VOL 10, NO 14 ■ APRIL 8, 2011 / 4 NISAN, 5771 WWW.THEJEWISHSTAR.COM Yeshiva Sports Page 8 Orthodox “go to” guy seeks state seat Page 2 What rhymes with mensch? Page 4 Tuition stress in marriage Page 16 THE JEWISH STAR Congregation Beth Sholom celebrates Black tie at 59 By Jewish Star Staff Lawrence will be hopping Sunday evening April 10 as Rabbi Kenneth Hain’s Congrega- tion Beth Sholom enjoys its 59th Annual Tes- timonial Dinner honoring Marcia and Moses Z. Berman and Felice and Todd Soifer. A Community Chesed Award will be presented to Beverly and Ted Lowenthal as the formal gala buffet dinner parties from 5 p.m. into the night. The Bermans, who are beloved by the community bring enormous energy and warmth to every aspect of their lives. “Mo- sey” is the official “Candy Man” and the first stop for any child coming into shul. The Soifers are also a dynamic couple who bring excellence and creativity to ev- erything they do. The Lowenthals, who will be receiving the Community Chesed Award, have dedicated themselves to acts of chesed for over 40 years. Together, they have or- ganized the Hatzilu luncheon, which brings Jewish poor together for a taste of Yiddish- keit. The luncheons are held on Succot and Purim in the shul. The Lowenthals are also active trained members of the Community Emergency Response Team. “This is going to be the best dinner ever,” said Michael Novick, the congregation’s ex- ecutive director. “We are thrilled to be honoring our most dedicated honorees.” Dinner Chair, Avram Schreiber said, “This is a truly different event; there is going to be an injection of humor and great warmth at the same time.” Commenting on his unique and historic con- gregation, Schreiber added, “We are the last of the great synagogues, we cater to the mid- stream orthodox and our Rabbi Hain is a great representative of our wonderful warm, dynamic and committed community.” By David F. Nesenoff As Gourmet Glatt prepares for the Passover holiday, The Jewish Star sat down and spoke with its management team, Yoeli Steinberg, Moshe Ratner, Rabbi Berel Wolowik, Howie Klagsburn and Shloy Rubinstein. It was a unique and exclusive conversation with a group of men who are committed to their busi- ness and the laws of Torah governing kashrus and ethics. David F. Nesenoff: When does Gourmet Glatt start preparing for Passover? Yoeli: We start right after Chanu- kah. We preempt the season by having the floor manager, Howie, start to look at what products were sold last Pesach, what our customers are interested in and what’s new to the market. He starts to put it all together and places initial or- ders to secure the products for the com- ing Pesach season. DFN: How do you physically get the building ready for Pesach? Moshe: I’m going to refer to Berel, be- cause his meat department is always the first department to turn over to Pesach. Berel: Many customers like to start their Pesach prepping two weeks before Purim, six weeks before Pesach. So we are Pesach-ready at that time. DFN: What’s the concept or mes- sage of Gourmet Glatt? Yoeli: First and foremost we are a united management team. Our priority is to give the consumer an incredible shop- ping experience. That includes keeping a real clean sanitary environment; the greatest choice of products, the most helpful and kind staff, turning a chore that must be done, like food shopping , into a really pleasant experience. When our advertising says, “Lean on us” we really mean it. We’ll bring in whatever you like; we’ll extend our hours. If one person needs to shop, I’m here for them. We do what is necessary to do for each individual customer. DFN: Did you ever get a complaint? Yoeli: To be in retail and never get a complaint is not possible. The difference is that we’re in tune to the complaint. We like to validate the complaint. And then we will do our best to address it. By the Shabbat Candlelighting: 7:09 p.m. Shabbat ends 8:10 p.m. 72 minute zman 8:39 p.m. Torah Reading Parshat Metzora PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID GARDEN CITY, NY 11530 PERMIT NO 301 Gourmet Glatt talks tachlis and kashrus Continued on page 3 Photo by David Nesenoff Gourmet Glatt’s management team prepares for Passover. (l-r) Moshe Ratner, Howie Klagsburn, Yoeli Steinberg, Rabbi Berel Wolowik and Shloy Rubinstein. Stay up to date with The Jewish Star. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Send us an e-mail with “sign me up” in the subject line to [email protected]Like us on Facebook The Jewish Star newspaper (Long Island, NY) Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/JewishStarNY Lean on them
Transcript
VOL 10, NO 14 ■ APRIL 8, 2011 / 4 NISAN, 5771 WWW.THEJEWISHSTAR.COM
Yeshiva Sports Page 8 Orthodox “go to” guy seeks state seat Page 2What rhymes with mensch? Page 4 Tuition stress in marriage Page 16
THE JEWISH STARCongregation Beth Sholom celebrates
Black tie at 59 By Jewish Star Staff
Lawrence will be hopping Sunday evening April 10 as Rabbi Kenneth Hain’s Congrega-tion Beth Sholom enjoys its 59th Annual Tes-timonial Dinner honoring Marcia and Moses Z. Berman and Felice and Todd Soifer. A Community Chesed Award will be presented to Beverly and Ted Lowenthal as the formal gala buffet dinner parties from 5 p.m. into the night.
The Bermans, who are beloved by the community bring enormous energy and warmth to every aspect of their lives. “Mo-sey” is the offi cial “Candy Man” and the fi rst stop for any child coming into shul.
The Soifers are also a dynamic couple who bring excellence and creativity to ev-erything they do. The Lowenthals, who will be receiving the Community Chesed Award, have dedicated themselves to acts of chesed for over 40 years. Together, they have or-ganized the Hatzilu luncheon, which brings Jewish poor together for a taste of Yiddish-keit. The luncheons are held on Succot and Purim in the shul. The Lowenthals are also active trained members of the Community Emergency Response Team.
“This is going to be the best dinner ever,” said Michael Novick, the congregation’s ex-ecutive director.
“We are thrilled to be honoring our most dedicated honorees.” Dinner Chair, Avram Schreiber said, “This is a truly different event; there is going to be an injection of humor and great warmth at the same time.” Commenting on his unique and historic con-gregation, Schreiber added, “We are the last of the great synagogues, we cater to the mid-stream orthodox and our Rabbi Hain is a great representative of our wonderful warm, dynamic and committed community.”
By David F. Nesenoff
As Gourmet Glatt prepares for the Passover holiday, The Jewish Star sat down and spoke with its management team, Yoeli Steinberg, Moshe Ratner, Rabbi Berel Wolowik, Howie Klagsburn and Shloy Rubinstein. It was a unique and exclusive conversation with a group of men who are committed to their busi-ness and the laws of Torah governing kashrus and ethics.
David F. Nesenoff: When does Gourmet Glatt start preparing for Passover?
Yoeli: We start right after Chanu-kah. We preempt the season by having the fl oor manager, Howie, start to look at what products were sold last Pesach, what our customers are interested in and what’s new to the market. He starts to put it all together and places initial or-ders to secure the products for the com-ing Pesach season.
DFN: How do you physically get the building ready for Pesach?
Moshe: I’m going to refer to Berel, be-cause his meat department is always the fi rst department to turn over to Pesach.
Berel: Many customers like to start their Pesach prepping two weeks before Purim, six weeks before Pesach. So we are Pesach-ready at that time.
DFN: What’s the concept or mes-sage of Gourmet Glatt?
Yoeli: First and foremost we are a united management team. Our priority is to give the consumer an incredible shop-ping experience. That includes keeping a real clean sanitary environment; the greatest choice of products, the most helpful and kind staff, turning a chore that must be done, like food shopping , into a really pleasant experience. When our advertising says, “Lean on us” we really mean it. We’ll bring in whatever
you like; we’ll extend our hours. If one person needs to shop, I’m here for them. We do what is necessary to do for each individual customer.
DFN: Did you ever get a complaint?Yoeli: To be in retail and never get a
complaint is not possible. The difference is that we’re in tune to the complaint. We like to validate the complaint. And then we will do our best to address it. By the
The Jewish StarAsk Aviva 16Classified Ads 18Crossword 17David’s Harp 4From the Heart of Jerusalem 14Hebrew Only Please! 3Kosher Bookworm 7Kosher Critic 6Mensch on the Street 12On the Calendar 16Parsha 5Photo of the Week 10Politico to Go 4Sports 8
How to reach us:Our offices at 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY 11530 are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday, with early closing as necessary on Erev Shabbat. Contact us via e-mail or telephone as listed below.
Facsimile:The Star prefers e-mail, but we are equipped to accept your letters, releases, etc. by FAX. Please dial 516-569-4942.
To subscribe:The Star is available free of charge in many kosher food establishments, other stores, synagogues and street-side news boxes in Nassau County and New York City. To have The Star mailed to your home or office each week call our circulation department at 516-622-7461, extension 7. You may charge your subscription to VISA, Mastercard or American Express. Subscriptions in Nassau County or Far Rockaway are $9 per quarter, charged to your credit card, or $48 per year by cash or check. Elsewhere in New York, New Jersey or around the United States, they are $15 per quarter on your credit card or $72 per year. Please allow four weeks to begin delivery.
To place a display ad:Reservations, art and copy for display advertising in the general news sections of The Star must be in our office by Tuesday at 1 p.m. for publication that week. An advertising representative will gladly assist you in pre paring your message. Please e-mail or call for an appointment.
To place a classified ad:Please call 516-622-7461 during regular business hours and ask for The Star classified department. All classified ads are payable in advance. We accept all major credit cards.
News and Calendar Items:News releases of general interest must be in our office by Friday at noon to be considered for publication the following week. Releases for our On the Calendar section must be in our office by Wednesday at 5 p.m. to be considered for publication the following week. To report a breaking news story or for further information call 516-622-7461 ext. 291 or e-mail [email protected].
Letters to the editor:The Star provides an open forum for opinions and welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should be e-mailed, must be signed, and should be accompanied by an address and daytime phone number for verification. You may offer longer submissions for inclusion on our Opinion pages. Letters and Opinion articles must be in our office by noon Friday to be considered for publication the following week. They are subject to editing for length and clarity.
By Sergey Kadinsky
Longtime Queens’ lawmaker Nettie May-ersohn retired on April 1, after voting on the state budget. Her departure marks the end of a 28-year State Assembly career, and while the governor has not called for an election to fi ll her seat, there is a strong likelihood that her chief of staff Michael Simanowitz will be the next representative for Kew Gar-dens Hills, Richmond Hill, and Forest Hills in Albany.
“Nettie was an effective legislator in her support for community organizations and her chief of staff has been excellent,” said Kew Gardens Hills resident Pat Dolan, who heads the Queens Civic Con-gress.
Raised in Forest Hills, Simanowitz, 39, worked as May-ersohn’s chief of staff for 15 years, and lives in the Electchester apart-ments, across from the police precinct where he serves as an auxiliary offi cer.
“When I fi rst moved into Electchester, it was all about volunteerism,” Simanowitz said. “It’s easy to complain but it’s another thing to roll up your sleeves and lift your hands.” Living in the union-built co-op, he took a strong interest in politics, learning its rules as he rose through the ranks within Mayersohn’s offi ce.
With state law allowing up to 80 days for an election after a vacancy, Republican and independent candidates have time to estab-lish their names, but are at a disadvantage in comparison to Simanowitz’s Democratic Par-ty support and established ties to local lead-ers. “I think there are many good candidates possible, but there are not enough troops on the ground. We can win, but we are spread too thin,” said Phil Orenstein, an activist in the Queens Republican Party.
While no opposing candidates have of-fi cially announced their run, Simanowitz promised to make himself known to voters in the largely Jewish district.
A father of four yeshiva-educated chil-dren, and himself a product of Jewish day schools, Simanowitz spoke in support of tax vouchers for private school parents, while ex-pressing doubts about the constitutionality of the vouchers.
“When you donate to a yeshiva, you get a tax break, but when you pay your child’s tuition, you do not. It’s an issue of fairness,” Simanowitz said. Even without a real race, local leaders expressed optimism in his bid for offi ce.
“Mike has been a go-to guy for the reli-gious community in Kew Gardens Hills and Forest Hills for years,” said Rabbi Manny Be-har, a former director of Queens Jewish Com-munity Council. “He deserves the support of the religious community.”
Orthodox “go-to” guy likely to succeed
State Assembly candidate Michael
Simanowitz
Apr
il 8
, 20
11 H
EBR
EWDA
TE
THE
JEW
ISH
STA
R
2
Things you may not know about CAHAL…Did you know that CAHAL is a program for children with learning disabilities, Attention Defi cit Disorder, and children with speech and language delays, with classes from Kindergarten through High School?
Did you know that CAHAL offers a sensory-based class for kindergarten that is not offered in any local public school?
Did you know that CAHAL teaches the full secular and Judaic studies curriculum in kindergarten, preparing our students for fi rst grade in yeshiva?
Did you know that this year, 45% of our CAHAL students are mainstreamed for one or more academic subjects and are on the road to full mainstreaming?
THERE’S PROBABLY A LOT MORE YOU DON’T KNOW ABOUT CAHAL....
So before you make major decisions about your child’s school placement for next year, call:
Gourmet Glatt: Beyond kashruscustomer’s next shopping experience we will have done something to remedy the issue and satisfy the customer.
Moshe: Feedback and input from custom-ers allow us to improve. None of us went to supermarket school. It’s very simple. All you need to do is pay attention to the customer just like you would want to be treated as a customer.
DFN: What was your background?Moshe: I’m actually a CPA, an accountant.Yoeli: I was a small business owner.Berel: I worked at a slaughterhouse for 10
years and got to know all aspects of meat, in-cluding the kashrus side and quality. That ex-perience taught me the importance of mak-ing kashrus and quality number one. That’s why, here at Gourmet Glatt, we kasher meat on the premises, insuring the freshest meat.
Moshe: Everyday we make strides and im-provements. We just did a massive expansion in the dairy and frozen sections. The next step is to make the rest of the store more comfortable as well as making it easier for our shoppers to fi nd their products.
Yoeli: We strive for that hometown gro-cery feeling. We might be a little big in size, but all departments are easily accessible.
DFN: What makes this place tick and work?
Howie: We buy a lot of merchandise. We stack it and price it right and pray to G-d that we did a good job on the quantities that we bring in. We work the fl oor all day long. It’s all about customer service at the end of the day. Vendors from all over come to Gourmet Glatt to have their products displayed for sale here. We have customers coming here to shop from New Jersey, Rhode Island, Mas-sachusetts, Baltimore, Connecticut, Wash-ington etc. They know we’ll have everything they are looking for and we’ll pack and ship it properly.
DFN: Shloy, what do you do?Shloy: I help Howie with merchandising
and displaying our products, the customer assistance on the fl oor, special orders and managing the personnel.
Moshe: Howie has been in the food busi-ness for many years.
Howie: I’ve spent 25 years in various po-sitions of distribution and manufacturing. Had some, Baruch Hashem, success stories. I come to the table knowing what products I want on the fl oor and how to display them. We have raised the bar here at Gourmet Glatt to exceed what customers have been accus-tomed to, and raised it up many notches.
DFN: Is this different than other busi-nesses and since you are involved in
kashrus is there an element of ethics? It’s not just what’s on the shelf, but who is behind the shelf. How does that play into your decisions?
Moshe: The scariest things that we do here is that we take the responsibility for kashrus. We put the business behind us and take the moral ground fi rst. There is no meet-ing and no discussion saying what should we do? Kashrus comes fi rst. Period.
Howie: The kashrus has no gray area. I put the fear of G-d into all the employees here. I explain to them, I’ll shut down this business before a customer buys a non-Pass-over product. If one person bought one prod-uct that was not Kosher for Passover, and went home and ate it on Passover, it is not worth the entire business, 52 weeks a year to be open. I am in constant contact with the Vaad. We are a Glatt Kosher store and that’s how we maintain ourselves. On the ethics of business we are top top.
Moshe: We think about this all day long how we can make this a better environment.
Shloy: We think on Motzei Shabbos about Sunday. We are up all night thinking about these things.
Yoeli: Our families sacrifi ce a lot. Each one of us is a husband and a father and in order to make the greater community have what they need, our families step up to the plate allowing us to provide this service.
Howie: My kids will come here for dinner and eat in the conference room downstairs just to spend a little time together.
DFN: Beyond kashrus, what about mo-rality and integrity?
Howie: One of my responsibilities here is the integrity of the pricing. A customer stopped me one morning early, an item had just come in and she had just picked it up and gone to the register and it wasn’t in the computer system as of yet. She asked me the price, and based on a number that I had seen on the box, I thought that the price I had given her was the correct price. I was wrong by three dollars. It was charcoal. I still remember it. And I said Yoeli, I feel terrible, the customer over paid by three dollars, can you please track it. And he spent I don’t know how much time tracking it and tracking it. Many phone calls and messages were left for all the different people with that name within this area. They probably thought we are nuts, who are these people from Gourmet Glatt calling me, I don’t even shop there or I didn’t even buy the item. But the bottom line is I still have the receipt in my offi ce and if the customer ever comes to me, my apolo-gies, here’s the money please take it. We tried. I want to give it back to the customer.
Continued from page 1
Hebrew only please!A Jewish newspaper should have a Hebrew column. So here it is. We will try to maintain a level of vocabulary so that it will be easy enough for students to read
and interesting enough for those more fl uent to enjoy.
A beautiful storyabout Rav Amital zt”l
Rabbi Noam Himelstein studied in Yeshivat Har Etzion and served in the Tanks Corps of the IDF. He has taught in yeshiva high schools, post-high school women’s seminaries, and headed the Torah MiTzion Kollel in Melbourne, Australia. He currently teaches at Yeshivat Orayta in Jerusa-lem, and lives with his wife and six children in Neve Daniel, Gush Etzion.
By Rabbi Noam Himelstein
Gourmet Glatt along with an anonymous donor opened its doors for a Passover free shopping spree, after hours, for Russian Jewish seniors from Pelham Parkway.
Photo by Allison Nidetch
Apr
il 8
, 20
11 H
EBR
EWDA
TE
THE
JEW
ISH
STA
R
4
Opinion
THE JEWISH STARIndependent and original reporting from the Orthodox communities of Long Island and New York City
All opinions expressed are solely those of The Jewish Star’s editorial staff or contributing writers
Publisher and Editor David F. Nesenoff Assistant Editor Sergey Kadinsky Account Executives Helene Parsons Zelig Krymko Hy Spitz Sandi Stanger Contributors Rabbi Avi Billet Jeff Dunetz Samuel Fisher Rabbi Noam Himelstein Alan Jay Gerber Zechariah Mehler Aviva Rizel Intern Ariel Rosenbloom Photo Editor Christina Daly
2 Endo Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530Phone: 516-622-7461, Fax: 516-569-4942E-mail: [email protected]
The Jewish Star is published weekly by The Jewish Star LLC, 2 Endo Boulevard, Garden City, NY 11530.
Subscription rates: $9 per quarter on a credit card in Nassau and Far Rockaway, or $48 a year. Elsewhere in the US, $15 per quarter or $72 a year.
Trying to understand and or become a mensch in the world today,Often takes more thought and energy and effort, let’s say,Than one would normally think about on any given day.We often declare, “He’s a mensch!” and he very well might be, per se.
But the title is too easily labeled and doled out to so many of us,Like saying, “He’s a tzadik, philanthropist, and a genius.”Part time kindness and fair weathered caring does not a mensch make,Ignoring the stranger, for goodness sake,
And self-promotion promotes the fake,That hides in the sugar coated candies in the hands that only take.
What is a mensh? And what rhymes with his word?I’ve never really met one, although I’ve heard, He fi nds none of your concerns too petty,And he laughs at your joke when he’s heard it already.When it’s not tasty, he still will chew,He’ll take your call when he doesn’t want to.When you can’t say it, he knows what you meant,And he gives tzedakah, without his accountant.
When everyone in the room thinks they’re more of amensh than a big shot,He’s the one who treats you like a mensch and thinkshe’s not.So next time you’re in the park, And about to use that menschlach phrase on a passerby,
Hold your breath and think for a moment; give it a sigh.Hesitate, sit down on a bench.And think of the Yiddish word “to bless.”After all, that’s what really rhymes with mensch.
Rhymes with mensch
DAVID’S HARP
David F. Nesenoff
The Goldstone Report was named for Judge Rich-ard Goldstone who led the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) inquiry into Operation Cast
Lead, the Gaza War, which was provoked by thou-sands of missiles fi red by Hamas into Israel’s Negev
communities. Goldstone’s report to the
HRC concluded there was a deliberate policy by Israel to target civilians. It claimed to have found evidence of poten-tial war crimes and “possibly crimes against humanity” by the Jewish State. In a spectacu-lar reversal, last week Gold-stone published a mea culpa in the Washington Post. He no longer believes that Israel deliberately targeted civilians, and now believes Hamas was the war criminal.
“We know a lot more today about what happened in the Gaza war of 2008-09 than we did when I chaired the fact-
fi nding mission appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council that produced what has come to be known as the Goldstone Report. If I had known then what I know now, the Goldstone Report would have been a different document.”
Sorry Judge, when fi rst published it should’ve been a different document. The Goldstone Commis-sion favored witnesses and evidence offered by an-ti-Israel advocates including Hamas, and dismissed pro-Israel evidence. The commission relied on agen-cies NGOs such as Human Rights Watch, which have a documented hostility to Israel.
The fi nal report by the U.N. committee of inde-pendent experts …found that “Israel has dedicated signifi cant resources to investigate over 400 allega-tions of operational misconduct in Gaza” while “the de facto authorities (Hamas) have not conducted any investigations into the launching of rocket and mortar attacks against Israel.” “Our report found evidence of potential war crimes and “possibly crimes against humanity” by both Israel and Hamas. That the crimes allegedly committed by Hamas were intentional goes without saying — its rockets were purposefully and indiscriminately aimed at civilian targets.”
The Judge neglects to mention that in his report it did go without saying.
“The allegations of intentionality by Israel were based on the deaths of and injuries to civilians in situations where our fact-fi nding mission had no evi-dence on which to draw any other reasonable conclu-
sion. While the investigations published by the Israeli military and recognized in the U.N. committee’s re-port have established the validity of some incidents that we investigated in cases involving individual sol-diers, they also indicate that civilians were not inten-tionally targeted as a matter of policy.”
Goldstone scolded the organization which sent him on his mission and urged them to condemn ter-rorism:
“I had hoped that our inquiry into all aspects of the Gaza confl ict would begin a new era of even handed-ness at the U.N. Human Rights Council, whose his-tory of bias against Israel cannot be doubted.
“… I hoped that in the face of a clear fi nding that its members were committing serious war crimes; Hamas would curtail its attacks. Sadly, that has not been the case. Hundreds more rockets and mor-tar rounds have been directed at civilian targets in southern Israel. That comparatively few Israelis have been killed by the unlawful rocket and mortar at-tacks from Gaza in no way minimizes the criminal-ity. The U.N. Human Rights Council should condemn these heinous acts in the strongest terms.
“In the end, asking Hamas to investigate may have been a mistaken enterprise. So, too, the Human Rights Council should condemn the inexcusable and cold-blooded recent slaughter of a young Israeli cou-ple and three of their small children in their beds.”
It’s a positive development that Goldstone has de-cided to correct the record, but it doesn’t absolve him of producing an infl ammatory biased investigation.
Judge Goldstone uses Israel’s lack of cooperation with his investigation as an excuse but he admits that the HRC’s “history of bias against Israel cannot be doubted.” Why would he expect Israel to cooperate with an investigation authorized by a biased organi-zation? And if he knew that the HRC is biased against Israel, why would he agree to participate in the in-vestigation and why would he publish a one-sided report to give the HRC more ammunition?
In the end it doesn’t matter. As an adult the Judge needs to take responsibility for his own actions. De-spite correcting the record, he didn’t take responsibil-ity in last week’s op-ed. The Judge seems to be say-ing, Israel didn’t cooperate so I wrote a biased report and now I am sorry.
Judge, you should be very sorry.
Jeff Dunetz is the Editor/Publisher of the political blog “The Lid” (www.jeffdunetz.com). Jeff contributes to political sites on the internet including American Thinker, Big Government, Big Journalism, NewsReal and Pajama’s Media, and has been a guest on nation-al radio shows including G. Gordon Liddy and Glenn Beck. Jeff lives in Long Island.
Goldstone and Cast Lead: Elements of a bad judge
POLITICO TO GO
Jeff Dunetz
Yankie & Luzer
Getting ready for Passover? Yes. My wife is shopping,
cleaning and cooking. And I’m looking for a good pillow for the seder.
Our 21st century minds may fi nd the pu-rifi cation process of the metzora unset-tling. “Take two live birds, cedar wood,
scarlet and hyssop. Have one bird killed in an earthen vessel over running water. Dip the remaining items (including the other live bird) in the blood of the fi rst bird. Sprinkle the mixture on the one being purifi ed, then let the live bird go free.” (14:4-7)
It is obviously a highly symbolic for-mula, and each ingre-dient carries a deeper message for the for-mer metzora looking to rejoin society. What most fascinates me is the live bird that goes free. Every other Torah ritual that involves an animal results in the animal’s death. Only the effort to remove tzara’at of the body and of the house utilizes a bird that is released,
alive and well, with a mini bathing in blood to serve as a memory of his experience. Why is its life spared?
On a very simple level, it could represent
the idea that just as the bird’s life is spared and it goes free, the metzora could have been punished otherwise, perhaps losing his life, but he is now free. The Kli Yakar takes the signifi cance of the two birds to a much deeper level. He explains that a person expe-riences two types of speech – prohibited and mitzvah-oriented. The prohibited speech, which includes lashon hara, is represented by the chirping bird that is slaughtered over the earthen vessel under running water. If he is a real person, he will have a weakened spirit at the sight of the bird that is taking his place.
The bird that lives and is set free repre-sents the words of Torah and prayers that a person may have uttered. They are to be combined with cedar wood, scarlet and hys-sop which represent one’s submission and humility. Even when studying and praying, one’s heart should have that feeling of being broken and submissive.
The sprinkling of the blood-soaked liv-ing bird upon the healed metzora is meant for him to see the possibility of repenting for past deeds, and taking upon himself a sincere effort to improve in the future.
Picture the image of a bird that is released from captivity. Imagine it spreading its wings as it fl ies away. This is what the live bird is meant to represent to the metzora.
Parshat Metzora
The bird that lives
Rabbi Avi Billet
Stay up to date with The Jewish Star. Sign up for our weekly newsletter. Send us an e-mail with "sign me up"
The annual Manischewitz cook-off is more than food; it is a media spectacle with celeb-rity chef judges, public offi cials, and journal-ists from newspapers, magazines, television stations, and blogs covering this national live cooking competition.
The 5th annual Man-o-Manischewitz contest fi tted fi ve hobbyist chefs against
each other at the JCC on Manhattan’s Up-per West Side. I had attended last year’s cook off and had been fairly impressed be-cause of the spectacle that Manischewitz cre-ates around this me-dia event. There were celebrity judges, like French Chef Jacques Pepin, to preside over the cook off competi-tion and there was a representative from Mayor Bloomberg’s of-fi ce who brought an offi cial deceleration that the day was to be
known as Man-o-Manischewitz day. All but two of the contestants were “pro-
fessional cook off competitors” who had in the past participated in a number of cook offs and other culinary challenges. The other two chefs, Stuart Davis from Cherry Hill, New Jersey; and Dina Burcat from Baltimore, were avid cooking enthusiasts whose creativity had landed them a much deserved spot in the
competition. My objectivity was absent from the event because I’ve been friends with Dina for almost a decade, since I’ve fi rst met her during a visit to the University of Maryland.
Back then, I didn’t have the ability to cook myself a box of pasta but Dina made a Shab-bat meal that I remember 10 years later as really amazing. Since then she has continued to hone her cooking skills and after submit-ting recipes to Manischewitz for the past three years, she was fi nally given a chance to compete at the cook-off.
The rules of the cook off are fairly easy. Contestants have one hour to construct a dish that utilizes Manischewitz boxed broth and one other Manischewitz item of their choosing. Given this leeway, the professional contestants came up with some very inter-esting dishes like a simple fi sherman’s stew and a sweet potato Tagine but it was the reci-pes of Dina and Stuart that set them apart. Dina made a shallot smothered chicken. The chicken was pounded fl at and then coated in matzo meal before it was cooked resulting in a wonderfully crispy texture and a chicken that is still juicy and fl avorful. The caramel-ized shallots went perfectly with this dish adding both a soft texture and a delicious sweetness that had just a hint of the wine that they had been cooked in.
Stuart made a chicken and egg donburri with a creamy wasabi sauce and pickled dai-kon. A donburri is a traditional Japanese rice bowl that incorporates meat and vegetables, which are simmered with the rice. Stuart’s donburri was very complex as it brought to-gether a number of fl avors and textures that
melded nicely together and were able to be stay true to traditional Japanese roots while still catering to a western palate.
When the hour was up, the contestants presented their offerings to the judges. Each dish was consumed and after carefully tabu-lating the score, it was announced that this had been the closest cook off that Manisch-ewitz had ever hosted and would be decided by only half of a point. As I waited from them to announce the winner, I was holding my breath, my fi sts tightly clenched hoping that it would be Dina. The winner however was Stuart and as they called his name the sec-tion containing his family erupted in cheers. Despite the fact that my friend had lost I
couldn’t help but be happy for Stuart. After all, he had cooked a fantastic dish. He hoist-ed the crystal trophy and said a few words of thanks and then family, friends and media swarmed around him and the other contes-tants.
As I walked out of the JCC I thought aboutthe other three professional contestants and I smiled realizing that with so many non ko-sher cooking competitions out there it was nice to know that the only Kosher cook offthere is was won by one of our own.
Zechariah Mehler is a widely published foodwriter and expert in social marketing. Follow him on Twitter @thekoshercritic
Man-O-Manishewitz
Kosher cook-off was on!
THE KOSHER CRITIC
Zechariah Mehler
Photo by Zechariah Mehler
Dina Burcat presents her shallot smothered chicken covered in matzo meal for the Manischewitz cook-off.
Apr
il 8
, 20
11 H
EBR
EWDA
TE
THE
JEW
ISH
STA
R
6
VARIETYconnection
Thinking of Shopping Elsewhere For Your Pesach Needs?
Open Late For Your Shopping Convenience – 4/10 Thru Erev Pesach
Everything For Pesach Except The Matzah!Make Us Your Only Stop For All Your Pesach Needs
Hot Plates &Hot Water Pots
"Always" In Stock & "Always" at a Great PriceTrust the Brand You Know
E-Z COUNTER TOP COVERS
$699each
E-Z to CUTE-Z to CLEAN
24”x72”
ANY PURCHASE OF $20 OR MOREWith coupon. Exp. 4/29/11. Not to be combined with any
other offers.Excludes window treatments, electrical appliances, hot plates and hot pots. One coupon per store visit.
$200 OFFANY PURCHASE OF $50 OR MOREWith coupon. Exp. 4/29/11. Not to be combined with any
other offers. Excludes window treatments, electrical appliances, hot plates and hot pots. One coupon per store visit.
$500 OFF
� COUNTER TOP COVERS� BLECHS – ALL SIZES� SINK INSERTS S-M-L� REFRIGERATOR LINERS� SINK BASKETS� HOT WATER PUMP POTS� HOT PLATES� ELECTRIC HAND MIXER� CROCK POTS� STAINLESS STEEL POTS
� "NEW" ELECTRIC STEAMER FOR COUNTERTOPS� FRYING PANS� ENAMEL POTS � SHELF LINING PAPER� PATTERN TABLECLOTHS – ALL SIZES� CLEAR TABLECLOTHS� DISPOSABLE PLASTIC TABLECLOTHS� WASHING CUPS & BOWLS� DISH TOWELS
� “NEW” SUPER EXTRA HEAVY DUTY ALUMINUM FOIL � MOPS, BROOMS & BUCKETS� KITCHEN SPONGES� OVEN CLEANER� CHOPPERS FOR CHAROSES� SILVER CLEANERS & POLISHES� MASKING TAPE/DUCT TAPE� KITCHEN FAUCET AERATORS� KITCHEN UTENSILS
Bring In This Pesach Check List! NOW IN THE STORE: Bring In This Pesach Check List!
4616
76
SUPERPESACHSPECIAL!West Bend
30 Cup Coffee Urn$3499
Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl, in a recent Dvar Torah on Par-shat Tazriah noted the following observation: “We have spo-ken about using speech in a way prohibited by the Torah, one of the ways in which we can use our speech for mitzvoth is relating the story of the exodus from Egypt. Although it is im-portant that we read the text of the Haggadah, we may and are encouraged to add and elaborate on the story of yetzias Mitzrayim, as we say in the Haggadah, ‘the more one relates the story of the exodus, the more praiseworthy is he’.
“It is important to keep in mind that elaborating does not mean pilpulim and chiddushim on the wording of the Hagga-dah. It may be true that gedolei Torah have written such com-
mentary on the Haggadah, but we must keep in mind that they did not write it during their Seders.”
Rabbi Yosef Marcus editor of the newly published Chabad Haggadah in English by Kehot Publication Society picks up on this same theme wherein he writes in the introduction to his work the following admonition: “The importance of deed in Judaism is well known. One who meditates all night on the concept of matzah but fails to actu-ally eat matzah has of course failed to perform the mitzvah.”
Rabbi Marcus makes the point that the recitation and elaboration of the
events historic to this evening’s commemorative must be re-cited as an addendum to the actual ongoing rituals of the Seder. All commentary is but a sidebar to ritual observance. Nevertheless, it is the commentary that adds a richness and fl avor to the evening’s proceedings.
Rabbi David Jay Derovan in his recently issued and beauti-fully written supplement to the Pesach Haggadah titled, “You Shall Tell Your Son…” states the following in his introduc-tion: “Many years ago a Jewish librarian told me that there
are two books on the Jewish bookshelf that have more edi-tions and commentaries than any other. They are Pirkay Avot and the Haggadah.
“The reason there are so many commentaries on Pirkay Avot is that we are endlessly fascinated with the human con-dition. Without doubt our Talmudic sages teach us about be-ing human with great wisdom.
“As for the Haggadah, these same sages tell us that who-ever says more about the Exodus is to be praised. While I do not think that all of us who have written about the Exodus are seeking praise, we are actually fascinated by a singular event in Jewish history, the record of that event in the Bible and the annual ritual retelling of the event and its signifi -cance at the Seder”.
The historic events detailed from a spiritual perspective are sharply detailed in the two skillfully written works cited above. Each, coming from radically differing perspectives, when taken together in the spirit of ahavat Yisrael will sure-ly give you a complete picture, as to what the Exodus has meant to our people down through the ages.
Also, an annual public service by Sh’or Yoshuv Institute has once again been graciously been made available to our community. “The Commentator’s Pesach Seder Haggadah “ booklet supplement for 2011 by Rabbi Yitzchok Sender is now available and I strongly urge everyone reading this es-say to purchase their copy from the Institute [516-239-9002]
while they are still available.Also, the latest edition of Hakirah magazine, volume 11 is
now on sale featuring, among others, a special essay titled, “The Mystical Spirituality of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik”, by Heshy Zelcer.
Also, some local intellectual prowess is on display in an essay titled, “A Proposal to Improve Rabbinic Decision Mak-ing for Serious Medical Problems” by Dr. Brenda Breuer, Dr. Fred Rosner, and Rabbi Dr. Aaron E. Glatt. I strongly urge one to make this magazine a priority over the upcoming holiday.
The Kosher Bookworm
Ritual and commentary: The Pesach story
Alan Jay Gerber
THE
JEW
ISH
STAR
April 8
, 2011 H
EBR
EWDATE
7
JS5T
4636
804632
39
Sports
The HAFTR boys’ soccer team faced a close game on April 5, narrowly topping DRS in a 5-4 match. The winning goal was scored by senior Eric Lifshitz.“We played very well with humility and are looking forward to the playoffs,” HAFTR coach Harry Rosenberg said. HAFTR and DRS will have their rematch on May 3.
Photos by Allison Nidetch
Haftr’s number 7- Tate trying to settle the ball down.
Hawks crush Wildcats in close match
Haftr’s goal keeper, Schlessel, performs a sliding save
Apr
il 8
, 20
11 H
EBR
EWDA
TE
THE
JEW
ISH
STA
R
8
4641
53
Expert craftsmanship from the ground up...
Kitchen, Bath, Dormer & Custom Home Specialties
Construction & RemodelingNew homes, Whole House Renovations, Framing &
If you have a photograph with a description, from local or afar, please submit to: [email protected]
Photo of the Week
The Iranian government takes great effort to ensure that its diplomats, athletes, and educators keep distance from Israelis at foreign events. But in the aftermath of the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11, Iranian rescuers and ZAKA volunteers put their political views aside to jointly distribute food to survivors and recover bodies in Kamaishi, Japan.
Apr
il 8
, 20
11 H
EBR
EWDA
TE
THE
JEW
ISH
STA
R
10
4617
57
THE
JEW
ISH
STAR
April 8
, 2011 H
EBR
EWDATE
11
Mensch on the street By Ariel Rosenbloom
What would you do if you won the lottery?
“I would drop out of school.”
BINYAMIN KLEIN, 10, student at Yeshiva Toras Chaim of South Shore, Woodmere.
“I would travel the world.”
AYELET ROLLER, 18, senior at S.K.A. HALB High School for Girls, Hewlett
“I would continue to put my children through yeshiva, set my father up for life, and pay off my mort-gage while donating a lot to tzedakah at the same time.” ILANA KEILSON, English teacher at Tichon Meir Moshe (Bnos Bais Yaakov High School), Far Rockaway
“I would buy a moun-tain, ski all day long, and learn Torah non-stop so that I could get my exercise in the morning and learn the rest of the day.”
RABBI YAAKOV VECHTER, Mashgiach at Sushi Metsuyan, Cedarhurst
“I would defi nitely go to law school.”
RAPHY BITTON, owner of Bistro Grill, Woodmere
“I would plant trees all over Israel.”
TONI MAGDER, Homemaker, Atlantic Beach
Apr
il 8
, 20
11 H
EBR
EWDA
TE
THE
JEW
ISH
STA
R
12
4617
66
DAVID B. COHEN, FNAO, FAAO, ABO494 Central Ave. Cedarhurst • 516-569-2335We’re In When Your Regular Optical Isn’t
Serving the 5 Towns Since 1969
LONDON OPTICAL
FREE FRONT & REAR PARKING Call today for your eye exam or bring in your Rx.
*50% off discount applies to all frames sxcluding RayBan and Fred Collection. Select Designer brands will be discounted at 25% off. 50% off discounted also applies to all lenses and lens options. Complete pair purchase required. Some exclusions may apply. $79.00 offer includes any frame up to $130 and single vision with scratch-resistant plastic lenses excluding RayBan and Fred Collection. Some special orders excluded. Additional charge may be applied for strong Rx. Bifocals and/or progressives, specialty lenses and lens options are additionalSee Optician for details. Cannot be combined with any other offer, vision care plan, package pricing, or prior orders. Participating stores only. Void where prohibition by law. Eye exams performed by independent state licensed Doctor of Optometry. Offer ends April 28, 2011
CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND OUR ANNUAL JOURNAL DINNER,
CELEBRATING THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF OURYESHIVA HIGH SCHOOL & OUR 56 YEAR
TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATIONHONORING
IVAN & LISA KAUFMAN
NSHA HS FOUNDERS
DR. DANIEL J. VITOW
NSHA HS HEADMASTER
THURSDAY, THE TWENTY-SIXTH OF MAY
TWO THOUSAND ELEVENFREDERICK P. ROSE HALL, HOME OF JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER
BROADWAY AT 60TH STREETNEW YORK CITY
For further information, call Mr. Arnie Flatow, Executive Director NSHA (516) 487-8687 Ext. 133
THE OFFICERS AND THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE
North Shore Hebrew Academy
PLEASE JOIN US AS WE PAY TRIBUTE TOTHESE VISIONARIES WHO HAVE MADEOUR OUTSTANDING HIGH SCHOOL
A REALITY
4636
77
With Coupon. Hewlett location only.Expires 4/17/11.
With Coupon. Hewlett location only.Expires 4/17/11.
With Coupon. Hewlett location only.Expires 4/17/11.
With Coupon. Hewlett location only.Expires 4/17/11.
With Coupon. Hewlett location only.Expires 4/17/11.
$2899
BUY 3MUFFINS OR
PASTRIESGET 4TH
THEWEEKENDER!
FREE
• 1 DOZ. ASST.BAGELS OR BIALYS
• 1/4 LB. NOVA• 1/2 LB. PLAIN & 1/2 LB.
VEGGIE CREAM CHEESE• 4 GOURMET MUFFINS
REG. $34.99SAVE $6.00
ANY FISHYOU WISH!• Nova• White Fish• Baked Salmon• SableYour Choice on a Bagelwith a 12oz Coffee
$799+tax
ONE DOZENBAGELS
OR BIALYS
$799MIX OR MATCH
(LOW CARB & MULTIGRAINNOT INCLUDED)
BUY 3FLAGELS
GET 3
FREE
4644
38
1
D avening was by far my greatest prob-lem with Judaism. The number of hours spent in shul was staggering.
Of course it wasn’t davening per se that bothered me but rather my inability to have meaningful davening experiences that was so frustrating. During my high school years, barriers to meaningful davening in-
cluded my shamefully childish refusal to “sub-mit” to administrative rule-makers who used detention threats as leverage to force me into minyan each day. Another obstacle was my failure to under-stand even the literal translation of the He-brew words in the sid-dur. These two issues were resolved rather easily when I grew up a little and understood that teachers only want to help. I was ready to give davening a chance
so I bought a new siddur with English trans-lation printed under each individual word.
But those were only the simple prob-lems. I also struggled with issues surround-ing how a person can relate to G-d through davening. What is the point of davening? It is unreasonable to think that G-d has a cer-tain plan for how to run the world, and it is the davener’s task to convince Him to do otherwise. Man’s words cannot change G-d. Therefore, the goal of davening must be to change something else, namely the davener himself.
Then, what is the point of davening to G-d? It seems more reasonable to medi-tate than daven to G-d. The wording of the davening service clearly treats G-d as an en-gaged, invested, even human listener. Re-citing the texts therefore enforces a logically impossible portrait of G-d. I found that in order to daven sincerely I needed to imag-ine that I was trying to convince G-d. I had to imagine what I knew to be inaccurate. I had to pretend. And of course this troubled me. But as I continued to contemplate the theological principles at work, I came to re-alize that such an approach was very much
consistent with underlying ideas in Jewish thought.
I looked in the Torah and saw the text itself personifying G-d, describing His jeal-ousy and His arm. Such characteristics, when attributed to G-d, are undoubtedly technical inaccuracies. It is absurd to imag-ine G-d as a jealous being because such im-plies that the all-powerful being is actually lacking. Equally ridiculous is the image of G-d with physical limbs, which limit Him to the human physique. Yet rather than de-claring such descriptions blasphemous, the Torah does the opposite and actually en-courages us to imagine G-d in these human terms. In this way the Torah suggests that the only way to begin connecting to G-d is to imagine G-d in ways to which we can relate. We need to pretend. In order to begin ap-proaching something so thoroughly beyond us, we need a practical and tangible gate-way to get us off the ground. To our limited minds, cognizing the necessarily inaccurate is a prerequisite to tapping into the truth.
My current relationship to davening leaves me far from understanding the ac-tual nature of the dialogue (or monologue.) What I have developed this year, however, are the tools to begin chipping away at a life-long project. Mystifying as davening may seem, I see that the only way to ever understand davening is to begin by tempo-rarily dispelling my intellectual skepticism three times a day. Only through perfor-mance of the act itself can the values be-come revealed.
What I do know is this: In the weeks that I’ve been experimenting with this approach, I have found that feeling an encounter with G-d is absolutely transformative. It empow-ers me to connect to the siddur, the wisdom and the ideals of my ancient fathers and sages. And so I embark on the mission of solving the endless puzzle of prayer. Maybe we are not here to convince G-d. But in dav-ening, G-d convinces us.
Samuel Fisher grew up in Newton, Mas-sachusetts and graduated from Maimonides School in 2010. He is spending the year studying in Yeshivat Orayta in the Old City of Jerusalem after which he will attend Harvard College.
The davening point
Opinion
FROM THE HEART OF JERUSALEM
Samuel Fisher
Apr
il 8
, 20
11 H
EBR
EWDA
TE
THE
JEW
ISH
STA
R
14
Free Telephone Consultation With Our Staff Entomologist
PROMPT LOCAL SERVICE • CALL DAY OR NIGHT
593-7770SATISFACTION GUARANTEED OR YOUR MONEY BACK*
GefenMacaroonsAssorted Varieties. 10 Oz Can.613687
$199
Use your card and save on items on this page
Save on fine foodsfor Passover
Join us for an Afikomen Scavenger Hunt at select locations – April 9 thru April 23.See Store for details.
Prices good through April 21, 2011
Yehuda
Matzos 5 lb Pkg.614249
AvivMatzos5 lb Pkg.614251
$499 $599
$699 $799
Streit's Matzos5 lb Pkg. 614253
ManischewitzMatzos5 lb Pkg. 614254
Kedem Grape JuiceAssorted Varieties. 64 Oz Bottle. 614255
Mrs. Adler's Gefilte FishAssorted Varieties. 24 Oz Jar. 614284
Fox’s U-betSyrupAssorted Varieties.20 Oz Bottle.613663
$229
Osem CakesAssorted Varieties.8.8 Oz Pkg.613699
$199
BazookaBubble GumRegular. Assorted Varieties.6.34 Oz Pkg.613699
$199
Janes KrazyMixed Up Salt4 Oz Pkg.613519
$199
GoldsDuck SauceAssorted Varieties.40 Oz Bottle.613698
$199
Stop & ShopCranberry SauceWhole or Jellied.16 Oz Can.613584
10for$10
Savion Fruit Slices8 Oz Pkg.613661
2for$4
.99
Fresh Horseradish Root405930
lb$199
Empire KosherFrozen TurkeyHen or Tom.10-22 lb Average Weight.81816, 81817
lb
Stop & ShopHoneyAssorted Varieties.12 Oz Container.613582
2for$5 5for
$2
Gold’sBorschtAssorted Varieties.24 Oz Jar. 613669
4for $5
$249
Kedem Apple Juice64 Oz Bottle.640458
$599
Acme NovaSmoked Salmon4 Oz Pkg.Previous Frozen.516649
$299
3for$5
10for$10
Magic Max’sCotton Candy1 Oz Container.614263
We sell both Kosher and Non-Kosher Foods
Some items not available in some stores.
3for $1
YehudaGlass CandlesPkg. of 1.613664
Vintage Seltzer1 LiterAll Flavors. 33.8 Oz Bottle.Plus Deposit Where Applicable. 638877
Osem Soup MixConsomme14.1 Oz Pkg.513708
4545
72
April 10Year in Israel presentationYOUNG ISRAEL OF LAWRENCE-CEDARSHURST, located at 8 Spruce Street in Cedarhurst, is host-ing L’Shana Haba, a presentation for high school seniors interested in spending their fi rst year of college in Israel. The girls program will run from 9:30 a.m. to 1:20 p.m. The boys program will run from 1:30 p.m. to 5:10 p.m. The event is sponsored by Yeshiva University and Orthodox Union. For more information, register online at http://ti-nyurl.com/lshanahaba
April 13All Boys Choir CompetitionCONGREGATION BETH SHOLOM, located at 390 Broadway in Lawrence, is hosting the choir competition with choirs from fi ve schools, HANC, Rambam, MTA, SAR, and TABC. Aryeh Kunstler and Dovid Stein will judge the choirs. Admission is $5, with proceeds going to the Koby Mandell Founda-tion. Begins at 7 p.m. For information, contact [email protected]
April 18-19Relive the Passover ExodusCHABAD OF MERRICK, located at 2083 Seneca Gate in Merrick, is holding community Seders the fi rst night at 7:50 p.m., and the second night at 8:30 p.m. These Seder experiences will feature commentary based on mystical and Kabbalistic insights, humor and song. Suggested dona-tion for the Seders is $36 per adult and $18 for children. For reservations, contact Esther at 516-833-3057or www.ChabadJewishLife.org.
May 11Shabbat: an oasis in timeCHABAD OF FIVE TOWNS, located at 74 Maple Av-enue in Cedarhurst, is holding Oasis in Time: The Gift of Shabbat, a six-session class in partnership with the Jewish Learning Institute. The classes will explore the mystical, psychological, and cultural dimensions of Shabbat. Classes will run from 8:15 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesdays from May 11 to June 22. To register, contact 516-295-2478 or visit www.myJLI.com.
ON THE
CalendarSubmit your shul or organization’s events or shiurim to [email protected].
Deadline is Wednesday of the week prior to publication.
Dear Aviva,I am a father of four kids, all in yeshiva.
The tuition costs are exorbitant, and it’s burning a huge hole in my pocket. It is caus-ing much fi nancial strife in my family. I am working a full time job that pays well, so I don’t qualify for scholarship, yet I can’t seem to afford much else except the tuition! It’s putting a strain on my marriage, and arguing about money in front of my kids doesn’t help our shalom bayis either. What’s your take on it?
-Tight from Tuition
Dear Tight from Tuition,Let’s assume that the system won’t change
and we will all continue to be tight from tu-ition. Now the goal is to make sure that you loosen up in other areas of your life. But be-fore we go into that, I just need to step up on my soapbox. Yes, tuition costs are insane. That is how private schools work. The par-ents pay a ton and the teachers barely see it. Teachers prefer public school over any denomination of private school because the pay is better and the benefi ts’ rock. When tax money is not there to buttress the budget, the parents are going to feel every expense. Now let’s all become happy with reality: We live in America. We are Jewish. We have an entire community established where we can meet our religious needs without even being cognizant of any “ol malchus shamayim”. We dress Jewish without fear of being beaten up as we walk to shul. We do not salt our own meat. We do not immerse in the bay. Instead, we have many heated, chlorinated mikvahs. We can enjoy foods from other cultures (su-shi, pizza, pu pu platters) that all bear a proud hechsher. If we’re too tired to cook for Shabbos, we can have Shabbos delivered. I think the scale of “Being an American Jew” is heavier on the “Luxuries ” than “Sacrifi ces.” I’m not saying that Judaism is supposed to be unbearable, but we’re supposed to dedi-cate our hearts, bodies, and means to the Jewish way of life. Hey, if it means practicing Yiddishkeit with ease and safety, combining heart, body and means into one huge month-ly credit card statement ain’t so bad.
Ok, I’m stepping off of my little soapbox (it’s little because I got the economy size.)
Now on to your home life. We need to make your house lighter and happier. Yes, you have the burden of tuition on your shoul-ders. Leave it on your doorstep when you come through your door. Focus on the posi-tives. Easier said than done, so I’ll give you a tip how: Try verbalizing three appreciations to each member of your family daily. That’s all. Before you know it, fi nding the good will become habit and your familial satisfaction will grow. And, by the way, stop arguing in front of the kids. And defi nitely stop argu-ing about this. What a great message, “We will send you to Yeshiva so that Mommy and Abba will have something to argue about.” I can’t think of a better way to infuse guilt into a kid. Not cool. There’s one way you can involve your kids, and that’s in making a budget and sticking to it. Also, realign your family so that you and your wife are like a team of special agents set out on a mission. The mission is to clip coupons, go green (all the yuppies are doing it) and squeeze every penny. Then, supplement your salary with creative ways to show your kids that they are worth the sacrifi ce.
-Aviva
Aviva Rizel is a Marriage and Family Ther-apist in private practice who can be reached at [email protected].
Ask Aviva
Tuition pains cause marriage strains
UJA-Federation of New York honored Seth Kleinrock and Paul Friedmann at the recent South Shore Healthcare Professionals dinner, held at The Sephardic Temple in Cedarhurst. Miriam Slomovits and Myron Boxer received the Community Service Award. Keynote speaker Avi Melamed, founder of Feenjan-Israel Speaks Arabic, highlighted the humanitarian work of UJA-Federation’s agencies in Israel. From left to right, Myron Boxer, D.P.M., Paul Friedmann, M.D., Avi Melamed, Miriam Slomovits, Ph.D., Seth Kleinrock, D.D.S.
Apr
il 8
, 20
11 H
EBR
EWDA
TE
THE
JEW
ISH
STA
R
16
Looking for commercial, offi ce or retail space? Contact our offi ce for executive offi ce leasing in the Cedarhurst Center, Five Towns and surrounding areas!
#1 FAR ROCKAWAY & FIVE TOWNS RENTAL SPECIALIST1 & 2 BR, Renovated apts., including The Sand Castle, starting at $1000/mo
335 Central Avenue, 2nd FloorLawrence, NY 11559P:516.791.6100F: 516.374.7059
W W W . W E I S M A N R E A L T Y . C O M
FAR ROCKAWAY CO-OP FAR ROCKAWAY
833 Central1 Bedroom, 1 Bath with extra large eat in kitchen. Closets galore, prestigious 24 hour doorman building. Parking$179K
New to Market. Builders delight. Legal 2 family on large property. Reads Lane location. Call Avi 516-791-6100
Wood Furnishings & Furniture Repair • Caning • Quilt Cotton • Vinyl • Tulleill S ffi SliC h l h i
4636
78
393 Sunrise Hwy.
Mon-Sat 10-6 •Sun 10-5
OPENSUNDAYS
WE WILL BEAT ANY COMPETITIVE PRICE
BELOW WHOLESALE PRICES EVERYDAY
WE CAN HAVE SEATS,FURNITURE & DRAPES
DONE BY THE HOLIDAYS
$400
OFF ANY
PURCHASEOF $20.00 OR MORE$2000
OFF ANY
PURCHASEOF $100.00 OR MORE
$4000
With this ad.Cannot be combined with
any other offers or specials.Expires 6/18/11.
BasicUpholstered
Seat with
FREEFabric
IncludedWith this ad.
Cannot be combined with any other offers
or specials.Expires 6/18/11.
1,000'S OF IN-STOCK FABRICS
HUGE SELECTION OF INDOOR/OUTDOOR FABRICS
EXPERT ANTIQUE REUPHOLSTERY
Workshop Open To The Public Your Fabric or Ours
By David Benkof
Across1. Bitter6. Acts the schnorrer10. Tailor’s measurer14. River of Orléans15. Big cheese16. It starts Shabbat17. Attack18. Gossipmeister Barrett19. Enjoys a knish20. George Eliot’s novel with a Jewish plot-line23. ___ Suf (The Red Sea)24. Identical25. Psychoanalysis subject28. Speech problem31. Philosopher Spinoza35. Persian ___37. Russian leader Trotsky39. “Shalom!”
40. Founder of the “Mussar” movement43. They’re entered in court44. Greek salad ingredient45. Golden Age of Spain and others46. Sport for Zack Fleishman and Jesse Levine48. “Uh uh”50. “___ you nuts?”51. Cabbagelike vegetable53. 55-Across’s polit. affi liation55. Vermont senator61. “___ Ha’i” (Hammerstein lyric)62. Defeat decisively63. Schluf65. Conservative Cantor?66. Leopold Bloom’s land67. Complete68. Diaper problem69. Dates70. “Network” writer Chayefsky
Down1. Davis and Capp2. Like JTS Rabbinical school, since the 1980s3. Funnywoman Rudner4. Often-missed humor5. Turndown6. Zionist thinker Katznelson7. It follows Gen.8. Pool contents?9. Sacred beetle of ancient Egypt10. Book of Yiddish Bible stories for women11. ___ Ha’am (pen name for Asher Ginz-burg)12. Falafel pocket13. Coast Guard offi cer: Abbr.21. Zola who declared “J’accuse!”22. D-Day beach25. Land of Nasser and Sadat26. Cunning27. Writer Tillie (“Tell Me A Riddle”)
29. Narcissist’s love30. City now called Poznan32. Kind of Orthodox33. Unmistakable34. Cowboy’s companion36. New York Times Sunday columnist38. Turkey club?41. Jordanian, for example42. “Toward Tradition” rabbi Daniel47. Playground equipment49. Finishes52. Creepy
54. Fraternity letter55. Silent fi lm actress Theda56. Roth and Broad57. “You betcha!”58. Vigoda and Beame59. No longer working: Abbr.60. Progeny, Biblically61. Zionist thinker Borochov64. Be nosy
Answers will appear next week
Last week’s answers
The Jerusalem Post Crossword Puzzle
THE
JEW
ISH
STAR
April 8
, 2011 H
EBR
EWDATE
17
www.distinctivewindowfashions.comServing the Five Towns & Surrounding Areas Since 1988
We do repairsLenny Koegel • 516-594-6010
Rebates for the season. Savings all year long. From January 14 through April 29, 2011, save $25 per unit on Duette® Architella® Honeycomb Shades from Hunter Douglas. Ingenious, insulating air pockets are the secret to these attractive, energy-efficient shades, which help reduce energy loss through windows by up to 50%. Enjoy luminous color, crisp pleats, and energy smart savings throughout the year.
WOODMERE/ HEWLETT PARK High Ranch, 4 Bds, 2.5 Baths, All Systems, Fin-ished Den, Large Deck 2 Car Garage. By Appointment Only. Low $500's Negotiable 516-374-3526
Apartments For Rent
CEDARHURST NO FEE Modern 1BR, 2BR & 3BR. CAC, W/D, Storage, Private Entrance, Indoor Parking, Near All. Starting At $1450. (516)860-6889/ (516)852-5135
FAR ROCKAWAY: CAFFREY AVENUE. Renovated 2 BR's Available. Free Gas. Walk Worship, School. 718-899-2800, 718-791-9683
Commercial Prop./Rent
HEWLETT TRAIN STATION (1215 Station Plaza)
2,000 sf, Ground Floor (+1,800 sf Carpeted Basement) $3,950
ALSO 1193 Broadway 1,000 sf, $1,950
Ben 212-685-6500
Miscellaneous For Sale Miscellaneous For Sale
Vacation Sales
EMPLOYMENT
Help Wanted
ADVERTISING SALES The Jewish Star is looking for an
advertising sales representative to cov-er multiple territories.
We offer competitive compensation for the right person.
CIRCULATION CONSULTANTS!The Publishers of the Herald Community Newspaper Group are looking for talented people to help increase our subscriber base. Experience a plus! Good phone skills a must! Flexible part time hours. Must be able to work on weekends. Please send resume to Christine Remsen at [email protected]
GRAPHIC ARTIST WANTED for IMMEDIATE Part-Time Ad Design Position. Must be skilled in: • Adobe Indesign CS4 • Adobe Photoshop CS4 • Adobe Acrobat • Mac OSX This is a part time position with rea-sonably fl exible hours. Must be creative and have a good eye for design and de-tail. This position involves heavy custom-er contact, so candidate must be able to liaison with clients to collaborate on de-sign. Must be able to work in a deadline driven environment. HIgh end design ex-perience required. Duties include, but are not limited to: ad design and layout, photo color correction and scanning. Please submit your resumé with salary requirements for immediate considera-tion to [email protected] NO phone calls.
SERVICES
Sprinkler Syst./Irrig.Wells
COUNTY IRRIGATION LAWN Sprinklers
Installed And Repaired. Backfl ow Device
Installed And Tested. 516-255-9595
CLASSIFIEDSTo Advertise In This Section, Call 516-632-5205
1-800-498-7245
NORWEGIANCRUISE LINE
4618
02
www.AcornStairli�s.com/SSC
1-877-276-2419
Before You Risk Your Safety or Consider Selling Your Home,�nd out about getting an Acorn Stairli�. CALL NOWTOLL-FREE 1-877-896-5822
4541
62
Get cash for your structured settlement or annuity payments. High payouts. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.
GET CASH NOW!GET CASH NOW!1-866-FUND-1081-866-FUND-108
www.jgwentworth.com
™
Weightloss Medications
www.MDThin.com
Phentermine, Phendimetrazine, etc
for $80
(631) 462-6161 (516) 754-6001
HIRING?Run Your Ad in
The Jewish StarJust Call Our Classified
Department at516-632-5205
PLACE YOUR ADJust Call Our Classified
Department at516-632-5205
One phone call, one order, one heckof a good price to run your ad in any state,
or across the country. Call the USA Classified
Network today!1-800-231-6152
4634
0245
7583
THE
JEW
ISH
STAR
April 8
, 2011 H
EBR
EWDATE
19
4617
59
Liquor & Wine
343 Rockaway Tpke. Lawrence, NY 11559Tel: (516) 371-1133
PENINSULA BLVD.
WESTMINSTER RD.
ARGYLE RD.
RUGBY RD.
MARLBOROUGH RD.
PRICE ST.
ROCK
AWAY
TURN
PIKE
BU
CKIN
GH
AM
RD.
OXFO
RD RD
.
BAY BLVD.NA
SSAU
EXP
RESS
WAY
Hours: Mon-Wed 10am-8pm • Thurs-Sat 10am-9pm Sun 12am-7pm
ALL ITEMS CASH & CARRY
New York’s Finest and Largest Selection of Kosher Wines & Spirits
Largest Selection Of Kosher Wines In New York At Prices Too Low To Advertise!
PESACH SPECIALSOUR LOWEST PRICES EVER!!! SPECIALS ARE WITH AD ONLY
$6.99 $5.15
per bottle by case
$5.99
2 for $9.99
$11.99$11.09
per bottle by case
$7.99
2 for $13.99$6.25 per bottle by case
$3.99 750 ml
3 for $9.99$2.99 per bottle by case
$19.99
2 for $36.99$13.99 per bottle
by case
Moses Kosher for Passover
Vodka
Zachlawi Arak
$9.99 per bottle
$8.99 per bottle by case
BartenuraMoscato
Rashi Claret and Black Muscat
Kedem Naturally Sweet Concord Grape
Don AlfonsoCabernet
Sauvignon & Sauvignon Blanc
Dalton CanaanRed and White
Rashi Light Pink, Red and White
Concord
Capcanes Peraj Petita
BarkanClassic
$8.99
$7.99 per bottle by case
$7.99 750 ml
$7.99 750 ml
$26.99 750 ml
$16.99 750 ml
per bottle
$3.99 750 ml
2 for $13.99$6.49 per bottle by case
3 for $19.99
2 for $49.993 for $9.99
Mony Classic Elat Semi-Sweet Cabernet
Sauvignon
D
&&&&&&&&&&&
Teal Lake Moscato D’Aussie
Ben Ami Z’Mora Semi-Sweet Cabernet
Sauvignon
Apr
il 8
, 20
11 H
EBR
EWDA
TE
THE
JEW
ISH
STA
R
20
310.836.6140 • www.standwithus.com • P.O. Box 341069 Los Angeles, CA 90034-1069
StandWithUs is a nonprofit, international Israel education organization that ensures that Israel’s story is told on campuses and in communities,
libraries, religious institutions, schools, and the media. Our programs are both proactive and also serve to respond to the anti-Israel misinformation
being promoted today. We educate and empower people around the world through speakers, training conferences, special programs, Internet
resources, missions to Israel, as well as colorful and effective educational materials on a full variety of topics.
StandWithus materials are distributed globally and have been translated into Hebrew, French, Spanish, Chinese, and Arabic. The StandWithUs cutting-
edge programs around the world include fellowships for hundreds of students in Israel and North America and conferences in South Africa, Australia,
Europe, and North America. With 12 offices around the world, StandWithUs will soon be celebrating its 10th year since inception in May 2001.
There are anti-Semitic, anti-Israel groups working overtime to isolate and delegitimize the state of Israel.
They are misinforming people on campuses, in the workplace, in the media, in libraries, in films.
People of all ages are hard-pressed to make Israel’s case, yet, now more than ever, we are called upon to do just
that. To make Israel’s case, we need facts. We need people willing to educate others on behalf of Israel. You can help
create an army of educators by learning more. Become a partner for Israel through StandWithUs.
