See Page 29

See Pages 3,4, 5 $1.00 WWW.5TJT.COM VOL. 10 NO. 31 23 IYAR 5770 h,ejc-rvc ,arp MAY 7, 2010 INSIDE FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK LAG B’OMER IN THE PARK A Day Of Covenants BY LARRY GORDON Toby Klein Greenwald 25 Call Me Mikey School Neighbors Hannah Reich Berman 30 I am accountable for writing process—those serving on the Global Health Israel too much and almost exclusive- board, working for the district Rochelle Maruch Miller 35 ly about the goings-on these last schools, parents of children MindBiz few weeks in the Lawrence who attend private and public Esther Mann, LMSW 40 School District (#15), which cov- schools—contribute to the con- ers about half of the Five Towns sensus that next week’s election A Ray Of Light plus several other adjacent com- is about the very character of liv- Rabbi Avi Shafran 78 munities. The election here ing and educating our children takes place next Tuesday, May 11, out here. with the polls open from 7 a.m. A few months ago, the big to 10 p.m. news was that the school-board The election is not simply election here as well as in dis- Once again this year, Chabad of the Five Towns enthralled the more than two thousand participants who gathered in Cedarhurst Park to celebrate Lag about schools policy on this tricts throughout the length and B’Omer this past Sunday afternoon. Above, the Chassidic Acrobatic Twins sliver of western Long Island. from France wowed the crowd with their jaw-dropping gymnastic feats. The people involved in the Continued on Page 4 See Page 39 PERSONAL INSIGHTS HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE A School-Board Member’s Having lived in Cedarhurst Everyday Heroes Wife Speaks for nearly 15 years I found Bar Mitzvah of Ariel Dachs. BY DEVORAH MARCUS myself quite naive when it came BY LARRY GORDON Back on January 12, word was See Page 74 to district issues. Like most peo- received in Israel—as it was Allow me to introduce ple I was rather ignorant of He is a hero that you likely around the world—that a cata- myself. My name is Devorah what actually went on political- never heard of and will proba- strophic earthquake had struck Marcus and I am the wife of ly and how it affected me per- bly not hear of again. That is Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Vach’s unit Rabbi Nahum Marcus, current sonally. I was on automatic because he doesn’t crave or seek was summoned, and 40 minutes board member who is now a pilot. I paid taxes to the district the limelight. He sees his role as after the news broke a decision candidate for re-election. not fully realizing how this a Jew and a soldier in the Israeli was made in Israel to send a Anyone who has followed local money was being allocated. army as dedicated to repairing, team to Haiti to assist those in politics has asked why. Why Thus my story begins. I have to whatever extent possible, need. would I allow him to run again? been blessed with three won- what is so terribly wrong with Israel’s springing into action To understand why you must derful children, my daughter this world of ours. the way it did was greeted with know how and why my family Ricki, and my twin sons, Elly Golan Vach is the command- high praise and accolades from was negatively affected by er of the Search and Rescue Unit school district policies. Continued on Page 14 of the Israel Defense Forces. Continued on Page 6

New Agudah 5T inaugurated. See Page 76 Trump Jump Challenge Rubashkin’s LAG B’OMER’S Fate Is In MESSAGE Our Hands RAV ARYEH Z. BY YOCHANAN GINZBERG GORDON CHOFETZ CHAIM TORAH CENTER

It is very easy to place respon- This past Sunday was Lag sibility and guilt on others’ B’Omer, and it was a very busy shoulders. Yet one day we will day. Three community break- be obligated to answer for our fasts, two hachnasas sefer misdeeds and inactions, and Torahs, one chanukas habayis that very same guilt which we for a community shul, a bar Kulanu Fair patrons. shoved on our neighbor’s shoul- mitzvah, an upsherin, two shiva See Page 62 ders will be transferred to us. At calls to make, and then an that time, it will be unbearable. evening of several simchas. It is a natural human tendency Beyond our own community, it CANDLE LIGHTING SKA participants in JUMP—the Jewish Unity Mentoring Program—Elissa to do away with annoyances, was also a painful day, with sev- Schertz (coordinator), Stephanie Leichtung, Rachel Simon, Gila Joseph, May 7 – 7:39 PM and Shira Stavsky receive an oversized check from Donald Trump to fund hoping they will never return. eral levayos: a prominent rosh May 14 – 7:46 PM their “Livelong” community health awareness project. See Page 58 Continued on Page 16 Continued on Page 18 2 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 3 FROM THE EDITOR changed either. That’s one way to meas- Continued from Front Cover ure the extent to which things have changed for the better. breadth of Nassau and Suffolk counties And there are other situations that was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, might have evolved in a similar fashion May 18. A quick glance at the calendar tells had the community not asserted and you that that particular day happens to be exercised its rights as tax-paying citizens erev Shavuos. Holding an election on the and voted for a sane and responsible eve of a Jewish holiday would unques- board that works in a sincere manner tionably impact its outcome dramatically. for all the people in the district and not

Ten or twelve years ago, an election scheduled to take place in District #15 on an erev yom tov would not have been changed either.

Taking into consideration the impact of just for a self-serving segment of the holding the election on that day, the pow- population. ers that be petitioned the state to change The dirty little secret today in District the date to the week prior. District #14, #14 is that the votes are present there too which encompasses half of Woodmere as for the Orthodox community to have a well as Hewlett and Valley Stream, made real impact on the schools and their poli- no such effort to accommodate their not- cies. What #14 lacks is organization and insubstantial Orthodox constituency and coordination. As a result, the people with change the election date. Five districts a vested interest in keeping taxes down around New York State made the change. and education on the upswing are sim- After all, why use a religious holiday for an ply not being heard; they are not coming unfair political advantage? out to vote in force. That’s why when an Ten or twelve years ago, an election election in Woodmere is scheduled for scheduled to take place in District #15 on an erev yom tov would not have been Continued on Page 10

4 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 5 BAGEL STORE part in the mission, along with a number faint sound of someone calling back crash course in dealing with the local Continued from Front Cover of military personnel. The first order of with the identical refrain of “Hello.” population, and pointed out locations business was to set up a field hospital to Once the team located a victim under of collapsed buildings and where he around the world. Why Israel reacts this deal with the injured people lying in the what might have been several hundred believed the Israelis should concentrate way, whether in China or South streets or wandering aimlessly around. pounds of broken concrete, the job their efforts. Over the two-week period America, is a subject of much debate Vach says proudly of his unit that it became to extricate the victim as quick- the Israeli search and rescue team led by and discussion. usually takes up to 48 hours to build and ly, safely, and smoothly as possible. Vach Lt. Vach was in the country, they res- Listening to Lt. Col. Vach, it becomes set up a field hospital, but that in this explained that since he is short in cued four people from certain death in immediately apparent that the motiva- instance it took the Israeli group just 8 stature, and, at the age of 36, in great the rubble. tion and goal of such an undertaking is hours for their hospital to begin treating military-style shape, it was he who “slid One additional Israeli innovation that solely to preserve human lives. Those patients. Over several weeks, the Israelis into position like a compact disc,” to Vach speaks of proudly is the way in who served on the ground in Port-au- treated more than 1,100 patients, bringing help wedge the trapped person out from which water was distributed throughout Prince, like Lt. Col. Vach, are soldiers com- many literally back to life. the rubble. the island. He says that when the Israelis mitted to the task at hand, which in this Golan Vach’s personal mission was Golan Vach said that the Israeli force arrived there were two modes of water case was saving lives and treating the search and rescue, which meant hunting could not have accomplished all that it distribution. The American forces were injured wherever possible. and digging through the hundreds of col- did without the assistance of several Jews distributing bottled water to often Others commented in various forums lapsed buildings for scarce signs of life. Lt. who make Haiti their home. Golan spoke chaotic crowds, while elsewhere in that the project was aimed primarily at Vach says that as his unit scoured the city, a great deal about a wealthy Israeli indus- town there was a line extending hun- improving Israel’s humanitarian image they were mostly struck by the eerie trialist, Reuven Bigio, who owns several dred of yards for people to fill bottles around the globe. silence. One man, he says, came over to metals factories on the island. Among the and jugs with water from a tanker truck. So there are really two considerations them and told them that he knew that his properties he owns is what Vach calls a With the assistance of Mr. Kedar, the at play here. One is the Israeli govern- wife was alive under the rubble of a stadium, which I guess is a large soccer local resident, the Israeli team construct- ment’s determination to use their building. They asked how he knew that, field with bleacher seats. Company ed tanks from scrap that were each able resources and skills wherever they are and his answer was just that he just employees usually use the field for recre- to hold 12,000 liters of water. They put able to assist. And then there is the inter- knew, and he led them to the building ational activities. As soon as Mr. Bigio together five such tanks and placed est in buttressing an often tarnished where he had lived. heard that the Israeli team was arriving, them at various strategic locations image that world forums incessantly drag Vach, who lives in the settlement he dedicated the stadium for the Israelis’ around Port-au-Prince. The Americans through the diplomatic mud. The two community of Eli in the Shomron, says use, and they immediately set about rais- then followed the Israeli lead and interests really run along parallel lines. that he was the only one in his unit ing the field hospital there. brought over from the States another The scope of what took place in Haiti who spoke some French, which Another Israeli who resides on the seven such tanks, thereby facilitating the just a few months ago is staggering. Over enabled him to converse, in limited island is Daniel Kedar. He is married to a distribution of water for daily needs. 250,000 people lost their lives and anoth- fashion, with the locals, who mostly woman who was once a minister in a Today, Golan Vach says, there are 150 er 200,000 suffered various degrees of speak Creole, a mixture of French and previous Haitian government, so he is such tanks or basins being used in Haiti. injury. Over one million people were left Spanish. The team resorted to the inter- well connected in this country of nine Regarding the criticism that came homeless by the devastation. national language as they traversed million. Kedar met the Israeli medical when his unit returned home about “We arrived in Haiti just a few days mountains of rubble strewn across the contingent at the airport and supplied whether or not the mission was an after the disaster struck,” Golan Vach told landscape where a city once stood. That trucks for the Israelis to transport their appropriate use of Israeli resources, a captive audience at Congregation consisted of basically one word—they equipment from the airport to Port-au- Vach says that their mission was to Shaaray Tefila in Lawrence this past called out “Hello!” again and again. One Prince. He also, Vach says, escorted the save lives without asking questions, Shabbos afternoon. He explained that, in of the few times that there was a Israelis around the island, explained the all, 45 doctors and some 100 nurses took response to their call, there came the topography and the roads, gave them a Continued on Page 9

6 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 7 8 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES BAGEL STORE Continued from Page 6 and they accomplished that. In Israel, regardless of the issue at hand, some- one will question almost everything. So I asked Lt. Col Vach whether he thought that the Israeli mission to Haiti was indeed worthwhile. He thought for a moment and said, “Not everything is about money. Some things cannot be measured by how much it costs.” O Comments for Larry Gordon are welcome at [email protected]. CALENDAR LUACH May 7–May 15 ZIP Code: 11516

23 Iyar Friday, May 7 Daf yomi: Sanhedrin 84 Z’manim*: Earliest tallis/tefillin: 4:46 am Sunrise: 5:47 am Latest Shema: M. Av. 8:43 am Gr’a 9:19 am P’lag ha’minchah: 6:28 pm Candle Lighting: 7:39 pm 24 Iyar – Shabbos Saturday, May 8 Parashas Behar-Bechukosai (Chazak) Omer: 39 Blessing of Chodesh Sivan Avos: Ch. 5 Shabbos ends**: 8:44 pm 72 min. 9:11 pm 28 Iyar Wednesday, May 12 Yom Yerushalayim 1 Sivan Friday, May 14 Rosh Chodesh Sivan Daf yomi: Sanhedrin 91 Earliest tallis/tefillin: 4:37 am Sunrise: 5:40 am Latest Shema: M. Av. 8:39 am Gr’a 9:15 am P’lag ha’minchah: 6:33 pm Candle Lighting: 7:46 pm 2 Sivan – Shabbos Saturday, May 15 Parashas Bamidbar Omer: 46 Avos: Ch. 6 Shabbos ends**: 8:52 pm 72 min. 9:17 pm * All times from MyZmanim.com ** add a few minutes for tosefos Shabbos according to your minhag Municipal Calendar For 5 Towns and NYC Sunday, May 9 Mother’s Day. Tuesday, May 11 Lawrence District School-Board Elections & Budget Vote. Thursday, May 13 NYC: Alternate-side parking regulations suspended; other regulations, including meters, remain in effect. 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 9 FROM THE EDITOR inevitably runs more in the a handle on things, the commu- benefit the education district, comes to dealing with the Continued from Page 4 direction of taxes than educa- nity has remained a reasonable the opportunity exists for the dynamics of how a large private- tional programming. place for families to consider first time to actually freeze the school community interfaces erev Shavuos, it stays scheduled The districts diverge slightly settling in. budget. For the first time, voters with the public-school system. for that day without any protest when it comes to the matter of Today, just as the Orthodox have the option to reject the Last week, as the District #15 or objections. school population distribution. community in District #15 looks budget and force the district to candidates presented them- Today, while school districts In District #15, yeshiva and other over at its neighbors in the next operate in the coming year with selves to district voters, one of around the country are reject- private-school students have district and sees what could an absolute zero percent the challengers, Annie Reyes, ing school budget increases, in been the majority for nearly the have been had they not gotten increase in spending. talked about the need for the Hewlett-Woodmere district last decade. That is not the case involved and taken command When a budget is rejected by expanded programming for the it’s full speed ahead. Last year in #14, though the ratio of the of the situation, those in #14 district voters, the state educa- continuously shrinking public- the tax levy increased on resi- private-school population have to glance over as well. tion law throws the schools school population. When asked dences by 3.5%. This year they increases almost every year— What they would see is a system into what is called “contin- how she thought these new pro- are facing another 4% increase. grams would be paid for in the That’s at least 7.5% over the last coming years, her answer was two years. District #14 features simple, sincere, and genuine. the presence of yeshivas such She suggested raising taxes. as South Shore and Shulamith For the first time, voters have the option to That’s one reason why it is so School for Girls. It includes vitally important that you take shuls with large membership the few minutes needed and rolls, such as the Young Israel reject the budget and force the district to cast your votes on May 11 in of Woodmere, Congregation District #15 and on May 18 in Aish Kodesh, and the Young operate with an absolute zero percent increase. District #14. It is no longer nec- Israel of Hewlett. essary to proclaim that we are Sources affiliated with victims of circumstances. The yeshivas in District #14 had future is in our hands. O mostly complimentary things to Comments for Larry Gordon are say about how the yeshivas and along with the tax levy. that they should be emulating gency” status, which still pro- welcome at [email protected]. the district offices interface. In The claim in #15 is that the in order to hold down ever- vides a budget increase that is the area of children requiring private-school sector is involved increasing taxes and a model for pegged to the national inflation special education, services are in a continuous and consistent getting involved so as to rate. This year the inflation rate provided with efficiency and effort to remake the public become a political force that is zero (based on the 2009 CPI), WHAT’S YOUR mostly on par with those servic- schools in their own image. can impact school policy in a which means that for the first es dispensed by District #15 and That has been the furthest thing fair and democratic fashion. time in all these years any budg- OPINION? others in the area. from the truth all along, and at Last year, the annual cost of et that is rejected will have to There are, of course, impor- times has bordered on being education per child in District deal with absolutely no tant contrasts between the unmitigated “bilbul.” What has #15 was $26,000, while in neigh- increase in the coming year. E-MAIL US AT neighboring districts here. And taken place here in #15 is that boring district #14 it was over Despite all the articles that when talking about the ebb and since a sane school board that $30,000. In next week’s election, have appeared in this space over [email protected] flow or tug-of-war of school-dis- has vital input from the private- while #14 is seeking a 4% the last month, there is still a trict politics, the discussion school community has acquired increase in residential taxes to profound disconnect when it

10 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 11 12 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES FEATURES

Around The Five Towns 48 P.O. BOX 690 LAWRENCE, NY 11559 516-984-0079 [email protected] Classified Ads 66 [email protected] LARRY GORDON ESTA J. GORDON Publisher/Editor Managing Editor The Dish YOSSI GORDON, YOCHANAN GORDON Elke Probkevitz 42 Sales Managers CHANA ROCHEL ROSS Five Towns Simcha Editorial Assistant SIDI BARON Ira Thomas Creations 74 YAKOV SERLE Sales Representatives Insights On The Torah SHMUEL GERBER MICHELE JUSTIC Chief Copy Editor Copy Editor R’ Ben Tzion Shafier 37 CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Hannah Reich Berman, Anessa V. Cohen, Rabbi Aryeh Z. Ginzberg, Toby Klein Greenwald, Luach 9 Rabbi Yair Hoffman, Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky, Shmuel Katz, Phyllis J. Lubin, Esther Mann, Rochelle Miller, MindBiz Elke Probkevitz, Naomi Ross, Esther Mann, LMSW 40 Dr. Rachael Schindler, Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow, Rabbi Avi Shafran, Eli Shapiro, Ari Sher, Samuel Sokol Mother’s Musings DOV GORDON, ELISHEVA ELEFANT Staff Graphic Artists Phyllis J. Lubin 34 IVAN NORMAN, IRA THOMAS Staff Photographers Puzzle FRANKEL & CO. Design & Production Yoni Glatt 45 TALIYE CORLEY Art Director Real Estate SARAH GREENBAUM Anessa V. Cohen 38 Assistant Art Director

The Five Towns Jewish Times is an independent weekly news- paper. Opinions expressed by writers and columnists are not That’s The Way It Is! necessarily those of the editor or publisher. We are not responsible for the kashrus or hashgachah of any product or Hannah Reich Berman 30 establishment advertised in the Five Towns Jewish Times.

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 13 School Board you find yourself lost and going in circles to assist me but most importantly she fell content and gratified with the assistance, Continued from Front Cover for hours. However, in retrospect he read- in love with my son. As a matter of fact, cordiality, and warmth that were ily admits that he was indeed in denial she made such an impact on both me and bestowed upon me and especially my son and Joshua All three of them attend and that I was smart for not listening to Elly that to this day we have kept in so there was no reason for me to think HAFTR. My son Elly is a special needs either him or anyone else for that matter; touch and remain friends. To be perfectly that his transition to CSE would be any child and his needs brought school policy by proceeding to get Elly help, beginning honest, I attribute Elly’s progress during different. I couldn’t be more wrong. The into focus for me. Elly has cerebral palsy with early intervention. Through this CPSE to Fran’s unwavering advocacy on director of Pupil Personnel was Rhona spastic dysplasia variant. In its simplest whole process Elly was making slow but Elly’s behalf and her tenacity to ensure Leff, a woman whom I affectionately terms, this means that he has difficulty steady progress but realistically we knew that he receive the services that he was identify and recognize as the world’s first ambulating, his gait is awkward and spas- that he would never be cured. Being entitled to. The following year Fran was living heart donor. You may find this tic, and he needs to wear orthotics in afflicted with this “condition” we were all replaced by Claudia Bartner. Many par- description of her somewhat humorous order to maintain his balance. Currently but suffice it to say it defines her to a tee. Elly has a one to one aide in school to For anyone who has had to deal with her, assist him. He gets the therapies he needs you know exactly what I mean. As hard as with therapists who are reputable and it was to contend with Elly’s disability on competent. You could be asking your- I certainly wasn’t going to let anyone dictate a day to day basis dealing with his endless selves now, why all this information? The doctors appointments, therapy appoint- answer: because this was not always the ments, and whatever problem presented case. who, how much, where, and what Elly was itself that particular day, Rhona Leff went Elly was born with a myriad of prob- out of her way to make my life that much lems as a result of a premature delivery. going to get in regard to his services. more arduous by denying my son the He developed a pneumo-thorax and a services that he needed to thrive simply grade 1 brain bleed that caused his cere- because he attended a private school. To bral palsy. As parents we had faith that he say that we did not get along is putting it would pull through and overcome all the rather mildly. It was incredulous to me medical issues he was facing and that too aware that this was something that ents called me that year to ask for advice. that here was a woman going out of her when he was well enough we would Elly was going to have to contend with They said that it appeared to them that way to hurt my child. At every turn she bring him home. Well with the grace of for the rest of his life. The only recourse Mrs. Bartner goes out of her way to make put up another obstacle constantly trying G-d we did. he would have for improvement is con- their lives and the lives of their children to take away as many of his services as From the moment we brought him tinued therapy, both occupational and miserable. she possibly could. She would conve- home I knew that something was not physical. Now some of you may be wondering niently “forget” to assign an aide for my right. I’ve heard from everyone that one When Elly turned three he transi- at this point if everything was running as son or better yet she would assign aides shouldn’t compare twins and that every tioned to CPSE, known as the Committee smoothly as I have written, then what’s so inappropriate and ineffectual it could child develops at his or her own pace. on Preschool Special Education. A child the deal? The deal is my son had to tran- almost be considered comical if it weren’t Even my husband kept calling me “the gets services in CPSE until he/she is five. sition to CSE, the Committee on Special so pathetic. For instance one year she neurotic” telling me that I was looking for Thus began my journey with District 15. I Education—which is the committee that assigned a man who was 73 years old and things and that I should just let things be. was extremely fortunate when I was deals with children with special needs weighed more than 400 pounds. No disre- Well heaven forbid that I should respond introduced to the CPSE chairperson, Fran ranging from ages 5–18. This is where all spect, but the man could not physically in kind and tell him that he was in denial Levinson. Fran couldn’t be more under- my problems began—talk about a rude do the job. Assigning an aide like that to a or that he was wrong. It was as if I was standing, caring, or empathetic towards awakening. telling him to ask for directions where me or Elly. She truly went out of her way Up until this point I was more than Continued on Page 20

14 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 15 Rubashkin’s Fate At that point, after ridding themselves a Chabad house in Mumbai, India, we dis- While it is not uncommon for hear- Continued from Front Cover of their nuisance brother, they thought played an inspiring sense of brotherhood ings of this sort to be drawn out or that he would become a fleeting memory and togetherness—erasing the proverbial delayed for various reasons, it seems that But, as they say, what goes around comes of the past, never to return again. And so, gap that has divided us for so long. the judge in this case has forever been around. 22 years later, when they stood face to But, time and again, we soon get com- searching for reasons to keep Sholom in The Gemara in Chagigah mentions a face with that same brother—whose fortable, and those rifts present them- jail pending the sentencing as well as to number of pesukim throughout Tanach dreams by then had clearly material- selves again until the next tragedy arises hand him a long, debilitating sentencing. which brought Rav Elazar to tears. One ized—they were shocked speechless. in our midst. I was enlightened by a comment on the of those is the Torah’s description of the They realized that had they dealt with Vos Iz Neias article that reported this scene when Yosef revealed himself to him responsibly, they would never have news. The commenter writes that the his brothers. His brothers had become had to confront the situation they were decision of the judge to delay the ruling estranged from him many years earlier, now faced with. At that moment, that three to four weeks was G-d’s way of say- and their reaction—or, rather, their very same guilt that they shoved onto the He is waiting to see ing, “Show me how long you are able to inability to react—teaches us a pro- shoulders of the “wild beast” was now put yourself out for your fellow Jew!” G-d found lesson. back on their shoulders, but this time it if we can keep up is closely watching, and He is waiting to The pasuk says, “And the brothers were was unbearable. see if we can keep up this feeling of love not able to respond to him, for they were NNN this feeling of love and camaraderie among ourselves as we ashamed before him.” From this pasuk, The unity among the Jewish people unite for the cause of Sholom Rubashkin, Rav Elazar derives the severity of G-d’s that has been evidenced in our and camaraderie or if we will regress for a couple of weeks rebuke of us after 120 years: “If this was attempts to champion the cause of our and pull together again only as the judge the brothers’ reaction to Yosef, who was forlorn brother, Sholom Mordechai is ready to announce her decision. second in command in Egypt, how much HaLevi ben Rivka Rubashkin, is truly among ourselves. It is clear to all that despite the allega- more frightened will we be when we inspiring. Jews from all walks of life tions against Mr. Rubashkin, the treat- have to answer to our Master in Heaven!” and varying levels of observance are ment that he has been subjected to and When Yosef was sold by his brothers, donating large sums of money and tak- the outright denial of some of his most he was an annoyance to them. While ing time out of their demanding sched- Thinking about all the money donated basic religious rights, right here in Yaakov, his father, understood the origin ules to recite Psalms and attend late- towards Mr. Rubashkin’s defense, totaling America, is supremely unjust. Many are of Yosef’s dreams of royalty, he also night prayer vigils on his behalf, as we in the hundreds of thousands and count- saying that unless the situation takes a understood that his other children were would for our own blood relative. ing, as well as the many resolutions that turn in a different direction and someone becoming fed up with Yosef’s behavior, We have proved in the past our ability people young and old the world over makes amends, this will go down in his- and Yaakov chastised Yosef to keep quiet, to unite amidst tragedy. Just recently, for have accepted upon themselves as a tory as a black eye on the justice system in an attempt to keep him out of trouble example, despite the fate of Martin merit for him and his family, you could in America. with his siblings. Grossman, a’h (who was executed by the scratch your head and wonder why I But, as Jews, you and I both know that But at a certain point, feeling that they State of Florida), even the officials inti- chose to write about this specifically at a Sholom Rubashkin’s fate is not in the would be better off without him around, mately involved in the case were aston- time when we stand hand in hand. hands of Judge Linda Reade. While I was his brothers threw him in a pit. They then ished at the great lengths that total As I write this on the second day of appalled by the obstinacy of the judge in dipped his cherished coat into blood to strangers would go to in an attempt to Sholom Rubashkin’s sentencing hearing, refusing to grant Rubashkin pretrial bail, assure their old father that they had noth- spare Martin’s life. having heard a report from the judge that she is but a puppet in the hands of G-d. ing to do with his demise, claiming As we came to grips with the massacre in his fate would be ruled upon in the next Her ruling reflects a decree in Heaven. If instead that an undomesticated beast Yeshivas Mercaz HaRav as well as the sadis- three to four weeks, it became immediately Sholom Rubashkin was denied bail time had devoured poor little Yosef alive. tic slaying of six beautiful and holy Jews in clear to me that G-d is sending us a message. and again and was not allowed to join his

16 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES family for the Pesach Seder, then we have collectively failed in our mission to bring him home. The amount of support, both morally and monetarily, is documented and clear for all to see. What more can we do that we have not done that should keep this Divine decree intact? Perhaps G-d wants to see just how long we could unite for someone whose differences may divide us under normal circumstances. Our Sages say that in our relationship to the world at large we are like keves echas bein shiv’im ze’evim. Sholom Rubashkin is now on the turf of the shiv- ’im ze’eivim of the world. Will we return to our Father with his coat dipped in blood and proclaim our innocence? Or are we prepared to sacrifice ourselves and unite, despite our differences, to bring an end to this personal tragedy as well as the collec- tive tragedies that we suffer in our exile? We could turn away this time as well and allow his fate to be sealed for better or for worse, as our memory of him fades and he sits alone in prison while his fam- ily (as Yaakov Avinu did) mourns over the loss of a husband and father whom they were so dependent upon. But unlike the brothers who were forced to answer to Yosef whom they had sold into slavery, we are going to have to answer to G-d Al-mighty. Merely pointing to a blood- stained coat and pushing the onus of responsibility on the figurative chayah ra’ah is not going to work to prove our innocence in the eyes of G-d. I am in no way making light of all the contributions and resolutions that have been pledged in support of Sholom Rubashkin. Many have parted with thou- sands of dollars toward his defense. Many families who have a hard time putting food on own their tables parted with a few dollars that they could have spent elsewhere. But in the scheme of things, sometimes in these situations it is easy to write a check and move on, feeling as if we have carried out our responsibility in the plight of a fellow Jew in need. But having been down this road before, it seems that there is more that needs to be done to escape this situation unscathed. It seems that there is more expected of us by G-d to merit a favorable judgment and a happy ending. We are too used to acting righteous, as we do on Yom Kippur, before a G-d who judges our con- duct at that particular time and place. My friends, this is not Yom Kippur and it’s not we who are standing trial. When it comes to our brother, we have to be prepared to sacrifice ourselves and to unite even in a situation where we nor- mally would opt not to. If we would just try to put ourselves in the shoes of Sholom Mordechai and his family, it sud- denly would be that much easier to come together and effect true and lasting unity. I believe that in view of everything that we have endured recently, it is the regular lack of true unity amongst us that has pinned our dear brother and his fam- ily up against the wall. These next three to four weeks will define the life of Sholom Rubashkin as well as all of our lives collectively. If we pull together now and remain close at heart and feel for one another, we will see Sholom Mordechai reunited with his family, as we and they will rejoice along the roads of Jerusalem and greet our long-awaited King Mashiach—may we merit his com- ing speedily in our days. O 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 17 Lag B’Omer Message of the parents of the young boy, the boy’s father’s side was there. years earlier, there was a dis- was that the festive spirit of his Continued from Front Cover bringing together two families He just assumed that they were agreement between both sides Lag B’Omer was ruined. that he has had long-term rela- running late. Well, he assumed about how to divide up the kib- I have not been able to shake hayeshiva from South Fallsburg tionships with. He was told to wrong. The boy’s mother budim, and it resulted in neither this Lag B’Omer story from my Yeshiva, a widely loved 58-year- be there at 11:00, and he planned approached him and asked if he side talking to each other. Hence mind. Maybe we should take old woman from Brooklyn fol- his very busy day’s activities could return again at 3:00, when the need for two separate upsh- this opportunity to analyze lowing a prolonged illness, and what Lag B’Omer is really all the tragic passing of a nine-year- about. The Meiri in Yevamos old boy from Monsey after a brings in the name of the geon- very brief illness. im that tradition teaches us that One of my distinguished col- Could he return again at 3:00, when her on this 33rd day of the Omer, the leagues in the community talmidim of Rabbi Akiva stopped shared with me his Lag B’Omer family would be coming and they would dying. The Maharil disagrees and experience that was painful and says they continued dying until troubling. A family from his shul Shavuos, but in honor of the 17 was making an upsherin for be having another upsherin for them? days that they didn’t die (the their oldest child and invited seven days of Shabbos, Rosh him to participate and also to be Chodesh, and the days of yom honored with the first cutting of tov) these 17 days are taken off the hair. The rabbi is close to accordingly. her family would be coming erin celebrations. the sefirah period of 49 days, and both sides of the family, and it When he arrived, he found a and they would be having The rabbi told me that he did- this is the cause of making Lag was not that long ago that this house filled with family and another upsherin for them. She n’t know if he should laugh or B’Omer a day of celebration. rabbi officiated at the wedding friends, but he noticed that only explained that at the bris three cry; though what he did know The Gemara in Yevamos teach- es us that they died because they didn’t treat each other with the proper kovod. The Gemara employs a strange language and describes the number of talmidim as 12,000 zugim (pairs) of talmidim that died in this peri- od. The question begs, why does- n’t it say straightforwardly 24,000 talmidim, instead of say- ing 12,000 pairs? The gedolei baalei mussar explain that it was- n’t that they treated strangers or mere aquaintances with a lack of kovod, but rather even their zugim, their close friends and partners, and HaKadosh Baruch Hu cannot tolerate that. What is the whole sefirah period really all about? I remem- ber hearing a truly profound thought from one of the ziknei gedolei hador, Hagaon Rav Ahron Leib Shteinman, shlita, that puts it all in perspective. He noted that Chazal describe the greatness of K’lal Yisrael in the dor hamidbar when even a shifcha k’nananis, a non-Jewish maidservant, saw more of Hashem’s greatness than Yecheskel, the greatest of the prophets. So why was there a need to have 49 more days to prepare for Kabbolas HaTorah? What else did they have to pre- pare for? Rav Shteinman, shlita, answered that one of the pri- mary purposes of the 49 days of sefirah is the opportunity for K’lal Yisrael to improve their interpersonal relationships, their bein adam l’chaveiro. If this is what sefirah is all about, if this is what Lag B’Omer is all about, then it just seems that there’s something not quite right with celebrating the end of the plague, this terrible tragedy that happened because friends couldn’t treat each other proper- ly, with making two celebra- tions because families could not work out their differences. While it is indeed heart- warming to see the pictures from the great celebrations at Meiron where Chassidim, Misnagdim, Sefardim, and Ashkenazim all danced and cel- ebrated together under the 18 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES watchful eye of the tanna Reb Shimon times, especially in one’s own family. If bar Yochai, in a way that’s the easy part. the mournful period of sefirah and the Dancing next to a stranger that you will significance of Lag B’Omer has no never see again is really not that diffi- impact on us whatsoever, how do we cult. Saying I’m sorry to a sibling, to a ever expect to be zocheh to Mashiach? mechutan, to a close friend, that is the Dancing together, lighting bonfires hard part. I don’t think we have to look together, and all the festive things that very far for these types of broken rela- accompany this day are all for naught if, tionships. How many of us know people as Rav Shteinman taught us, we can’t who have not spoken to a sibling for use this time to mend fences, not with years, to mechutonim, sons with fathers, strangers, but with our zugim, those daughters with mothers, former best closest to us. friends, neighbors, or co-workers. Even May we all be zocheh in the zechus of a more painful question: how many of the great tanna Reb Shimon to use this us are those people. period of sefirah well—to bring all of us To have a two-part upsherin celebra- together—mechutonim, brothers and sis- tion to accommodate angry mechuton- ters, sons and fathers, daughters and im and to do so on Lag B’Omer some- mothers, and, yes, even husbands and how just doesn’t generate the warm and wives—so that we will once again be able joyous feeling of the spirit of this great to stand together as we did at Ma’amad day. Close relationships are challenging Har Sinai,”ke’ish echad b’leiv echad, la’asos and a struggle to maintain in the best of ratzon avinu shebashamayim.” O

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 19 School Board What parent wouldn’t? The myself with all the knowledge, was deprived of what is known precedent enabling for the Continued from Page 14 tone was set. I was determined legal and otherwise, to fight by law as equitable distribution very first time private school to fight for my son’s rights and them. If there was one good of days. Make ups should be students to receive their serv- child with mobility issues puts ensure that he was going to get thing that the District did for given to children when the ther- ices according to their school that child at tremendous risk. what he was entitled to and me, it was that they forced me apists in both private and public calendar; aides would have to Yet another aide she assigned what he deserved. I certainly to educate myself in regard to schools miss sessions and lastly work according to the calen- refused to accompany and stay wasn’t going to let anyone dic- the law and to attain the knowl- but certainly not least, services dar of that school to which with Elly in certain parts of his tate who, how much, where, edge that I needed to challenge should commence within the they were assigned for that school day as he found it offen- and what Elly was going to get them at an impartial hearing or first week of the school year and school’s full day; make ups sive to be in a Jewish atmos- in regard to his services. To any other time that I would not terminate until the last date would be made mandatory phere of learning. He was there make a long story short I had have to confront them. My of that school’s calendar. What and services would commence to ensure my child’s physical had enough of their game play- grievances were the following: I was being done at the time in and end according to the safety not analyze or critique his ing and decided to put my wanted an aide for my son that both private and public schools school that the child was education. From that moment money where my mouth was. I would work according to his was that services didn’t begin attending and according to on I had a choice—either put up decided to take them to court school day (full day) and on his until the third or fourth week of his/her IEP (individualized with whatever I was given no for an impartial hearing. I sued school calendar; therapists to September and services ended education program). If I lost I matter how minimal and laugh- them for discrimination—based work according to his school on average a good two to three would be in dire straits. The able it was, be nice and make not on his being religious but calendar and not adhere to the weeks before the end of the ramifications of a loss was friends with the powers that be, based on the fact that he has a public school calendar thereby school year. something I didn’t want to or fight them and advocate for disability. I couldn’t afford attor- preventing any missed ses- My hearing was upon me contemplate. As much as the my son and do whatever it took neys to represent me as their sions—Elly missed an incredi- and suffice it to say I was pet- administrators hated me now to facilitate his needs. Obviously fees were way too exorbitant. So ble amount of therapy because rified. A lot was at stake here. for what I was putting them I chose to fight for my son. I took six months and armed of the calendar discrepancy and If I won I would be setting a through, they would surely make what they did to me up until this point seem like a walk in the park compared to what they would do to me in the future and my son would be on the receiving end of their malice and vengeance. Justice won out and I was successful and I felt totally vin- dicated. I felt a tremendous sense of relief and satisfaction and, truth be told, knowing that I “stuck it to them” was a coup in and of itself. I knew that Elly was set and I no longer had to worry as much. However, I was concerned for the many chil- dren who were going to face the same obstacles and hardships as I had to. So I decided to enlist the help of Dr. David Sussman and Dr. Asher Mansdorf to pres- ent it to the board and imple- ment all of the changes that I made for Elly to make it avail- able to all those other children. It was at this very time that my husband and I had an interest to run for the board. We both felt that with him or me on the board we could expedite and implement those special educa- tion changes as soon as possi- ble. My husband, as you all know, ran and thankfully won. As soon as he took office, Murray Forman designated Nahum to be in charge of all special education issues. With Nahum’s help the Board of Education became sensitized to the needs of the special educa- tion students. They understood clearly that the administrators of the special education division must execute their responsibili- ties but care deeply about the children. My husband refused to accept the status quo. He and Dr. Fitzsimons disagreed vehement- ly. The threat that Elly’s services would be discontinued was made, yet Nahum held his ground. All the changes were introduced; care and concern became the credo of the Lawrence PPS department. The Board of Education showed compassion and now so does

Continued on Page 24 20 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 21 22 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 23 School Board problem no matter how minute or self through this once again? Well, for answer was very matter of fact: “It’s Continued from Page 20 great; problems that ranged not just starters, anyone who knows Nahum, and never wrong to do the right thing when relating to special education issues but quite a few of you do, knows one does- it pertains to a child. If I refused to help the staff. problems relating to transportation; n’t “allow” Nahum to do anything. I live this parent, then my behavior is no bet- Presently we have Dr. Annette building and field usages, textbook with this man and he will do what he ter than his wife’s—and, even worse, no Szafranski as head of Pupil Personnel allotment and handicap accessibility wants if he feels it is the right thing to better than those past administrators Services and Susan Farber, CPSE for the public schools. Two years ago, do, irrespective of what anyone thinks who tried to hurt Elly. When a child is Chairperson who replaced Susan Kosser he established the Special Education or says. Truth be told, to volunteer to be hurting and is in need of assistance it is and Claudia Bartner (clones of the pre- committee that encompasses both pub- on the board is a totally thankless, self- incumbent upon me to do whatever I vious PPS director Rhona Leff). With lic and private school representation less job; no matter how much you have can to help them—that is what it means these two wonderful individuals at the with the PPS staff. In addition he is also done it’s not enough or not good enough to be a board member; you help any helm, parents now have a place to go a member with Dr. David Sussman, who and maybe, just maybe, you’ll get a child irrespective of how you are treated. where people will actually listen to heads the committee on Academic thank-you or pat on the back. As a mat- Maybe when a parent will see that I am their problems and truly try to assist Excellence which meets monthly with ter of fact, not only doesn’t he get a a human being and that I genuinely care them in any way that they can. In addi- public school administrators to find thank you, but every so often as an extra they will then treat me in kind.” Nahum tion to the changes in administration ways to enhance and improve the pub- added bonus he gets cursed at. Recently, put himself in this position for one rea- my husband has steadfastly worked to lic school education. he was out shopping at Gourmet Glatt son and one reason only—because he ensure that only certified and compe- So it begs the question—why do this (yes, he volunteers for that as well) and a (and I) have been where many people tent therapists work with these chil- one more time? Why not give someone parent who took their kids out of private are. He has a clear and concise under- dren. He saw to it that every public and else a chance to continue what was school to put them in public school saw standing of the hardships and anguish private school is set up with OT/PT started? The answer is plain and sim- Nahum, cut in front of him on line, and that parents go through in order to con- rooms that have appropriate equip- ple—that we need to ensure that the then under her breath spewed a word at tend with a special needs child. We have ment for the therapists so as to better tremendous strides that have been him that obviously cannot be printed. lived it and had to deal with the cruelty service children with special needs. He made the last three years and the con- Nahum didn’t respond because to make and biasness of past boards and adminis- is no longer forced to advocate for each veniences that have been available thus this person understand that her abysmal trations and if at the end of the day one and every child of special needs, public far, conveniences that you may take for behavior was totally unjustified would parent or one child’s life is made that and private, to insure that they receive granted. Think of the availability of the just be an effort in futility. We never did much easier, then it has all been worth the services to which they are legally playing fields for little league on anything to her personally and we don’t it. The only agenda that the current entitled. Besides dealing with special Sundays, or transportation to your chil- understand why she feels the way she board has is to be a board that will con- education issues, Nahum has met with dren’s schools, having community does, we can only hope that her tinue to service the entire community in representatives of the Lawrence High events such as the NCSY basketball demeanor will change. However, ironi- the best possible way with honesty, School Student Council every year. He tournament and project Harmony con- cally her husband called our home a few integrity, and compassion. helps them better understand that he certs that was recently held at the days later to speak with Nahum to The choice is now yours. Last year’s and his co-board members are here to Lawrence Public Schools. It is to be cer- request his assistance as he was having a election was nearly lost. The election was listen to their grievances and to clarify tain that all of the resources of the dis- problem with their child. Now a venge- won by a mere 100 votes. Every vote for them that the objectives of the trict are made fairly and equitably avail- ful person wouldn’t take the call and I counts. On May 11, I implore you to please board are to help the students. He acts able to all of the residents while main- myself was rather surprised that he had take those few minutes to go out and to assuage any fears that they may have taining a low tax rate and fiscally the audacity to call my home after what vote. As I have clearly shown, you have in regard to their future in school. He responsible policy. his wife had done. I asked Nahum after- everything to gain if you do but much to has continuously made himself avail- In response to the second question as wards why he helped this man when his lose if you don’t. Remember, Vote Row able to anyone who has any sort of to why I am allowing Nahum to put him- wife was so despicable to him. His “A,” Marcus, Blisko, and Sussman. O

24 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES A Day Of Covenants

BY TOBY KLEIN GREENWALD

April 27—Israel Independence Day is always a time for family and friends, for prayer and par- ties, but I don’t remember anoth- er one that held, for us, so many joyful and meaningful events packed into one day. P h

Covenant I: B’rit milah in the o t o B rebuilt Churvah Synagogue. Two y G e r s years ago I wrote, in this paper, h o n E l about how on Monday, May 4, l i n s o 2008, halfway between Holo- n caust Memorial Day and Israel’s In Efrat, at the ceremony for the new Sefer Torah dedicated by Eudice and Independence Day, the grand- Menachem Spitz in memory of their parents. Mr. Spitz is standing (at left) child of my husband’s cousin, under the chuppah next to the new Sefer Torah. Rav Yechezkel Greenwald, entered the Covenant of Abra- the Old City, while on his way to Hallel and prayers for the State of ham in Kfar HaTemanim, in the teach at Ateret Cohanim. Israel and her soldiers. village of Shiloach (Silwan). It This year, on Yom HaAtzmaut The Churvah Synagogue was was the first time a b’rit milah morning, a second grandchild of built by the disciples of Rav had been performed in that Yechezkel’s (son to the same Yehuda HaChassid in the 1700s, neighborhood since 1938, when young couple) entered into the destroyed in 1721, rebuilt in the the British evicted the Jews, fol- Covenant of Abraham—this time mid-19th century, and reduced lowing Arab riots. Only two in the Churvah Synagogue in the to rubble by Jordan’s Arab months before the b’rit, Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Legion on May 25, 1948, along Yechezkel had miraculously sur- Jerusalem, following a glorious vived a stabbing by an Arab in tefillat Shacharit, complete with Continued on Page 27

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 25 26 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Day Of Covenants s”xc Continued from Page 25 with the rest of the Jewish Quarter. In 1977 one of its arches was reconstructed. Recently it was rebuilt in the original neo- Byzantine style of the original, and in March of this year it was rededicated. The magnificently reconstructed Churvah has a ceiling that seems to reach the clouds, painted scenes of Jerusalem, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Tiberias, delicate- ly painted flowers decorating high arches, a mural with the verse from Tehillim “By the shores of Babylon . . . ,” an aron kodesh bordered and crowned with gold, and a bima with an open gold-filigreed frame around the top. Only a piece of the east wall was left unrenovated, in memory of the destruction of the original Churvah. The parents named their son “Shmuel.” When I asked Yechezkel why, he said, “Because of leadership, given the juxtaposition with Yom HaAtzmaut. Shmuel HaNavi anointed Shaul HaMelech, who was the leader of the moment, but he also anointed David HaMelech, who was the leader of the future. In the same way, we are aware of the need for leadership both for today and for the future.” The b’rit milah was performed by the same mohel as two years ago, Rav Tzemach Hirshfeld, a man of great piety and the father of Yonadav Chaim Hirshfeld, one of the eight young stu- dents of Yeshivat Mercaz HaRav who was murdered on March 6, 2008. As with every b’rit, the cries of the child meshed with the sighs of joy and thanksgiving on this special day, in this special place—a new birth in a historic synagogue reborn. Covenant II: A walk down memory lane. From the Old City, we turned our car westward to Neot Kedumim, the Biblical Landscape Reserve in Israel, where B’nei Akiva and the Camp Moshavas of North America organized a reunion of its thou- sands of “graduates.” The oldest Moshava Open Erev Shavuos was the one celebrating its 75th anniver- Tuesday May 18 from 10:30am – 2:30pm Closed 5/19 – 5/20 sary (for the New York area) with Wild We will Reopen Sunday 5/23 Rose, Wisconsin (for us Midwesterners) a !jna dj close second, with a 72nd-year reunion. Other Moshavas represented were Camp Stone (Ohio–Pennsylvania), Ennismore (Canada), and Big Bear (California). In this bounteous setting of Neot Kedumim, with a tent set up, Moshava- style, as a beit midrash, a band, memora- bilia, hiking trails, picnic areas, a bazaar of offerings by artisans of Gush Katif and others, and of course food, several thou- sand campers of all ages and their families gathered to reminisce and catch up. Graduates of Moshava living in Israel today fill roles in educational institutions, the rabbinate, governmental agencies, the hi-tech sector, the business world, and the professional arenas of medicine, law, social work, and the arts. My husband, and other non-Moshava spouses, accompanied us as good sports, and were amazed to discover how many people they knew, as colleagues or neigh- bors, whose Religious Zionist roots were planted at Moshava. What we acquired in those dusty summers went beyond pledges of friendship; it was a covenant between each of us and the Jewish peo- ple. Covenant III: New home in view of the Herodion. The name of the newborn

Continued on Page 28 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 27 Day Of Covenants Continued from Page 27 Shmuel echoed as we turned back east and headed in the direction of Tekoa, in eastern Gush Etzion, birthplace of the prophet Amos and home of the “wise woman” depicted in Sefer Shmuel who was sent by Yoav to King David (Shmuel 2, 14:4–9). Our nephew Nitzan Rubenstein and his wife, Orit, were hosting a chanukat ha’bayit (home dedication) bar- becue in their new home. Established in 1977, Tekoa is home to religious and secular Israelis and olim from a variety of countries, including many from the former Soviet Union. With a new road, it is only six miles southwest of Jerusalem, yet it’s at the edge of the expan- sive Judean Desert. Rising above Tekoa, in the distance, is the Herodion moun- tain fortress, built by King Herod and destroyed by the Romans in 71 CE. The mountain contains tunnels, an under- ground water system, mikvaot, and archaeological remains of elaborate living areas. The administrative center of the Bar Kochba revolt was in the fortress, and it is said that from the Herodion, people could see the burning of the Temple. Covenant IV: New sefer Torah dedicated. Exhausted, we returned to Efrat for a hachnasat sefer Torah. It was dedicated by our friends Eudice and Menachem Spitz in memory of their parents. The final writing, in the Spitz home, was followed by dancing and singing through the streets of Efrat, culminating in a ceremony in the shul and a festive dinner. Eudice’s comments in her speech at the dinner resonated with anyone familiar with the story of the Jewish people: “I always thought that Menachem and I came from very different backgrounds. His parents were European; mine were American . . . My in-laws were the first Holocaust survivors I’d ever met, and Menachem grew up thinking that anyone with American-born parents must not be religious. “But this year on Pesach it struck me: We all do have the same background. That back- ground is Yetziat Mitzrayim and Mattan Torah. . . . I often say, ‘Do you know what it means if you meet a fellow Jew, talk for five minutes, and don’t find out that you’re related? It means you haven’t been talking long enough.’” So there you have it— our Yom HaAtzmaut, one in which we joined in the covenants of Avraham with G-d, of Am Yisrael, of the Land of Israel, and of the Torah—all of them intertwined. A day of covenants, and of blessings. O 28 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 29 Call Me Mikey

When one passes used clothes, or used and I have none about accepting them. anything, to someone younger than himself But there is a new phenomenon afoot. It or herself, the item is known as a hand-me- happens when women who have adult daugh- down. It’s a well-known expression, as ters happily accept their daughters’ castoffs. I handing off used items is done universally. refer to this practice as a hand-me-up, since this A mother often “hands down” clothing from is a case of items being passed from a younger one child to a younger one, or she may pass person to an older one. I accept these gifts just clothes from her child to a niece, a nephew, as I do my girlfriend’s handbags, and I have no or the child of a friend. shame in either instance. It suits all of us well. There’s no shame in it, and the practice has I’m thrilled to get whatever my kids no longer saved untold amounts of money for countless want, and they’re thrilled to have someone to numbers of parents. I can think of instances pass it down (up) to. where a single garment—a toddler’s dress, for Back in the 1970s, there was a commercial example—has graced the torsos of several lit- for Life cereal that featured two boys shov- tle ones. And it isn’t always clothing that is ing a bowl of cereal over to their four-year- given away. Toys, tricycles, bicycles, and sleds old brother, Mikey; to the boys’ surprise, are also handed down from child to child. Mikey liked the cereal (“Let’s get Mikey. . . . He But children are not always the recipi- likes it!”). And “Mikey likes it!” became a ents; hand-me-downs have been known to catchphrase. The ad campaign ran from 1972 take place between friends, as well. to 1985 and was one of the longest-running Pocketbooks are sometimes handed off and most popular of all time. from one friend to another when the bag’s Well, just call me Mikey! My girls know owner tires of it and buys something new to that if they buy something and then have a replace it. None of this is anything to be change of heart, which happens to all ashamed of. I have a close friend who tires of females from time to time, their Mom will be her handbags quickly. Long before her bag happy to take it off their hands. While I’m not gets to the worn-looking stage, she will buy privy to the conversations that take place a new one and then offer her castoff to me. She has no qualms about making the offers, Continued on Page 32

30 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 31 THAT’S THE WAY IT IS! be celebrating Mother’s Day without my lov- Continued from Page 30 ing Hubby, Arnie. He always bought some- thing for me, and I always told him that I between my daughters, I can imagine just liked it (whether or not I did). I even wore a what they say to each other. One daughter few of the pieces that I really didn’t like. might say, “I bought a bracelet and I really There was only one time that I blew it and don’t like it. It was a final sale, so I’m stuck.” he caught on. Twenty-eight years ago, he pre- This is undoubtedly followed by her sister’s sented me with a gold pendant on a chain, in response, “Give it to Mommy; she’ll love it.” At honor of our twentieth anniversary. But as this point, the owner of the unwanted hard as I tried, I could never bring myself to bracelet probably says, “Great idea!” wear it for long. I would put it on, wear it in We’re not talking about occasion gifts front of him for a few hours, and then take it here. I don’t get hand-me-ups for my birth- off and stick it back in the drawer. I never wore day or for Mother’s Day. My children buy it to a party or to a simcha of any type. In fact, those gifts with me in mind, for me. But I’m not sure I ever wore it out in public. those gifts that I may receive from them Naively, I thought I had him fooled. But which are not for any occasion are simply a of course I didn’t. I should have known bet- bonus; the gift-giving is usually prefaced ter. Hubby was sharp; and although he did- with, “Oh, Mom, do you want this?” n’t let on, he knew I didn’t care for the pen- The only one who never does that is my dant. It wasn’t my taste. The main reason son. He will buy gifts for me for a specific that he knew I wasn’t crazy about it was that occasion, or sometimes just to let me know it wasn’t his taste, either. He had allowed that he’s thinking of me, but that’s about it. himself to be talked into it by the salesman. He never says, “Oh, by the way, Mom, could When the price of gold reached an all- you use this? I don’t want it any longer.” time high about a year ago, I sold that piece, Good thing, because what would I do with along with several other pieces of gold jew- his used or unwanted tie? elry that I had no use for and hadn’t worn in While it doesn’t bother me to accept many years. Naturally, I never told Hubby used items, or to acknowledge that fact, the that I sold the pendant, and he never asked one aspect of hand-me-ups that does irritate about it. Why would he? He was accus- me is that I receive many more compli- tomed to not seeing me wear it. ments on what I get from my kids than I do Now I could kick myself. If only I still on the things I buy for myself. I guess we had that piece! I would wear it now. Believe know who has better taste, me or my chil- me, I would. But I’ll be content with wear- dren. But I can live with it! ing all of the other jewelry that Hubby so Mother’s Day is almost here, so I’m wait- lovingly and thoughtfully bought for me ing with bated breath to see what goodies over the years. And I’m sure he’ll see it. my offspring will come up with. What I will Happy Mother’s Day! O be given will be new, unworn, and unused— Hannah Berman lives in Woodmere and is a and I know I am not likely to be disappoint- licensed real-estate broker associated with Marjorie Hausman Realty. She can be reached at ed. The only disappointment this year will [email protected] or 516-902-3733.

32 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

products, notably its boneless chicken cut- is carefully held to at the plant, and chick- salting and soaking, where chickens go lets, available to a wider market of com- ens are shielded from watching the she- through three rinsing processes as munities throughout the five boroughs. chitah of another chicken. Knives are rou- required by both mehadrin (the utmost Chicken: Thanks to KJ Poultry, chicken is now not tinely checked for sharpness so that level of kosher) and USDA standards. only a superfood that is super-healthy and chickens do not suffer any unnecessary Only chickens that meet all standards are A Superfood That’s super-fast, but super-kosher as well. or drawn-out pain from the process. then sent out to the retail markets, and all KJ’s plant, located in upstate New York, Inspectors are lined up along the con- chickens that end up on the shelves have Super-Kosher Too, is meticulous and in pristine condition. veyer belt to carefully examine the cor- not been released from the factory more Besides the well-trained kosher supervi- rect removal of the veins, a sign of than 24 hours earlier. Thanks To KJ Poultry sors and rabbis that ensure kashrus stan- kashrus on the chickens. USDA inspectors Keeping up with society’s interest in dards, the typical plant workers are reli- then witness the chickens being health and convenience and adhering to The Atkins Diet. The Scarsdale Diet. The gious members from nearby communi- processed through a machine, before rab- the highest criterion for kashrus is all in a Banana Diet. In a world of hard-to-keep, ties and are well-educated in koshering binic kosher supervisors again check the day’s work for KJ Poultry. outlandish, and deprivation diets, a bal- techniques and ethical and halachic treat- chickens’ lungs and smoothness to anced diet composed of healthy and vita- ment of the chickens. Extreme sensitivity ensure a top-notch job. Then it’s on to See Page 46 for recipes min-packed food is finally “in.” There’s been a lot of talk about exotic superfoods such as acai and gogi berries and quinoa, but typical staple grocery items also belong to this category. They include blue- berries, broccoli, salmon, and chicken.

Chickens are shielded from watching the shechitah of another chicken.

Chicken is packed with important nutrients like selenium, vitamin B3, and tryptophan. Just four ounces of chicken provides over 65 percent of the daily RDA of protein. A boneless, skinless chicken breast, the leanest part of the bird, is a mere 120 calories. Chicken is also one of the most versa- tile dishes in the culinary world. It can serve as the main feature in a fajita, taco, or wrap; diced over salad greens; and grilled, poached, roasted, or broiled with a variety of different spices and vegeta- bles. It’s served everywhere from the lower-end fast food chain stores to the most prestigious restaurants. Parents rarely have to resort to bribes and plead- ing to get their children to eat it. As if that wasn’t enough, those who do the cooking in their homes know that chicken is extremely simple to prepare, going from freezer to hungry mouths often in under an hour’s time. Even a more complicated marinade recipe requires just a little work before tossing the well-coated chicken into the fridge to forget about until the next day’s dinner comes along. Grill or roast it for ten minutes and voila—you’ve got a tasty dinner that will impress even the most sophisticated palate. KJ Poultry is a family company that has been providing people with kosher poul- try for years. Its full product line of chick- en, turkey, and deli meat complies with the highest standards of kashrus and qual- ity. Recently, the company has re-commit- ted itself to those goals and is making its

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 33 due to graduate college in a few short weeks to the fullest at every stage? How can I (b’li ayin harah), that logistically can’t work, impart the love of a good musical over- but sometimes I wonder where all the time ture while they are still enjoying rock and went that created the adult that I am. roll? And their rock and roll isn’t the same Who would have thought I would be as mine and my friends’ was. Due to the enjoying spinach on my pizza rather than Internet, they all know the words to their the typical plain slice? Vegetables on pizza? songs, while we knew how to make up That’s so grown up! And who would have the words to fill the tunes. thought that I would prefer a tranquil walk Who would have thought that I would Who Would Have Thought? on the boardwalk rather than watching the be communicating via computer with my day go by watching mindless cartoons in brother and his family in Israel—not just Who would have thought that I would true age. And so, just for the fun of it, I left my pajamas? Who would have thought writing but skyping too? That sounds so be sitting sharing a salad with my lovely out my age but accurately completed the that I would enjoy watching my children high tech! I try to explain to my son, the daughter Rivka, filled with mushrooms, date of my birth. And so, upon turning in go on rides at the amusement park (rather computer science major, that when we tofu, raw broccoli, and string beans? the form, my good friend Ruth said to me, than myself), while I sit on the sidelines would write computer programs in col- That’s adult food! “Phyllis, you left out your age!” “I know. I and watch the excitement in their eyes? lege we would need to type on key punch It’s amazing how time seems to pass so figured you had the year of my birth, so…” Hmm…Would I even want to be back cards, and stand on long lines to have quickly. When we were young we It seems that no one wants to calcu- in high school? The seemingly meaning- someone input the information into a thought time was endless. As the years late the age—too much math less arguments with friends that seemed vast computer, and wait hours to find out have gone by I notice time passing in the involved—but your date of birth is so monumental at the time; the fear of that our commas were in the wrong spot blink of an eye! needed for identification. taking a test and not being prepared; the and we needed to start the whole proce- I was filling out a form the other day, It’s not as if I am embarrassed about stress of succeeding. Perhaps if I could go dure again. Who would have thought and I came to those two telltale requests: my age; it’s just that I don’t necessarily back with the knowledge that I have now, that there would be a time when being Age and Date of Birth. Why must they need to be reminded. it would be interesting. born in the twentieth century would always ask both? Is it a test to make sure We all know that expression, “You are How can I give my children some per- have been considered history? that we are being honest? Just in case we only as young as you feel!” Aside from vari- spective on life? How can I show them How can I impart to my children that fibbed on the age, we might slip and offer ous aches and pains, I still feel as if I’m in that time passes and things change, and they should appreciate their youth, the correct year of our birth and reveal our high school. Yes, I know, with my eldest son you need to appreciate the life you have because once it’s over you can’t just go back? If only I had appreciated the time I had then to study new ideas and to broaden my horizons. Every stage of life brings new responsibilities and new needs, new demands on our time and dif- ferent paths that need to be taken. As we approach Mother’s Day (yes— every day should be Mother’s Day), I can now appreciate the words of my own mother when she tried to impart her life experience to me when I was in high school! I couldn’t appreciate her words of wisdom then as I do now. Thank you, Mom, for guiding me thus far, and may we have many more years to share wis- dom with each other! And so Sunday afternoon will be spent rejoicing with our mothers and fathers, and our children with their mother and father and grandmothers and grandfa- thers. Alas, my eldest daughter will have to do so via the computer and the cell phone (thank goodness for twenty-first century technology) since final exams have not yet ended. Wednesday we will be making the trek to Binghamton to retrieve her for the summer. And when we prepare to leave, I will make sure to prepare our lunch to eat along the way: tuna on toasted diet bread, with a fruit as a snack, of course. Who would have thought I would care about bringing lunch along? When I was younger, I would suffice with an ice cream cone and a bag of pretzels! Don’t get me wrong, there are times when I like to kick back and act like a kid! Don’t tell anyone—there are even times when I indulge and have ice cream for breakfast! Who would have thought? O

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

Deadline for Advertising in the Next Issue is Tuesday, May 11 at 5:00 P.M. Call 516-984-0079

34 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Global Health Israel: Providing Excellence In Health Care For Patients

BY ROCHELLE MARUCH MILLER

Medical tourism—the process of “leav- ing home” for treatments and care abroad or elsewhere domestically—is an emerg- ing phenomenon in the health care indus- try. The Deloitte 2008 Survey of Health Care Consumers, a nationally representa- tive online survey of more than 3,000 Americans, found that outbound medical tourism is expected to experience explo- sive growth over the next decade. By 2017, there may be almost 17 million Americans traveling overseas for medical care. The big increase is mainly due to awareness by the 50 million uninsured in the United States of being able to receive high quali- ty medical care overseas for up to 90% less. Additionally, several health insurance companies are now including medical tourism as a benefit, and giving increases to employees, such as waiving deductibles and coinsurance, and paying for travel expenses for the employee and a loved one. This means that Americans can save up to $5,000 or more by going overseas for medical care, spurring tremendous growth in the industry. Consider the following: *Health care costs are increasing at eight percent per year—well above the Consumers Price Index (CPI), thus eating into corporate profits and household dis- posable income. *The safety and quality of care avail- able in many offshore settings is no longer an issue. Organizations including the Joint Commission International (JCI) and others are accrediting these facilities. *Consumers are willing to travel to obtain care that is both safe and less costly. In fact, two in five survey respondents said they would be interested in pursuing treat- ment abroad if quality was comparable and the savings was 50 percent or more. In an exclusive interview with the 5TJT, Nathalie Steiner of Global Health Israel explained this growing phenomenon. 5TJT: Welcome to the Five Towns, Nathalie. Please tell us about Global Health Israel’s unique aspects. NS: I’d be happy to. Global Health Israel (GHI) is an Israeli facilitator, offering med- ical treatment at leading hospitals in Israel. GHI is a subsidiary of ISI, Israel Scientific Instruments Ltd., a well established com- pany in Israel with over 30 years of experi- ence in the field of medicine. Medical

Continued on Page 36

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 35 Global Health Israel treatment that patients can expect from the day-to-day stress behind has a great by the majority of the population. Continued from Page 35 GHI’s providers? influence on the success of this emotion- 5TJT: This has certainly been a highly NS: Global Health Israel (GHI) has a net- ally difficult procedure. informative interview, Do you have any tourism has been available in Israel for work with the leading hospitals and the 5TJT: What other treatments does GHI message for our readers? many years, but has been limited to top doctors and specialists in the country. offer? NS: The American public has demon- patients from Eastern Europe. These Israeli medicine is well known all over the NS: GHI offers all other treatments, strated great enthusiasm for this prospect patients have been traveling to Israel to world, and the Israeli specialists are including orthopedic, oncologic, urolog- of receiving quality medical treatment in undergo a variety of procedures, due to the renowned for their achievements and ic, cosmetic surgeries, in addition to Israel, especially the Jewish community, low quality of healthcare in their country their medical research. Many of the spe- other kinds of procedures. who have the obvious reasons for visiting of origin and the high quality of care they cialists have earned their fellowship in the 5TJT: Which hospitals are included? Israel. Firms employing Jews and Israelis can receive in Israel. GHI is a pioneer in U.S. and have an international reputation. NS: Global Health Israel (GHI) offers med- have also expressed their interest in send- introducing the Israeli medical care to the One of the specialties of the medicine in ical treatments at most of the medical cen- ing their employees for treatment in Israel. U.S. market, based on the high quality of Israel is IVF treatments (in vitro fertiliza- ters in Israel. We recommend to each They are confident that their workers will medical care that is available at affordable tion). This is a result of the Israeli govern- patient the best institution and the special- be treated with the highest standards by prices. In addition, GHI serves as the sole ment’s support received by every Jewish ist most suitable to his specific medical doctors who have probably been trained representative of the Medical Tourism woman, in the form of a subsidy of her IVF needs. GHI works with hospitals in in the U.S., while they (and those who Association (MTA) in Israel. treatments. This is continued until she has Jerusalem, such as Hadassah Medical Center accompany them) can also enjoy a trip to 5TJT: What is the MTA’s capacity here two children. This has enabled the IVF and Sharei Zedek Medical Center; in Tel Aviv Israel. This advantage is also becoming and abroad? centers to gain vast experience, to the and the Central Region, with hospitals such clear to the U.S. insurance companies, NS: It is the leading medical tourism point that Israel has become one of the as Assuta Medical Center, Assaf Harofeh who are beginning to enable their clients non-profit organization, located in Florida. leading countries in IVF and has one of the Medical Center, Herzeliya Medical Center, to receive medical treatment abroad. It was established several years ago in highest success rates in the world. the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, and 5TJT: How can our readers obtain addi- order to help Americans deal with the 5TJT: Which must impact greatly on Sheba Medical Center; in Haifa, such as tional information about Global Health healthcare crisis in the United States. The medical tourism… Rambam Medical Center and others. Israel? association helps different countries to NS: Precisely; couples travel to Israel 5TJT: What feedback has GHI elicited NS: They can visit www.globalhealthis- promote their facilities in the U.S. market from all over the world to undergo IVF thus far? rael.com to download our brochure and e- and is very active in helping to preserve the treatments. They are able to take advan- NS: As mentioned, we have had much mail [email protected]. Thank patient’s physical and mental security. The tage of high success rates with affordable experience with patients from Eastern you so much, Rochelle. MTA has offices worldwide, for the pur- prices. The difference in prices is very obvi- European countries. Actually, this year 5TJT: It’s been a pleasure, Nathalie— pose of managing the activities of hospitals ous with couples from the U.S., who are Israel has doubled the amount of medical and have a safe flight home. O and governments in the field of medical usually not covered for these treatments patients coming here from those countries. care within the respective countries. In this by their healthcare insurance. American When it comes to medical tourism from capacity, GHI works with government couples would have to pay approximately the U.S. this is a market which is in the institutions and with the managements of $20,000 for a cycle of treatment in the U.S., phase of development. Last year, 1.5 million hospitals in the attempt to promote the compared to a mere $4,000 in Israel. GHI patients left their countries for the purpose WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? brand of the Israeli medicine abroad. GHI offers a package that includes accommo- of receiving medical care elsewhere. Most also presents the Israeli field of medicine dation, transportation, and tours to a vari- of them traveled to Central America, Korea, E-MAIL US AT in a variety of international conferences, ety of tourist attractions, and still the price or India. Israel has many benefits com- magazines, radio and TV shows, and other would be much cheaper compared to that pared to these countries—it is a Western- [email protected] marketing activities. in the U.S. If the price itself is not a big oriented country, very modern, and 5TJT: What is the quality of medical enough incentive—the chance to leave English is a formal language here, spoken

36 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

for him. It won’t lessen his of publications a generation financial loss, and it won’t ease ago are now commonplace in the burden of replacing a loyal the most respected ones. servant, but it will help him We may be tempted to gather the fortitude to make the assume that this doesn’t affect proper decision, since everyone us. After all, we are different. We is doing it. don’t buy into the culture of the Creating our own society. times. And while we may feel This concept has very real self-assured and secure in our The Shmuz On The Parashah application in our lives. We live position, the reality is that we in times when society at large are human, so it can’t help but Everybody Is Doing It eration accepts as gospel, the the world of the teenager. It has lost its moral compass. affect us. The question is, what BY R’ BEN TZION next rejects as tomfoolery. Here affects everyone. “My crowd,” Particularly in the United can we do about it? SHAFIER we get insight into the nature “my chevrah,” and “my society” States, once a bastion of family The whole world agrees. The of man from the One Who truly affect the way I view things. values and morality, we now Gemara often uses an expres- You shall sound a broken blast knows—from his Maker. Ultimately, they help shape my watch daily as innovations in sion: “kulei alma lo pligi—the on the shofar, in the seventh That understanding is that value system. decadence and promiscuity whole world agrees.” To the month, on the tenth of the we humans are highly social. The Torah is teaching us that pour forth. We can’t open a Torah sages, their world was the month; on the Day of Atonement We are affected by our environ- even a mature adult faced with a newspaper without being whole world. If you had an you shall sound the shofar ment. Our perspective on the difficult trial will be greatly exposed to a new depth of opinion about an issue of throughout your land.” world is affected by what those influenced by what others are moral decay. Ideas, concepts, halachah, you were in the —Vayikra 25:9 around us do. Peer pressure isn’t doing. If something is done by and images that wouldn’t have When we are on our own something that only impacts everyone, it will be much easier been accepted in the most base Continued on Page 39 land, we are commanded to keep every seventh year as the Shemittah year, and at the com- pletion of seven Shemittos, to add an additional Shemittah year—the Yovel. During this year, all land lies fallow. Homesteads return to their orig- inal owners, and all Jewish slaves are freed. On Yom Kippur, at the start of the Yovel year, we have a specific commandment to publicly blow the shofar. Why we blow the shofar on Yovel. The Sefer HaChinuch explains that the Torah com- mands us to blow the shofar on Yovel because freeing a slave is a very difficult mitzvah, and the slave owners need chizuk. A mas- ter who has had a slave for many years may well have become dependent upon him and find it hard to part with him. By sound- ing the shofar, we are publicly proclaiming that it is Yovel, and all Jews will be freeing their slaves. The master will then rec- ognize that throughout the Land of Israel, everyone is freeing his slaves, and so it will be easier for him to free his own slave. Why is it easier because oth- ers are doing it? The slave owner is a businessman, not a teenager. We are dealing with a mature person, faced with a dif- ficult test. What difference does it make to him whether this is a popular mitzvah or not? The mitzvah is difficult because he is being asked to give up some- thing that he has become attached to and is dependent upon. Since that’s what makes the mitzvah difficult, what dif- ference does it make to him whether there are many other people doing the same or if he is the only person on the planet doing it? Understanding human nature. The answer to this question is based on under- standing human nature. Psychologists from Freud to Skinner to Maslow have been debating the inner nature of the person for decades. With ever-changing views and under- standings, that which one gen- 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 37 from leaking in and causing drafts that blowing out from the lines any remain- pull your temperature down. It also pre- ing water and closing the system down vents water leaks and wind from getting until spring. into the house during those yucky storms Skipping this project can leave you that we seem to get in the summer as open to a nightmare. If a crack or break in well as in the winter. the line happens as a result of water 7. Swimming pools. If you own a freezing during the winter, you have to swimming pool, soon the warm weather dig holes in your lawn to search for the will bring the opening and enjoyment of break before you can even repair it. Then Top 15 Home Improvements the pool. After the winter, it is important you are left with the additional project of to have all the lines flushed with water to re-seeding your lawn. That Maximize Resale make sure they are clear and clean, and 9. Outdoor faucets and showers. While then to balance the pool with the neces- we are discussing swimming pools and Part 2 yields a tremendous amount of satisfac- sary chemicals to make the swimming in-ground sprinklers, we mustn’t forget As we shift gears, going into the spring tion, due to the large savings on your season enjoyable and clean. any outdoor faucets or showers. All out- and summer, a priority of home improve- heating bills. Take the time to slowly go After the swimming season is over, door faucets and showers should have ment should be home maintenance. around the exterior of your house, closing and winterize the pool to protect shut-off valves to allow the water in the When speaking of home maintenance, I checking around all the doors and win- its condition is an important project. To pipes exposed outdoors to be drained for am focusing on repairs and other tasks dows to see if your caulking is cracked prepare the swimming pool for the win- the winter. All hoses should be detached around the exterior of your home that or missing. ter freeze, the water should be lowered and stored till the next spring. keep your home in top condition. These below the skimmer lines, and the skim- Taking care of these projects before improvements also protect you from the mer lines should be air-blown out, to winter arrives also gives you more time to elements when it gets cold again down clear out any remaining water settling in be outdoors enjoying the good weather the line in winter. It sure is easier to the lines. Water that remains in the lines while preparing your house and property You may say, “It’s getting warm now, will freeze during the winter. Freezing for the winter. When it comes time for not cold! We will be experiencing take care of when it water expands and can crack through resale, buyers will notice and certainly be balmy summer days, so who wants to existing plumbing lines, only to need a impressed with a seller who has main- think about the cold weather down the is warm and nice huge repair come the spring. tained his or her house and property in line? That’s way off, and I don’t want to Your pool pump should be detached top shape. even think about it.” Well, neither do I, outside than to deal and put in a warm place to hibernate for Next week, I will continue with Part 3 but before you know it there it is star- the winter. If you own a pool heater, of “Top 15 Home Improvements that ing us in the face again, and it sure is with it when it gets removable parts such as the burner Maximize Resale.” O easier to take care of when it is warm should be detached and also stored in a and nice outside than to deal with it warm place for the winter. Anessa Cohen lives in Cedarhurst and is a cold again. licensed real-estate broker and a licensed N.Y.S. when it gets cold again. Some projects Chemicals to protect the water mortgage broker with over 20 years of experience, can save you money on your heating throughout the winter should then be offering full-service residential and commercial bills as well as save you grief on repairs added and a pool cover to protect the real-estate services (Anessa V Cohen Realty) and mortgaging services (First Meridian Mortgage) in that crop up in the dead of winter. Caulking is easy, and anyone can do it. pool from debris and dirt should be the Five Towns and throughout the tri-state area. Some of these are as follows: Carefully re-caulk any cracked or open attached. She can be reached at 516-569-5007 or via her website, www.AVCrealty.com. Readers are 6. Exterior caulking. One of the sim- areas around your windows or doors. 8. In-ground sprinklers. These must be encouraged to send questions or comments to plest maintenance projects is one that This seals the area and prevents cold air cared for at the end of each season by [email protected].

38 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES THE SHMUZ much out there in the world at large that Lag B’Omer In The Park Continued from Page 37 has great value, but it doesn’t come with- out baggage. In our times, the baggage far world. If not, you weren’t. This is illustra- outweighs the advantages. tive of a perspective. While they were cer- To some, this may sound like “Ghetto tainly aware of people outside their Judaism”—limiting, closed off, isolated sphere, they created their own world. from the world. And in truth, it is. But it’s This may sound myopic and cloistered, not out of being small-minded. It stems but it is based on a fundamental under- from recognizing the extent of the prob- standing of the human. To remain pure in lem and the nature of the human. The an impure world, we need to create our unfortunate reality is that we can’t just own world. take the good and ignore the bad. If we To some extent, we have done just wish to live as a holy nation in these that. We now have our own music, our times, we need to create an oasis of puri- own novels, and our own magazines. We ty. We need to create our own world. O have, to a degree, created our own cul- ture. But this comes with a cost. There is For more on this topic please listen to Shmuz no question that the New York Times has #166—“Everybody is doing it.” The Shmuz, an engaging and motivating Torah some writers who are better than the lecture that deals with real-life issues, is available writers at the Yated and the Hamodia. The free at www.TheShmuz.com. The Shmuz on the Parsha book, a compilation on all of Chumash, is world of Jewish music is quite limited in now available for purchase in your local sefarim its scope and development. There is store and at TheShmuz.com.

Chabad of the Five Towns celebrated Lag B’Omer on Sunday, May 2, in Cedarhurst Park with a communitywide Family Fun Day. Activities included archery, bubble bonanza, races, tug-of-war, and, of course, a bonfire. On Lag B’Omer we observe the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the great sage and mystic who embodied “Hinei mah tov u’mah na’im sheves achim gam yachad.” Chabad’s Lag B’Omer celebration was the epitome of unity and captured our community at its best!

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 39 did always get along and care deeply never particularly convincing. about each other. I think George’s wife has a lot to do I can honestly say that I’ve tried very, with it. I don’t think she’s particularly very hard over the past 20 years, doing family-oriented. Maybe she just doesn’t everything in my power to fulfill that like me (or my husband or my children). I dream. For every one time that George really don’t know. We’ve never actually will actually pick up the phone to call me, been in a fight; we don’t argue. But I get I probably call him at least five times. Any the feeling she’d rather not spend time Dear Esther, grown-ups, we would be very close to excuse I could find to invite George and with my family. I can’t say that I’m her Growing up, I was always so proud of each other. It was always something I just his family over was good enough for me. biggest fan, but I can certainly put up my brother, “George.” He is three years took for granted. For one thing, it’s just A yom tov, an American holiday, a beauti- with her if she’s part of the package. And older than me, but it felt as though he I can do so with a smile on my face. But was always years and miles ahead of me. maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it’s George. He was always so good-looking and Maybe for some reason that I cannot charming. He was a great student, an ath- understand, he’d rather not be close to us. lete, the works. Nothing made me happi- My husband constantly asks me when The entire situation is very painful to er than to tell people that I was George’s me. My husband thinks I’m crazy because sister. I always adored him, and I still do. I continue to chase George after all these Though I spent many years in his shad- I’ll finally grow up and stop idolizing years. Every time I tell my husband that ow, I happily did so. Being in his shadow I’m going to invite George and his family was more than enough for me. I looked George and see him for who he is. over for something, my husband cautions up to him literally and emotionally. He me not to bother, because he wants to was the perfect big brother. save me the inevitable disappointment. Now let’s fast-forward about 20 years. My husband constantly asks me when I’ll George and I are obviously both grown finally grow up and stop idolizing George up; we are each married and we live not the two of us in our family; there are no ful day for a barbecue—you name it. But and see him for who he is—a selfish guy too far from one another. It was always other siblings. For another thing, though more often than not, he has excuses and who cares very little for me and my fami- my dream that when we would both be we were in different leagues as kids, we doesn’t show up. And his excuses are ly. I don’t want to believe that. He’s my big brother and I’ve always looked up to him. I’m curious to hear your reaction to my behavior. Am I acting like a silly little girl chasing a dream? Or do you think that I should just keep doing what I’m doing and that eventually it will pay off and George will realize how important I am in his life? That he will finally give me and my family the love and attention we deserve? The thought of giving up on him breaks my heart. Heartbroken Dear Heartbroken, It sounds as though George has always taken on “superhero” status in your eyes. It is not so unusual for older brothers to be perceived that way in the eyes of their younger sisters. And not only was he your big brother, but he was quite accom- plished, scholastically and physically. It’s no wonder you found yourself enamored of him. However, once siblings grow up, the playing field is leveled and they usually find themselves on equal footing, able to connect in a more realistic and balanced way. No longer is one the star while the other acts as his groupie. At long last, there are two individuals who equally respect and admire one another, with a shared desire for closeness. At least, that is what a healthy progression of stages would look like. For some reason, you and George have never adjusted the hierarchy that existed between the two of you, with you being the one in pursuit of his attention. As you put it, you spent your childhood “happy enough to just be in his shadow.” It does- n’t seem as though you’ve made signifi- cant progress from those early years. Or maybe that’s not it at all. Maybe George does now view you as an equal, but there are other reasons why he’s made himself unavailable to you. Your suspicion that his wife may be to blame is always a possibility. But there are numerous other possibilities that could exist that you or I would have no way of knowing about. For instance, it’s possible that George is struggling with some of his own demons and does not feel comfortable socializing much. Maybe he feels that he

Continued on Page 43 40 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 41 ting in the oil-soaked paper towels and they will stay crisper. Tahini sauce is the star accompani- ment to the falafel. It is very quick and simple to make. If the tahini comes in a can, make sure to shake vigorously many times so that the paste becomes the right consistency and will be easily removed from the can. Blend the paste with fresh Falafel: A Global Dish lemon juice, onions, and a little water. The result should be similar to a thin Falafel is the perfect illustration of sometimes added for spice. peanut butter. Israeli cuisine. It can be found everywhere The basic method of mixing, forming, Today it is easy to make the batter around Israel and has also become popu- and frying the falafel balls applies to any using store-bought falafel mixes, but if lar in many other parts of the world. falafel recipe. Unlike other bean fritters, you have a food processor, it is so simple Considered Israel’s national dish, it’s actu- falafel is made from uncooked beans. The to throw the ingredients in and blend to ally a fast-food item served all around the cooking goes best when the chickpeas make an authentic falafel ball that will Middle East. As a main dish, it is served as have been soaked for a full day in plenty send you back to Israel with just one bite. a sandwich, stuffed in pita bread with top- of cold water. You can make falafel with tency of wet breadcrumbs. You can refrig- pings such as lettuce, tomatoes, and tahi- canned beans, but the difference, both in erate the batter to let it settle and make it Falafel ni. As an appetizer, it is served on a salad texture and in taste, is obvious because easier to handle, but it is not necessary. Ingredients: or with hummus and tahini. Falafel is a the cooking of the canned chickpeas Keep a small ice-scream scooper in a cup 1 cup dried chickpeas favorite among vegetarians and non-vege- affects the starch of the beans. Dried of water and dip between forming falafel 1/2 large onion, roughly chopped tarians alike. beans are definitely the way to go. balls to make it easier to remove the balls (about 1 cup) The fried falafel patty, made from There are two keys to making good from the scooper. 2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley ground chickpeas, became popular in falafel. First, keep the amount of water The second essential step is to get the 2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro the early days of the state of Israel, when you use when grinding the beans to an oil hot enough—350°F or a little higher. 1 tsp. salt easy-to-eat street foods lent themselves absolute minimum. More water makes If you don’t have a thermometer, just 1/2–1 tsp. dried hot red pepper (to taste) to the active lifestyles of the immigrants. grinding easier, but it also virtually guar- wait until the oil shimmers and then add 4 cloves garlic Other than the deep-fried factor of the antees that the batter will fall apart when a pinch of the batter. When it sizzles 1 tsp. cumin falafel balls, they are actually quite it hits the hot oil. If this happens, bind the immediately, sinks about halfway to the 1 tsp. baking powder healthy, made with protein-packed remaining mixture by stirring in a little bottom, and then rises to the top, the oil 4–6 Tbsp. flour chickpeas. flour. For this reason, a food processor or is ready. If it sinks and stays down, the oil olive oil or vegetable oil for frying Falafel is generally served in pita very powerful blender is essential so the is too cold. If it doesn’t sink at all, the oil chopped tomato, diced onion, bread with tahini, which is sesame chickpeas can be ground up without is too hot. Once you get the batter and shredded lettuce for garnish paste, or a tahini sauce made from adding water. the oil right, your little patties or balls tahini sauce sesame paste, onion, and lemon juice. The chickpeas will be blended with will brown readily and evenly; they pita bread The Israeli additions to the sandwich are onions, garlic, salt, baking soda, and hot won’t spatter at all. You can drain the Directions: a wide range of accompaniments: pepper flakes and other spices. The bak- falafel balls on paper towels, but it’s bet- Put the chickpeas in a large bowl and chopped peppers, onions, cucumbers, ing soda creates a dry, crispy falafel ball. ter to place them on a rack set over a and tomatoes, with harissa (hot sauce) The falafel batter should have the consis- cookie sheet. This way they are not sit- Continued on Page 44

s xc ROFEH CHOLIM CANCER SOCIETY ”

Invites you to the Eighth Annual RCCS Garden Barbecue

at the home of USHI & SURIE KLEIN 349 Summit Avenue, Cedarhurst, New York

SUNDAY, MAY 23, 2010 – 6:30 PM

SAVE THE DATE

Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society maintains medical insurance on behalf of cancer-stricken patients who lack the financial resources to make policy premium payments while enduring life-sustaining treatments. The existence and maintenance of health insurance grants these patients access to superior healthcare providers and greatly enhances their chance for survival.

42 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES MINDBIZ so that when you pick up the fore very hurtful. Try to remem- Someday, your brother may to show up for him without Continued from Page 40 phone with an invite, you’ll ber that this may have little or surprise you and decide that he judgment or recrimination. assume the answer will be no, nothing to do with you. This needs you, or wants you, or Surely, that would be the ulti- has not achieved as much as he so that on those rare occasions may be all about George’s stuff. misses you and regrets whatever mate display of love. could have, and feels inade- that he actually accepts, you will Keeping that in mind will help it was that kept him away from Esther quate around people who knew be pleasantly surprised. Expect you feel less discouraged and you during a good portion of him when he was a superstar the worst, and be ready for an rejected and will give you the your adult lives. Hopefully, if Esther Mann, LMSW, is a with so much potential. I could occasional happy treat. ability to stay present in and when that time comes, it psychotherapist in Lawrence. Esther can be reached at 516-314-2295 or come up with dozens of I’m sure this piece of your life George’s life, in whatever capac- would be wonderful for the [email protected]. She works with “maybe’s,” but that’s neither feels very personal and there- ity he allows right now. both of you if you could manage individuals, couples, and families. here nor there. The bottom line is that you’ve been trying to cre- ate a reality with George that just isn’t happening, because he’s not letting it happen. Your husband interprets his behavior as being selfish. I’m not so sure. It may appear self- ish to all of you, but so often we really don’t know what’s going on in anyone else’s home. If we did find out, we could be mighty surprised. For all you know, George is hanging by a thread. If you told me that this has been going on for a couple of years, I might suggest that maybe you ought to keep trying for a while longer to connect more meaningfully with him, if you have the patience and ener- gy. But if you’ve been trying to engage him for over 20 years, that’s time enough to know that something serious is going on here and you shouldn’t hold your breath. My advice is that if you want to continue calling George and inviting him and his family over because you love him and feel it’s the right thing to do, then by all means continue on. But don’t do it because you feel that your actions will accomplish what they haven’t been able to accomplish in all this time. I’m encouraging you to protect yourself from disappointment

For the next issue, deadline for reserving ad space is Monday, May 10 at 5:00 P.M.

All graphics for ads must be in by Tuesday, May 11 at 5:00 P.M.

Call 516-984-0079

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 43 Team Ohel Bicyclists Win For Kids

TeamOhel Abe Englard Benjamin Brandwein As part of TeamOhel, 27 cyclists in the TD Bank 5 Boro Bike Tour have enabled hundreds of children with developmental disabilities to attend Ohel Bais Ezra’s many year-round camp programs. Ohel is thankful for the incredible effort of TeamOhel and their sponsors in raising thousands of dollars for Ohel Bais Ezra kids. The Bike Tour was an opportunity for many people to show their appreciation to Ohel for the many services it offers the community. In an e-mail sent after the tour, one sponsor commented to a sponsored rider, “Kol hakavod on your completion of the race. I just want to give you and Ohel a personal thank-you. My sister, a single mom with three autistic children, benefits from Ohel and Bais Ezra in so many ways—the respite help, the special programs for the kids, social worker guidance, and so much more. We are happy to help support such an important organization and I am also pleased to have Ohel in our neighborhood to help those who need their services.” Though the race is over, you can still sponsor any of the 27 TeamOhel runners and help the children of Ohel Bais Ezra attend year-round recreational camps. To find out more, please visit teamohel.org/bikeny.

Fred Schulman, Ohel Board member, and Cindy Schulman.

THE DISH Continued from Page 42 add enough cold water to cover them at least 2 inches. Let soak overnight, then drain. Place the drained, uncooked chick- peas and the onions in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the parsley, cilantro, salt, hot pepper, gar- lic, and cumin. Process until blended but not puréed. Sprinkle in the baking powder and 4 tablespoons of the flour, and pulse. You want to add enough flour so that the dough forms a small ball and no longer sticks to your hands. Turn into a bowl and refrigerate, covered, for a couple of hours. Form the chickpea mixture into balls about the size of walnuts, or use a falafel scoop or a small ice-cream scoop. Heat 3 inches of oil to 350°–375° in a deep pot or wok and fry one ball to test. If it falls apart, add a little flour. Then fry about six balls at once for a few minutes on each side, or until golden brown. Drain on rack over cookie sheet or paper towels. Stuff half a pita with falafel balls and garnishes of your choice, then drizzle with tahini.

Eating quality, delicious meals is easy when all the work is done for you. Hire a personal chef to prepare your dinners, Shabbos meals, or small parties. For more information, contact Take Home Chef personal chef services by calling 516-858- 0215, writing to [email protected], or visiting www.TakeHomeChef.net. 44 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

5TJT Puzzle Page: Yom Yerushalayim

BY YONI GLATT

Across 54. Not well 1. King Cole of music 55. Org. that gives citizens a number 4. Almighty and Lysacek 57. Carry 9. Spielberg hero 61. Wool reel 14. Here we ___! 64. Song of Yerushalayim completed 15. Give (an opinion) after 17-Across 16. The other end from alpha 66. Furious 17. When we regained control of 67. Carlos and Gabbys items 36-Across 68. Rage 19. Like some hills and chips 69. Healthy breakfast choice 20. Loathe 70. “Whole ___ Love” (Led Zeppelin) 21. Flat tire helpers 71. Black mission? 22. Pesticide letters Down 23. Shaitel 1. Recent 2-time NBA MVP 25. Pod product 2. Solo 26. 0 at the Master’s 3. Non-verbal cell phone use 29. Paddle 4. Actress Mendes 32. ___ Moines 5. Took a trip 34. Rest stop 6. CD player brand Solution to this week’s puzzle to appear next week. 35. 5th or Col. 7. Org. with a tournament 36. See 17- Across 8. Start to ena or enity 29. Former city for Senators 53. School group 39. October 9. Former occupier of 36-Across 30. Ancestor to the city of Nov occupants 54. Bit 40. Pool furniture? 10. Leave out 31. Do new work on an old Gemara’s 55. ___lin Temple 41. McCain or Palin org. 11. First name of a Simpsons spine 56. Division 42. Shaped like an egg religious fanatic 33. Torah, e.g. 58. State of Cuyahoga Valley National 43. Dry 12. Seder plate sight 37. Hygienic Spice Park 44. Hero of 17-Across 13. Speak 38. Org. with laws being upheld in 59. Rain delay item 46. Bested 18. Mountain drink Arizona 60. Days before holidays 47. Evil sci-fi computer 22. Respond to allegations, perhaps 39. Eggs 61. Take a load off 48. Torah pointer 24. Lazy 42. Shoot-out option 62. Debate side 49. Work by Chagall 25. Word often said by Randy Jackson 44. Roosevelt Field, for one 63. Cereal morsel 50. Furthermore 26. Fruit for Father’s Day? 45. What we do on most Jewish holidays 64. Cardinals on the scoreboard 51. Everyone 27. Recent cinematic smash 47. 28 Iyar insertion (by some) after 17- 65. When squared, a Gabor 52. Recipe amnt. 28. Abate Across

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 45 KJ Poultry Recipes

Chicken is one of the most adapt- able ingredients on the market. It can be used as a main feature of salads, sandwiches, and soup and tastes deli- cious whether roasted, broiled, or grilled. KJ Poultry has a full product line of chicken, turkey, and deli meats, and is proud to add the “super-kosher” to the chicken trifecta of super-kosher, super-healthy, super-fast. Below are several diverse and deli- cious ways of using boneless skinless chicken breasts as the star of your din- ner party. Dark meat is known for holding up better under heat, so for the slow-cooking recipes, dark chicken cutlets are used.

Asian-Style Chicken With Udon Noodles Udon noodles are a popular staple in Asian supermarkets. A Japanese wheat noodle, udon noodles are low in fat and have complex carbohy- drates for long-lasting energy. Makes four servings Ingredients: 2 tsp olive oil 2 tsp sesame oil 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup shitake mushrooms, sliced thinly 2 cooking onions, sliced thinly 1 tsp fresh ginger, minced (can substitute 1/2 tsp, dried) 1 Tbsp. soy sauce 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes Salt and pepper to taste Directions: Heat the olive and sesame oils and sauté the garlic, mushrooms, and onions until the mushrooms and onions are soft. Add soy sauce and ginger, and cook entire dish for another 20 minutes on low heat, stirring frequently. Prepare udon noodles according to package directions, and drain water. Divide the noodles onto four plates, and spoon chicken dish over each plate. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and serve.

Easy As 1-2-3 Taco Chicken Makes four servings Ingredients: 1 Ortega taco seasoning packet 1 cup water 2 skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes 1 Tbsp. olive oil 1 cooking onion 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced Bagged salad 4 Ortega Taco shells Directions: Take a Ziploc baggie, and pour con- tents of taco seasoning packet inside, along with 1 cup water. Put two thawed chicken breasts inside, seal bag closed, and shake. Put in fridge overnight. Slice garlic and onions, and sauté in olive oil for a few minutes. Pour con- tents of Ziploc bag, including sauce, into the pan, and cook on low heat for 10-12 minutes, stirring often. Let cool a little. Portion bagged salad into four taco shells, and then spoon chicken mix- ture on top. Serve.

46 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Almond Orange Salad With Chicken Makes six servings Ingredients: 3 cups fresh spinach or arugula leaves 1 cup mandarin orange segments 1 red onion, sliced thinly 3/4 cup almonds, lightly toasted 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked and diced 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 1 tsp mustard 1 tsp salt 1 tsp pepper Directions: Place almonds in single layer on rack and toast for ten minutes, check- ing frequently to prevent burning. Toss chicken, red onion, mandarin oranges, and toasted almonds. Place on serving platter of salad leaves. Mix oil, vinegar, mustard, salt, and pepper well. Place both in fridge until ready to serve, then drizzle dressing over salad.

Spicy Barbecue Slow Cooker Chicken Makes six servings Ingredients: 6 boneless skinless dark chicken cutlets 1 and 1/2 cups of hot barbecue sauce 6 Tbsp. olive oil 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper 1 tsp sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce Directions: Place chicken in slow cooker. In a bowl, whisk olive oil, vinegar, garlic, salt, pepper, and sugar together vigorously, and chill for at least ten minutes. Take mixture and stir with barbe- cue sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over chicken, cover, and cook for four hours on high or eight hours on low.

Slow Cooker Chili Chicken Stew Makes eight servings Ingredients: 1 onion, finely diced 1 15 oz. can chili or kidney beans 1 15oz. can black beans 1 15 oz. whole kernel corn, drained 12 oz. dark beer 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce 2 cans diced tomatoes 1 jalapeno or chili pepper, finely chopped 3 skinless boneless dark chicken cutlets Directions: Place all ingredients besides chick- en in slow cooker, stirring to blend together. Place chicken cutlets in mixture, coating evenly. Cook on low for five hours. Remove chicken breasts from stew to cool. Then shred the chicken cutlets and put back into the stew, and continue cooking for up to another two hours.

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 47 Wad, Mount Zion, and Katamoun. He Hagaon Rav Avram Broide In and his son, filmmaker and writer Cedarhurst, April 7–9 Rabbi Avi Schwartz, will recount those This coming Shabbos parashas Behar- events and times. Bechukosai, the town of Cedarhurst will be The Palmach, the spearhead comman- hosting an outstanding Torah scholar from do forces of the Haganah, was originally Eretz Yisrael, Harav Hagaon R. Avram Broide, created to thwart off Rommel’s advances shlita. Rav Broide is a great grandson of the in 1941. After that threat abated, the Alter of Kelm, the son of the former av beis JCC Of The Greater Five Towns This wonderful community event will Palmach went underground to dislodge din of Petach Tikvah, Harav Hershel Broide, Eighth Annual Gala, May 12 take place on Wednesday, May 12, 6:30 the British from the Holy Land. Trained zt’l, and a nephew and talmid of the late rosh One of the community’s most antici- p.m. at the Sephardic Temple, 775 Branch for full-scale war, the Palmach comman- hayeshiva from Hevron, Hagaon Rav pated events, the JCC of the Greater Five Boulevard in Cedarhurst. For more infor- dos demonstrated extraordinary bravery, Simcha Zissel Broide, zt’l. Towns will be honoring four outstanding mation about tickets or sponsorships, skill, and fighting prowess which have Harav Broide is currently the rosh kollel area residents at its eighth annual please visit www.fivetownsjcc.org or call become the stuff of legend. of Kollel Zichron Kelm, an outstanding fundraising dinner. 516-569-6733. Dedicated to moral warfare, endowed institution in Bnei Brak, where Torah and Harrison-Kerr Community Achievement The Jewish Community Center of the with a pioneering spirit and maintaining mussar is learned in depth and every Award: Craig Spatz. Mr. Spatz is a group Greater Five Towns is a beneficiary agency Jewish values, their sense of self-sacrifice month each student is required to submit director and senior vice president at of the United Jewish Appeal (UJA) become part and parcel of Israel. “Our for publication an original Torah thought Signature Bank’s Woodmere office. He is Federation of New York, a member agency motto: we are always ready at your com- as well as a mussar insight that is devel- also president of The Five Towns of the United Way of Long Island, the mand. The Palmach was always ready to oped by the student. What is also unique Community Chest and serves on the board Jewish Community Centers Association, overcome fire and water to save our about this kollel is the fact that everyone of the Hewlett Business Association. and an affiliate of the Five Towns brothers and sisters,” said Mr. Schwartz. must keep their learning regimen seven The New Leadership Award: Dr. Vadim Community Chest. It serves the Jewish pop- Fighting along with such great war- days a week. Rav Broide is also a dayan in Firdman. Dr. Firdman serves on the board ulations of Cedarhurst, East Rockaway, Far riors as Uzi Narkiss, David Elazar, and the highly regarded beis din of Hagaon Rav of directors of the JCC of the Greater Five Rockaway, Hewlett, Inwood, Lawrence, Raful Eitan, Mr. Schwartz distinguished Nisson Karelitz, shlita, and specializes in Towns and came to the United States Lynbrook, Malverne, Valley Stream, West himself in battle. In conjunction with all topics of Even Haezer. He is widely known from the Ukraine as a refugee in 1993. He Hempstead, and Woodmere. O of the shuls of West Hempstead, under and sought after for his wisdom and abili- graduated from the New York University the leadership of the community wide ty to deal with all types of sholom bayis College of Dentistry in 1998 and has a West Hempstead To Honor 1948 Yom Yerushalayim Committee, the issues and has been very successful in practice in Valley Stream and Brooklyn. Palmach War Hero, May 11 event’s organizers, the evening promises repairing many homes torn apart by strife. Spirit Award: Marcia and Morton On May 11, Yom Yerushalayim, the to be an inspiring night as the communi- Rav Broide is also one of the closest con- Engle. Mr. Engle enjoyed a distinguished community of West Hempstead will ty will have an opportunity to hear and fidants of the great gaon, Rav Chaim career in education and joined the profes- honor Palmach commander Mordechai meet the Palmach commander. Kanievski, shlita, and is often called upon to sional staff of Temple Beth El as executive Schwartz, a war hero of the 1948 War of The evening’s event will take place at assist in his activities in regard to the klal. director and is a respected member of the Independence. Mr. Schwartz is an 8:00 p.m., preceded by He is well known to the Lawrence commu- North American Association of Synagogue inductee of Israel’s Palmach Museum, a Minchah/Ma’ariv, at Congregation nity and has many friends and admirers Executives. Mrs. Engle is an author and commander, scout, and fighter in the Anshei Shalom, 472 Hempstead Ave in here. This is his first visit for Shabbos to the poet known for her lifelong passion for elite Portzim unit, of the famed Fourth West Hempstead, NY 11552. Cedarhurst community where he will have study and involvement in Jewish causes. Battalion of the Harel Brigade. Mr. Light refreshments will be served. For the opportunity to share his wisdom and She has worked with bereavement groups Schwartz led troops in Jerusalem’s more information or questions call David Torah with members of the community. He and Holocaust survivors. most ferocious battles such as Bab el Scher at 516-850-1016. O will also be available on Sunday morning

48 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

for people who would like private consulta- communities. Project Extreme uses a tion with him. combination of experiential and intellec- Rav Broide will be a guest at the home tual learning opportunities to provide the of his close yedid, Rav Aryeh Z. Ginzberg social, educational, and emotional sup- for the entire Shabbos. He will be daven- port our teens-in-need require and bene- ing and giving the derashah at Rav fit from. Each of the programs in the Ginzberg’s shul, the Chofetz Chaim Torah Project Extreme portfolio has been Center (7 Derby Avenue, corner of West designed by a multidisciplinary team of Broadway), as well as a shiur before professionals to ensure maximum thera- Minchah. He will be the guest speaker for peutic, social, and positive outcomes. shalosh seudos at Kehillas Beis Yehudah Each of Project Extreme’s programs Tzvi (Rav Feitman’s shul) between undergoes continuous evaluation and Minchah and Ma’ariv. assessment in an effort to constantly pro- On Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., Rav vide the most effective, unique, and rele- Broide will be at Rav Ginzberg’s home at vant programming for teens today. 568 Kensington Place (corner of Oakland For more information regarding MGA Avenue) to answer shailos or for consulta- or any of the other Project Extreme pro- tion in all areas (there will be no pro- grams, please contact Rabbi Josh Zern, gram). The entire community is invited to chief development officer, at 516-612-3922 join in welcoming such an outstanding or [email protected]. O talmid chochom. For more information, please call 516-295-7644. O Kosherica’s Amazing Cruises, Including Jewish Music Project Extreme Scholarship Spectaculars, Make Waves, Breakfast, May 23 August 1–8 Project Extreme will be holding a Following last winter’s highly scholarship breakfast on Sunday morn- acclaimed kosher cruises, including the ing, May 23, at 9:30 a.m., at the home of critically-acclaimed Festival of Jewish Michael and Michelle Edery at 22 Music at Sea, Kosherica is proud to Meadow Lane in Lawrence. The highlight announce the 2010 all-star lineup of of the morning will be Rabbi Eytan kosher cruises. Kosherica is the leading Feiner of the White Shul as the featured organizer of glatt kosher cruises since speaker. Rabbi Feiner, a dynamic and bril- 1995. As always, this year’s Kosherica cruis- liant leader, has quickly earned the es will sail along spectacular coastlines respect not only of his congregants, but and visit places of breathtaking beauty. In the entire community as well. addition to enjoying the natural beauty Fueled by the vision and the generosi- of these sites and the amenities of world- ty of supporters like Michael and class ocean liners, stimulating and Michelle Edery, David and Mattie thought-provoking lectures will be deliv- Weinberg, Moshe and Janine Somerstein, ered by such notable scholars-in-resi- and Berel and Faigie Gelbstein, the com- dence as Rabbi Marvin Hier of the Simon munity will assemble to celebrate the Wiesenthal Center, Rabbi Basel Herring success of Project Extreme programs of the Rabbinical Council of America, and helping teens-at-risk and plan for the Stephen J. Savitsky, president, and Rabbi future. At last year’s breakfast, Janine Steven Weil, executive vice president of Somerstein remarked, “As part of the the Orthodox Union. Jewish people, ‘teens at risk’ are all our Kosherica, which is synonymous with children. We must share the responsibili- delicious, first-rate gourmet food, is ty for their future. We cannot afford to pleased to host internationally-recog- give up on or write off even a single nized Chef Arik Porat of the renowned child.” Dan Arcadia in Herzliya, Israel for the first Michael Edery stated after visiting the time. This year’s Festival of Jewish Music camp, “I am deeply impressed with the at Sea, to take place on August 1–8, will boys’ progress—each boy’s program is once again feature “a dream cast” of developed with sensitivity to both his Jewish musical stars, including Avraham educational and emotional needs. The Fried, Dudu Fisher, Binyamin Helfgot, unique dedication of the Project Extreme Ben Zion Miller, Danny Gildar, and Lipa Staff was extraordinary.” Schmelzer. The cruise, which will sail Rabbi Josh Zern, chief development aboard the luxurious Celebrity Summit, officer, appeals to the community, “In will travel for seven days through Canada order to expand Project Extreme pro- and New England and visit scenic ports grams, we need partners and active sup- along the way, including Portland, ME, porters. Then, we can continue to give and Halifax, Novia Scotia. The scholars-in- these alienated teens a sense of belong- residence for this cruise will be Mr. ing and purpose.” Savitsky and Rabbi Weil. The Miryam Ghermezian Academy, the This cruise opens up a whole new only residential, therapeutic school for world for guests residing in the Northeast Jewish girls-at-risk, has completed their of the United States, as the ship departs first school year with flying colors. MGA from the convenient location of Cape caters to young women who are failing to Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey, just across thrive in our mainstream public or private the river from New York City. Now, pas- schools and who need a warm and nurtur- sengers can drive to their departure port ing environment tailored to their individ- rather than flying, saving time and money. ualized needs. Rabbi A.Y. Weinberg, The full itinerary for 2010 cruise vaca- founder and director of Project Extreme tions offers many wonderful choices. comments, “I am optimistic and confident Specialized excursions are created to that the healing process initiated by the allow the Kosherica guest to visit general new school will help each girl to reach her interest sites along with Jewish interest. potential both academically and socially.” July 25–August 1, Amazing Alaska: fea- Founded in 2001 by Rabbi A.Y. turing Cantor Yaakov Stark and Rabbi Weinberg, Project Extreme provides a Herring. broad array of short and longer term, July 26–August 1, Mediterranean: fea- innovative programming and solutions for Jewish teens-at-risk, their families, and Continued on Page 50 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 49 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS from across socioeconomic, cul- Jewish adolescents from reli- Continued from Page 49 tural, and religious backgrounds. gious homes face particularly The Jewish community is no challenging circumstances. The turing Rabbi Hier (almost sold exception. More and more Jewish religious expectations of their out.) adolescents engage in anti-social, families and communities often August 8–15, Mystical self-destructive behavior. They place excessive pressure on Russia/Baltic Cruise: featuring struggle to cope not only with the them and can create bitterness Cantor Yaakov Motzen and particular challenges of adoles- directed at Judaism. Shame and Rabbi Shlomo Riskin (This cence, but also with some of the fear of rejection discourage cruise has an accredited CME emotionally hurtful phenomena them from admitting a problem medical symposium, limited too often found in modern life: and seeking the help they need. space available.) divorce, domestic violence, verbal This reality is more problematic June 20–27, Amazing Alaska: or physical child abuse, and sexu- for girls than for boys, as girls featuring Rabbi Elazar Muskin, al trauma. face particularly harsh ostracism of Young Israel of Century City. In many adolescents, such for deviant behavior. December 26–January 2, 2011, Netanel Hershtik, Cantor Kosherica cruise, visit events can precipitate confu- As a result, their situations Caribbean: featuring Cantor Benzion Miller, Cantor Yaakov www.kosherica.com or contact sion, anger, and feelings of often deteriorate until the prob- Chaim Adler, Cantor Avi Albrecht, Motzen, Lipa Schmeltzer, Cantor 877-724-5567 or 305-695-2700. O humiliation, low self-esteem, lems become inescapably severe. Cantor Nati Bar Am, Dudu Fisher, Yaakov Stark, Cantor Shuloff, and profound isolation, causing Those who do seek help often Avraham Fried, Cantor Tsodik Cantor Aaron Shifman, and Saving Lives One At A Time pain that often leads to sub- feel that there is no one to turn Greenwald, Cantor Yitzchak Meir Cantor Shlomo Simcha. Contemporary society has stance abuse, eating disorders, to. As a result, the number of at- Helfgot, Cantor Yaakov Lemmer, For more information and to seen an alarming increase in the promiscuity, vandalism, theft, risk adolescents (especially girls) Cantor Naftali Hershtik, Cantor reserve your spot aboard a number of at-risk adolescents and even suicide. in the Orthodox Jewish commu- nity is growing every year. These girls are vulnerable at a critical time that determines the quality of the lives they will lead. If they are to succeed as adults, they must develop self-esteem, which requires resolving emo- tional, familial, educational, and religious issues. That’s why Tzofiah is here to help. “These girls need a residential facility where they can feel accepted and that will genuinely care for them and help them overcome their impulsive behav- ior. Unfortunately, such facilities are scarce. Tzofiah in Israel does fill this crucial gap in services. The Tzofiah staff is knowledge- able and extremely dedicated. For the first time, these girls feel that somebody understands them. I have met some of the Tzofiah alumni who have returned to happy, constructive, and respectable lives. These young women can be helped, but we must overcome our denial and recognize the need,” says Rabbi Dr. Abraham J. Twerski. Tzofiah is a place where young women can transform into their best selves; where they are moti- vated to create, develop, think, examine, and grow; where intelli- gent, sensitive young women can explore—often for the first time—their Jewish heritage on their own terms and take pride in their Jewish identities. Tzofiah gives them the second chance at a quality of life they were denied at home and couldn’t get through any other program. Tzofiah’s unique therapeutic approach provides them with a safe, family environment in Israel where they can make a fresh start. Tzofiah recognizes that each girl is a unique individual and that the best way to achieve success is to recognize and honor that unique individuality. Its highly trained staff of educators, therapists, mentors, and creative directors develop supportive rela- tionships with the girls, tending to all their needs with sensitivity and warmth. O

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AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS sage Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis is at Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner. In assess- Continued from Page 50 its crest. May it be the will of ing the communal need for a Hashem that He accepts all the local option that meets the needs Extraordinary Prayer Rally prayers of Klal Yisrael. of our community for young Held In Tiberius On The Anyone who wishes to have women both returning from Yahrtzeit Of Rabbi Meir prayers recited and candles lit for their year in Eretz Yisrael and Baal Haneis them and their loved ones at an those having just graduated from Two thousand years ago, the upcoming prayer vigil can submit high school, Machon Basya great and holy tanna and mira- their request to the U.S. office of Rochel presents a unique pro- cle worker Rabbi Meir Baal Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis Salant at gram, which offers intellectually Haneis vowed to personally 15 Negba Street, Lakewood, N.J. stimulating and challenging intercede in Heaven on behalf of 08701. They can also call 1-877-772- courses with real life application any person in crisis or distress 5268, or visit www.rabbimeirbaal- in mind. Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner who gave charity to the poor in haneis.com. O stated, “We are looking to Israel in his memory and evoked enhance each young woman’s his name by repeating the age- MBR: New Seminary For commitment to a Torah life as less mantra “Elakah D’Meir Girls Meeting The Needs Of well as her skills in Hebrew textu- Aneini.” Reciting prayers and The Five Towns And al learning, and view each stu- lighting candles at the sacred Rockaways dent as a unique individual with tomb of Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis Machon Basya Rochel has just her own personal talents, strug- on his yahrtzeit, when his holy announced plans to open their gles, and aspirations.” power is at its peak, has for cen- new seminary this fall under the turies brought miraculous salva- leadership of Menaheles Continued on Page 54 tion to thousands of people. This past April 28 was the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis. Throughout the day, thousands of Jews from all over Israel converged on his holy gravesite in the city of Tiberius to offer prayers and supplications in the merit of this wondrous sage. On Wednesday night after midnight, Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis Salant conducted a massive prayer assemblage of prominent rabbanim and roshei yeshiva, to tap in to the miraculous powers of Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis on behalf of all the supporters of the Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis Salant charity. They first recited the entire Sefer Tehillim. Afterwards they lit candles and said special individualized prayers that were submitted by the donors. The holiness of the hour was highly palpable and the charged emo- tions of those assembled reached a deafening crescendo as the final Yehi Ratzon prayer was recit- ed in unison. The holy charity fund Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis Salant was established in 1860 by the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Rabbi Shmuel Salant, with his father-in- law, the great tzadik Rabbi Zundel Salant, to save the poor of Israel from ruin. To this very day, Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis Salant continues to save and comfort thousands of Israel’s poorest and most destitute—orphans, wid- ows, the sick, the aged, the hand- icapped, and other people in unfortunate circumstances. Their charitable activities span diverse programs such as Shabbos and holiday meals distribution, holi- day clothing vouchers, orphan and widow fund, bridal dowry and wedding fund, Passover spe- cial distribution, emergency med- ical crisis fund, housing assis- tance, and many others. Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis Salant conducts these special prayer ral- lies on the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Meir Baal Haneis, on every erev rosh chodesh, and on special occa- sions. At these auspicious times the gates of heaven are wide open and the merit of the holy 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 53 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS sem) Chochmas Nashim learning program Continued from Page 53 in Jerusalem, where she lectured weekly on Tanach. She is currently serving as the MBR has dynamic and talented faculty Rebbetzin of Cong. Kneseth Israel, The and guest lecturers including Dr. Ditza White Shul in Far Rockaway. In addition Berger, Rabbi Eytan Feiner, Mrs. Debbie to her many duties at the shul including Greenblatt, Rebbetzin Tehila Jaeger, Mrs. various classes and lectures, Rebbetzin Elisheva Liss, Mrs. Yocheved Shonek, and Feiner also lectures frequently in schools others who are all dedicated to the growth and to diverse audiences throughout New and development of the MBR talmidos by York, and, in her spare time is a kallah empowering them as ovdei Hashem teacher, helps organize community through course offerings that include events, and cooks gourmet for a constant Machsheves Yisrael, Tanach, and halachah, flow of Shabbos and yom tov guests. She regularly scheduled guest speaker shiurim earned her B.A. in psychology from and the development of meaningful rela- Queens College, a masters degree in spe- tionships that will last a lifetime. cial ed. from Johns Hopkins University, Machon Basya Rochel is seeking stu- and studied in Bnos Chava Seminary in dents striving to maximize their knowl- Israel. Having lived and taught in Israel for edge, awareness, and commitments as close to ten years, the Feiners are now Jewish women at this pivotal time in their concentrating their efforts in adding their lives. An optional mid-year trip to Eretz collective talents, energy, and dynamism Yisrael will also be available and serve as to both the White Shul and the broader an exciting opportunity to spend time New York community. Rebbetzin Feiner drawing inspiration from the people and views her role at Machon Basya Rochel as places in our land of kedushah. Other spe- an exciting opportunity for her to maxi- cial events, the guest speakers, and mize her kochos and feels privileged to be Shabbatonim will further enhance the part of this much needed and very valu- warm and inviting atmosphere that they able venture. experience each day at the seminary. MBR For more information and to request seminary is indeed a place where each girl an application please e-mail feels at home while being close to home. [email protected]. O Menahales Rebbetzin Aviva Feiner brings years of experience at seminaries The Shtiebel Celebrates 40 in Eretz Yisrael, having taught for many Four decades ago, in an aging home years at Sharfman’s Seminary and until located at the northwest corner of West recently a popular teacher and Broadway and Cedarhurst Avenue, chas- mi’chanechet at Tomer Devorah Seminary. sidus was first introduced to the Five She also had various teaching experiences Towns Jewish community. That’s when at Bnos Chava, Darchei Bina, Michlelet Rav Dovid Spiegel, the esteemed Ostrov Esther, and Tikva seminaries and is the co- founder of the highly successful (post- Continued on Page 56

54 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 55

AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Philadelphia, led by Rav Shmuel community mikveh is located adjacent to graphs detailing the pain and suffering of Continued from Page 54 Kamenetzky. Later, in the formative years the shul and is constantly in demand. those that went through the Holocaust. of the Lakewood Yeshiva, Rav Spiegel The upcoming dinner is an opportunity On a recent visit by HAFTR’s 10th grade Kalasheiner Rebbe, and his family relocat- became a close talmid of the venerable to express our collective gratitude to Rav honors Jewish history class, the students ed from Lakewood, New Jersey to rosh yeshiva, Rav Aharon Kotler, zt’l. Rav Dovid and Rebbetzin Devorah Spiegel for were visibly moved by the exhibit. Cedarhurst, Long Island and formed Spiegel’s profound awe and reverence for everything that Congregation Bais Medrash Jonathan Zylberberg, a sophomore at Congregation Bais Medrash. his former rebbeim continues to this day has contributed to the Five Towns Jewish HAFTR noted that, “the images were very The early days of Congregation Bais and can always be easily discerned during community during the past four decades. graphic and I was able to visualize the Medrash or “the Shtiebel” as it has always his weekly drashos and schmussen. May Rav and Rebbetzin Spiegel each enjoy inhumane ways the Jews were treated.” been affectionately known, were definite- Rebbetzin Devorah Spiegel is the good health, mazel and bracha and contin- Students Jordana Mostel and Gabby ly a challenge. As with most young shuls, daughter of Reb Avraham Abba Leifer, zt’l, ue to contribute to the Five Towns commu- Reich added, “It struck us and inspired us funds tended to be very scarce, while new the Pittsburgher Rebbe, scion of the nity for decades to come. O to learn more about this horrendous time bills always seemed to suddenly appear. Nadvorna dynasty. The Pittsburgher was in our history.” At times, even assembling a minyan for renowned for his tzidkus and musical Special Holocaust Exhibit At LHS Rabbi Gedaliah Oppen, principal of davening could be an arduous task. Rav compositions that are sung in Jewish Open To The Entire Community Judaic Studies at HAFTR High School, who Spiegel often relied on his brother-in-law, homes around the globe. His son, the cur- By Bracha Katz accompanied the students, used the Rav Binyomin Kamenetzky, the Rosh rent Pittsburgher Rebbe, has continued in Special Assistant for Community opportunity to teach the important les- Yeshiva of Yeshiva Toras Chaim and the his illustrious father’s path. Rebbetzin Relations, Lawrence Public Schools sons to be learned from the Holocaust and individual most responsible for bringing Spiegel combines a soft-spoken mien Through the efforts of the Lawrence from the exhibit’s powerful visual presen- Rav Spiegel to Cedarhurst, to help pro- with a perspicacious determination. Her Board of Education, the Lawrence School tations: “The Holocaust was among the duce the minimum number of required extraordinary commitment to increasing District is proud to present a special inter- seminal events of the last century,” said men. Yet word began to filter throughout awareness of pertinent halachic issues active Holocaust exhibit—“When Rabbi Oppen. “Not only was the murder of the Five Towns Jewish community about affecting women is often displayed when Humanity Fails” (made possible through a six million innocent Jewish souls among the recent arrival of a young and charis- she discusses these issues at a weekly collaboration with the Afikim Foundation the greatest tragedies in human history, it matic chassidic rebbe from Lakewood. Shabbos shiur for women. (www.whenhumanityfails.com) and with was also the greatest evil ever perpetrated Congregation Bais Medrash soon became Today, Congregation Bais Medrash is a the assistance of Village of Lawrence by man against his fellow man. Its lessons an attractive alternative to many of the thriving shul boasting in excess of two Trustee Michael Fragin). The exhibit fea- are universal and profound. Hatred, dis- more established shuls in the community. hundred members. Many hundreds of tures a series of moving archival photo- crimination, persecution, and cruelty have Numerous individuals have cited Rav others in the community utilize the shul graphs and film footage of the atrocities no place in this world and we must com- Spiegel’s unique background as the pri- in one fashion or another. There are mul- and eventual liberation of the concentra- bat them wherever and whenever they mary reason for his success in appealing to tiple Shabbos and weekday morning tion camps during World War II. appear. This can only be done when we, as the diverse Five Towns Jewish community. Shacharis minyanim, as well as multiple The exhibit, which is located in the the human race, forge bonds of unity and Although of chassidic heritage, Rav Spiegel daily Mincha and Maariv minyanim. Christina Mazzitelli Dance Studio at understanding.” Rabbi Oppen added that spent his younger years learning in some Many different Torah shiurim are avail- Lawrence High School, is now open every only through commemorations such as of America’s greatest non-chassidic yeshiv- able throughout the week and occasional day for visits by high school classes at this “can we assure that the evil that as. His mesivta years were spent at Yeshiva guest shiurim are presented by some of Lawrence High School as well as from pri- occurred in the not too distant past may Torah Voda’as where he quickly became today’s leading Torah personalities. Two vate schools throughout the community. never be repeated.” very close with his rebbe, Rav Avrohom weekday kollelim are active every morn- When visiting the exhibit, students have The exhibit will be open (free of charge) Pam, zt’l. After Yeshiva Torah Voda’as, Rav ing and evening. Torah programs have an opportunity to listen to testimonies to the entire community on the following Spiegel became one of the first talmidim at also been established to meet the expand- from survivors and liberators in addition the newly established Yeshiva of ing needs of our youth. Finally, a beautiful to viewing two videos and many photo- Continued on Page 58

56 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 57 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS that I have received from this community Continued from Page 56 and the appreciation I feel in return. Special thanks to the familes who have gra- two Sundays at the Lawrence High School ciously allowed me to stay in their home in (2 Reilly Road in Cedarhurst): May 9, Jerusalem while I make my trying yearly 2:00–5:00 p.m. and May 16, 2:00–5:00 p.m. journey. Their generosity knows no The exhibit will also be open all day on bounds. Dovid Stern, the instructor from Tuesday, May 11 (Election Day). the Ner Zev karate program which was The exhibit will conclude with a spe- started in Israel in Zev’s memory has cial Holocaust Memorial Concert by the opened his doors to a full program. Lawrence Philharmonic together with the Contact Dovid at [email protected] or community orchestra and a men’s chorus. call 011-972-52-6712711. This event, which is open to the entire This year on Zev’s yahrtzeit, Friday, community, will take place on May 16 at May 7, his friends in Israel will go to Har the Kulanu Fair in Cedarhurst Park. O Hazeitim and daven at his matzeiva. In Jerusalem on Shabbat, May 8, my nephew Missing Zev Friedman and friends at the Mirrer Yeshiva in By Robin Brandes Friedman Jerusalem will be having a shiur in Zev’s As I lifted my pen to begin writing this memory. On Monday, May 10, I will be tribute to my beloved son, Zev, the words sponsoring a special shiur and event at would not come—only my tears fell on to 1:00 p.m. at The Ohel Sara Amen Group the pad. On this fourth yahrtzeit one would located at 2 Forest Lane in Lawrence, think I knew exactly how I felt and how to entrance on Broadway. express those feelings. But for a parent Each year at the yahrtzeit seudah I am who has suffered the loss of a child there surrounded and comforted by family are no words, just immeasurable pain. and close friends of both Zev and I write this article every year so that my myself. May Zev’s neshamah have an son’s memory and the impact that he’s aliyah. I love you all. O had on so many lives will continue to live on in the Five Towns. Zev’s smile, laugh, SAR And SKA Win NCSY JUMP and zest for life will always be with us. Leadership Competition With each passing year I watch Zev’s They were jumping for joy at the friends and peers grow into young men, Salanter-Akiba-Riverdale High School and I feel the pain of what Zev never had (SAR) in the Bronx, and the Stella K. the chance to experience nor I to share. Abraham High School for Girls (SKA) in Even having said that, I am comforted by Hewlett Bay Park when clubs at those his friends’ presence in my life. When two schools were chosen as the winners they greet me with a hug, I have the sense of the “JUMP Challenge,” a leadership of Zev being with me. competition organized by NCSY, the Once again, as I write this, words are inadequate to express the love and support Continued on Page 60

58 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 59 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Continued from Page 58 national youth program of the Orthodox Union. As their reward, both teams were presented with checks by Donald Trump to fund their projects. SAR and SKA came out on top of a com- petition involving seven day schools in the Metropolitan Area: SKA/DRS (divi- sions of the Hebrew Academy of Long Beach), HANC, and HAFTR in Nassau County; Central in Queens; the Yeshivah of Flatbush in Brooklyn; SAR in the Bronx; and Westchester Hebrew High School. JUMP—the Jewish Unity Mentoring Program—was established in the fall of 2006 by Long Island NCSY to provide meaningful and creative chessed (loving kindness) and leadership programs for yeshiva/day schools on Long Island. With the merger of New York, Long Island, and Westchester NCSY into one unit, the competition was extended beyond Long Island, as reflected by this year’s partici- pating schools. According to Rabbi Steven Burg, International Director of NCSY, JUMP represents a new phase in NCSY activi- ties. “NCSY is moving towards a stronger leadership model for day-school teens, and this program is the culmination of that effort,” he said. “The efforts of Rabbi Lightstone and his staff will serve as a guide for NCSY regions throughout North America.” In past years, JUMP clubs went to New Orleans to help rebuild after Katrina and did outreach work in the United States and even in Germany to introduce teens to Jewish observance. This year, what became known as “The Jump Challenge” consisted of two semesters of activities, explained Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone, Director of New York NCSY. “The first semester was given over to weekly leader- ship training seminars in each of the par- ticipating schools; the second consisted of taking the theoretical knowledge learned in the first semester and turning it into practical leadership action.” The schools were required to under- take three competitions: to create a unique chessed event not previously run by their school or community; to design and run an outreach (kiruv) program; and to design, run, and implement a fund- raising strategy to sell pizzas for the Jewish Student Union, a culture club meeting in high schools around the New York area as well as throughout the United States and Canada. Then came the final and greatest chal- lenge, according to Efron Sturmwind, a 2008 graduate of Yeshiva University who is director of JUMP, assisted by Josh Gottesman, who graduated from YU the following year; both have had experience as NCSY advisors in addition to their JUMP activities. “The challenge was to design a unique program/event or organization that would be funded by a select group of business professionals who would judge the competition in one of the most exclu- sive boardrooms in midtown Manhattan—the 25th floor of the General Motors Building.” The judges (and funders) were David M. Friedman and Philip Rosen, both lead- ing attorneys and philanthropists. According to Efron Sturmwind, they involved Mr. Trump in the program because of his interest in community- 60 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES SAR and SKA students with Donald Trump (L-R): Josh Gottesman (SAR Jump coordinator), Coby Greif, Ati Levin, and Shiri Wasserman. building activities. Celebrate Life, to make it as easy as possi- “All of these teens are highly intelligent, ble for high school students to take personable, and, most important, deeply action in helping others. committed to Jewish values and continu- · Central: Every Jewish Girl’s Dream, to ity,” Mr. Friedman said. “We have much to work with girls from foster homes and look forward to with students of this cal- broken homes who dream of their oppor- iber, and NCSY deserves tremendous cred- tunity to relinquish their role as a young it for putting this program together.” Jewish girl and embrace their new role as “I’m extremely proud of these terrific a Jewish woman. and dedicated young people,” Mr. Rosen · DRS: Philanthropy for the Future, to agreed. “Their commitment to change the way the Jewish world views chessed/good deeds is so admirable. Rabbi the giving of tzedakah. Lightstone and his team are doing a mag- After hearing the presentations, the nificent job inculcating great Jewish val- judges deliberated and found they could ues to these boys and girls.” not choose one winner, given the quality Four programs made the first cut: of the projects, so they increased the · SKA: Livelong: A Community Health prize money to two $1,800 payments Awareness Day, to educate children and rather than one for $2,500 and chose the parents about the benefits of living a two schools, SAR and SKA. healthy and more active life. · SAR: Help Someone Else and Continued on Page 62

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 61 AROUND THE FIVE TOWNS Stephanie Leichtung, all of Cedarhurst. Continued from Page 61 Their coach was Elissa Schertz of Lawrence. Then it was off to Mr. Trump’s nearby If you are interested in bringing JUMP office for the presentation. According to your community or your school con- to Rabbi Lightstone, “He assured them tact Rabbi Aryeh Lightstone at light- that with their charisma, bright ideas, [email protected], or visit www.ou.org. O and hard work, they were well on their way to becoming significant leaders in Kulanu 10th Anniversary Founders their own right. Mr. Trump was pleased Breakfast that NCSY had absorbed the ideas and On Sunday, Lag B’omer, May 2, Kulanu competitive spirit practiced by his honored its original founding families organization to inspire and educate with a celebratory 10th anniversary teens today to make a significant founders breakfast. Hosted at the new impact in the world.” Kulanu Center for Special Services in the Representing SAR were Shiri heart of Cedarhurst, over 100 guests were Wasserman of Scarsdale, Ati Levin of treated to tours of the impressive educa- Queens, and Coby Greif of Stamford, CT, tional and therapeutic facility. all juniors. Their coach was Josh Breakfast chairman and original Gottesman. founder, Stuart Wagner, invited guests to Representing SKA, were juniors Rachel take pride in their accomplishment. He Simon, Shira Stavsky, Gila Joseph, and thanked them for investing $10,000

62 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Left to right—Top row: Rabbi Moshe Teitelbaum, Shmully Rosengarten, Geoffrey and Yardena Miller, Mark and Deedee Honigsfeld, Judith and Zoltan Lefkovits, Jay and Malky Spector, Morty Lent, Tammy Friedman, Shalom and Iris Maidenbaum, Les Sterba, Mindy Rosengarten, Alyssa Sterba. Row 2 from top: Doba and Kalman Isaacs, David and Shari Shapiro, Ellen and Manny Haimoff, Jacob and Helen Weichholz, Stephen Fine, David Friedman. Row 3 from top: Stuart Wagner, Sandy Klein, Jan and Ronnie Lipstein, Aviva and David Weber, Irwin Weber, Herb Pasternak, David Pollack, Marty Scharf, David Segal, Mordecai Bluth, Jerry Pinsky, Jeff and Suzanne Schoenfeld, Ira Schorr, Ira Grosser, Irwin and Esther Weber, Kulanu’s Annual Benjamin Brafman, Meir Rosenfeld, Rabbi Kenneth Hain, Ed Stroh, Eugen Gluck, Barbara Weichselbaum, Lisa Zaslowsky, David Zahner, Fair benefactors. This year’s Fair will be Daniel Zaslowsky. Seated: Gusty Blumenthal, Terri Herenstein, Terri Wagner, Esther Weber, Anne Pasternak, Rebecca Klein, Melodie Scharf, held on May 16 at Cedarhurst Park. Peshy Bluth, Jinny Pinsky, Rhoda Miller, Sandra Davidoff, Bonnie Schorr, Lynda Brafman, Donna Stroh, Charlotte Leichtung Zaslowsky. apiece in July 2000 to create a Jewish commitment to craft individualized pro- Beth Sholom, he experienced a moment sion of Kulanu by pledging $10,000 to organization to support families with grams. Kids, like Yaakov, would not have of realization—recognizing that parents be paid over the next five years. All children with special needs in our local to “fit into a box.” Rather, with the help of must bear the unending, exhausting chal- founder renewal circle funds, as the community. Cedarhurst resident Yoel director of social services Jonathan lenge to care for their child with special new campaign was dubbed, will directly Bertram eloquently expressed his grati- Cooper, the box was fashioned to accom- needs. This led to the vision and subse- support the programs and services tude to Kulanu for serving his now five- modate his needs. quent founders campaign to lend the Kulanu families have come to depend year-old son, Yaakov, who at the age of As guests indulged in a delicious break- financial backing to create Kulanu. upon. While paying tribute to the 160 two had lost his leg to a staph infection. fast, Ben Brafman mesmerized the atten- Mark Honigsfeld, Kulanu’s chairman plus original founders, Mark also wel- By providing inclusive programs and serv- dees with early stories of how Kulanu of the board, explained the continued comed and encouraged any new fami- ices such as Sunday activities, holiday was born in his home. A master orator, financial need. Faced with an annual lies who wish to join the founders respite, summer camp, and swimming, Mr. Brafman was overcome with emotion budget of over $3,000,000 and the need renewal circle. Kulanu was giving his son a chance to and simply spoke from his heart. for extensive scholarships to Kulanu To learn more about joining this feel normal—equal to his siblings and Noticing a young boy with cerebral palsy families, he urged the original founders visionary group, please call Mindy K. peers. What makes Kulanu stand out is its being lifted and carried by his mom at to renew their commitment to the mis- Rosengarten at 516-569-3083, ext. 102. O

5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 63

5TJT: How do you do that? growing awareness about the health bene- taking 2,400 IU of vitamin E daily—a dosage EG: I spend a good deal of time follow- fits of supplementing with important vita- potentially harmful to her and to her NutriWorld ing cutting-edge research coming out of mins, minerals, and essential fatty acids unborn child and recommended by a sales- major medical centers around the world. that we don’t get enough of in our diets. woman from a vitamin company. She was Over the years, I’ve also had countless Having said that, there is no question also taking other dietary supplements that B Y 5TJT STAFF hours of conversation with top doctors in that there’s a lot of overspending on nutri- most health care practitioners would con- The Five Towns Jewish Times is proud virtually every specialty from places like tional supplements by people who fall for sider inadvisable for a pregnant woman. to welcome well-known nutritionist the National Institute of Health, a lot of misleading claims. And this is true 5TJT: We’re very excited that you’ve Eliezer Gruber, CN, as a regular contribu- Children’s Hospital Boston, UCLA of people in our own community as well; joined the 5TJT family. Can you give us a tor to the paper. The founder and propri- Medical Center, Sloan-Kettering, and one professional even told me that he’s brief overview of some of the topics you etor of Nutri-Supreme Research, Mr. Stanford Medical School. These conversa- been involved in situations where one will be discussing in the coming weeks? Gruber lectures widely on the role of tions form the basis of many of my nutri- spouse is spending such exorbitant EG: This is an incredibly exciting time nutrition in achieving and maintaining tional recommendations. amounts on unnecessary supplements, it in the world of nutrition and medicine. optimal health. We launch Mr. Gruber’s 5TJT: How do these experts generally actually affected the couple’s shalom bayis. Every day, it seems, there is a medical new bi-weekly column, NutriWorld, with react to your calls? 5TJT: With all the advertising out there, it breakthrough regarding vitamin D’s role in an introductory Q&A. EG: Almost across the board, they’ve would seem that vitamin supplements offer preventing and treating a wide range of 5TJT: You’ve been known to say that appreciated and been responsive to my a quick-fix for whatever ails you. As a nutri- diseases, including cardiovascular disease, your professional mission is to “bridge questions and insights. I would say atti- tionist—and the founder of a vitamin com- many cancers, and even psychiatric condi- the gap between medicine and nutrition.” tudes in the medical world regarding nutri- pany—what are your thoughts on that? tions like depression. Studies are also sup- What does that mean exactly? tion are changing, in general. When doc- EG: I believe—and you might say this porting the effectiveness of omega 3, and Eliezer Gruber: Unlike some practition- tors hear from their patients that they are is my guiding philosophy—that optimal Coenzyme Q10 in combating disease. ers in my field who are against the use of feeling better and stronger because, for physical and emotional well-being are Medical research also has a lot to say drugs, I have great respect for the medical example, they got their vitamin D levels up built on a foundation of proper dietary these days about the importance of diet, profession. And, though I do think med- to where they should be, or that their cho- habits, exercise, sufficient sleep, and exercise, sleep, stress management, and ications are sometimes overprescribed lesterol, triglycerides, and inflammation stress management. so on in boosting our immune systems— and misused, in general I appreciate their markers have been lowered as a result of a 5TJT: So where does supplementation where all disease begins. value in treating disease. nutritional protocol—that’s bound to have come in? In the coming weeks, I’ll be discussing At the same time, I believe that it’s a positive impact on how they view the EG: Vitamin supplementation is essen- new medical breakthrough research in extremely important to identify and relationship between nutrition and health. tial for getting the proper amount of some the field of nutrition and their practical address the underlying, pathological rea- Right now for example, Brigham and very important nutrients into our bodies implications for our own health and the son for disease—whatever it is that made Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical when it’s difficult, or even impossible, to health of our children. O the patient get sick in the first place—and School are beginning a $20 million study, get enough of them from our foods. Eliezer Gruber, CN, educator, researcher, and not just treat the symptoms. And that’s involving no fewer than 20,000 people, 5TJT: Many people take supplements founder/developer of the Nutri-Supreme Research where nutrition and medicine can inter- on the role of vitamin D and Omega-3 without any professional guidance. Do line of supplements—lectures widely on the role of nutrition in achieving and maintaining act for the benefit of the patient—a view fatty acids in the prevention of heart dis- you think that’s an advisable practice? optimal health. Mr. Gruber’s recommendations that many medical experts are beginning ease, stroke, and cancer. EG: I think it’s a practice that can range are based on cutting-edge science and ongoing to acknowledge as well. 5TJT: We understand that the dietary from ineffective to downright unsafe. Not communication with leading medical experts. Nutri-Supreme acts as official nutritional Of course, incorporating that philosophy supplement industry now generates about too long ago, for example, a young woman consultant for Kof-K Kosher Supervision. into my work means that I have to keep $23 billion a year in revenues. To what do in her seventh month of pregnancy came in Readers are invited to e-mail questions to Mr. Gruber at [email protected]. For abreast of scientific findings regarding the you attribute this astounding growth? to see me. She told me that because she was information regarding a nutritional evaluation, role of nutrition in health and disease. EG: Well, there is unquestionably a concerned about varicose veins, she was call 718-853-0644.

64 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Your Ad Could Be Here. Call 516-569-0502

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Cash Fast!! Far Rockaway — 2 Family. All NU, Classic New construction— prices from Oceanside — Brand new construction. $1,000+ Per day 3 over 1 Bdrm, 3 full baths. Great $995K Beautiful CH col. Large 4 BR (1 level), Simply returning phone calls Location ...... $599K Lawrence/ Cedarhurst — 2.5 bths, granite EIK, FDR, den with fp, No selling Call 516-322-3555 New Construction. Grand entry foyer full bsmt, in cul-de-sac, walk all, best Tax codes approved by the IRS price ...... $675K 6BR, CH colonial. w/bsmt. Too much to "My first 72 hours brought me Kew Garden Hills — 3 bed 2.5 bath, lot 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710 mention ...... $1.450M $11,000 and I just started" LeeAnn, size 55X100, 1 car garage attached, full Cedarhurst — New Construction. Housewife, CT finished basement, EIK, Formal Din. Cedarhurst — New construction. First 888-310-3489 www.getcashtoday.me ...... $879K very negotiable 5BR colonial w/bsmt on 175’ deep show. 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Owner motivated, pres- South Shore Estates 516-569-4980 Shifts with men who have develop- building, walk all...... $210K ent all offers...... $550K mental disabilities in a residential 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710 5 Towns Home Realty 516-569-5710 Cedarhurst — Co-op. 2 BR, 2 bths, ele- setting. **Other positions available— vator building, underground parking, Woodmere — Waterfront, spacious 5- Part time Registered Nurse 17.5 House for sale by owner, on a very cute recently updated, new granite kitchen, level split, 6 BR, 5 new bths, new EIK, hrs/wk and Secretary 16hrs/wk. block in Cedarhurst, 3 BR, 1 1/2 Bath, EIK, hardwood floors and A/C throughout, FDR, LR, separate entrance on first Cedarhurst — Seeking full time LR/DR and Finished Basement. Priced to loads of closets, close to all. floor, for mother and daughter, w/per- Senior Weekend counselor, sell. 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Must see, 4br, 2.5bth, ...... $465K driveway, full basement, porch +2 bal- able to work with men who have fam rm, CAC, 2 car garage, large conies, convenient location. Priced to developmental disabilities in a resi- North Woodmere — Decorator’s dream. prop ...... $800sK sell...... $479K dential setting in Lawrence. **Other Ced: Nu2Mkt, 2Fam, 3br/3br, 2fpl, Beautiful bi-level, large granite kosher 2 family 3/3, 4.5 bths, beautiful kosher positions available — Part time deck, all new, grt loc, full bsmt EIK, FDR, large LR, den, 4BR, water- Secretary 16 hrs/wk...... $795K view, all systems, walk all shuls. Price kitchens, parking, full basement. Only **We offer an excellent benefits pack- 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 reduced. Owner motivated. Present all ...... $599K age, including a free health insurance offers. Lawrence — Open house 4/25 12:00 option for full time employees. 5 Towns Homes Realty 516-569-5710 Far Rockaway: Coop, 3Br, 1Bth a.m.-2:00 p.m. 2 Herrick Dr. Apt 3P Lr/Dr, Walk to All ...... $179K Beautiful 2 BR in lovely elevator build- Please call Human Resources at Call 516-322-3555 718-686-3102, fax your resume to ing. Renovated 1.5 baths, EIK, 718-851-6428 or e-mail it to Lawrence — Ours Alone!! Hardwood floors, Master BR suite with Brick, C/H COL, Stately brick, w/old [email protected] Jacuzzi tub. Low maintenance, 2 park- world charm, Hi ceilings, 6Br, 4.5 bths, ing spots, Walk to all ...... $299K Kosher EIK, Lg. FDR, Library, Fin. Great Sales Opportunity Bsmt., Lg Prop., walk all. Call Sherri 516-297-7995 Frum Energy Company looking for 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 Far Rockaway — New to Market. sales agents to enroll customers with Spacious Newly Constructed Town our gas and/or electricity service. Work Lawrence — Wonderful c/h col. house House, 3 Floors, master bedroom suite can be done part time as a substantial on the nicest cul-de-sac there is. Brand w/ Jacuzzi tub. 3.5 bath, Stainless Steel supplemental income or full time. Not new kitchen, finished basement. subject to a specific schedule or hours. Asking ...... $875K Call 516-902-0936 kosher kitchen, Den, lots of closets and Good for an experienced sales person storage, high ceilings and skylights. looking for a new growing industry to Far Rockaway: 2 Fam. All NU Private beach rights ...... $650K get involved with or for an inexperi- 3 over 3 Br. 4Fbth, Dr, Full bsmt Weissman Realty Group, LLC 516-791-6100 enced individual with a drive for sales. All features ...... $779K Enroll your friends and neighbors or Call 516-263-6417 Far Rockaway — Quiet Cul-de-sac off any commercial or residential account Reads Ln. 5 BR 3 Baths New Kitchen & COMMERCIAL REAL throughout the State today. Cedarhust — New house Young contem- Baths. Opt. apt rental. Reduced. For more information please call porary col. high ceilings, large win- Price to sell ...... $799K ESTATE FOR SALE 516-650-6005 718-234-1262 ext. 818 or email dows, bright and light, 4 BR (1 level) [email protected] LR, FDR, large EIK, den, full finished Woodmere/Cedarhurst Oppty! Cedarhurst — Central Ave. corner 1 basement, large fenced yard. Walk all. Seeking middle school teachers in math 12,000 sq. ft. approx. 90’x150’, Colonial, story retail building for sale. 1100 sq. ft. $3000 and SS for all boys’ yeshiva. Good pay, 17 rooms, full bsmt. with hi ceilings, Great location...... $469K warm -atmosphere. Five Towns Realty 516-569-5710 clean 2 car garage plus storage, 6 space Call 917-704-2950 Call 917-742-8909 or 718-969-1000 and/or parking, 2 family, professional use, Cedarhurst: 1st Show fax resume to 718-969-9600 accountant, Esq., medical and/or educa- 1st FLR, FDR, 2BR. 2BTHS Terrace. tional and religious uses. Grand colonial Classified Ads are F/T bookkeeper for Queens health care Views of Gdns, W/D, Lo maint, Grt. with charm and great possibilities. facility. Good pay + benefits payroll loca’n, Walk all ...... $319K Available at once . . . $875K Negotiable Continued on the Next Page. experience a plus contact 718-288-8554 5 TOWN HOMES 516-569-5710 Owner 516-322-3555 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 67 CLASSIFIED ADS Continued from Page 67 FOR RENT FOR RENT FOR RENT

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68 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES FOR RENT MISCELLANEOUS

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5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 69 Solution To Last Week’s 5TJT Puzzle: Lag B’Omer

Puzzle appeared on page 35.

70 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 71 and fleeing to parts unknown leaving few years after, you get your key. what could pass as an archeological site, The first payment is made when the Buying ‘On Paper’ In Israel: not to mention hordes of angry people, contract is signed. Often this is 20% of the in his wake! One such story is enough to entire cost of the new home. ‘What?!’, make anyone shy away from the con- you may exclaim. ‘I get nothing and he Metziyah Or Meshugah? cept of buying on paper. But I’m here to gets one-fifth of my money?’ Well, if you tell you that things have changed, in a are smart, you transfer the money into an BY SIMA MENORA ing a home in a neighborhood you big way. There has been a whole slew of escrow account until the land gets trans- know well. The thought of buying a new laws enacted over the last three ferred into your name. The next pay- A physician, an engineer, and a kablan home in another country can be even years that drastically reduce the risk of ments should coincide with certain (contractor) were discussing who among building milestones, which are contractu- them belonged to the oldest of the three ally agreed upon. Make sure you go with professions represented. The physician a developer that has a proven track record said, “Remember, on the sixth day G-d of not only keeping to his milestones in a took a rib from Adam and fashioned Eve, This way even if the kablan has been timely fashion, but also sticking to his making him the first surgeon. Therefore, stated monetary amounts. If the contrac- medicine is the oldest profession.” overtaken by wanderlust and moved tor believes in his ability to do so he The engineer replied, “But before that, should have no problem inserting a G-d created the heavens and earth from to Guatemala, you know that you clause stating you will be compensated chaos and confusion, so that makes Him with a specific monetary amount should the first engineer. You’d have to agree that the building process take longer than the engineering is an older profession than haven’t lost your investment. agreed timeline. medicine.” Every payment should be secured with Then, the kablan spoke up. “Yes,” he a bank guarantee. This way even if the said, “But who do you think created all of kablan has been overtaken by wanderlust the chaos and confusion?” scarier. And how about buying ‘on spec’? buying on paper. I will show you how and moved to Guatemala, you know that Investing in real estate can be intimi- In Israel? Maybe you have heard a hor- your money will be safe every step of you haven’t lost your investment. dating enough, even if you’re purchas- ror story of a contractor taking money the building process until, and even a When the building process is com- plete, before making your final payment, insist on doing a detailed inspection with the contractor. Go slowly. Turn on all of the faucets to check for water pressure. Open all doors and windows. Look for anything that may signify a problem—a puddle in the center of the living room may be a good thing to discuss. See that the floor feels steady; see-saws belong in the yard. Flush the toilets and check all of the outlets. Don’t worry though—handing over the apartment signifies the beginning of the trial period. Piping is covered for two years. Most components in the flat are covered for the first three years. Cracks in the walls must be fixed within the first five years. Significant peeling of exterior covering—hold your hard hats—is cov- ered for seven years! Biting your nails while handing over your money is a thing of the past. Go with a good developer, bring your friends in so that you already like your new neighbors, and spend your time contemplating light fixtures and carpets and my all-time favorite question of marble versus granite. For a look at an excellent example of a luxury development in Katamon, Jerusalem visit www.Agnon11.co.il. O

Sima Menora is a realtor in Jerusalem specializing in sales of existing homes and new developments. Feel free to call her at 718-989-3939, e-mail [email protected], or, if you happen to be in Wolfson, stop by to say hi!

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72 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES

A Spark Of Zionism As El Al Brings Israelis Home

B Y NOAM BEDEIN ing the news that El Al was operating to Airport at 7 a.m., I felt that there was return stranded Israelis back to Israel, something Biblical in the operation, It was Monday, the eve of Israel’s and subsequently the airline established something like “the wings of eagles.” Independence Day—and the fifth day an emergency information center to As I traveled, I had much time to reflect in the world’s largest aviation crisis receive calls and share information on on the country’s current state and where that paralyzed Europe following a flight location points where Israelis we are today, after 2,000 years of dream- volcanic explosion in Iceland which could verify where to catch a flight back ing of returning to our homeland. left the sky of 23 countries clouded in to Israel. I can honestly say that my experience volcanic dust. El Al sent 15 additional jets to transport this past Israel Independence Day I was left stranded in Holland, but after 20,000 Israelis stuck across Europe in renewed my belief in our state. I am back hearing that El Al had promised to send places including Munich, Madrid, home in S’derot, the world “capital” of more Israeli jets to Europe to collect Barcelona, and Rome. El Al also ensured bomb shelters, with hope in my heart stranded Israelis, I found myself traveling that the same ticket could be used regard- that Zionism is still here and kicking and to Rome, halfway across the European less of the country from which travelers that the Jewish State will continue to continent, by train. were scheduled to fly in Europe, even if stand up for her citizens, both at home the flight from that particular country to and around the world. Israel had been canceled. Thanks to El Al, 20,000 Israelis made it In addition, the El Al crews did an back home in what was truly a reflection amazing job, working over 20 hours non- of the spirit that helped make Israel inde- stop to provide the best quality of servic- pendent 62 years ago. O It was a sort of es in this time of emergency. The flight from Rome to Tel Aviv on Noam Bedein is a photojournalist, lecturer, and April 20 was the best way to begin cele- founder/director of Sderot Media Center. He has ingathering of conducted briefings and tours for government brating 62 years of the State of Israel. officials, diplomats, the foreign press, and the exiles, During the soft landing in Ben Gurion students from around the world. Noam Bedein sponsored and facilitated by El Al.

After 27 hours of a nerve-racking trip, I remained doggedly determined to join the people in Israel in celebra- tion of Israel’s Independence Day. I finally arrived at Terminal 5 in Rome at 11:30 p.m. Much to my amazement, I found a nearly empty terminal, deserted of pas- sengers, aircrafts, and airline employees. Only one ticket counter had a long line of people—and that was, of course, El Al. Exhausted Israelis from all corners of Europe had arrived to board the jumbo plane decked with Israeli flags. El Al specifically sent the plane to gather Israeli travelers and bring them back home to celebrate Independence Day with their families. It was a sort of ingath- ering of the exiles, sponsored and facili- tated by El Al. El Al, Israel’s largest airline, privatized in 2003, serves as the national airline of Israel. It was one of the first airlines—if not the only one—that was able to adjust to a state of emergency in less than 24 hours when airports across Europe were forced to shut down. It is amazing how, every time there is a national disaster or international crisis, Israel is somehow among the first coun- tries to act and lend a hand. As such a tiny country, which since its establishment has existed under constant terror and threat, Israel is constantly in a state of preparedness as well. Zionism still here and kicking. On my way to Rome during the weekend on the train, I heard from many other Israelis that countless airlines on which they had flown did not open emergency centers to instruct passengers how to act during this situation. Israeli media did not stop broadcast- 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 73 A Five Towns Simcha Photos By Ira Thomas Creations

Ariel Dachs, son of Reb Shimon (of Simcha Day Camp fame) and Chani Dachs of Far Rockaway, and a student at Darchei Torah, celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at the White Shul on Monday, May 3. Shloime Dachs Orchestra performed the exciting music with Shloime's unique flair and style.

74 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 75 Chanukas Habayis Of The Agudath Israel Of The Five Towns

B Y PAUL FREEDMAN guarded by our devoted shomrim, who had was covered by a chuppah, as befitting a section of Cedarhurst Avenue and earlier blocked off the entire area. Headed chassan and kallah. Peninsula Boulevard. There, I had the This past Sunday, Jews from all over by Lt. Daniel Gluck, the chaotic scene was Running down the road to the new vantage point of watching as the crowd the Five Towns joined the founders of the supervised in every way. The Sefer itself shul, I stopped, out of breath at the inter- descended into the intersection. First, Agudath Israel for the chanukas habayis there were girls dressed for the day, run- of the shul’s new building. With the out- ning down the street towards me carry- standing help of our local police and aux- ing the Agudath Israel flags. Just at their iliary police, the corner of Peninsula heels, I observed boys whom I had Boulevard and Cedarhurst Avenue was known since they were small, now transformed into a makom simcha. approaching pre-bar mitzvah age, jogging Perhaps this was indeed the true mean- towards the shul with tremendous excite- ing of the Biblical words “Baruch Atta ment and enthusiasm. Finally, the crowd Basadeh; the field that lay barren for gen- itself engulfed Cedarhurst Avenue, erations, now turned into binyan Beis spilling onto Peninsula Boulevard. Mikdash me’at for doros to come. I then proceeded to the second floor of The chanukas habayis and hachnasas the shul. There, from the window next to sefer Torah commenced at the home of my seat I observed the throng of the Andy and Yaffa Goldsmith and their five kehillah crossing Peninsula Boulevard children. The sofer began filling in letters onto Agudah territory. The festivities for early arrivals from 11:00 a.m. with the then became quite sober as the crowd fil- completion of the sefer Torah close to tered into the sanctuary and the speakers 1:00 p.m. began. The animated commencement The ominous clouds of early morning words by the Honorable Andrew Gold- gave way to bright sunshine as the Torah Rabbi Yitzchok Frankel, mara d’asra of Agudath Israel of the Five Towns, and Rabbi Chaim smith, a veteran of the Agudah and the was brought out onto Arlington Road, Dovid Zwiebel, executive vice-president of Agudath Israel of America, carrying the sefer Torah. Master of Ceremonies charged the event. Speaking in a passionate yet measured tone, Judge Goldsmith gave homage to every vital player in the ultimate binyan Beis Mikdash katan. First, he recognized Rabbi Sholom Parnes, the president of the shul. I found it interesting that on the bimah, as Mr. Parnes came to give his vort, both men hugged each other and lifted their heads up, gazing heavenward. This was no sim- ple commemoration. Rav Frankel called it “a true kiddush Hashem.” The next praise was for the mayor of Cedarhurst, the Honorable Andrew Parisi. The stand- ing ovation he received was no doubt well-deserved as he helped the shul secure the needed permits. This man is truly committed to K’lal Yisrael. Judge Goldsmith praised Miki Bleiberg who worked with Jason Teramo, the builder of the shul. The shul owes Jason hakaras hatov for his patience, diligence, and expertise in helping our dream come true. Miki’s parents beamed with happi- ness as he received his recognition as well as two well-earned tickets to Eretz Yisrael. The standing ovation he received evidenced the appreciation of the kehi- lah. Thereafter the podium recognized the Guest of Honor at this year’s dinner, Mr. Ira Gober, who also received a resounding standing ovation and round of applause. Ira, an entrepreneur and CEO of Associated Food stores, endowed the building in the names of his late parents, Anne and Jerome Gober. I had an oppor- tunity to speak to Ira earlier, whom I have known personally for more than 30 years. After he hugged me and welcomed me as a long lost friend he said these words, “I am more than satisfied, I am deeply and truly happy.” Then, Rabbi Chaim Dovid Zweibel of the Agudath Israel of America spoke. He was brief, but his praises of the shul and the development thereof was also signifi- cant. He was truly an emissary of the Agudah when he stated “oz yimalei schok pinu uleshoneinu rinah.” Thereafter, Mr. Sholom Parnes spoke. After discussing the “trailer people” vs. the “non-trailer people,” he brought forth the importance of our chanukas habayis occurring on Lag B’omer. He noted this important chag as marking the end of the petirah of the talmidim of Rabbi Akiva who died 76 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES because they did not behave towards great as the “trailer people” were, that each other in a respectable manner. stage would now become history. Our pre- “Thus,” he continued, “even the slightest cious trailer, which represents so much, deviation from true harmony and peace would soon be a memory. Yet it stands could have disastrous results.” now, for whatever short time left, to Thereafter, Rav Frankel delivered what memorialize all the avodah that we all put can only be phrased as an emotional yet into the binyan habayis. Yet, it was not measured d’var Torah. After acknowledg- just avodah. Now as the new structure ing both his parents and in-laws, the rav looms over the old, we can truly under- gave his hakaras hatov to Hakadosh stand the trailer’s significance. Soon, the Baruch Hu, referring to Him several times Shabbos table will be filled with “trailer as the “Borei Olam.” From the moment Rav stories” that each of us possess. Indeed, as Frankel began, a very special ruach pervad- humble as the trailer was, it remains a sig- ed the room. Not just the ruach of kavod, nificant part of our lives, and after five P h

but one of limud, gifted to the entire kehi- o years of service, it shall now provide for us t o s B lah that yearned for the attributes that the y all a long-lasting memory. I v a n rav always possesses. H As to our new home, we look forward . N o r

Rav Frankel, shlita, related the period m to the next generation of Agudah mem- a when a person is awake to “clarity of pur- n bers, including ourselves, who shall pose”; while when a person is asleep to Rabbi Yitzchok Frankel and Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler reap the benefits of the endless dedica- “the period of incoherence.” “When we tion of the “trailer” generation. As for waken,” he continued, “we realize the clar- coming from such a gadol, the words rang was performed in a leibedik fashion by Zvi myself, I shall never forget watching ity of who we really are.” At that point, the more true than ever. Thereafter, a wonder- Lampert Orchestras. those children, the next “new shul” gen- rav made three significant points: ful collation took place with both hot and What was the strongest message that eration, as they ran toward our new First, he reminded the kehilah of the cold food in the simcha room. The food everyone walked away from this simcha Agudah, down Cedarhurst Avenue with story of the Ponovezher Rav, who built services were supervised meticulously by with? In Koheles, it is written prophetical- such pride. May Hashem bless this hard- his yeshivah gedolah in Bnei Brak. When David Kaye of Supersol of Lawrence, ly, “Dor holech vdor ba,”—a generation dis- working kehillah, and may they grow questioned as to his grandiose vision for while the music both inside and outside appears and a new generation arrives. As meichayil el chayil. O his beis medrash, (which the rav ultimate- ly built) he responded, “I may be dream- ing, but I am not asleep.” Rav Frankel pointed out that the binyan habayis that we all were there to honor was the culmi- nation of the kahal’s “clarity of purpose” realized 13 years ago by its founders. He commended Dovie Chait and Tzippy Chait who began the Agudah. Second, he praised the other rabbis who were sitting in the olam by indicat- ing that these rabbanim and their respec- tive shuls in our community contribute to the ultimate ruchnius of our communi- ty that is the essence of service to the Borei Olam. His near-prophetic words were, “Each shul gives Klal Yisrael a greater kavod to Hakadosh Baruch Hu.” While touching on several points and praising several people, Rabbi Frankel nevertheless never deviated from the most important theme: “all of our kavod today stems from the root that is the berachah of the Borei Olam.” Thereafter, in keeping with his praise for the founders of the Agudah, Rabbi Frankel took a moment to honor the memory of one the shul’s founders, Dr. Jerry Friedman, zt’l. for whom, the shul is named. Dr. Friedman was one of the orig- inal pioneers of the shul. The rav praised him as “a devoted ba’al koreh and ba’al tefillah; a person deeply committed to the binyan of the Agudah, unfortunately taken from us at a young age.” Our rav truly felt that at this moment of simcha, the kahal should give zecher to his kavod, especially in the presence of his beloved father and sister. Finally, to a resounding applause, Rav Frankel concluded his vort by extolling the “label” attributed to our shul by being part of the Agudath Israel. “Being a shul that everyone knows is part of the Agudath Israel of America, we wear a label on our lapel wherever we go.” He made it an important point to state, “We are proud of our label.” This label, the rav concluded, consisted of, “honor for our chachamim, yirat Shamayim, and acharon chaviv, community ideals under the ban- ner of the Torah.” Thereafter, Rav Malkiel Kotler of Lakewood New Jersey concluded the cer- emonies by praising the Agudah as “the center of our lives.” No one disagreed, and 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 77 Organization in 1947, pledging with A Ray Of Light In A Lion’s Den regard to “personal status” issues that “everything possible will be done [to] avoid, Heaven forbid, the splitting of the House of Israel into two.” BY RABBI AVI SHAFRAN chareidi ones), and halachah itself. panelists; my presence wouldn’t change Whatever the yardstick, I argued, if Thus the man’s comment. He saw me any stump speeches. But the opportunity “Jewish State” is to be more than a slogan, “Boy, you’re brave,” said the first fellow as having entered a lion’s den of sorts. But to place some facts and a different per- and all Jews in Israel are to be encompassed to approach me at the table after the sym- it was not bravery that motivated me to spective before a group of people who by one Judaism, something must do the posium. The panel discussion, on Sunday, might not otherwise ever encounter measuring for all. And I made the case for April 25, was the second time in as many them was too important to squander. halachah as the most compelling choice. months that I had made a presentation on The crowd on Sunday was larger than Reasonable people can choose to differ the topic of Jewish religious pluralism in Reasonable people can I had imagined it would be; close to 200 on that, I noted, but I asserted that it must Israel. Back in March, it was a University of people paid an admission fee—modest, indeed be reason, and not disparagement Maryland conference on “Israel as a Jewish choose to differ, but it compared to more conventional boxing or distortion, that imbues the discussion. State.” Sunday’s symposium, sponsored by matches—to listen to us panelists. I was “Characterizing a time-honored and deeply the Institute for Living Judaism and must indeed be reason, the first presenter. Jewish standard as something malevolent Hadassah’s Brooklyn branch, was entitled and not disparagement Admitting at the start that tension is cre- is regrettable. Overheated and incendiary “The State of the Jews in the Jewish State: ated by throwing the monkey wrench of language about ‘human rights’ and a ‘mar- Religious Pluralism in Israel.” or distortion, that religion into the machinery of a liberal riage monopoly’ only serves to stoke ill will In both cases, I was invited to present democracy, I noted that, all the same, for and is grossly misleading.” a point of view rarely heard in such sym- imbues the discussion. Israel to meaningfully aspire to be a Jewish Among other things, I explained that posia, and, by defending Israel’s “religious state, there was no way to avoid establish- the women detained not long ago at the status quo,” I was in fact a conspicuous ing standards for things Jewish, including Kotel Plaza were purposely flouting a minority of one on each panel. Most of marriage, divorce, and conversion. court ruling that their feminist services my fellow panelists were not shy about accept the invitation, nor foolhardiness. I I recounted the history of the “reli- be held at a nearby Kotel site; and that the attacking the Israeli rabbinate and reli- knew I would hear a litany of Orthodox gious status quo,” David Ben-Gurion’s separate-seating buses on some Israeli gious parties, Orthodox Jews (especially evildoing, imagined or real, from other agreement with the Agudath Israel World routes had originally been a private chareidi enterprise but were co-opted by the state’s bus service. I emphasized that the seating arrangement was voluntary, and that anyone preventing a woman from sitting where she wants on those buses is subject to prosecution. And I ended by asserting that one can choose to differ with Israel’s Orthodox without vilifying them or their beliefs. “One can advocate for change of Israel’s marriage laws,” I pleaded, “without charac- terizing the current ones—those of Jewish society from time immemorial—as violat- ing ‘human rights.’ One can argue against separate-seating buses without invoking Rosa Parks and implying that chareidim hate women. One can lobby for different systems of communal standards without holding up young hooligans as representa- tive of the chareidi community, or imply- ing that the ‘ultra-Orthodox’—a pejorative if ever there was one—are ‘taking over.’” And then I sat back to listen to, well, just about all of precisely what I had said we could do without. (No one, thankfully, conjured Rosa Parks.) Still, I was comforted by Mr. “Boy, you’re brave.” Not for that comment, but because he went on to say that he had been struck by the contrast between the heat generat- ed by the others and the light he felt my words had cast. And those who followed him in line (and others still, who accosted my wife and me as we made our getaway) were equally kind and appreciative. Oddly, though, those encouraging words weren’t the high point of the after- noon for me. That would be something that took place during my presentation: I suddenly lost my voice in mid-sentence. Or better, a sound reminiscent of Donald Duck emerged from my mouth. Which caused the moderator, a kind and considerate man, to rush over with a cup of water. I was in fact a little thirsty and so, before drinking, pronounced the traditional blessing: “Blessed are You, Hashem . . . through Whose word every- thing came to be.” Then came the truly memorable moment of the afternoon, a ray of light in its own right: Loudly and in unison, the entire crowd pronounced an unabashed, enthusiastic “Amen.” O

© 2010 Am Echad Resources. Rabbi Shafran is director of public affairs for Agudath Israel of America. 78 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES May 7, 2010 79 80 May 7, 2010 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES