$1.00 WWW.5TJT.COM VOL. 7 NO. 24 26 ADAR 5767 hsuep-kvehu ,arp MARCH 16, 2007 INSIDE FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK A CONSTRUCTIVE MOMENT Ultimate Commuter BY LARRY GORDON Danny Block 20 MindBiz Esther Mann, LMSW 38 Another Peace Plan On Our Toes About five weeks ago, I was noticed MK Yossi Beilin cau- Hannah Reich Berman 40 standing near the cafeteria of cusing with a couple of people the Knesset (Israeli parlia- whom I didn’t recognize. Cooking Concepts ment), waiting for my appoint- Beilin is notorious as one Naomi Ross 45 ment with MK Avraham of the architects of the Oslo Ravitz. He was attending a Accords and as a man single- Guilt-Free Fur Knesset session and phoned handedly dedicated to diplo- Shlomo Pill 62 his office to say he would be a matically dismantling the little late because he had to State of Israel, one dunam at speak at the session before a time. At the construction site of the new building for Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi (formerly known as the Red Shul) on the corner of Oakland Avenue and being able to come to the This doesn’t mean that West Broadway in Cedarhurst, Rabbi Yaakov Feitman, Yakov Bodner office. So I sat and looked (president) and Chaim Puderbeutel (building committee leader) look over around, and off in the corner I Continued on Page 9 building plans, as construction commenced this week. See Page 60 PURIM TIMES TWO HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE Our Aliyah Chronicle, Part 43 A FUNdraising Weekend BY SHMUEL KATZ Bar Mitzvah of Reuven BY LARRY GORDON part of the program and a cup Kupferstein. See Page 46 We had been looking for- of coffee, a gentleman stood ward to Purim the entire win- If I recall correctly, it was a up and said, “OK, folks, it’s ter. As new olim, one of the Sunday morning about 15 time to leave.” There must real pleasures has been expe- years ago in Great Neck at a have been about 50 people in riencing the various chagim breakfast for a well-known the room, and most of them and other special days on the institution in Israel. I arrived started to move around in Jewish calendar, Israeli style: Shmuel and Moshe Katz. a little late, but was impressed preparation to exit. My first Visiting the Kotel excavations at the large turnout and how thought was, “Did they all during the three weeks. out Santa). The experience of most of the seats in the room travel together? And where Yamim Nora’im in our holy a major religious holiday in were filled, although I noticed are they all going together?” land. Sukkot and our first the land of the Jews is some- that there were only a handful A quick inquiry of the host one-day Yom Tov. Chanukah of cars parked outside the with real sufganiyot (and with- Continued on Page 11 stately home. After the formal Continued on Page 5 Library room at the White Shul. See Daf Yomi Insights, Page 22 Anshei Chesed’s Big Day The Shul BLIND DATING BY IRWIN H. FOR DUMMIES BENJAMIN BY MICHELE When I was little, and some HERENSTEIN boy hit me or made me cry, I couldn’t wait to run home to I’m sure that by now all of tell my mother what that bad you guys out there have read boy had done to me. It didn’t “Blind Dates 101” (Five Towns matter what she said or did, Jewish Times, February 16) but whatever it was, it helped. and have thought long and She relieved my pain and hard about the kinds of things Moreshes Aviva, founded in anguish. It was like magic. It you say and do on a date. If memory of Aviva Aryeh, a’h, made the hurt go away. Today, you’ve been on a date in the meets March 20. See Page 59 unfortunately, I no longer past few weeks, I’m sure that Pictured above, Senator Dean Skelos (at left), guest speaker at the have my mother. I can no when you picked up your CANDLE LIGHTING Congregation Anshei Chesed of Hewlett annual dinner, being longer run to her. But what I date, you greeted her by name Mar. 16 – 6:44 PM presented a community service award by Rav Simcha Lefkowitz (in do have is my shul. (and the girl used your name, Mar. 23 – 6:51 PM center), rabbi of Anshei Chesed. At right is Sheldon Wayman, dinner chairman. The dinner took place at Ohr HaTorah last month. Continued on Page 15 Continued on Page 7 2 March 16, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 16, 2007 3 4 March 16, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES HEARD IN THE BAGEL STORE Continued from Front Cover revealed that a bus was about to pick up these 25 or so peo- ple and deliver them to the next community reception, which was scheduled to begin about a half-hour later. I had been to more than a few of these breakfast recep- tions before, and I had never seen anything like this, nor have I seen anything like it since then. This was amaz- ing—a shuttle bus that takes groups of people around from fundraiser to fundraiser, thereby ensuring several things. The first is that the reception’s hosts will have a decent showing so that guests from the organization the money is being raised for are not embarrassed by a poor showing. It does the same for distinguished speak- ers, who are sometimes flown in from Israel or from distant parts of this country. I’ve It is expected that 90 percent of the money is going to come from 10 percent of the people. seen some of these luminar- ies speak to rooms of empty chairs on occasion because things were just not planned well (or at all). There are two other situa- tions this system successfully deals with. One is the parking problem. Once the first 25 or so cars have been parked near or around the home that the reception is taking place in, many people who have intended to participate in these events have just turned around and gone back home because they could not find a close enough parking space. Then there is the matter of walking into a room alone, which is also a deterrent that keeps many people away from these events. Some people will tell you that the reason you mostly see the same faces at these recep- tions is because the greatest deterrent is writing a check that might put a little crimp in your monthly budget. I don’t necessarily agree with that estimation, though there is Continued on Page 8 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES March 16, 2007 5 6 March 16, 2007 5 TOWNS JEWISH TIMES Blind Dating For Dummies cool idea for a date that involves dress- optimistic, upbeat, and cheerful, per- tions to these “rules,” and yes, of course, Continued from Front Cover ing down, then I’m all for it. It’s just so haps—will tell you a lot about his per- nothing is true 100 percent of the time. unusual to go on a cool, fun, active date sonality, as opposed to hearing some- However, good manners, interest in the as well), and these actions surely per- that I almost forgot to mention the one tell you in a monotone all the person you’re with, dressing like a guy sonalized the date. Good start. dressing down part. But it definitely is in things they like to do, or rather, don’t. who wants to impress, and a modicum But there is so much more to discov- the Code for Blind Dates (XVIII 1.b.) Guys: making sure your date gets of creativity will take you a long way. er. Don’t fret, however; it’s very doable, and it was put there for a reason. home safely is really important. And to ensure a second date, you’ll have and as long as you want to learn, you So now your cell phone is off, your Whether you put her into a cab, drive to wait to read “Blind Dates Advanced.” will. There are a couple of things to do mind is focused, and you’re dressed her home, or make sure she gets home Just kidding. There is no sure way to before you pick up your date; one of well—all excellent ingredients for a some other (safe) way, an excellent way guarantee a second date, but I would the most important is to shut off that good first date. Add to the recipe some- of making a great impression on either advise you to be true to yourself while at cell phone. Don’t just sneakily put the thing most people take for granted but side is to call or e-mail to say thank you. the same time being the kind of person phone on vibrate so you can peek down shouldn’t: good conversation. I read This is mostly true if you had a good you’d want to go out with again. Who at the screen to see which “crucial” somewhere that a guy would much time and would like to go out again. can say no to that? ❖ calls you’re missing. Unless you’re prefer to be asked about the kind of Girls: If the guy put a lot of time Michele Herenstein is a freelance journalist who planning to chat on the phone while person he is then to be asked what he into the planning of the date, after he lives and works in New York City.