The Jewish Star Independent and original reporting from the Orthodox communities of Long Island

VOL. 8, NO. 52 DECEMBER 25, 2009 | 8 TEVET 5770 www.thejewishstar.com WHO’S THE REAL MIRIAM BUYING BOBOV READINGS FOR TEVET That’s life Chasidic raffles on the internet The Kosher Bookworm Page 2 Page 7 Page 8

I N M Y V I E W Snow fun Sunday if there’s school Monday Grad rate soars Insanity at Lawrence H.S. defense Over 90 percent earn diploma in four years B Y M I C H A E L O R B A C H ship built on knowing the kids could snag well is essential; they don’t feel Who graduates from like they’re a number.” Lawrence High School? The Touretz also credited the answer is almost everyone. school board, whose Orthodox justice The four-year graduation majority remains a source of rate of LHS students has surged contention. In early November, from 76 percent to 90 percent graffiti scrawled on the side of over the last four years. For stu- an LIRR ticket machine in B Y B R U C E T I C K E R dents finishing in five years the Cedarhurst declared that the graduation rate is 98.7 percent. “Damn Orthodox board,” had aveed Haq's intention was to The high school’s dropout rate is “killed our schools.” frighten ...The jury held that just 1.2 percent. “They’ve done good things holding extremist views does not “I think the culture of the for our high school,” Touretz make you insane, but it does ‘N school has changed,” explained asserted. “The construction pro- make you dangerous.' jects — renovations to the gyms, - King County (Wash.) Prosecutor Lawrence High School Principal Dan Satterberg Geoffrey Touretz. “We have athletic fields, the upcoming been able to sustain a sense of renovations to the science lab, With two trials, Naveed Haq could not pride and spirit that carries over new ceilings, new lockers. The snow his second Seattle jury with an insani- to the student body and they better the school looks, not only ty defense. the more pride the students Photo by Christina Daly feel connected to their school. On Dec. 15, after 2 1⁄2 days of delibera- They feel pride, and no matter have, the better they treat the tions, a more prudent jury convicted Haq of A foot of snow blanketed Long Island this past weekend. These young men, took full advan- what they offer to the mix — school. Little things like a bath- aggravated murder and seven other offenses room being renovated or a tage with a snow fight in Cedarhurst Park. Unfortunately for the school-aged, the snow fell whether excellent students, ath- in the murder of Pamela Waechter and the dance studio being put in mean wounding of five other women inside the on a Sunday, in plenty of time to be cleaned up before the first school bell on Monday morn- letes, musicians or artists — whatever they contribute is cele- a lot to the students. It means Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle on July ing. Ah, missed opportunities. 28, 2006. brated. They find the school to we have a future in front of us, Haq is at least the third thug to employ be very inclusive and very much not just a reputation gone by.” the insanity a place that shares and culti- Dr. Asher Mansdorf, a defense after vates their success.” board member, said that the killing or assaulting The numbers are even board’s method was largely ” magine what Jews. All three more striking given the demo- hands-off. I defendants were graphic shift in the school dis- “We’ve empowered our convicted, but Haq trict in recent years. The district administrative team to imple- Adolf Hitler came close to get- Tropper scandal casts pall now draws close to half its stu- ment ideas they find effective, ting away with his could have and we don’t interfere with crimes when the dent body from Inwood; half of done with the first jury dead- the students are black or His- them,” Mansdorf said. locked in June on Orthodox conversions panic; close to a third qualify for The dramatically increased insanity 2008 and the judge the free and reduced lunch pro- graduation rate has been a goal declared a mistrial. B Y M I C H A E L O R B A C H cerning alleged inappropriate behavior on grams. High Schools in the of the Board of Education Acad- defense had he He pleaded not the part of the chairman of the rabbinic com- neighboring Valley Stream and emic Excellence Committee, lived to stand guilty by reason of With the public revelation of Orthodox mittee of the Eternal Jewish Family, Rabbi Hewlett-Woodmere districts which was created during Mans- insanity, which by conversion guru Rabbi Leib Tropper as a Leib Tropper,” said the RCA. “What we have each report graduation rates in dorf’s tenure as president of the legal tradition trial.“ caught-on-tape predator, the Orthodox Jew- heard, if true, violates the fundamental ele- the mid-90’s. board. The current head of the means he could not ments of all that Judaism holds sacred.” committee is board member Dr. distinguish ish community is grappling with a sexual Touretz gives the lion’s Conversions facilitated by Tropper David Sussman. between right and scandal of Madoffian proportion. share of the credit to his faculty. On Monday, the Rabbinical Council of remain valid, said the RCA statement, echo- “They are in the trenches “We’re pleased that we’re wrong. Haq ing a p’sak [halachic ruling] by HaRav believes there is America issued a statement about what the doing the work,” he said. “You doing this well,” Sussman said. Reuven Feinstein, chair of Eternal Jewish “Of course, until you reach nothing wrong with bloggers who broke the story have begun Family’s Halachic Committee. In his own can make it difficult for students killing Jews. calling “Tropper-gate”: statement, Feinstein did not discuss the to fail by not accepting their fail- 100% you always have some- Imagine what Adolf Hitler could have “We are deeply appalled, saddened and accusations against Tropper but said, “The ure, by telling them you believe thing to shoot for.” done with the insanity defense had he lived pained by reports that have reached us con- in them. The kind of relation- to stand trial. In San Francisco a few years See TROPPER, Page 10 See GRAD RATES, Page 9 ago, a defendant who assailed Nobel Prize- winning author and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel was found guilty in spite of using the insanity defense. In March 1994, Lebanese- born Rashid Baz murdered Ari Halberstam, 16, and critically wounded another Jewish The mysterious blue snail teenager in a school vehicle on the Bridge. He exercised his right to claim insan- ity, but a jury compelled him to take respon- Telling the story behind tekhelet sibility for his acts by convicting him. The insanity defense is dangerous. B Y M A L K A E I S E N B E R G Greenspan is the founder tekhelet is similar to the True, this legal instrument is more compli- of P’til Tekhelet, the Associa- grasses by the coast, which is cated than the right-from-wrong standard, It was almost Indiana tion for the Promotion and similar to the blue of the sea, but we have reached the point where a per- Jones and the Quest for the Distribution of Tekhelet in which in turn is similar to the son can be acquitted simply because s/he Holy Snail. , and one of the sky. The sky, the See VIEW, Page 5 Dr. Ari Greenspan, den- men responsible for the resur- explains, is the same color as tist turned explorer, recently gence of the use of the dye. the throne of Hashem. The led a roomful of men and He spoke in the Young Israel snail used for the dye was Bruce S. Ticker blogs on Jewish and gen- women on a verbal trip that of Woodmere as part of its found along the Mediter- eral issues from Philadelphia. He is a for- spanned the coasts of Acco to ongoing adult education ranean coast from Haifa to mer reporter and copy editor for daily Vatican City to the fish mar- series. Tyre. All three members of newspapers in eastern Pennsylvania and is kets of the Rock of Gibraltar Greenberg began with a the snail family exist and all now a municipal employee in Philadel- on a search for tekhelet, short history of the tekhelet. produce the secretion that phia. He can be reached at BTicker@com- Photo by Shlomo Eisenberg Judaism’s legendary blue dye. According to the Talmud, the cast.net. Strings from a tallit colored with tekhelet. See BLUE SNAIL, Page 9

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A 5 N 1 E 1 D PRST R POST A PERMIT G US 11530 NY , City REQUESTED den VICE Gar SER Blvd., CHANGE Endo 2 29467 3 2 The Jewish Star December 25, 2009

B R E A K I N G N E W S School board election moved in Lawrence

Elections for the meat dishwasher go? first.) why it is the way it is, just I’ve received her mail. I’ve Lawrence School Board Dear That’s Life, (Answer: in the meat cabinet. 4. If we are running low respect that this is what you’re received her dry cleaning. I’ve have been moved up one I am the self-declared Not in the pareve cabinet or on an item that is critical to being asked to do, or not do, received many misdirected week to May 12, 2010. Queen of Chelm and will for- any other non-meat cabinet, the smooth running of a busy as the case may be.) phone calls and emails. At one By law, school board ever reign. And just when I for that matter. And please, do household, such as milk, eggs, 6. How can you avoid hav- point, a major institution must elections occur on the think things are becoming nor- not ask me again if the dishes orange juice, grape juice, toilet ing your mother call the police have figured that there could third Tuesday of May, mal and nothing else bizarre in the meat dishwasher are all paper or garbage bags, should and having a squad car sent to not be two people with a statewide, but the third or strange could happen, I meat. Please. I’m begging you wait until there is my house? (Answer: just slightly unusual name in the Tuesday of May, May remember that mine is a life- you.) absolutely nothing left to alert answer the phone when she Five Towns, so they just 18th, is Erev Shavuot. At time appointment. 2. If the box of Ziploc bags the homeowner or should you repeatedly calls you on call dropped me from their records the request of the The following are the new has a picture on the front of a let her know in advance of waiting, even if you do not and we received mail Lawrence Board of Edu- questions I will ask applicants bag being used to store meat, running out? (Answer: tell her want to stop talking to your addressed to her and my hus- cation, the State Com- for the housekeeper position does that mean that the bags before there is nothing left. friend on the other line, so band, as if they were married missioner of Education that will soon be available at may ONLY be used to store She may be really annoyed that mother won’t think that to each other. granted a waiver late my home. All are based on meat? (Answer: No. The man- when you tell her on Friday something bad has happened.) Just recently I had anoth- Tuesday. actual events that have tran- ufacturer is just showing you afternoon that there are only No joke. You can’t make er episode of mistaken identi- spired recently with the house- one way the bag may be used. two garbage bags left.) this stuff up. ty. I had called a local Judaica - Jewish Star Staff keeper I currently have as this It is not the only way it may be 5. If you are specifically Long live the Queen. store to see if they had a par- column goes to press. used because, after all, it is asked to leave on any lights ticular item I was looking for. Questions or comments? 1. This question is remi- only a BAG.) that were left on, on Friday MLW They said they would check E-mail newsroom@ niscent of my son’s math 3. If a child’s school pro- afternoon, should you turn off and I left my name, informing thejewishstar.com homework: If all of the dishes ject is in a shopping bag next all of the lights around the Dear That’s Life, them I would come in to pick in the meat dishwasher are to the front door, should you house before you go to sleep You think it’s easy being a it up if they did in fact have it. meat, and all of the meat dish- throw it away or should you on Friday night? (Answer: No. ‘Miriam Wallach’ in this neigh- I made my way to the es go in the meat cabinet, then first ask what it is? (Answer: Leave the lights alone. Even if borhood? Well, it’s not. In fact, store and went up to the where do the dishes in the ask first. Please, please, ask you don’t get it or understand it can be very confusing. counter. “Hi,” I said, “I’m Miriam Wallach and I spoke to you on the phone.” The guy behind the counter looked at me, perplexed. It seems that when I called, they thought they were talking to the other (or am I ‘the other’ and she’s ‘the real’?) ‘Miriam Wallach’ who also shops at the same store. They didn’t have what I was looking for but it didn’t matter — they didn’t know it was for me anyway. And what would you guess would happen just then? Miriam L. Wallach walked into the store at just that very sec- ond. We all let out a big ‘Oh!’ and then explained to MLW what the fuss was about. Talk about timing! It was like a ‘Miriam Wallach’ convention with both Miriam and me in the store at the same time. This town just isn’t big DOMINO GRANULATED SUGAR enough for the both of us. $2.99 5LB MIRIAM WALLACH REG $4.79 Cedarhurst SNAPPLE TEA ASSRT 64Z $1.99 REG $2.99 If something happened to you “that could only happen around here,” you’ve got to share! Was it funny? Outrageous? Hopefully, it wasn’t too painful. 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SWEDISH MEAT BALLS FRESH GRILLED become the property of The Jewish FRESHEST AND TASTIEST SUSHI IN TOWN! Star. BUY 1 WINNER OF THE BEST SUSHI AWARD! $7.99 LB TUNA KABAB In case you were wondering, GET 1 FREE GIANT VEGETABLE ROLL REG $3.29 EA $5.99 EA Burgers Bar is under the supervision REG $7.99 EA of the Vaad Hakashrus of the Five HOD GOLAN TURKEY $5.95 REG $6.95 DAIRY HOT DOGS ASSRT 1LB WHOLE 9" FRESH PIZZA POTATO KUGEL 1LB Towns and Far Rockaway, and plays 2/$3.00 YELLOWTAIL SCALLION ROLL $2.99 $3.99 music you can find on MLW’s iPod. REG $2.99 $6.95 REG $7.95

LARGE BLACK & WHITE COOKIE PANKO CRUSTED SALMON TUESDAY ONLY $10.99 LB 99¢ REG $1.50 BREADED READY TO CHOCOLATE FUDGE LAYER CAKES HEAT & EAT TILAPIA Engagements REG $13.99 $12.99 $5.99 LB I Engagement of Yaakov Siegal (Chicago, IL) & Shaindy Greenstein (Brooklyn, NY) — Dec. 18, 2009 I Engagement of Miriam Mayers (New Rochelle, NY) & Eli Meltzer (, NY) — Dec. 13, 2009

Birth I Birth of a baby girl to Rise & Aryeh Ciment (West Hempstead) — Dec. 15, 2009

To view entire galleries, please visit www.only 29 3

25 simchas.com 3 The Jewish Star December 25, 2009 3 Caesaria comes to Manhattan Yaakov ’s great show a first at Beacon Theatre

Photos by Baruch Ezagui Legendary composers (top, in vest) and (below) performed with Yaakov Shwekey (top left) at the Beacon Theatre.

B Y M A Y E R F E R T I G

Like championship name- that-tune with a 50-piece orchestra, the audience at the Beacon Theatre's first-ever Jew- ish concert picked out Vehi She'amda in two notes, respond- ing with a swelling roar of applause. They had help, of course. The song's composer, Yonatan Razel, was seated at the piano onstage with Yaakov Shwekey, the star of the evening, at a per- formance billed “From Caesaria to Manhattan.” The name was a reference to Shwekey's “Live in Caesaria” concert in Israel sever- al years ago, where the pair first performed the song as a duet that created a near-overnight sensation in Jewish music. The song came two hours and five minutes into a two-and- a-half-hour show that featured a non-stop parade of first class performances by Shwekey and his “dear friends” — a group called Acheinu, and composers , Yossi Green, Abie Rotenberg and Mr. Razel, each of whom has also has a fairly lengthy resume as a per- former. Yochi Briskman, whose day job is managing Shwekey's burgeoning career, conducted the orchestra. Popular radio host Nachum Segal was the master of ceremonies. Yossi Green marched out in a vest, jokingly muttering to himself about the career acco- lades Shwekey enumerated to introduce him. Rotenberg made a plea for sympathy, telling the audience how his 6:00 a.m. flight from Canada and a subse- quent alternate were cancelled on account of bad weather. He finally arrived at Newark Air- port in a propeller plane an hour before the show, he said, and changed in a cab. “Ready to rehearse?” he asked Shwekey. They performed a set that included three of Rotenberg's Dveikus classics including Habein Yakir Li and Na'ar Hayisi, and Mama Rochel, his modern-day classic that helped make Shwekey famous. The show filled the historic theater at Broadway and West 74th Street on a frigid Sunday night in the aftermath of a seri- ous winter storm. It was a fundraiser for an ad hoc group called United Tzedakah Fund, which consisted of non-profits like JEP of the Five Town's Camp Nageela, NCSY's summer programs, the Israel Solidarity Fund — which supports victims of terrorism in Israel, and raises awareness of Gilad Shalit's con- tinuing imprisonment — day schools in Staten Island and Bergen County, and several other organizations. The concert was conceived and executive produced by Yudi

Zuller of Graphic Dimensions 5156 Press in Brooklyn, the founder 33 of the Israel Solidarity Fund.

Questions or comments? Email [email protected] 4 The Jewish Star December 25, 2009 O P I N I O N

MAYER FERTIG Publisher, Editor-in-Chief MICHAEL ORBACH Assistant Editor Keep an eye on the zealots MALKA EISENBERG, TOVA ROSS Reporters nce again we seem to have proven evidence and reason, that the members of HELENE PARSONS, MAURY WARSHAUER to ourselves that the frum world is Editorial the Lawrence Board of Education, most of Account Executives immune to no problem. This one whom happen to be of the Orthodox RABBI AVI BILLET, ALAN JAY GERBER, MICAH D. HALPERN, is a doozy, unfortunately — a formed — publicly embarrassing numer- community, have malign intentions for RABBI YAKOV HOROWITZ, ADAM NEUSTADTER, DAVID SEI- O prominent practitioner of the holi- ous eminent rabbis and regional rab- the public schools they lead. DEMANN, BARUCH SPIER, YAFFI SPODEK, MIRIAM L. WAL- er-than-thou brand of Judaism caught, binates in North America in the process of Members of that group stand up at LACH, CHANANYA WEISSMAN more or less literally, with his pants consolidating his own power — Tropper public meetings and make statements Contributors down. was privately undermining literally all that more than cross the line to anti- ALYSON GOODMAN Leib Tropper is not the first of this type that he claims to hold holy. His conversa- Semitism. They hurl accusations that the Editorial Designer to be undone in quite so public and tions caught on tape with a woman who board has “ruined” the public schools; I The Jewish Star is an independent community newspaper. All opinions expressed are humiliating a fashion. Televangelist Jim is not his wife make the word hypocrite that decisions are motivated by money solely those of The Jewish Star’s editorial staff or contributing writers. Bakker comes to mind. Tropper is just the ring hollow; it is not nearly descriptive and lowered tax rates alone; that shut- I 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530 first from our community and, we can enough. tered schools are being set aside for (516) 569-4000 E-mail: [email protected] probably all agree that we could have Moderation in all things is a healthy yeshivas. Lawsuits are filed in a steady fax: (516) 569-4942 done without the experience. approach to life; too much of anything is stream. It appears to be never-ending. The Jewish Star is published weekly by the The Jewish Star LLC, 2 Endo Additionally, this case does not just bad for you, parents tell their children. In Finally, there’s some information that Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530. Postmaster send address changes to The add up to one man’s personal failure. other words, the lesson here may be to ought to end it because it definitively puts Jewish Star, 2 Endo Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530. Subscription rates: $36 for Rather, it casts doubt and aspersion on a beware of zealots and be wary of the self- the lie to their accusations. A 98-plus per- 1 year, $60 for 2 years, $72 for 3 years within Nassau County. All other subscrip- matter that is one of the touchiest in righteous. cent high school graduation rate. What tions $54 per year. Newsstand price: $1 . Major Credit Cards accepted. modern Jewish life: the validity of the Speaking of zealots, few in public life possibly could be better for the public Copyright © 2009 The Jewish Star LLC. All rights reserved. conversion process. Even as he publicly in this area have recently been more zeal- schools than an end result dramatically- sought to toughen the standards under ous than the small group of public school improved on this board’s watch? Aren’t Letters which Orthodox conversions are per- parents who continue to claim, against all high school graduates the whole point? Aviva Kopolovitz, Aviva Mansbach, Rebecca Bari, Atara Friedman, Thanks for Lani Stahler Jessica Wernick, I ’ M T H I N K I N G Even settlements that had not really the name for the operation is Ofer- Ayelet Lerman, Shira Gunsberg, been considered “inside” in earlier et Mitzukah. Oferet Mitzukah Chanukah Rachel Simon and their teacher discussions, like Kedumim, Karnei translates to mean cast lead as in To the Editor: Jaclyn Sova who came to join our Reading the map on the wall Shomron, Elkana and Alfei the metal, not lead as in to be the I am writing this letter on Chanukah entertainment, present- It’s called the to the East running north Menashe, were on the Olmert Map. first in line and having everyone behalf of the residents at Wood- ed by Zvi Lampert of Rikud Olmert Map. It is the south. There was also a Olmert just recently made the follow. The name comes from a mere Rehabilitation and Health Orchestra Singers, and Jerry map that then-Prime very small swath just south map public and Abbas has con- line in a poem by Chaim Nachman Care Center. I would like to extend Markovitch. Thank you to Mrs. Minister Ehud Olmert of Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi that firmed that, indeed, this was the Bialik and draws on the image of great appreciation to the many Yaffa Storch for coordinating. proposed and offered runs east west nearly up to document. Abbas has also said that light unto the world emitted by a individuals, groups, schools and Special mention and hakarat Palestinian Authority the Jordan River that he and Olmert were almost at the lead menorah lit at the Kotel.) organizations that have been so hatov goes to the outstanding President Mahmoud would have been part of point of final agreement when Had Abbas accepted the kind as to share their Chanukah young men from DRS High School Abbas. It is the map that the exchange. Israel began the Gaza offensive Olmert Map the Palestinian situa- spirit and joy with our residents. who came each night to light the Abbas chose not to Micah D. Halpern Of course, there are a and then everything was called off. tion and the entire Middle East Having community members Chanukah candles, sing, dance and accept. Olmert was few modifications and Questions abound. The most would be a different place today. come here to sing, dance, light share stories for the residents: offering the Palestinians built in security measures. burning question for me is this: But he did not. He could not. He Mark Bryk, Aryeh Mazel, Shimmy Chanukah candles, party and cele- a very good deal. For example, a safe passage route Why did Abbas wait so long? He did not have the strength to make Hirsch, Ben Frager, Benjamin brate with us tremendously This Olmert Map fully under- from the northeast corner of Gaza Pianko, Binyamin Zwicker, Daniel could have taken Olmert up on the a decision on his own, nor did not enhances the holiday experience stands the new reality of life in the through Israel to Tarqumiya in the deal in September. Everyone was he have the strength to bring the for the residents of this facility. I Katz and Zachy Adler. Thank you Middle East and peace between southwest corner of the West Bank reading the proverbial map on the map to the people, to try and con- cannot thank you enough or tell to Rabbi Eli Brazil for coordinating. Israel and the Palestinians. The would be controlled by Israel. It you how much it is appreciated. And of course I thank any oth- wall and knew the Gaza situation vince them that it was a good deal. Among the many who visited ers who I may have inadvertently principle of the map is based on the would either run underground or was about to explode. Why not The Olmert map is far from during the week were, Kulanu, omitted to name. It is very gratify- ‘67 borders, just as the Palestinians be covered over so that potential seize the moment, sign, settle and perfect. It is, however, a realistic The Morgenstern School, Shu- ing for me to live and work in the have been calling for. In return for terrorists could not simply stop create your state? and equitable response to a very lamith, HAFTR, DRS, SKA, Yeshi- Five Towns community, which significant Jewish settlement areas, their cars, get out and perpetrate I understand why negotia- serious issue. Most Israelis would va of South Shore, Forestview gives so much in so many ways to large swaths of land from within attacks against Israel. tions were stopped in the end of have signed off on it. Most settlers Senior Citizen Center, The Nation- so many people. the 1967 border, land that abuts Incorporated into Israel, as December, what I don’t under- could have lived with it. It’s the al Council of Jewish Woman and the border, would have been incor- part of the Olmert Map, was stand is why they did not happen Palestinians who have the problem. The Rothman Family. LEBA SONNEBERG porated into Palestinian territory. Jerusalem. Also included, some sooner. Or maybe, I do. Micah D. Halpern is a columnist Special mention and “hakarat Director Of Marketing and Most of the land that would would say naturally included, are Operation Cast Lead was the and a social and political commen- hatov” (recognition and apprecia- Community Relations now be Palestinian is in the south every major settlement in the excuse. (Incidentally, there is a tator. Read his latest book THUGS. tion) goes to the lovely young Woodmere Rehabilitation and Health of the West Bank in the Judean Jerusalem area including Ma’aleh major language issue surrounding He maintains The Micah Report at ladies from SKA High School, Care Center Desert. Smaller areas abutted Gaza Adumim, Ariel and Gush Etzion. the operation in Gaza. In Hebrew, www.micahhalpern.com

LEXUS OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE LEXUS OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE

Going on now — for a limited time.

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www.LexusofRVC.com 33 The Jewish Star December 25, 2009 5

F R O M T H E O T H E R S I D E O F T H E B E N C H Middle East, as he told witnesses. to pick and choose among ethnic His shooting spree did not result and religious groups? As JTA IN MY VIEW from a spontaneous explosion of reported, Haq told a 911 operator, Continued from Page One outrage. Reports in The Seattle "I'm not upset at the people. I'm Times and on JTA describe a upset at your foreign policy. These Show me a sign methodical progression of events are Jews. I'm tired of getting believes it is justified to murder It seems as if an Ironically, at times it is details and no detail can be over- someone who belongs to a given which led to the slayings. pushed around and our people overhaul of the the obvious that looked. More often than not, it is minority group. I developed strong doubts getting pushed around by the situ- health care system seems to fall by the the lawyer who has mastered the Among Jewish victims alone, about the insanity defense after ation in the Middle East." will take place in one wayside. details of his case, who emerges the line of reasoning that saved covering criminal trials for daily The Seattle Times reported form or another. The Pharaoh has a victorious. Throwing one's hands Haq the first time could have pro- newspapers. In Lebanon County, these additional comments from PA, a mother claimed religious Haq to the 911 operator: "I want Democrats in the dream of seven skinny up in the air and hoping for the tected the Georgians who lynched motives for attempting to murder these Jews to get out. I don't Senate gathered the cows devouring seven best sometimes works - but not Leo Frank in 1915; the Ku Klux Klan members who slaughtered her children, one by one. The care...just want to make a 60 votes they needed fat cows. He then with enough certainty to make it three civil rights workers in 1964 prosecutor demonstrated that the point...all the media's being con- to prevent a Republi- dreams of seven thin a wise course of action. (two were Jews, one was black); defendant committed the crimes trolled by Jews. I'm sick and tired can filibuster, and to stalks of wheat con- Last Thursday night in Balti- David Seidemann and Lemrick Nelson, who fatally in a meticulous manner, yet the of it...Patch me into CNN." pass another proce- suming seven robust more, MD, I attended the wedding stabbed Yankel Rosenbaum in jury bought her insanity defense. Obviously, he must have dural vote on Tues- stalks of wheat. His of my niece. The wedding was Crown Heights in 1991. It is inherent that anyone drawn on his upbringing and men- day. There's lots of tinkering left to advisers interpret the dreams to beautiful; no detail was over- Pam Waechter, a campaign who commits a crime must be tal-health history to believe it was be done; whatever bill emerges mean that the king would father looked. Hours later I turned our director for the Seattle Federation, mentally unstable. A person in not wrong to kill Jews. Hitler could from the Senate has to be recon- seven daughters and then bury minivan northward, returning to was at least the ninth Jew to be their right mind automatically have exploited this argument. ciled with the House version. those seven daughters. Pharaoh New York to celebrate the engage- murdered in the knows that a criminal act is The prosecution was Then, separate votes need to be rejects that interpretation and ment of another niece. She, her because they were Jews. wrong and recognizes there is methodical in proving how, well, taken in order to pass any pro- instead accepts Joseph's: that the parents, her sister and her hus- Waechter converted to Judaism always a strong chance of getting methodically Haq carried out his posed reforms. It is doubtful that dreams relate to the world econo- band, and the new fiancé spent a when she married years earlier, caught and facing prosecution. plans. JTA reported that Haq President Obama will achieve his my and the world food supply wonderful Shabbos together as we but Haq made no such distinction Nor is it convincing that a went on the Internet two weeks entire wish list but, as they say, symbolized by cows (meat) and got to know this young man we when he entered her building and defendant should be excused for before his shooting spree to change is a comin'. wheat (bread). The interpretation were about to welcome into our killed her because of his anger their acts if they cannot distin- research Jewish organizations. He guish right from wrong or do not got directions to the Federation Not that I think either of my of the king's advisers was rejected family. His interaction with our against Jews. In his first trial run with the understand the nature and quality building from Mapquest. He proposals have a chance of being because its relevance was too dis- family was wonderful and I justice system, so to speak, Haq of their acts. Haq did in fact shoot drove 227 miles from his home in included in the final version of the tant. The king would have to wait believe foreshadowed his behavior lucked out when Superior Court six women, one fatally, even eastern Washington to kill Ms. bill, but here are two changes I at least nine months for any part for the future. But all Shabbos Judge Paris Kallas declared a mis- though he did not believe he was Waechter and injure her col- would like to see. I think that doc- of the dream to come to fruition. long, there was one detail I still trial after a jury deadlocked over wrong to harm these people. leagues. Some were Jewish, some tors should have to reimburse Joseph's interpretation was wanted to see. There was one pre- 14 of 15 charges against him. Haq A defendant's state of mind were not. Along the way, he test- patients for the amount of time relevant immediately, for Egypt sent tense detail that I wished to did not dispute charges that he should be taken into account dur- fired two handguns he brought that the patient spends in the doc- already was in control of an abun- observe in the hope that it would shot Ms. Waechter to death and ing sentencing because such con- with him. To gain entrance into tor's waiting room. The longer the dance of meat and bread. This give me a glimpse of how he seriously wounded five other ditions as emotional duress could the building, he kidnapped a 14- patient waits to see the doctor, the fact was obvious to Pharaoh and would treat my niece in the future. women inside the Federation trigger a person's criminal acts, year-old girl and started firing less the patient pays the doctor. If therefore Joseph's interpretation I saw that detail Saturday building. Haq would have gotten but not the process of determin- when he reached the Federation's past experience is any barometer, resonated with him. night as his parents, brothers and away with murdering a Jew had ing guilt. He shot those six second-floor reception area. this will greatly reduce the overall Don't dreams often refer to extended family joined us for a the entire jury agreed with the women, no question about it. Dayna Klein, who was preg- cost of healthcare. the future, one could legitimately small engagement party. I saw attorney's arguments. In both of his trials, the nant at the time, testified that And while we're on the sub- ask? If so, why would Pharaoh how this young man interacted After the second trial, jurors defense was persuasive in estab- Haq shot her in the arm when she ject of time, the second sweeping automatically reject an interpreta- with and treated his parents and said they were not provided with lishing that Haq suffered from covered her abdomen with her serious mental-health problems, arm to protect her unborn child. change I would like to see imple- tion that spoke of the future? The what I saw brought a smile to my evidence that Haq was insane and which included being on medica- The wound left her without use of mented is a limit on the amount answer can be found in a seem- face and heart. What I saw was a in fact heard taped jailhouse state- ments from Haq that he regretted tion and a history of child abuse; the arm. Klein coaxed him into of time a dentist can set up shop ingly insignificant aspect of the healthy relationship, a health plan none of his acts and was proud to he was a self-proclaimed Muslim talking with 911 operators. Police inside one's mouth. I had such an dream that was relayed by that was not in need of reform. be a martyr, a typical honor for of Pakistani ancestry. Even his officers testified that Haq surren- experience last week. I should've Pharaoh to his advisers and to What I observed were robust Islamic terrorists. Fortunately, background fails to meet stan- dered to police without further known I was going to be at my Joseph. He stated that he was sheaves of wheat and healthy live- jurors dismissed possible argu- dards as a mitigating factor in sen- incident. dentist's mercy for a while when "standing" by the Nile. That seem- stock all pointing to a future life of ments that Haq saw nothing tencing. Haq's reasoning should Haq saw nothing wrong with he ordered dinner for his office ingly insignificant detail connoted happy dreams and an even happi- wrong in killing Jews; a different repulse anyone who is specifically shooting these women because staff and placed a "men working" that whatever this dream symbol- er reality. jury could have seenit differently. concerned with anti-Semitism they were Jews or worked at a sign outside of my mouth. It was ized, was taking place in the pre- To me, it's a no-brainer. A Haq was not mad at the and generally with bigotry. Jewish facility. Such a belief could as if Sarah Palin was standing sent tense. Joseph viewed that young man who enjoys a healthy world but specifically at Jews Haq singled out Jews. Since still help any defendant attain an over my dentist's shoulder encour- with great significance; it pointed relationship, a loving relationship, because of their supposed oppres- when does use of medication or acquittal in the future, and that aging him to "drill, baby, drill." All him to an interpretation that dealt and emotional relationship with sion of his Muslim brethren in the an abusive childhood provoke one endangers all of us. in all, I spent an hour and 15 min- with the present. The king's advi- his parents is well suited to enjoy utes undergoing what could be sors glossed over those words and the same type of relationship with considered enhanced interroga- therefore erred and offered an his wife. This is one detail that tion techniques. By the time my interpretation whose time had not parents should not overlook when dentist was done I had confessed yet come. contemplating a life partner for to crimes not yet committed. The Egyptian king was their child. Truth be told, I had set astute enough to realize that if he myself up for the torture. I saw himself standing in the pre- David Seidemann is a partner ignored a cavity that had been sent while the rest of the dream with the law firm of Seidemann & bothering me for a while. Had I unfolded, then the true interpre- Mermelstein. He can be reached not ignored the obvious the ensu- tation had to deal with the here at (718) 692-1013 and at ing pain might have been limited. and now. The message is in the [email protected]. 5155 33

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Winter Break Special available for rentals beginning December 15 through January 20 25 262 3 3 6 The Jewish Star December 25, 2009 The Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle B Y M A T T G A F F N E Y 57 Sampras rival 22 Dutch cheese 58 Skyscraper part 25 “I ___ you!” (“please!”) 59 ___ out a living 26 Stadium Across 61 Perform better than 27 Book of Ruth character 62 Rain gear 28 The K in DKNY 1 Steven directed him in “Saving 63 Gives the go-ahead 29 Say “todah” Private Ryan” 64 Irving Berlin title word 30 Looks for game 4 Kunitz and Ginsberg 65 Dutch painter Jan 31 Golden-___ (retirees) 9 Prefix with glycerin 66 M following 32 Evans’ partner 14 Radical amazement 33 Genre of some Woody Allen 15 Winning works 16 Ziegfeld’s theater employee Down 41 Gofer’s tasks 17 It may be a fountain 42 Emulated Garfunkel 18 Name in New York hotels 1 Dance variety 43 Healthy snack 19 Bris sounds 2 Had debts 44 Judd Hirsch’s show 20 Site of Machzekei Hadass 3 Deli reading material 46 African drums Synagogue 4 Actor Kevin (“Shark”) 47 Shearson’s partner 23 Rowboat tool 5 Golf club 50 Yiddish for “school” 24 The capital of Denmark? 6 Noted English prep school 51 Despise 25 Site of Beth Elisheva Syna- 7 Author Morrison 52 Roseanne’s are wide gogue 8 Box 53 Blind as ___ 34 British Mandate and Early 9 Scientific centers? 54 “Able was ___ I saw Elba” Statehood 10 Netanyahu or Bamba (noted palindrome) 35 7th century B.C.E. prophet 11 Like Winona Ryder 55 Light element 36 Stravinsky or Sikorsky 12 Oboist’s need 56 Acre’s other name 37 World: prefix 13 M.D.’s workplaces 57 Corn’s home 38 Fled 21 Swamps 60 Weird “ability” 39 One of the Gabors 40 “Lean ___” 42 ___ Domingo Last Week’s Answers 44 London transport 45 Site of Beth B’rith Synagogue 48 Silver of the silver screen 49 ___-Mex food 50 Site of Beth Menachem Syn- agogue

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Email: [email protected] Garden City, NY 11530 The Jewish Star December 25, 2009 7 P A R S H A T V A Y I G A S H Bobov Lotto, online First history lesson B Y M I C H A E L O R B A C H them; most raffles easily bring in $50-$100,000, Trieger estimated. As soon as Paroh what become of his every exile, for better or for The principles of freedom upon At first glance, the internet The generic-ness of the site is learns of the arrival of dreams," became worse, the Jews got comfortable which this country was founded may seem like an unlikely place to important to the three operators. Yosef's family, he prophetic. in their new environment. They — most notably separation of buy a ticket for the $89,000 “Split- “If we have our own website it invites them to return Here too, says enjoyed everything Egypt had to church and state — gave us the the-pot” raffle run by the Bobov would be like us endorsing the to Canaan merely to Netziv, Paroh was offer them — the open space, chance to thrive in a way that chasidic community. internet, and the rabbonim don't bring their father and unaware that his the endless supply of food and throughout history has ultimate- But then again, it would also want that,” said Trieger. “The rab- bonim don't like to have [the inter- families, in order to words "the good of water, the culture. While differ- ly led to persecution or expul- be an unlikely place to buy a ticket net] at home and not to play and settle more perma- Rabbi Avi Billet the land of Egypt will ent rabbinic sources indicate sion from other lands. for the $50,000 Keren Chasanim D' raffle run by the Satmar have fun with. It's very dangerous. nently in Egypt. be available to you," they were ultimately redeemed In a world of parable, how- chasidic community. Even the goyim know it's a danger- "Do not even concern your- was a pre-ordained prophesy: from Egypt because they main- ever, the Jewish people are But then again, the internet ous place.” selves with your vessels/belong- Avraham had been promised tained their names, language experiencing Egypt all over can be an unlikely place altogether. Yankel Fisch, an organizer of ings, for the good of the land of that his children would be and secrets, and guarded them- again. Not in a sense of slavery, “It's not forbidden because the Satmar raffle, said that the Egypt will be available to you." strangers in a strange land, and selves from speaking lashon hara but in the sense that even those everyone allows it for business,” money it raised would go to help (45:20) G-d meant for "all of the good of and protected their wives from things that helped us maintain explained Mordechai Trieger, one Satmar grooms; a long-standing One can assume Paroh was Egypt to be available to them" sins of a sexual nature, it would our identity in Egypt — names, of the men behind tradition in the community. By his referring to the availability of so their stay — even while seem, they were otherwise com- language, clothing, and separa- Jewishraffles.org a site that sells estimate, 90 out of the 200 wed- dings in the Satmar community in Egyptian products, Egyptian enslaved — would never lack pletely assimilated into Egyptian tion from lashon hara and fundraising raffle tickets for the Williamsburg this year would agriculture (which dried up dur- the amenities of Egypt. society — idolaters and all! immorality — are being blurred. chasidic community. The website, which launched this past year, is a receive help from the raffle's sales. ing the famine), Egyptian cul- Nonetheless, it is quite clear In essence, the descent to In many hearts and minds, joint effort by three men from The site does not advertise. ture, Egyptian technology and that the family does not take Egypt was the ultimate paradox. intermarriage is no longer three different chasidic kehillahs: “The thing is, it's not a busi- innovation. Was Paroh indicat- Paroh up on his offer. As they On the one hand, since you don't "rebellion"; it is a fact of life. Bobov, Satmar and Spinke. The ness. If I wanted I could have 30 ing this promise would remain leave Canaan, G-d tells Yaakov trust the host nation's promise to Lack of Hebrew literacy and site is a heimishe affair with a raffles. I'm not making money, I in effect for the duration of the (46:2-4), "Do not be afraid to go completely provide for you, you Jewish knowledge is no longer beige and maroon color scheme. take a certain percentage to keep famine? For the remainder of down to Egypt, for you will bring your own possessions and "because it's not for me"; it is not The majority of tickets to the up the website. No major expens- Yosef's life? For the remainder of become a great nation there. I supplies. On the other hand, even on the radar screen. With raffles are sold in batei es, $1,000 for the whole last year,” Paroh's life? Until such time as will take you down, and I will because you so appreciate the the exception of small commu- and shuls, but “a certain number he said. “It's not the nicest website because of that.” the family would want to leave? also bring you back up from hospitality, you assimilate almost nities, we all dress the same. are sold on the telphone, and then Modernity does have some Indefinitely? there." The next two verses tell completely into the culture, only One can argue it is not even we have a few on the internet,” Trieger said. He’s had buyers from unintentional side effects, however. Netziv points out that us that in addition to their maintaining a minimal smidgen worth opening a lament about London, Switzerland, Belgium and A video made for the Spinke raffle sometimes, Biblical characters entire families, they bring all of your old identity — enough to lashon hara and immorality, Israel. tells the story of the dynasty in Yid- say things with a certain inten- their cattle and property. This is indicate you're "different" within because it will never end. The proceeds of the raffles go dish. The only snag lies in the tion, while their words end up confirmed again at the end of your own circles and in the gen- History has a lot to teach to a variety of causes, from sup- opening music: a popular Christ- having a different meaning. For the chapter (46:32) — "they eral culture, but other nationali- us, and as is often the case, his- porting institutions to helping new- mas tune. example, in 37:20, the brothers brought with them their sheep, ties would not be able to distin- tory does indeed repeat itself. lyweds. Ticket prices range from said, "Let's kill him, and then cattle and all they had." guish between you and your When it is time for the ulti- $5-$25 and feature prizes Questions or comments? we'll see what become of his When leaving home, they host nation. mate redemption, will G-d rec- between $25,000 and $100,000. Contact Michael Orbach at [email protected] dreams." While they were being have no idea how long they will We live in the greatest ognize us at all? The raffles are relatively lucrative cynical, their words "We will see stay in Egypt. As was the case in nation the world has ever seen. and many groups depend on

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T H E K O S H E R B O O K W O R M QUALITY A literary Kaddish for the SPEAKS martyrs of the Holocaust FOR ITSELF A review of relevant literature for the Fast of the Tenth of Tevet According to learned and several essays that I e d u c a t e d recently read by the community, I gedolim Rav Aharon wish to focus Lichtenstein and Rav upon one par- Yehuda Amital, the ticular facet fast of the tenth of that she delved Tevet is a "Yom Kad- into that but your dish Ha-kelali," a Alan Jay Gerber relates to the day to recite kaddish above. for people whose Dr. Sut- date of death, as a result of ton devotes the third the Holocaust, is unknown. chapter, "The 1940/1941 (See http://www.vbm- Soviet Occupation and Its torah.org/archive/10tevet.txt) Impact on the Jewish HELP It is among the most per- Tragedy," to the relation- sistent canards leveled at our ship between Lithuanian people over the past century: Jewry and the indigenous that Jews as a people, and Communist apparatus, as well Judaism as a faith, are in as with the Soviet Communist this area of European as well ter of those on the Aryan side WANTED league with both Communist organization before the Nazi as Jewish history. who observed the persecutions ideology and the international occupation. In a subsection The role that Lithuania of the Jews, the smoke and Communist conspiracy. Noth- called "Lithuania Embraces the plays in the Holocaust era is destruction, and regarded the ing could be further from the Jew=Communist Equation," further related and expanded Jewish victims being incinerat- to truth. While numerous indi- she debunks the excuse of upon in a chapter in another ed therein as just so many viduals over these many years Jewish collaboration with book of a totally different liter- insects, so many bugs. The have sought common cause native Communist and Soviet ary genre, titled, "The Bugs Are authors continue. with Communists, they did so forces used by the Nazis and Burning" [Devora Publishing, "The bugs are burning, as errant members of our faith the home grown Lithuanian 2009], authored by two Five provides clarity and insight who in no way represent our fascists to effectuate one of the Towns physicians, Dr. Sheldon into how many locals respond- SELL IT Hersh and Dr. Robert Wolf. ed to the destruction of their beliefs and ideals. Commu- most horrific and efficient nism is an ideology based Holocaust-related operations This book explains the Jewish countryman. This chill- upon deceit, murder and a during that era, resulting in role of East Europeans in the ing disdain for Jewish life is studied disbelief in G-d. Noth- the almost total annihilation of exploitation, subjugation and not that of an isolated, unbal- ing in the Jewish faith is in Lithuanian Jewry. murder of their Jewish neigh- anced hatemonger, but is rep- sync with so wretched a way The research employed in bors during the Holocaust. If resentative, in fact, of a con- of thinking. Yet, the myth per- this effort by the author is this theme sounds familiar, it viction shared by many in sists. These claims have been most impressive especially is. The subject was treated in Europe whose collaboration uttered both by those who when one considers the fact great scholarly detail 13 years with Nazi Germany was criti- knew better, and by those who that she utilized primary ago in a book by Daniel Gold- cal for the successful annihila- out of malice or ignorance sources to prove her most hagen titled, "Hitler's Willing tion of millions." repeated lies as an excuse to valuable point, that the aver- Executioners." "Bugs" is a vari- This work details the col- seeks sale deprive us of our basic civil age Jew was innocent of these ation on the theme, elaborat- lusion of hate and murder that rights, our property and, ulti- lies, and in fact, that Lithuan- ing in greater, more human was perpetrated in Lithuania, mately, our lives. ian Jewry was both ideologi- terms, the tragedy that found Latvia, Ukraine, Hungary, representatives Recently, a book was pub- cally and programmatically neighbors murdering neigh- Romania, Slovakia and Croat- lished entitled, "The Massacre very far from the Soviet orga- bors out of racist and bigoted ia, Poland, and even, after the of the Jews of Lithuania" [Gef- nizational orbit. In other spite. The weird title of this war, in such places as at the fen Publishing House, 2008] words, the Jews of Lithuania book is related directly to this Kielce pogrom in 1946 — the for lucrative by Dr. Karen Sutton of Touro were far more loyal and patri- tragic circumstance, and is murders of Jews returning College in New York. Aside otic Lithuanians than their explained by the authors at from the Holocaust by their from her excellent description Christian compatriots. the very outset. former Polish neighbors. territories in of the horrid panorama of the This assessment by Dr. "'The Bugs Are Burning' For anyone who will be Holocaust in the Baltic state of Sutton makes this what I con- was deliberately chosen as the reciting Kaddish this coming Lithuania, and the complete sider to be a valuable and long- most fitting title for our Sunday, Asara B'Tevet, this NYC and destruction of its gifted, pious, overdue piece of scholarship in study...[it] epitomizes a perva- book would be a most appro- sive anti-Jewish mindset that priate reading experience long predated the rise of before, during or after the fast. Nassau County National Socialism It would also make a great in Germany and addition to the libraries of our which helps explain area middle and high schools, how the local citi- both public and private. As zenry not only toler- quality history and as litera- ated, but eagerly par- ture, it would be of benefit to ticipated in the mur- children of all people of good der of Jewish neigh- will, especially at this time of • Salary, bors," Hersh and Wolf year. wrote. When considering "The The authors explain Bugs Are Burning," kindly commission further that this term in please make note of the follow- the book's title had its ing: chapter one, titled "Premo- genesis of use by War- nitions," will prove to be one of saw ghetto historian, Dr. the most haunting pieces of lit- & benefits Emmanuel Ringelblum erature on this subject that you Hy"d who related this have ever read. The use of his- term to the bigoted chat- torical references and events is • Family-friendly towering and most enlighten- ing. The context will prove to be a bit discomforting. environment For additional reading on the spiritual aspects on the Holocaust, may I suggest that • Paid Jewish you explore Rabbi Dr. David Weiss Halivni's "Breaking The Tablets: Jewish Theology After the Shoah"[Rowman & Little- holidays field, 2007] wherein he, a Holocaust survivor himself from Sighet, details his spiritu- • Full- or part- al take on his views of prayer and Jewish living, both as a survivor, a witness and as an time positions observant Jew. I wish to conclude with a brief personal reflection and available review of a recently issued translation into English of a classic Chasidic discourse first delivered by Rav Menachem • Cell phone and Mendel Schneerson zt"l, on the eve of the fast of the Tenth of Tevet in 1977. car required "The Path To Selflessness" [Kehot Publishing Society, 2009] goes to the heart of Jewish destiny and the themes that we will experience both this coming Sunday and in next week's parsha, Vayechi, of Jacob's blessings to his sons. Email resume to The rebbe details his interpre- tations of the deeper than lit-

49 eral meaning of the Bible's text 3 4 and points to us in an uncanny [email protected] 33 manner the future that the Almighty holds out as our des- tiny. This is one sefer that one should keep close to your Sid- 47 3 dur and Chumash this coming 25 3 week. It should give you some comfort, especially given the events affecting us daily here No phone calls, please and in Eretz Yisrael. The Jewish Star December 25, 2009 9

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Attend YU, no charge It’s really almost like winning the lottery: a Herzberg and Mr. Ira J. Schildkraut. RADIO: TV: tuition-free four years at Yeshiva University. 19 HAFTR, HANC, Mesivta Yesodei Yeshurun, SATURDAY NIGHTS local students have won that privilege, according Mesivta Ateres Yaakov, North Shore Hebrew SUNDAYS 11PM – MIDNIGHT to YU. Five young men from DRS will attend Academy and Yeshiva of Far Rockaway all have 12 MIDNIGHT – 2 AM WRNN. CH. 48 METRO NY Yeshiva College at no charge, if they so choose, as one big winner apiece. A student from West WMCA 570 AM STATIONS INCLUDE: will three young women who currently attend Hempstead who attends MTA is also an all- SKA. expenses paid scholarship winner. MON- THURS CABLEVISION CH. 19 Four students from Rambam Mesivta have 9 PM – 10 PM TIME WARNER CH. 91 also scored a four-year-long free ride to Washing- —Jewish Star Staff WSNR 620 AM RCN CH. 16 ton Heights. They are pictured above with their FIOS teachers and administrators, from left: Rabbi Questions or comments? Yotav Eliach, Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, Jacob Email [email protected] SUNDAYS 8AM, 12NOON & 6PM DIRECT TV. CH. 62 Bernstein, Gavi Novick, Jonathan Drory, Shmuel THURSDAYS 8PM DISH TV CH. 8116 JLTV NATIONWIDE (Including) TIME WARNER NY CHANNEL 120 DIRECT TV Channel 366 THE MYSTERIOUS BLUE SNAIL TIME WARNER’S CA (including L.A.) Ch.177 Continued from Page One Greenspan found the snail online: www.jltv.com but was unable to harvest it in SUNDAYS 9-10AM 3-4PM creates the blue dye of tekhelet meaningful quantities, since it is FRIDAYS 11AM 12NOON and the purple of argamon. protected under Israeli law. Many archeological sites along Greenspan’s adventures contin- TIME WARNER MANHATTAN CH. 35 the Mediterranean have evi- ued with a call to a French fish Other TALKLINE COMMUNICATIONS SHOWS: dence of the dyeing process market, a visit to Spain and final- including large fields deep with ly to Croatia where he found a MON-THU 7PM - 1AM WSNR 620 AM snail shells and dye remnants. source of snails. Greenspan also SAT NIGHTS 10PM - 3AM WMCA 570 AM Much of the dye in visited the Vatican to see if gar- SUN NIGHTS 12MID - 1 AM WSNR 620 AM Solomon’s time came from ments worn by popes in the Mid- Tyre, and coins from the city dle Ages had tekhelet on them, SUNDAYS 2PM - 5PM • FRIDAYS 8 am - NOON have an image of the snail on as suggested by the Rambam — TIME WARNER MANHATTAN CH.35 them. After the destruction of though any remnant of the dye For more information on all of Talkine’s radio & TV programs contact: the Second Temple, when many had decayed centuries before he Jews left Israel, Rome made it arrived. The Vatican did have a illegal to wear tekhelet, reserv- poster describing the dye from ing the color for Caesar and the mollusk. other political dignitaries. The The process of creating the Photo by Malka Eisenberg dye became difficult to obtain dye involves catching the murex Dr. Ari Greenspan, founder of P’til 212-7691925 and by the fourth century CE trunculus, breaking its shell and Tekhelet, at YI of Woodmere. 1-866-JEWISH RADIO

was almost completely unavail- removing a white gland. The 311017 able. fluid from the gland is clear and [email protected] In the 1800’s the Radzyner colorless but when exposed to and Rabbi Hershel Schachter Listen Online Anytime: Talklinecommunications.com Rebbe, Rabbi Gershon Henoch light transforms to yellow, then wear tekhelet. Rabbi Lichten- Leiner, set out to determine the green, then blue then deep pur- stein does not since Rav source of tekhelet on his own; ple. The fluid is air-dried into a [Joseph B.] Soloveitchik did not he focused on the cuttlefish, a powder then added to water; a support doing so at the time,” squid that secretes an ink-like process that Greenspan demon- Greenspan said. substance. Leiner had difficulty strated during his lecture. Greenspan noted that a FIND A SUMMER CAMP producing the dye and enlisted In ancient times lye was fake tekhelet from the indigo the aid of a chemist. Ten thou- used to make the dye basic; plant, used in the time of the sand of his followers began Greenspan uses another chemi- Mishna, is the same color and is wearing the blue threads on cal. Old urine was used as a chemically identical to the their tzitzit. reducing agent and in ancient snail-based dye, though the In 1913, Rabbi Isaac Her- times collecting urine was a snail-based dye has two extra zog, Chief Rabbi of Ireland and major part of the dyeing indus- bromides from which argamon later Chief Rabbi of Israel, try. After adding some acid to is derived. Only the animal- wrote a doctoral thesis on make the dye less basic, based color is halachically per- Hebrew Porphyrology (the Greenspan submerged a wad of missible for tzitzit. study of purple). When he test- wool in the liquid and let it sit a Greenspan concluded the ed the Radzyner dye he discov- while. When he removed the lecture by explaining that peo- ered that it was a synthetic dye, wool, the color changed quickly ple’s perception of color and known as Prussian Blue. He to purplish-blue argamon. wavelengths is measured in realized that the murex truncu- Greenspan said that they’d acci- nanometers. Color absorbs cer- lus was probably the tekhelet. dentally discovered the blue tain wavelengths of light and Much of the Radzyner chas- tekhelet color when the dye reflects back certain wave- sidus was wiped out in the bath was left in the sun; the lengths — we perceive the Shoah, but Rabbi Herzog dye turned wool blue rather reflected wavelengths as the passed his records of the dye than purple. color of the object, measured in process on to the surviving cha- The current Ashkenazi nanometers. sidim in Israel. method for tying tzitzit, The tekhelet molecule About 18 years ago, not Greenspan explained, is in absorbs light at 613 nanome- long after he made aliyah, memory of the way it was done ters, the number of the mitzvot als Greenspan went scuba diving when we had tekhelet. The in the Torah. Free Advice & Referr with other colleagues to search Rambam says that only one half More information is avail- for the snail. of one string should be blue, the able at www.tekhelet.com. “It was an adventure,” he Ryvid holds one of four, and said. “We didn’t know we’d be Rabeinu Tam two of four Questions or comments? Email re-instituting the ability to wear strings. Malka Eisenberg at news- tekhelet.” “Rabbi Dr. Moshe Tendler [email protected]

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resignation of Rabbi Tropper in no way casts any cloud over the Exciting news about validity of any conversion per- formed by a Bais Din affiliated with or supported by EJF.” Speaking to a reporter by telephone on Tuesday after- Leib Tropper in an undated photo. noon, Rabbi Barry Freundel, chairman of the Geirus Policy dox rabbis and solidified his own and Standards Committee of the position as the go-to person for RCA, called himself “appalled” Orthodox conversions. In 2006, by the allegations. rejecting long-standing Halachic “It’s basically someone in a practice, Tropper retroactively position of power taking advan- voided a woman’s conversion tage of someone in a much because she was seen wearing weaker position; that has hap- pants in public. pened in many walks of life.” Tropper recently had a very The Rabbinical Council has public break with one of the internal mechanisms designed backers of EJF, industrial billion- to prevent similar abuses, he aire Guma Aguiar, who accused Tropper of misappropriating We’re spreading out! said. “I can’t swear nothing like this can happen but I can tell funds intended for the organiza- you, the way we set it up, you tion. He currently is suing Trop- have a sponsoring rabbi and the per for millions. Tropper has court that works with them, the denied the accusations and committee, the Beis Din of claimed the Aguiar assaulted America; you have a whole him. series of individuals. It doesn’t A former business associate flow through one person and it’s of Tropper shared a recollection ar not one person in control.” with a reporter that could shed 10 The Jewish St Tropper’s fall from grace light on how Tropper managed Early in 20 was meteoric, occurring over the to accumulate so much power in span of a few days. The founder the world of Orthodox conver- of the Monsey-based Eternal sions: payoffs, he claims. Jewish Family organization “They do pay off rabbonim will become available in announced his resignation on large sums of money. Like in the December 12. It had taken effect hundreds of thousands of dol- two days prior. Soon, bloggers lars. These rabbonim, for what x neighborhoods began posting links to recordings it’s worth, this should be looked Orthodo of conversations Tropper speak- into in general. They accept a ing with a woman who was con- stipend for their haskamah ork City verting, Sharon Orand, of Flori- [approbation], I have a big across New Y da. The tapes explicitly detail an name give me money and I’ll intimate relationship between endorse you. It doesn’t sound the two, as well as intimate right and not what a rav should activities that apparently also be doing.” included Tropper’s wife. All mention of Tropper has Tropper has been at the been scrubbed from the EJF eek center of previous controversies, website. It was initially ch w though none of this magnitude announced that HaRav Elya Ber Read the Star ea or so destructive to himself, per- Wachtfogel, Rosh Yeshiva of the sonally. As an individual he was Yeshiva of South Fallsburg, ginal responsible for pushing for a would assume Tropper’s respon- rabbinic ban on the work of sibilities at EJF, but he denied for a great mix of fresh and ori Rabbi Natan Slifkin, known as that and several days later it the “Zoo Rabbi,” who has writ- was announced that Rabbi ble ten books that cite halachic Chaim Blum would be the inter- atures not availa sources for evolution. Rabbi im director of the organization. news and fe Slifkin declined to comment for An anti-lashon hora group this article. As head of Eternal run by Tropper in midtown wish publication Jewish Family, Tropper sought to Manhattan was profiled in the in any other Je create a unified conversion stan- New York Times in 1999. dard in the United States and “In the beginning of the Israel, which cast doubt on con- Torah, Adam blames Eve, and versions performed by a number Eve blames the serpent,” Tropper of prominent American Ortho- was reported to have said, “and it has never stopped since then.” sletter Sign up for our weekly new #1 For Birthday Parties Send an email with the me up” The Nation’s First Healthy subject line “sign Lifestyle Center Just For Kids NEW FOR FALL: ZUMBA • Aerobic/Kickboxing • Nutrition Workshops wishstar.com • Energetic 45-minute • Jump Rope Supervised Circuit Training • Ballet to mfertig@theje • Hip-Hop Fitness Classes • Sports Agility NOW AVAILABLE! 90 Minutes Mommy & Me Classes $ of Birthday Call for Details 20 OFF Fun! birthday party! Fitness-Related Activities • Relay Challenge Circuits/Obstacle Course & More Not valid with any other offer. Exp. 12/31/09

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