CHAZAQ Magazine # 19

Issue #19 July - August, 2011FREE www.CHAZAQ.org

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The Impact of a Smile

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A Thinking Man’s Introduction to Life 8Don’t Let That Man Be You 12Successful Marriage, Successful Parenting 17The Impact of a Smile 21Transforming Physical into Spiritual 29The Three Relationships 31Mazal Tov 36Travel: Packing Tips 39The Only Cure for Israel’s Woes 42Recent CHAZAQ Programs 46The Passing of 3 Great Torah Leaders 49Hacham Abdallah Somech 50Wedding Insights: Ring Finger 53It Ain’t Just Luck 56Water: Drink to Life 60

You Can Do It 61Eat Your Way to Lower Cholesterol 62Finance: 1031 Exchanges 64A Father’s Echo 66Strange but True News 71Recipes 75Fun Page 78Soduku Puzzle 79Life is Good 80Auto: Finding a Good Mechanic 81Classifieds 83Parking and Sanitation 83Directory of Advertisers 84Hebrew Articles 85

Table of Contents Issue # 19 July-August, 2011

CHAZAQFamily Magazine

144 - 02 69th Rd.Flushing, NY 11367

Tel: 718-285-9132Cell: 917-617-3636Fax: 718-255-5803

Email: [email protected] www.CHAZAQ.org

Rabbinic AdvisorRav Ahron Walkin

DirectorR’ Ilan Meirov

Operations ManagerNaftali SzrolovitsShalom Meirov

MarketingGilad FoularYaakov Serle

Designer / LayoutElazar Davydov

DistributionPrime Media

Contributing WritersYehuda Azoulay

Dr. Edward BennettR’ Shlomo Zalman Bregman

R’ Yitzchok FingererMyriam S. Gabbay

R’ Jonathan GhermezianArthur Gukasyan

Ariella Horowitz, RD, CDNR’ Paysach Krohn

R’ Yehoshua KurlandR’ Chaim Levy

Rabbanith Ruth MenasheIsaac Nektalov

R’ Refael & Mrs. Adina Ribacoff

R’ Ben Tzion ShafierDr. Shmuel ShieldsHoward SpielmanSpencer Spielman

Eran VarnaiEphraim Zucker

PublisherYaniv Meirov

Staff


By R’ Ben Tzion Shafier

Little children are so curious. They are always asking, why? "Why this, and why that? Why is the sky blue and why do frogs have webbed feet? Why is there sand on the beach? Why does a ball fall down and not up? Why, Why? Why?"

Isn’t it sad that when we grow up, we stop asking questions? It isn’t so much that we know all the answers; it’s more that we lose hope of finding real answers, so we stop asking. In our school years we are trained to accept pat answers, “That’s the way it is, that’s the way it’s always been, that’s the way it’s going to be, just accept it.”

After a while we realize that these are the type of answers that the people around us are happy with, and we start to ask less and less, until we lose the ability to even question anymore. We even stop ask-ing those questions that begot the pat answers. We become socialized into acceptance. “That’s the way it is, that’s the way it’s always been, that’s the way we do things. Just do it, and stop asking so many questions.” Or, "we don’t need questions around here; we need people who get things done!”

Isn’t it amazing? Aren’t we human beings a strange breed? We can go about life, busy as beavers, with plans and goals - five-year goals, ten-year goals. "I will live here, get that job, mar-ry that kind of person, send my children to that sort of school, and teach them these life lessons." We are so well worked out, so thought out, so planned. Yet we don’t have the foundation to it all. Why do it? Why pursue it? What are we striving for? What is the purpose of it all?

It’s so unfortunate that we lose that instinctive desire to ask, the thirst to know why, because from questions comes knowledge, and from knowledge comes understanding.

Often times, the questions that we ask are even more important than the answers, because the questions keep us thinking, keep us alive. If we could learn to ask questions again, we could find so much depth in the things that we experi-ence. Instead of just settling into a mummified existence and feigning life, we would approach things as if they have meaning. Instead of ex-isting in our stratified mode of acceptance, we would look at the wonders of this world with an open eye to understand. "Why? How did it come to be? Why does it have to be that way? Why? Why? Why?"

But we stop asking.

In truth, it makes it easier this way- easier to function, easier to get by, easier to get on with the “truly important things in life.” But the one “Why” that a thinking, intelligent, human being can never stop asking is, "why am I here?"

I accept that Hashem cre-ated the world. I know that

He created the galaxies, the cosmos, and all it contains. I also understand that Hashem created me. But why? What is my purpose? What is it about? Why? Why? Why?

Can I live without knowing the answer to this question? Isn’t this the most basic and funda-mental question that a human must answer? Forget learning, forget religion. There is one simple, vital question that absolutely demands being asked. What am I doing here? What does Hashem have in mind for me? Why did he cre-ate me? What is my purpose in life?

Can a thinking person really go through life without at least asking this question? Can a per-son rest until he has found the answer? Isn’t this the underpinnings of everything that I do? Isn’t this the aim of my entire existence? What rel-evance is everything else that I do, if I can’t even answer this one most rudimentary and essential

Continued on pg. 10

A Thinking Man’s Introduction to Life



question? And even more, what meaning can my life really have if I can’t answer it?

How do you get up in the morning without an answer to this question? How do you pursue a life’s course? Maybe you are contemplating get-ting married and raising a family. Maybe you are already well on that path. What are you teaching your children? This question is surely going to come up. It comes up in everything that we do, in everything that we value, in everything that we impart as life lessons to our children, and to those around us. If I am alive, if I am a thinking, intelligent person, how can I continue without a solid answer to this most elementary question: What is the purpose of my life?

For answers to these and many other life questions, please read the new Shmuz book: Stop Surviving Start Living. It is available at Sefarim stores or by calling 866-613-To-rah (8672) or online at, www.TheShmuz.com

Continued from pg. 8



By Rabbi Paysach Krohn

Rabbi Myer Schwab is the founder and dean of the Bais Yaakov High School of Denver, Colora-do. He’s also responsible for the financial stabil-ity of the school, and in this role he often meets with philanthropists, to enlist their support.

In the early 1970’s there was a millionaire in Denver, an elderly gentleman named Max Rabi-nowitz (not his real name) who had remained Jewishly observant even though most of his friends and family were not. He gave charity, but his parameters for giving were not in proportion to his wealth. He considered $500 a large dona-tion, when in reality he could easily have given 10 times that amount. His children were inde-pendently wealthy, he owned factories and real estate, but he could not part with large sums of money except for business investments. Indeed, the most Max ever donated to the Jewish schools in Den-ver was $500.

One morning as Rabbi Schwab was teaching a class, he was interrupted by his sec-retary. “I am sorry to disturb you,” she said with urgency, “but you have an extremely important phone call.”

Reluctant to stop the lesson, Rabbi Schwab asked the secretary if the call could possibly wait till later. “No,” she said, “they are calling from the hospital.”

Rabbi Schwab rushed to his office and picked up the phone. It was Max Rabinowitz. “Rabbi,” he said, “I must see you right away.”

Six months earlier, Max had asked Rabbi Schwab to get him a prayer book that contained the Viduy confessional prayer customarily re-cited on a death bed. Now, on the phone, Max pleaded with Rabbi Schwab to come imme-diately. “By this afternoon, it will be too late,” Max said softly.

When Rabbi Schwab came to Max’s room, fam-ily was gathered at his bedside. After Rabbi

Schwab greeted all those present, Max asked ev-eryone to leave the room. Slowly and carefully, Rabbi Schwab recited with Max the poignant words of Viduy. When they finished, silence en-veloped in the room. Then Max said softly, “I remember when I was a little boy and there was a rabbi who came to our town. He spoke of the importance of giving charity, and mentioned over and over the expression, ‘Charity rescues from death.’ Before my end, I would like to fulfill that mitzvah and be clear with G-d. I have pre-pared two checks: one for the Jewish girls’ school and one for the boys’ school in Denver. Please take them out of the drawer and deliver them.”

Rabbi Schwab thought hopefully that perhaps his budgetary problems for the year might be over. He opened the top drawer of the cabinet

and took out the two checks. He could not believe his eyes. Each check was for $500.Rabbi Schwab stared at the checks and was incredulous. “Max,” he exclaimed, “you have the opportunity to ac-quire a share in the World to Come as you never did before. Our girls’ school is now housed in trailers. We need a building. Max, give us

$50,000 and we’ll put your name on the building as an everlasting testimony to your charity. You’ll be helping hundreds of girls who are the future mothers of our people. This is your last chance.”Max thought for a long moment and then said, “Believe me, my heart wants to give, and my head understands that it’s the right thing to do — but my hand refuses to let itself be opened.”

Max died that night, forever bereft of the op-portunity of magnanimous eternal reward. Days later Rabbi Schwab defined this episode. He said, “In discussing a person’s reluctance to give charity, the Torah warns, ‘You shall not harden your heart or close your hand’ (Deut. 15:7). The Torah says that there are two parts to the mitzvah of charity - the heart and hand. A person can understand that his financial help is needed and that the situation is dire, but if

Don’t Let That Man Be You

Continued on pg. 14



he is not trained from his earliest years to open his hand to benefit others, he will find it all but impossible to part with his money.”

Rabbi Schwab’s son-in-law, Rabbi Jonathan Aryeh Seidemann, told this story to a group of his congregants in Baltimore, Maryland. When he finished the story, he said: “A person has to have a special merit to give charity. Max could have earned eternal reward for his philanthropy, but he passed up the chance. We, while we are in this world, should not lose the opportunity when it presents itself.”

After the class, one of the attendees, Mrs. Gretta Golden, said to Rabbi Seidemann, “Rabbi, you told this story in the past. You mentioned it in a class three years ago!”“And you remember it from then?” asked Rabbi Seidemann, surprised and complemented that someone would remember something he said years ago.

“Oh yes,” she said, “I remember that story so well. It made such an impression on me. And Rabbi,” she added, “I should really tell you a story about that story.”Mrs. Golden was employed by the world-re-nowned Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where she was a marketing representative of in-ternational services. She headed the Israeli unit. Since Johns Hopkins is one of the finest hospi-tals in the world, it attracts patients from around the globe.Just two weeks after Mrs. Golden first heard the story from Rabbi Seidemann, an Israeli family came to Johns Hopkins with their 8-year-old son who needed major surgery. They brought along all the boy’s medical files and explained to Mrs. Golden that they could not afford to pay for the operation the child so desperately needed. As she leafed through the boy's files, his father said that a few months earlier a relative of theirs had suggested that they write a letter to a certain Jewish philanthropist who had recently been written up in The New York Times.

“You have nothing to lose,” said the relative, and indeed they found someone to write a letter in English, explaining their child’s desperate situa-tion. A few weeks later the family received a re-ply from the philanthropist — wishing their son a complete recovery but adding that he could not help financially. This letter was in the file

along with the medical records.

Mrs. Goldman read and reread the letter and thought of the story she had heard from the rab-bi. That night she composed a letter to this phi-lanthropist, explained the nature of her work, and detailed the situation of the little Israeli boy. She finished the letter with the story about Max Rabinowitz and his inability to give charity even at the end of his life.Mrs. Golden’s final sentence in the letter was, “Don’t let that man be you.”Two weeks later, Johns Hopkins received a check of over $40,000 from that philanthropist to cover the entire cost of the operation.

Rabbi Paysach J. Krohn is a fifth generation mohel, who is also known throughout the Jewish world for his books and lectures. He has written a series of books of Jewish short stories, known as the Maggid Series, as well as other titles. He has lectured in cities around the world and is a frequent lecturer at CHAZAQ Programs. This story is reprinted from Reflections of the Maggid, pub-lished by ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications Ltd., Brook-lyn, NY.



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By Rabbi Shlomo Slatkin

As parents, we are constantly faced with new challenges along the developmental process. We are "forced" to find a solution to bedtime resis-tance, potty training, tantrums, etc. So we read books, we learn strategies and techniques. We do everything possible not to "ruin" our children, to do it better than our parents did with us. We want them to grow up with healthy self-esteem, a love for Judaism, good character traits, etc.But somewhere along the way, we have forgot-ten about the most important ingredient in suc-cessful parenting: a successful marriage.Here are three reasons why a successful mar-riage is essential to successful parenting:

1) Modeling: The way we act towards our spouse has a direct effect on our children. If you were ever surprised to hear your child repeat some-thing they overheard you say, then you know what I mean. Children look up to parents as models for how to be in this world. If kids witness parents yelling at each other or making demands and not say-ing "please" and "thank you," it is quite likely that they will engage in relationships in a similar fashion.

While we may prefer to think that they learned it at school or a friend's house, the necessary first step is self-reflection. Think for a moment about all of your children's undesirable behaviors, and ask yourself if you and your spouse treat each other that way. We can verbally teach our chil-dren what is "proper," but if we do not model that behavior and practice what we preach, they will pick up on our insincerity and not be recep-tive to our wishes.

You are not only assisting them in their current interpersonal relationships, you are ingraining in them the proper traits that are necessary for a healthy marriage one day. Modeling is the most

obvious way your marriage affects your children.

2) The Family System: While the effect of mari-tal strife on a family is quite obvious in a home where the marriage is in crisis, it may be less ap-parent in a home where a "cold peace" exists. Although the parents may not see it, kids are brilliant. Even when a marriage remains intact, kids can detect there is something unhealthy in the relationship.

This affects a child's sense of self, as children need to feel secure in their home environment.

We often see children acting out. Stopping the behavior is not the ultimate solution, be-cause their actions are telling us something about the sys-tem as a whole. We know of plenty of families that have their "problem child." Per-haps the child has been diag-nosed with some "disorder," or is not necessarily behaving in the way we want them to.

It is quite easy to view the child as the problem or the "identified patient." What takes more ma-turity is to look at the family as a whole, starting with the parents.

Even if your marriage is livable, is it vibrant? Peace in the home, shalom bayis, does not mean the absence of conflict. Shalom is opposing forc-es working together in harmony. It is a sense of wholeness that allows for a life filled with bless-ings and joy.

When parents build a strong foundation for the home, they will find themselves having a much easier time as parents. And while your children may act out on occasion, you will be much bet-ter equipped to deal with them. How many ar-guments stem from how to parent a child? One parent feels the spouse is the enabler, while the enabler feels the other one is too harsh. When a husband and wife learn how to be in relation-

Successful Marriage, Successful ParentingThree reasons why the most important ingredient in successful

parenting is a successful marriage.

Continued on pg. 18

718-285-9132www.CHAZAQ.org 718-285-913218

ship with each other, to talk to each other, and to understand each other, they will be able to form a united front as they parent their children. Oth-erwise, there will always be one parent who feels that his or her efforts are being undermined.

3) Do No Harm: Despite our best intentions, we inevitably will harm our children. We are only human and cannot possibly know and/or meet all of their needs. This means we will likely not give them all of the love, visibility, confidence, etc., that they need. Our job is to do our best. One way to minimize the damage is to become more conscious about ourselves and how we be-have in relationship.

It is a fact that our children will do certain things that push our buttons. Why is it that a particu-lar behavior that bothers you does not bother your spouse? The reason we are triggered by some things and not others is that these are areas which lie on our "growth edge." Perhaps our children remind us of our own behavior as children, which was met with negative messages from our parents. Perhaps it wasn't okay for you to cry or to feel emotions. When you see your uninhibited and vibrant child sobbing, it may

trigger your own judgments about that behavior. How do you react?

Do you act from a place of consciousness, un-derstanding the 90/10 rule – that 10 percent of anything that bothers you is the actual stimulus, and 90 percent is what it triggers in you? Or do you unconsciously pass on that same unhelpful message you received as a child? Most of us are unconsciously passing on generations of nega-tive messages. This is one tradition we do not want to transmit to our children.

One way to become a more conscious parent is to first become a more conscious spouse. If you look closely, you may find that your children push your buttons in the same way that your spouse does. As you work together with your spouse on these global relational growth opportunities, you will be able to approach your children as a more whole and complete parent, a parent who acts consciously as opposed to reactively.

The best gift you can give your children and fu-ture generations is to work on your relationship. Good intentions aren't enough; make your mar-riage a priority.


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By R’ Jonathan Ghermezian We derive much of our direction from the short but powerful statements which our sages passed down to us. When asked, “Who is a rich man?” or “Who is a wise man?” or “Who is a powerful man?”, we know to answer, “He who...” This, and much other “sage advice,” can be found in Masechet Avot – Ethics of our Fathers. But where did this advice originate?Many suggest that our sages acquired these in-sights through their own intellect and life ex-perience and not necessarily from the Torah itself. However, this does not seem to be the case. The first mishnah in Avot begins with the words, “Moshe received the Torah from Sinai and passed it down to Yehoshuah...” This state-ment is seemingly in the wrong place. Would it not be better placed at the beginning of the first tractate, Berachot, as opposed to Avot, which is almost 40 volumes later? Rav Ovadiah MiBar-tinura (1445 – 1488) comments that this state-ment is deliberately placed there to empathize that although it may seem that Avot is just a book of personal recommendations, in truth, all its wisdom originates from G-d at Sinai, and was passed down to us within the tradition we call the “Oral Torah.” Moreover, the Vilna Gaon (1720 – 1797) also wrote a commentary to Avot, only his work provides merely sources, not explanations, for each statement and to its corresponding source in the Tanach. It’s truly remarkable how all this wisdom can be traced back to the written Torah.That being the case, I would like to suggest that even one of the most basic actions, one we per-form multiple times daily, is actually grounded in that powerful tradition from Sinai: SMILING.The Mishnah in Avot (1:15) states, “Greet ev-ery person b’sever panim yafot (with a pleasant countenance).” Where in the Torah do we find any mention of this? According to the Vilna Gaon, its source is in the blessing of abundance that Yaakov Avinu bestows upon his son, Ye-hudah, “His eyes shall be red with wine (many vineyards) and his teeth white with milk (much pasture)” (Bereshit 49:12). No mention of smil-ing there; however the Talmud (Ketubot 101b) reads this passage a little differently. “Said the Jewish people to the Almighty, ‘the smile of Your eyes (to me) is more savory than wine and the white of Your teeth (when you smile) is more

delicious than milk.’” Based on this interpreta-tion, R’Yochanan affirms that smiling at a friend is greater than giving him a glass of milk. Thus, the source for smiling. What’s strange about this alternative reading is that it describes smiling with both one’s teeth and one’s eyes. How do eyes smile? The Real vs Fake Smile

Did you ever wonder why you can sometimes sense that somebody’s smile is nothing more than a passing formality? Researchers think that they have an answer. In the mid-19th century, a French physician named Guillaume Duchenne (1806 – 1875) discovered that what distinguishes a real “Duchenne” smile from an artificial smile is that some of the facial muscles required to produce a real smile cannot be controlled vol-untarily but move only with real emotion. One of those muscles is called the obicularis oculi, which pulls back slightly the outer corner of the eyes and produces creases at the outer edge (notice the lines around the eyes in the picture above). Thus, we can shine those pearly whites as much as we like, but the true intent is seen through our eyes. This may be what the Torah is conveying- we desire the genuine smile of G-d and others, the smile that includes the eyes.

The Challenge The mishnah’s command to greet everybody with a pleasant countenance may seem daunt-ing. How are we expected to do so even when we are just not feeling it? Isn't smiling something that we do only if we are happy?To answer, I would like to challenge the axiom that being a ‘nice guy’ is not optional, but rather

The Impact of a Smile

Continued on pg. 22


an obligation. To illustrate, there is a well-known story of a would-be convert who was thrown out by Shammai because he wanted to learn the entire Torah while standing on one leg. Hillel, on the other hand, embraced him and stated, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” It is surpris-ing, then, that the author of the mishnah con-cerning a pleasant greeting is the unyielding Shammai, not Hillel – the seemingly nice guy. R’ Eliyahu Dessler (1892 – 1953) derives from here that Shammai understood that pleasant greetings are a social obligation, even though he usually took a more stringent position in Jewish law. Why is it that smiling is so important? Better yet, why is it that we feel slighted when we do not get that smile? Nothing was even taken from us! One Yom Kippur eve, Rabbi Yisrael Salanter (1810 – 1883), the founder of the modern mus-sar movement, met a person on his way to syna-gogue for Kol Nidrei prayers. Rabbi Salanter greeted him warmly, but the person was so absorbed with the awesomeness of the Day of Atonement that he did not return the greeting. Rabbi Salanter then remarked to his disciple, Rabbi Itzele of Petersburg (1837 – 1907), "Why must I need to suffer because of his preoccupa-tion with the Divine judgment?" Rabbi Salanter was teaching his student that regardless of our mood, we have a responsibility to greet everyone with a cheerful and pleasant countenance. The Alter of Slabodka (1849 – 1927) teaches that our facial expression can affect the moods of those around us; thus, our face is considered to be within the “public domain” and not the ”pri-vate domain.” As a proof, he points out the iro-ny that a person never actually sees his own face (other than through a reflection). In 1936, Dale Carnegie (1888 – 1955), a pioneer in the devel-opment of secular, self-improvement courses, authored a book titled, How To Win Friends And Influence People, which has since sold 15 million copies worldwide. He writes that one of the most important principles of getting people to like you is to smile, a subject to which he de-votes an entire chapter. What makes a smile so powerful?

A Little Science “Research conducted in Sweden by Drs. Ursula Hess and Slyvie Blairy exposed participants of a study to images of faces while they monitored their facial muscle movements through electro-

myography (little sensor pads that were stuck to their faces). When exposed to happy faces, par-ticipants moved their zygomatic major muscle (used in smiling); when exposed to sad faces, participants moved their corrugator supercilii muscle (used in frowning). Participants did this even when the stimuli were hidden and rapidly presented and usually were not even aware that their muscles moved.”(quoted from an article at positivepsychologynews.com.) This suggests that there is a somewhat contagious effect our expres-sions have on others, similar to yawning, that almost forces them to mimic our expressions. Some maintain that it is for this reason that old-er couples sometimes resemble each other. Years of this facial mimicry can cause them to develop similar creases and muscular positions in their faces. More remarkably, Daniel Goleman (1946 – ), in his book Social Intelligence, describes a patient who “had suffered two strokes that de-stroyed the connections between his eyes and the brain's system for sight in the visual cortex leav-ing him completely blind – or so it seemed. On tests where the patient was presented with vari-ous shapes, like circles and squares, or photos of faces of men and women, he hadn’t a clue what his eyes were gazing at. Yet, when he was shown pictures with angry or happy faces, he suddenly was able to guess the emotions expressed, at a rate far better than chance. But how? (p. 15)” The researchers realized that there are two separate pathways that our seeing takes after an image has been processed by the brain. One pathway leads to the visual cortex, the other to the amygdala, a section of our brain that regis-ters emotions. Remarkably, although this patient had destroyed the visual pathway, the emotional one was still fully intact. Thus, he could not see the smile but he could feel it! Can Smiling Actually Make You Happier?


Continued on pg. 24



The Sefer HaChinuch, a 13th-century work discussing the meaning behind mitzvot, reveals that external actions influence emotions. Thus, smiling, even superficially, can have the effect of producing real cheerfulness. “In 1988, a team led by Fritz Strack came up with a brilliant cover story that allowed them to manipulate facial expressions of participants in a study without their awareness. The research-ers told participants that they were studying life-styles of people who had lost the use of their hands. Such individuals would need to use their mouths to hold pencils for writing, or to use a television remote. The participants then held a pencil in their teeth (which naturally activates the muscles typically used for smiling) or lips (which does not activate those muscles), and then rated several cartoons for funniness. Those who were (unknowingly) ‘smiling’ rated the car-toons as funnier than the people who weren’t smiling.” (Quoted from an article by D. Munger) Putting It All Together Therefore, it seems that when we smile, we be-

come happier and cause others to smile, making them happier and even causing them to feel its warmth. In Practice R’ Dessler illustrates, based on his understand-ing of Shammai’s mishnah, how this greeting should be done. The mishnah states,“Greet oth-ers b’sever panim yafot.” ”B’sever,” from the word savar, meaning “to turn one’s body toward a person” (showing more interest);”panim” – then, show them your face (don’t look around); and, ”yafot” – present that face beautifully. R' Avrohom Grodzinski (1883 –1944) embodied this teaching. He spent much time in front of the mirror practicing his smile, and worked for two years on greeting others pleasantly even while living through the horrors of the Holocaust. A great Rabbi once said that a smile is likened to a candle. Many candles can be lit from a single one, but that never diminishes the original can-dle's light. If you smile today to five people, and each of them to five others, then, by the fifteenth step in this chain, you will have smiled to all of mankind.






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WomenTransforming the Physical into the Spiritual

By Rabbanith Ruth Menashe of Midrash Ben Ish Hai

It has become the fashion in the last few years for people to declare that they are “spiritual.” Why not? It seems rather impressive to associate oneself with what is holy and pure, rather than physical and materialistic. We can understand why some people will strive to define themselves as "spiritual."

Let us, for a moment, step back into the lives of the Children of Israel in the wilderness over three thousand years ago. No one had to get up in the morning to go to work. Food came straight down from Heaven. Clouds of Glory surrounded the nation twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. The supply of water traveled with them wherever they went. There was no need to spend time or money at the malls, as the clothes miracu-lously grew with the people and were washed and ironed by the Clouds of Glory (Rashi, Deu-teronomy 8:4). There was all the time in the world to sit and study Torah with the greatest prophet of all time, Moshe Rabbenu, our master. Spiritual life par ex-cellence, indeed!

There is an opinion that the Jewish people did not want to go to the Land of Israel because they desired to hold onto this spiritual life that they led in the desert. After all, in the land of Israel they would have to work the land in order to grow bread, clothes would have to be washed and sewn, a major part of the day would be de-voted to physical, everyday activities, and there would not be much time for the study of Torah. This seems like an acute decline in spirituality!

One of the commandments connected specifi-cally with living in the land of Israel is also one of the three primary commandments given to women, that of Hafrashath Hallah (separating the dough). “When you come to the land to

which I bring you...when you will eat from the bread of the land, you should set aside a portion for G-d.” (Bamidbar:15:18-19). Rabbenu Be-hayye, in his interpretation on the Torah (Bamid-bar 15:20), explains that the Children of Israel were not obligated to keep this commandment in the desert, but rather, immediately upon entering the land of Israel.

Why? Why only in the land of Israel? The Com-mentary explains that the Manna they ate in the desert was itself a holy entity, bread from Heaven - “spiritual bread.” Our Rabbis, of blessed mem-ory, teach us that it was completely absorbed by the body without any waste. However, man-made bread, the bread of the earth, has no holi-

ness whatsoever attached to it. That bread is simply a typical physical substance grown in the ground.

Can this bread be elevated and sanctified? Through the action of performing a commandment with it and by following G-d’s will and separating Hallah, we have the power of transforming

that which is “from the ground” to that which is “from Heaven” - the physical into the spiritual. Now we understand why once the Manna, the “spiritual bread,” stopped coming down from Heaven and we had to plow the land, plant the seeds, grow the wheat and take all the additional steps necessary for making bread, we were given this unique commandment. We were given the opportunity to consume holy, spiritual bread.

There is a powerful message, especially for us women, hidden in our special commandment. It is up to us to reveal the holiness concealed within the Creation. Many of us often wonder what meaning and purpose there is to our everyday ordinary activities. Is there any underlying mean-ing to the daily activities such as cooking, clean-

Continued on pg. 30


ing, washing and ironing we do? Yes there is. Just as it is up to us to uncover the sanctity hidden in the dough, so too it is in our power to recognize the spiritual component in every facet of our lives. When we prepare meals for our husbands, or put out clean clothes for our children, we should not look at these tasks as menial. Rather, we should see it as building a Jewish home, which is our holy mission. Leading a spiritual life is at-tainable in our modern world, be it in New York, Paris, Sydney or Yerushalayim, and not only in the desert. All we have to do is follow the light of the Torah, the path of the Misvoth, and be elevated to the true meaning of what spirituality is all about.

To read more by Rabbanith Ruth Menashe, please visit: http://www.atorahminute.com and http://www.mi-drash.org

The fascinating new release, A Torah Minute, vol-ume 2: A Treasury of Torah Gems and Practical Laws book and volume 1: 300 Gems from the Ben Ish Hai, both include an inspiring “Women's Corner” section by Rabbanith Ruth Menashe, and are now avail-able. For more information or to purchase, please visit midrash.org or ATorahMinute.com. Also available at all good Sefarim stores and at the Chazaq shop, Chazaq.org.


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Most people assume, asI did, that there are

Two basic relationshipsIn this world; Between Man and Man and between Man and G-d. But lately I was taught that thereIs a third and mostCrucial relationship, that ofBetween Man and Himself.In order to achieve success In this world and the nextWe must possess an adequateAmount of sense of self. 1 ThisIs fundamental. The vesselMust have a foundation inOrder to build it up. ThereMust be a healthy, underlyingSense of self before we canStart that all importantAnd lifelong challenge of Refining our characterTraits in Hashem’s image.Since it’s a rule of natureThat man is closest toHimself, then this seemsThe logical place to startThis all important process.Who knows yourselfBetter then yourself?Who is closer toYourself than yourself? So

The first step inCreating this relationship

Is self knowledge. ThereAre many, many people whoDon’t even know themselves,As shocking as that may

t h e t h r e e r e l at i o n s h i p sby

My r i am S . Gab bay

s”xc

Based on shiur of raBBi Zechariah Wallerstein ~ Kedoshim 5/4/11 ohr naava

Sound. They spend theirLives with their distractionsAnd indulgences 2 and neverEven get to know whoThey themselves are; whatTheir strengths and talentsAre and what their flawsAnd weaknesses are. If

You are not aware ofYour weaknesses then

How can you prepare a Strategy to overcome that Weakness? You will continue To stumble over the same tests,Over and over again andContinue to scratch yourHead in confusion as toWhy this keeps happening.In short, if you don’t Know what your flawsAnd weaknesses are, youAre totally clueless. Not An enviable position to beIn while navigating this World. But even worseThan that, is not knowingYour strengths and talents.A great Rabbi once said 3

That if one doesn’t know Their flaws, that is indeedNot a good thing, butOy va voy if he doesn’tKnow his strengths andTalents, because withoutBeing armed with thisKnowledge he will neverBe able to do his missionIn this world. Since

Know Thyself Know Thyself

The ultimate love is The love that one

Has for himself. If This is not affixed in Place then one will notBe able to love HashemAnd ever further; if You don’t love yourselfYou cannot truly love Anyone else. This lack Will create a shell soCoarse and so hard thatYou will literally wasteThe most precious giftThat Hashem has givenYou, i.e. time itself.

All your so called“Relationships”

Whether they be with Man or with Hashem will Only be an attempt at Imitating life. You will Act the part but there Will be no real substance. Everything you build will be so fragile that it Can be blown over with A breath. But Hashem Has given us a hint as

How to buildOurselves;

lunf lgrk ,cvtuLove your best friendWho is none other thanYourself, like yourself.Because your best friendIs yourself. And then

Continued on pg. 32


Doubts and uncertaintiesThat plague so many. It

Will also allow us toTraverse our spiritual

Path and reach the goalsThat we set for ourselvesBecause those goalsWill be tailor made toFit who we are. WithoutAdequate self-knowledgeWe can make the mistakeOf choosing goals that areNot suited to us at a givenMoment and end up fallingIn a very big way. This Then might cause us to Turn our backs on HashemAnd His people, G-d forbid. 4

So let us shed those

Masks 5 which impede Us from really getting

To know who we are. After All, each one of us is truly Unique. Hashem creates Only one of each of us.So how do we manifest That singularity of ourselves?By being ourselves! If youWear a different color Dress than everybody Else then you might lookDifferent from everybody Else but you will not be Different. By being Yourself, which is aUnique being that neverWas and will never be Again, then you will trulyBe different.

This is like Rabbi Akiva, Who lost 24,000

Students in one fell swoopYet, did not despair. From Where did this enormousReserve of strength comeFrom? It came from his Sense of self which was An outcome of lunf lgrk ,cvtu. This is why he said about

This verse: vru,c kusd kkf vz. This is a Great Principle inThe Torah. And due to this,

His outlook was like The wonderment of

The young child who takes A step and falls, yet gets Up immediately to take Another. Why? Becuase He, unencumbered by theVisiccitudes of life realizesThis simple truth. If I tookOne step, then I can takeAnother, even though I fell!So too, did Rabbi Akiva.He said, “If I was able toCreate so much Torah andSo many students, then That means that I have theAbility to do that, so I will Do it again!

And we know that theOral Law, as we have

It today, came down fromRabbi Akiva and his five Students that he took after He lost the 24,000. For the

First forty years of hisLife he did not know

Who he was. It took a Rochel, 6 who saw his Potential to open up hisWorld and his soul toHimself. So apparentlyRochel too possessed this Quality of self and she Gave it over to Rabbi Akiva who went from Being an untutored manWho despised the Rabbis 7 To being the one whoseTorah saved Am Yisroel. So Clearly, he took this Self-love and gave itOver to Hashem and thusMerited to save an entireGeneration and the Generations to come. So Let us take the exampleOf Rabbi Akiva and

Hashem signs thatDirective with eueh hbt, I am G-d. So, if your

Sense of self is secureAnd your self love is

Where it should be, thenYou will be capable ofTaking that love andTurning it over to HashemHimself. That is in essenceThe meaning of Hashem’sSeemingly incomprehensibleRequest of hbt ase hf uhv, ohaseBe holy because I am holy.How can we possibly useHashem as an example ofWhat we should be? WhereIs the interface between Us flawed mortals andHashem Himself? TheInterface is found in Our ability to take ourMost precious possessionWhich is our self-love And offer it up to Hashem Himself. Thus, we are effectivelyInteracting with HashemThus creating a partnership.Once a partnership isCreated, then we are ableTo dovetail with theSource of infinity itself.

And it goes without Saying that if we

Can dovetail with Hashem Himself thanSurely it is relativelyEasy to then loveHashem’s children, i.e.Our fellow man withEverything that weHave. And it then Follows that throughSelf knowledge, andIts’ application to theOther two relationshipsIn life, our personalLife’s mission willBecome crystal clear.True self knowledgeWill clear away the



Realize our true potentialthrough Self Knowledge, And Self-Love and then The giving over of That love to Hashem Himself, andImplement it by Never giving up, evenIn the face of theGreatest adversity. This surely will bring The potential of the World to fruition, whichIs the Messianic AgeFor which we allYean for, may it comeSpeedily in our days!

Know Thyself

SourcesNote: The poem is based on Rabbi Wallerstein’s shiur on Kedoshim but I did bring in a few ideas from other sources, which are listed below.

1. Shiur Rabbi Gil Frieman - Shelach 6-18-11 - Ohr Naava

2. i.e. cellphones, facebook, computers and all the myriad of things and electronic devices which don’t allow us to get to meet ourselves.

3. I saw this quote in either Binah or Mishpacha Family First within the past month but have not been able to find it so I don’t know the source.

4. Shiur of Rabbi Skaist 5/24/11 Bamidbar/Shavuos - Ohr Naava.“If You Don’t Know Yourself You Can’t Sustain Spiritual Growth” (Paragraph title).However, someone who tries to accomplish growth and they don’t really know themselves and they just listen to a shiur or listen to someone who says something inspiring and they get super inspired and they say, “that’s it. I’m going to do this and do that. And I’m never going to do this again, I’m never going to do that again” and they’re very sincere about it but it’s not coming from a “lech lecha”, it’s not coming from knowing themselves, so those people, they may be able with great strength and courage to hold onto it for a while; it might be a month, it might be 6 months, it might be 6 years but eventually they will not be able to sustain it because since they don’t know themselves so they can’t ultimately be real.”

“So Rabbi Miller (from England) says that this was the difference between Avraham and Lot. Hashem said to Avraham, “lech lecha, go to you” and that’s what Avraham did. It’s true that he traveled. It’s true that there was a physical expression of that lech lecha also, but it was lech lecha, ultimately, about self-knowledge, about self understanding and about growth that was conscious of what he was capable of and where he was holding.”

5. “those masks”: i.e. those modern day devices and conveniences which prevent us from getting to truly know ourselves.

6. “It took a Rochel” - Kabbalistic sources say that Rabbi Akiva and his wife Rochel were gilgulim (reincarnations) of Yaakov Aveinu/Jacob our forefather and his wife Rochel Imeinu/Rachel our foremother.

7. Because he did not know himself. Refer to footnote 4.


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There are two kinds of travelers in the world: those who packed sensibly and those who wish they had. To pack as practically and safely as possible, follow these helpful packing tips.

1. Security and Keeping Details SafeScan your passport, passport photos and paper tickets (if not the e type) in. Store this in your email account. You can also store the details of your emergency 'lost card' telephone numbers in your email account so you know who to contact if your credit card or ATM card is lost or stolen. This way, even if you lose everything, you have immediate access to your all important informa-tion. You can even email the details page of your passport to the embassy or consulate when apply-ing for a new one. Also consider writing your home and destination address (and mobile number if you have one) on a self-adhesive sticky label to stick INSIDE your luggage in a visible place. If your luggage is lost and the baggage label has come off, at least the airline can still figure out whose luggage it is.

2. Split up your ValuablesSplit up your bank cards, cash, travelers' cheques and credit cards as much as possible in different pockets, bags and wallets when packing. In case you do get robbed, at least you won't be strapped for cash (unless you have all your bags AND your wallets stolen of course!).

3. Small BottlesUse small bottles to pack toiletries and other small items. There are several sturdy and (very nearly) waterproof ones, with clear/see-through ones being preferable. You can also use small bottles to repack shampoo or lotions so that you don't always have to carry a big bottle with you. This is especially useful if you normally take these items in your carry-on luggage, which is much more restricted now than ever before. 4. Backpack TipsWhen you are packing things into a backpack,

place the lighter items at the bottom and the heavier ones on top. Your bag will feel lighter this way, as the pack rests on your lower back. It is also smart to place the things you use the most on top. Dirty clothes are perfect to pack at the bottom of a backpack.

5. Plastic BagsIt is always handy to have a few plastic bags around certain items, especially toiletries. Not only does it counter any leaking, but the bags can also come in useful to keep dirty clothes in, as garbage bags or even as makeshift umbrellas. Ziplocks and other airtight plastic bags are the best.

6. Pack in PlasticPack everything in clear plastic bags (preferably ziplock), divided into items, e.g. underwear, t-shirts, shorts, etc. before packing them in your suitcase or

backpack. Use one plastic bag for each type of clothing. This is extremely useful in various ways. When you unpack your bag you just take out a series of bags and you can see immediately what you want; so an overnight stay somewhere just means tak-ing one item out of a bag - no

rummaging! In addition, if you have to unpack at customs, instead of having to disgorge all your clothing in front of everybody, you can calmly take out five or six bags, the contents of which can be clearly seen by the officials. To repack then is also dead easy.

7. ClothesPack only what you know you will use and if you’re traveling for more than three weeks, plan to wash on the road. You can cut back on the number of clothes items by packing multi-purpose clothing; for example, items that can be worn both during the day and double as sleepwear.

8. Split up Clothes when Traveling with OthersWhen you are flying somewhere and especially if you have a few stopovers, divide the clothes be-tween different suitcases/backpacks/bags, etc.

TRAVEL Packing Tips

Continued on pg. 40


If one person’s luggage doesn't arrive at the des-tination, they'll still have clean clothes available. Airlines generally don't compensate lost luggage for the first 24-48 hours, so this will save money if it happens to you.

9. Carry-OnKeep any medication and important papers in your carry-on bag. On long flights with multiple stopovers (especially if flying via London, LA or other major airports), packing a fresh change of clothes is a good idea, as bags tend to get de-layed or lost on long haul, multiple-stop flights. You don't want to end up stuck without medica-tion, clothes or your important papers, even just for a few days.

10. Flashlights/Battery-Powered DevicesWhen packing a flashlight or torch (or any other item with batteries for that matter), turn the bat-teries around so that if the item is accidentally turned on, you won't empty the batteries. Don't forget to turn the batteries back around when using the device.


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By Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Bregman

Regrettably, the past year has once again been marred by violence, terror, and missile attacks for the Jews of Israel. Irrespective of national origin and religious observance, we have all been moved by the unforgettable images of tragedy to which we’ve sadly become accustomed over the past many years. It has reached the point where the uncertainty of daily life in Israel has become com-monplace and the norm. To make matters worse, Jews in Israel and throughout the world have awo-ken to the realization that the situation is quickly deteriorating. The events of the past year have revealed that the United States (and the Obama administration in particular) may not be there for us in our time of greatest need, and with a show-down with a nuclear Iran looming, the situation appears to be truly grave.

In the eyes of many, our control over the Holy Land seems to be slipping away, and many voices have been heard openly questioning whether the Jews of Is-rael have any future there. Worse yet, there appears to be no end in sight to ei-ther the Islamic terrorism or fresh threats of violence. With frayed nerves and our energy spent, many have despaired of finding a respite to our suffer-ing. In the words of the prophet Jeremiah (Eichah 5:5), “We are exhausted but are allowed no rest.”

Despite all that has transpired, many of our Jew-ish brothers and sisters respond in the all-too-pre-dictable manner, “If we can only find the right mix between diplomacy and military muscle and elect the right government, then we’ll finally achieve peace.” It is clear to even the most stub-born of observers that this approach has caused us to “struggle in vain and produce for futility” (Isaiah 65:23).

On the other hand, those among us who are more religiously-oriented search for clues in the Torah, the eternal instruction manual, as to how we can ameliorate our suffering. Without question, the Torah speaks of the current situation, and the

Gedolim (the elite Torah giants of our era) have imparted to us clear instructions as to how we must proceed.

ON ONE CONDITION… A recurring theme mentioned throughout the To-rah, and particularly in the weekly portions read throughout the summer months, is the lone con-dition upon which the Jewish people will inherit the Land of Israel. Again and again, Hashem reiterates that the ability of the Jewish people to successfully possess and endure in the Land of Israel is entirely dependent upon our observing the commandments of the Torah. [For example, see Parshas Va’eschanan which contains a stun-ning ten mentions of this concept, ex. 4:1, 4:5, 4:25-27, 4:40, 5:28, 5:30, 6:1, 6:3, 6:17-19]. As the Torah states in unambiguous language, “You

shall observe His decrees and His commandments that I command you this day, so that He will do good to you and to your children after you, and so that you will prolong your days on the land that Hashem, your G-d, gives you, for all the days” (Devarim 4:40).

It is interesting to note that analyzing the above principle from a purely objective and historical perspective, this phenomenon has not-so-coinci-dentally held true throughout the ages. It should come as no surprise that the periods prior to the destruction of the First and Second Temples and the subsequent exiles were marked by rampant neglect of Hashem’s Torah. Conversely, the pe-riods preceding the destruction, which featured peaceful Jewish dominion over the Land, were characterized by extraordinarily high levels of mitzvah observance. Unfortunately, the passage of time and our inability to look at Jewish history as a unified whole render it almost impossible for the layperson to take notice of and appreciate this trend on their own, for if it were, this “coin-cidence” would certainly impress and shock the hearts of even the most spiritually detached mem-bers of our nation.

“The Only Cure for Israel’s Woes”


is wholly absurd to imagine that if Hashem Him-self has told us the one and only thing that will bring us the peaceful existence in the Land we so desperately seek, that we should achieve the object of our desires by alternative means. Our Gedo-lim have made it clear that we have been humbled and are in failing health, for ignoring Hashem’s prescription has imperiled our very existence.

CHARTING A NEW COURSE Over 60 years have passed since Hashem gave the Jewish people a fresh start in our ancestral homeland. Although there is a high level of To-rah observance among segments of the Israeli population and throughout the world, we have to be honest and admit that the majority of the Jewish nation has not kept the Torah—the very condition upon which our existence in the Land depends. The Torah describes this phenomenon: “When you beget children and grandchildren and you will have long been in the Land, you will grow corrupt…and you will do evil in the eyes of Hashem…you will surely perish quickly from the Land…you shall not have lengthy days upon it.” (Devarim 4:25-27). Since we are witnessing the fulfillment of this nightmarish prophecy on a daily basis, our Torah sages have told us that now is the time for a collective call to action for all Jews to strengthen our observance of Torah.

The road to recovery can begin only after we have honestly diagnosed the illness. We’ve tried every other political and military strategy to no avail; it’s time to give Torah observance a chance. The Gedolim of our era have told us that if it feels as though Israel is slipping away, it is only because we are allowing our collective Torah observance to slip away. In the merit of strengthening our own commitment to Torah and gently encour-aging others to do the same, may we witness the fulfillment of the verse (Devarim 4:4), “You who cling to Hashem, your G-d, you are all alive to-day.” May we live in times of Torah observance, now and forever.

Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Bregman is Founder of the Jewish Executive Learning Network (JELN), a Lakewood-based organization that shares the beauty of Torah study with young professional men in their 20’s and 30’s in the New York City area and beyond. His JELN classes are available in video and MP3 format at TorahAnytime.com. In addi-tion to his communal work, Rabbi Bregman manages his own law firm, specializing in Corporate Law and Trusts & Estates. He may be contacted at [email protected].

A DIFFERENT KIND OF GIFT Most certainly, the notion that the successful es-tablishment of a Jewish presence in the Land of Israel is wholly predicated on Torah observance is a foreign concept to some ears. However, a deeper understanding of the relationship between Hashem’s Torah, the Jewish people, and Israel re-veals why this is the case.

Even Jews who do not consider themselves to be ‘religious’ know that G-d gave the Land of Isra-el as a gift to the Jewish people. However, what most fail to realize is that Israel is not a “gift” in the conventional sense of the word. As a gener-al rule, there are two ways one can give a gift: 1) unconditionally, such that receipt and continued possession of the gift are entirely independent of the recipient’s conduct, and 2) conditionally, such that receipt and continued possession of the gift are linked to the fulfillment of certain conditions on the part of the recipient. The Land of Israel, Hashem’s gift to the Jews, most certainly falls into the category of the latter; our receipt of Israel is solely conditioned upon our fulfillment of His will as expressed in the Holy Torah.

VISIT TO THE DOCTORConsider the following analogy: There once was a man who suffered from a grave illness. By stroke of great fortune, this sick individual discovered that the world’s leading doctor had recently published an essay detailing how to cure the very same ail-ment from which he was suffering. In his research, the doctor concluded that there is only one form of treatment that is effective in dealing with this malady. Astonishingly, the sick man, possessing no expert knowledge of medicine, chose to ignore the doctor’s wisdom and instead attempted to cure himself with whatever remedies he could dream up. As we could expect, ignoring the doctor’s sage advice resulted in a deterioration of his condition and an exponential increase in his suffering. His friends pleaded with him, “Take the true cure! It’s the only thing that can save you!” Humbled and in failing health, the man finally conceded that all other remedies were fruitless. When he relented and finally heeded the doctor, the illness quickly disappeared and the man was miraculously re-stored to complete health.

The above parable, adapted from Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto’s classic work Mesillas Yesharim (“Path of The Just”), succinctly describes our cur-rent dilemma in Israel and why the majority of efforts at rectifying the situation are misguided. It


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Rav Yitzchak Dov Koppelman, zt'lIn a massive funeral in Jerusalem, thousands came to bid farewell to HaRav Yitzchak Dov Koppelman. Born in 1905 in Kharkov, Ukraine, he was a leading disciple of Rabbi Shimon Shkop, the Rosh Yeshiva of Sha’ar HaTorah in Grodno, Poland. During World War II he traveled through Siberia and Uzbekistan. Af-ter the war he got married and founded Yeshiva Shaarei Yosher in Brooklyn, New York.In 1963 he was appointed as the Rosh Yeshiva of Lucerne Yeshiva in Switzerland, which attracted students from all over the world includ-ing Israel, England, Belgium, Austria, United States and Canada. The students were comprised from all denominations, from Litvaks, to Cha-

sidim, to German Jews and Sefardim.He was remembered as a father to all his students, giving them individualized attention. Even in his advanced years, he was always found in the Yeshiva giving regular classes, as well as being com-pletely accessible to all the students. We have lost a truly big Torah personality from the previous generations, of the likes which cannot be unsurpassed. Rav Koppelman passed away at the age of 106 on June 17, 2011.

Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz, zt'l Eyes were clouded with tears, as over one hundred thousand people at-tended the funeral to mourn one of the Gedolei Hador, Rabbi Michel Ye-huda Lefkowitz. He served as a beacon of light and inspiration for the en-tire Jewish nation. Thousands came to his door for advice and guidance.Born in the city of Valozhin in 1913 he moved to Israel in 1936. For over 50 years, He served as the Rosh Yeshiva of Ponovezh L’tzeirim in Bnei Brak, where he spread Torah and yirat Shamayim to multitudes. He authored Chiddushei Rav Shlomo, the teachings of his teacher Rav Shlo-mo Heiman, as well as Minchas Yehuda on the Talmud. Rav Lefkowitz passed away at the age of 97 on June 27, 2011.

Rav Chaim Stein, zt”lIn Wickliffe, Ohio, there was a Rosh Yeshiva who spent his days and nights toiling in Torah and dissemating it to the next generation. Raised in the Telshe Yeshiva in Lithuania, Rav Stein learned under some of the greatest Torah leaders of the time. As the war broke out, he found himself fleeing the hands of the Nazis to Russia, the Far East and, eventually, Australia. Rav Stein eventually found his way to Cleve-land, Ohio, and became part of the Telshe Yeshiva, moving his way up until he became Rosh Yeshiva. It was said that he had completed the seven year daf yomi cycle since its inception by Rabbi Meir Shapiro in the year 1923. Rav Stein passed away at the age of 99 on June 29, 2011.

This past month the world has lost great Torah leaders in 3 different countries - Israel,

United States and Switzerland.


By Yehuda Azoulay

Hacham Abdallah Somech zt”l was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 5573/1813. He was the son of the great talmid hacham R’ Abraham Somech. He was the eldest of eight brothers and eight sis-ters. He married Sarah, and had nine great chil-dren; Saleh, Aharon, Raphael, Khatoon, Abra-ham, Sasson, Massouda, Rachel and Simha. He was one of the greatest hachamim of Baghdad and one of the most important poskim (halachic authorities) of his generation. He studied under the great mekubal R’ Yaakob Harofe. He was the greatest pillar of Torah of his time in Iraq. R’ Abdallah was the teacher of R’ Yosef Haim (the Ben Ish Hai). When the Ben Ish Hai gave public speeches in the great synagogue of Bagh-dad, R’ Abdallah would attend, whenever he could, so that he could hear his student. Another mark of this talmid hacham was that when the Ben Ish Hai made his entry into the bet hak-nesset, he would rise before him, along with everyone present. The teacher's manners made everyone understand the greatness of the Ben Ish Hai.Hacham Abdallah was a descendant of the im-portant family of R’ Nissim Gaon (990 – 1062 also known as HaMaftech), who authored the vidui for Yom Kippur. He states in the introduc-tion to his sefer Kibbutz Hachamim: "Servant of G-d, Abdallah son of Abraham son of Yo-sef son of Yehezkel HaSomech, grandson and great-grandson of R’ Nissim who was the rosh yeshivah here in the community of Bavel."

The sons of R’ Nissim Gaon were Yehoshua, Yosef, and Yehezkel. Yehoshua named his first two sons Abraham and Abdallah, names which are found in the family from generation to gen-eration, including family members today. The family name Somech means support in Hebrew, and its etymology comes from the fact that one member of the family, Yehezkel, was a somech (assistant) of the bet haknesset’s hazzan during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.From early childhood, Hacham Abdallah sought to learn Torah day and night, always dwelling on his love for Torah. He became famous as a renowned scholar at an exceptionally young age.At first, R’ Abdallah was a merchant like most of his townspeople, and was a partner to the great merchant Moshe Kabassa. When he caught wind of the fact that Torah learning was fading due to the lack of a Bet Midrash for Hachamim, he decided to open a bet medrash. He picked ten of the best young scholars he could find and taught them Torah without pay. He became Rosh Yeshivah of Yeshivat Midrash Abu Me-nashe (established in 1840 by Heskel Menashe Zebaida); the yeshivah was later expanded and renamed the well known Midrash Bet Zilka, which remained in operation until 1951. His great sefer, Zivchei Zedek, was published in two volumes after his death. The sefer is a summary of earlier and later scholars' halachic views, and his final piskei halachah (halachic decisions) on various issues. The sefer was widely followed in India and the Far East. The end of the books includes response on the entire Shulchan Aruch. He avoided honor, but it followed him, and despite the fact that he was known as a great gaon who everyone turned to, he was not inter-ested in a formal position. His simplicity and the pleasant way in which he conducted himself made him extremely popular. He returned To-rah learning in Bavel to its initial glory. He was loved by the community and called "Asta" by all, which means "my teacher."His reputation as a brilliant talmid hacham be-came widespread, and he fought the holy war of Torah with great devotion and self sacrifice. The Gaon R’ Gershon Hanoch Henik zt”l from Radzin asked R’ Abdallah to write a haskamah (approbation) for his sefer, Sidrei Taharot, about Masechet Ohalot. In an introduction to the has-kamah he writes: "Following is a haskamah by the great, famous and righteous hacham, who is elderly and is in the yeshivah of Israel with its

Hacham Abdallah SomechBaghdad, Iraq

5573 - 5649 / 1813 – 1889


London. At the time, there was an outbreak of a terrible disease, cholera, in Baghdad, and R’ Abdallah passed away from this disease. For this reason, he was not buried in theregular cemetery, but in the backyard of Ye-hoshua the Kohen Gadol. This place was holy to the Muslims as well, and a great dispute broke out about burying the great talmid hacham in a holy place without the government's permis-sion. Eventually the government forced the Jews to remove the Hacham from his grave on the twelfth of Kislev, eighty four days after he was buried. The anti-Semitic mayor of Baghdad took advantage of the situation to imprison sev-eral of the leaders of the community and many Hachamim. The local Jewish community sent delegations to influential people in Constantinople (the Sassoon family - The Sassoon family is a fam-ily of international renown, which originated in the Jewish community of Baghdad, and it is said to have originally descended from the Ibn Shoshans of Spain. Sassoon ben Salih (1750 - 1830) was a banker to the Vali (provincial gover-nor) of Baghdad.) and London. As a result, the anti-Semitic mayor was fired from his position, and later the hachamim were released when the government of Britain interfered.Nevertheless, the Jewish community resigned itself to digging up the remains of the illustri-ous Hacham. Several great talmidei hachamim descended into the kever and asked forgiveness from R’ Abdallah. However, they were utterly astonished when they noticed that the body of their revered Hacham had remained completely intact, exactly as on the day he was buried.Eyewitnesses said that when R’ Abdallah was re-moved from his grave, he looked as though he was asleep; his flesh had not rotted, his hair was not scorched, and his shrouds had not withered.

Yehuda (Allen) Azoulay was born in Toronto, where he attended Ohr Haemet Sephardic School, Ner Yisrael Toronto, and Yeshiva Darchei Torah. He grew up in a vibrant and authentic Sephardic community which he’s followed passionately. He later attended post high school; Yeshivat Mikdash Melech in Yerushalayim. He studied in Yeshivah Gedola Ohr Hatalmud of Lakewood, and found his bashert, Rena. He currently lives in Lakewood, New Jersey, where he now learns part time at Beth Me-drash Gavoha of Lakewood. Yehudah is passionately committed to the objective of spreading awareness of the great knowledge and deeds of the Sephardic Hachamim of the past and the present. He hopes to create, for Sep-hardic Jews everywhere, a pride in their heritage and an intensification of their faith in Hashem and His Torah.

holy scholars, Sinai and Oker Harim, the head of the Jewish community of Bavel in Baghdad." R’ Shelomo Hutzin wrote about R’ Abdallah as follows: “If I were to praise him, even just the slightest bit, all the pages in the world would be insufficient. What’s more, this would no doubt displease him, for he was extremely humble and wanted no fame.”R’ Abdallah Somech left this world on Erev

Shabbat, on the eighteenth of Elul, 5649/1889.

Incarnation of an AngelOne day in Baghdad, policemen came to deliv-er R’ Abdallah to the governor, who wished to speak with him after he had dismissed a dayan (rabbinic judge) who had proven to be unsuit-able for his position. When the policemen en-tered R’ Abdallah’s home, they froze, seeing him seated among bearded talmidei hachamim who were listening to his teachings. R’ Abdallah’s visage appeared to them like the incarnation of an angel from Heaven, and this sight impressed them so much that they turned around and left.When the governor had asked them why they had not brought R’ Abdallah, the policemen re-plied: “Do you know who you sent us to get? The prophet Moshe himself !” The governor decided to send honorable representatives to persuade R’ Abdallah to reverse his decision. R’ Abdallah replied, “My decision was made in accordance with the Torah of Moshe Rabbeinu. I therefore cannot change it.”The governor understood this point of view per-fectly and accepted the righteous words of R’ Abdallah.

The Intact BodyOn Erev Shabbat, the eighteenth of Elul, 5649/1889, R’ Abdallah passed away. However, astonishing events took place around his kever, events which became known not only in Iraq, but all the way to Constantinople (Istanbul) and


718-285-9132www.CHAZAQ.org 5753Continued on pg. 54

WEDDING INSIGHTS: RING FINGER

By Rabbi Refael & Mrs. Adina Ribacoff

We are all familiar with the popular children’s song: “Where is thumbkin? Where is thumb-kin?” The song goes thru the different fingers of the hand: thumbkin, pointer, tall man, ring man, and pinkie. The finger closest to the pin-kie is known as the ring finger and most women (and some men) when they get married wear their wedding band and/or engagement ring on that finger. So why is it when we stand under the Chupah (Marriage Canopy) we place the wedding ring on the right pointer or index fin-ger of the Kallah (Bride)?

On a simple level the reasons given are because the custom in those days was that women wore their ring on the right forefinger and that cus-tom, although not so com-mon today, has remained by the wedding ceremony. It is also explained that the right pointer is the most prominent of all the fingers. The index finger is the finger most com-monly used to point to things, and therefore the finger most in the forefront and visible. It is also easier for the witnesses to see the ring when it is placed on the index finger.

According to the Ben Ish Chai (Shana Rishona, Shoftim, 9) the (secret) reason for placing the ring on the forefinger of the bride is alluded to in Tehillim (Psalms) 19 where it mentions the “Chattan coming out of the Chupah.” Starting from Verse 8 there are 6 passages that contain 5 words and the second word in each is the Name of Hashem. They are: Torat Hashem Temima, etc. “The law of Hashem is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of Hashem is sure, mak-ing wise the simple. The precepts of Hashem are right, rejoicing the heart; The command-ment of Hashem is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of Hashem is clean, enduring for ever; The ordinances of Hashem are true, they are righteous altogether.” If you were to count the words on your fingers starting with the thumb, the second word of Hashem is counted on the forefinger (the finger next to the thumb). By a

wedding there is a unification of the Name of Hashem: The letter Yud of Hashem’s name is symbolized by the ring itself. The 5 fingers of the Chattans clasping the ring symbolize the let-ter Heh of Hashem’s name. The outstretched finger of the Kallah symbolizes the letter Vav of Hashem’s name. And the Kallah’s hand which is there to receive the Kiddushin symbolizes the last letter Heh of Hashem’s name. Since the purpose of the Chattan placing of the ring on the Kallah’s finger is the unification of the 4 let-ters of Hashem’s name, it’s only appropriate to place the ring on the finger which is represented by Hashem’s name (as seen in the above men-tioned verses).

Another interesting insight is as follows: The word for ring in Hebrew is Taba’at – which is similar for the Hebrew word Teva, which means nature. The ring is placed on the forefinger, which in Hebrew is known as Etzbah. This word appears in the Torah (Shemot 8:15) “It is the Finger of G-d (Etzbah Elo-kim)!” When it comes to find-ing your spouse many people mistakenly believe that it is

Teva – nature – that it just happens. But it re-ally is Hashem “doing’ everything – just making it ‘look’ like nature. The Midrash explains that “Hashem sits and pairs up couples.” Hashem is the One who makes Matches happen. There-fore the Chattan puts the Taba’at (ring) on the Etzbah (forefinger) to show that all of Teva (na-ture) is only wrapped around the Etzbah Elokim (Finger of G-d). Everything is really supervised and orchestrated by Hashem – Who is hidden within. Hashem turns things around to appear coincidental and natural – like the ring that sur-rounds the finger.

There is another Midrash which explains that there are 10 fingers corresponding to the 10 Commandments. The Second Commandment of “You shall not have any gods” corresponds to the index finger. When a Chattan says the words of: “Harei at Mekudeshet li B'taba’at zo Keda'at



Moshe V'Yisrael.” (“Behold you are sanctified unto me with this ring according to the Law of Moshe and the People of Israel”) before plac-ing the ring on the Kallah’s finger, in effect he is stating that that you are prohibited to all men. Just like the Jewish People are betrothed ONLY to Hashem and they are forbidden to worship idols – so too are the Chattan and Kallah to only have eyes for each other – and NO ONE ELSE! They have an exclusive bond that connects them to each other – and only each other!

We would like to wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe summer!

Rabbi Refael & Mrs. Adina Ribacoff are Chat-tan & Kallah Teachers, Marriage & Relation-ship Educators, Family & Life Coaches, Found-ers of Table for Two – Couple Events

If anyone is interested in joining a workshop on com-munication skills for couples, is welcome to contact us at: [email protected] or [email protected]



By Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland

Steve leaves his Upper West Side brownstone at 777 West 77th Street at exactly 7:00 A.M. to catch the 7:07 Seventh Avenue Express. On the way to the train, he notices a manila enve-lope with no name or address on the ground before him, at the corner of 7th Avenue and 77th Street. Curious as to its contents, he quick-ly picks it up and finds it filled with $100 bills. Frantically, he counts them, amazed at his good fortune to have found $7,700.“Today must be my lucky day!” he exclaims in delight, seven being a lucky number.Steve stuffs the cash into his pockets, and hav-ing missed his train, hails a cab instead, to complete his commute to his office at 77 7th Avenue. His excitement is further intrigued, when the cab driver pulls up in front of his building and tells him the fare is exactly seven dollars and seventy seven cents.“Today must be my lucky day!” he shouts out again. “I’m not go-ing to work! I’m going to the race-track! Driver, take me to Belmont Park Racetrack in Long Island!”Steve is further encouraged when, upon arriving at Belmont, the taxi fare comes to exactly seventy seven dollars and seventy seven cents. “There’s no doubt about it! Today is my lucky day!” he rejoices, as he rushes in to place his bet. There it is on the charts. Seventh Heaven is running at the odds of seven to one in the seventh race.“$7,777 on Seventh Heaven in the seventh race,” he orders the teller, positive that today is his lucky day, and seven is his lucky number.Sure enough, she came in seventh!

* * * *

In the superficial existence of a secular world de-void of depth and meaning, good-luck charms and rabbit’s feet are popularly cherished. The notion of something a little more esoteric would be one’s Zodiac sign, as a source for predicting character or innate tendencies. “Hi, I’m a Leo!” “Hi, I’m a Gemini!” Presto! A match made in Heaven! Chinese fortune cookies have even

invaded the kosher market as a favorite part of the menu of that cuisine. Las Vegas and At-lantic City have gained enormously from such shallowness, which unfortunately has made a major contribution to gambling addictions and the like. Such behavior runs the gamut from the stock market to every conceivable sporting event, from the sophisticated to the contempt-ible. To our dismay, this has also penetrated the Orthodox Jewish community.

Our Sages, however, to whom we turn to for all of our guidance in life, tell us unequivocally

“Ein mazel l’Yisrael.” The re-lationship between Klal Yisrael and the world is not governed by constellations, i.e. the revolving forces that are associated with the course of events. Although ma-zel is certainly part of the Divine Plan and governs a specific do-main for Klal Yisrael (e.g. we wish one another mazel tov at all joy-ous occasions), it is by no means the end-all. We are privileged to enjoy a special relationship with our Creator that precludes such limitation and extends beyond the world of mazel. Indeed, idol-

worshippers are referred to using the acronym of “aku”m,” namely, ovdei kochavim u’mazalos – people who worship the stars and the constel-lations, without any specific mention of molten images or statues that typify idolatry. For a Jew to place his hopes and dreams or his fortune in “good luck” is a distortion of the role he plays in Hashem’s world. It is at times the beginning of the denial of the truth that can lead to even such frivolity as idolatry. One of the reasons a gambler is precluded from being a witness in a Jewish court is because he is not involved in “yi-shuvo shel olam,” the settling of the world. Not only does he not pursue gainful employment in the practical sense, he grossly misunderstands his unique and important mission, that of bet-tering his world and destiny. He is preoccupied with the foolishness of chance, when his invest-ments should be in the futures of this world and the next. We dare not gamble away our eternal

It Ain’t Just Luck


reward for a thrill or two. Our stocks and securi-ties are our good deeds and their merit, and they are not on the table for any wager whatsoever.

The Talmud discusses auspicious moments in life, when a person might be more susceptible to Heavenly judgment and punishment. The Talmudcites the story of Rav Yanai, who would never cross a bridge without first checking its se-curity. He said, “A person should never treat any situation of chance or potential danger lightly, for who knows if he will be worthy of a miracle that will save him? And even if he is, he will lose precious zechuyos (merits) in the process.”

The creed of great tzaddikim is always: “katonti mikol hachassadim – perhaps I am unworthy or have already exhausted all of my merits.” They are fully aware of the ongoing grace of Hashem, and the precarious balance of our merits. To chance the loss of even one merit for any ven-ture, let alone capricious behavior, is out of the question.

And yet, even within the confines of observant Jewry, too many are caught up in their world of adventure and risk. From bungee-jumping

to snow-boarding; from jet-skiing to parasail-ing and sky-diving, from binge-eating to alcohol consumption, people cross all types of bridges, banking on their frivolous “E-ZPass” philosophy of living for the moment and reveling in good luck charms.

Our good fortune lies in one number: the num-ber one. The Oneness of Hashem and our re-lationship with Him, determines the founda-tional strength of the bridges we cross in life. As the Kotzker zt”l explained about “Echad Mi Yode’a,” the song in the Haggadah, everything in creation connects to the commandments of the Torah, since the Torah is the blueprint of creation. Who knows why the word “one” ex-ists in the world? For one singular reason: to recognize Hashem as the Source of it all; for all to proclaim “Echad Elokainu bashamayim u’vaaretz;” for all to decree in unison, “Shema Yisrael ...Hashem Echad – Hear O Israel ... Hashem is One.”

This is an excerpt from Rabbi Yehoshua Kurland's new book "A Time to Laugh, A Time to Listen," available at Jewish bookstores and at the CHAZAQ Shop.


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By Shmuel Shields, Ph.D., N.Y.S. Certified Nutritionist

Water is an essential nutrient, secondary in im-portance only to oxygen. In fact, the human body is composed primarily of water, with ap-proximately 65% of body weight made up of water. A healthy body thus requires proper hy-dration.

All cells require water to carry out their vital work. The body must be adequately hydrated in order for oxygen to be transport-ed to the blood and for nutrients to be carried through it. Water is also necessary for all bodily functions, including digestion, absorption, and circulation, and is essential for toxic removal and maintenance of body tempera-ture as well. Other important health functions include lubri-cating the joints and maintaining proper muscle tone. In terms of weight loss, adequate water in-take has been found to naturally suppress the appetite, prevent fluid retention, and metabolize stored fat.

The exact quantity of fluids needed depends upon diet, body size, activity level, climate, and health status. Typically, an adult requires six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. While filtering tap water significantly improves its quality, natural spring, bottled, or distilled water present other desirable options. It is advisable to check the source and quality of bottled water through Consumer Reports.

Consider the following options to spice up liq-uids in an effort to stay hydrated at all times:1. Add a splash of fruit juice for color and flavor.2. Add a slice of lemon or orange.3. Freeze strawberries in water.4. Wean off regular juices by diluting the drinks until they’re half-and-half.

5. Drink broth-based soups.

In addition, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables that are full of water, such as lettuce, watermel-on, broccoli, and grapefruit. Keep in mind that pure fruit and vegetable juices provide fluids and contain vitamins and minerals as well. For those

concerned about weight, howev-er, fruit juices contain significant calories per serving – as much as 100 calories in an 8 ounce glass. In order to reduce caloric intake, dilute fruit juices with water. Fresh vegetable juices have less sugar and therefore fewer calories than fruit juices.When exercising, cool water is the best fluid to drink since it empties from the stomach quickly and travels to parts of the body where it is needed. Sugary bever-ages, on the other hand, slow up the stomach emptying time and do not reach all parts of the body as quickly as water.

So let’s all drink water – to life!

For a consultation with Dr. Shmuel (Rick) Shields, N.Y.S. Certified Nutritionist, call (718) 544-4036. Most insurance plans are accepted. House calls, phone and e-mail consultations, and guest speaking can be ar-ranged. For information about VitaShield, a high quality multivitamin and mineral supplement with a well ab-sorbed form of vitamin D, contact Dr. Shields at (718) 544-4036 or e-mail him at [email protected]

To learn more about the latest developments in nutrition and for further product information, visit the progressive, new website – drshieldsnutrition.com

Please feel free to forward this article to others for educa-tional purposes.

Water: Drink to LifeHealth


By Howard Spielman

O Lucky Dog

When you take your dog for a walk, you don’t let him run wild. You put a leash on his collar to protect him. You want to keep him from harm. Heaven forbid he should get hit by a car.

Well, when I first began to lose weight, I also needed a leash, in fact, I still do. The leash I needed was a food plan, which I use on myself even to this day. I need to be protected.Look at the picture. The more I look at it, the more I recognize its truth and its powerful message.

You see, when it came to food, I used to be an animal. I ate like an animal and I acted like an animal!

I always had to be first and I always had to make certain that I got the most. If you were full and couldn't finish your food, I would do you a favor and finish it for you.

If food was about to be thrown out, I would vol-unteer to eat it, just so it wouldn't go to waste. My entire life revolved around food and what I was going to eat next.

Think about what I'm saying. A food plan for

me acts like a leash and keeps me in check and well protected.

You may still be asking yourself, "What does he need to be protected from?” I say it even more clearly. A person like me can destroy himself with food; in fact, I nearly did. I once weighed more than 400 pounds. I was a diabetic with

high blood pressure and a good candidate for either a stroke or a heart attack. All this because when it came to food, I was eating out of con-trol. I needed to be protected from myself.

I talk to many people who say " I just can't stop eating!" I understand completely. I can only tell you what worked for me. Think it through until you can admit to yourself that you need a safe way to handle

food. You will forever be spinning your wheels.

Take a low-fat food plan; one which allows you unlimited vegetables and perhaps think about joining a diet group so you won't feel you are doing it alone.

Remember, when you eat with a food plan, it may feel like a leash. However, it also feels good to be protected. You can do it!

You Can Do It!


By Ariella Horowitz, RD, CDN

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is made in the body by the liver. Cholesterol is a vital component of the formation and mainte-nance of healthy cell membranes, development of hor mones, production of vitamin D and manufacturing of bile acids which aid in fat di-gestion. Cholesterol is essential to our lives, but sometimes our bodies produce more cholesterol than we actually need. Often, this is due to a diet high in cholesterol and saturated fat. This excess cholesterol circulates in the bloodstream and can clog blood vessels, which may lead to heart disease and stroke.Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) is commonly known as the “bad” cholesterol as it deposits cholesterol on the artery walls and forms thick plaques. High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) is the “good” cholesterol that removes excess cholesterol from the blood-stream and carries it to the liver for removal from our bodies. Accord-ing to the American Heart Asso-ciation, in order to be at low risk for heart disease, total cholesterol levels should be less than 200 mg/dl, LDL should be less than 100 mg/dl and HDL should be more than 40 mg/dl in men and more than 50 mg/dl in women.I am often asked by patients what they can do in order to naturally lower their cholesterol level as a last attempt before having to begin a medica-tion regimen. The following 5 “superfoods” have been shown to have incredible cholesterol-lowering effects:1.Salmon&fattyfish– Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids; your body needs them but cannot make them on its own, so you must get them through food. Studies have shown that replacing saturated fats with omega-3s such as those found in salmon, sardines, tuna and her-ring can lower your bad cholesterol and blood pressure and raise your HDL by as much as 4%.2. Oats – Oats contain soluble fiber which de-creases your LDL cholesterol by reducing the absorption of cholesterol in your bloodstream. Changing your breakfast to include two servings

of oats every day can lower your LDL choles-terol by 5.3% in just 6 weeks. The secret to this cholesterol buster is beta-glucan, a substance in oats that absorbs LDL which your body then goes on to excrete.3. Red wine – Red wine is packed with several cholesterol lowering compounds. Resveratrol, a compound found in grapes that acts as an an-tioxidant, has been shown to decrease the risk of heart disease by blocking cholesterol oxida-tion. As an added bonus, resveratrol has been shown to lower blood pressure and contains cancer fighting properties as well. Red wine also contains high levels of saponins, a compound that binds to cholesterol and prevents its absorp-tion. The darker the wine, the higher the level of these cholesterol fighting compounds. Stud-

ies show that just one glass of red wine a day can increase your HDL by 16% and decrease your LDL by 12%! If you want the benefits of resveratrol and saponins with-out the alcohol, dark grape juice will do the trick.4. Nuts – Nuts are high in un-saturated fats which help lower “bad” cholesterol levels and in-crease the “good” HDL choles-terol. They are also high in fiber and phytosterols which compete with cholesterol for absorption. A study published in the American

Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that peo-ple who ate 1.5 ounces of nuts, 6 days a week for just one month, lowered their total choles-terol an average of 5.4% and their LDL choles-terol by 9.3%. Some of the nuts that have been shown to have these cholesterol fighting effects include almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, macadamia nuts and pea-nuts. Although nuts are heart healthy, they are high in calories so limit your intake to 1.5 ounces a day, the size of a shot glass and a half.5. Olive oil – Olive oil is rich in oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid. Numerous stud-ies have shown that monounsaturated fat is ex-tremely effective in lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol when substituted for saturated

Eat Your Way to Lower Cholesterol


fat in one’s diet. In addition, unlike polyunsatu-rated fat, monounsaturated fat does not lower the “good” HDL cholesterol or raise triglyceride levels. In order to avoid weight gain, make sure to use olive oil in place of saturated fats in your diet as it still has the same amount of calories as other oils. Stick to virgin or extra-virgin olive oil as they are less processed and, therefore, contain more antioxidants. For maximum results, incorporate these foods as part of a well balanced diet and exercise regi-men. A minimum of 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per day will help lower your cholesterol naturally as well.

Ariella Horowitz is a Registered Dietitian and a New York State Certified Dietitian/ Nutritionist. She does pri-vate consultations in her Kew Gardens Hills office and makes house calls for your convenience. Weekend and evening hours are available. To schedule an appointment, contact her at (718) 614-2145 or e-mail her at [email protected].


By Ephraim Zucker

For many people, the biggest transactions they will engage in involve transfers of real estate, often property used in their business or invest-ment property. Of course, it is tempting to "flip" the property quickly to earn a profit. However, a major consideration that should go into plan-ning such transactions is avoiding tax conse-quences. Knowing the rules before you get close to finalizing any deal can help you avoid later problems. One of the most commonly used strategies for shield-ing proceeds from sales of property from tax is the In-ternal Revenue Code's sec-tion 1031, which deals with "like-kind exchanges." The exchange defers tax on the transfer until the acquired property is sold. If any oth-er non-"like-kind" property, such as money, is received in the transaction, some taxable gain may be trig-gered. Any taxpaying entity is eligible to arrange such treatment, as long as the original property was not held for personal use. Some leeway is available with deferred exchang-es. You have 45 days from the date you sell the relinquished property to identify potential re-placement properties. The identification must be in writing, signed by you and delivered to a person involved in the exchange, such as the sell-er of the replacement property or the "qualified intermediary," who holds the replacement prop-erty before it is transferred to the new owner. Simply giving notice to your attorney, real estate agent, or accountant is insufficient. Another re-quirement is that the replacement property must be received and the exchange completed no

later than 180 days after the sale of the ex-changed property or the due date (with exten-sions) of the income tax return for the tax year in which the relinquished property was sold, whichever is earlier. The replacement property received must be "substantially identical" to the property identified within the 45-day limit. You need to be careful about certain other de-tails. Sometimes receiving cash will invalidate the entire exchange if it is received before the

conclusion of the ex-change. Property in the United States exchanged for property outside the United States is ineligible for deferred treatment. Make sure the replace-ment property is of equal or greater value to that of the old property, and that the mortgage or other debt against the new property is equal to or greater than that on the old property.

Certain types of "personal property" are eligi-ble for 1031 treatment, but the rules are fairly strict; for example, cars cannot be exchanged for trucks. Stocks, bonds, receivables, and inven-tory are eligible for 1031. Even though no tax is owed, 1031 exchanges still must be reported to the IRS with your tax return. Also, beware of doing too many 1031 exchanges too fast - the IRS may reclassify you as being a dealer, which can lead to heavy taxes, as well as social security tax, interest, and fines.

Ephraim Zucker is an accountant in Flushing, NY. This article should not be relied upon for any tax advice. He can be reached at 718-614-9820.

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It has been a long time since I last echoed my fa-ther’s sentiments and wisdom. Three years have gone by since my father’s passing and I have yet to find the right words to describe the pain I feel inside my aching heart. At times it feels impos-sible to fill a void so great and deep. Now, my only consolation in life is to continue with what I was taught by those who have loved me most throughout my life - my parents. I must continue in their ways and impress upon my own children all that has been instilled in me. There are many issues which transcend between parents and their children. Many families have issues which others may find to be minor or of no importance. I, on the other hand, have stumbled upon an issue I myself am guilty of....the lack of GRATITUDE. When was the last time you accepted something from a parent and real-ized that all they give to you simply means they are giving less to themselves? Certainly, parents have an obligation to feed, clothe, protect, educate, etc., their children, but not to the extent where the par-ents are left with nothing. By nature, parents have an innate instinct to provide the very best for all their children, but unfortunately, not all children believe that what a parent is doing is in the best interest of that child. Our parents want noth-ing more than love and appreciation from their children. Even when they cannot, they want to provide only the best life has to offer for the chil-dren they worked so hard to raise. I often won-der what and how much my parents had given up just so I can have the life they have willingly provided for me. Why can’t we love our parents even when they have nothing more to give us? The most precious words that come out of any childs mouth are “thank you.” A truly rich man, however, is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty.

To be frank, when I sat down to write this article, I had writer’s block. Although there are many topics I want to discuss, I find it very difficult at times to express myself correctly. I can spend hours writing an article and then delete every-thing. However, a few days before I submitted my article for publication, a tragedy occurred close to home, not to me personally, but an event that would make this article more understand-able.

About two weeks ago, the superintendent of my building had told me that a foul smell had been coming from a certain fifth floor apartment. After three days of knocking on the door, they decided to break open the lock in order to gain

access to the apartment. Upon entering, a 60 year old man was found dead, sprawled out on the liv-ing room floor. The po-lice were called and the deceased was taken to a local morgue. Out of cu-riosity, we called the po-lice department to inquire as to the status of our neighbor’s funeral and the cause of death. We were told that this person has been dead for about four weeks and no miss-ing person’s report had

been filed. Upon further investigation, we were informed that the deceased was himself a wid-ower with five grown children of his own, all of whom live within the same state and have skilled professional occupations. Let’s review the numbers one more time. Four weeks dead, five children who didn’t care, and finally and most importantly, ZERO gratitude for everything this man did for his children so they can have accomplished careers. Not even one phone call from any of the kids within that month just to see how their father was doing. I was told that three of the children are doc-tors and two are lawyers. Do you know what it takes to put five children through medical and

A Father’s Echo


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law school? I am sure that this man gave up many luxuries throughout his lifetime just so his children can live a better life than he did as an immigrant. Within a week of notifying the children, one of the sons arranged a funeral to bury his dear father - Thank you o grateful son. Where is the gratitude and appreciation this man deserved from his own children? To My Dearest Father, if I forgot to ever say it, or didn’t say it loud enough, THANK YOU for all you did for me. For everything you gave me, you yourself never had as a child. For all the love you selflessly gave. For all the advice I should have listened to. And most of all, for being my father, the greatest gift of all. How lucky I am to have something that makes say-ing goodbye so hard. Perhaps, the way to love anything is to realize that it may be lost forever.

Your Eternally Grateful Son,Isaac Nektalov




718-285-9132www.CHAZAQ.org

Man pays bill with 2,500 pennies

A Utah man has been cited on a charge of disorderly conduct after paying for a disputed medical bill with 2,500 pennies. Jason West went to Basin Clinic in Vernal prepared to dispute an outstanding $25 bill.Assistant Vernal Police Chief Keith Campbell says that after asking staff members whether they accepted cash, West dumped 2,500 pennies on the counter and demanded that staff count them.

Campbell says the incident upset staff because pennies were strewn about the counter and floor, and West's action served "no legitimate purpose."Police later issued the 38-year-old West a citation for disorderly conduct. That carries a fine of as much as $140. Or 14,000 pennies. (AP)

Sign language or gang signs???

Two deaf men were stabbed in a Florida bar when another patron mistook their sign language for gang signs.31-year-old Alfred Stewart, who is deaf and mute, and three others including a bouncer are recovering in the hospital from wounds suffered at the Ocean's Eleven Sports Lounge and Grill on Federal Highway, where Stewart and his friends were celebrating a birthday.Police say Barbara Lee became angry when she thought Stewart's party,

all of whom are deaf, were throwing gang signs at her.The 45-year-old confronted Stewart and his friends and made gang signs to them. Witnesses say they motioned for the "aggressive" woman to leave them alone.Instead, Lee left and then shortly returned to the bar with a juvenile and 19-year-old Marco Ibanez, who is accused of pulling out a knife and stabbing the men.In the ensuing melee was the deaf men suffered stab wounds to the torso and back while the intervening bouncer was struck on the head with a bottle.Lee and Ibanez were taken into custody and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. (CBS news)

Familyfindsover$40,000innewhome

When Josh Ferrin closed on his family's first home, he never thought he'd make the discovery of a lifetime. As he walked into his new garage, a piece of cloth that clung to an attic door caught his eye. He opened the hatch and climbed up the ladder, then pulled out a metal box that looked like a World War II ammunition case. Then he found seven more boxes, all stuffed full with tightly wound rolls of cash bundled together with twine.Ferrin quickly took the boxes to his parents’ house to count. Along with

his wife and children, they spread out thousands of bills on a table, separating the bundles one by one.They stopped counting at $40,000, but estimated there was at least $5,000 more on the table.Ferrin thought about how such a large sum of money could go a long way; pay bills and buy things he never thought he could afford.After most of the money was counted, Ferrin called one of the original owner’s sons with the news.Kay Bangerter, a son of the previous owner, said he knew his father hid away money because he

71

Strange but True News


once found a bundle of cash taped beneath a drawer in their home, but he never considered his dad had stuffed away so much over the years. Bangerter called the money's return "a story that will outlast our generation and probably yours as well." (Yahoo news)

FBI: Ohio bank suspect lowers hood when told

The FBI says an Ohio bank robbery suspect left authorities with good surveillance photos because he lowered his hood when an employee told him to.FBI Special Agent Harry Trombitas says the man in his mid-20s entered a Columbus PNC Bank with his dark hood up, covering most of his face. Trombitas says in a statement that the bank has a "no hats, no hoods" policy, so a bank employee told the man to pull his hood down, and he complied.

The FBI says when the suspect got to the counter, he handed the teller a note saying he had a gun and to give him money or he would shoot. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash.Columbus police haven't announced an arrest. (Yahoo news)

Maneats25,000thBigMac,39yearsafterhisfirst

A retired prison guard ate his 25,000th Big Mac sandwich, 39 years to the day after eating his first.Don Gorske was honored after reaching the meaty milestone during a ceremony at a McDonald's in his hometown of Fond du Lac. Surely McDonald's most loyal customer, Guinness World Records recognized Gorske's feat three years and 2,000 Big Macs ago, and the 57-year-old says he has no desire to stop.

"I plan on eating Big Macs until I die," he said. "I have no intentions of changing. It's still my favorite food. Nothing has changed in 39 years. I look forward to it every day."The sign beneath the golden arches read "Congrats Don Gorske 25000 Big Macs."Gorske, who appeared in the 2004 documentary "Super Size Me," which examined the fast food industry, looks nothing like one might expect of a fast food junkie. He's trim and walks regularly for exercise, and he attributes his build to being "hyperactive." He said he was recently given a clean bill of health and that his cholesterol is low. Gorske's obsession with the burger — two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun, for those not familiar with the once-ubiquitous ads — started May 17, 1972, when he bought three Big Macs to celebrate the purchase of a new car. He was hooked, and went back to McDonald's twice more that day, eating nine before they closed.He's only gone eight days since without a Big Mac, and most days he eats two. Among the reasons he skipped a day was to grant his mother a dying wish. His last Big Mac-less day was Thanksgiving 2000, when he forgot to stock up and the store was closed for the holiday. (Yahoo news)

Longlinesformafter$1.10-a-gallonLAgasgoof

Word spread quickly about a Los Angeles gas station selling premium unleaded for $1.10-a-gallon, but it wasn't a promotion. The owner says the too-good-to-be-true price was a computer glitch that cost him $21,000.Long lines snaked from the pumps at the Valero station in Wilmington. Police were even called to control traffic.The Torrance Daily Breeze reports that within four hours, about 7,000 gallons of premium were pumped at the discounted rate.

Station owner Kenny Nguyen says the attendant on duty was busy staffing the convenience store and register.He says a price change didn't take, so the system defaulted to the $1.10 price — a cut of more than $3 a gallon.Nguyen hopes motorists who got the break come back and pay the real price. (AP)

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NYC taxi driver takes 2 guys cross country

A New York City cab driver has racked up the fare of a lifetime. Mohammed Alam is being paid $5,000 to drive a pair of friends to Los Angeles. The trio left on a Saturday night and had reached Las Vegas by Thursday.Investment banker John Belitsky, of Leonia, N.J., tells the New York Post that the idea was hatched during a birthday celebration for Dan Wuebben of Queens.

Belitsky said they wanted to do something “magical.” When they decided on a cab ride to California, they found Alam at LaGuardia Airport and brokered the deal.The two friends haven’t decided how they’ll get back yet. As for the cab driver, he says a friend will meet him in Los Angeles and help him make the drive home. (AP)

Man fakes mugging after missing out on Oprah tickets

A 44-year-old Canadian man says he concocted a lie that he was mugged so he would not have to tell his wife that he had no tickets to Oprah Winfrey's final show.Robert Spearing faces felony charges for telling police that two men roughed him up in Chicago and took the coveted tickets.According to local reports, he later confessed to making up the story because he was afraid to tell his wife that they had travelled all the way to

Chicago without tickets. He told police he faked his injuries by cutting his own forehead with a rock and scraping his hands on the sidewalk.Spearing was charged with one count of felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report. (Reuters)

Oregon woman develops foreign accent after surgery

Karen Butler has a British-sounding accent, but she's never been to Europe. She woke up from dental surgery one day talking funny. A year and a half later her "foreign" accent remains, and her story has traveled around the world.The 56-year-old tax consultant from Toledo, Ore., has found her life transformed by the dental procedure, which left her with dentures, and — depending on whom you ask — an Eastern European, Swedish or British accent.Butler had all her top teeth and front bottom teeth removed in November 2009 because of gingivitis. A week later the swelling had gone away, but she still sounded strange. Her dentist told her she just had to get used to

her new teeth.But as weeks stretched on with no change, Butler did some online research. She diagnosed herself with Foreign Accent Syndrome, a medical condition with only a few dozen documented cases.The syndrome is often the result of brain injury; though it is uncommon, most neurologists will see at least one case in their career. Sometimes a person just sounds slightly off; other times there may be a more dramatic-sounding accent.In Toledo, a small town of about 3,500 people, Butler is a novelty with her exotic accent. And that was before she went on the "Today" show and was featured on more than a dozen other television shows, newspaper articles and radio stations from Europe to Australia.Aside from the media attention, Karen Butler said her life hasn't changed much. She's less shy because of all the questions she's been asked. For a while her family treated the accent like a "new toy," asking her to say certain words or phrases. (MSNBC)

73



By Spencer Spielman (Official Caterer of Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim in Queens)




By Naftali SzrolovitsWinner!!

It was a really hot day and Yosef decided he would go get a can of coke. He went to the coke machine and when he put his money in, a coke came out - so

he kept putting money in.

Since it was such a hot day, a line had formed behind him. Finally, a guy on line said, "Will you

hurry up? We're all hot and thirsty!"

So Yosef said, "No way. I'm still winning!"

Blinker Working?Yosef and Naftali were driving down the road.

Naftali, who is driving, looks at Yosef in the passenger seat and asks him to see if his blinker is working. So Yosef looks out the window and says,

''Yes. No. Yes. No.''

Two Lawyers Playing GolfTwo lawyers, Jon and Phil, head out for their usual 9 holes of golf. Jon offers Phil a $50 bet. Phil agrees and they're off. They shoot a great game. After the 8th hole, Phil is ahead by one stroke, but cuts his

ball into the rough on the 9th.

''Help me find my ball. Look over there,'' he says to Jon. After a few minutes, neither has any luck. Since a lost ball carries a four point penalty, Phil secretly pulls a ball from his pocket and tosses it to

the ground. ''I've found my ball!'' he announces.

''After all of the years we've been partners and playing together," Jon says, "you'd cheat me out of

a lousy 50 bucks?''

''What do you mean, cheat? I found my ball sitting right there!''

''And you're a liar, too!'' Jon says. ''I'll have you know I've been STANDING on your ball for the last five

minutes!''

Where’s the Money?A Mafia Godfather, accompanied by his attorney, walks into a room to meet with his former

accountant. The Godfather asks the accountant, “Where is the 3 million bucks you embezzled from me?” The

accountant does not answer.The Godfather asks again, “Where is the 3 million

bucks you embezzled from me?”The attorney interrupts, “Sir, the man is a deaf mute and cannot understand you, but I can

interpret for you.”The Godfather says, “Well ask him where my money is!” The attorney, using sign language, asks

the accountant where the 3 million dollars is.The accountant signs back, “I don’t know what you

are talking about.”The attorney interprets to the Godfather, “He

doesn’t know what you are talking about.”The Godfather pulls out a 9 millimeter pistol, puts it to the temple of the accountant, cocks the trigger and says tells the attorney to once again ask where

is the money.The attorney signs to the accountant, “He wants to

know where it is!”The accountant signs back, “OK! OK! OK! The money is hidden in a brown suitcase behind the

shed in my backyard!”The Godfather says, “Well….what did he say?”

The attorney interprets to the Godfather, “He says that you don’t have the guts to pull the trigger.”

Special DayOver breakfast, a woman said to her husband, “I’ll

bet you don’t know what day this is.” “Of course I do,” he answered, as if offended, and

left for the office.At 10:00 a.m., a dozen red roses arrived at the house. At 1:00 p.m., a two-pound box of chocolates was delivered. The designer dress arrived at 3:00.

When her husband came home, the woman ran to meet him and said, “I’ve never had a more

wonderful Groundhog Day in my life!”

Little SallyEight-year-old Sally brought her report card home

from school. Her grades were good — mostly A’s and a couple of B’s. However, her teacher had written across the bottom: “Sally is a smart little girl, but she has one fault. She talks too much in school. I have an idea I am going to try, which I think may break her of

the habit.”Sally’s dad signed her report card, putting a note on the back: “Sally gets it from her mother. Please let

me know if your idea works.”.

Vice PresidentTom was so excited about his promotion to Vice

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Can you make us laugh? If so, send in your most hilarious jokes to:

Email: [email protected]: 718-255-5803Mail: 144 – 02 69th Rd Flushing, NY 11367

President of the company he worked for and kept bragging about it to his wife for weeks on end.

Finally she couldn't take it any longer, and told him, "Listen, it means nothing, they even have a vice

president of peas at the grocery store!".

"Really?" he said. Not sure if this was true or not, Tom decided to call the grocery store.

A clerk answers and Tom says "Can I please talk to the Vice President of peas?"

The clerk replies "Canned or frozen?"

Gas Prices vs…People have been complaining about the rising price of gasoline for years, but I have always thought that gas was a good value (especially if you were to take the $0.30, $0.40 per gallon tax off at the pump)! Obviously, others need a little convincing. So an article in "Autoweek" magazine brought it all to

light. What if you were to buy a gallon of . . .- Diet Snapple 16 oz for $1.29 = $10.32 per gallon - Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz for $1.19 = $9.52 per gallon

- Gatorade 20 oz for $1.59 = $10.17 per gallon - Ocean Spray 16 oz for $1.25 = $10.00 per gallon - Quart of Milk 16 oz for $1.59 = $6.32 per gallon - Evian (water) 9 oz for $1.49 = $21.19 per gallon

- STP Brake Fluid 12 oz for $3.15 = $33.60 per gallon - Vicks Nyquil 6 oz for $8.35 = $178.13 per gallon - Pepto Bismol 4 oz for $3.85 = $123.20 per gallon

- Whiteout 7 oz for $1.39 = $254.17 per gallon - Scope 1.5 oz for $0.99 = $84.84 per gallon

So next time you're at the pump, be glad your car doesn't run on Nyquil or Scope or Whiteout!

Fun FactsThere are 293 ways to make change for a dollar.

If you counted 24 hours a day, it would take 31,688 years to reach one trillion!

Make sure to look in our next issue for the solution to this puzzle.

Soduku PuzzleSoduku Puzzle

Solution to last Issue’s puzzle

The object of the game is to insert the proper number into the boxes to complete

the puzzle. Each box, row, and column must contain the numbers 1 through 9, only one

time each. Good Luck!


By Arthur Gukasyan

The goodness of Hashem is evident through the acts of the righteous. Yuriy Mamonov exemplified this through his selfless manner and his dedication to friends and family. He suffered from a debilitating disease that ul-timately took his life. He could have justifi-ably lived a life of self-pity, focusing on his own troubles. Instead, he chose to share his joy and showed so many of those fortunate enough to have witnessed it, that happiness is possible in any situation. His journey is a testament to the philosophy that life and love are truly virtues. His experience reaf-firms that every day in the light is a gift to be cherished.

Yuriy was a profoundly devoted Jew first. So much of his time and energies were committed to the glory and advancement of his faith and its people. He led organi-zations, actively participated in events and gatherings, and willingly contributed every aspect of his being to the betterment of all Jews. He did all of this with equal measures of modesty and pride. He gave of himself whole-heartedly with no expectation of im-mediate reciprocation. In these activities he expressed his reverence to the creator, re-spect for the teachings of the Torah, and his love for his peers.

Yuriy treated all of his other interests with the same enthusiasm. He completed his un-dergraduate studies at Queens College and was pursuing a Masters Degree in Finance at

St John’s University. Always on the go, he managed to work to support himself and meet his needs. Even with this rigorous schedule and the complications of his physi-cal condition, he still found quality time to be family and friend to so many. The To-rah teaches us that “True friends are hard to find; it is even more difficult to be one. Having good friends begins with being a good friend.” On many occasions I person-ally benefited from his advice and support. In him I found a formidable counselor and confidant. It was often through his strength that I found my way through the trials of life. Yuriy was a cherished ally, and every day I spent in his company was a blessing.

In the last hours of his physical existence I found myself tormented by one regret. I was helpless to save him. My one hope is that my presence may have provided some comfort to him in his final moments. The next day at his funeral it was evident that all of his sacrifice was not in vain. Over one thousand mourners came to pay their respects, to rec-ognize that a man of noble character had once lived among them. We all found one consolation at the service. His body may be gone from us but the spirit of love and opti-mism that he exuded lives on. Hence forth if I ever have doubts about the beauty of being alive, I remember the words that Yuri spoke so often. “Life is Good.”

LIFE IS GOODIn Memory of Uriel Rafael ben Sarah.


In a world where few people know their vehicle's workings, it's good to know how to find the right person to keep you up and running. With just a few tips, you'll be driving comfortably for years to come. 1. Ask around. Your friends, family, and col-leagues have cars, and have to get them serviced somewhere. Find out how they feel about their mechanics2. Call the Better Business Bureau to check whether the shop has any complaints on file.3. Another thing to look for is affiliation signs. AAA (American Automobile Association) will certify some local repair shops after examining their credentials and business policies, and they will have a list of those shops on their website.4. Try to research various automotive certifica-tions. A good auto mechanic will be ASE (Auto-motive Service Excellence) Certified and should have a certification indicating what areas he is proficient in.5. Check the warranty on the repair work before leaving the car at the shop. Six months is great; 90 days is good; 30 days is a little suspect. Find out whether the warranty covers both parts and labor.6. Check online reviews. Look for reviewers' overall impression, without too much weight given to isolated very bad or very good reviews: a reviewer here and there may be unreasonable, mistaken, dishonest, or simply grumpy.7. Investigate procedures online. Internet sites and discussions can provide "sanity checks" on prices and reasons for repairs. Bear in mind that prices can vary significantly from place to place and a lot from car to car, and that sometimes things do go bad unexpectedly.8. "Stake-out" your local shops. This means driv-ing past and checking out the facilities. Look for clean, orderly grounds and work areas and peo-ple engaged purposefully in their work. Grounds chock-full of cars being actively worked through aren't a bad thing, though perhaps not for you if you have a very valuable car or show-quality finish to protect from even the slightest tap. Take notice of the makes, quantity, and quality of the other customers' cars. If you drive a five year old Ford truck, and the only vehicles you see around

are run-down, old Fiats in the parking lot, that probably isn't the place for you. Professional drivers are likely to be well-informed, so taxis, limos, or work vans around can indicate a good economical shop.9. Balance price and convenience. Any me-chanic should work honestly, effectively, and avoid big surprises on cost or time. Going to a more-expensive shop alone doesn't guarantee anything, but recognize that it legitimately costs more to provide: - Convenient location. It costs more to rent, or forego income by not renting out, space in a fancy or densely-populated area. But, if you live or work in such an area, taking your car here may help you get back to your other activities quicker. - Some shops, typically fancy ones like dealer-ships, provide free shuttles. There are many non-expensive areas within short distances from train or bus stops--consider your safety to, from and at those, though. A cab ride to and from a shop in an inconvenient area may be well worth the money you can save on a repair. Occasion-ally one of the workers may offer you a lift. Call to ask about transit options before going. - New and spacious waiting, office and repair ar-eas. Buildings, like cars, cost money to build and keep shiny. Accumulation of dirt and serious decay can suggest an attitude problem, though.- More time to talk and mitigate unexpected delays. It can sometimes take a lot of time to explain some problems with a level of detail suitable for those not familiar with cars or to deal with unexpected problems that may ap-pear. A shop that does less business overall may have more time to explain things and may intro-duce less delay for unusual problems because it already has slack in its schedule. If you expect to have something complicated to ask about at a busy shop, be prepared to wait awhile; better yet, ask what times are less busy before going.- More parts on hand. Larger shops, and those that specialize in particular kinds of work or cars, can often save time with parts taken from a comprehensive inventory rather than waiting for them to arrive from elsewhere, though even that can be pretty fast near a major city.

AUTOFinding a Good Mechanic


charges for replacing old parts that got broken if you agree to have aftermarket parts used. Ask about this if an insurer is paying for your repairs.- Specialization. Many mechanics can do good work on all kinds of common cars. But many parts on antiques work in odd, obsolete ways, and many parts on top-of-the-line luxury cars or exotic cars can work in odd ways to squeeze out a little extra performance; Replacements can be hard to find. So if you have one of these, look for a mechanic who works with similar cars as a substantial part of his business. If the car has collector value, make sure any replacement parts are sufficiently "authentic."- Dealerships generally charge quite a bit more for parts and labor than other mechanics, but they're supposed to know your vehicle and be able to get the job done perfectly.10. Talk to the mechanic, ask questions and re-quest to see the old parts when they are removed. When a mechanic puts a face to the vehicle and knows he may be talking with you again he is more likely to be more particular about how he performs the repairs.

- All original-equipment-manufacturer ("OEM") or other new parts. Car manufacturers make, or obtain through their parts suppliers, and sell spare parts that should match the originals per-fectly, known as OEM parts. Dealers normally use these. Other, "aftermarket" manufacturers, make new replacement parts. "Rebuilders" or "remanufactures" take apart and clean complex used parts such as engines and transmissions, re-place whatever may have broken, readjust, refit or replace whatever tends to wear out, and re-assemble, lubricate, and seal them. Aftermarket and rebuilt parts typically cost much less and are often just as good. There are established af-termarket and rebuilding companies with their own reputations to protect. Junkyards, often called "salvage" or "used auto parts" companies, are particularly good for saving money on things that don't wear out, like doors and mirrors, but the particular part to be used has to be examined and the appearance normally won't be perfect. Independent mechanics typically use aftermar-ket parts, and sometimes rebuilt or salvage parts, but should ask before installing something that is not new. - An insurer may sometimes waive "betterment"

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Windows office ultimate 2007 full version

For more info call 917-325-7983

SERVICES

Crafters United For Charity

Sells hand-made crafts and photographs

to help support charities in need

www.ArtsAndCraftsForCharity.org _______________________________________________

Computer Lessons for You.

Patient, experienced, skilled teacher.

General Computer Skills, Office Programs,

Graphic Design, Web Design.

All ages/levels welcome. Reasonably priced.

Bring a friend for reduced fee.

Odelia: 718-261-0936, [email protected] _______________________________________________

Car Pool Available All Over the

Queens Area Call 718-374-1158 _______________________________________________

Get Divrei Torah by E-mail, or post your own!

For more info, or to Join this group,

Log on to: www.WeeklyParsha.org _______________________________________________

For Registrations and Plates,

Surrender Old Plates, Duplicate Lost Title,

Renewals and other NY DMV Services

contact 917-699-0298 _______________________________________________

Honest and responsible tenants.

Seeking 3 bdrm apt with sect.8 voucher.

Good References.

Pls call 718-692-7229 or 718-755-7224

REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

Apartment for Rent in KGH

Beautiful 1 bedroom

Double Sink, Ceramic Tiles,

Near Ohr HaChaim

$995 a month includes all utilities

For more info call 718-374-1301 _______________________________________________

Apartments for rent

Madison / Midwood / Sheepshead Bay

Studios, 1, 2, 3 BD’s $800-$2600

Daniel Home Sales Realty

Jack 917-596-6507 Mark 646-359-6323

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

For all Real Estate Listings

Log on to QueensBroker.com _______________________________________________

1 bedroom co-op for sale

3 bedroom house for rent

3 bedroom co-op for sale

Call: 917-497-4195 _______________________________________________

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Non profit recruiting & employment agency.

Free of charge. If you or anyone you may know

are looking to hire an employee or in need of

employment email: [email protected] _______________________________________________

Looking for frum experienced advertising agent

for a future weekly Hebrew radio program. Very

attractive salary. Send resume to

[email protected] or call 718-427-4603

New York City Parking & Sanitation Schedule

*Alternate Side Parking: For snow and other emergencies dial 311 to get an update of parking rules for a particular day

**Garbage: Residents who are normally scheduled for collection on the day of a holiday should place their garbage out at curbside on the holiday evening for collection. Some residents will experience a disruption of on-time household collection service.

Recycling: Residents who are usually scheduled for recycling collection on the day of the holiday will not receive service that week. They should place their recyclables out at curbside the following week on their regular day of service.

Banks & Post Offices

Parking Rules

Garbage** & Recycling

Alternate* Side Parking

Closed Holiday Suspended Suspended July 4th Monday Independence Day

Open Normal Normal Suspended August 15th Monday Observance

Open Normal Normal Suspended Aug 30 – Sep 1 Tues-Thurs Observance


To Advertise in the CHAZAQ Magazine Please Call us at: 718-285-9132 or Email:

[email protected]

AK Studio (917) 353-0644 25All My Children (718) 658-1563 4Amazeing Balloons (917) 392-4812 45AtoZ Home Inspections (516) 513-0312 27Best Auto Plaza (718) 476-6999 6BH Home Improvement (646) 460-3888 25Binah (718) 305-5200 70Classical Guitar Lessons (718) 793-7045 18Computer Doctor (347) 610-3005 67Computer Repair (917) 364-8373 63Discount Furniture (718) 558-4190 20DJ Atara (917) 405-3152 28Dreaming Room (888) 613-6464 55E Tech 7 (917) 787-9901 52Eastern Mechanical (718) 523-7800 15Eran Varnai, CPA (718) 577-9197 65E-Z Tax Services (718) 614-9820 65Five Towns Jewish Times (516) 569-0502 61Green Foot Global (718) 744-4360 26Hamodia (718) 853-9094 44Hinge Doctor (516) 569-7304 30HiTech Mobile (917) 699-0298 40Hillside Honda (888-236-5052 91Interact Web (212) 398-3087 14Isaac Abraham Law (646) 397-9529 10ITP Phone (888) 921-5766 3JD Optics (718) 607-2919 37JM Auto Leasing (718) 766-7444 2Kaddish (347) 336-8320 37Kings Judaica (718) 375-7272 Front, 19Koba Capital (800) 376-5440 10Kol Halashon (718) 906-6400 40Light House (718) 261-0101 57Margaret Tietz (718) 298-7800 92

CHAZAQ Directory of Advertisers

Mark Plaine, ESQ (718) 268-0279 11Meal Mart (718) 261-3300 74N.N.N Dental (718) 459-2222 FrontPizza Palace Cafe (917) 945-9592 48Print Leaf (646)494-5323 89QJCC (718) 544-9033 24R Bdelaa Lighting (718) 730-9011 82Regal Plumbing Corp (347) 393-8710 52Relax Real Estate (054) 972-4446 63Renah Bell, Realtor (516) 295-5844 63Sentinel LLC (917) 968-2211 27Shimon’s Pizza (718) 793-1491 76Solomon Steiman, ESQ (917) 838-5923 15Spartan Credit (347) 530-3015 13Spencer’s Catering (718) 793-4415 75Stephan J. Siegel (718) 575-3900 9Stern’e Silver (516) 295-7842 41Stir Fry Company (718) 896-0310 77Subway (718) 544-7827 76Tax & Business Services (646) 361-0368 65The Glow Maternity (917) 939-2062 28The Jewish Home (516) 734-0858 68The Jewish Press (718) 935-1215 58The Kosher Clown (917) 531-5578 63The Licenator (917) 776-4162 30The Shmuz (866) 613-8672 38Torah Minute (516) 487-6676 35Tov Occasions (848) 525-5376 19Traffic Tickets (917) 385-3607 90Wall St. Mortgage (888) 541-7283 5Yaakov Serle Advertising (718) 263-2483 20Yeshivat Ohr Haiim (718) 658-7066 23Zelig Solomon, D.M.D (718) 793-4200 27

We encourage our Readership to Patronize our Advertisers.



המפתח להצלחה בנישואיןמה אנחנו יכולים לעשות כדי לגרום לבני הזוג שלנו להרגיש טוב עוד היום?


www.yaakovbenesther.com


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Visit www.PrintLeaf.com to View Full Price List

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F Train to SUTPHIN BLVD, 1 Block 6 Blocks East Of The Van Wyck Expwy.

139-07 Hillside Ave. • Queens, NY We Speak Your Language! Мы говорим по-русски •

Best Cars,Best Prices,Best Service

Jacob Babadzhanov Sales & Leasing ExecutiveTel: 888-236-5052

Fax: 718-657-3672E-mail: [email protected]

New 2011 HondaOdyssey

164-11 Chapin ParkwayJamaica Hills, NY 11432

718-298-7800www.margarettietz.org

AMember of the Beth AbrahamFamily of Health Services

Centrally located near the Queens communitiesof Kew Garden Hills, Hillcrest & JamaicaEstates. Only 20 minutes om Brooklyn,Manhattan & the Five Towns.

eMargaret TietzNursing & Rehabilitation Center

is pleased to announce the completion of thenewly expanded Jamaica Hills eruv

connectingHolliswood/Jamaica Estates,

Hillcrest/Fresh Meadows, Kew Gardens Hills,and our very own Shabbos Hospitality Apartment

to our beautifully renovated facility.

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CHAZAQ Magazine # 19

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