Friday, September 13–14 Public schools closed; NYC alternate- side regulations suspended. 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 17 search for deeper purpose can be quite daunting. Where do What Is The Calling Of Our Time? we find direction? How do we access spirituality when we B Y SIMON A generation has passed, a house” of our tedious lives Moshe, delivering his last are surrounded by narcissism? JACOBSON generation has arrived, and “beneath the sun?” Or will we words to the Jewish nation, Can we maintain higher there is nothing new under transcend the earthly strato- dramatically tells them: “The integrity in a corrupt world? Is If you were able to have a the sun. Only the names and sphere and live dynamic, pas- mandate that I am prescribing spiritual passion possible in a glimpse of G-d’s innermost props have changed. sionate lives. Boredom, the to you today is not beyond or pedestrian life? thoughts, what would they The faithful will, however, monotony of the daily grind, is distant from you. It is not in The spiritual mandate can look like? (Answer below. add that nothing is new “under one of our greatest enemies. heaven… It is not over the seem very distant and inacces- Please don’t peek). the sun,” but “over the sun,” in The vacuum that a monoto- sea… It is something very close sible to us. It can appear diffi- Another year has passed. As the higher/inner world of spirit, nous life creates is extremely to you, in your mouth and in cult, something relegated to can be said of every year, new energy is always brewing. susceptible; desperate for your heart, that you may do it.” “heaven,” which we can many good things as well as As a new year approaches and something, anything, that will What exactly is Moshe say- access only when we climb many sad events have tran- a new and unprecedented relieve the quotidian. ing? Why would we think that the mountain but not in our spired. People have died and energy is about to enter our This dilemma was addressed the mandate is “distant” and lives on earth, or “across the new children were born. lives, let us all rise a bit “above by Moshe over three millennia beyond us? The answer sea,” but not in our local lives. Some have married and found the sun.” ago. One of the most com- becomes quite apparent when As a true leader, sensitive to love and bliss; others have The choice is ours: Will we pelling and germane Biblical we look at our own lives: the needs of people, Moshe experienced loss and heart- remain stuck breathing “recy- verses is in last week’s Torah Living in a mundane world, anticipated this dilemma and break. The cynic may con- cled stale air” resulting from portion, which we always read inundated and consumed by therefore stated, days before he clude, paraphrasing Koheles: being trapped in the “green- before Rosh Hashanah. material needs, the universal passed away: “Know that the spiritual mandate is not difficult, distant or beyond you. It is “very close”—accessible and relevant—very close to you and your life. These words resonate through the ages as the single most compelling challenge in life: How to access the spiritual path? How to live a meaningful life? Indeed, the classic Tanya (authored by the Torah giant, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, (1745–1812) is based on this verse, “to explain clearly how it is exceedingly near.” Tanya—the Bible of Chassidic thought—lays out a comprehensive psycho-spiritual outline how to actually discover the profound relevance in the Torah mandate. If spiritual relevance is the challenge of history, today it is especially acute. In this writer’s opinion, two major crises loom above them all and will only continue to haunt us: Divisiveness and education. Conflict plagues every seg- ment of society. From global confrontations considered to be a “clash of civilizations” to the accelerated battle between faith and atheism. Within religion itself, and within each individual religion, irreparable rifts separate denominations of every garden variety, cultivating distrust, discrimination, and often worse. Things are not much better on the personal and interper- sonal front. How many people do you know that you can hon- estly say are at peace with themselves? One out of two marriages fails. And how many are failing without a legal divorce? The story of personal dissonance (I’m afraid to say: misery) consuming our lives is reflected in the colossal sales of books and products (healthy or unhealthy) offering wholesomeness and inner peace, coupled with the billions spent on therapy—is anybody not in therapy today? Not to mention the multibil- lion-dollar industry of self- 18 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES medication (literal or figurative). The plague of divisiveness is especially glaring against the backdrop of tech- nological unity we are experiencing in the increasingly shrinking global village. With all the advances in communica- tions—instantaneous connection to anyone anywhere anytime—are we actually communicating better? Is there more trust between people? The second crisis is in the area of education, namely the values taught in our schools and homes. The best education will teach a student the skills to earn a respectable income. But what about life skills—how to love and be loved, be a giver and not just a taker, to fulfill your life’s mission and leave a per- manent mark, rather than just survive, entertain yourself and perpetuate the temporal. These lessons are almost completely dependent on circumstantial factors, a good family (and that too may not be enough), bumping into the right mentor, often hitting rock bottom and learning from the upturn of life’s curve. With the average American child spending 900 hours in school and nearly 1,023 hours in front of a TV, watching an average 8,000 murders on TV before finishing elementary school, what will counter the balance? These crises of divisiveness and education are especially acute in the Jewish community. Strange as it may sound, the comforts of our modern lives not only don’t bring us together, they actually divide us further. The good news is that both challenges are rooted in the same place: A

Continued on Page 20

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 19 Calling Of Our Time an exclusive imprint, unique to you and This is all a metaphor for the Divine: ancient, evolved bacteria, I don’t feel Continued from Page 19 you alone. Only you can fulfill your role The large material universe is the elabo- that good about myself. It makes me and play your special music. And the rate stage upon which the primary pur- feel cold and detached, from myself lack of soulfulness. whole world apprehensively waits–and pose of existence plays itself out, and and from everyone around me. When I When we see ourselves as mere mate- cannot be complete—until you actual- the human being is the central charac- think that I look like G-d’s thoughts, rial creatures we have no other recourse ize your life’s calling to make your ter charged with the mission to fulfill engraved in His Image, it makes me than drawing “lines in the sand” that unique mark and contribution. this purpose: To transform the physical feel warmer, more in touch—belong- define our boundaries and differences. Now, back to the initial question: world into a Divine abode. ing, nurtured, and embraced. The cardinal law of matter, after all, is What do G-d’s innermost thoughts look The “means”—all the props of the Now that we know what G-d’s that each of its pieces occupies its own like? One century ago, in the year 1907, grand stage of the universe—are con- thoughts look like, maybe it’s time to space, distinct from others. However, the great Rebbe Rashab, discussed this sidered to be created through Divine ask: What do our thoughts look like? when we recognize our spiritual com- very topic in the conclusion of his clas- speech, which is detached from its Imagine if you were able to access your monality, then we are more like limbs of sic Hemshech Samach-Vav (the series of source and communicates the message deepest thoughts and then build someone organism, fundamentally and inher- 61 discourses he delivered in 1905- to an entity outside of yourself. Like thing accordingly, what would it look ently connected, each complementing 1908). Samach-Vav explains that the when you direct workers to do a job for like? As we approach the New Year, I and depending on the other. Divine essence is hidden from view and you, the workers only hear your verbal want to extend to you my personal Same with education: The only force from every form of expression. Yet in instructions, the immediate needs of blessings for a sweet and healthy year. that will infuse our children (and our- creating existence G-d did reveal the small picture, without necessarily I also want to take this opportunity to selves) with higher values and empower Himself. Different aspects of the uni- knowing or appreciating your inner- thank all of you who have sent me your them to face the challenges of a materi- verse manifest and express different most thoughts and objectives. kind wishes and blessings for the New al world is not more materialism, but aspects of the Divine personality. Thought, on the other hand, expresses Year. We are told that all those that bless, (surprise: what is the opposite of mat- Like with any structure, there are the your inner goals and objectives—the big shall be blessed. May your blessings be ter?) spirituality—a deep sense of the means and the ends. Even though a picture. The most intimate dimension of fulfilled many times over in your life. soul within each of us and the mission building may have a particular purpose, Divine thought is reflected in the creation May you have a year of love and peace, of the soul’s journey in this life. No child it still has sections and rooms that are of the human being. This is the meaning a year of marriage and joy, a year of on earth should be deprived of the need peripheral but necessary for the function of the statement that the human is creat- healthy children and nachas, a year of to discover meaning in life. Every boy of the entire entity. The primary objec- ed in the Divine Image: Though every material and spiritual success, a year of and girl must know, ingrained in his or tive of a library, for instance, is to house fiber of existence was created by G-d and health and wealth, a year of life with pur- her psyche from the youngest age, that books. Yet, the library building will have therefore in some way reflects elements pose. Those that need special blessings s/he must ask the question: What is my lobbies, doors, halls, offices, cafeterias, of the Divine “personality,” they are only in health or other matters, may G-d see calling? Spirituality has to be become an restrooms, and other areas that all serve “means.” But the Divine Image—the big what you need and fulfill it in the fullest essential ingredient in the education of as means and secondary roles to the picture—manifests in the human the pri- measure. Above all, may we all have a every child, and an absolute necessary main function of the building. The same mary objective and end purpose of it all. year of global peace and redemption. O study for any aspiring leader, teacher, or is with our own lives: Whatever our pri- Rosh Hashanah celebrates this Rabbi Simon Jacobson is the author of the clergyperson. The message of the soul is mary mission in life may be, we also have Image. So, what do G-d’s innermost bestselling book Toward a Meaningful Life, a the single most relevant message you many peripheral activities necessary to thoughts look like? They look like you William Morrow publication that has sold over will ever hear—and it is renewed each survive and fulfill our goals: Eating, and me. You are G-d’s expression of His 300,000 copies to date and has been translated into Hebrew, French, Spanish, Dutch, Portuguese, Rosh Hashanah, the collective birthday sleeping, grooming, shopping, exercis- innermost thoughts. And what is G-d Italian, Russian and Japanese. He also heads The of the human race: ing, and entertaining. (Actually, except thinking about right now? About you. Meaningful Life Center, presenting the teachings of Torah to people of all backgrounds, in accessible You are indispensable. Every one of for rare cases the means consume most I don’t know about you, but when I and relevant language, enabling them to lead us was created in the Divine Image with of the time of our days). think of myself as just a piece of more meaningful lives.

20 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Torah And Science: Their Interplay In The World Scheme

Updated and Expanded Edition by Yehuda Levi (Feldheim Publishers) BOOK REVIEW BY ARI SHER

Thousands of years prior to the advent of modern science, the sages of the Talmud were busy perfecting methods of discerning truth from often conflicting traditions. The methods that they perfected back then (if not the content) apply to science as well, which quite often must sift scientific truth from conflicting experiments. In fact, Nobel prizes are often awarded for the successful resolution of seemingly conflicting experiments. Einstein, for example, successfully resolved the results of the Michaelson–Morely experiments with his now famous Theory of Special Relativity, although he won his Nobel prize with his explanation of the pho- toelectric effect. Clearly, there was a time when “Science and Religion” evoked fierce debate where one side said “the Yankees won” while the other side said “the Yankees lost.” Clearly, in this type of debate, only one side can be correct. In fact, however, a com- plementary type of interaction between science and religion emerged in the 20th century and it is this form of potentially synergist interaction that this excellent volume addresses. To quote Einstein: “Now, even though the realms of religion and science in themselves are clearly marked from each other, nevertheless there exist between the two strong recipro- cal relationships and dependencies. Though religion may be that which determines the goal, it has, nevertheless, learned from science, in the broadest sense, what means will contribute to the attainment of the goals it has set up. But science can only be created by those who are thoroughly imbued with the aspiration towards truth and understanding. This source of feeling, however, springs from the sphere of religion.” (A. Einstein, Out of My Later Years, Philos. Libr. New York 1950 p.26) In examining some apparent conflicts, this volume describes the issues of the age of the world, the origin of species, as well as the uncertainty principle. In doing so, the author examines these issues from the Torah point of view as well as from the van- tage point of modern science. More often than not, apparent contradic- tions melt away in the face of objective analysis. For example, according to the

Continued on Page 22 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 21 ‘Torah And Science’ driver of the car). The uncer- tioned, such as “Visibility in Continued from Page 21 tainty principle, according to Halachah,” have direct rele- the author, permits the exer- vance today. Discussed in this uncertainty principle, at cise of free will on a micro- context are the letters of least on the microscopic scopic scale, while preserv- Torah scrolls, whose letters level, you cannot know ing determinism on a may not touch each other, everything. If you know the macroscopic scale. water leaking from a mikveh, velocity of a particle, for On a slightly different which requires stationary example, then you cannot note, the author also exam- water, as well as the well- know its precise location, ines cases in which scientific known problems surrounding and if you know a particle’s knowledge may be required bugs in food and protozoa in location, you cannot know for specific laws. The Torah the water supply. its precise velocity. The tells us that any fish having Another interesting topic rough equivalent of this on a both fins and scales may be revolves around the question macroscopic level is that eaten. Yet in order to imple- of how scientific advances when you are driving down ment this law, in the case may influence Jewish law. Central Avenue you can where a fish has these char- The author concludes that never be exactly certain acteristics at some point dur- only if the law is based on when and where cars are ing its lifecycle, prolonged presumed facts can the law going. More specifically, you and somewhat difficult sci- be subject to change. The may see a car, but you can- entific observation is author gives the following not really know where it is required. example to support this: “In headed (and neither may the Some of the topics men- establishing the status of tereifah in humans, medical opinion is decisive, as Rambam writes (Hilchot Rotzeiach UShemirat Ha- Nefesh 2:8) ‘Every person is considered viable, and one who murders him is killed, unless it is known with cer- tainty that he was a tereifah, and the physicians say that this malady cannot be healed, and he will die of it if he is not killed by something else first.’” According to the author, based on the Rambam, we rely on current medical opinion in the specific case of human tereifah. In addition, Yehuda Levi informs us that there are rare cases in which our tradition gives precedence to the opinion of scientists over the sages. In some cases science is even used to establish halachah. The author quotes several sources in the Talmud: “A case in point is in the Talmudic statement concerning the distance over which vegetables draw their nour- ishment from the ground, an important factor in the laws of kilayim (prohibition against mixing seeds). The Talmud questions the relia- bility of the Sages in this matter and concludes that the knowledge was reliable, having been obtained in Biblical times from other nations, who were known to be experts in agriculture (BT Shevi’ith 9:2). There are many other aspects concerning the interrelationship between Torah and science that are included in this excellent and comprehensive volume. Some of these topics include the subjects of Torah and the environment, science in the service of Torah, Torah psy- chology, as well as a review of Torah and the humanities. The book has both breadth as well as depth and is well worth the investment in both time and money. O 22 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 23 ous handouts from the teacher. We were getting our things ready to leave Turning The Calendar Again when a woman in front of us turned to us and said. “Okay, did they say anything I needed to know?” Our Aliyah Chronicle, Part 56 event last year, and when she was lot about each other. And we knew the answer! Yes, this is B Y SHMUEL KATZ asked to help coordinate the evening, On Monday night, Goldie and I getting to be a recurring theme. But I Goldie readily agreed. The women put went to 7th-grade parents’ night at just can’t get over how much better it On motzaei Shabbat last week, together a “human bingo” game, where Chorev for Aliza. We were struck by is to understand 65 percent of what Goldie co-chaired a “Welcome to our each square represented a characteris- two major things that night. The first you are hearing instead of 20 percent. Community” event for our shul. tic and the participants had to go thing hit us at the end of the night. We Plus, since we have lived through “the Essentially, the shul runs an annual around the room trying to find some- had listened to both the principal and toughest year,” we also knew enough event where the new olim get to meet one to match the characteristic. While then Aliza’s teacher tell us all about the not to sweat it if we missed anything. the members of the shul and vice competitive people like me worry upcoming year and some of the things The second thing hit us at the mall. versa. We had a lot of fun meeting about winning (we didn’t), it is a great we should expect. We had filled out We hadn’t eaten dinner, so we stopped many of our neighbors at this same way to “break the ice” and find out a the contact forms and gotten the vari- by the Malcha Mall to grab a bite at the food court. As we rode the escala- tor, Goldie noticed a huge sign put up at the mall, wishing all the shoppers a “Happy and Sweet New Year.” She turned to me and said, “You know, a year ago I would have been all excited about seeing this sign. Now, I take it as the way things are supposed to be.” I think she meant it as a little bit of a loss for us, that somehow we don’t have the same wide-eyed enthusiasm for Israel that we might have had a

A year ago I would have been all excited about seeing this sign.

year ago. I, however, took it much dif- ferently. I thought, “Isn’t it great that we can live in a place where we can take such things for granted as the natural course of events?” On Tuesday, I joined the students of the yeshiva on a tiyul (field trip) to Ir David, the site archaeologists believe was the castle of King David. As part of that tiyul, we hiked through Chizkiyahu’s water tunnel. This was my third time on this specific tiyul in the last 14 months. I don’t think this is a tiyul that one can get tired of. Aside from being an active archaeo- logical site where the tour changes each time, and a new part of the site is opened for public viewing (three times at the site, three different tours for me), the water tunnels are tremendously cool (no other way to say it), and being there with the yeshiva guys is just tremendous. After Ir David, we went for Minchah to the Kotel and concluded the day with a brief tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. Although I am repeating myself, once again I was struck at how great it is that I can say that I just jumped on the bus in the morning, vis- ited King David’s castle, walked through water tunnels that have been in existence almost since the founding of Jerusalem, davened at the Kotel and toured the Old City of Jerusalem, and returned home for dinner. On Shabbat we cosponsored an annual kiddush thrown by the members of the shul who had made aliyah the prior year and were celebrating their first anniversary. I remembered being at the same kiddush last year in our first 24 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

week after moving into the neighborhood. It seems a lot more than one year ago. This week marks the com- pletion of our first full calendar year here in Israel. As things stand, it looks like the year will end without the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash and a rebuilt Jerusalem. Thinking back to last year, there was obviously no way we could have had a glimmer as to what we should have been davening for and what Hashem had in store for us. Yet somehow he got us through to be in what we hope is a good place for us and our family. We have grown, as a group and as individuals. On behalf of Goldie and myself, Chaim, Chaya, Aliza, Batya, Mordechai, and Moshe, our family wishes you and your families a shanah tovah u’me- tukah. May we be privileged to celebrate the coming of the next new year together in our Holy Land and rebuilt Holy City of Jerusalem. O Shmuel Katz is the director of Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi in the Katamon neighborhood in Jerusalem. Shmuel and his wife, Goldie, and their six children made aliyah in July of 2006. Prior to his aliyah, Shmuel was the executive director of the Yeshiva of South Shore in Hewlett. You can contact him at [email protected].

After the death of the two sons of Aharon who came close to G-d and died (Vayikra 16:1)

They approached the supernal light out of their great love of the Holy, and thereby died. Thus they died by “Divine kiss” such as experienced by the perfectly righteous; it is only that the righteous die when the Divine kiss approaches them, while they died by their approaching it… Although they sensed their own demise, this did not prevent them from drawing near to G-d in attachment, delight, delectability, fellowship, love, kiss, and sweetness, to the point that their souls ceased from them.

(Or HaChaim) 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 25 Say Goodbye To Summer

Congregation Bais Tefilah of Woodmere (Edward Avenue Shul) won the championship of the Five Towns Shuls Summer Softball League by beating the Shteeble in the playoffs, 13–3, and defeating Congregation Ohr Torah in the championship game, 4–1. See you next season, guys!

26 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 27 embody emunah and bitachon coupled A Tribute To Magen David Adom with ahavas Eretz Yisrael. Dear Editor, How can the non-agricultural per- “Who shall live and who shall die, son observe this mitzvah? Firstly, more who by fire, and who by water.” To farmers would agree to take upon these words of the Unetaneh Tokef, themselves the mitzvah of Shemittah if perhaps one who lives in Israel should there were funding available for their add, “Who by car accident and who by support. Several organizations are rais- terrorist attack, who by Kassam and Please Obey Traffic Rules…Or Else Jacqueline Vinar’s advice to be nice to ing monies for this purpose, and we who by Katyusha.” Dear Editor, neighbors because “you never know when must heed their call so that more farm- We in the U.S. learned on 9/11 I would like to respectfully remind you will need them” completely misses the ers can participate in this mitzvah. that anyone, anywhere can experi- Far Rockaway residents, and their true purpose of being a warm and wel- Secondly, consumers must show ence terrorism. Our brothers and sis- Rosh Hashanah and Yom Tov guests, coming individual. mesirus nefesh. The Israeli news ters in Israel unfortunately are life- that the New York City Police The reality is that new couples do reported, “Many Orthodox Jews are long learners when it comes to the Department is hard at work, particu- not always embrace invitations from still pressuring the Israeli government subject of terrorism. The “cease-fire” larly at stop signs on Beach 9th Street “older couples,” as seen on my own to allow produce from Gaza [a.k.a. between Israel and Hamas means and on Reads Lane, and especially in block in Woodmere. As our street Kassam City] to reach Israel. They that “only” 6 or 7 Kassam rockets the afternoon and early evening hours. began to fill up with new couples who argue that importing the fruits and land in southern Israel daily. On the Those who ignore traffic rules, do not are 25 years younger than my parents, vegetables from overseas will raise northern border, Hezbollah is come to a full stop, etc., often will end we graciously hosted a tea on a prices significantly, which many rearmed—and this time, according to up getting ticketed. The police do not Shabbos afternoon. impoverished Israelis cannot pay. all the latest information, they have seem overly sympathetic to the “it’s Many of the couples who responded Kosher Today reported exclusively sev- chemical and biological weapons as erev Shabbos” excuse. in the affirmative did not even show up. eral weeks ago that secret negotiations well as conventional missiles. I see this happen almost daily, with When these couples see my parents walk had taken place between Israeli entre- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran the police often stopping one car after by, they barely speak to them. preneurs and Gazan farmers.” continues his rants of denying the the other, hour after hour. But I guess it makes sense, though, It is true that prices will rise if pro- Holocaust and promises to wipe Moving violations such as going in light of Ms. Vinar’s logic. It’s not duce through Gaza is not allowed. But Israel off the map. Even while Israel through stop signs are potentially dan- that they are unfriendly; they obvious- allowing it is a huge security risk in remains willing to discuss peace, per- gerous and can prove quite costly. For ly see no “benefit” in knowing an older addition to trading with self-declared haps it is time to acknowledge what example, one’s auto insurance may go couple on the block! Silly me! terrorists. Therefore the consumer can our tradition tells us: “shalom shalom up dramatically. Tamar Tabachnik reap the mitzvah of emunah and bita- v’ein shalom.” It is a berachah, a Please obey the traffic rules, for the chon by exercising restraint in con- prayer, a hope, but not a reality. All safety of our neighborhood residents, The Heroes Of Shemittah sumption. Not an easy feat! (In the that Israel and those of us who love and for your financial benefit. Dear Editor, Midbar, K’lal Yisrael wanted to return her deeply can do is be prepared and Name Withheld As we herald in Rosh Hashanah, many to Mitzrayim for lack of cucumbers.) hope that Israel can manage the situ- farmers of Eretz Yisrael put away their The reward for observing Shemittah ation, since no solution—either to Be Nicer To Your Neighbors farming tools to begin observing the laws is peace and serenity throughout the strife and war, or traffic—is on the Dear Editor, of Shemittah. These farmers and families borders of Eretz Yisrael, something horizon. I’d like to respond to a letter published will be forgoing 13 months of parnasah in that we are all longing for. Within our culture, both as in the August 24 Five Towns Jewish order to observe the law of Shemittah. Sincerely, Americans and as Jews, we have a Times, “Be Nice to Your Neighbors.” They are modern-day heroes who Mrs. Caren V. May strong tradition of volunteering, giv-

28 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES ing tzedakah and working for the betterment of all humankind—for “tikkun olam.” At the same time, there is a perception that these same values and traditions do not seem to exist in Israel. I know of 12,000 examples of why that perception is wrong. In Israel, 12,000 volunteers person- ally know what the Unetaneh Tokef means firsthand. Our 12,000 volunteers are witnesses to life and death— by fire, by water, at the scene of domestic violence and car accidents, and in ambulances where new life comes forth. Twelve thousand volunteers are the backbone of Israel’s heroic medical first responders, Magen David Adom, and they are saving lives in Israel every day. Twelve thousand Magen David Adom volunteers are the cutting edge of Jewish tikkun olam in Israel. Who are these volunteers? Half are high school juniors and seniors and half are busy Israelis—Jews and Arabs, mothers and fathers, living their lives. Each spends a minimum of eight hours a week standing at the ready. All are trained as first responders and many as advanced paramedics. Some carry their emergency gear in their cars and some keep the gear in their offices. All of them know that 24/7 they are G-d’s partner in answering the Unetaneh Tokef. We pray that in the year ahead, these 12,000 wonderful volunteers, as well as the brave men and women who work professionally for Magen David Adom, making it one of the world’s foremost and most renowned emergency medical first responders, will have less to do. We pray for peace, for a cessation of attacks from Gaza, and an end to terrorism. We hope that Ahmadinejad’s threats remain nothing more than words and that the northern border stays quiet. But we also know that whatever happens, MDA’s volunteers and staff will answer the call, just as they have done throughout Israel’s history. Just as they do today in Sderot, in Jerusalem, in Kiryat Shmona, and throughout the Land. Daniel R. Allen, Executive Vice-President, American Friends of Magen David Adom (www.afmda.org)

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5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 29 Democracy And Equality For Mules

BY PROF. laundering did not help the only Arabs, in their own vil- MK ARIEH ELDAD Israeli ministers much. lages, was seen by the Arabs Israeli Arab leaders hur- as assisting the State of Israel: The Israeli government riedly met and angrily rejected “The rights of the Arab public decided to establish an the idea that young Arabs are not dependent on the pro- administrative unit “to could volunteer for civilian vision of military services that encourage those sectors that service. And the government support the occupation,” do not serve in the Israeli had not spoken, heaven for- declared the Arab leaders of army to volunteer for civilian bid, of obligatory service. But various political affiliations, service.” The government even volunteer service, within from the nationalist Com- chose its words carefully in the framework of the State of munists to the representatives the laundered announcement Israel, was seen by the Arabs of the Islamic Movement. it made. It did not refer, heav- as “a distortion of national Even though these parties are en forbid, to “national serv- identity and a justification for as far apart as Meretz is from ice,” as thousands of religious discriminating against the Agudat Israel, when it comes Jewish girls have served in Arab public.” to deep hatred for the State of Israel for many years. Nor, Even service in Arab Israel and their desire to erase heaven forbid, to “Arabs,” so schools, cultural institutions, its Jewish character they are a as not to offend them. But the and medical facilities serving united front. There are Bedouin Arabs who serve in the Israeli army. I have never understood why what is possible for a Bedouin from the Galilee is impossible for a non-Bedouin Arab from Tira or Sakhnin. I have been told, “It is inconceivable to demand of an Arab that he bear weapons against his brother across the border.” Is a Bedouin not his brother? And do not Sunnis and Shiites slaughter each other in the streets of Baghdad? And was there not a civil war in Gaza? And in Lebanon? Since when is it forbidden for an Arab to kill another Arab? The psychologi- cal complexes of Jewish legis- lators that led them to exempt Arabs from national service are beyond my comprehension. The Israeli government met to decide how to increase equality in Israel and how to grant the Arabs the legitima- cy of being a sector willing to contribute to the country and not only to take from it. They assumed that the Arabs who can’t serve in the Israeli army are obviously searching for other ways to contribute to the State of Israel as a whole, or at least to their own sector. But the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee pub- licly mocked this attempt. They proclaimed that the Arabs will not volunteer for any service in the State of Israel. It is well known that tax revenues in the Arab sector are much lower than they should be, based on their rel- ative percentage of the popu- lation. Some of them don’t pay taxes because they are poor, but others evade taxes in order to avoid contributing to the State of Israel. Some of them do not pay property tax because they don’t have the money, and others because they have earned exemptions from property tax via family members serving on their 30 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES town council. The Jewish sector subsi- dizes most of the services provided to the Arab sector. Thus, why should they volunteer when the state is paying? And, if it doesn’t pay, then they can attack us for “discriminating against their sector.” I heard the following story from Member of Knesset Israel Hasson. It is about two fallahin [farmers; peasants]. One is a tenth-generation fallah, while his “intelligent” neighbor studied at a university and returned to the village enthusiastically preaching democracy, cooperation and equality. The fallahi fallah had two old bulls, while the intellectual was forced to plow his fields with a pair of mules. Now, the rub: the wife of the fallahi fallah noticed that the neighbor’s mules were young and ploughed energetically. She complained to her husband that the neighbor should practice what he preaches. “In the name of equality and cooperation,” she said to her husband, “he should give you one mule and you should give him a bull, so that both of you will be able to finish plow- ing before the rains come.” Her husband took her advice, went to his intelligent neighbor and, in the name of equality, convinced him to give away one mule in exchange for one old bull. The wife of the intelligent fallah thought that this was a bad deal. “Why did you give away a young mule?” she asked her husband. He replied by teaching her about equality and cooperation and democracy. She answered, “If the goal is equality, then it has to be real equality. We have two old cows who don’t give milk anymore and our neighbor has two cows overflowing with milk. Go to him and trade one of our dry cows for one of his, and thus we will bring more justice and equality to the world.” The intellectual went to the fallahi fallah dragging behind him an old cow. In the name of equality, he proposed exchanging cows. The fallahi fallah scratched his head, considered the matter, and turned down the offer. “But why not,” asked the intellectual, “for our goal is equality?” The fallahi fallah stood firm and explained that “equality is for mules.” (Arutz Sheva) O

Professor Arieh Eldad, a 25 year veteran of the IDF medical corps (Brig.-Gen.) and a department head at Hadassah-Ein Kerem Hospital, is a representative of the National Union faction in the Knesset. 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 31 Top 15 Home Improvements, Part 3 (Continued from last week) already realized from energy savings. The following are the last five items from our home-improvement list to maxi- 11. Adding A Den mize the resale value of your home. I hope There are two types of den addi- you find all the items on the list helpful. tions. One is a main-level den addition (where property availability will allow), 10. Replacement Windows and the other is not really an addition, Replacing old windows may be one of but an adaptation of existing interior the most cost-effective items you can space that is transformed into a den, realize on your home. Aside from the such as unfinished basement space or fact that they look good inside and out, unfinished attic space, etc. and they are much easier to open and A main-level den is a big advantage close, they can change the energy effi- for resale. Buyers will always be willing ciency of your home by huge amounts. to spend more money for the availabil- There are different grades of energy ity of a main-level den—especially efficiency for various types of replace- buyers with young children—since ment windows, allowing you a large they can monitor the children easier variety of sources in addition to styling on the same level as the kitchen. This and material composition. Good-quali- feature is highly desirable. ty, high-energy-efficiency replacement When a main-level den is not possi- windows are available for every budget, ble, finishing a den in your basement or and the savings realized just from heat- attic, while not having the same strategic ing and air conditioning bills can pay value as a den on the main floor, is still a for them and then some. good deal better than not having a den at Insofar as value for reselling your all, and will realize a better price on home, buyers will pay substantially more resale than a home without a den. for a home with good-quality replacement windows already installed than 12. Electric Upgrades they will for a home not already I cannot emphasize how valuable electric equipped with them, so your investment upgrades are in resale values. By electric can be recouped from the difference in upgrades, I mean upgrading your existing your sales price as well as what you have electric service box to a minimum of 150

32 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES amps, although 200 amps is more desirable. In today’s times, with the abundance of devices in use in the average home— whether they be kitchen appliances such as dishwashers, refrigerators with ice makers, trash compactors, microwaves, toaster ovens, or convection ovens or electronics such as TVs, home-entertain- ment centers, VCRs, DVD players, stere- os, computers, etc.—having enough electric power to feed all these devices necessitates upgraded electric service. You will also need this upgraded electrical capacity for central air-conditioning, which has also become a high-demand item.

13. Wood Floors If you have wood floors that have seen better days, having them sanded and stained will show off your home to its best advantage. Sanding and stain- ing, or even just applying polyurethane to your floors, will make everything seem newer and larger, and will present your existing furniture at its best.

14. Painting It is amazing what a couple of coats of paint will do to a room or even several rooms. Sand and spackle any holes or cracks in the walls to make them look as fresh and new as possible before painting. Aside from making the walls refreshed and new, you can try some new colors to brighten and give a new look to the interior of your home.

15. Accessories Take the time to put some accents to your existing décor that will enhance your living space, such as a few nice plants or a pretty vase or art piece. Make sure to put just a few things that will enhance your décor rather than too much that will make it look cluttered. The idea is to make it pleasing to the eye when your prospective buyer walks into the house for the first time. A buyer’s first glance can make that “feel good” impression that can be important in creating the positive feel- ings they have of your home as they consider whether to purchase it. Shanah Tovah to everyone! O

Anessa Cohen lives in Cedarhurst and is a Licensed Real Estate Broker (Anessa V Cohen Realty) and Licensed N.Y.S. Mortgage Broker (A.C. Action Mortgage Corp.) with over 20 years of experience offering residential, commercial, and management real estate services as well as mortgage brokerage services. You are invited to visit her website at www.avcrealty.com. She can be reached at 516-569-5007. Readers are encouraged to send any questions or comments to [email protected].

For the next issue, deadline for reserving ad space is Monday, September 17 at 5:00 P.M.

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5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 33 Dear Resentful, sound like a competent and efficient I don’t blame you for feeling resent- woman, and it probably felt good being ful. It sounds as if you carry more than so in control early on. But now, you’re your share of responsibility within your saying, it’s not feeling so good any- marriage. And my guess would be that more. Reality is hitting, money is tight, the pattern of this imbalance was more driving is required, and maybe established many years ago, at the even a desire to live a more interesting moment that everyone shouted “Mazel life is nudging at you. And you there- Dear Esther, seem to grow at all. Money is beyond Tov” to you and Mark while you were fore want to know how you can change I don’t know what to do about my tight, and we can really use a lot more still under the chuppah. It may have your husband. husband, “Mark.” He’s in his early 40s of it than is coming in. He won’t even even started before that time. Though you’ve managed to control and seems so very stuck, like he go on a job interview. I do believe that we teach one anoth- so much during your marriage, sadly walked into quicksand years ago and Oh, and if all of that weren’t er how to treat ourselves. If I knew the one thing you and most people can’t get out. O.K., forget about the enough, he doesn’t even drive. He’s something about your childhood and cannot control is another person, fact that he hasn’t updated his never gotten a license, and as life gets Mark’s, I might learn that you were a when it comes to making them change wardrobe in years; that I can live with. more complicated and the kids need serious, responsible child growing up their very essence. I don’t think being Forget about the fact that he wears his more chauffeuring here and there, it and Mark may have grown up in a home pushy is the answer. It’s hard enough hair the same way, tells the same corny all falls on my shoulders. where his mother (or father) made all of for each of us to change ourselves— jokes, even eats the same foods—I can Yes, I’m resentful and even angry. the decisions for him, and he kind of though absolutely doable—but that’s live with all of that. But I’ve never been a pushy person, coasted along while others did much of as far as it goes. Unless Mark decides The real problem is that he’s been and haven’t really pushed him. Maybe the work in his stead. Surprise, sur- one day that his life is not working for at the same dead-end job for over 20 that’s the problem. Maybe if I pushed prise—he chooses a wife who can con- him anymore, he will unfortunately years. He complains about the salary more, he’d get off his you-know-what tinue taking over the lion’s share of the probably carry on the way he has. It (which is not good), and his boss, and and make more of himself and his life. marital responsibility. We live what we may not be great, but he’s comfortable. just about everything. But he doesn’t How can I get my husband to live know and what feels comfortable for us. Perhaps you might shake things do anything about it. He’s seen me his life more fully? How can I make Perhaps when you first got married, up at home in a way that disturbs his switch jobs over the years and him change? you felt a certain satisfaction being comfort zone. Nothing too ugly, of improve my situation. But he can’t Resentful (quite literally) in the driver’s seat. You course, but maybe just enough to wake him from his coma-like state. I don’t want to be Ethel to your Lucy, but maybe you can think creatively and come up with some schemes that might work. Then there is always bargaining and negotiations: “If you do this, I’ll do that.” Rather than punish him for the same-old same-old, try rewarding him for new efforts. Explore a little. Without telling him to get a new job, try having a discus- sion with him about what he thinks job hunting is all about. Does he view it as a scary event? A waste of time? Maybe you could suggest he follow up on some leads that are in the newspaper, “just for fun—just to see what it’s all about.” No pressure, no desperation on your part, but maybe sounding curi- ous: “Do you really think it’s possible that people are earning the salary stated in the ad?” Harmless conversation. And finally, just because Mark is predictable and doesn’t change anything about himself and the way he lives, doesn’t mean that you can’t surprise him. Though you may have served him meatloaf every Tuesday night for the past 20 years, why not dare to be different and shock his senses with schwarma or some other unexpected meal? Or, without Mark’s asking for it, bring home a new shirt for him that looks nothing like his other shirts and encourage him to give it a shot. In other words, don’t get “stale” with him. Be adventurous and maybe he’ll decide it’s worth following your lead. Esther

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

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34 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 35

A Brand New ‘Day’

There’s a brand new type of “Day” Fourth of July is always on the fourth, afoot. Unfortunately, nobody I know Groundhog Day is always on acknowledges it. It’s similar to, but not February 2, and Rosh Hashanah exactly like, Mother’s Day and Father’s always comes as the month of Elul Day all rolled into one. It’s a day with- ends and Tishrei begins. The time of out a name, but certainly it should year that is set aside for grandmothers have one. It should be known as is altogether different from the days Grandmothers’ Day. There are, howev- put aside for mothers and fathers. It’s er, several differences between this never on the first Sunday in May, and Grandmothers’ Day and the other days it doesn’t happen on the third Sunday on which we honor parents. in June. Instead, it falls between the To start with, Grandmothers’ Day end of August and the first day of isn’t about honoring grandmothers— school, whenever that may be. To be or anybody else, for that matter. It specific, Grandmothers’ Week is doesn’t require sending a card, and it always a short stretch of time right has nothing to do with gift-giving, after the end of the camping season. unless one takes into account the fact If parents are working and kids are that the participating grandmother home, grandmothers are on duty. Got receives the gift of getting to spend the idea? time with her grandchildren. Like some of the aforementioned Another major difference between holidays and celebrations, a large Grandmothers’ Day and the more tra- amount of money is spent, but not on ditional celebrations is that Grand- the celebrant, and not exactly in the mothers’ Day is more than a day long. form of gifts. The money flows, all Come to think of it, it should be right—but in the opposite direction, as called Grandmothers’ Week, because grandmothers everywhere take grand- that’s about how long it lasts! But it is children for haircuts, school shoes, like the other parental celebrations, and Shabbos clothes. The only thing in that it doesn’t always arrive on the that mothers ever have to do is schlep same date, neither on the Gregorian calendar nor the Jewish one. The Continued on Page 38

36 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 37 THAT’S THE WAY IT IS! to take me! I don’t want a haircut. wants—within reason, of course. Let tion. While these aren’t easy tasks to Continued from Page 36 Pleeeeeze, Savta!” It’s the “Please, the parents be the bad ones. accomplish, I always manage to get Savta” that gets to me, and puts me in And with granddaughters, it’s more the job done. But the icing on the around with their own children, the crosshairs of a showdown between than haircuts that pose a problem. cake (and none of this is necessarily a which, in most cases, generally num- my child and my grandchild. A grand- Invariably, the female youngsters in piece of cake) is the head check! ber somewhere between two and four. mother’s life isn’t easy. the group want Shabbos shoes that are There’s nothing I enjoy more than Grandmothers, on the other hand, As we grandmas, bubbies, and savtas decidedly different than what their standing on a long line in a warm, have been known to schlep around as beat the pavement with the kids—in mothers had in mind. “Your mother stuffy, school gymnasium while wait- many as five or six kids at a time, between getting in and out of hot didn’t say anything about a shoe with ing for my “Next!”. There’s just some- youngsters from different offspring. cars—we’re in constant cell phone a heel,” I explain. “Pleeeeeze, Savta! thing about this event that I don’t Some grandmas walk around looking communication with our adult chil- (Again, it’s the “Please, Savta” that love. It might be the fact that some like the Pied Piper. dren. “Shmuel doesn’t want a haircut; gets to me.) I’m eleven, I can wear a stranger, wearing latex gloves, is run- The big hitch here is not the fact ning a comb through my grandchil- that these are young children, nor is it dren’s hair. I wonder, Is it possible that there are so many of them. The she’s hoping to find the little bug- real hitch—you may call it a glitch if gers? Realistically, I realize that she you like—is that they’re not siblings. “Noooo, I don’t care if my mother probably couldn’t care less one way or Siblings have been known to spend an the other. I manage to deal with the entire week in one another’s company long wait and watching the kids hav- without so much as looking at each said to take me! I don’t want a ing their hair picked. But the gevaldis other, much less uttering a sound. But (noise) that goes on in that gym is these kids are cousins to one another, another story. and cousins like to clown around, haircut. Pleeeeeze, Savta!” Mothers—or, as in my case, grand- especially if they’re boys between the mothers—stand patiently on line while ages of six and eleven. It’s kind of a rambunctious, bored, and overactive Rocky Graziano, or a Joe Lewis, kids are running around like lunatics, moment in time. They box, they spar, what should I do?” my friend asked her heel.” This keeps me between the and bouncing off walls—literally! It is and they drive everyone within hearing daughter during Grandmothers’ Week. proverbial rock and a hard place. If I a gym, after all, and the walls are distance absolutely crazy. The response was, “Ma, I’m in the call my daughter at work she’ll be padded. The experience is a treat They also like to eat—often! This middle of a business meeting, and busy, so, if and when she takes the beyond compare. But I always com- means that in between dragging every- you’re calling to ask me about a hair- call, I will hear the sound of exaspera- plete my assignment, knowing that the one in and out of stores, the grand- cut? I don’t care what he wants. Get tion in her voice. But if I don’t call her, days will pass and the week will come mother in question needs to supply the him a haircut!” how do I know which shoes to let the to an end. group with a pizza fix every couple of I’ve had similar experiences. And little beauty buy? If I allow my grand- This brings me to another major hours. But shopping, and stopping for when that happens, I explain to my daughters to get the wrong ones, yours difference between Grandmothers’ lunch as well as assorted snacks (ice daughter(s) that I’m at a loss. I don’t truly will be schlepping kids back to Week and Mother’s Day/Father’s Day. cream is high on the snack list), isn’t want to fight with their kids. After all, the store to return them (the shoes, And that is that nobody is sorry when the hard part of the job. The real big- these are their kids, not mine—let not the kid). it’s over! O gie is the dreaded haircut. I have yet to the parents do the fighting. I want to Unwanted haircuts and selecting Hannah Berman lives in Woodmere and is a licensed real-estate broker associated with meet a kid who wants to get one. be known as the loving Savta who lets Shabbos shoes (with or without a Marjorie Hausman Realty. She can be reached at “Noooo, I don’t care if my mother said little mameleh or tatteleh do what he heel) are only two thirds of the equa- [email protected] or 516-902-3733.

38 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Head Of The Year

BY RABBI YONI POSNICK Yom Kippur? What is this day of Rosh Hashanah all about? What should we Rosh Hashanah is the Yom HaDin. be focusing on and thinking of during One more mitzvah or one less aveirah this day? could tip the scales in our favor. The Furthermore, why is it that Rosh Talmud tells us that if a person is a Hashanah comes before Yom Kippur? “beinoni,” equal in mitzvos and aveiros, It would seem to be more logical that then HaKadosh Baruch Hu gives him first we achieve forgiveness for all of until Yom Kippur before his judgment our sins, and then come before is sealed. But “Judgment Day” is Rosh Hashem to be judged. Why do we have Hashanah. If someone was successful Rosh Hashanah first? in business this past year, it is because These questions really go to the root that is what Hashem decreed last Rosh of the concept of tefillah. What exact- Hashanah. If someone had a child, ly is tefillah? Why do we ask Hashem bought a house, etc., it was written in our prayers for things we desire? If that way one year ago. If someone was it is truly necessary, He will give it to in a car accident, lost a parent, went you anyway; and if in His Divine calcu- through a health scare…it is because lations He decides not to give it to you, that is what the Al-mighty inscribed why should your prayers accomplish last year on this awesome day. anything? We commonly translate the HaRav Avigdor Miller, z’l, asks, if word l’hispallel as “to pray,” but in real- indeed we hope to be written and ity it means “to think.” sealed for a successful year, if this is This is an incredible concept! the day when the greatest effort must Tefillah means to think. When you be made to do teshuvah, shouldn’t we think of Hashem, He will think of be saying “Al Cheit” all day long on you, and the more one thinks of Him, Rosh Hashanah? In fact, however, we the more He thinks of you. Hashem do not say Viduy or speak much about our sins at all. Why do we wait until Continued on Page 40

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 39 INSIGHTS ON THE TORAH to know that Hashem is Melech. again, ingraining it into ourselves.” alone, with no help and nowhere to Continued from Page 39 In the inimitable words of Rav If we look, we find that this is the go. But Hashem guided and saved Miller, “There is nothing wrong with entire focus of the unique, once-a-year him, as He does for every individual acts toward us in direct proportion to thinking of a specific aveirah on Rosh Mussaf Amidah of Rosh Hashanah— in all such situations, and we focus how we relate to Him. The closer one Hashanah, but the biggest and all- the longest tefillah of the year. on and emphasize this truth in our strives to be to Hashem, the closer encompassing aveirah is forgetting Malchiyos: Again and again we pro- minds. We read about how Hashem Hashem comes. He wants us to know Hashem. This is why declaring claim this reality, so we make it real for listened to us in Mitzrayim and pro- He is thinking of us and in charge of Hashem as King over all, over our ourselves. When B’nei Yisrael sang shi- vided for us in the Midbar, situations everything in our lives. The founda- lives, is the theme of the day. The most rah at the Yam Suf, the last words of where we were helpless and alone. tion of tefillah is to understand what fundamental truth is that of malchus the shirah were “Hashem yimloch l’o- Shofaros: We remember Mattan you are saying, but then, more impor- Hashem. Don’t just say the words, but lam va’ed.” That was the climax of the Torah; how Hashem revealed His tantly, to believe and ingrain in your really think about it for a minute. Say shirah, the purpose of K’rias Yam Suf, most awesome presence to the entire mind that Hashem is the One in con- it to yourself when no one is around: to give every Jew a physical demonstra- nation and gave us His Torah, which trol and the only One who can pro- Hashem is in charge of everything, He tion of that truth of malchus Hashem. provides us with purpose and a way vide our needs. is thinking of me and looking at me We end the berachah: “melech al kol to recognize Him in the world and By saying things over and over our lives. again, the same tefillos every day, we Rosh Hashanah is not a day of hopefully begin to believe and inter- remembering or focusing on one nalize what we are saying. The func- principle or ideal; it is a day of tion of tefillah is not to “twist The function of tefillah is not remembering everything connected Hashem’s arm,” or make Him “change with HaKadosh Baruch Hu, the way His mind”; it is to change ourselves. As to make Him “change His mind”; it is He conducted our history and the much as we change ourselves, and way He runs the personal affairs of turn our thoughts to Hashem, that is our lives. While the chazzan is taking how much we deserve that He should to change ourselves. his time singing, think about all the answer our tefillos, in order to encour- things you are given. “Hashem age us to continue this process. It is all Melech, Hashem malach, Hashem about changing our minds. yimloch l’olam va’ed.” We could say it Rav Miller explains that Rosh every single second! This is the pur- ha’aretz mekadesh Yisrael—King over all day and it would not be enough! Hashanah is the day of changing our pose of Rosh Hashanah. The begin- the whole world who gives kedushah to However, little by little, we are get- minds, and setting the most important ning of something sets the tone for the K’lal Yisrael…” ting the idea in our minds. Hashem is concepts and truths in our minds for future. Just as a human being is a Zichronos: We read pesukim of running the world every day of the the coming year. Before we do teshuvah product of his genes—they contain the how Hashem orchestrated and took year, and we have to remember it. for the list of things we’ve done wrong, blueprints for the future—so every- care of world events. When He Rosh Hashanah has a higher pur- we must first do teshuvah for what is thing for the future is contained in the destroyed the whole world, and there pose. We don’t say “Al Cheit” then, lacking in our minds. We have to build beginning, and so we focus on the was mabul everywhere, Hashem because on Rosh Hashanah we have a up and ingrain the most crucial con- most important concept of emunah. remembered Noach. There was no greater teshuvah to do—a teshuvah in cepts at the very beginning, as the first Rosh Hashanah we shout out: Hashem place to go; he was afloat in the our minds, to go back to basic truths step, and there is no bigger principle Melech, Hashem malach, Hashem yim- Teivah; all around was water and and concretize the most fundamental than emunah. Emunah is the very loch l’olam va’ed. It bursts forth from destruction. There was no greater principles in our minds on the first day yesod, foundation, of Rosh Hashanah: our lungs. We say it over and over situation of an individual literally all of the coming year. The building of our

40 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES minds on Rosh Hashanah is the great- should be arrogant and think he is est of all functions. On this day, we are entitled to whatever he wishes, but at risk; even one more mitzvah might rather that it would be worthwhile save us, and yet we don’t spend our for the world to have been brought time saying Viduy. We spend the day into existence for one human being, engaged in tefillah—thinking, chang- for the sake of one Jew to live a ing ourselves and our minds—for this Torah-true life and bring Hashem is the essence of the day. into his life and into our world. NNN In Judaism, a name is not just a We say in our tefillos on Rosh name. It is not merely a description of Hashanah, “Ha’yom haras olam”— something. Rather, a name hints at the “Today is the birthday of the world.” very essence of what it describes. This This leads to the popular misconcep- is why much thought goes into naming tion that the world was brought into a Jewish child, for we want it to convey existence on Rosh Hashanah. The all the thoughts and emotions we have. Talmud tells us, however, that the This was the greatness of Adam world was not created on Rosh HaRishon, who properly named every Hashanah, but rather five days earli- creature in Gan Eden. At first glance, er, on the 25th of Elul. What naming all the animals doesn’t seem to occurred on Rosh Hashanah? Adam be a show of greatness, but when we HaRishon, the first human being, understand that shem (“name”) literal- was brought into existence. It is for ly means “essence,” we realize just how this very reason that we begin count- tremendous Adam was. ing the year, the very creation of the In this vein, we can find, in the world, from Rosh Hashanah. name of this Yom Tov, the most impor- Without human beings, without the tant function of the day which we Jewish people, the world has no pur- mentioned earlier. The term “Rosh pose or meaning. “A king without Hashanah” in its most literal sense— subjects is not truly a king,” the the “head of the year”—is the time to Gemara tells us, and so on Rosh think. “The foundation of good action Hashanah when man showed up on and the root of true service of G-d is the scene, creation was finally given for a person to know his goal in this real significance. Hashem now had world.” This is the opening line of the servants to honor His name and Mesillas Yesharim, and this can be bring kedushah to existence. taken as the motto of Judaism. If a per- The Gemara teaches that just as son has clarity about where he’s going man was originally created as one in life, he’ll get there. Otherwise he’ll lone individual, so each person just remain in a state of confusion all should say to himself, “bishvili nivra his life. This is the time of year that ha’olam, for me the world was created.” This does not mean that one Continued on Page 42

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 41 INSIGHTS ON THE TORAH We must ask ourselves the question, and strangers? And what about toward possibly do. This is the main achieve- Continued from Page 41 What do I want written on my tomb- my spouse? Do I make him/her num- ment of Rosh Hashanah, and what stone? Will it say that I was fashionably ber one in my life? Am I setting a good the day is all about. Of course, we each of us has to come up with a plan dressed? Or that I ate at all the best example as a parent to my children must finish the teshuvah for our spe- for living our lives, by using our restaurants? Or that I drove a fancy even when I am tired and stressed? Do cific aveiros, on Yom Kippur, but we heads—the tzelem Elokim within us. car? If our answers do not quite match I look for virtues in others? Do I truly have already established major prin- We are judged for this plan, since it the way we are conducting our lives, listen to others? Do I take joy in the ciples, and HaKadosh Baruch Hu directly reflects to what extent our then we must work to change the real- success and accomplishments of oth- judges us with happiness, saying, tzelem Elokim is utilized. ity to conform to that inscription we ers? Am I taking care of the guf that “You have accomplished your pur- Now that we have established the envision. Indeed, in Heaven a person’s Hashem gave me to bring out my pose in this world!” importance of making a plan during every action is recorded. When we neshamah and optimally fulfill my pur- NNN these days, the question becomes how arrive there, we will be shown what it pose in this world? Am I eating well Chazal explain that the shofar repre- to best go about this. After all, we cer- says on our Heavenly tombstones, in and exercising regularly? Am I aware of sents the sound of the shofar that was tainly want to be sincere during this the book of our lives. relevant new medical information heard at Har Sinai and the one that will time. How do we get a good grip on These questions encompass the Hashem has allowed doctors to discov- be blown when Mashiach arrives, the where we are holding spiritually? In entire gamut of life: our priorities, er? Am I quick to pay off debts? Do I time of Techiyas HaMeisim. Mattan what areas do we perhaps need chizuk our spirituality, our midos, our Torah give tzedakah regularly? Do I give the Torah was a time when all of K’lal and improvement? It is often difficult to study, our relationships, our health, proper amount, proportional to my Yisrael, every Jew, saw Hashem’s get perspective on this question. our money… Do I daven with income and expenses? malchus clearly. Similarly, at the time of I once learned of a powerful tool kavanah and understanding? Do I Indeed, if we want to come before Techiyas HaMeisim, all of creation will to help figure out who we are and feel Hashem in my life? Do I realize Hashem and ask Him for a better proclaim Hashem as Melech, and His where our cheshbon is most needed. that Hashem (and no one else) is the year—and we all want a better year (a malchus will be clearly seen by all. Try asking yourself the following source of all life—including life’s little less stress, a little more time, a May we all merit to experience question: “When I die, what will be challenges? Am I working on my emu- little more nachas, a shidduch, a that day, and see its coming bimheira written on my tombstone?” This is a nah baHashem? Am I aware of times refuah, a nechamah, a yeshuah)—then b’yameinu. May we all have a mean- powerful prompt which usually when I am arrogant, sarcastic, or crit- we must come to the table ready to say ingful and uplifting entrance into the breaks through all of our personal ical? Do I see the berachah in my life? that we will be better. If we can hon- new year. May we all be zocheh to a negios (attachments). Do I appreciate the pleasure of all estly say that we will be better, then we favorable judgment and be blessed A rabbi once met one of his students that I have, both materially and spiri- can confidently ask Hashem Yisborach with a happy, healthy, sweet new and asked him, “What are you?” The tually? Am I careful not to waste pre- for a better year. year, free of tzarah and full of simcha student replied, “I am a dentist.” The cious time? Have I set aside specific Rav Miller concludes that Rosh and all of Hashem’s wonderful bera- rabbi then proceeded to say, “So, after times daily for Torah study? Have I Hashanah is a day when we prepare chos for ourselves, our families, and 120, on your tombstone it will say worked to make difficult Torah con- our mental attitudes in order to be all K’lal Yisrael! O ‘Here lies a dentist. He pulled many cepts relevant to my life today? Do I ready to come meet Hashem, to Rabbi Yoni Posnick will iy’H deliver a shiur teeth and filled many cavities.’?” The feel pain for fellow Jews who are strengthen a relationship with Him. during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah, entitled student understood the message. In assimilated and estranged from the We have to fill our minds with the “Showing Life, Meriting Life—Yom Kippur, A America we are trained that we are Torah and their Yiddishkeit? truths and realities of Torah. And we Day of Life,” Wednesday evening, September 19 at 8:00 p.m., at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Larry what we do. “I am a doctor.” “I am a Am I spending quality time with cannot merely say them, we must Lesser (2 Keewaydin Road, corner of Causeway, lawyer.” “I am a businessman.” Is this people I care about? Am I showing internalize and ingrain them. This is in Lawrence). Men and women are cordially invited to attend. really who we are? If this is our enough patience, compassion, and the avodas ha’yom of Rosh Hashanah Rabbi Posnick may be reached at essence, what makes us who we are? respect toward co-workers, friends, and the greatest teshuvah we could [email protected].

42 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Universal Introspection

BY RABBI ADIN EVEN theological viewpoint—is found in ISRAEL STEINSALTZ Koheles 1:9: “That which has been is that which shall be, and that which Where is the world going? has been done is that which shall be Is it progressing in a positive way done, and there is nothing new under and moving toward some ideal state? the sun.” This approach is also pes- Or is it sinking lower and lower toward simistic, because it imprisons us in an immorality and disarray? endless loop that we are powerless to In Greek mythology, a Golden Age escape, no matter how much human of peace and happiness was thought effort we exert. to become gradually more corrupt, Today, it is a very common idea that eventually degenerating into an Iron the world is progressing, that every- Age of greed and cruelty. The Nordic thing is becoming better, more highly myths were even gloomier, and developed, and more perfect—and

We must look more closely at how we measure human “progress.”

included depressing descriptions of will, therefore, ultimately merit each stage of the collapse of nature redemption. and the universe. Some scientists The concept of a world that will be today have a similar view, as they pre- redeemed in the “End of Days” was dict the inevitable (but not immedi- carried over from Judaism and— ate) end of the world due to global mediated by Christianity and Islam— warming, species extinction, bacterial has become one of the foundation immunity, etc. stones of modern thinking. It is so Another approach sees human his- powerful that it has been integrated tory as a series of recurring cycles. The into non-theological “religions”: The classic description—what I would call an emotional outburst, rather than a Continued on Page 48

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 43 44 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 45 46 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 47 Universal Introspection nology are held up as alleged downfall is only part of the Continued from Page 43 proofs that the world is story. At the same time, there improving, based on the is another, parallel, momen- ideology of Communism false assumption that what- tum: a path that leads assured its followers that the ever is more sophisticated upward. Step by step—some- Revolution (like the Messiah) (and more artificial) is bet- times revealed, sometimes might tarry, but it (like him) ter. This optimistic view, as hidden—this inexorable would surely come. appealing as it may be, is process leads to redemption. We can also see this way considered by many to be And when that process is of thinking in the theory of naive, unrealistic, and complete, man and the entire evolution, which has, empty. world will ascend to their through a subtle shift in The Jewish view of world point of departure and even meaning, turned from a the- history is optimistic, but it is transcend it. ory that explains how organ- an optimism with substance How do we know whether isms adapt to their environ- and meaning; the realization we are ascending? We must ments, to a description of of the hope that it offers look more closely at how we how creation improves with depends on us. measure human “progress.” each generation. According It can be summarized like In the course of its transition to this view, if we let nature this: Humanity is born into from spirituality to seculari- run its course and don’t the perfect world of the ty, this idea has lost one of its interfere, society will evolve Garden of Eden, and begins most essential dimensions— toward perfection. Advances to descend into decadence namely, the ability to exam- made in science and tech- and immorality. But this ine itself, the criteria for examining it, and the inner sense of what is really of value. The religious idea of future redemption contains an entire system of introspection and self-examina- tion that must guide our out- look and our behavior, not once a year—between the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur— but every day. Each year is not necessarily better or more perfect than the preceding one; it must first go through the crucible of Divine Judgment and prove that humanity and human history are worthy of contin- uation. We claim that this or that thing represents “progress,” but there is at least a 50 percent chance of progressing toward Hell in this world. When man, and only man, decides how to measure “progress,” he expels G-d and the acceptance of the absolute values emanating from the Throne of Judgment. When man makes the measuring rod, his measurements are meaningless and he ceases to measure altogether: The lowest individual becomes equal to the greatest, and man can no longer tell if he is growing or shriveling. The Divine measuring rod renders judgment according to the Divine criteria—values that are not manmade and are not determined in rela- tion to man. It is on the Day of Judgment that the Divine criteria are reinstated. The world sorely needs this Divine set of criteria. A value system based on a theory of relativity is the highway to the deluge. Holding onto “the finger of G-d” (Sh’mos 8:15) offers us a way to return to the possibility of redemption. O Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz is a teacher, philosopher, social critic, and prolific author. His lifelong work in Jewish education earned him the Israel Prize. Rabbi Steinsaltz lives in Jerusalem. 48 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES the issues. The Gemara then However, Bar Kapara (5a) questions the permissibility offers an alternative reason of making a wedding early in for a marriage to take place Daf Yomi Insights the week, due to the rabbinic on Wednesday. He states enactment that there should that if the ceremony is per- B Y RABBI AVROHOM be at least three days of food formed during the day on SEBROW help fund weddings made by ule, the hall should be open preparation. The Gemara Wednesday, the consumma- needy families. for business in 18 months. resolves its dilemma by stat- tion of the marriage would Mazal tov to all those who I’m sure everyone groans (For more information, con- ing that if in fact the groom be Wednesday night, which finished Maseches Yevamos. about constantly schlepping tact Rabbi Greenblatt at prepared sufficient food is in fact Yom Chamishi, the We recently began learning to Brooklyn for weddings. [email protected].) before Shabbos, the wedding fifth day of the week. This is Maseches Kesuvos. The very Now our community will have Getting back to our daf, may even take place on an auspicious time for a cou- first mishnah says that for a a large hall in our own back- the Gemara (3a) interprets a Sunday or Monday. So it ple, since on the fifth day of woman who has never been yard. It will be right near the statement of Rav Shmuel bar would seem that nowadays, creation Hashem told the married, generally the appro- Inwood train station, within Yitzchak to mean that in a when there is no strict fish to “be fruitful and multi- priate day to wed is walking distance of Far locale where the Jewish Monday-and-Thursday ply.” To harness this Wednesday. This is because Rockaway and Lawrence. courts convene whenever schedule for beis din, mar- berachah of the fifth day, the the Jewish courts at the time Moreover, plans call for the necessary, a woman may riage should be permitted on marriage should be consum- convened on Monday and hall to be at least 14,000 marry on any day; if a any day. As for the rabbinic mated on the fifth day. The Thursday. Chazal wanted the square feet. A popular hall in halachic issue were to arise decree, food preparations are Tosefos write (2a) that Bar husband to be able to resolve Brooklyn, by comparison, is following the wedding, the generally made by others, Kapara’s reason for marrying certain halachic issues that less than 10,000 square feet. husband could request that freeing the groom from this might come up after the wed- If all goes according to sched- the court convene to resolve responsibility. Continued on Page 51 ding on the very next day. So, since court is in session on Thursday, Wednesday is a suitable day to have the wedding ceremony. In truth, if it were just for this reason alone, Sunday would also be an appropriate day to have the wedding. However, there is a rabbinic decree that there should be at least three days of food preparation before the wedding reception to make sure that there is sufficient food for the wedding and for the ensuing celebratory days of sheva berachos. In describing the making of this decree, the Gemara says, “Shokdu Chachamim al takkanas b’nos Yisrael”—“The Sages were diligent in promot- ing the welfare of Jewish daughters.” The term “shokdu” is so unusual when referring to a rabbinic decree that the Gemara after the initial mention of the decree simply refers to it as “Shokdu.” Rabbi David Greenblatt, director of the Davis Memorial Fund, said that perhaps there is a message here for us. When it comes to caring for the needs of the b’nos Yisrael, especially in regard to their weddings, we must be ever diligent. It is our responsibility to ensure that every Jewish girl has a wedding that is appropriate for her. To that end, the Davis Memorial Fund has provided vital support and assistance to many kallos in our area. To further its goal of helping every kallah from our community celebrate her wedding properly, the fund has embarked on an exciting and much-needed project: it has purchased a warehouse on Redfern Avenue, right near the Inwood train station, to build a new wedding hall. It will be a beautiful hall that every family in the Five Towns community will be happy to use. Profits from simchas made at the hall will 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 49

Honey Whole-Wheat Challah slowly adding in small amounts of flour Yields: 7 challos as needed from the reserved 2 cups. The Cooking Concepts Ingredients: dough should be smooth and elastic. If 1 4 ⁄4 cups warm water (“wrist temper- the dough is very sticky, add in some ature”) more flour (do not exceed using the 2 BY NAOMI ROSS beneath your tongue” (Shir HaShirim 2 bars (2 oz. each) fresh yeast (also cups of reserved flour; if you have used 4:11). Learning Torah and observing the works with 5 packets dry yeast) up the 2 cups and the dough is still very Sweeter Than Honey mitzvos of the Torah similarly have a 1 Tbsp. honey sticky, add a little bit of oil). 1 transforming effect on a person. It is not 7 ⁄2 cups high-gluten (bread) flour Brush the top of the dough with oil. 1 The honey dish is set out and ready, surprising to learn that the gematria 7 ⁄2 cups whole-wheat flour Cover with a clean towel and let rise 1 filled with this New Year’s first drippings (numerical value) of “d’vash” (honey) is ⁄4 cup sugar for 2 hours, until the dough has dou- 1 of liquid sweetness. As you watch the the same (306) as for the words “yotzer” 1 ⁄2 Tbsp. salt bled in bulk. Punch down, replace 1 1 golden ribbons flow, your taste buds can (to form) and “mussar” (correction that 1 ⁄4 cups canola oil towel and let rise for another 1 ⁄2 hours. 1 recall a lifetime of apples dipped in leads to self-improvement). 1 ⁄2 cups honey Punch the dough down again, and honey, those nostalgic tastes pregnant The pleasure of keeping the Torah 5 eggs turn onto a lightly floured surface. with hope for much berachah in the and becoming more connected to the For egg wash: 1 egg, beaten (or 2 egg At this point, you can do the mitz- coming year. Like the honey itself, our Creator is so great that it is compared whites, beaten) mixed with 1 tsp. vah of hafrashas challah (separating tradition to eat it on Rosh Hashanah to the satisfyingly sweet nature of honey (for a little extra sweetness). the dough), which involves taking off a (and throughout the month of Tishrei) honey. The Daily Song (Shir Shel Yom) Directions: small portion of the dough, saying the is filled with depth and richness. in the Holy Temple sung during the Combine water and yeast in a medi- blessing, and setting aside the portion Twenty-five percent sweeter than Musaf services of Rosh Hashanah was um bowl until yeast is dissolved. Stir in 1 of dough to be burned later. sugar, honey possesses many trans- Psalm 81. This chapter, explains Rabbi tablespoon of sugar or honey. Place bowl Preheat oven to 350°. forming qualities. Honey has been Elazar Rokeach (1165–1238), is most in a warm spot in your kitchen (on top of Divide the dough into 7 sections (or found to be an antimicrobial sub- appropriate for Rosh Hashanah a warm oven, or even on the open oven as many loaves/rolls as you would like to stance, which promotes healing. because it concludes by mentioning door of a preheated 250° oven works!). make, depending on the size). Shape or Additionally, honey contains antioxi- the satiating properties of honey, allud- Let stand for 10–20 minutes. The mix- braid each section as desired. For holi- dants that are helpful in fighting free ing to a sweet new year. ture will be bubbly and/or foamy. If noth- day challos, roll each section into a thick radicals. Iron in honey, when mixing According to the Rema (Rabbi ing is happening after 20 minutes, some- long strand and wrap the strand into a with your bodily fluids, produces a Moshe Isserles, 1530–1572), the cus- thing is wrong with your yeast and you spiral around itself to form a round chal- powerful antiseptic which helps to heal tom of dipping an apple into honey on must start the recipe over again. lah. Place onto a greased baking sheet. wounds. Beyond these transforming Rosh Hashanah represents turning the Place all the flour in a very large bowl Repeat with remaining dough. qualities of health, honey is also able to year’s judgment of the Jewish nation and mix to blend. Reserve 2 cups of the Brush challos with egg wash and sprin- transform taste, absorbing bitterness into a sweet verdict, a transformation flour and set aside for later use. Stir in kle with coarse sugar (Turbinado or “sugar into sweetness. Even the process of of justice into loving-kindness. sugar and salt to blend. Push the mix- in the raw”). Bake 25–35 minutes until creating honey itself is transforma- Wishing you, your families, and all ture to the sides of your bowl, creating a golden brown and challah sounds hollow tive—honeybees convert flower nectar of K’lal Yisrael a year full of sweetness, well in the center. Pour the yeast mix- when tapped. Cool on wire racks. O into honey by secreting their own spe- health, and berachah, this week’s ture, 5 eggs, honey, and oil into the well. Naomi Ross teaches Cooking Concepts, courses cial enzyme into it. recipe is for a honey whole-wheat chal- Mix with a long mixing spoon until you on cooking skills and kitchen management for It is perhaps due to these physical lah. It’s healthy and delicious, and it can no longer stir it. Continue to knead the Jewish woman. For more information, visit her website at jewishcookingconcepts.com. attributes that honey has been likened to uses a mixture of flours to keep it light the dough by hand until it no longer Naomi can be reached at Torah, as it is written, “Honey and milk and fluffy. Enjoy! sticks to the sides of the bowl, while [email protected].

50 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Daf Yomi Insights that timeframe rather than when the month on which to get married of the month, it’s possible to have less Continued from Page 49 moon is waning. My father informed (assuming the 15th is too late than fifteen days to choose from in a me that the Zohar states that in the already)! Subtract the two available year! This was an untenable situa- on Wednesday is not halachically first half of the Jewish month, the Wednesdays in Iyar due to sefirah. tion, so the Rema decided not to pub- binding; it is just good advice for a Divine attribute of mercy is more Further, there is a custom not to licly suggest that individuals should couple who wish to take advantage of prevalent. In contrast, the second marry during the Aseres Yemei marry only on Wednesday. the blessing to marry on Wednesday. half of the month is associated with Teshuvah. In Sivan, if Shavuos falls I spoke to a musician who told me However, if they choose to marry on that Sunday is the day most in a different day, there is no violation demand for weddings. What could be of Jewish law. wrong with making a wedding on Yet it would seem that, as opposed Sunday? The Gemara states that one to the other reasons, Bar Kapara’s should not get married on motzaei reason for marrying on Wednesday is Shabbos. The Gemara (5a) concludes applicable even nowadays. The P’nei that the reason is that we are con- Yehoshua therefore questions why cerned that one may become so pre- the Tur and Shulchan Aruch stated occupied with his upcoming wedding unconditionally that where food that he might forget that it’s Shabbos preparation is not an issue, one may and begin to prepare for the feast. You marry on any day of the week. They can argue that this concern only should have tempered that statement applies to a wedding on motzaei with Bar Kapara’s directive that one Shabbos, not on Sunday. should marry on Wednesday to har- Yet the Gemara challenges this ness the berachah that Hashem gave. assumption that we are concerned Although his advice is not halachi- someone may forget and violate cally binding, it would seem that it is Shabbos for an upcoming meal. If we appropriate and a mitzvah to follow were truly concerned about this possi- it. Though the P’nei Yehoshua admits bility, the Gemara argues, we should that he can possibly resolve this rework the calendar to ensure that question, he still directs that “anyone Yom Kippur never falls out on who wishes to fulfill the words of the 33 Redfern Avenue: Now a warehouse, soon to be a beautifully appointed wedding hall. Monday. There is a mitzvah to have a Sages” should initially try to marry seudah on erev Yom Kippur, and we on Wednesday. In fact, he states fur- Divine judgment. Perhaps this is the out on a Wednesday, there will be should be concerned that one may ther that he believes that it was the rationale behind the custom. only one remaining Wednesday avail- violate Shabbos to prepare for the custom to do so in many holy com- Based on this, the Sefer Chazon able for weddings. The month of Av Sunday seudah! So we see that a meal munities. Yeshayah suggests a solution to the may have no available days if, for that takes place on Sunday poses as The Rema, although omitting the P’nei Yehoshua’s question as to why example, Tishah B’Av falls out on a much a problem as one that takes directive to marry on Wednesday, the poskim omitted the mitzvah of Thursday. Ta‘anis Esther and Asarah place on Saturday night. In truth, does write that there is a custom to marrying on Wednesday. Since the B’Teves can each eliminate a day if though, the Gemara makes this exact marry only in the first half of the custom at some point was to only they fall out on a Wednesday. So, if distinction to resolve the difficulty. month. According to the custom, it is marry in the first part of the month, one wants to marry only on a considered auspicious to marry in there are only two Wednesdays a Wednesday and only in the first half Continued on Page 52

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 51 Daf Yomi Insights rejects this halachah, and decides that Continued from Page 51 one is permitted to marry on motzaei Shabbos or Sunday. The Gemara suggests in its second The Shulchan Aruch (64:3) writes, answer that we are only concerned “There are those who don’t marry about a meal that takes place immedi- on…the first of the week out of con- ately after Shabbos with little or no cern for inadvertent chillul Shabbos… time to prepare, but we are not con- And there are those who permit it.” cerned about a meal that takes place Obviously, the widespread custom is to by day, such as an erev Yom Kippur permit someone to have a wedding on seudah or a wedding feast. Sunday. Further, my wife informed me Nevertheless, the Gemara offers a that her grandparents got married on different resolution to the aforemen- motzaei Shabbos. tioned difficulty. The Gemara sug- Many people have noted that there gests that we are only concerned that were weddings made by gedolim on a person may inadvertently violate Sunday. The Chasam Sofer himself Shabbos for a post-Shabbos meal that got married on Lag B’Omer in the others are invited to. As you can imag- year 5547, a Sunday. The Sefer ine, the pressure of serving so many Likutei Mahariach writes that the guests weighs heavily on a person’s Rebbe of Sanz married off his son on mind. We are not concerned, though, a Sunday. that a person will become preoccu- In conclusion, as a matter of prac- pied while preparing his own meal. tical halachah, on what day should a Consequently, the Sunday erev Yom wedding take place? Should we be Kippur meal does not present a prob- concerned about trying to set a wed- lem, because it is generally a small ding date in the fist half of a month meal for one’s family. According to or on a Wednesday? The Steipler this answer, it would be forbidden to Gaon, zt’l, in a letter to Rav Tuvia make a wedding feast on Sunday. Shechter, wrote that the biggest segu- The Hafla’ah (in Sefer HaMakneh) lah and berachah can be achieved by was of the opinion that the two getting married on the earliest possi- answers are not mutually exclusive and ble day! Rav Shach, zt’l, shared a sim- that both are authoritative: We are not ilar sentiment and advised his concerned about a meal after Shabbos talmidim likewise. He said that there if it is a family meal or if it takes place is an aura of promiscuity that con- by day on Sunday. stantly threatens us. Therefore, the It would seem that according to best date for one’s wedding is the ear- both answers it is forbidden to make a liest available date. O wedding on motzaei Shabbos. Yet, Rabbi Sebrow leads a daf yomi chaburah at Eitz many Rishonim are of the opinion that Chayim of Dogwood Park in West Hempstead. at the end of the sugya the Gemara He can be contacted at [email protected].

52 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES much as he or she may have accom- teshuvah is the realization that our plished, there is always plenty of room purpose in this world is to serve our for improvement. Creator, and unfortunately, we are not But here lies the problem. A resolu- serving G-d to the best of our abilities. tion which is predicated on satisfying Teshuvah means regretting our past one’s own needs will be broken as soon indiscretions because they violated as the person feels another, more G-d’s will, and resolving to be a true pressing, need or desire. Yesterday, I servant of G-d in the upcoming year. may have decided that the most impor- A commitment which results from Broken Resolutions tant thing for me is to wake up early genuine teshuvah will be lasting, every day to exercise, but as I lie in bed because after accepting upon one- this morning after having gone to sleep self the yoke of Heaven, no other B Y RABBI NAFTALI at 1:00 a.m., I suddenly feel that my “pressing” human desire will inter- SILBERBERG successful person, and vice versa. This sleep is infinitely more important than fere with the firm resolution to be a is what distinguishes the human from exercise! One human need can always servant of G-d. New Year’s resolutions are an the animal, as Shlomo HaMelech cancel out another human need. “Israel will be redeemed only accepted part of society. These resolu- writes, “The spirit of the man is that The Torah’s approach to positive through teshuvah. However, the Torah tions are made by all sorts of people, which ascends on high, and the spirit of resolutions, however, is quite different. has guaranteed that at the end of the regardless of their values or religion. Exile the Jews will do teshuvah and be The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, immediately redeemed” (Mishneh is no exception—it is traditionally a Torah, Laws of Teshuvah 7:5). Let us time for positive resolutions in the repent properly, and may we usher in a realm of Torah and mitzvos. As I lie in bed this morning after having sweet new year, the year of our sorely As we know all too well, many reso- awaited Redemption. O lutions don’t last very long. A study I gone to sleep at 1:00 a.m., I suddenly found on the Internet suggested that Rabbi Naftali Silberberg, a native of Detroit, is by the time summer arrives, more than on the editorial team of Chabad.org. He resides in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife Chaya Mushka half of all New Year’s resolutions taken feel that my sleep is infinitely more and their children. on January 1 have been long forgotten. Reprinted with permission from Chabad.org. What is the secret to maintaining our resolve in the long term? important than exercise! The desire for the next year to be At 5TJT.com more fulfilling than the past one is a basic human characteristic. While the you can enjoy articles human being has many natural needs the animal is that which descends The resolve to change one’s ways is an in 3 ways: and desires, both physical and emotion- below to the earth” (Koheles 3:21). integral part of the mitzvah of teshuvah al, a feeling of mission and accomplish- Whereas the animal is primarily (repentance), and teshuvah is not at all 1. Read ment is perhaps the most basic human concerned with its coarse and base based on the human emotional need 2. Print need. Regardless of degree of affluence “earthly” needs and desires, the for improvement. Teshuvah isn’t, “Oh or social status, a person who feels refined human is constantly seeking to my, I’ve had another lousy year, I feel 3. Email accomplished is a happy person and a ascend yet higher, realizing that as lousy, I’ve got to be better.” Rather,

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 53 The Gift Of Life: Donor, Recipient Richard Kaplan and his blood stem cell Meet On The Field At Fenway Park donor, Jerry Greenberger of Long The Boston Red Sox hosted an Island, took place on the playing field. extraordinary meeting between a trans- The anonymous transplant, coordi- plant survivor and the hero who saved nated by the Gift of Life Bone Marrow his life at historic Fenway Park during a Foundation over one year ago, was

At Fenway Park, where Richard Kaplan (left), bone-marrow recipient, and his donor, Jerry Greenberger, met for the first time.

pre-game ceremony in front of 36,000 Richard’s only hope of surviving T-cell fans on Sunday, September 2. The lymphoma, an aggressive non- meeting between Rhode Island resident Hodgkin’s form of cancer.

54 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Gift of Life, North America’s only University’s Stern College for Women humanity through their studies. Plainview, N.Y.; Tehilla Stepansky of Jewish bone-marrow, blood stem-cell, who will not have to contend with the Anne Scheiber, born in Brooklyn in Passaic, N.J.; Amanda Weiss of Miami and umbilical-cord blood registry, has financial burdens of medical school 1893, paid her own way through law Beach, Florida; and Jordana Platt of been credited with facilitating over education, thanks to the generosity of school and found employment as a fed- New York, N.Y. O 1,500 life-saving transplants around a woman she will never meet. eral tax auditor. Throughout her 23-year the world. Through targeted recruit- Anne Scheiber, who accumulated career, she received superior perform- Cantor Sholom Jacobs ment in North America’s Jewish com- an estate worth $22 million before she ance reviews, but was never promoted. To Lead Chabad Services munities, Gift of Life has significantly died in 1995, left it all to YU expressly She attributed this to being Jewish and a This year, Chabad of the Five Towns is improved the chances that patients in for Stern College students and gradu- woman. When she retired, she devoted pleased to announce that Cantor Sholom need of transplants will find genetical- ates. The medical school fund, one of herself to investing in the stock market, Jacobs will be the new chazzan for High ly matched donors in time. where religion and gender didn’t matter. Holy Day services. No stranger to our Greenberger, whose donation of She had a keen understanding of the community, Sholom has played an active blood stem cells saved Kaplan’s life, financial markets and was a savvy role in the Chabad for the last few years joined Gift of Life’s registry at a donor investor. By the time she died at age 101, and is looking forward to his new role as recruitment drive in 2002 held at Long she had parlayed a few thousand dollars chazzan. Chabad will be holding holiday Island’s Hebrew Academy of the Five of savings into a stock portfolio of some services at HAFTR High School. Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR). After $22 million, which she bequeathed to meeting Richard and his wife Susan, YU—an institution with which she had Jerry and Miriam Greenberger decided not previously had contact—to give to change their travel plans to spend young Jewish women opportunities that more time in Boston getting to know she never had. their new friends. Greenberger noted Ms. Levine, the daughter of Saul that the experience of meeting his and Yehudit Levine and a graduate of recipient was “unbelievable.” Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns “Witnessing these meetings between and Rockaway, is grateful that she “will transplant donors and recipients is be able to focus all her energy on her always an emotional and uplifting expe- studies… It’s a very special honor and rience,” said Jay Feinberg, founder and Elisheva Levine a unique opportunity,” she said. executive director of Gift of Life. “It is “With the practice of medicine so enormously gratifying to see the posi- two funds, is for medical education at much in flux, it is inspiring to know tive outcome of our work. We are very the university’s Albert Einstein College that so many Stern College women, grateful to the Boston Red Sox for pro- of Medicine. who possess the intellectual skills to viding us with such an exciting venue The awards are based on financial solve problems and the empathic skills for this happy occasion. This was a spe- need, and amounts can be as high as to care for others, are entering the pro- cial and memorable day for the donor, full tuition for all four years of medical fession,” said Karen Bacon, Ph.D., Cantor Sholom Jacobs recipient, and their families.” O school. Students must be accepted to dean of Stern. “They can and will Einstein prior to being nominated for make a difference.” Woodmere YU Grad Receives the scholarship. In order to qualify, the This year’s other scholarship recipi- Jacobs has studied at yeshivas in Medical School Scholarship students must also demonstrate lead- ents are Shulamit Roditi-Kulak of Israel for several years and completed a Elisheva Levine of Woodmere is one ership potential, initiative, or creative Newton, Mass.; Yelena Kozirovsky of of nine graduates of Yeshiva excellence and indicate a desire to help the Ukraine; Michelle Simpser of Continued on Page 56

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 55 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS The Light Of Torah young men’s first exposure to ment with Torah, began From the moment he set Illuminates The New Continued from Page 55 observant Judaism had taken teaching classes on Maseches foot in the building, the rosh Arachim place quite recently. Today Bava Metzia there every after- yeshiva displayed a contagious professional course of training Arachim’s new Tel Aviv they arrive to nourish them- noon and evening. Continu- enthusiasm over the events in chazzanus. He has studied yeshiva opened just in time selves from the wellsprings of ing to this day, additional now taking place in the build- at the Benevel Jerusalem for Elul z’man. A moving and Torah in classes covering such classes include lectures on ing that had previously served School of Music and has impressive ceremony marked fundamental Jewish topics as personal growth and Torah as an epicenter for the tragedy trained under world-renowned the occasion last week. Gemara, Mishnah, parashas thought from such Torah per- of modern hedonism and for cantors Naftali Herstick, The yeshiva was construct- ha’shavua, and mussar. In an sonalities as Rabbi Nachman throwing off the yoke of Benjamin Munk, and Yisroel ed only a few months ago. The inspiring contrast between the Grossman, Rabbi David Torah. Rabbi Yehuda Maizlik, Rand. He sang in the Beneval building that used to house past and the present for both Braverman, Rabbi Oren Ben who serves as the yeshiva’s choir at the Great Synagogue the old Gordon movie theater the building and these young David, and others. Baruch manager, briefed HaGaon in Jerusalem under the was transformed into Tel men, the yeshiva’s classes Hashem, the number of young Rabbi Yitzchak Ezrachi, shlita, famous conductor Elie Jaffe Aviv’s local branch of Arachim began in the very room that men seeking admission to the on the many Torah activities and has conducted services in and now houses the new cen- had previously been used to yeshiva’s student body in- taking place in the building on Israel, Poland, London and ter for Torah study. A group of project Hollywood’s block- creased greatly by the begin- a daily basis. Besides the Manchester. Over 400 partici- academically oriented univer- busters on to the big screen. ning of Elul z’man. The begin- yeshiva itself, explained Rabbi pants in Chabad of the Five sity students, including those The beginning of the sum- ning of the z’man was marked Maizlik, the center houses Towns’ holiday services are majoring in law, philosophy, mer saw the room’s identity at the yeshiva by an opening lectures and classes for begin- looking forward to a new level spacial engineering, and other change as Rabbi Oriel ceremony welcoming the likes ners, for more advanced stu- of inspiring services. To book fields, now constitutes the Maximov, who had been guid- of the Mirrer rosh yeshiva, dents, the “Tevunot” outreach your seats, call 516-295-2478, yeshiva’s first core student ing the young men since the HaGaon Rabbi Yitzchak facilities for women and girls, ext. 10. body. Every one of these beginning of their involve- Ezrachi, shlita. and more! HaGaon Rabbi Yitzchak Ezrachi, shlita, opened his talk with a scholarly discus- sion of the blessings recited over Torah study and the mitzvos of Torah study in general. Afterwards, the rosh yeshiva appealed to the young men with an ethical explo- ration describing the tremendous value to be ascribed to laboring in Torah. He empha- sized the genuine light being generated by the young men’s Torah study that is dispelling the illusory, false illumination that had been projected from the place they were sitting in. After his talk had come to a conclusion, the rosh yeshiva conversed with each of the yeshiva students on a personal level. The young men, deeply touched by the extraordinary warmth and enthusiasm radiated by their presti- gious visitor, couldn’t hide their heartfelt enthusiasm about the unique opportunity for such a meeting. Student’s sincere excitement about the privilege they had been given to study Torah and act as the founders for a holy Torah institution in such a symbolic location could be felt by all. Arachim’s CEO, Rabbi Yoseph Wallis, remained at the yeshiva until late that night in heart-to-heart talks with the young men as they described their requests and aspirations to fill the yeshiva with more seforim, more students, and more chavrusas. Rabbi Wallis was very moved by the young men’s requests. It made a tremendous impact to hear young men who only recently had been touched by their very first introduction to Torah Judaism describe how today their entire desire and focus in life is to enrich the wealth of seforim being studied in the yeshiva, their own Torah knowledge, and their personal yiras Shamayim. O

Continued on Page 58 56 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 57

AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS purchase on their flights, just as the air- United, and US Airways. coordinator and vice-president for com- Continued from Page 56 lines offered a kosher option when The OU has volunteered to work munications and marketing of OU meals were included in the cost of a closely with the airlines in making the Kosher, noted, “Recently, many con- OU Asks U.S. Airlines ticket. Since the airlines stopped provid- kosher food available, including provid- sumers who are frequent airline travelers To Offer Kosher Food ing the free meals, kosher passengers ing the carriers with the names of and approached us to see if we can find a In response to complaints by travelers either must bring meals on board with pertinent information about OU-certi- way to make kosher-certified meals and that kosher food is no longer an option them, or have nothing to eat on flights, fied caterers and snack manufacturers snacks available for purchase on those on domestic flights, the Orthodox even those of transcontinental length. that could supply their planes. routes where this is the only option.” Union Kosher Division has called on The airlines that were contacted are In a letter to vice-presidents for food “We are well aware,” he added, “of eight major domestic airlines to make American, Continental, Delta, services and other company officials, the financial considerations that have kosher meals and snacks available for JetBlue, Northwest, Southwest, Rabbi Eliyahu Safran, senior rabbinic made this policy so prevalent. But kosher consumers, who are equally willing to purchase food items, have been left with no option, as kosher meals and snacks are not available on your airline. The OU seeks to share its expertise with you in order to assure that all passengers are truly able to equally enjoy meals or snacks on your airline.” According to Rabbi Safran, kosher flyers must prepare or purchase food before leaving for the airport, pass it through security where it is X-rayed, and bring it on board with the rest of their carry-on belongings, while non-kosher passengers have no such requirements. “It puzzles me why the airlines, which for so many years routinely provided kosher meals as an option—along with vegetarian and other special needs— eliminated kosher when they established the policy of on-board food purchase. But now is their opportunity to make up for this oversight, and the Orthodox Union will do everything possible to assist them in meeting the needs of the kosher passenger,” he declared. Rabbi Menachem Genack, CEO of OU Kosher, expressed his belief that given the growing popularity of kosher products among non-Jews—particularly

58 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES products carrying the OU symbol—pro- will ensure that, despite our growth, we Fun And Fashion At LI AMIT Gala viding kosher food would satisfy a wide are still able to give individualized atten- The 2007 AMIT Long Island Gala range of passengers. “The kosher market tion to each boy,” stated Rabbi is scheduled for Wednesday evening, is enormous, it is expanding by 15 per- Rudansky. He continued, “In addition, October 17, at 6:30 p.m., at the cent every year, and much of this growth seven new teachers have been added to Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst. The is fueled by those who are not Jewish but our staff. Our physical-education evening will feature a vintage fashion who purchase kosher food because of its department, which has been strength- show by Shirley Friedman, fashion high quality and its iconic brand names. ened as well, now includes hockey, bas- advisor and stylist, and will pay tribute Kosher at 35,000 feet will be every bit as ketball (MBA), softball (junior varsity to several local residents, including popular as kosher in the supermarket,” and varsity), and volleyball.” Rabbi Audrey Wagner of Woodmere and her Rabbi Genack said. O Drebin added, “As the mesivta grows in daughters who are the Long Island size, it is crucial to remain involved in Family of the Year. New Assistant Principal At MAY the progress and development of each Audrey Wagner will be joined by her By Rachel Shapiro individual student. This remains a pri- four daughters in this year’s Long Mesivta Ateres Yaakov of Greater mary objective.” Island Family of the Year tribute: Long Island, the Ruth and Hyman Rabbi Drebin studied at Yeshiva Barbara Simon of Cedarhurst, Susan Simon High School (MAY), has Chofetz Chaim, first as a talmid of Rabbi Wagner-Klinger of Great Neck, announced the appointment of Rabbi Moshe Chait in Eretz Yisrael, and then in Tammy Wagner of Woodmere, and Shlomo Drebin to the position of assis- Queens under Rabbi Henoch Leibowitz. Terri Wagner of Woodmere. tant principal. As assistant to Rabbi Sam He received his teaching degree at Rabbi Shlomo Drebin Additionally, a number of regional Rudansky, M.A., J.D., principal of gen- Seminar L’Mechanchei Torah, headed by honorees will be recognized for their eral studies, Rabbi Drebin will help Rabbi Hillel Mandel, while attending capabilities that he has demonstrated for outstanding contributions to AMIT: manage overall student progress on a Adelphi University and, later, Queens several years complements his engaging Barbara Baker, Lawrence; Aviva day-to-day basis, interaction of students College. Rabbi Drebin received his mas- personality and thorough understanding Hoschander, Bellmore; Yael Muskat, and teachers, and all areas of student ter’s degree in education at Sacred Heart of the culture and weltanschauung of Oceanside; Jeryl Volk, Merrick; Roberta life, both academically and socially. He University in Fairfield, Conn. our yeshiva. Everyone with whom I have Weinstein-Cohen, West Hempstead; will continue in his previous role as pro- Rabbi Drebin was a rebbi at the Torah spoken is very excited about his assum- and Bonnie Zucker, Long Beach. gram coordinator, organizing mesibos, Mesorah Day School in Fairfield from ing this new role.” Couvert for the Long Island Gala trips, and Shabbatons, as well as other 1985 to 1999. He was also a successful Rabbi Drebin said, “I have seen the is $100 per person and many other school functions. camp director at Mintz Day Camp for 15 MAY teachers in action. They are mas- contributing opportunities are avail- Through the hard work of Rabbi years. Besides his duties at MAY, Rabbi ter educators who are faithful to the able. You may make reservations Mordechai Yaffe, Ph.D., as well as Drebin is currently a rebbi at Yeshiva of mission of the mesivta—that one size online at www.amitchildren.org/cal- Rabbi Rudansky, MAY has grown South Shore, as well as associate direc- does not fit all. Both Rabbi Yaffe and endar.asp, or for further information, tremendously, from 120 students to over tor of Camp Machane Yisroel in Rabbi Rudansky are educational lead- please call Stephanie Shaffer at 212- 180, over the past five years. “Our Lawrence. Rabbi Shlomo Drebin lives in ers, who have won my admiration and 477-5465. growth has made it necessary to expand the Five Towns area with his wife Rivkie respect for their professionalism, dedi- All proceeds from the 2007 Long our infrastructure to better service our and their five sons, ages 11–23. cation, and uncompromising commit- Island Gala will benefit the AMIT students…and towards that end, we Says Rabbi Yaffe, “Rabbi Drebin ment to academic excellence, and I network of schools, youth villages, have engaged Rabbi Drebin and have assuming this role is an invaluable addi- look forward to working with them to child care facilities and other pro- divided each grade into three tracks in tion to our overall general studies pro- help facilitate maximum academic both math and English. These measures gram. The dedication and tremendous achievement in every student.” O Continued on Page 60

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 59 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS 20,000 children in over 70 Reserved Shul Seats For reserved seats for the High Some passengers drove from as Holidays Going For Continued from Page 59 schools and programs in 22 Holidays for up to $700, while far as Brooklyn and Manhattan cities, development towns $50,000 Israelis will be able to purchase to the pickup locations. In grams in Israel. AMIT cur- and communities through- The Great Synagogue in the same seats for about $170. total, more than 400 people rently enrolls more than out Israel. O Jerusalem is offering tourists According to the Orthodox attended the service, with the advertisement agency, Gal- crowd spilling out into the syn- Oren, the prices for reserved agogue’s lobby. synagogue seats this year have Selichos services were con- increased by 20%, apparently ducted by the Hampton due to increased demand, and Synagogue’s Rabbi Marc are going for an average of Schneier and Cantor Netanel $73 a seat. Hershtik, accompanied by the At synagogues of the hassidic New York Synagogue choir, rabbis’ courts the prices vary Conductor, Izhak Haimov. according to how close they are Cantor Hershtik is considered to the admor (acronym for “our an international superstar in master, our teacher, and our the contemporary cantorial rabbi). A reserved seat near the world, and the service featured admor at the Belz synagogue compositions by Cantors can reach a whopping Moshe Koussevitzky, Yossele $50,000. Rosenblatt, and Naftali Prices at the Vishnitz syna- Hershtik. Rabbi Schneier gogue are significantly lower, offered opening reflections at and a seat near the admor is 10:30 p.m., and a reception fol- being sold for an average of lowed the service. At the con- $1,000. (Vos Is Neias) O clusion of the service, Rabbi Schneier held an appeal for The Hampton Synagogue ACHI (American Communities Selichos Shuttle Service Helping Israel), an organization On Saturday night, that is helping to feed Israeli September 8, the Hampton children living in poverty. Synagogue became the first For more information synagogue in America to offer about the Hampton Syna- complimentary round-trip gogue, contact the synagogue transportation to Selichos serv- office at 631-288-0534. O ices to mark the beginning of the High Holy Days season. In JCC Programs For The response to the growing New Year demand for the Hampton By Rina Shkolnik Synagogue’s acclaimed servic- It is that time of year when es, two coach buses were pro- the calendar turns to the vided to accommodate more month of Tishrei, and the than 100 people from Queens whole Jewish world turns to the and the Five Towns. holiday of Rosh Hashanah. The first bus departed from This is the time when we col- The Jewish Center of Kew lectively put down our cell Garden Hills, 7125 Main phones and Blackberrys, and Street. It also stopped at pick up our apples dripping Mazers Restaurant in Little with sweet honey, while trying Neck. The second left from not to spill pomegranate seeds Brach’s Supermarket in all over our grandmother’s Lawrence. Demand for the tablecloth. buses far exceeded capacity; Rosh Hashanah is such a long waiting lists formed over the previous three weeks. Continued on Page 62

60 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 61 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS improve on who we are and to con- exciting new programs. Our new programs will enable more families in Continued from Page 60 tribute to the betterment of those Parenting Center will educate parents our community to benefit and thrive in around us. It compels us to care for one and provide them with skills and tools an environment of caring. unique holiday because it brings with another, to reach out to our neighbors to become better parents. All of us at the JCC of the Greater it the gift of reflection, introspection, and to be active in our temples and our And we will be adding a Snoezelen Five Towns extend our best wishes to and self-discovery. It is our blessing community institutions. No Jew should room, where children and adults with the entire community for a year filled and our obligation to take stock of our go without. If we see someone in need, developmental disabilities can experi- with health, happiness, laughter, and lives not only as individuals, but as we must find a way to help. ence an opportunity to explore the love. Shanah tovah! O members of our own families and the In this New Year, the JCC will carry world in new way. This room is cogni- Jewish community at large. forward with our mission to help those tively stimulating without the cognitive Exciting Changes At The shofar calls us to find ways to in need by introducing two especially language requirements. Both of these HAFTR/Machon HaTorah The Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway and Machon HaTorah is implementing some exciting changes to their administration, faculty, and curriculum for the 2007–08 academic year. Rabbi David Leibtag, head of school N–8 division said, “The elementary and early childhood enrollment has experienced unprecedented growth this past year due to the reputation the school has developed…as a Modern Orthodox yeshiva that is uniquely responsive to the cognitive, emotional, social, and religious needs of our children.” They have promoted Mrs. Cyndy Goldberg (a beloved educator at HAFTR for many years) to the new position of early childhood director. Rabbi Gavriel Herzig will join the administration as associate principal in the lower school. Rabbi Herzig comes with previous experience as a principal and most recently as assistant principal in Bridgeport, Conn., at Bi-Cultural Hebrew Day School. In addition, they are introducing a new Hebrew immersion program in the kindergarten class. Grades K–8 will benefit from a new social skills development curriculum. V’shinantam, a new

62 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES mishnah program developed in Israel, Stern College, received her B.A. from Muskat is also a s’gan mashgiach (reli- 2000 program (E2K), which HAFTR’s will be implemented in grades 5 and 6. Barnard College and her M.A. and mas- gious guidance counselor) at Yeshiva middle school is also a participant in, In addition, grades K–2 have adopted a ter of philosophy from Columbia University. developed by the Israel Society for new math program which focuses on University, where she is currently a doc- Rabbi Efrem Schwalb is the mara Excellence in Education and affiliated critical thinking, problem solving, and toral candidate. She gives frequent shi- d’asra of Congregation Eitz Hayim in with the Gruss Foundation. The pro- real life applications. urim and lectures across the country. West Hempstead, a practicing litigator gram provides curricula and education- The middle school also has many new Prof. Rosensweig’s shiurim will be direct- at the firm Kaye Scholer, LLP, and a al support for schools with educational programs and talented professionals to ed to the top girls’ classes at HAFTR. noted lecturer on topics related to programs that emphasize inquiry-based boast of. They have developed an advi- This year also marks the return to halachah and the law. Rabbi Schwalb learning, which move away from the sory program in middle school for each HAFTR of certain of its alumni, now in was the magid shiur at a Rambam traditional “frontal teaching model,” grade that deals with the unique transi- teaching and leadership positions. father-son learn-a-thon, where he spoke and instead embrace a student-cen- tions of each grade level of middle Allison Miller (class of 2000), who went to a packed audience on the topic of tered, active learning model. It also pro- school. At HAFTR, Naomi Lippman, on to Columbia University, will teach “Beis Din or Secular Court: How Do vides educational and financial support formerly the principal of the HAFTR English and AP English. Dr. Andrew You Choose?” Rabbi Schwalb will be for special programs, such as the middle school, has joined the Machon’s Sicklick, an orthodontist whose practice giving shiurim on the subject of busi- Rambam Robotics Club. This recogni- senior administration as associate prin- is based in Cedarhurst, will volunteer ness and medical ethics. tion comes on the heels of the string of cipal, replacing the venerated Naomi his valuable time to HAFTR to give a A new class, Physiology and victories by the HAFTR and Rambam Levenbrown, a’h, who passed away last weekly shiur to the students that focus- Halachah, will also be given by Rabbi Dr. science teams, under the leadership of year after a long illness. es on practical halachic issues in con- Avrum Haar, which will focus on the Mrs. Rivki Isseroff, at the various Intel Rabbi Steven Moskowitz, the bright temporary society. practical and philosophic implications and Siemens-Westinghouse competi- star among the rebbeim at North Shore At Rambam, the limudei kodesh pro- stemming from the various halachos tions across the country and the first Hebrew Academy, will be bringing his gram will be bolstered by the addition of associated with human physiology. place finish by the Rambam Robotics highly charged, motivational energies to two new staff members: Rabbi Jonathan Rambam has also been selected to Club at last year’s international compe- the HAFTR students. Also joining the Muskat and Rabbi Efrem Schwalb. participate in the Mitchell Excellence tition at MIT. O HAFTR staff will be Tuvia Book, who Rabbi Muskat, who will be a full-time will oversee the new Zionism program, rebbi, is the mara d’asra of the Young including a unique educational curricu- Israel of Oceanside, and his credentials lum, event programming, and special will also serve him well as a role model projects, such as the Project Mitnadvim to the students. Rabbi Muskat received Israel volunteer and study program for his semichah from Yeshiva University, a Machon students. He was previously master’s degree in medieval Jewish his- the BJE’s director of Israel and Zionist tory, a bachelor’s degree in Jewish stud- education, the creator of the BJE’s edu- ies, speech, and drama from Yeshiva cator’s guide for teaching Zionism, For University, and a law degree from New the Sake of Zion, and a lecturer at Bar York University. His experiences include Ilan and Hebrew Universities in Israel. extensive outreach activity in the former HAFTR will also be fortunate this year Soviet Union, advanced study in to have Professor Smadar Rosensweig Yerushalayim, where he gained expertise joining the staff as a special lecturer on in issues of halachah and infertility, Tanach and Judaic studies. Professor medicine, and family purity, and a prior Kids of all ages enjoyed awesome rides, micro car racing, carnival games, fantastic crafts and Rosensweig is a member of the faculty at pulpit position in Los Angeles. Rabbi outstanding BBQ and snacks for all.

Rabbi Shlomo Drebin

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 63 64 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 65 Woodmere Rehab Prepares For Rosh Hashanah IDF To Import

Residents of the Woodmere Gaza Produce Rehabilitation and Health Care Center are transported from all six units in the On Shemittah facility to the lounge on a daily basis to participate in the minyan. BY YAAKOV KATZ Seated, first row, left to right: Solomon Waltuch, Eli The IDF intends to import Achriche, Morris produce from the Gaza Strip Greenstein, David Tishberg. on a trial basis ahead of the Seated, second row, left to upcoming shemitah (sabbati- right: Martin Fuchs, Jack Schuss, Nathan Breen. cal) year, when Jewish farmers Standing, back row: Andrew are forbidden by halachah to Blank, recreation staff; Bar harvest the land. Giberstein, assistant Since Hamas’s takeover of administrator; Rabbi Yisroel the Gaza Strip in June and the Lazear, mashgiach; and closure of the Karni crossing, Mitchell Teller, the IDF has refrained from administrator. importing Palestinian goods into Israel. In past Shemittah years, Israel relied heavily on produce cultivated in Pales- tinian territory. According to halachah, all produce grown in Israel on Jewish-owned land during the Shemittah year, which starts on Rosh Hashanah, is forbidden for sale. “We plan to conduct a few test runs to see if we can find the right mechanism that will work during shemitah,” a high- ranking defense official said. “We do not deal with Hamas and talk strictly with local Palestinian farmers and merchants.” Col. Nir Press, head of the Gaza Liaison Administration, is responsible for arranging the importing of the produce. Due to Israel’s policy of not talking to Hamas officials, Press is coordinating the transfer of the goods with Fatah officials in Ramallah who are in charge of the Gaza crossings on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. Press is in touch with Palestinian merchants and farmers inside Gaza who can help him coordinate the transfer of produce into Israel during the Shemittah year. The IDF is also involved in setting up a similar mechanism in the West Bank, particularly in the Jordan Valley. OC Jordan Valley Brigade. Col. Yigal Slovik has held meetings with religious officials to coordinate the transfer of produce from Palestinian-owned lands near Jericho to Jewish merchants. Religious authorities have asked Slovik to deploy soldiers in the fields on the days of the harvest to protect kashrus supervisors who will be there to ensure that the produce belonged to non- Jews. They want to ensure that Jewish farmers can’t ship their own produce into an Arab village and claim it was grown on Arab-owned land. (JPost.com) O 66 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 67 68 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 69

The Dissident

BY PEGGY CIDOR

Rabbi Shmuel Yitzhaki of Shas is a fierce opponent from inside the ruling coalition. He has refused more than once to accept a paying job in the municipality in order to preserve his freedom. Yitzhaki makes his living as a chevrah kadishah (burial society) member, and is heavily involved in the chareidi educational system, mostly on a volunteer basis. Yitzhaki, whose father was a neighbor and friend of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, doesn’t say it in so many words but one easily understands that this relationship, along with an old friendship between his mother and the late Rabbanit Margalit Yosef, gives him a certain kind of immunity. During city

“I came here to serve the citizens, not the party leaders.”

council meetings, Yitzhaki’s open criticism of his coalition peers, including the mayor, often goes beyond what even the fiercest members of the opposition allow themselves. Yitzhaki’s main concern is the problem of discrimination against Sephardi girls in the chareidi education system. He was the first to denounce the phenomenon and to fight against it, accusing the Ashkenazi charedim, his peers in Shas and also the secular establishment of abetting this unbearable situation. How long have you served on the city council? Since the beginning of 1993. I came in to replace someone from the Shas list who had to leave, while Teddy [Kollek] was mayor. So you’ve served under three mayors. Any preference? It’s hard to believe, but today things are so bad that I sometimes find myself nostalgic for the days of Teddy, and even now and then for the days of [former mayor Ehud] Olmert. Even Olmert, who didn’t always bother to give complete answers, at least gave us the feeling that he was aware of our existence. Today it’s just smiles with nothing behind them. So you don’t think that a chareidi mayor was such a good idea for the chareidi and religious communities? Not good at all, not good at all. I see what [Mayor Uri] Lupolianski has to undergo, believe me I don’t envy him. He finds himself sometimes in such embarrassing situations. Tell us about your background. I grew up in a poor and neglected neighborhood, in Beit Yisrael and later in the Bukharan Quarter. The home I come from was traditional-religious. One of my brothers is a high-ranking 70 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES A Five Towns Simcha Photos By Captured Images

Jesse Gordon of West Hempstead celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at Congregation Beth David in Lynbrook on September 9 with family and friends.

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 71 Shemittah-Sale Proponents Remain Silent No More

BY HILLEL FENDEL “year of fallow” coming up, the com- making an effort to sway public opin- agriculture making a significant come- Responding to the growth of monly practiced “sale dispensation” ion back in its favor. back for the first time in 18 centuries, Shemittah-year initiatives that largely formulated to help farmers and con- According to Biblical law, Jews who rabbis in Israel agreed to temporarily bypass the heter mechirah, leading reli- sumers deal with Shemittah challenges own land in the Land of Israel must let sell parts of the Land to non-Jews, so gious-Zionist rabbis are coming to its seems to be in danger. Possibly just in it lie fallow every seventh year, and that certain agricultural activities defense. the nick of time, however, many lead- may not work the fields. In the could be carried out. As the national With the seventh-year Shemittah ing religious-Zionist rabbis have been Shemittah year of 1889, with Israeli economy grew and the potential loss- es—including the very destruction of the fledgling Jewish community— became more threatening, the dispensation became more widespread and institutionalized. Despite its wide practice and the many rabbis supporting it, the dispensation, called the heter mechirah, was never universally accepted, and provided regular fodder for halachic debate among scholars. Its main pillar of support was the fact that Shemittah applies nowadays only by rabbinic dic- tum, and that farmers were instructed not to perform Biblically prohibited work. The dispensation was almost totally accepted among the religious- Zionist public, and barely at all in the chareidi-religious sector. The chief rabbinate announced last year its plan to reduce its reliance on the controversial “land sale dispensation” for the upcoming Shemittah “to a minimum.” At the same time, religious- Zionist circles began to implement a solution heretofore observed on a minor scale in some chareidi circles, known as the otzar beit din; in its new format, it

Continued on Page 74

72 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 73 Shemittah-Sale Sephardic rabbis. The heter is valid and Continued from Page 72 cannot be challenged. It is a necessity that comes to strengthen Jewish agricul- also involves minimum reliance on the ture in the Land of Israel and prevent it heter dispensation. from destruction and collapse. With the heter mechirah appearing Therefore, produce that was grown in to lose validity, leading religious-Zionist accordance with Jewish Law according rabbis have now begun to “fight back.” to the above principles is acceptable They say the heter dispensation is not and preferable to produce grown by only still valid, but is as necessary as it non-Jews or imported… was when it was first formulated. The declaration concluded by saying The rabbis of the Religious Kibbutz that otzar beit din solutions have been Movement, for instance, turned recently established for those who wish to to Rabbis Yaakov Ariel and Yehuda acquire Shemittah produce of an even Amichai, leading otzar beit din propo- higher halachic standard, and that some nents, and formulated a joint public dec- of these solutions will provide heter pro- laration in favor of the heter mechirah. duce when other fruits and vegetables The declaration also received the sup- have been exhausted. port of many other rabbis, including for- Two articles on this topic also appear mer Chief Rabbis Avraham Shapira and in HaTzofeh newspaper. In one of them, Mordechai Eliyahu, and Rabbis Chaim Rabbi Aryeh Stern, the head of the Druckman, Dov Lior, and many others. Halakhah Berurah Institute in The declaration reads, in part: Jerusalem, writes that otzar beit din Ever since the hills of the Land of solutions are well-intentioned, but may Israel began bringing forth their fruits as “come at the expense of those whose liv- a clear sign of Israel’s redemption, all the ing comes from agriculture. We have Torah leaders of Israel have been aware neither the right nor the authority to of the need to strengthen Jewish settle- demand of them not to rely on the heter, ment in the Land, and especially that of when we ourselves are not even willing the religious farmers… They felt that to give up one monthly salary…” only a strong Israeli agricultural infra- “At present,” Rabbi Stern writes, structure could enable a total fulfillment “the great danger is that those who are of the commandments of Shemittah. responsible for implementing the heter Based on this assumption, the heter will find themselves with no backing, mechirah was also institutionalized by while…those who are not accustomed Torah leaders of Israel, beginning with to observing the mitzvos will simply give Rabbi Mordechai Rubio (Shemen up on the whole thing and will market HaMor), Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan, their produce regularly, as if it were not Rabbi Shmuel Mohilever, Rabbi Shemittah, leading to a situation in Yehoshua of Kutna, Rabbi A.I. Kook, and many others, including leading Continued on Page 79

74 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES The Dissident Continued from Page 70 officer in the IDF, another one was a soldier in one of the elite units, and although I am sad that they are not so close today to the traditions, we as brothers are still very close. Did you go to the army yourself? Yes, of course; I did complete service and I still do reserve duty. Two years ago I was called up and was part of the team that evacuated those buried in Gush Katif, and last year I was in Lebanon. It’s no secret that you do not often agree with your party. I came here to serve the citizens, not the party leaders. I am accountable to those who sent me to represent them, not to those who establish a career on the city council. But maybe you feel secure, because you do allow yourself to express open and public criticism without fear? Where does your boldness come from? I do not owe them anything. I do not get one shekel of public money, I work here for the public as a volunteer. I don’t have to please anyone, I am a free man and I serve according to my conscience. What are your memories of Rabbi Ovadia from your childhood? My father was a barber and Rabbi Ovadia used to come to him for haircuts. In the bad old days, he couldn’t always pay him, but when he became famous, he treat- ed my father kindly and paid him much more than the regular prices. Also my father was a paytan (religious singer), he knew all the melodies and also lots of classical Arabic music, which Rabbi Ovadia appreciates very much. So he used to come to his home and sing for him. And my mother and the Rabbanit Margalit were friends from childhood. What did you do before you became a city councillor? I was a close assistant to the old Porush [Rabbi Menahem Porush] when he was a Knesset member. There I became acquainted with Aryeh Deri for the first time and we became friends. I think very highly of him. Recently there has been talk of Deri running for mayor. What do you think of this? This would be the best thing to happen to this city. He is a very capable man, and I know he is serious about it. I wish for us all that it will work out, although the problem is also inside the administration. Today we do not have the best people in the municipality serving the citizens, and you can see the results everywhere. Serving the citizens is much more than planting a tree here or putting a playground there. What are the obstacles for Deri? Deri will not run for the post unless he is sure there will be no other chareidi candidate. That is his condition. So everything is, as usual, in Rabbi Elyashiv’s hands. If he decides that Deri is the candidate, that will happen. So what you are telling us is that after the first Ashkenazi chareidi mayor, we are going to have another chareidi mayor, a Sephardi this time? Deri is not just another chareidi candidate. He has the support of many non-religious people. But I still think that a chareidi

Continued on Page 77 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 75 Bonei Olam: Keeping Hope Alive Photos By Judah S. Harris Photography and Film

The long-awaited reception for the benefit of Bonei Olam in memory of Sarit Marton took place last Saturday night at the home of Shaul and Batsheva Katz in Lawrence. Pictured above: Dr. Freddie Marton receives commemorative plaque. Top right: Mrs. Batsheva Katz (third from left) and friends. At right: Eva Silber and Bina Levy, two of the hundreds of participants who attended the event, which raised much needed funds to support the thousands of couples throughout the world in need of fertility treatments who look to Bonei Olam for assistance. A Selichos-night concert and Selichos were led by Lipa Schmeltzer.

76 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES The Dissident Continued from Page 75 mayor is not the best option for the chareidi community. Let me tell you what I see and hear. I don’t have a car, I use public transport, and I mingle around a lot in the city—Mahaneh Yehuda, religious quarters, the city center, anywhere. In Mea She’arim, the walls are covered by pashkevilim [posters] against the mayor. They accuse him of failing them and their interests. He tries his best to please everyone, so the hareidim are furious with him. Do you mean that it is not a good idea to push through religious decisions? For example, I was and am still against the [Shabbat] closure of Rehov Bar-Ilan. I believe that people should be religious inside their home, not in the streets, which are public places. I wouldn’t have done that. Perhaps it is because you belong to the Sephardi community, which has always been more tolerant? Of course, I don’t believe in going to war against the whole world. But that kind of openness is precisely what the heads of chareidi institutions are afraid of. They refuse to accept girls from Sephardi backgrounds, because in their families you may find religious, traditionalists, and hareidim living together in harmony, but it also means they have a TV at home, so they don’t want them in their school. I am also a member of the management of an educational institution for Sephardi chareidi girls. Even I do not accept girls who have a TV at home or things like that. I suggest that they go to the Chabad schools, where it is part of their policy to accept kids who come from families who are not totally chareidi or not even religious at home. But I am speaking of the unspeakable shame of refusing girls just because their family names and skin color do not fit in, even if at home there is no TV or any other problem. It’s sheer racism, and I will fight against it until the end of my life. Even now, while I am talking to you, I have a list of 40 girls for the first grade, who are not registered in any school, and the schools who refused them are financed by the municipality. This is not only a shame, this is chillul Hashem. (JPost.com) O

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5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 77 playlist. And if, heaven forbid, you for only $249. walk into the store just at the end of a I’m sure Apple didn’t realize it, but song and you weren’t there long the timing of their announcement enough to catch the tune, your iPod couldn’t be more illuminating for will list the last 10 songs played. those focused on higher-level Now if this isn’t enough material- thoughts and states of being. It repre- ism for you, what I found most amaz- sented such a sharp contrast between ing about all of this was the reaction our community and those who of those Mr. Jobs was presenting to. applaud excess and instant gratifica- iPod, Therefore I Am? The audience was composed of most- tion. It had me thinking about the ly middle aged news columnists, tech people and institutions that really editors, corporate distribution repre- make a difference, both in Far I love music just as much as, if not newly announced partnership sentatives, and other business Rockaway and beyond. Perhaps those more than, the next guy. In this col- between Apple’s iPod division and types—what I would call mature, rea- that we should really be standing and umn I have reviewed albums and pro- Starbucks. With the new iPod Touch, soned individuals. But you should cheering for are the yeshivos and their moted concerts that, in my opinion, when you walk into a Starbucks, a have seen them cheer when they teachers, the shuls and their rabban- represent what’s up-and-coming on Starbucks logo will appear on your found out they would soon be able to im, the not-for-profits and their the Jewish music scene. With that directors that tirelessly serve the said, I have yet to own an iPod. My cell communal good, and those who help phone, a Treo 700p, serves me fine as us refocus on the important things in an mp3 player and I have had no prob- life that extend beyond a 160-gig lems accessing the music I want to You should have seen them give a iPod. O hear when I want to hear it. This week, Steve Jobs of Apple announced the new lineup of iPods. standing ovation when he There is the refreshed Shuffle, the video-enhanced Nano, the storage announced that the new iPods Remember that article? powerhouse Classic, and the new iPod Touch, which is pretty much the Visit our archive section iPhone without the phone. I took a were .001 mm thinner. few minutes to watch the keynote address and learned some interesting and find any issue of the facts. Worldwide, there have been over 110,000,000 iPods sold, and iPod. Starbucks, which boasts an create their own ringtones for only 99 5 Towns Jewish Times customers have downloaded over 3 internal Wi-Fi system, will then sync cents, or give a standing ovation billion songs onto those iPods. With with your iPod to give you the current when he announced that the new online @ the original iPod you could only carry song playing in the store and the iPods were .001 mm thinner than the around 1,000 songs with you. Now option to purchase it. With the touch previous generation of 2 years ago. www.5TJT.com you have the ability to carry 40,000 of a button, the song will travel And wouldn’t you know, they were songs. through the air from the Starbucks uplifted by the charitable kindness of Perhaps most important is the internal network into your iTunes Apple for selling the new iPod Classic

78 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Shemittah-Sale from without. Even the liberal-capital- Continued from Page 74 istic U.S. supports its agriculture in various ways… And regarding the which the whole country and its mar- Torah’s command to be ‘heroic’ in kets will be filled with forbidden foods, observing the Shemittah, this applies to Heaven forbid. We must therefore the farmer, not to the consumer who strengthen the heter, and those who buys foreign produce [and therefore are behind it…and call upon everyone there is no “heroism” involved in not to make sure only to buy Jewish-grown buying heter produce].” fruit, and not imported or Arab-grown Rabbi Aviner then lists the various types fruit, in order to strengthen Jewish of permitted Shemittah-year produce: agriculture in Israel. This has always 1. Jewish-grown fruits that were been our path, and we must continue harvested in the sixth year and kept in upon it…” cold storage In response to those who ask, “Our 2. Jewish-grown fruits grown on agriculture is not really that important detached platforms in greenhouses anyway; what would be so terrible if and the like. Jewish agriculture would take a year 3. Vegetables that were sown in the off?” Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, head of sixth year and picked in the seventh Yeshivat Ateret Cohanim in Jerusalem’s year via an otzar beit din; eating these Old City, writes: with the proper precautions is espe- “To whom is our agriculture not that cially meritorious as they have the spe- important—to the consumer, or to the cial status of “seventh-year sanctity.” farmer whose staff of support you 4. Heter mechirah—and certainly in would like to break? And it’s not only those areas that may be outside an issue for this coming year, but in Shemittah jurisdiction, such as the general: If he stops for a full year, oth- southern Aravah near Eilat. ers from outside Israel will take his 5. But certainly not produce of non- place in the world market. We sell Jews from abroad, or Arabs here in Biblically forbidden chametz before Israel, and certainly not of terrorists, Pesach… We can certainly do so for such as the murderers who now live or the Shemittah year. For we are not forc- work in Gush Katif, who inherited our ing anyone to use the heter, but just brothers’ farms… those who wish to. And of course, no In summary, the much-maligned one can sell the land himself, but must heter mechirah is down but not out— do so only via the Chief Rabbinate… as long as the need to protect Israel’s The fact that we can import food agricultural economy, the desire to does not make our agriculture not protect non-religious Jews from their important. A country must never allow own ignorance, and the rabbinic status itself to be dependent on others for of the Shemittah laws still abound. food, because then it can be liquidated (Arutz Sheva) O

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 79 Fatah And Hamas Unite In New Terrorist Group

BY HANA LEVI JULIAN unity government, divorced each other with the bloody takeover of Gaza by Disappointed members of Fatah’s Al Hamas in June. Fatah retained control Aksa Martyrs Brigades terrorist group over PA areas in Judea and Samaria. who were left off the amnesty list PA Chairman and Fatah leader approved last month by Prime Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has Minister Ehud Olmert have taken won generous support in the form of their business elsewhere, sort of. money, arms, and military training as The disgruntled renegades have well as effusive praise from Israel, the joined with Hamas terrorists to create United States, and other Western a new gang, called the “Fire Belt,” nations since splitting with Hamas. according to a report published by Abbas has been warned repeatedly WorldNet Daily. that the picture could change drasti- A spokesman for the Shechem- cally should he reconsider his position based Al Aksa Martyrs Brigades group and renew a relationship with Hamas. said that politics between the two fac- Recent reports in the Arabic press have tions has not stopped terrorists in both indicated that Abbas may be pursuing groups from working together. just such an agenda. (Arutz Sheva) O Abu Nasser, the self-declared leader of the new terror gang, said, “Fatah and Hamas are having diplomatic problems, but that doesn’t mean we are not united in the battle against the WHAT’S YOUR (Israeli) occupation.” The new group made its terror debut by throwing grenades at IDF OPINION? soldiers operating near Shechem. “The Fire Belt will carry out many WE WANT TO KNOW! more attacks,” promised Nasser. “We hope this cooperation will bring the E-MAIL US AT two parties (Fatah and Hamas) to respect Palestinian unity and safe- [email protected] guard that unity.” The two rival factions, who were former partners in a Palestinian Authority

80 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 81 82 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 83 AUTOS SERVICES FOR SALE PROVIDED

Cars are 4-Door and automatic shift Study with Steve. One-on-one unless specified. Most cars have a tutoring. SAT Math prep, regents, 1-year bumper to bumper warranty. high school and elementary math, 2000 Ford Taurus, black, 55K high school physics. miles, leather, power everything ABS. Call 516-371-5522...... $5,500 Simchas Naava 1994 Chrysler LeBaron convert- Share your simcha flowers! Be ible, maroon w/ white top, CD power, m’sameach other simchas! Donate 69K miles...... $2,999 your fresh flower arrangements! We 2000 Chevy Cavalier convertible, will match your simcha date with 80K, red with black top, power every- simchas following yours or deliver thing...... $4,500 them to nursing home residents. To 2003 Pontiac Montana minivan, donate or obtain flower arrangements, call 516-239-6066. power sliding door, power everything In memory of a special friend, ABS, 31K...... $8,500 Naava Wassner Katlowitz 2003 Chevy Malibu, black, 6 cyl., leather, AM/FM CD 42K...... $6,500 Master Teacher Tutors 1998 Ford Taurus station wagon, Limudei Kodesh/Secular Subjects tan, 7-passenger, power everything, Specialize grades 1-8. Adults; 65K...... $4,500 Boys; Girls. Call 718-868-3968. 2000 Hyundai Sonata, green, sun- Handyman—For small jobs. Home roof, power AM/FM/CD, 6 cylinder improvement and remodeling...... $4,999 Contractor—For big jobs. Licenses 1999 Ford Contour, 46K miles, and insurance. Free estimates. red, 4 cyl., power, excellent condition. Call Shmuel at 516-417-8042 or ...... $4,300 718-930-2116 1999 Ford Taurus, blue, 44K miles, CD changer, 4-door, power.....$4,500 The Computer Place 1998 Mazda Protégé, brown, 79K Computer Consultants, Technical miles, power wndws/locks, sunroof, Support, Network, Internet Solutions. AM/FM/CD...... $3,500 Call 800-613-2634. 1995 Toyota Avalon, leather, sunroof, power everything ABS....$2,999 HELP 2000 Mercury Cougar, pearl white, WANTED leather, 38K miles, 6 cyl., ABS, ...... $4,999 Automaven 516-996-5555 Local Yeshiva seeks organized administrative assistant: Letter Editing, phones, project management. 9 AM-2 SERVICES PM. Excellent salary. E-mail resume PROVIDED to [email protected] F/T P/T entry-level positions avail- Too Much to Type? Too Much to Do? able at local office. Must have good College Reports, Simcha Lists, computer skills, be organized, and be Secretarial Support. Call Gold Star good with people. Please call 718-868-0818, fax resume to Typing Service for help. Reasonable 718-868-9161 rates. Call 718-471-9712. Makeup artist needed for Kollel Yungerman available to learn Cedarhurst salon. with your son Gemora or Mishnayos. Call 516-374-1144 Review class material or undertake a challenging project. Available after New salon looking for experienced: Yeshiva and some hours during hair dresser/sheitel macher, Yeshiva. Call 917-842-2587 make-up artist, manicurist, masseuse in central Cedarhurst area. New Table and Chair Gemach for Please call 516-791-2520 or short-term simchas. 740 Mador Ct. 646-270-3381 Far Rockaway. Call 718-471-0368. Established music program coming Wallpapering/painting soon to the 5 Towns seeking addition- Every home needs a woman's touch. Consultations available. Wallpapers, al instructors for voice, dance, painting, and borders for any room of drama, & instruments. Please call your house. 20 years experience in the 718-258-5391 area. Call Sasha at 516-812-0089. Salesperson needed for women's Plumbing and Heating: Sundial boutique. Cheerful, professional, and Plumbing. Boilers/water heaters detail-oriented. Sales experience serviced and installed. All leaks fixed. needed. Full or P/T positions. For Bathrooms, kitchens, basements. No more info call Amy at 516-374-1095. job too big or small. 718-252-1234. Fax resumes to 516-295-7287. 84 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES HELP HELP REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE WANTED WANTED FOR SALE FOR SALE

Yeshiva of Belle Harbor looking for Part time Mashgiach, cashier, and Law: Hi Ranch. Must see, 4br, Far Rockaway: 2 Fam. All NU nursery-grade 5 English and maintenance needed at local bagel 2.5bth, fam rm, CAC, 2gar, lg prop. 3 over 3 Br. 4Fbth, Dr, Full bsmt Hebrew teachers. E-mail your store. Counter positions available All features...... $779K resumes to [email protected] also. Call 516-220-4100 ask for Joe...... $800sK Call 516-263-6417 3-6 PM. Religious. Seeking shadow for 5-year-old boy in Law: Nu Construc’n, 6br, 5bth, yeshiva setting to focus on social Assistant Manager wanted. Must lg prop, walk all, with all goodies. Woodmere/Cedarhurst Oppty! interaction. Must be playful and be early riser and energetic. Call Joel 12,000 sq. ft. approx. 90’x150’, Plans can be seen in office. enthusiastic. Call 516-376-6244 at 516-233-5808 Colonial, 17 rooms, full bsmt. with hi and leave message. Ced: Nu2Mkt, 2Fam, 3br/3br, 2fpl, ceilings, clean 2 car garage plus stor- Waiter — Must speak English. REAL ESTATE deck, all new, grt loc, full bsmt. $795K age, 6 space parking, 2 family, profes- Needed to work in back and front of FOR SALE Wdm: Reduced. Ranch, 3br, 3 bth, lg sional use, accountant, Esq., medical restaurant. 12-9 Sunday - Thursday. Call 516-426-2037 prop, grt loc, walk all...... $749K and/or educational and religious uses. Grand colonial with charm and great Hewlett—Open House Sunday Oceanside: Col, renov’d, lr, dr, nu EIK, September 16 11-1 possibilities. Available at once. den, 3br, fin bsmt. Best Buy! .....$439K 397 Hamilton Ave. Brand new con- $875K Negotiable. struction, 5 bedrms, 2.5 baths, office, Cedarhurst: CH col., new quality Owner 516-322-3555 wood flrs, CAC, Landry room on 2nd construction. 7 bedroom, 4.5 bths, North Woodmere — (Extended flr...... $799K den, LR, DR, oversized gourmet, Woodmere 400) Price drastically Call Jackie 516-526-8841 granite EIK, huge FDR, 9' ceiling, reduced 7 BR, 3 FBA, Finished Woodmere Park— Sprawling ranch Basement, Lg property 84x100, on deep property 4 bedrms, 3 baths, finished basement prime location. Walking to 4 shuls. $679K Master suite, walk to all. Asking...... $1.25M Call 917-238-0098 Call Avi 917-512-544 5 Town Homes 516-569-5710 Cedarhurst Coop for sale— Bayswater —"Forget Far Rockaway" Spacious 2br, 2 bath, LR, DR, EIK, Move to this cozy Bayswater 1 BR wash/dry, Terrace. Price reduced apartment. Furnished or unfurnished, ...... $359K private entrance, washer and dryer. Call Avi @ 516-668-3755 Your Real Estate, Call 516-374-3635. Far Rockaway — Perfect Starter Service, house in the best location. Newly ren- North Woodmere — Open House or ovated 3 bedroom 2.5 bath. new Sunday. 6 BR, split, 3.5 bth, large kitchen wall to wall carpets, full fin- kitchen, dinette with skylight, Help Wanted Ad ished basement...... $499K deck/patio, large den, brick fireplace, Here Call Avi @ 917-512-5442 finished basement garage, CAC, all Weissman Realty Group LLC systems. $738K Call 516-791-2711 Every Thursday 516-791-6100 Luxurious apartments: Penthouse in 100,000 readers look N.Wdmr: HiRanch, 4Br, 2.5Bth, Nu Jerusalem Israel Shaarei Chesed Bucman, Modiin. 5 BR, balconies, Kit, Lg. Den, deck, Overlg Prop. forward to what’s 144 sq.meters apartment, newly reno- Shabbos elevator, 2 sinks, 2.5 bths. Reduced...... $659K vated, private enterance. 175 sq.meter $350K. Villa 6 BR, c/ac, parking, stor- happening in the 5 Town Homes 516-569-5710 private garden 5 bdrms Dov Shapiro age, backyard. $550K 5 Towns by reading Lido Beach near houses of worship. Remax/Vision 718-689-1552 or in 718-471-8888 The Five Towns Large 4 BR, 2.5 bth home, FDR, fam- Israel 052-553-3739 Kings Point Delray Beach condo ily room, large LR with vaulted ceil- Jewish Times. for sale 1,100 sq. feet. 2 BR, 2 bths, ings and wall of windows. Granite new European kitchen and appli- Deadline is Monday throughout, c/a, finished basement, ances, updated bath, new carpets, oversized private driveway and back- at 5:00 p.m. 24-hour guarded community. Golf, yard...... $899K. theater, library. $199,999. 1 Week ...... $35 Call Diamond Realty Group Call 631-664-0075 2 Weeks ...... $60 516-432-2000 Cedarhurst- By Owner. Co-op, 2 4 Weeks ...... $100 Ced: Nu 2 Mkt. LgLr, Dr,EIK, Den, 5 Br, 3bth, Skilits, Cabana, Lg prop. BR, 2 Baths, wood floors, includes Weekly Ads of up to 25 IG pool, Walk to all...... $699K A/C. Walk to all. Maint: $700 month. …...... $319K words 5 Town Homes 516-569-5710 Call 718-253-3135 Far Rockaway: 2 Fam. All NU Call: 516-569-0502 3 over 1 Br. 3Fbth, Grt Hewlett — Col. MIC, 4br., 2bth, Ced: Nu 2 Mkt. Col, 4Br, 2.5bth, All Fax: 516-977-0608 Location...... $599K 2fpl, full deck, wood flr, Lg. den. NU, Den, Mrbl Eik Full FIN. Bsmt, Call 516-322-3555 Walk to all...... $729K walk to all...... $799K Or E-mail ads to: Woodmere—New listing! Fully reno- Lawrence — NU 2 MKT. Legal 5 Town Homes 516-569-5710 [email protected] vated split 5 BR 3 bths, kosher 3FAM. Lg. 3Br/2/2, Full FIN. bsmt., Include payment info. kitchen, home office, close to shuls, walk to all. NYU sep. mtr,htg & Classified Ads are quiet block ...... $825K Wtr...... $949K Continued on the Next Page. Owner 516-791-8227 5 TOWN HOMES 516-322-3555 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 85 CLASSIFIED ADS Continued from Page 85 FOR RENT FOR RENT FOR RENT

REAL ESTATE Far Rockaway — Apartment avail- Far Rockaway — 2 Huge Office Cedarhurst — House Rental; kit, FOR SALE able. Brand new construction. Spaces. 6,000 and 2,500 Sq Ft. 2nd den, 3br., 2.5 bth. bsmt. $2,400 Furnished or unfurnished. 3 BR, Floor. Near Subway & LIRR. Build to 5 Town Homes 516-569-5710 2bths. Cleaning and laundry services Suit. Can Be Divided. Far Rockaway — Lg. Hse Rental: Open Houses, Sept.16th available. Perfect for the elderly. Owner 917-359-9776. 4br, 2bth, bsmt., Hi ceil’g, NU bths, 23 East Av. Lawr (By Appt.) Call Sherri 516-569-5450. Private office space in W\D. Call 516-322-3555. W/F ...... $399 2-3 BR rental apt 2 family house 2 Hewlett/Woodmere — All utilities 980 Smith Ln, Hew Nk (12-1:30) Store for rent. Prime location on 5BR Col. Over 1/2 ac. $1.25M BR, lg LR, DR, EIK, den, quiet loca- included, conference room, on-site Central Avenue. 1500 square feet. 427/9 Barnard, Ced (11-12:30) New tion...... $2,200 parking, 24/7 Access. $600/mo. Also good for office. Constr...... $1.35M 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 516-792-9444 Call 917-417-5725 556 Leheigh, Wdm (By Appt.) EquiShares Real Estate Cedarhurst—300 sq. ft. office. Office for rent—Prime location on Updated 4BR...... $659K Centrally located. Ideal for profes- Warehouse Space in Central Avenue. Approximately 42 Carman Av, Ced (By Appt.) sional. 516-410-5928 Hewlett/Woodmere — 1150 1000 sq. feet C/H C/A Renov 5BR ...... $695K Call 917-417-5725 New to mkt. Ced. 70x100 lot w/hse. Ced.—3+ br apt, 1.5 bth, lg fdr, new Broadway 5,000-30,000 avail. Will ...... $485K EIK, on quiet street, walk to all. divide. 516-792-9444 Enjoy New Years -week 52 - at Ced. Leg M/D. Updated 5BR, 4bth ...... $2,200 EquiShares Real Estate Marriott's Aruba Surf Club in your luxurious rental beach front suite. Col...... $719K N Wdm. — house rental Far Rockaway — 2 family houses: 3 Hew. Updated 3+BR, 2bth, EIK, nice Sleeps 8. $7895 OBO. Hi-ranch in MIC. 4 br, CAC, den, on bdrms, 2 full baths, granite countertops, prop...... $475K Call 419-651-4286. quiet street. hardwood flrs, double sinks, great loca- www.JanKalman.com Website: 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 tion, near LIRR. Call 516-792-9444 516-569-5651 http://www.vacationclub.com/reso EquiShares Real Estate Far Rockaway — large studio, 1 rts/ac/default.jsp BR,, 2 BR and 3 BR apartments. Mint Seasonal rental in Boynton FOR RENT some balconies. New kitchens, lots of Sheraton Jerusalem Plaza — Two Beach, FL - Condo, Fully furnished, closets, 24 hr doorman, security cam- rooms available for Sukkos. Second floor Corner Unit, 2/2, Near Call 718-258-7405 eras. Close to White Shul, Shor Cedarhurst — House Rental All, Spacious, 4-6 months avail, Yoshuv and train. Looking for short-term apt — LR/FDR, den, 3br, 2.5bth, Fin. Bsmt. [email protected] $2,800 per month + utilities Furnished or unfurnished. $2,300. Call 516-322-3555. 516-791-6100 Kevin - 516-379-9063 Call 516-902-3373

86 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES LOST AND FOR SALE FOUND

Beautiful, original oil paintings of Found a Bluetooth ear-piece on Gedolim for sale. Framed, reason- Central avenue last week. ably priced. If interested, please call 845-641-6254 646-710-0595 Tefilin lost in Maspeth, Queens. The Cemetery Plots — 2 cemetery plots located in Israel, Eretz Hachaim–YU Rashi and Rabainu Tam bags bear section. Very reasonable. Call 516- the initials Yud Alef Shin. If found, 569-0995 or 516-569-0982 please call 917-468-8585

The deadline for placing classified ads in the next issue of the 5TJT is Monday, September 17 at 5:00 P.M. Call 516-569-0502

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 87 U.S. Muslim Charity Received Appeal To Fund War Against Israel

An unknown militant appealed to a attacks on Jews. Hamas. A group official, Sheikh who testified anonymously and out of Texas-based Muslim charity for “Jihad in Palestine is different from Ahmad Mohamed Bahr, thanked Holy public view. money to help fund a jihad against any other jihad; the meaning of killing Land for helping the children of the After the prosecution rested its Israel, according to a letter that sur- a Jew for the liberation of Palestine martyrs, the wounded, the injured, case, the defense lawyers asked Judge faced in the terrorist-financing trial cannot be compared to any jihad on and the needy. Other documents A. Joe Fish to dismiss the case, but he of the charity’s leaders. Prosecutors earth,” the author wrote. The letter appeared to indicate that Holy Land declined, ruling that the government suggested the Holy Land Foundation implored supporters to “provide us gave money to Hamas officials and presented enough evidence to contin- for Relief and Development also with what helps. Weapons, weapons, fighters whom Israel deported to ue the trial. The judge had ruled received letters thanking it for send- our brothers.” Lebanon in the early 1990s. against the defense at many turns, ing aid to the children of suicide FBI agent Lara Burns testified that Prosecutors also offered summaries including rejecting calls for a mistrial bombers. the letter was seized in a 2004 raid at of money that Holy Land sent to zakat and resisting most efforts to block The letters were among thousands evidence presented by prosecutors. of pages of documents that prosecu- Defendant Ghassan Elashi protested tors said illustrate financial dealings about the trial’s fairness. The judge between the foundation, shut down warned him against further out- since 2001, and Hamas-controlled The unknown author told leaders bursts. (AP) O groups. Five former leaders of the Holy Land Foundation are on trial on of the Holy Land Foundation charges of raising more than $12 million for Hamas, conspiracy, and Submit your photo to the money laundering. They could be that Palestinians were happy sentenced to life in prison if convict- 5 Towns Jewish Times! ed. Defense lawyers have said the to see fighters carrying out men gave humanitarian aid to schools, orphanages, and hospitals of You can upload your Palestinian organizations but denied attacks on Jews. helping Hamas. digital photos and see them The most inflammatory document introduced by prosecutors was an printed in the weekly edition unsigned, handwritten letter in Arabic the Virginia home of Ismail committees, or Muslim charities in of the 5 Towns Jewish Times from the Islamic Relief Committee, Elbarrasse, who served with some of Palestinian territories allegedly con- which the U.S. government contends the Holy Land officials on a group of trolled by Hamas. is part of Hamas’s network of social U.S. supporters of the Palestinian Defense attorneys are expected to organizations in Gaza and the West cause. Another letter, from 2000, was hit hard at the notion that the zakats www.5tjt.com/sendphotos Bank. The unknown author told lead- a thank-you note from the Islamic were controlled by Hamas. The pros- ers of Holy Land that Palestinians Society in Palestine, a group the U.S. ecution’s allegation relies on the were happy to see fighters carrying out government alleges is controlled by word of an Israeli government lawyer

88 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

Peres Reduces Time For Katz’s Murderers Settlers, State Discuss Legalizing

BY ANSHEL PFEFFER Some Outposts, Removing Others serve 30 years,” said the statement. “It President Shimon Peres defended should be noted that the standard life BY NADAV SHRAGAI minister’s aide for settlement mat- his decision to reduce the sentences of sentence during the period in which ters, Eitan Broshi, and that Barak the five Israeli Arabs convicted of the the prisoners were tried was 24 years, The Yesha Council of Settlements is had instructed Broshi to prepare the 1983 murder of teenager Danny Katz, and due to the severity of the crime the negotiating illegal outposts with response to the High Court of Justice telling Israel Radio that the decision professional committee, justice minis- Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s petition on Migron submitted by was purely legal and not based on ter, and president decided to issue a bureau. The main points of the agree- Peace Now. political considerations. harsher sentence than the standard.” ment being hammered out are to evac- Seven years ago, when Barak served Peres said that four separate legal Danny Katz’s mother Mira slammed uate outposts to which no legal solu- as prime minister, he formulated an bodies discussed the case, and all of Peres’s decision, saying it was made out tion can be found, while legalizing agreement on the outposts with the them reached the unanimous conclu- of political considerations in order to some and moving others. Yesha Council. According to that sion that the sentences should be placate the Arab sector and help the According to reports in the Hebrew agreement, several outposts were to be reduced. Nonetheless, he said that the Left wing in elections. “Peres had not daily Makor Rishon, the Yesha moved, others legalized, and some reasons for his decision could not be even settled in the president’s chair, and Council has agreed to move the were to be “frozen.” Almost none were published because they are classified. immediately rushed to free eight mur- largest of the outposts, Migron near to be evacuated. Minister of Strategic Threats derers, savages, who murdered an inno- Beit El, after no way of legalizing the This time, based on the opinion of Avigdor Lieberman called on Peres to cent boy next to his home,” said Katz. community could be found, including Attorney General Menachem Mazuz reconsider his decision, saying the “We have been receiving telephone attempts to show that at least some of and the Sasson Report, the Defense murderers were “despicable” and had calls from around the country, and the land was purchased over the past Ministry is required to evacuate blood on their hands. Lieberman said everyone is saying that [former presi- year by Jews. those outposts that cannot be legal- reducing their sentences would only dent] Katsav is better than someone In a flyer distributed to syna- ized. (Haaretz) O encourage increased crime. who reduces murderers’ sentences.” gogues, the Yesha Council reported Peres issued a statement in which In March 1984, the five were arrest- on the meetings under way with the he expressed sympathy for the pain ed again and after several remands and Defense Ministry and attempted to that his decision has caused the Katz a very lengthy trial they were found explain its stand, saying, “Dialogue family, but stressed that the original guilty of murder and sentenced to life with the Defense Ministry will be Remember that article? sentence handed down to the defen- imprisonment plus 27 years. conducted with complete transparen- dants was harsher than what was Former chief justice Aharon Barak cy vis-à-vis the residents of the out- Visit our archive section acceptable at the time. He added that in 1999 decided that the five were eli- posts.” The flyer also stated that as and find any issue of the he made the decision based on the rec- gible for a retrial, and two months later many outposts as possible would be ommendation of Justice Minister three of them were released on bond. legalized, the damage to the residents 5 Towns Jewish Times Daniel Friedmann and the committee Two others, Ahmed Kousli and Wataf would be as minimal as possible, and on the reduction of life sentences. Sabihi, were convicted of the murder alternative settlement locations online @ “The president decided, based on of Daphna Carmon in 1987 and were would be offered if an outpost cannot www.5TJT.com the recommendations, that two of the not eligible for release on bond, as they be legalized. murderers will serve 45 years in prison were serving a life sentence for that The flyer said the council was con- and the three additional murders will crime. (Haaretz) O ducting the talks with the defense

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 89 90 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES September 14, 2007 91 92 September 14, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES