AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH

Dr. John A. Viole

CHRONIC EAR INFECTIONS (OTITIS MEDIA) AND EXCESSIVE FLUID IN THE MIDDLE EAR ARE SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT SO MANY CHILDREN TODAY. IN THE UNITED STATES, MYRINGOTOMY AND TUBE PLACEMENT SURGERY HAVE BECOME A MAINSTAY OF TREATMENT FOR RECURRENT OTITIS MEDIA IN CHILDREN. AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE MARCH 1998 CONSUMER REPORTS STATED THAT “THE NUMBER OF MYRINGOTOMIES HAS RISEN NEARLY 250% IN RECENT YEARS, MAKING THE OPERATION THE SIXTH MOST COMMON OPERATION IN THE UNITED STATES.”

According to the New York University School of Medicine, myringotomy and tube placement is the most common surgical procedure performed in children as of 2003, largely because otitis media is the most common reason for children to be taken to a doctor’s office. Tube surgery can be effective in relieving the pressure in the middle ear caused by excessive fluid.

When a child suffers with chronic ear infections and fluid within the middle ear, the child can often suffer with pain and some level of hearing loss. The first course of action is to give the child antibiotics and other medications to clear up the infection and fluid. If the child responds favorably and the condition does not return then no further treatment is necessary. But all too often children will respond only temporarily to medication. In these cases, within weeks after the medication has been stopped the infection and/or fluid returns. What frequently happens with a child in this situation is that numerous rounds of different medications are tried for months and sometimes years before the MD decides that the child needs to have tubes surgically inserted to relieve the fluid build-up and hopefully prevent further ear infections and hearing loss.

Unfortunately, though this procedure often relieves the symptoms, it does not address the cause of the excessive fluid. I have often heard from parents, whose children have had tube surgery, that the tubes eventually fall out and the problem returns. Though tube surgery is at times necessary, it should always be a last resort. It requires a child to be put under general anesthesia to do the surgery.

CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT OFFERS AN ALTERNATIVE AND OFTEN HELPS IN THE PREVENTION OF RECURRING EAR INFECTIONS
Chiropractic treatment is often very effective in treating children with this chronic and recurring condition. In the October 1998 issue of the Ladies Home Journal appeared an article entitled, “Chiropractic Adjustments for Chronic Ear Infections.” This article reviewed several studies showing the effectiveness of chiropractic care for preventing reoccurring ear infections.

According to the article, reoccurring ear infections account for over 35% of all pediatrician visits in the United States. Sometimes these infections are due to bacteria and sometimes they are due to a virus. While the article mentions that an antibiotic may be effective in an acute bacterial infection, they do nothing to stop repeat infections. Research and statistics are now showing that repeated use of antibiotics is contributing to future infections by creating drug-resistant bacteria. As per the article, the surgical approach often does not confer long term results as the “tubes” placed in children’s ears often fall out.

“Chiropractic Care of 401 Children with Otitis Media: A Pilot Study,” found in the March 1998 edition of Alternative Therapies and authored by Fallon and Edelman, concluded, “There is a strong correlation between chiropractic adjustment and the resolution of otitis media for the children in this study.”

Many studies have been done since 1998 on this subject and have shown essentially the same encouraging results regarding chiropractic treatment and otitis media.

As some you may be aware, I am the chiropractor who had worked with the late pediatrician, Dr. Steven Fries, for over 16 years treating many hundreds of children who had suffered with chronic and recurrent ear infections and/or fluid in the middle ear. These children did not respond favorably to numerous trials of different medications. Our records, over those years, indicated that a significant majority of the children we treated, approximately 73%, experienced excellent results. Most of these children were candidates for myringotomies, but due to our work a significant number were able to avoid the surgery and no longer suffered with recurrent ear infections. Since Dr. Fries himself was Orthodox, many of his patients were from the Jewish community. Consequently, a prevalent number of the children I treated with this problem were also from the Jewish community.

The chiropractic treatments are gentle and non-invasive. There are no side effects. The only negative outcome that Dr. Fries and I experienced in over 16 years of working together was that some children would not respond to the treatment. This occurred approximately 27% of the time and therefore surgery would become necessary. (As stated, we were successful approximately 73% of the time.)

Most chiropractors do not specifically treat children with this condition, so a chiropractor with extensive experience specifically treating children with this problem will greatly enhance the chances of having a successful result.

I will be happy to talk with any parent who may be considering this option so that they may fully understand this alternative treatment. Please fell free to call me at (718) 934-0007.

I am a chiropractor for over 30 years working in the Marine Park section of Brooklyn. I treat numerous conditions such as headaches, neck and shoulder pain, back pain, sciatic pain, and various other conditions. Over the years treating children with chronic and recurrent ear infections has been a specialty of my practice. Serving the Jewish community, both children and adults, has been a significant part of my practice.

KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE BALLPARK

THE EDWARD M. DWECK DSN SUMMER BASEBALL LEAGUE BEGAN 8 YEARS AGO WITH ONLY 6 TEAMS AND 60 PLAYERS. FAST FORWARD TO THIS PAST SUMMER TO WITNESS 48 TEAMS AND 470 PLAYERS—A HOMERUN BY ALL ACCOUNTS!

DSN’s summer baseball league screams success. How does one measure success? Take your pick—from the number of teams and players, to the qualitatively more important smiling faces of the children, to the involvement of parents who coach the children, to the filled seats of spectators cheering along. Success? You bet!

The league began on June 26th and continued throughout the summer, culminating on August 28th with World Series games. Each Sunday morning, players from kindergarten through 9th grade donned their personalized jerseys along with their team baseball caps, pants and socks.

Jeffrey Ashear, who has been a head coach since the league’s inception said, “I love DSN baseball! It is well-executed and critical for our kids’ development. That’s why I coach. I enjoy it, and more importantly the kids learn a lot and they have a blast too!”

Some age groups are so large that they are split into two separate divisions with a World Series winner for each division. That means two championship teams for the same age group. This year’s winning teams included:

Kindergarten: Mets with Coach Ikey Douek
1st Grade: Reds with Coach Ezra Sultan
1st Grade: Mets with Coach Nathan Zalta
2nd Grade: Reds with Coach Allan Sasson
2nd Grade: White Sox with Coach Ralph Terzi
3rd-4th Grades: Pirates with Coach Isaac Gammal
3rd-4th Grades: A’s with Coach David Gindi
5th-6th Grades: Dodgers with Coach Richie Mizrachi
7-9th Grades: Yankees with Coach Sammy Esses

Sol Chehebar, coach for the Reds was elated. “Both of my sons played this year. We had a great team and a great time. I’ve been coaching for years and each year is better than the last. I don’t even know how the league can improve for next year!”

Sol Chehebar, coach for the Reds was elated. “Both of my sons played this year. We had a great team and a great time. I’ve been coaching for years and each year is better than the last. I don’t even know how the league can improve for next year!”

The end-of-season Trophy Ceremony is a summer staple and highlight, with 600 people attending this year. It consisted of a fully catered dinner for players and their families with speeches, a summer recap video, trophies, a photo booth, and a baseball yearbook. A great time was had by all. Coach awards were distributed, voted upon by their peers. Ezra Sultan, coach for the Reds 1st graders, has been coaching for many years. He said, “I can see the confidence the kids receive in the DSN league. On the field, they love making a great hit or catch. The trophy ceremony is amazing. At the ceremony, they love to see pictures and videos of themselves. They enjoyed dinner and receiving remarkable trophies that they cherish and display.”

Alfred Harary, a 9th grade player, explained why he keeps playing, “I’ve learned the skills—running, throwing and so forth. Over the years I’ve seen what else I’ve learned that I can apply to the rest of my life, like how to hustle, how to focus, how to be a team player, and how to deal with a loss. Baseball has been a great teacher. I am thankful DSN has given me and so many other boys this opportunity.”

DSN Sports Director Sports Director Jon Entel runs all of DSN’s leagues. He explained, “Understanding all the hard work that goes into securing the fields, making the teams, getting the coaches and setting up every Sunday, it is rewarding to see the kids and parents thrilled and coming back every year for more.”

DSN’s Executive Director Sammy Sitt summarized, “Sunday Sports is at the heart of what DSN has been doing since its inception. Bringing children, parents, grandparents and friends together to cheer, laugh and spend quality time with each other is exactly what DSN does best. These moments are what makes us a community. I am very proud of DSN’s Jon Entel, David Belhassen and Eddie Anzerouth for working hard every Sunday morning to make it all happen. We have the best team, executing the best programs for the best community!”

Sophia Safdieh Waingort

The SBH Albert J. Sutton and Sam N. Sutton Career Division supports all employment needs in our community. Their goal is to assist both employers fill positions and job seekers find the perfect role. The exemplary SBH Career team helps people develop everything from their interview skills to their resumes, offers free computer training, job coaching, internship programs (and much more) and ultimately places seekers into positions that are right for them. The Career Division is determined to help individuals navigate today’s job market.

We asked a few members of the SBH Career Division team to share their tips for helping anyone looking to make a career move.

WHAT ARE 3 THINGS YOU CAN DO IN A NEW JOB TO HELP YOURSELF GROW AND PROGRESS?

Sophia Shamah
Young Professional Program Coordinator

1. Don’t be afraid to ask questions
2. Listen always
3. Get to know your team and learn from them

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO BOOST YOUR HIREABILITY TO POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS?

Rita Shabot
Director of SBH Career Division

Almost every job today—from teaching to sales—requires really strong computer skills. We hear it over and over again from our employers, “The candidate must know Excel,” or “QuickBooks knowledge is very helpful.” It’s because of this that SBH Career has developed a robust catalogue of free computer courses offered on Zoom. The classes are tailored to meet the needs of today’s competitive work environment.

WHAT ARE 5 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS ASK IN AN INTERVIEW?

Sophia Shamah
Young Professional Program Coordinator

An interview isn’t just a way for the hiring team to learn about you, but for you to learn more about the new role you may take on. Following are a few great questions that can help you learn more.

1. What are the day-to-day responsibilities of the job?
2. Can you describe the working culture of the
   company?
3. What are some challenges I might face in this
   position?
4. How does the company measure success in this role?
5. Do you have any concerns or questions about
   my qualifications?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE ‘FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT’ METHOD WHEN STARTING A NEW JOB?

Sheri Solomon
Employment Coordinator:

To some degree, that can be true, however the best practice is to ask questions and take notes on the job. Questions allow employees to learn about their new role, and become more educated and savvy—which will help them perform well!

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE ABOUT STARTING A NEW JOB?

Sigalit Mizrahy Job Developer

When starting a new job you have to switch gears from what you are used to doing in your old company and learn the ropes in the new company. This can be challenging at times as you need to learn office culture including the work environment policies, leadership, goals, values, and mission. In addition, you also have to be trained and absorb all new information, programs and needs of the company.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IT’S TIME FOR A CAREER CHANGE?

Nathan Rudy NJ Job Developer

Well, sometimes the handwriting is on the wall so that’s when it’s easy, but when it’s not it can be a difficult decision. Markets fluctuate often, businesses are cyclical, so being able to ride those dips is important. Often starting something new “resets the clock” and that can make maintaining a certain lifestyle even more difficult, so the decision to make a career change is a tough one. My father Abe Rudy A”H used to say, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Be happy doing what you do. For those lucky enough to be in a field that they’re passionate about, when that passion is gone, when work “feels like a chore,” maybe then is a good time to consider a career change.

Is it ever too late to make a career change?

I would say, no. You are never too old to learn something new, find passion in something that you’ve never done before, or to finally chase down that role that you always wanted. We should strive to learn something new every day, so exploring a new career can easily be a part of that.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON FROM A JOB?

Celia Shasho-Blecher Job Developer

Generally, I think there are a few ways to tell that you may be in need of some change. Firstly, feeling stagnant in your position, and that there isn’t much room for growth. Next, feeling ready to take on something new in your current area or explore a totally different area than the one you are currently in. Of course, needing more income is a huge factor for many; moving positions can often offer an opportunity to negotiate a higher salary with a potential employer. And finally, working in an environment that you do not enjoy, including feeling like you have a toxic relationship with your co-workers.

The SBH Career Division offers daily computer classes that teach computer skills that help the individual gain more experience to find a job or excel in their current role. They are determined to help members of our community find jobs, whether through resume building, referrals, and even by directly contacting a business. Reach out to the Career Division at www.sbhcareer.org to get help today!

Sophia Safdieh Waingort is the development marketing manager at SBH. She has recently graduated from Sarah Lawrence with a Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction.

3 CRITICAL ANSWERS FOR ENTREPRENEURS READY TO SCALE OVER $1M

ARI BAUM CFP®

AS YOU GROW YOUR BUSINESS TO $1 MILLION AND BEYOND, THE TEAMS AND SYSTEMS THAT GOT YOU TO YOUR MILLION-DOLLAR GOAL AREN’T GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO GET YOU TO YOUR NEXT GOAL.

You’ve probably read a number of books on taxes and how to reduce them. You’re already aware of many tax-saving strategies, such as maxing out retirement and HSA accounts, taking all the deductions you’re entitled to, and hiring your children.

Instead of stressing over taxes and trying to figure out ways to save on them, you get the most “bang for your buck” from working on your business and generating strategies for success. In order to scale, you might need some advice to help you achieve your next big revenue goal.

SCALING QUESTION #1
Are your taxes too high relative to revenue?
The past few years have revealed how little tax billionaires pay, which has made quite a few people angry! Yet, you provide jobs for people in your community and contribute to the economy, so there’s no reason for you to pay too much in taxes either.

Every time you pay your quarterly estimates you might be wondering if you’re paying too much. Is it worth the money to hire an employee who could potentially save you more on taxes or to spend your own valuable time on something that isn’t a key strength of yours? Being able to look at the big picture will help you determine whether or not you’re spending too much money given your revenue.

SCALING QUESTION #2
Realistically, what is your capacity for growth?
When you look at your numbers, do they tell you that you’re ready to scale? You might need to build out some infrastructure in terms of systems. As an example, if your financial operations still involve spreadsheets, you’ve got some work to do if you want to scale!

Be objective about what kind of growth you can sustain with your current team and operations. What needs to change as you ascend to the next peak in your business?

SCALING QUESTION #3
Will your current team help you achieve the growth you want?
Do your current employees have some slack in their day, which enables them to take on new responsibilities, or are they already at max capacity? If the latter, you could be headed for burnout.

If you are spending too much time on administrative work, trying to squeeze out a few more drops from tax and expense savings, you’re most likely wasting money. But you’re also wasting valuable time that would be better served by you creating new strategies for growth, and all the things that only you as the business owner can do.

SCALE YOUR NEXT PEAK WITH THE RIGHT TOOLS AND TEAMS
As an entrepreneur, you’ve already reached a significant revenue peak, but you don’t want to stop there. You’ve got goals for growing your business, and you know you’ll need the right tools and teamwork to get there. You also know you’ve got to ensure your financials are ready for your business to grow.

As you’re planning your growth to reach the next revenue peak, you might wonder if you have the full team you need to take you higher.

You’ve taken the first smart step toward scaling your business past the $1 million mark. Now it’s time to take the next one by enlisting a financial professional who is on your side and capable of advising your growth-oriented business.

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information and is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax advice. Discuss your specific tax situation with a qualified tax professional. Investing involves risk including the potential loss of principal. Consult your financial professional before making any investment decision.

Ari Baum, CFP® is the founder and CEO of Endurance Wealth Partners. With over 25 years of experience in the Financial Services industry, he brings his in-depth experience to Conceive, Believe, Achieve, for his clients.

Securities and Advisory services offered through Prospera Financial Services Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC.

Brokerage and Advisory accounts carried by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC.

“YOU ARE NOT ALONE,” THESE ARE THE COMPASSIONATE WORDS PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS HEAR WHEN THEY MEET WITH CARE. NO LONGER ALONE. NO LONGER ISOLATED AND CONFUSED. THIS IS THE MISSION OF CARE AND IT EXECUTES THIS MISSION IN A PLETHORA OF WAYS.

CARE’s initiatives focus on the child with special needs and their families, “connecting-the-dots” and guiding them with the resources they need to function and thrive as a family. Upon meeting with the CARE team, families receive a clearly explained comprehensive list of government services, an array of therapeutic modalities, and a list of different special education programs, all tailor made to their child. There are options for extra support in the classroom, mental health services, as well as physical aid with daily activities. In addition, CARE offers a connection to a community of families with struggles like theirs and a year-round calendar of social events that help everyone recharge and reconnect. CARE is dedicated to improving the quality of life of a child with special needs as well as their parents and siblings.

CARE has created a strong global partnership working closely with hundreds of institutions to connect, support, and advocate on behalf of over 450 families with special needs children, with a wide range of partners, institutions, agencies and special education schools to ensure that every child living with special needs receives the opportunity to flourish.

CARE EVENTS
“At CARE, we believe that the child with special needs and every family member deserves a boost to help them get through their daily struggles. That’s why our events are aimed at being wholesome and fun—never anything less,” says Sara Horowitz, director at CARE. Our events are designed to be both informative and enjoyable and the perfect opportunity for the child with special needs, siblings and parents to bond with friends and make new ones, all who share similar struggles.

Over the last few months, CARE planned and organized several major events with the help of dedicated volunteers and gracious donors. Whether it was a parent event, community event, siblings or special needs event, the energy was palpable as many strong bonds were formed and foundational life lessons absorbed.

Over 3,000 community members attended the Annual CARE DAY event on July 4th led by Abie Saka. It was a time when the community joined together to support the special needs community. It was a free event open to all and included baseball tournaments, rides, carnival games, barbecue, autograph signing and photo op with Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, a Chinese auction, exotic foods and endless fun for all!

The sisters of children with special needs got treated like royalty as they were pampered with shimmery makeup and glittery stars at our Girls Make Over Party graciously hosted by Daniel and Grace Serouya in July. The girls enjoyed a CARE Salon where each princess got her hair, makeup and nails professionally done, followed by a photo shoot and jewelry making.

The sisters of children with special needs got treated like royalty as they were pampered with shimmery makeup and glittery stars at our Girls Make Over Party graciously hosted by Daniel and Grace Serouya in July. The girls enjoyed a CARE Salon where each princess got her hair, makeup and nails professionally done, followed by a photo shoot and jewelry making.

Community members and donors were engaged at the beautiful Friday morning Fundraiser Event at the home of Harry and Alice Adjmi. This featured inspirational words from Harry and Alice, as well as Rabbi Eli Mansour, Rabbi David Ozeri and Barbara Sutton—a mother who spoke about her challenges in dealing with a child with special needs.

The most adorable 7th grade girls from Yeshivah of Flatbush were passionate about raising money for a great cause like CARE. They arranged a Puppy Event where children with special needs got to swim, interact and play with cute little puppies alongside a pizza bar, ice cream bar, and tasty buffet. Each 7th grader was paired with a special needs child to understand the needs of children with disabilities. They then presented CARE with a check for $2,000 that they raised throughout the summer.

We provided a “wow” experience by transforming the backyard of Soli and Sheryl Mizrahi for our Parents Epic Night Out. Parents enjoyed connecting and inspiring each other while “the modern mentalist,” Kevin Nicholas, entertained them with impressive mind reading tricks. Meyer Safdieh, founder of CARE, delivered words of hizzuk (encouragement) for parents and provided them with the necessary confidence they need to deal with the unique challenges they face.

The excitement in the air was tangible as siblings of children with special needs enjoyed an End-of-the-Summer Siblings Event loaded with high energy fun. From a magic show to bubble show, splatter paint and lavish lunch, it was a perfect day where siblings got to dance it out, laugh and feel special too. So much time and energy are spent on the child with special needs that the siblings may feel “left out.” CARE’s siblings’ events ensure that they get that extra bit of attention that they need.

CARE events create the perfect environment for families of children with special needs and promote friendship and positivity—all while having an unforgettable time!

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
The need for CARE is expanding as the phones don’t stop ringing; parents call reaching out for help as new challenges arise within their families. CARE is hiring additional loving and sensitive CARE advisors to hold the hands of parents and transform lives in our community.

Looking ahead as the winter nears, CARE has arranged a full schedule of after school programs for children with special needs and their siblings at their newly renovated and brightly designed CARE center at 1977 Coney Island Avenue.

If you need CARE’s assistance, or you would like to partner with CARE in making a life changing difference to hundreds of families living with special needs, call 718.975.7171 or email info@careforspecial.org.

LEO A. ESSES & ILAN TABBOUCHE

RISING INTEREST RATES, HIGH INFLATION, FEAR OF RECESSION—IS THE SIZZLING INDUSTRIAL MARKET WEAKENING? OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, THE TOTAL OVERALL SALES VOLUME IN THE NORTHERN/CENTRAL NEW JERSEY INDUSTRIAL MARKET EXCEEDED $2.1 BILLION, WITH THE AVERAGE ASKING PRICE AT APPROXIMATELY $180 TO $250 PER-SQUARE-FOOT.

This is way above historical highs for the New Jersey marketplace. As of the second quarter, the market’s overall average asking rent rose to approximately $12.00 to $14 per-square-foot, an increase of $2.00 per-square-foot over the same quarter last year.

As the largest independent industrial real estate services firm in New Jersey, Bussel Realty Corp has never seen rents higher since it was established over 45 years ago! Consequently, the availability/vacancy rate ticked downward from just over 2% in the second quarter 2021, to sub-2%, despite millions of square feet of new construction coming online during the year.

So why hasn’t the Industrial real estate market felt the impact?

Because tenant demand continues to outpace available supply, in spite of more than 16 million square feet of new developments under construction or in the pipeline in Northern/Central New Jersey! Without a doubt, higher Fed interest rate increases coupled with inflation will continue to disrupt the economy, and eventually effect the industrial real estate market.

The current prime rate of 5.5% increased from 3.5% in the past 6 months. It was steady at 3.25% throughout 2021. The current CPI (consumer price index) at 8.3, increased 8.5% from 12/31/21, and increased 7.9% in 2021. S&P 500 YTD (year to date) is 17.25% DOW – 9.61%.

However, job growth is still brisk and consumers are still ordering goods online. So, how e-commerce goes, to a good extent, so does the industrial market go. Based on our work with clients, we believe the market will remain strong in the short-term, but lease and sale rates will not continue to rise at the incredible pace they have risen in past 2½ years since the onset of Covid.

What does this mean if you own industrial real estate?

If you ever thought of selling, this could be the best time, as we see many cash buyers interested in purchasing and many are still prepared to pay the high price of industrial real estate. However, we feel the window of opportunity, with its exceedingly high profits, is starting to close; therefore, many of our savvy clients are taking advantage of the market’s still current strong pricing and utilizing our knowledge, experience, and exclusive marketing services to maximize the sale of their property.

If you call us, our marketing team can provide you with a free comprehensive market analysis to determine the current value of your property, as well as an estimate of what we feel the property’s value would be in the next 12-24 months.

Leo A. Esses’ & Ilan Tabbouche’s expertise consists of tenant and landlord representation services in the sale, leasing, and ground-up development of industrial real estate.

HELPING REFUGEES IN UKRAINE

JAMIE LASSNER

RABBI HASKEL LOOKSTEIN RECENTLY SPOKE WITH THE PURPLE VEST MISSION BEFORE WE LEFT ON ANOTHER TRIP AS PART OF OUR ONGOING HUMANITARIAN AID TO UKRAINIAN REFUGEES. HE TOLD US, INSTEAD OF FEELING OVERWHELMED BY THE IMMENSE NUMBERS OF REFUGEES AND ASKING WHY THIS HORROR IS HAPPENING, TO FOCUS OUR RESOURCES ON HELPING ONE PERSON, FAMILY, OR SITUATION AT A TIME.

We offered our assistance to all, with a primary focus on assisting Ukrainians with disabilities, the elderly, and their families. Rabbi Lookstein, a cherished teacher of mine in my formative years, is a preeminent Jewish leader and humanitarian. He continues to inspire the group and give strength through his words and deeds.

In early March, just weeks after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Michal Rimon, Rani Benjamini, CEO and CFO of Access Israel and I, made an urgent visit to Europe and toured refugee camps intending to assist people with disabilities and the elderly. Together we created a global professional task force with collaborative and like-minded partners, each with their strengths, to ensure no one is left behind. We called it the Purple Vest Mission. (Purple is used annually on December 3 to illuminate buildings in commemoration of International Day for the Rights of People with Disabilities.)

The Purple Vest Mission, is working to rescue, triage, and transport people using word of mouth and an app publicized via social media. The app collects information on people requesting help to leave Ukraine and make their way to a new life and home, usually in Europe or Israel. The entire operation has various call centers strategically to ensure a smooth, safe, timely and customized evacuation for each tenuous situation.

One of the coordinators of the Purple Vest Mission, Elie Glaybman, was born in Ukraine, and now resides in Israel. When asked why he is working tirelessly at Purple Vest, he answered, “Simple, I am a person who likes to give assistance to others in need.”

Amongst the many Purple Vest volunteers, Or, Sima, Benay, Deborah, Mara (my wife), and I spent part of this summer at the Przemys’l Refugee Center in Poland, about 8 miles from the Ukrainian border of Medyka. In addition to helping evacuate Ukrainians with disabilities, we sensitized volunteers on how to welcome people with disabilities (a life skill Accessibility Accelerator offers seminars on all year round). We assisted in the vital tasks at the refugee center including wiping down doorknobs daily to avoid the spreading of infections and assisting in the organization of clothing and food donations. The most fulfilling task was to serve as counselors at the outdoor playground. The playground was designed to be a safe place for children and their mothers, to distract them so they could play joyfully, despite the harsh realities back home. Above all, each member of our team provided a hand to hold, a shoulder to cry on and a source of hugs. While we did not speak the same language, we communicated with the Google Translate app and the silent language of love of our fellow person.

In addition to the perils of war, early on in our summer visit we learned of a constant danger to these vulnerable refugees—trafficking. Within one week of arrival and with the words of Rabbi Lookstein daily in my mind—my gut told me we had to make the outdoor playground safer for all. We arranged for the construction of a fence around it. When I was asked what purpose the fence had in our quest to support people with disabilities, I felt strongly Purple Vest had to be proactive, because if something occurred to one of the children or parents or our team—the individual and all present at the refugee center would be shattered for life.

As of mid-August, the Purple Vest Mission has assisted more than 1,800 people with disabilities and their families to escape the war. The most difficult, using various modes of transport was an evacuation from eastern Ukraine of a young blind woman who needed dialysis every 1.5 days. The youngest person we assisted was a newborn baby and the oldest was a 98-year-old Holocaust survivor. With a constant presence on the ground in Ukraine, Poland, and other countries, we have provided hands-on humanitarian aid to 18,500+ people.

Our summer volunteers returned home changed people. We witnessed good and evil in Poland; there was ample time to ask “why?” Yet we focused on the lessons of our teacher and will continue to remain resolute in this mission.

Jamie Lassner serves as Executive Director of Accessibility Accelerator (formerly Friends of Access Israel).

SARAH HAS BEEN WAITING FOR A GETT FOR 12 YEARS. SARAH AND MORRIS LEGALLY DIVORCED NINE YEARS AGO. SHE HAS PLEADED AND BEGGED FOR A GETT. MORRIS, AT FIRST HAD MANY UNREASONABLE DEMANDS, HOWEVER, NO NUMBER OF CONCESSIONS BROUGHT SARAH CLOSER TO A GETT. 12 YEARS LATER, SHE IS STRADDLED WITH DEBTS, STRUGGLING TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

Sarah is your neighbor. She goes to your shul, her children are your children’s classmates, and she is a faithful Jewish woman with nobody to fend for her interests. Tragically, Sarah’s story is not unique.

Our community is built upon the concepts of mitzvot, chesed and achdut (unity). Baruch Hashem there are many organizations that provide support for all kinds of issues, from couples coping with infertility to families struggling financially. However, when it comes to the misfortune of our agunot who are dealing with gett refusal, we fall short.

An agunah is a person trapped in a dead marriage. Often times, an agunah is a woman whose husband refuses to give her a gett, although there are instances where it is the reverse. An agunah is essentially trapped in time, unable to continue building a family or perhaps unable to even start one. As a community, we must come together to put an end to this stifling problem.

This is where the LEV Organization comes in. Our volunteer based, 501c3 nonprofit organization provides a safe haven for our community’s men and women who are trapped in dead marriages and seeking a gett.

The LEV Organization tries to bridge the gap between all parties involved. We facilitate communication and broker peace with the ultimate goal of a kosher gett given. We work very closely with many of our esteemed community rabbis as well as legal and mental health professionals.

That’s not all. The LEV Organization also provides guidance and emotional support for agunot and their families throughout the process. Our support groups ensure that no client feels alone, and that he or she has the strength of an army behind them. Financial assistance is provided at times to cover Bet Din and other gett related fees when necessary.

There is so much literature in our faith that points out the huge sin of trapping someone through gett refusal. According to the Chafetz Chaim, neglecting an opportunity to do hesed isn’t just a choice to pass up an optional nice thing, rather, it’s actively choosing to not partake in a positive commandment.

It is our responsibility as Jews and as a community who cares for one another to come together and eradicate gett refusal.

These women are suffering literally every single day. We must grab this mitzvah and not forget about these downtrodden.

“I felt like I was alone stranded on an island without a life vest and nobody cared,” said one client. “When The LEV Organization got involved it was the first time that I believed my existence mattered.”

Working with The LEV Organization is the beginning of a fresh start—turning pain into peace.

*Names have been changed for client confidentiality.

Sean Dweck is the vice president of The Lev Organization.

MARY ANNE COHEN LCSW, BCD

“NOT EVERYTHING THAT IS FACED CAN BE CHANGED. BUT NOTHING CAN BE CHANGED UNTIL IT IS FACED.”
— JAMES BALDWIN

Eating disorders develop and thrive in a world of secrecy, silence, and shame. *Debbie, age 13, waits for her parents to go to sleep before she sneaks downstairs and raids the refrigerator. Danny, age 16, secretly buys laxatives in the mistaken hope of speeding up weight loss as well as supplements that promise to help him grow big muscles; he hides them from his parents. Renee, age 18, tells her parents she ate dinner at her girlfriend’s and isn’t hungry at mealtime; in fact, she has barely eaten all day and has been restricting her food for a while.

Adults also suffer in silence. Paula, age 34, waits for her husband to leave for work and binges and purges several times a week. And, George, 46, after his drive home from work, makes sure he cleans out candy wrappers from his car, so no one knows of his bingeing habits. Secrecy, silence, and shame.

Teachers, psychotherapists, doctors as well as community and religious leaders have worked for years to promote the best practices to prevent eating disorders in children and teens. We professionals conclude that education about these disorders is very valuable since “knowledge is power.”

Some parents worry that teaching kids about eating disorders may give their children ideas they never would have known about on their own and then lead them to hurtful eating behaviors. Of course, parents want to protect their children and keep them safe, and they do not want to expose their child to anything harmful. But it is unrealistic in these current times not to have fruitful discussions in every school and every community about how and when to teach children about the destructive impact of drugs and alcohol, how to appropriately teach sex education, and how to help children face the violence that has been so prevalent. Teaching about eating disorders, which are now so rampant, needs to be part of the curriculum as well.

What we know for certain is that teaching kids about eating disorders will not cause them to develop them. In fact, evidence-based research has shown just the opposite! Here’s why: bringing the topic of eating disorders out to the clear light of day helps kids realize they are not alone with their possibly secret eating behavior.

Jenny, age 18, came for a consultation because she couldn’t stop gorging and snacking. She began to cry when I told her she had a binge eating disorder. “I thought I was just crazy,” she said. “But if my overeating problem is a real thing and, if there’s even a name for it, it must mean that other people have it too!”

Jenny was reassured to learn about binge eating disorder and that she was not the only one suffering. If Jenny had attended a workshop, earlier, on eating disorders, she would have learned that she was not alone. What a relief that would have been for her!

Teaching kids that diets don’t work provides a great opportunity to bust a very popular myth: “You want to lose weight? Then go on a diet!” Teens will be surprised to learn that dieting can become a chronic way of life and is also considered the gateway to developing more serious eating disorders. The restriction of dieting inevitably leads to bingeing and creates a vicious cycle.

School discussions about eating disorders should also include teaching about healthy eating. Eating carbs, gluten, and healthy fats is part of a nutritious lifestyle. Healthy fats also help you feel full and satisfied. Beth was surprised to learn this, because she mistakenly believed that eating dietary fats would make her get fat. Teaching about healthy eating also includes learning intuitive eating—how to feed yourself when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full, and teaching the value of flexibility, variety, and that no foods are off limits (unless someone has a diagnosable food allergy).

Schedule an initial assessment with The Mindful Eating Project, and we’ll help you determine if you or your child can benefit from treatment. To start a conversation, please contact us. Your contact will be absolutely confidential. Please feel free to call (718)336-MEND. The Mindful Eating Project is a division of The Safe Foundation.

The Mindful Eating Project will help you get the control for your eating back inside yourself. We will work with you to custom tailor an individual approach for your unique needs, help you get control of your eating, develop and maintain healthy eating patterns, regain body confidence, and unlock what may be keeping you stuck in your eating problems.

*All names have been changed for confidentiality

Mary Anne Cohen, LCSW, BCD has been Director of The New York Center for Eating Disorders since 1982. She is author of French Toast for Breakfast: Declaring Peace with Emotional Eating and Lasagna for Lunch: Declaring Peace with Emotional Eating. Mary Anne has hosted her own radio show on eating disorders, appears frequently on national television, and is the professional book reviewer for EDReferral.com, the largest international resource for eating disor EmotionalEating.Org.

RABBI SHAY TAHAN

THERE WAS A PERSON SEARCHING FOR A NEW PLACE TO LIVE. WHEN HE ARRIVED IN THE NEW TOWN, HE FOUND A LOCAL WISE MAN AND INQUIRED ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN THE PLACE. HE WANTED TO KNOW IF THE PEOPLE THERE WERE FRIENDLY AND NICE. THE LOCAL ASKED HIM ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN HIS OLD PLACE—WHERE HE HAD JUST COME FROM.

He replied that those people were mean, nasty, and rude, which was precisely the reason he was looking to relocate. The wise man told him that the people in this town were just the same.

Disappointed, he was about to leave as another person approached the local wise man asking the same question. The wise man inquired of the place he came from, to which the man replied that the people in his old town were very nice and kind. The wise man replied, “The people here are the same, they are also nice and kind.” As the first person was listening, he was understandably surprised to hear such conflicting answers. The wise man explained to him: the way you feel towards others in one place, is the way you’ll feel towards others in every place. Moreover, the reason for that is this is the way you feel about yourself. The way you see yourself dictates the way you feel about others. If you feel good about yourself, all those surrounding you will appear nice and good; but if you feel negatively about yourself, everyone around you will appear bad and rude.

Our Sages tell us that on Rosh Hashana there are two obligations: one obligation is to prepare for the judgment taking place on that very day, and the second is to reaffirm your bond and relationship with Hashem. Although we are familiar with how to prepare for the judgment—through prayer and blowing the shofar—many of us unfortunately lack understanding of how we are to connect with Hashem.

What type of relationship is required of us?
It is crucial to understand that to build a relationship with anyone (and even more so with the Creator), we first must strengthen our relationship with ourselves. This means that one must learn about himself, get to know himself, see his weaknesses and strengths, and learn to feel good about himself despite his faults. No, it’s not narcissism nor selfishness to love and feel good about oneself. One who doesn’t feel good about himself can’t feel good about others, and one who doesn’t love himself can’t love others. The Pasuk commands us to “love others as you love yourself.” It states clearly that one must love himself. (If one can’t love himself, why would the Pasuk command him to love the other in the same manner as he loves himself?)

Moreover, if one feels negatively about himself, he will inevitably feel the same way towards his surroundings as well. We found this concept many times in the Torah and in the Gemara. For example, when Moshe rebukes the nation before he dies, he reminds them of what they said about Hashem, stating that Hashem hates them (Devarim 1,26). Rashi explains that the truth is that Hashem loves the nation; but since they felt negative towards Hashem, they thus felt that Hashem felt the same way about them. The explanation, once again, is that if one can’t love another, he’ll feel that the other doesn’t love him.

Our Sages said it in a short and powerful way: one who finds a blemish in the other, should look for that blemish in himself. The meaning of this is obvious: although many people around us have blemishes, we only pay attention to those that we have ourselves, because they remind us of our own faults. This feeling is very bothersome to us, and we will thus be very attuned to seeing it in others.

On this Rosh Hashanah, we should take the opportunity to connect with Hashem, by first connecting with ourselves; doing so will also allow us to be better fathers and mothers to our children and better friends to those around us.

Shana Tova.

Rabbi Shay Tahan is the Rosh Kollel of the Kollel Avrechim Shaarei Ezra which is located at the Sit-Benei Yosef Shul on Avenue P. He is also the head of the Bet Horaha Arzei Halevanon.

FOR SEVERAL YEARS NO ONE EVEN KNEW HIS NAME. HE WAS SIMPLY THE MITZVAH MAN, HELPING PEOPLE OUT ANONYMOUSLY. FOR THE PAST DECADE, THE MITZVAH MAN HAS BEEN DOING HESED, ACTS OF LOVING KINDNESS, FOR PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. HOW DID MICHAEL COHEN BEGIN THIS WORK? WHAT WAS THE IMPETUS?

At age 50, Michael Cohen began to take stock of his life. Thankfully, he had a good family, three healthy children, a home, business, and a stable career as a personal trainer. His business, Body By Mike, gave him a few hours each afternoon of free time—since most clients were seen before and after work.

Michael began to spend more time praying and learning. He wanted to do something meaningful, something that would help people. He was fit and healthy and he had a car. So, he began with a simple advertisement: “Mitzvah Man – Available for All Your Needs” with his cell number and a picture of Mighty Mouse.

Calls began to come in. “Can you put tefillin on my father?” “Would you read to a blind person, take a senior citizen to synagogue, deliver food, help move furniture, visit the sick?”

Michael volunteered with Sephardic Bikur Holim two days a week visiting patients in hospitals. He read a Halacha book called Visiting the Sick that gave him guidance on how to visit people. He learned not to stay too long or give them advice. The goal was to make them feel good. He also volunteered for Aishel Shabbat and Bnai Raphael, both food organizations, to increase his level of hesed.

Michael would pick up a get well greeting card before visiting and put his name and contact information in the card, so the people he visited could call him when they left the hospital. This took the mitzvah to a higher level. During the next two years, he visited more than 500 people—even some in jail.

One day he received a request to drive an older woman on errands. Michael cleaned his car, put on soft music and went to pick up the woman. When he arrived, he got out of the car and held the door for the woman and her husband, as if they were getting into a limousine. He made them comfortable and offered them coffee. The idea was to maximize the deed and not rush it. He took his time. “If you rush it, you water down the mitzvah,” he said. The couple was honored that he held the door for them and treated them with such respect.

The word hesed occurs 246 times in the Torah, indicating its level of importance. For Michael, hesed wasn’t just about doing a good deed, it was doing it with all your heart, putting himself in the other person’s shoes and really understanding the situation. “By feeling their pain and being anonymous, you reach a higher level,” he said.

On another mitzvah, a woman needed to go to city to see her 40-year-old son who had cancer. Michael picked her up with a hot bagel to eat and fresh coffee. He waited in the car while she was in the hospital, listening to a Torah tape. The woman was so grateful, she wanted to hug Michael. He took her to visit her son the next day as well.

One time, Mike saw a homeless man in the street with no shoes and socks. It was winter and cold. He took off his own socks and gave them to the man. As it turned out, someone on the street snapped a picture and put it on social media. It turned out that the man had been missing for three weeks and his family was happy that he was okay. He was from a group of 40 or so Jewish homeless people taking shelter in a local synagogue. The Mitzvah Man got them all socks, shoes, coats, pillows and clean blankets.

Word spread like wildfire about the Mitzvah Man! He became so busy that every hour of his noon to 6 P.M. free time was filled. He was helping 20 to 25 people a week. Soon he was overwhelmed.

One day, David ‘Hurdle’ Tawil A”H and his son Elliot called to say, “We love what you are doing. It’s time to make an organization!” They pushed Michael to take the hesed to an even higher level and recruit volunteers who would be an extension of the Mitzvah Man. David and Elliot called their friends and raised startup funds for the organization.

The ads changed—the Mitzvah Man needed volunteers. Hundreds of people answered the ad. He interviewed them, explained the idea and got references. Volunteers kept coming. Each had an idea of what sort of hesed he/she wanted to do. Some wanted to visit a house of mourning, help with a minyan, and cook a meal, others wanted to visit the sick, or put on tefillin.

The organization created a system. They tried to match a donation with a need. When furniture gets donated, they try to find someone who needs it. They have found chair lifts, hospital beds and other items, they even found a washing machine for a woman who needed it desperately.

Today, the Mitzvah Man has more than 3,500 volunteers in Brooklyn, 250 or so in the Deal area and some in the other New York boroughs. They fill 70 to 80 new requests each week, helping about 130 people. In total, there are about 12,000 mitzvot performed a year. The Mitzvah Man also has a database and referral system which helps people find the assistance they need. They don’t only help people, afterwards a staff person follows up on each situation. When calls come in for aid they are returned within 20 minutes on average. “Responding quickly shows those in need that we care,” said Michael.

There are also many ongoing weekly acts of hesed. And like anything else, there are bumps in the road. As an athlete, Michael knows how important it is to motivate people and he’s great at inspiring the volunteers.

Michael hopes that the Mitzvah Man motivates people to do more and raise their level of hesed. To volunteer or request hesed, visit www.themitzvahman.com, a 501-c-3 not-for-profit organization.

A journalist, genealogist and historian, Sarina Roffé is the author of Branching Out from Sepharad (Sephardic Heritage Project, 2017). Sarina holds a BA in Journalism, an MA in Jewish Studies and an MBA.

RABBI EZRA MAX

ON ROSH HASHANAH, EVERYONE IN THE WORLD IS JUDGED. YOU ARE ADVISED TO IMAGINE DOING A BALANCING ACT ON A SCALE WITH EXACTLY EQUAL GOOD AND BAD ON EITHER SIDE. THE BAR IS LEVEL AND A TINY NUDGE WILL TIP YOU TOWARD ONE SIDE. EVERY SINGLE ACTION YOU TAKE HAS THE POWER TO TIP THE SCALE TOWARDS GOOD, WHICH MEANS LIFE, OR THE OTHER WAY, BAD, MEANING DEATH.

Truth: You are an incredible human being with the ability to do amazing things. You have the entire world here to support you. Bishvili Nivara Haolam (the world was created for you). Yes, there are likely stressors, struggles, issues, challenges and even potentially traumatic events in your past. All of it was designed specifically for you to help you create an incredible future.

The Almighty loves you and wants you to have an incredible life. He created all the different situations you faced and the different capacities you have for you to develop something extraordinary. Your past actions inform, but don’t determine your future. Your choices do!

Alan, a young man I spoke with last week, is building a company. He has an innovative idea and aims to build not just a million dollar company, but a billion dollar company. I asked him the same question I would ask you, “what’s your reason and purpose?” We dug into an equation highlighting human motivations. Avoiding pain and seeking pleasure. I shared that the best way to constantly be in that zone is with purpose and passion. Because even when you have a struggle, if you’re doing something you are purposeful or passionate about, then even being in that pain, and moving out of it, is actually a pleasure. You too can use this equation to succeed.

G-d is with you in your challenges and struggles. Your happiness is directly proportional to the challenges and struggles. Take them in stride and come out the other side smiling.

The world is recovering from an epidemic and we’re still suffering the side effects. People got very sick, and some passed away. It was scary and overwhelming. The real epidemic is binge-watching and mindless social scrolling. The travesty is that people stopped using time productively and stopped aiming for their potential. The worst loss is not bringing your innate talents and abilities to the fore. You are here for a powerful and impactful reason. You’re here to make a difference—for yourself, your family, your business, and the world. This is essential work, which cannot get done if you are watching a Netflix season, mindlessly scrolling on Instagram, Facebook, or Youtube. Those platforms have a use. We’re supposed to use them for our benefit. Instead, billions of dollars are being invested in these platforms daily to steal your heart, mind and soul.

Choose, decide now, and declare: “This year, I will take steps forward and develop towards my greatness. I will be the best version of myself this year, next year and the year after. I will take someone, or someones, with me.” It’s lonely at the top and nobody likes to be lonely. Bring along a friend or family member, a partner and commit to supporting each other in developing your best year yet.

Replace the wasted time, online or off, by feeding your mind and nourishing your connections. Read, study, listen to a class, interview, or podcast and gain knowledge. Watch something like a Ted talk that will give you insight and teach you instead of wasting your life with fake news, Hollywood and anxiety.

BONUS: Set a timer, take notes and share your lessons with a trusted partner.

Remember, “Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail.”

Imagine your life feels like an incredible balance beam, like a see-saw, with equally good and bad on either side. This means that you will see the value and impact of each of your actions for yourself and in the world. This means that everything you do truly matters. There’s no such thing as “passive” that doesn’t make a difference because it all does.

We don’t look back on Rosh Hashanah and cry about past struggles or mistakes. We don’t say I’m sorry for the bad stuff that we did or the things that we didn’t do. Instead, we declare and commit to our futures. This Rosh Hashanah, you have the power, control, and ability to choose a better future—for yourself, your family, and the world. This year, you can upgrade and be a more significant and better person. You can embrace the challenges and struggles of becoming outstanding. Because when you do this, and I wish you do, you will enjoy the most incredible ride of your life.

Blessing for a Shana Tova Umetuka—A Happy, Healthy, Joyous And Sweet New Year.

Rabbi Ezra Max, PCC, MHMP, Xchange Guide & Creator of “The Max Method” assists businesses and professionals deal with stress and achieve success. Rabbi Max has witnessed 20 years of results helping executives, parents and teens overcome struggles, improve communication and thrive. He lives in New York with his wife and five children.

IN SOME SCHOOLS THE EDUCATION BEGINS AND ENDS IN THE CLASSROOM. OTHER SCHOOLS ADD EXTRACURRICULAR EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES. BUT BE’ER HAGOLAH DEMONSTRATED WITH THE ISRAEL MISSION THAT ONCE YOU’RE A STUDENT, YOU ARE IN THE BHI FAMILY FOR LIFE.

That is how Rabbi Tully Bryks, the director of admissions of Ohr Somayach described his impression after hosting the BHI alumni mission to Israel. Heavily subsidized by Olami International and Ohr Somayach, the BHI alumni mission brought together 19 young alumni for two weeks of jam-packed days filled with incredible activities, inspiring and uplifting Torah study, and new relationships that will last a lifetime.

The days began with praying, breakfast and Torah classes from the likes of Rabbi Yitzchak Breitowitz, Rabbi Yitzchak Greenblatt, Rabbi Dovid Kaplan, Rabbi Guy Matalon, and Rabbi Tully Bryks. These rabbis brought the Torah alive, explained many fundamental concepts and fanned the spark of Torah in the hearts of the young men, a number of whom are considering a year of full time Torah study in yeshiva in Israel.

In the afternoons, the boys had an opportunity to experience the width and breadth of the Holy Land. The first Shabbat was spent in Yerushalayim with the participation of the Dean, Rabbi Mordechai German and Rabbi Michoel Grunhut, a BHI high school rabbi. A special highlight was davening Friday night at the Kotel with thousands of Jews in unison.

Rabbi Mordechai Fishman, the Be’er Hagolah boys’ division principal, reported that one of the highlights was Shabbat in Tzefat. Seeing the kevarim of the tanaim (graves of rabbinical sages) brought the Torah learning alive. The tour of the Old City of Tzefat, gave the boys a sense of our history. The visits to nearby Meron and Amukah brought out the spark of connection with Hashem through the powerful tefilot. Kabalat Shabbat on a porch with the sun setting in the background made the radiance of Shabbat envelope everyone as they got swept up in song. After davening, they walked the streets of Tzefat and sang and danced with random Jews in the street. They ate the seudat Shabbat in an ancient room with an arched ceiling whose echoing of the tones of the zemirot (songs) Shabbat only added to the energy and feelings of Shabbat kodesh. They also saw the Abuhav and Arizals Shul as well as the famous Kivrei Tzadikim and Arizals mikveh.

Rabbi Bryks noted that these trips offer students a chance to connect with their soul. They ask deep questions as they grow in their connection to Hashem and find their place in Judaism. “This group was different from the typical group,” said Rabbi Bryks, “because the Be’er Hagolah students have a background in Judaism and Torah study to some extent, and they came as a cohesive group which allowed us to skip the first few ‘icebreaker’ days we usually have in these missions. You can see their affinity to their rabbis, and the strong mutual bond. They all wanted pictures with their Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi German and they were all so proud for him to see their spiritual growth. Rabbi Fishman was there for them day and night. He served every role from educator to organizer and everything else in between. Judaism encompasses the spiritual, emotional and physical and you were able to see the support and ahavat Yisroel (love for fellew Jews) from all the BHI staff members. It was inspiring for us.”

The boys went ATVing, visited the Institute of Technology, toured the City of David, enjoyed eating out, and went shopping for souvenirs in Geulah.

Most importantly, they charged themselves with spiritual energy and deepened their connection with Hashem and His Holy Torah and Land.