Who says you need a prescription for every problem? Sometimes a home remedy is all it takes to feel better. Home remedies have become increasingly popular as the expense of conventional medicine continues to rise and as the public takes a more holistic approach to medicine.
Millions of Americans are using acupuncture to improve their health, treating ailments ranging from the common cold to orthopedic issues. Acupuncture is also gaining momentum as an effective and safe way to treat childhood issues. Recenlty, a 9 year old boy (we’ll call him Shaya) came with his mother to my office. The mother stated that her son’s chief complaint was bed wetting. Shaya would wet the bed up to four nights a week. Summer camp was on its way and both he and his parents were eager to have him accident free.
Tu B’shvat is a holiday intimately connected to the agricultural cycle of the Land of Israel. Falling in the middle of the Jewish month of Shvat, the 15th day of the month is the New Year of Trees. Today, this holiday is often celebrated by planting saplings and eating the seven species—five fruits and two grains—associated with Israel.
We all know to dial 911 in an emergency situation, but when everyone is suffering from the same emergency (think Superstorm Sandy), assistance may be delayed. That’s why it’s important for your family to know what to do before help arrives.
Ephraim Gartenhause will be the recipient of the coveted Volunteer Award of Excellence at the 2014 Aleh Foundation Awards Gala, to be held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at 6:30 pm. He recently paid a visit to the Aleh Foundation. Mr. Gartenhause founded and created the volunteer project in Aleh’s first major Center (which served 14 children), located at 53 Kehilat Yakov in Bnei Brak, Israel.
My mom, also known as Grandma Sue A”H, would always make mmm Chelah (pickled vegetables), as we used to call them. I remember coming home from school and seeing all the pretty colored vegetables waiting on the counter to be put in the fridge. I would always sneak some. My dad, Grandpa Joe, absolutely loved his mmm chelah. He liked it even better than any regular salad or vegetables. His favorite thing to do was accidentally drop a piece of bread into the juice, just so he could sneak a bite. It would make us laugh every time!
We join the Labaton family in mourning the passing of Rabbi Ezra Labaton, one of the great American rabbis of our generation. Rabbi Labaton served for many years as rabbi of the Magen David Congregation of West Deal, New Jersey.
My personal and professional friendship with Ezra goes back about forty years. To me, he was one of the bright stars in the contemporary rabbinate in general, and in the Sephardic rabbinate in particular.
I want to thank the Labaton family, for giving me the chance to speak about our beloved Rabbi Labaton A”H. It is very difficult to speak about someone who I loved very much and learned a lot from.
Rabbi Labaton was a giant and our synagogue lost its crown.
“Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and Your Torah is truth. May Your mercies come upon me so that I may live, for Your Torah is my preoccupation” (Tehillim 119:77,142)
Rav Ezra zt”l, was the Ish Emet – the Truthful Man. Whenever I spoke with him, or listened to him teach, or whenever I observed him in his interaction with family, friends, congregants or students, one thought was always inescapable: this is the Ish Emet – the Truthful Man.
For many years, I have been privileged to have an ongoing dialogue with Rabbi Labaton. This wonderful relationship made an everlasting impact on my perspective of the community and the world at large. A meeting with the Rabbi was always an experience dominated by his intellect, wit, and his expressive face that emanated love and compassion. He was a passionate man always ready to defend and fight for the principles he believed in.
אתו ברא אלוקים בצלם בצלמו האדם את אלוקים ויברא
כז,א בראשית
All of what our Rabbi, Rabbi Ezra Labaton A”H taught and represented stems from this fundamental teaching: each and every person is godly; each and every person is unique and dignified; each and every person should be respected and each and every person’s thoughts and feelings need to be appreciated. The rest is commentary.
When I heard that Rabbi Labaton’s, a”h, condition had worsened, I was completely immobilized with feelings of sorrow and pain, love and regret.
I regret not calling the Rabbi with every question, not attending every class I could have, not living my life in a way that would make him completely proud, and not being a better friend throughout his illness.
Rabbi, it is no coincidence that you left us in the week of Parashat Vayigash. The word vayigash means to come close. In one of the most powerful episodes of Sefer Bereshit, Yosef tells his brothers, “Geshu nah elai,” and the pasuk continues, “Vayigashu.” Yosef asks his brothers to come close and be united; to forget the past. The most important thing in the world for him was for his family to be close. At the end of the parasha, the famine in Egypt is discussed, but in Goshen, the pasuk says, “Vayifru, vayirbu meod,” they were fruitful and multiplied. Only there, where the Jews were united, did they continue to thrive despite the difficulties the rest of the country was experiencing.
The Rabbis of the Jersey Shore Orthodox Rabbinate would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Emily Labaton and entire Labaton family on their tragic loss. Rabbi Labaton was a devoted husband, son, brother, father and grandfather.
