5TJT.COM “I thought that was SERVING NASSAU COUNTY, BROOKLYN, QUEENS, MANHATTAN, simple enough and BRONX & STATEN ISLAND we would be on our way. But not so fast.” PG. 4 VOL. 20 NO. 21 FEBRUARY 8, 2019 FIVE TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 3 ADAR 1 5779 ¨²´ ´³²® $1.00 Page 5 Page 21 Ambassador Danny Danon led a delegation of United Nations ambassadors traveling on a diplomatic mission to Israel. Page 73 FROM THE EDITOR Ohel Sarala Spreads Chizuk Right And Wrong Across The World BY LARRY GORDON BY RAV ARYEH ZEV GINZBERG he Israeli electoral landscape is in a state of flux. The ecently, the Torah world commemorated the fi rst yahrzeit of country is going to the polls on April 9, and, for the first HaRav HaGaon Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman, zt’l. Upon the T time in a very long time, there is a possibility that Israel’s Rshloshim of his passing, there were hundreds of gatherings longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, may not held around the world at which the leading gedolim of our day at- emerge victorious. tempted to give a glimpse of the incredible life and accomplishments It’s too early to say that Bibi is in trouble, but one thing is certain— of this great Torah giant who had lived amongst us. his opposition and detractors are looking to take him down, cast him Having been aff orded the opportunity to share my own thoughts and aside, and make certain that his days as Israel’s leader will be behind refl ections about my relationship with this great gadol, with whom I him shortly. Those hoping to see to it that the Netanyahus will have had the z’chus to meet many times over the last 25 years, I shared only to move out of the prime minister’s residence Continued on Page 8 one personal thought though I spoke in three Continued on Page 19 Page 91 Page 28 Page 24 Page 24 Page 18 February 8 - 5:03 PM February 15 - 5:11 PM See Luach, Page 19 Features Index, See Page 8 Page 16 Page 14 Page 13 Page 11 Page 4 2 February 8, 2019 • 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES JEWISH TOWNS 2019 • 5 8, February 3 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES • February 8, 2019 8, TIMES • February JEWISH TOWNS 5 4 HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE By Larry Gordon LYFT, UBER, way—prices are quite low and very AND ENTERPRISE affordable. As I have stated here in the past, t’s arguable whether Miami Beach managed to dodge the freezing tempera- I also gave up driving in Jerusa- February 8, 2019 • 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES JEWISH TOWNS 2019 • 5 8, February is the second- or third-holiest city tures in New York and also missed the Here are a few observations about lem—but for different reasons. That Iin Judaism after Jerusalem and less-than-perfect weather at one of our how life at a Miami Beach pace in- is mostly because of the constant parts of the New York and New Jersey favorite jaunts—Miami Beach. terfaces with a couple—that’s us— impossible traffic congestion, awful area. Back down south for a few days As a native New Yorker, it is import- from up north. First of all, let me parking situation, and, of course, the for a family event, it was, amongst other ant to be mindful of the seemingly slow- say that Miami Beach is a great city, time spent in your car just idling. and many of the extended parts of But last week in Miami Beach I had the city feature vibrant and deeply an epiphany and decided to rent a meaningful Jewish life. It is certain- car for the first time in years to visit About fifteen minutes ly not the way it used to be. Today a friend in Fort Lauderdale. We re- there are restaurants and minya- served a small SUV online from En- later, I was driving nim galore, the key indicator that an terprise, which I thought would be area is catering to or evolving into a simple enough and we would be on a pick-up truck. place that attracts frum Jewish va- our way. But not so fast. cationers. The reservation confirmation said About two or so years ago, though, that the car would be ready at 11:00 with the advent of Lyft and Uber, I a.m. That sounds efficient, doesn’t things, a great escape from the few frigid er pace of life that is the norm just about pretty much gave up renting a car, it? I get there, and there is a group of days that arrived up north and exited in anywhere outside of New York. Addi- dealing with traffic on Collins Ave- people sitting in a waiting area rem- a flash last week. tionally, as identifiable Orthodox Jews, nue, and looking for parking spaces iniscent of a waiting room in a med- The weather down here this past we have the added obligation to do our in parking garages and on the streets. ical office, though I would shortly week was spectacular, a week following people proud and not react with a New Punching some buttons on your learn that in most medical offices the a meteorologically disappointing inter- York attitude to things that occur in phone and having a car pull up to people move with much more alacri- session that had New Yorkers complain- out-of-town places, like Miami Beach, take you where you want to go is the ty and efficiency. ing vociferously about the cool and rainy that do not necessarily sit right with our maximum in ease and convenience. days that dominated that period. So we usual big-city demeanor. And more than that—down here, any- Continued on Page 6 5 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES • February 8, 2019 8, TIMES • February JEWISH TOWNS 5 6 BAGEL STORE the process. So I gently ask his head in the affirmative, as time was marching on. as much as I would have Continued from Page 4 what that means and then which just assures me that I The odd thing about these wanted to use it—but that is show him the e-mail on my did hear what he said. situations is that some- just the way these things go, After about 15 or 20 min- phone that states that I have But just to make sure, I where under all the bluster I guess. After the day with utes, it is my turn. I step up a reservation at 11:00 a.m. to asked him again. I repeat- and stories is a buried solu- the pick-up, it was back to to the counter and the per- pick up a car. Then I inquire, ed, “Are you saying that it is tion. That’s when I heard the my preferred mode of trans- son in front of the comput- perhaps a tiny bit more tes- Enterprise company poli- words, “Well, there is some- portation—Lyft and Uber. er screen asks for my credit tily, why I was given a res- cy to confirm a reservation thing…” Which one I use is complete- card and driver’s license. ervation confirmation when even when there are no cars About fifteen minutes lat- ly arbitrary, though it seems He’s typing and typing some there are no cars available in to be had?” He says that yes, er, I was driving a pick-up Lyft runs better discounts more. He’s grimacing a bit this branch’s parking lot. it is. I am both awestruck truck to Fort Lauderdale. and specials than Uber does. and also shaking his head The gentleman behind the and dumbfounded. While No, I never drove a pick-up The other day, I had a ride from side to side. I ask him Enterprise counter says to I was certain that this was before, but I can now report from Lincoln Road back up what the issue is, and he re- me that this is the company not company policy, I was that it is really not much to the 41st St. area for $1.64 sponds that at the moment policy—that is, to send out amazed that this gentleman different than piloting a plus a tip. Granted, that kind there are no cars available, reservation confirmations. either believed that it was large SUV. That means that of pricing is somewhat un- February 8, 2019 • 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES JEWISH TOWNS 2019 • 5 8, February but that I will be given the I think I heard him say that, or was trying to convince me it drives like any other car, usual, but it’s still a perk that first car that is returned in but I wanted to make sure, so that it was. but you just need to be ex- makes me feel like using Lyft the category that I ordered. I ask again, “Are you saying Anyway, after a brief, calm tra-careful backing up and down here more than Uber. I’m starting to feel a little that it is company policy to back-and-forth, I found my- sometimes turning right. But the real story about that New York-like but do not send customers confirma- self asking again if he was The day with the pick-up Friday-afternoon ride was want to demonstrate that tion when there are no cars sure that there were no cars truck was just fine—though when I asked our driver, right here this early on in available to rent?” He nods that I could use for the day, I did not need the cargo bed, who had an interesting ac- cent, if he was also from the Ukraine, like the driver we had earlier in the day.