In a time of heightened global uncertainty and urgent humanitarian need, Hatzalah YS will host its highly anticipated Gala on May 11, 2026, at the prestigious Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City.

This distinguished evening will bring together philanthropists, diplomats, business leaders, and prominent figures from across the United States and the international community in support of one of the world’s most vital emergency response organizations.

Founded in 2000, Hatzalah YS—Rescuers Without Borders—is recognized for its elite network of over 1,600 volunteer medics who deliver rapid, life-saving medical intervention, often within seconds, in some of the most dangerous and underserved regions. Operating on the front lines, Hatzalah YS provides critical care to civilians under fire, supports vulnerable populations, and delivers aid where traditional infrastructure cannot reach.

The Gala will honor three exceptional individuals whose impact transcends their respective fields:

• Elie Tahari will receive the Humanitarian Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the world of fashion, his entrepreneurial vision, and his longstanding commitment to philanthropy and humanitarian causes.

• Tovah Feldshuh, acclaimed actress of stage and screen, will be honored with the Humanitarian Award for her remarkable artistic achievements and her dedication to supporting meaningful causes and strengthening communities.

• Ofir Akunis, Consul General of Israel in New York, will be recognized with a distinguished award for his unwavering leadership, diplomatic service, and steadfast advocacy for Israel and the Jewish people on the global stage.

The evening will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:00 PM, followed by a seated dinner, awards ceremony, and live fundraising initiatives in support of Hatzalah YS’s life-saving mission.

As geopolitical tensions continue to impact civilian populations across the Middle East and beyond, the need for immediate, professional, and fearless emergency response has never been more critical. Hatzalah YS remains at the forefront of this effort—proving that when every second counts, help truly has no borders.

Event Details:
 Museum of Jewish Heritage, New York City
May 11, 2026
6:00 PM — Cocktail Reception
Dinner, Awards Ceremony

For tickets and more information, please visit: hatzalahnyc.eventbrite.com

news@theculturenews.com

What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know Right Now

The pace has changed. Homes are not flying off the market in a weekend the way they did a few years ago. Buyers are taking more time. Sellers are adjusting to a different set of expectations. The shift is not sudden, but it is real, and it affects almost every decision tied to real estate today.

What matters now is not guessing where the market is going. It is understanding how to operate in the market that exists today.
Higher mortgage rates are the biggest force behind the reset. When rates rise, monthly payments go up even if prices stay the same. That alone cuts into what buyers can afford. A buyer who could qualify for a certain price range two years ago may now need to look lower or bring more cash to the table. This has slowed demand, and fewer buyers are jumping in. At the same time, prices in many areas have softened. This does not mean a crash across the board. In some neighborhoods, prices are flat. In others, they have come down from their peak. The result is a market where expectations need to be more grounded. Sellers who base their price on last year’s peak numbers often sit longer than they expect.
Time on market tells the story. Listings are staying active longer than they did during the surge years, and that changes the dynamic right away. Buyers feel less pressure to rush and have time to compare options. They can walk away from a deal that does not feel right, which was harder to do when inventory was tight and competition was intense.
For buyers, this creates a more stable environment, but it does not mean easy. Higher rates still make affordability a challenge. You may find a home at a better price, but your monthly cost could still be higher than you expect. That is why the numbers matter more than ever. Focus on your monthly payment, not just the purchase price. Factor in taxes, insurance, and maintenance. If the numbers do not work comfortably, it is better to step back than stretch too far. You also have more room to negotiate. In many cases, buyers are asking for closing cost credits, repairs, or help buying down their interest rate. Sellers are more open to these conversations now because they want to move the deal forward.
For sellers, the biggest shift is pricing discipline. Overpricing is one of the most common mistakes in this market. A home that sits too long can lose momentum. Buyers start to wonder what is wrong, and price reductions often follow. The final sale price can end up lower than if the home had been priced correctly from the start. Presentation also matters more now. When buyers have options, they compare closely. Clean, well maintained homes with simple updates tend to stand out. You do not need a full renovation. Basic steps like fresh paint, good lighting, and removing clutter can make a difference. Small repairs that were once overlooked are now part of the buyer’s decision.
There is also a gap between perception and reality that both sides need to manage. Some sellers still expect the fast sales and multiple offers of the recent past. Some buyers expect steep discounts. In most cases, the outcome falls somewhere in between. Deals happen when both sides adjust to current conditions, not past ones. Local factors still matter. Real estate is not one national market. Some areas with limited inventory or strong demand are holding up better. Others are seeing more noticeable slowdowns. School districts, community amenities, and access to transportation continue to influence value.
If you are planning to buy, take the time to prepare. Get preapproved so you understand your budget clearly. Watch listings in your target area to see how long homes are sitting and how prices change. When you find the right property, move with purpose, but stay within your limits. If you are planning to sell, look at recent comparable sales, not peak prices from a different market. Work with a professional who knows your area and can give you realistic guidance. Focus on presenting your home well and pricing it correctly from day one.
The market has not stopped. It has reset to a pace that requires more thought and more balance. Buyers and sellers who understand that are in a better position to make decisions that hold up over time.

How to stop dreaming and start making it real grounded in ancient wisdom

Dr. Leslie M. Gutman

Is there something you really want or wish would happen? More than 200 years ago, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, an influential 18th-century Hasidic master, taught that when we focus every ounce of our attention on a goal and visualize it in detail, we awaken the inner strength to make it real. When our desire is strong and our concentration steady, we open the door for change.

Manifestation has become a modern trend, echoing his teachings that our inner world shapes our outer actions. Here are seven steps to manifesting your wildest dreams.

1. See the Path Before You Walk It
   When you imagine a goal vividly, what it looks like, how it feels, what steps you might take, you create a mental blueprint. Your mind becomes familiar with the path and your heart becomes more willing to take the first step. Jewish tradition calls this machshavah toba, a good and focused thought that sets spiritual and emotional movement into motion.
   How to. Close your eyes for a moment and picture the outcome you want. Let the image become clear and steady. One vibrant image is more powerful than a dozen vague ones.
2. Name What You Truly Want
   Most of us rush through life reacting to what’s in front of us. We rarely pause to ask: What do I actually want? What am I hoping for? What am I afraid to admit I wish for? Manifestation begins with honest reflection. It’s also the first step toward making it real.
   How to. Create a vision board of your dreams and hang it somewhere you will see it every day.
3. Visualize Yourself Overcoming Obstacles
   Part of manifestation is acknowledging the barriers you might face, then picturing yourself moving through them. Obstacles might include your own fears and insecurities or practical issues like time or money.
   How to. Visualize one challenge you might face and imagine how you might overcome it. See yourself handling it with calm, courage, and resilience.
4. Imagine Yourself Succeeding
   Once you’ve pictured the goal and the obstacles, imagine yourself taking the steps that move you forward, making the phone calls, showing up, speaking with clarity, practicing the necessary skills, and staying steady when you feel nervous.
   This is not wishful thinking. It’s mental rehearsal, a way of preparing your mind to act with confidence when the moment comes.
   How to. Choose one small action you could take this week and imagine yourself doing it well. Keep the action manageable. Small steps build momentum.
5. Align Thought and Action
   Thought alone is never the whole story. Visualization is the preparation but behavior is the vehicle. Your goal becomes reality when your actions help you to achieve the goal.
   Manifestation, in a Jewish sense, is the partnership between your intention, your effort, and G-D’s help. We do our part, and we trust that G-D meets us halfway.
   How to. Take one concrete step forward that aligns with your vision. It doesn’t need to be dramatic.
6. Have a Positive Mindset
   To maintain your motivation, rely on techniques like positive self-talk and practicing gratitude. A positive mindset doesn’t mean ignoring the difficulties. It means seeing the good in what you have now and recognizing new doors can open that you haven’t even anticipated yet.
   How to. Focus on what’s happening now that you are grateful for and consider tools like meditation or journaling to make this more concrete.
7. Stay Open to Something Better
   Than Your Plan
   Manifesting isn’t about controlling every outcome or getting exactly what we want in the moment. Jewish wisdom teaches that we can hold a clear vision and still stay open to the possibility that G-D has something even better in mind. Sometimes we focus so intensely on one specific result that we miss a different opportunity that’s even better for us.
   Manifestation involves a measure of faith: we clarify our hopes, we take steady steps, and we trust that the path may unfold in ways we didn’t plan but ultimately serve our highest good.
   Top tip. Hold your vision lightly. Stay committed to the direction, not attached to one specific doorway.
   Rebbe Nachman believed in the power of a focused mind and a hopeful heart. When we picture the life that we want with honesty and courage, we begin to move toward it, one small step at a time.

Laura Shammah, MS, RDN

Spring has a way of making us want to start fresh. We clean our homes, organize our closets, and throw out what we no longer need. It feels productive, even relieving, like we are creating space for something new. And naturally, that same instinct shows up around food.
“I need to clean up my diet.” “I should cut out sugar.” “I am starting over Monday.” It sounds healthy. Disciplined. But more often than not, it is just a different version of the same cycle. Because while we are busy clearing out our kitchens, we are not addressing the one place that actually drives how we eat. Our minds.

The Clutter You Cannot See
Most women I work with are not struggling because they do not know what to eat. They are struggling because their minds are full. Full of rules. Full of noise. Full of constant decisions about food. “Should I eat this?” “Did I already eat too much?” “I will be good now and make up for it later.” That mental clutter is exhausting. And just like a messy home, it makes everything harder.

Why More Rules
Do Not Create More Control
When things feel out of control, the natural instinct is to tighten things up. More structure. More discipline. More rules. No carbs. No sugar. No eating after a certain time. For a few days, it can feel like it is working. But then real life happens. You get hungry. You get tired. You are out with people. You are stressed. And suddenly, the rules become impossible to follow, not because you lack willpower, but because the system itself is not sustainable. So the cycle continues, control, to restriction, to overwhelm, to starting over. That is not clarity. That is clutter.

What a Real Reset Actually Looks Like
A true reset is not about doing more. It is about removing what is not helping. Instead of asking, “What should I cut out?” try asking, “What is making eating feel so complicated?” For many women, the answer is not the food itself. It is skipping meals and then feeling out of control later, trying to be perfect all day, overthinking every bite, and feeling guilty no matter what they choose. When you clear that out, everything shifts.

Simplicity Creates Stability
Your body does not need perfection. It needs consistency. Regular meals. Enough food. A rhythm it can rely on. When eating becomes more predictable, your body responds. Hunger cues stabilize. Energy improves. Cravings feel less intense. Digestion often gets better. And most importantly, the mental noise quiets down.

A Different Kind of Spring Cleaning
This spring, instead of focusing only on your pantry, consider what you can clear out mentally. The idea that you have to start over. The pressure to eat perfectly. The belief that certain foods make you good or bad. The constant negotiation around food. You do not need more rules. You need less noise.

The Shift That Changes Everything
The goal is not to control your eating more tightly. It is to create a way of eating that does not require constant control. Because when food becomes simpler, your life does too. You have more space for your family, friends, your work, your energy, and your peace of mind.
This spring, do not just clean your kitchen. Clean the way you think about food. Because the real reset does not come from restriction. It comes from letting go of the noise that made eating feel so hard in the first place. It comes from clarity. q

Rabbi Eric Coopersmith and Joseph Bornstein

Rabbi Akiva famously taught that “love your neighbor as yourself” is the overarching principle of the Torah. Why did 24,000 of his students die for failing to do exactly that?

Why did 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva, the greatest Torah sage of his generation, die in a plague? The Talmud (Yevamot 62b) gives a single, devastating explanation: “Because they did not treat one another with proper respect.”*
Rabbi Akiva was the very sage who declared that the overarching principle of the entire Torah is the verse “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If any students should have understood the centrality of love in human affairs, it was his. How, then, did they fail so profoundly at the fundamental teaching of their own teacher?
The answer lies in a debate recorded in the same Midrashic passage about what is the Torah’s overarching principle. Rabbi Akiva’s colleague, Ben Azzai, offered an unexpected alternative candidate: “This is the book of the generations of man” (Genesis 5:1). What could a genealogical verse possibly teach that would rival the commandment to love your fellow neighbor?

Respect Versus Love
Rabbi Asher Weiss, a contemporary leading scholar, explains that Ben Azzai was pointing not to genealogy but to something more fundamental: the nature of what a human being is. The verse continues: “In the image of G-D He created him.” Ben Azzai’s principle is not about what we feel toward others, but about what others are. Every human being carries the image of G-D. Their value does not depend on whether we find them lovable. Their inherent G-dliness is independent from our feelings.
Here lies the crux of the disagreement. Rabbi Akiva built relationships on love. Ben Azzai insisted they must be built on respect. These are not the same thing.
Love, at its core, is about your experience of the other person: what is attractive, admirable, or kindred in them, the pleasure their presence brings. Respect is not a feeling but a recognition. It says, you exist independently of me. Your worth is not contingent on my affection. You have standing in the world that I did not grant and cannot revoke. Respect requires us to make space for another person’s reality, even when that reality is inconvenient or challenging to our own.
This, perhaps, is the mistake Rabbi Akiva’s students made. Love without the foundation of respect is unstable. You can love someone and still dismiss them, still fail to honor their dignity. Their love was unanchored. And so the plague came and the world was diminished.

One of a Kind
The Mishnah teaches: “Beloved is man, for he was created in the image of G-D” (Ethics of the Fathers, 3:14). The Maharal of Prague and the Vilna Gaon elaborate with a striking metaphor. Every human being shares the same basic form: two eyes, two ears, a mouth, a nose. And yet no two faces are identical. Human beings are not mass-produced prints from a single plate. Each one is a Rembrandt: singular, unrepeatable, irreplaceable. Rarity confers value. A one-of-a-kind painting is worth more than a thousand copies. How much more so a human being, of whom there has never been and will never be a duplicate in all of history. That is the metaphysical foundation of kavod, dignity. Their value is written into the fabric of creation itself.
Two thousand years after Ben Azzai, John Gottman, the world renowned couples therapist, spent decades studying thousands of marriages. He identified what he calls, “Four Horsemen” of relational destruction: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. Of these, he found that the single greatest predictor of divorce is contempt: any act of diminishment, however subtle, that communicates to another person that they are beneath consideration. In other words, the absence of kavod, respect.
Gottman arrived at this through empirical observation. Ben Azzai arrived at it through the Torah. They are saying the same thing: love brings pleasure to a relationship, but respect is the ground on which it stands.

Failure of Respect, Failure of Love
Because Rabbi Akiva’s students perished during the counting of the Omer, between Passover and Shavuot, the Sages ordained a period of mourning for them. Now consider the second period of mourning in the Jewish calendar: the Three Weeks between the seventeenth of Tammuz and Tisha B’Av (the Ninth of Av). The Talmud tells us that the Second Temple was destroyed because of sinat chinam, baseless hatred. The commonly proposed remedy is ahavat chinam, unconditional love: love offered without precondition, without calculation, without requiring the other person to earn it first.
Place these two seasons of mourning side by side and a remarkable formula emerges. The Omer period addresses a failure of respect. The Three Weeks address a failure of love. Together, they map the full architecture of what human relationships require. Respect is the foundation: the recognition that every person, by virtue of bearing G-D’s image, is worthy of dignity.
Love is what we build upon that foundation: the warmth, the connection, the willingness to see the particular beauty in another person. Love without respect drifts toward self-interest. Respect without love lacks warmth. The rabbis gave us a dedicated time each year to work on each.
The Torah requires love grounded in respect and respect animated by love. This is the foundation of marriage, friendship, community, and ultimately of the covenant between G-D and Israel.
Staying mindful of the profound, intrinsic value of everyone around you during this period of mourning helps to transform the tragic death of Rabbi Akiva’s students into meaningful growth for ourselves and for the Jewish people.
Rabbi Akiva’s students were both exceedingly righteous and the leaders of the Jewish people, and were therefore judged in a very exacting way.

Six Graphs That Change Everything

Rabbi Dr. Yosef Lynn

A researcher charted how we actually spend our time. The patterns are stunning, a little brutal, and might change how you live. Look at six graphs and you’ll never think about your time the same way again.

Writer Sahil Bloom pulled data from the American Time Use Survey and charted how we actually spend our hours across the key relationships in our lives. The patterns are striking, sometimes uncomfortable, and impossible to ignore. Here’s what they show, and what you can do about it.

1. Your Family: A Clock That’s Already Ticking
The data shows something heartbreaking: your time with parents and siblings peaks when you’re young, then falls off a cliff after age twenty. Here’s the reality check, if you’re in your thirties and your parents are in their sixties, and you see them maybe five times a year, you’ve got perhaps one hundred to one hundred fifty visits left. Total. Ever. That’s not a lot.
What you can do: Pick up the phone this week. Not because it’s someone’s birthday or a holiday. Just call.

2. Your Friends: The Window Closes Fast
Friendship time hits its peak at eighteen and drops dramatically from there. You go from spending hours every day with dozens of people to squeezing in occasional dinners with a handful. The shift is massive. This is when you learn who your real friends are, the ones Bloom calls “Darkest Hour Friends.” The people who would actually show up if everything fell apart.
What you can do: Identify your two to three closest friends. The ones you’d call at 3 a.m. Send them a message this week telling them what they mean to you.

3. Your Partner: The One Relationship That Grows
Here’s the exception to every other curve on this list: time with your partner actually increases throughout your life. Which means this choice, who you marry, might be the most important decision you’ll ever make. And here’s what matters, you need to genuinely enjoy this person during the boring parts of life. Because most of life isn’t vacations and celebrations. It’s Tuesday nights on the couch.
What you can do: Say one specific thing you appreciate about your partner today. Make it a habit.

4. Your Kids: The Years That Disappear
Your time with children spikes in your thirties and forties, then drops sharply when they leave home. Think about that. You’re working constantly to give them everything, but are you actually there for the moments that matter? There’s this tiny window when you’re their entire universe. Then it’s gone.
What you can do: Commit to fifteen minutes of fully present time with your kids each day this week. No checking your phone. Just you and them.

5. Your Coworkers: The Hidden Time Sink
From age twenty to sixty, your time with coworkers stays consistently high. That is four decades. That’s more waking hours than you’ll spend with almost anyone else in your life. So the question becomes urgent, do these people energize you or drain you? Are you proud of what you’re building together?
What you can do: Get honest with yourself. Do you gain energy from your coworkers? If not, maybe it’s time to consider a change.

6. Being Alone: The Curve That Keeps Rising
Time spent alone increases steadily throughout your entire life. When you’re young, this feels like a problem to solve. As you get older, it becomes your reality. The question isn’t whether you’ll spend more time alone. You will. The question is, are you comfortable with yourself? Can you be alone without needing constant distraction?
What you can do: Practice being bored. Put your phone away for fifteen minutes each day. Just sit. Just walk. Get used to your own company.

What This Means for You
These patterns aren’t inevitable. They’re just what happens when you live on autopilot. These graphs are offering a chance to see the default path clearly, so you can choose something different. You can call your parents more often while you still can. You can protect time for your real friendships. You can choose work that gives you energy instead of draining you. You can put down your phone during the precious years your kids actually want you around.
The curves will shift no matter what. That’s not in your control. But you can influence their shape through the choices you make today. What will you do differently now that you see the pattern?

Some of the most popular fashion brands today were founded by proud, committed Jews

Dr. Yvette Alt Miller

Everyone knows fashion designers Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Donna Karan are Jewish. But some of today’s most sought-after brands were also founded by Jews you might not know about. Here are the innovators behind a few of the most popular high-end labels.

Chloé
This iconic French brand was founded by Gabrielle Hanoka Aghion, an Egyptian Jew who moved to Paris in 1940 and democratized fashion by inventing “ready to wear” (pret a porter) clothes, designing and selling to middle-class women who didn’t have the time or money for custom couture.
Born in 1921 in Alexandria, Gabrielle grew up loving fashion. Her father managed a cigarette factory; her mother was fascinated by clothes and encouraged Gabrielle to design and sew her own. “There are these really beautiful images of her playing at the beach in these really lovely light dresses,” explained Kristina Parsons, a curator at the Jewish Museum in New York, which ran an exhibit on Gabrielle. “I think that outdoorsy, very casual, easy approach to living was something that she carried into her designs.”
Gabrielle met her husband, the Jewish Egyptian artist Raymond Aghion, when they were children in school; they married at 19. Together they engaged in Resistance activity during World War II, then moved to Paris in 1945, socializing with artists including Picasso and other intellectuals. Raymond opened an art gallery. Gabrielle began sewing dresses and in 1952 founded Chloé, borrowing the name from a friend because she thought it sounded more French and appealing to customers. “All I’ve ever wanted was for Chloé to have a happy spirit, to make people happy,” she said.
In the 1960s, Chloé gave a young unknown designer his break, hiring Karl Lagerfeld as house chief designer after Gabrielle stepped away. She sold the brand in 1985 and passed away in 2014 at 93.

Maje and Sandro
Sandro and Maje are both French brands, both fashion-forward, and both founded by sisters: Evelyne Chetrite launched Sandro in 1984, and Judith Milgom launched Maje 14 years later.
The sisters grew up in the tight-knit Jewish community of Rabat, Morocco. Their family moved to Paris when Evelyne was 15 and Judith was 10. Evelyne learned the fashion business from her husband Didier, a fellow Jew who worked in Paris’ tailoring Sentier district, and launched Sandro to fill a gap in the market: high-fashion, classic French style at accessible prices.
Judith worked for her sister and brother-in-law during teenage summers, then launched Maje in 1998 with a younger, more girlish aesthetic. The name is an acronym for their family: Moyal (Judith’s maiden name), Alain (her brother), Judith, and Evelyne. In 2009, the sisters jointly acquired the brand Claudie Pierlot.
Both Judith and Evelyne, along with their large families, make a point of sharing Shabbat dinner every week. They start planning Friday night’s meal on Tuesday. In a 2012 interview, Judith described her commitment to not working on Shabbat: “About 20 years ago, I started to observe the Jewish Sabbath really seriously. From dusk on Friday until dusk on Saturday, I don’t do any work, don’t shop or look at my email or phone. It’s unbelievably therapeutic.”

The Kooples
This prestigious label was founded in 2008 by three Orthodox Jewish French brothers: Alexandre, Laurent, and Rafael Elicha. “The Kooples” is the French pronunciation of the English word “couples;” ads feature real-life couples wearing the brand. Alexandre has said that “love is really the essence, the philosophy of the brand,” and credits his wife Charlotte, whom he met in Israel, as his muse.
The brothers grew up with front-row seats to the French fashion world. Their parents, Tony and Georgette Elicha, founded the brand Comptoir des Cotonniers in the 1990s. “Our parents were amazing teachers and through them, we got great experience and contacts,” the brothers have said. But their parents also gave them something more enduring: a love of Judaism and a sense of responsibility to lead the French Jewish community, even when it’s hard.
Tony led the Jewish community in Toulouse for years and served as Vice President of the Consistoire de Paris, an umbrella group for French Jewish organizations. In 2013, Alexandre became administrator of the Consistoire, running France’s large Jewish community while also running The Kooples. His brothers helped shoulder the business. The three families celebrate Shabbat and Jewish holidays together and even vacation together.
In 2012, Alexandre became president of the Ohr Hatorah school in Toulouse, after it became the site of one of the worst terror attacks on French soil. On March 19, 2012, an Islamist terrorist ambushed children and staff entering the Orthodox Jewish school and opened fire. He murdered Rabbi Jonathan Sandler, who was trying to shield his two young sons, then killed them: Arie, age five, and Gabriel, age three. He then shot eight-year-old Myriam Monsonego, the school principal’s daughter, in the head. He also shot and severely wounded Bryan Bijaoui, a 17-year-old student. Alexandre remains close friends with the principal, Rabbi Yaacov Monsonego, and is devoted to strengthening Jewish education in Toulouse and beyond.
Shabbat, Alexandre has said, is the cornerstone of his week. “Life is so magic… Shabbat is a good way to take time and think about what you’re doing in this world.”

Reiss
David Reiss grew up in a traditional Jewish family in London and attended an Orthodox school. In 1965, he took over his father Joshua’s tailoring business in the East End, once a deeply Jewish neighborhood. “I had this entrepreneurial spirit and I suppose retail was in my blood,” he has said.
He opened the first Reiss store in 1971, aiming to fill the gap between expensive designer menswear and cheap, poor-quality clothes. The brand offered elegant tailoring at accessible prices, took off quickly, and expanded into womenswear and stores worldwide.

Canada Goose
This beloved brand started in 1957 when Samuel Tick, a poor Polish Jewish immigrant to Toronto, was working as a fabric cutter and decided to try making high-quality winter coats. He called the company Metro Sportswear and supplied parkas to better-known retailers, who put their own labels on the garments.
In time, Samuel began selling directly to consumers under the name Snow Goose. The parkas quickly earned a loyal following: Canada’s Arctic Rangers, scientists at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, Ontario police officers, and Laurie Skreslet, the first Canadian to summit Mount Everest, who wore one on his climb. They all valued the coats’ extraordinary resistance to cold.
Samuel’s son-in-law David Reiss eventually took over, followed by his son Dani Reiss, who became CEO in 2001 at 27, fresh out of the University of Toronto where he’d studied literature and philosophy. He had no plans to run the family business long-term and knew he was young and inexperienced. He proved to have a sharp instinct for business anyway. He renamed the company Canada Goose and began marketing the coats not just to outdoor workers but to city dwellers. The brand became a global phenomenon worn by celebrities worldwide.

Avec Les Filles
Avec Les Filles, French for “With the Girls,” is focused on dressing Millennial women. It’s the creation of Joyce Azria, an Orthodox Jewish designer and entrepreneur based in Florida.
Joyce learned fashion from her father, legendary designer Max Azria, who founded BCBG. After running BCBG, she stepped back to focus on her family. She and her husband Ilan Trojanowski have seven children. She launched Avec Les Filles in 2017 with the goal of bringing French-inspired style to a wider audience. “I love Sandro, I love Maje,” she said at the time, “but they are so high-end that I thought, ‘I want a brand that brings me in at 18 bucks and is a little easier to digest. What I strive to do with Avec les Filles is allow customers to indulge in an experience that’s designer-led and authentic, but still feels playful.”
Growing up, Shabbat dinner was a central family ritual for Joyce. She made sure it remained the cornerstone of her own family’s week too. Despite running an international business, she insists what truly brings her joy is family and spirituality. “On Shabbat, I leave behind the business world and focus on my family and my relationship with G-D. I am fortunate that I’m not a slave to my work.”

Teri Jon
This upscale American brand has an international origin: its founder and chief designer, Rickie Freeman-Platt, was born in Israel and draws inspiration from the real lives of her customers, guided by the belief that “every woman should have the opportunity to look great no matter what size or body shape she has.”
Rickie moved to New York at 17 and worked for Jewish fashion designers Evan Picone and Elie Tahari before founding Teri Jon in 1978, a high-fashion brand specializing in special occasion dresses.
An intensely private person, Rickie rarely gives interviews. Her philanthropy speaks for her. A board member of Stern College for Women, she opens her home and business to Jewish charities and actively campaigns for Jewish and Zionist causes.

Encouraging High School Entrepreneurs

Sarina Roffé

“I believe the entrepreneurial spirit creates innovators with new ideas and a drive that exerts a force like no other. I enjoy sharing my experiences as an investor and practitioner, as well as studies, research, and readings to assist young entrepreneurs on their journey,” said Sian Goldofsky.

Born and raised in Deal, New Jersey, the Hillel High School grad believes high school students should be encouraged to be entrepreneurs. The culture of the Syrian community is rich with self-made businesspeople who are excellent role models. “In business, it is really critical to have a strong network, which we have in the community. When combined with the entrepreneurial spirit, it drives the future of the economy. And that’s exactly what we have in our community,” said Sian.
As background, Sian’s mom, Sima, is from the Ba’asher and Salamah families, whose roots trace back to Urfa, a satellite of Aleppo, and Yemen and who eventually settled in Eretz Israel. Sima met Sian’s dad, Dr. Sheldon Goldofsky, a descendant of Polish Holocaust survivors, on a trip to the United States. They married and settled in the Deal area. Hillel was Sima’s beacon of light as she wanted her children to learn Hebrew. Hillel enabled the family’s deeper integration into the Deal community, which ultimately led to the family becoming religious through their relationship with Rabbi Ezra Labaton A’H.
After Sian’s older brother, Siel, moved to Israel to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces, Sian’s parents and younger sister, Shani, followed suit and made Aliyah (immigration to Israel). Sian stayed behind in America to finish high school. He then attended Binghamton University, where he earned a master’s and a bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering with concentrations in information assurance (cybersecurity) and control systems, and where he met his future wife.
Even before graduating from Hillel, “I always intended on serving in the Israeli military. I wanted to be in intelligence or MAFAT (Directorate of Defense, Research & Development). I entered college with that goal in mind and studied under professors who were world-renowned in the relevant subjects. I invested deeply in cryptographic, network communications, and control systems studies, critical technologies for cybersecurity and defensive applications like the Iron Dome. These are challenging disciplines, but I kept focused on my end goal. I assisted in the research of amazing professors in the field, and before long found myself working as a civilian researcher for the U.S. military. That led me to an early career as an enterprise cybersecurity consultant, one of very few of my age, working with some of the largest companies in the world.”
Later, Sian made Aliyah (immigration to Israel) with his then-fiancé, Jasmine, and began a career in investing in startups on behalf of leading funds managing over $1 billion. Today, in addition to his work in venture capital, Sian is an advisor to MAFAT.
“Throughout my career, it became apparent that there are those who innovate privately and those who want to spread innovation to the world.”
Sian and his partners at SaaS Ventures recently launched a $30 million fund dedicated to investments in Israeli cybersecurity and AI companies. “This is an exciting time for small business owners. If they invest in AI tools, they will be well positioned for significant growth,” said Sian. The October 7 attack on Israel motivated his new fund’s creation, and the current war with Iran reminded Sian to take a moment and think about how he can help the community. He will be speaking to students at Hillel Yeshiva about entrepreneurship in the coming school year.
“In our community, we have this incredible culture where everybody’s an entrepreneur. In Israel, it is very similar. Israel has one of the largest startup ecosystems and the largest number of startups worth over $1 billion per capita in the world. Everyone is helping one another. That’s partially inherited from the IDF, where everyone participates due to mandatory service, and it breeds a collaborative culture. Also, as Jews, everybody feels for one another. It’s like the community I grew up in but extended significantly.”
Sian believes students should begin being entrepreneurial in high school. “High school students are already starting to play around with what it would be like to build their own business. There have never been lower barriers to entry. It’s never been more accessible to start something new, and the time it takes to go from an idea to a product has never been shorter. In high school, you have similar-minded close friends who can work and collaborate with you at a time when you have no external responsibilities beyond your studies. You are well positioned to begin a business, and I suggest you start one now,” he said.
“Parents and others in the community can help provide guidance. Start with a problem that needs to be solved. People care about what they want to buy, not what you want to sell. After identifying the problem, tailor your solution accordingly. It is straightforward. If you have a low-priced item, then it needs to be something that can sell itself and not be expensive to create or maintain. If it’s expensive, it must be possible to support a sales team, and the product must deliver significant value. After identifying the problem, ask yourself, what does my customer look like and where can I find them?”
“I want to encourage high schoolers to try their hand at entrepreneurship. I think that high school is the perfect time to begin. And I believe our community is well positioned for it. I’m excited about it. I’m hoping to invest in entrepreneurs from our community.”
“I also want people to stop being so concerned and questioning the value of college after AI. College remains valuable, and it can provide value in many ways. Success in college can come from a great education, but also from your network and relationships established while there. It’s a fantastic place to collaborate with partners, build projects or businesses, and even find your spouse.
“High grades are important, but as an investor I will take the person with experience growing a business quickly every time. For me, grades are an indicator of potential success. A Harvard graduate likely has resilience and a track record of working hard, so when comparing two individuals who do not have experience building a business prior, we lean heavily on education. That said, if one built a thriving business before, they are much more likely to succeed in building another regardless of where they went to school.
“Age is not important. A person with little funding who built an application or a business that grew quickly at a young age, whether by user base or relative revenue, accomplished something that few people in the world have ever done.”
Sian travels frequently between Israel and the United States and is glad to be a resource for schools and synagogues in our community that may benefit from conversations around Israel, innovation, startups, and venture capital.

This month’s Community Photo Album celebrates Passover. Our schools and organizations came together with meaningful programs, hands on projects, and preparations for Yom Tov that brought people of all ages together. The photos capture children making matzah, working on Haggadah projects, having practice seders, acting out the Passover story, events during HOL Hamoed, and the many special moments that define this time.

Four dependable recipes, from traditional to modern

Shavuot brings with it a table shaped by tradition and comfort. Dairy dishes take center stage, and cheesecake, in its many forms, has become a familiar favorite. Whether baked or chilled, simple or more layered, it is the kind of dessert that feels right for the season.

In many homes, the classic version still holds its place, but there is also room to try something new. These recipes keep the focus on practical home cooking while offering a range of flavors and textures that fit naturally into a Shavuot menu.

Classic Baked Cheesecake
Dairy
Yields: one 9 inch cake
Serves: 10 to 12

Ingredients

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 6 tbsp melted
  butter
• 4 packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. Mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a bowl until combined. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom of a 9 inch springform pan.
3. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
4. Add the sour cream, lemon juice, and vanilla, and mix until fully combined.
5. Pour the filling over the crust.
6. Bake for about 60 to 70 minutes, until the center is just set.
7. Turn off the oven and leave the door slightly open. Let the cheesecake cool inside for 1 hour.
   Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving.

Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake Bars
Dairy
Yields: one 9 by 13 pan
Serves: 12 to 16

Ingredients

• 2 cups chocolate cookie crumbs
• 5 tbsp melted butter
• 3 packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 6 ounces melted chocolate

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. Mix the cookie crumbs and melted butter, then press into the bottom of a lined 9 by 13 pan.
3. Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, then mix in the vanilla.
4. Reserve 1 cup of the batter and mix it with the melted chocolate.
5. Pour the plain batter over the crust. Spoon the chocolate mixture on top and swirl gently with a knife.
6. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until set.
7. Cool completely, then refrigerate before cutting into bars.

Basque Style Cheesecake with Honey
Dairy
Yields: one 9 inch cake
Serves: 8 to 10

Ingredients

• 4 packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp flour
• 2 tbsp honey

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a 9 inch pan with parchment paper, allowing the paper to come up the sides.
2. Beat the cream cheese and sugar until very smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
3. Add the heavy cream and vanilla, then mix until combined. Sprinkle in the flour and mix just until smooth.
4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and drizzle the honey over the top.
5. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until the top is deeply golden and the center still has a slight movement.
6. Cool at room temperature, then refrigerate for several hours before serving.

No Bake Lemon Cheesecake Cups
Dairy or Pareve
Yields: 8 cups
Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups crushed vanilla cookies
• 4 tbsp melted butter or margarine
• 2 packages cream cheese or dairy free cream cheese, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon zest
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup whipped cream or non-dairy topping

Instructions

1. Mix the cookie crumbs with the melted butter or margarine and divide evenly into serving cups. Press lightly to form a base.
2. Beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla, and mix well.
3. Fold in the whipped cream until light and combined.
4. Spoon the mixture over the crusts in each cup.
5. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

What property owners should know about Quitclaim deeds

Ben G. Matsas

Property ownership transfers, once known for paperwork, delays, and high legal costs, are being reshaped by digital platforms that streamline the process. New services are part of a growing wave of online solutions designed to simplify deed transfers, including quitclaim deeds, transfers to LLCs, and placing property into trusts for estate planning.

A deed transfer is required whenever ownership of real estate changes. This can include situations such as transferring property between family members, adding or removing a spouse, moving ownership into a limited liability company (LLC) for asset protection, or placing property into a trust to better manage inheritance and long-term planning. Traditionally, these transactions required multiple appointments, extensive paperwork, and significant legal fees.
“Quitclaim deeds” remain one of the most commonly used tools in these situations. They allow one party to transfer their interest in a property to another quickly, where there is no sale involved. While straightforward in concept, preparing and filing these documents correctly is essential to avoid future legal complications.
Digital platforms are now addressing these challenges by offering guided, step-by-step systems that replace much of the traditional complexity. LibertyFiling.com, for example, uses an online interface combined with automation and AI to help users complete deed transfers more efficiently. Instead of navigating dense legal language, users are prompted with simple questions, and the system generates the appropriate documentation based on their responses.
These services are designed for a wide range of users. Homeowners transferring property to a family member, adding or removing a spouse, real estate investors restructuring ownership through LLCs, and those planning their estates through trusts can all benefit from a more streamlined approach. By reducing reliance on in-person consultations, online platforms also make the process more accessible to those with limited time or resources.
Technology plays a central role in this shift. Automated systems can ensure that documents meet state-specific requirements, reducing the likelihood of errors that might otherwise delay filings. In addition, users can complete the process remotely, often in a fraction of the time required by traditional methods.
As the legal services landscape continues to evolve, platforms like LibertyFiling.com highlight how innovation can improve accessibility and efficiency in areas that have historically been slow to modernize. Documents are prepared by professional filers with years of experience and checked by AI for accuracy.
Readers of Image Magazine are being offered a special rate of $599 for a deed transfer service through
LibertyFiling.com/deed-transfer, plus applicable government filing fees. If you have questions, please email Ben G. Matsas at info@LibertyFiling.com. All information is kept strictly confidential.

The information above is provided for general purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, or financial advice. LibertyFiling.com provides document preparation and filing coordination services and does not provide legal or financial advice.

7 Ways to Do It Better

Dr. Leslie M. Gutman

“You are such a good listener. You really helped me.” I received this compliment the other day and it made my whole week. It wasn’t grand or poetic. It was personal and heartfelt, and I felt like I mattered. And yet chances are when you notice something good about someone, you say nothing. Or you think of the perfect words hours later. Or you assume they already know and don’t bother. Or you say something that rings hollow.

Compliments are more than mere niceties. When you offer a compliment, you’re doing four things at once. You’re strengthening our connection to others. Compliments are moments of bonding, safety, and belonging. You’re elevating others. Most people would love a sincere, specific affirmation. Not flattery. Just being seen. You’re helping people grow. When you name a strength that someone is showing, you help them see their own potential more clearly. That tiny moment of recognition can motivate someone to step up, try again, or lean into a quality they didn’t fully realize they had. You’re boosting our own well-being. Recognizing the good makes you feel good, too.
If we understood how powerful compliments are, perhaps we’d give more of them. And we’d give them better. Here are seven ways to give better compliments and how to give them more frequently.

Notice the micro good
Don’t wait for something big or impressive. The small things are where relationships thrive. Example: “You made me smile when you messaged me this morning.” Noticing the small things teaches us to see the world with gratitude.
Tip: Give a compliment for one tiny act of goodness each day. Focus on something you’d normally overlook.

Make it specific
“Great job” is fine. But specificity can be transformative. It tells the person: “I really saw you.” Example: “Your message was so clear and thoughtful. It made my day easier.”
Tip: If you want to make your compliments more meaningful, try using P.R.A.I.S.E. It’s a simple way to turn vague comments into something warm and memorable:

• Person: address them directly
• Reason: why you’re speaking up
• Action: what they did
• Impact: how it affected you or others
• Specifics: one concrete detail
• Emotion: how it made you feel

Compliment effort, not just outcome
Judaism teaches that we’re rewarded for effort, not results. Psychology says something similar: effort-based praise builds resilience and identity. Example: “I admire the persistence you showed.”
Tip: Start compliments with “I noticed how you…” to highlight process over perfection.

Say it in the moment
Don’t save it for later, and don’t wait for the perfect phrasing. A simple, sincere sentence right now is better than the perfect compliment that never gets said. Example: “That was such a thoughtful question you asked just now.”
Tip: If you notice something good, give yourself a five-second window to say it.

Let it be simple
You don’t need to justify it. Just saying the good thing that you noticed is enough. Example: “You’re really good at making people feel welcome.”
Tip: If you feel awkward, keep it to one sentence. Sincerity beats eloquence.

Compliment character, not just appearance
Appearance-based compliments can be lovely, but character-based ones build identity. Example: “You are so calm in stressful situations.” These are the compliments people remember years later.
Tip: Ask yourself: “What quality did this person show?” Say that.

Practice receiving compliments gracefully
Giving compliments is only half the equation. Receiving them well is its own form of generosity. When you deflect: “Oh, it was nothing,” you block the giver’s kindness. A simple “thank you” respects the moment.
Tip: If receiving a compliment feels uncomfortable, act as though you’re accepting a small gift.
Compliments are tiny acts of generosity, moments of truth-telling, flashes of appreciation. In a world quick to criticize and slow to notice, offering a sincere compliment stands out. You don’t need to follow all six principles. Even using two or three will give your compliments more sincerity and depth.

Rediscovering Bitachon in a Modern World

“Trust in Hashem with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.”
Mishlei (Proverbs) 3:5

In a world defined by uncertainty, where financial pressures rise, health concerns linger, and the future often feels unpredictable, the timeless concept of bitachon (trust) offers something rare: inner stability. Rooted in the teachings of Chovot HaLevavot (Duties of the Heart), particularly in Sha’ar HaBitachon (Gate of Trust), this approach is not simply a comforting belief. It is a disciplined way of thinking, a lens through which life itself is understood.
Many people mistakenly define bitachon as the belief that things will turn out the way a person hopes. But Rabbeinu Bachya ibn Paquda teaches otherwise. As Rabbeinu Bachya writes in Chovot HaLevavot, Sha’ar HaBitachon, Chapter 1: “The essence of trust is the tranquility of the soul of the one who trusts, and his heart relies on the One (Hashem) in whom he trusts, that He will do what is good and proper for him.” True bitachon, as presented here through Chovot HaLevavot, is not simply confidence in a specific outcome. It is confidence in Hashem Himself. It is the deep awareness that whatever unfolds is neither random nor accidental but part of a precise and purposeful plan.
This distinction changes everything. A person can spend years building a career, nurturing relationships, and carefully planning the future, only to find that life takes an unexpected turn. Without bitachon, such moments can feel destabilizing, even overwhelming. But with bitachon, a different perspective emerges: If this is what Hashem has brought into my life, then it must serve a purpose, even if I cannot yet understand it.
At the core of Sha’ar HaBitachon is the teaching that Hashem alone is the true provider. Human effort, hishtadlut (responsible practical effort), is necessary, but it is not the source of success. We are required to act and to engage with the world responsibly, but we must never confuse the vessel with the source. A person may believe that their intelligence, connections, or persistence are what bring results. In truth, these are merely tools. The outcome is always in Hashem’s hands.
Living with this awareness softens the constant pressure to control every detail. It allows a person to act diligently without becoming consumed by anxiety. Effort remains, but worry begins to fade. This is especially relevant in today’s culture, where control is often mistaken for security. We are taught to plan every step, anticipate every risk, and prepare for every possibility. Yet despite all our efforts, uncertainty remains. Bitachon offers an alternative, not the removal of uncertainty but the ability to live peacefully within it.
Another essential aspect of bitachon is emotional resilience. A person who truly trusts in Hashem does not escape difficulty, but he or she experiences it differently. Challenges do not immediately lead to panic. Delays do not automatically trigger frustration. Instead, there is a quiet steadiness, a sense that even this moment is being guided.
This does not mean suppressing emotion or denying struggle. It means framing those experiences within a larger truth. When something does not go as planned, the question shifts from “Why is this happening?” to “What is Hashem asking of me in this moment?”
Such a mindset creates a profound inner freedom. A person is no longer defined by outcomes, by success or failure, gain or loss. Instead, they are anchored in their relationship with Hashem. Their sense of stability comes not from external results, but from internal trust.
Sha’ar HaBitachon also emphasizes simplicity of heart. The more a person tries to calculate every possible scenario, the more anxiety grows. But when a person accepts that the future is ultimately in Hashem’s hands, the need to control begins to loosen. There is space to breathe, to live, and to move forward with clarity.
In practical terms, living with bitachon means doing what is necessary, working, planning, taking action, while simultaneously releasing the belief that everything depends on those efforts. It is a balance that requires constant awareness, but it leads to a quieter, more grounded way of living.
In a generation overwhelmed by information, pressure, and constant comparison, the message of bitachon feels almost radical. It invites us to step back from the noise and reconnect with something deeper, the understanding that we are not alone in navigating life.
Ultimately, bitachon is not about predicting a better future. It is about trusting Hashem, who is already guiding it. And in that trust, a person finds something far greater than certainty, they find peace.

Sarah pachter

WHAT SPIRITUAL LEGACY ARE YOU BEQUEATHING TO YOUR CHILDREN?

Nothing is as it seems
We don’t know anyone else’s financial situation, backstory, or personal struggles. People who seem like they are ruling the world may actually be crumbling inside. The Talmud refers to this world as olam hasheker, a world of deception, which social media depicts all too well. The people you think are wealthy may be in heavy debt, and the people you think are poor may have happiness that is priceless.
Everyone has their struggles; no one’s life is perfect. Remember that as you keep your head high when facing your own struggles.

People will remember how you made them feel — not what you said
Maya Angelou famously stated, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Your smile and warmth to others will be remembered forever. You may be the brightest, most eloquent entrepreneur, leader, or influencer, but if you make others feel inferior to you, they will walk away disheartened and unchanged. Your smile can break boundaries and give light to others who are struggling. Your encouraging words can change someone’s life on a bad day.

Kindness is your superpower
You have the most incredible superpower within you that can move mountains and defy nature: kindness. No matter what the situation, you can always choose kindness. Even when it’s hard or when someone is rude to you, you can select a response that reflects your compassion. When someone hurts you and you respond with kindness, you are tapping into an inner light that illuminates the entire world.
When someone you know is being bullied, either on the playground, in cyberspace, or in the workforce, you become a superhero when you choose to help the victim.
This popular quote says it all: “Let your child be the weird kid, the funny kid, the quiet kid, the smart kid, the athletic kid, the theater kid, the numbers kid, the teacher’s pet, the chatterbox, the valedictorian, the middle of the pack, or the barely made it kid. Just don’t let him/her be the mean kid.”

People may want to hear the gossip at the moment, but they’ll respect you and stay your friend if you don’t
Sometimes you’ll have a juicy piece of gossip to share. In the moment, everyone’s ears will perk up and the attention will be on you as they beg you to share what you know. When you are faced with the choice to share that secret, think twice.
People may be curious to hear what you know, but if you reveal the secrets of others, deep down they won’t trust you to keep theirs. You will find yourself with many true friends if you hold back from gossiping. People will trust you and know that you are worthy of hearing their stories.

Your integrity is your greatest asset
Life will present moments when you have to choose between your reputation and your integrity. Choose integrity. Reputation is defined by what does everyone else think of me? Integrity answers a different question: What do I think of me?
When you live with integrity, your moral compass guides you — not what others think. As long as you care more about the perception of others, you will be imprisoned. True freedom is when you do what is correct, even if it doesn’t seem that way to an outsider. Worry about what is right instead of what looks right.

Giving changes the giver
On the one hand, we all love receiving, but our soul thrives off of giving. The more you give, the more you express the deepest desires of the soul. I once heard a beautiful quote, “The only money you have is the money you give away.” Nothing physical comes with us to the grave.
Giving develops empathy, increases confidence, and breeds personal empowerment. When you see that your hard-earned money can help someone else, you feel powerful. Using your talents and your creativity to change the world is inspiring. Receiving feels good in the short term, but the great feeling you get from giving lasts forever.

Your spiritual choices remain
with you forever
Everything in the physical world can be taken from you in an instant. In seconds, your wealth can diminish in an economic downfall. Your properties can be destroyed from a natural disaster. An accident or sickness can destroy your mind or body. The only thing that can never be taken away from you are your spiritual choices. The moments you overcome your anger, the times when you bite your tongue and choose the high road over cattiness, and the spiritual growth you achieve behind closed doors remain with you forever. No one can ever take away your spiritual efforts; they last forever.

I hope that my children will live life with these principles to the best of their ability. When you live this way, it can become your legacy forever.