Rabbi’S Musings a Shabbat Thought As I See It Dating Today Frontlines Endearing Miracles Barack Hussein Kallahzilla Mr
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WEEKLY SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 55 Candle-lighting/Shabbos ends Friday, January 6: 4:25/5:29 Kew Gardens Hills • Kew Gardens • Forest Hills • Hillcrest • Briarwood • Jamaica Estates • Holliswood • Fresh Meadows Great Neck • Rego Park • West Hempstead • New Hyde Park • Five Towns • Long Beach • Oceanside • Plainview • Catskills Vol. VI No. 1 (#193) January 5, 2017 • 7 Tevet 5777 Free The Jewish Genius Vleigh Place Fire Governor Mike Huckabee Of Wall Street: Destroys 14 Businesses Headlines Orthodox Jewish Remembering ‘Igo’ Cause of devastating 5-alarm blaze Chamber Of Commerce On His 11th Yahrtzeit currently unknown; building condemned Knesset Symposium From left: MK Mickey Zohar, who hosted the Knesset event; guest speaker Gov. Mike Huckabee; co-Vice President, Dr. Joe Frager SEE STORY ON P. 49 SEE STORY ON P. 29, AND 30/31 SEE STORY ON P. 51 Rabbi’s Musings A Shabbat Thought As I See It Dating Today Frontlines Endearing Miracles Barack Hussein Kallahzilla Mr. Kerry: Israel Flexibility Around Us Obama’s Final Will Always Be A Salvo Stabs Israel By Goldy Krantz Jewish Democracy By Rabbi Dani Staum By Rabbi David Algaze In The Back es, the title of the article is a take-off of the term, By Dr. Joseph M. Frager t was defi nitely one of the he Torah is very precise in YBridezilla. We’ve all heard “most unique” gifts I ever re- every detail, and yet here By Cynthia Zalisky the term, but what does it really Iceived. Since it was given to Twe fi nd a fl agrant discrep- mean? According to Wikipedia, ast week, Secretary Kerry me, I am hardly ever apart from ancy in the count. Although the Bridezilla may refer to: “a bride decided to end his politi- it. This may sound funny, but verse gives the offspring of Leah lan Dershowitz, the famed whose behavior is seen as de- Lcal career by taking a part- when it’s with me, I constantly as 33, when counting the names Jewish attorney, was in- manding or unreasonable.” The ing shot at his perceived and feel embraced, as if in a bear hug. we get only 32! Rashi explains Aterviewed last week and word uses the “-zilla” suffi x de- imaginary nemesis, the State of CONTINUED ON P. 9 CONTINUED ON P. 14 CONTINUED ON P. 25 CONTINUED ON P. 52 CONTINUED ON P. 24 SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 5 SEE AD ON SEE AD ON PAGE 59 CENTERFOLD 7 Tevet 5777 • Vol. VI No. 1 (#193) QueensJewishLink.com • 718-880-2622 • [email protected] 1 2 QueensJewishLink.com • 718-880-2622 • [email protected] Vol. VI No. 1 (#193) • January 5, 2017 7 Tevet 5777 • Vol. VI No. 1 (#193) QueensJewishLink.com • 718-880-2622 • [email protected] 3 4 QueensJewishLink.com • 718-880-2622 • [email protected] Vol. VI No. 1 (#193) • January 5, 2017 7 Tevet 5777 • Vol. VI No. 1 (#193) QueensJewishLink.com • 718-880-2622 • [email protected] 5 Stories Of Greatness R’ Dovid Hoffman The Czar’s Query pon the death of R’ Chaim Volozhin- R’ Itzele, zt”l, would often appear before pray for the victory of the Kaiser? Is this “is as follows. Imagine a sailor in the east- er, zt”l, in 5582 (1821), the leadership the leaders of the government in Russia, not a contradiction, rendering the entire ern part of the sea who wants to travel Uof the Volozhin yeshivah was trans- meeting with various ministers on a whole prayer meaningless?” westward. He cannot set out upon his ferred to his son, R’ Yitzchok, or as he was host of issues. In most cases, he was called R’ Itzele lost no time in responding to journey unless he has the cooperation of known, R’ Itzele Volozhiner, zt”l. During upon to defend the Jews in the face of offi - the Czar’s question. “Your Majesty has the wind. At that very same time, how- his administration at Volozhin, R’ Itzele cial oppressive decrees that were frequent- said that he has seen the translation of ever, there is a sailor on the other end of had a profound infl uence, not only on the ly passed in that country. It happened on the prayer,” he began. “Certainly, then, the ocean who requires a westerly wind yeshivah and its students, but upon all of one occasion that R’ Itzele appeared as Your Majesty is aware that it begins with to carry him to the east. How, then, is it Russian, Polish, and Lithuanian Jewry. He the head of a rabbinical delegation at the the words, ‘He Who makes paths through possible that boats do in fact travel from was considered a leader among his people, Czar’s palace. When they arrived, none the sea, and passages through the mighty one end of the sea to the other, in both and like his father before him, became a other than Nicholas I, the Czar himself, ap- waters, may He exalt and uplift... the great directions, at the same time? This is in- spokesman for Torah Jewry. deed a marvel of nature that shows the The period in which R’ Itzele lived was greatness of G-d’s might in the world; that a very diffi cult one for Jews under czarist “How can the Jews in Russia pray for my victory, He can permit the existence of two oppo- rule. Many were the decrees and plots car- while the Jews in Germany pray for the victory of the Kaiser?” site forces to operate at the same time. ried out against the defenseless and op- This same attribute is applied by Him in pressed Jews, and perhaps even more so His Divine guidance of kings and rulers. were those plans that were foiled. R’ Itzele peared and wished to address the rabbinic Czar.’ Of all the magnifi cent praises that The Almighty, in His great wisdom, can once commented on the state of affairs by delegation. The Czar, known for his ex- we could say of the Almighty Lord, why is arrange that the Czar will be blessed with quoting a pasuk in Tehilim: “The nations treme cruelty toward his Jewish subjects, it that the prayer chooses this particular, victory and yet, at the same time, the Kai- will praise Hashem... for He bestows upon presented R’ Itzele with the following que- rather unusual, description of G-d as the ser will also be triumphant!” us His kindness.” Why, he asked, would the ry: “I know that you Jews say a prayer for ‘Guider of ships through the sea’? Why is R’ Itzele’s brilliant reply was enthusias- gentile nations of the world praise Hash- the welfare of the Czar every Saturday in this phrase, above all others, chosen to il- tically accepted, and this encounter facili- em for doing kindness to us, the Jewish your synagogue. I have seen a translation lustrate G-d’s greatness?” tated his mission, enabling him to benefi t people? R’ Itzele’s answer was apt for the of this prayer, in which you beseech your Nicholas I pondered this question for a from a warm reception from the Czar, who times: currently there are so many decrees G-d to grant me success and victory in all moment. Then, he demanded an answer. was generally known to be a bitter antago- and evil plots hatched against klal Yis- my undertakings. At fi rst, I was fl attered. “The answer,” R’ Itzele quickly countered, nist of the Jews. rael by the gentiles, that even before we But now I know that it’s all empty words, become aware of them they are already for I have become aware of the fact that Rabbi Dovid Hoffman is the author of the popular “Torah Tavlin” book series, fi lled foiled by Hashem. Only the gentile rulers Jews in other countries say the exact same with stories, wit and hundreds of divrei Torah, including the brand new “Torah Tavlin know how many of their evil plots were prayer for their own ruler. How, then, can Yamim Noraim” in stores everywhere. You’ll love this popular series. Also look for his book, meant to be and, ultimately, forestalled. It this prayer be explained? I have for sev- “Heroes of Spirit,” containing one hundred fascinating stories on the Holocaust. They are is they, therefore, who praise G-d, for they eral years been at war with the Kaiser of fantastic gifts, available in all Judaica bookstores and online at http://israelbookshop- see how He guards over and protects His Germany. How can the Jews in Russia pray publications.com. To receive Rabbi Hoffman’s weekly “Torah Tavlin” sheet on the parsha, nation. for my victory, while the Jews in Germany e-mail [email protected] 6 QueensJewishLink.com • 718-880-2622 • [email protected] Vol. VI No. 1 (#193) • January 5, 2017 PUBLISHED BY Community Calendar – Rebecca Wittert .......................................................43 Queens Jewish Link, LLC Recent Happenings – Susie Garber, Sergey Kadinsky, QJL Staff ........................28-42 RABBINIC CONSULTANT Snapshots – Shua Katz ......................................................36/37 Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld Classifieds & Real Estate ..........................................66 MANAGING EDITOR Naftali Szrolovits General Interest Forecast This Week in History - Yakov Merkin .............................................22/23 SENIOR CONSULTANTS Financially Forward - Gerald Harris .................................................21 Yaniv Meirov Cynthia Zalisky FRI • JAN 6 TUE • JAN 10 Style & Living Helen Hoffman Beauty Briefs - Risselle Naimark ...................................................62 35° 42° Dating Today – Goldy Krantz ......................................................52 Rebecca Wittert NEW! Foodie Adventures – Bracha Serle .............................................61 Sergey Kadinsky 23° 34° Interior Design for the 99% – Zisi Naimark ...........................................63 ADVERTISING MANAGER Style Myths Debunked - Meira E. Schneider-Atik .......................................54 Yaakov Serle Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Light & Fun COPY EDITORS Feelin’ Funny – Mordechai Schmutter ...............................................57 The Fun Side – QJL Staff.