Senator Sutton and UJA Team Up to Protect Jewish Communities

Eddie Esses

On Wednesday, March 11, the grand “Million Dollar Staircase” inside the New York State Capitol in Albany served as the backdrop for a powerful gathering in support of legislation designed to protect the right of New Yorkers to worship in peace. The press conference, organized by State Senator Sam Sutton and his Chief of Staff Joey Saban, rallied lawmakers, faith leaders, and advocates behind a bill establishing a 25-foot protective buffer zone around houses of worship.

The proposed legislation would prohibit demonstrations within 25 feet from the structures of synagogues, churches, mosques, and other houses of worship. The goal is straightforward but critical, ensuring that congregants can enter and leave their places of worship without harassment, intimidation, or obstruction, while still preserving the constitutional right to protest.
Senator Sutton and Saban have been at the center of the effort, introducing the legislation and leading the push to advance it through the New York State Legislature. From the earliest stages, they have worked tirelessly to build a broad coalition in support of the bill and to ensure that its language remains strong and meaningful. Behind the scenes, Saban has driven the legislative strategy, coordinated advocacy efforts, and organized the coalition that came together in Albany on March 11 to demonstrate the depth of support for the proposal.
The press conference itself reflected the growing momentum behind the legislation. In addition to Senator Sutton and Lead Assembly Sponsor, Micah Lasher, roughly ten other elected officials across a broad ideological range delivered powerful remarks in support of the bill, emphasizing the importance of protecting both freedom of speech and freedom of religion.
As Senator Sutton explained during the event, the proposal seeks to balance these fundamental rights. “Protecting the right to protest and protecting the right to pray are not competing values,” he said. “We will protect our communities, we will defend our civil liberties, and we will uphold the values that make this state strong.”
Among the strongest supporters of the legislation has been UJA-Federation of New York, which has been deeply engaged in advocating for its passage. UJA demonstrated that commitment in a major way by bringing a delegation of roughly 60 community leaders and advocates to Albany for the day’s events.
The delegation was led by UJA CEO Eric Goldstein, who spoke forcefully about the urgency of the legislation. “I want to thank the incredible leadership of Senators Sutton and Krueger and Assemblymember Lasher for bringing this bill to Albany,” Goldstein said. “The largest Jewish community outside of Israel is feeling more unsettled than it has been in my lifetime.”
Goldstein emphasized that the legislation carefully balances competing constitutional rights. “The beauty of this bill is it carefully calibrates between freedom of expression, freedom of protest, and freedom to worship,” he said. “This is not simply a Jewish issue.”
“Thank you, Senator Sutton and Joey Saban, for proactively taking the bold initiative to introduce and push this critical legislation,” Dan Rosenthal, UJA’s Legislative Director, said. “The rare ability to push such significant legislation forward so soon after assuming office is a testament to the importance of having strong and effective leadership representing Jewish communities.”
The large UJA delegation helped demonstrate how deeply the Jewish community cares about the issue. Advocates spent the day not only attending the press conference but also meeting with lawmakers to make the case for including the legislation in the final state budget.
Joey Saban also helped bring a powerful group of students from the community to Albany that day. Delegations from Yeshiva of Flatbush, Magen David Yeshivah, and Barkai Yeshiva traveled to the Capitol to support the legislation and take part in the advocacy effort.
The students attended the press conference and stood behind the elected officials at the top of the famous Million Dollar Staircase, creating a striking visual demonstration of community support. Their presence underscored the real-world impact of the issue on families and young people across the Jewish community.
After the press conference, Saban addressed the students and shared the story of how the legislation first came to life. He explained that the idea for the bill began simply from a conversation between himself, Senator Sutton, and Eddie Esses. In his remarks, Saban encouraged the students to recognize the power they have to shape public policy. By showing them how an idea discussed in a meeting could become legislation debated in the State Capitol, he illustrated the enormous difference that community involvement in the political process can make.
The turnout for the event was remarkable by Albany standards. Between UJA’s delegation, the student groups, faith leaders, and other supporters, roughly 150 to 200 people filled the staircase, an unusually large crowd for a Capitol press conference. The energy and scale of the event reflected the urgency surrounding the legislation. In recent years, religious communities across New York have grown increasingly concerned about demonstrations targeting houses of worship, particularly amid a significant rise in hate crimes and antisemitic incidents.
Despite the broad coalition supporting the bill, passing such legislation is far from easy. In Albany, powerful detractors have raised concerns and are working either to defeat the proposal outright or to water down its language.
That reality has meant constant work behind the scenes. Senator Sutton, Joey Saban, and their team have been engaged in nonstop meetings with legislative leadership and key stakeholders, pushing to ensure that the bill moves forward and that its protections remain strong and meaningful.
Importantly, the effort has also received support from the highest levels of state government. Governor Kathy Hochul herself highlighted Senator Sutton’s legislation in her State of the State Address and has pushed to include the measure in the state budget, signaling the importance of getting the policy enacted.
Ultimately, the rally at the Capitol was about more than a single piece of legislation. It was a demonstration of what can happen when strong partnerships are formed between community leaders and elected officials who are willing to fight for meaningful change.
The collaboration between UJA and Senator Sutton illustrates the power of being at the table and working together toward shared goals. When communities organize, build relationships, and engage in the political process, they can fight for, and achieve, big things for the Jewish community and for all New Yorkers who simply want the freedom to pray in peace.

A First-of-Its-Kind therapeutic camp for Children with Special Needs

What did you do differently this summer? It’s the question CARE began hearing again and again when children returned to school in September. Teachers called. Therapists called. Parents called. All with the same sense of surprise. The children they expected to come back slightly behind after the long summer break weren’t behind at all.

They were ahead. They were communicating more. Regulating better. Trying new things. Socializing in ways they hadn’t before.
“Each morning as I drive up to camp, I see a crowd of children in their blue CARE CLUB shirts singing their favorite songs at the top of their lungs,” says Victoria Safdieh, founder of CARE. “A smile immediately spreads across my face, because in that moment I know, this is love. This is pure happiness.”
Last summer, CARE expanded its services to the special needs community by launching CARE CLUB, a first-of-its-kind therapeutic summer program designed specifically to support children with special needs during the months when progress is most at risk.
For many children with special needs, the summer months can be incredibly challenging. During the school year, their days are structured with specialized programs, therapies, and individualized educational support. But when summer arrives, that structure often disappears.
“They didn’t regress,” one therapist said. “They thrived!” That moment captured exactly why CARE took one of its biggest leaps yet. Without consistent support, many children experience regression. Skills they worked hard to build throughout the year, like communication, behavioral regulation, academic development, and social interaction, can slip away. Parents know this reality all too well. Other camps the children were going to were not equipped to meet their children’s complex needs, and the idea of sending their child somewhere without the proper therapeutic support can feel overwhelming.

CARE Saw That Gap and Knew It
Had to Be Filled
CARE CLUB was created as a one-of-a-kind summer program where therapy, structure, and fun all come together. CARE CLUB summer programs blend the best elements of school-based therapeutic programming with the magic and excitement of summer camp. It is a place where children can continue building the skills they work on all year long while also experiencing the freedom and fun every child deserves.

Every Detail of CARE CLUB Was
Designed with Intention.
The camp includes on-site physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and even aqua therapy, ensuring that children continue receiving the support they need throughout the summer. Multiple BCBAs (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) are on staff, and every child has an individualized behavioral plan carefully followed throughout the summer.
The CARE team works closely with each child’s therapists from the school year, ensuring continuity in the strategies and goals that are already helping them succeed. The camp BCBAs remain in communication with the child’s year-round providers so that progress can continue seamlessly.
In addition, what makes CARE CLUB truly special is the environment. Children are placed in small, carefully structured groups, designed to prevent sensory overload and allow each camper to feel safe and supported. Each child receives one-on-one attention, so the camper gets the individualized care they deserve. The days are filled with a thoughtful mix of academic reinforcement, creative sensory activities and exploration, social development, and traditional camp fun so the children are encouraged to grow while enjoying the summer experience.
Camp trips are some of the most meaningful moments of the summer. Many parents share that certain outings feel impossible to attempt with their child on their own. But through CARE CLUB, children can experience adventures and explore new places they might otherwise miss.
Then there is the heart of CARE CLUB, dedicated counselors and the extraordinary team that dedicates their summers to these special children. Their patience, compassion, and commitment go far beyond what anyone expects from a typical summer job. For many counselors, the relationships they build with campers become deeply personal and remain close even after camp ends.

The Results Have Been Remarkable
After the first summer, word spread quickly. Families saw the impact. Therapists noticed the difference. Schools were amazed by the progress. As a result, CARE CLUB has doubled in size for its second summer. It is yet another example of CARE’s ongoing commitment and expansion to meet the evolving needs of our special needs community.
Growth like this is only possible with the support of the community. On April 20–21, CARE will launch its annual Charidy Campaign, with an ambitious goal of raising $1 million to continue expanding services for the growing number of children and families who rely on CARE. The need has never been greater.
Thanks to the compassion and generosity of our community, CARE can continue building programs like CARE CLUB where children are not only supported, but empowered to strive. Every child deserves a summer where they don’t fall behind. They move forward.

What the Seder teaches about freedom, faith, and human dignity

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks ZT”L

Pesach, the Jewish festival of freedom, is an extraordinary testimony to the power of ritual to keep ideals and identity alive across the centuries. On Pesach we relive the story of our people, sitting together at home as an extended family as if we were back in the Egypt of the pharaohs, on the night before we are about to go free after long exile and harsh
enslavement.

We begin the drama by holding up a matzah, the dry unleavened bread that is one of the key symbols of the festival, and saying, “This is the bread of affliction our ancestors ate in the land of Egypt. Let all who are hungry come and eat.” A child, usually the youngest present, then asks a series of questions about “why this night is different from all other nights.”
The rest of the evening is largely dedicated to answering those questions, retelling the story of the exodus together with acts of eating and drinking that include the bitter herbs of suffering and the wine of freedom. It is history made memory by reenactment. For most Jews it is the way we learned, when we were young, who we are and why.
It also has hidden depths. I always used to be puzzled by two features of the evening. The first is the conflict between the two explanations of the unleavened bread. At the beginning of the story we call it the bread of affliction. Later on in the evening we speak of it as the bread of freedom they ate as they were leaving Egypt in such a hurry that they could not wait for the dough to rise. Which is it, I used to wonder, a symbol of oppression or liberty? Surely it could not be both.
The other element I found strange was the invitation to others to join us in eating the bread of affliction. What kind of hospitality is that, I thought, to ask others to share our suffering?
Unexpectedly, I discovered the answer in Primo Levi’s great book If This Is a Man, the harrowing account of his experiences in Auschwitz during the Holocaust. According to Levi, the worst time was when the Nazis left in January 1945, fearing the Russian advance. All prisoners who could walk were taken on the brutal death marches. The only people left in the camp were those too ill to move.
For ten days they were left alone with only scraps of food and fuel. Levi describes how he worked to light a fire and bring some warmth to his fellow prisoners, many of them dying. He then writes that when the broken window was repaired and the stove began to spread its heat, something seemed to relax in everyone. At that moment Towarowski, a Franco-Pole of twenty-three with typhus, proposed that each of them offer a slice of bread to the three who had been working. And so it was agreed. Only a day before, Levi says, this would have been inconceivable. The law of the camp said, “Eat your own bread, and if you can, that of your neighbor.” To do otherwise would have been suicidal. The offer of sharing bread was the first human gesture that occurred among them. Levi believed that moment marked the beginning of the change by which we who had not died slowly changed from Haftlinge (prisoners) to men again.
Sharing food is the first act through which slaves become free human beings. One who fears tomorrow does not offer his bread to others. But one who is willing to divide his food with a stranger has already shown himself capable of fellowship and faith, the two things from which hope is born. That is why we begin the Seder by inviting others to join us. That is how we turn affliction into freedom.
It sometimes seems to me that, having created the most individualistic society in history, we today risk losing the logic of liberty. Freedom is not simply the ability to choose to do whatever we like so long as we do not harm others. It is born in the sense of solidarity that leads those who have more than they need to share with those who have less. Giving help to the needy and companionship to those who are alone, we bring freedom into the world, and with freedom, G-D.

The Power of the “Lady Bird Deed”

Ben G. Matsas

For many people, a home or condo in Florida is more than just a place to live. It often represents long-term planning, stability, and what they hope to pass on to the next generation. In Florida, transferring real estate after death can involve the probate process, which is widely known for delays, costs, and administrative complexity.

One legal mechanism often discussed in this context is the “Lady Bird Deed,” a form of property ownership used in Florida that is designed to allow real estate to transfer upon death, outside of probate.
Officially called an Enhanced Life Estate Deed, this type of deed is used to let a property owner name beneficiaries who typically receive ownership at death, while the owner generally retains ownership rights during their lifetime. Traditional life estate deeds have existed for many years, but Florida is one of the limited number of states that recognizes the enhanced version, which differs in how much control the owner is commonly understood to keep.

Why the “Lady Bird” Name?
The nickname is commonly attributed to President Lyndon B. Johnson, who reportedly used a similar ownership structure when transferring property to his wife, First Lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson. Over time, the informal name became widely used to distinguish this type of deed from standard life estate arrangements.

Commonly Discussed Features
Maintaining Control
Under a Lady Bird Deed, the property owner is commonly understood to keep the ability to sell, refinance, or mortgage the property during their lifetime. Beneficiaries named in the deed generally do not have ownership rights until the owner’s death, meaning the owner’s day-to-day control of the property is not affected while alive.

Probate Avoidance
Because ownership transfers at death, property held under a Lady Bird Deed is commonly described as avoiding the Florida probate process. This characteristic is often discussed in general explanations of estate planning concepts used in the state.

Medicaid Related Discussions
Lady Bird Deeds are frequently mentioned in discussions involving long-term care and Medicaid. In Florida, this type of deed is generally described as not being treated as a completed gift for Medicaid eligibility purposes, and property that transfers outside of probate may be treated differently for Medicaid estate recovery purposes. How these rules apply can depend on individual facts and current regulations.

Homestead Treatment
Property owners are generally described as retaining their Florida Homestead Exemption and Save Our Homes assessment limitations while holding title under a Lady Bird Deed, since ownership does not change during their lifetime.
Tax Treatment at Death
Informational sources often note that when property transfers at death, federal tax rules may treat the transfer as occurring at the property’s fair market value at that time. This concept, commonly referred to as a step up in basis, may affect how capital gains are calculated if the property is later sold.

General Considerations
For Florida condo owners and homeowners, the Lady Bird Deed is one of several concepts commonly discussed when learning about property transfers, probate avoidance, and estate planning topics. Whether it is relevant in a particular situation depends on personal circumstances, current law, and individual goals.
For general information and document preparation services related to Lady Bird Deeds, visit www.libertyfiling.com.

Eliyahu Freedman

Rumination keeps us trapped in yesterday and afraid of tomorrow.
Jewish wisdom suggests a better response.

As I walked out of the conference room after a recent job interview, I felt a familiar sinking feeling, the quiet sting of wounded pride. “Good luck,” the CEO said politely as we shook hands and said goodbye. I already knew how it had gone. I had stumbled over one of the final questions, and it was hard to imagine a job offer coming my way.
On the walk home, I kept replaying the interview, reconstructing the perfect answers, and spiraling into anxious thoughts about how competitive the job market is. I couldn’t believe that after making it all the way to a final interview, I would have to start over once again.
That mental loop has a name. Psychologists call it rumination. It is the habit of reliving the past and worrying about the future, even when neither is actually in our control. It rarely helps. More often, it keeps us agitated and stuck.
The Jewish sage Maimonides offers a different way of relating to moments like this. In his words, a person should thank and praise G-D for the past, and cry out to G-D for the future. Put simply, the past is for gratitude and the future is for asking for help. Let’s unpack how this teaching can help quiet anxious thoughts.

Blessing the Past: Closing the Loop
Based on the Talmud, Maimonides writes in the laws of blessings, alongside daily practices meant to cultivate awareness and gratitude, that a person must bless G-D for bad news just as they bless Him for good news (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Blessings, 10:3). This does not mean that good news and bad news feel the same. Maimonides is not asking us to experience joy in disappointment. He is asking us to relate to whatever occurred with a posture that allows you to move forward rather than remain trapped in it.
After my interview, the outcome was no longer in my hands. Whether the eventual news would be encouraging or disappointing, the moment itself had already passed. If good news arrives, bless G-D with gratitude, ha-tov ve-ha-meitiv (Blessed is the One who is good and does good). If bad news arrives, bless G-D as the true Judge, Baruch dayan ha-emet (Blessed is the True Judge). In both cases, the blessing performs the same subtle task. It prevents the mind from reopening the past as a problem to be solved. The event is named, received, and given closure.
Without such a practice, disappointment easily turns into incessant rumination, beating yourself up and fixating on what you should have done differently. It leaves no room for productive introspection that enables you to learn from your mistakes and move on. There is a difference between learning from the past and anxious looping. Healthy reflection has an endpoint. You extract the lesson, adjust your behavior, and then allow the moment to settle into the past. Rumination has no endpoint. It replays the same scene without producing growth. Only agitation.
At the same time, unacknowledged moments of joy pass just as quickly, barely registered before the mind moves on to the next demand or worry. A blessing interrupts that cycle. It does not deny the pain or pretend the outcome was good. But it does bring the argument with the past to an end.

The Future Is for Asking, Not Rehearsing
If blessings teach you how to relate to what has already happened, Maimonides is just as clear about what to do with what has not yet occurred. In the same section about blessings, he writes that when it comes to future possibilities, a person should cry out to G-D, ask for mercy, and pray. The future, in other words, is not something to be endlessly fantasized about or worried about. It is something to be held with trust and faith.
Most anxiety lives in the future tense. What if I don’t get another interview? What if things don’t work out? You repeat this pattern as if compulsive overthinking can sway the future in your desired direction. Modern research on anxiety suggests the opposite. Repetitive “what if” thinking keeps the brain’s threat system activated. The body responds to imagined scenarios as if they were already unfolding, generating stress without solving the uncertainty.
Maimonides’ approach does not deny uncertainty, nor does it demand passivity. You prepare, you plan, and you act responsibly. But once you reach the edge of what is in your hands, the remainder belongs in prayer. Regarding the outcome of my job interview, I can bless what has already happened, learn from it with honesty, and let it pass. As I face what lies ahead, I can pray for wisdom and courage, while accepting that control over results was never fully mine to begin with. That is a Jewish path toward inner peace. q

Laura Shammah, MS, RDN

As winter ends and March begins, many people feel the urge to “clean things up.” After months of heavier meals, shorter days, and less consistent routines, it’s common to feel sluggish, bloated, or disconnected from hunger cues. This is when detox plans, juice cleanses, and elimination diets start sounding appealing. But most bodies don’t need a detox. They need stability.

Your body already has an incredibly sophisticated detoxification system. The liver processes toxins, the kidneys filter waste, the digestive system eliminates what the body no longer needs, and even the lungs and skin play a role. When these systems are supported with consistent nourishment, hydration, and rest, they function remarkably well on their own.
What many people interpret as a need to “cleanse” is often just the natural result of winter rhythms. During colder months, routines shift. We move less, spend less time in sunlight, sleep patterns change, and meals may become more irregular. None of this is wrong or harmful. It’s seasonal. But by March, the body often needs help re-establishing balance.
In my office, this is exactly what I focus on with clients during this time of year. Instead of removing foods or starting strict plans, we work on rebuilding structure. That usually begins with eating consistently throughout the day, making sure meals contain protein, carbohydrates, and fats, and restoring hydration. We look at energy levels, digestion, sleep patterns, and stress, because these often influence how someone feels in their body far more than any specific food choice.
One of the most common things I see in March is people trying to “undo” winter by eating less. Ironically, this often slows metabolism, worsens fatigue, increases cravings, and makes digestion more sluggish. The body interprets restriction as stress, not renewal.
I often use this analogy with clients: after winter, your body is like a car that has been sitting in the garage for months. You wouldn’t drain the gas tank to make the car run better. You would refill the tank, start the engine gently, and let it warm up before driving. The body works the same way. Energy, nourishment, and consistency bring systems back online. Deprivation does not.
A spring reset is less about subtraction and more about re-introducing supportive habits. This might mean returning to regular meals after a season of grazing, adding protein to breakfast, drinking more water during the day, or gradually increasing movement as daylight returns. Even small adjustments can help stabilize blood sugar, improve digestion, and restore energy.
Another important part of this seasonal transition is the nervous system. When people feel uncomfortable in their bodies, they often try to regain control by tightening food rules. But this usually creates more stress and disconnection. Spring can instead be an opportunity to shift toward nourishment and routine rather than restriction.
The goal is not to “fix” your body for spring. The goal is to support it as it naturally transitions into a new season. When the body receives consistent fuel, hydration, rest, and gentle movement, energy often improves, digestion becomes more regular, and hunger cues feel clearer again.
Spring doesn’t ask us to become someone new, it just reminds us to come back to ourselves. Your body isn’t looking for perfection or a reset button. It’s looking for regular meals, enough rest, a little sunlight, and patience. Just like the world outside slowly comes back to life after winter, our energy, appetite, and routines return gradually too. You don’t have to rush the process or force change. Taking care of your body in small, steady ways is enough. And often, that’s exactly what allows you to feel like yourself again.

The Surprising Link Between Judaism and Fitness

Julian Brass

Discover how Jewish wisdom turns training, rest, and discipline into a path for stronger bodies and deeper souls.

I used to think fitness and spirituality lived in two separate worlds. There was the gym: protein shakes, workouts, pushing past limits. And then there was Judaism: prayer, study, community. One felt physical, grounded in sweat and discipline. The other felt spiritual, rooted in something unseen. But as I got older and life started throwing heavier punches, I realized I was wrong. These two worlds are deeply connected, and when aligned, they can elevate one another.

My Turning Point
A few years ago, I was living what looked like the dream. Successful business, media appearances, global travel. But under the surface, I was struggling, mentally, emotionally, physically. I felt anxiety, fatigue, and a growing disconnect from my own purpose. I knew something had to change.
So I leaned into fitness. I trained hard, cleaned up my nutrition, and rebuilt my body. But I also leaned back into my Judaism. I started asking deeper questions. I revisited texts I hadn’t looked at since I was a kid. I stopped separating my physical health from my spiritual growth. That’s when things shifted.
Fitness became more than a way to look good shirtless; it became a spiritual discipline. Judaism, in turn, became more embodied and more real. My workouts were bringing me closer to G-D. Judaism is a framework for optimal living, and fitness is one of the tools, reflecting the Torah’s commandment to actively care for the body G-D entrusted to you.

The Hidden Spirituality of Fitness
Let’s break down a few places where Judaism and fitness intersect.

1. Kavannah: Train with Intention
   In Jewish tradition, kavannah means intention. It’s the mindset you bring to a mitzvah, a prayer, or even a moment of stillness. It’s what turns a ritual into a relationship. Fitness works the same way. You can go through the motions, count reps, follow macros, and hit the gym three times a week. Or you can move with intention. Why are you training? Who are you becoming with each set, each meal, each act of discipline? When I started approaching my workouts like they were a form of prayer, direct and focused, I stopped chasing shallow goals. I wasn’t training to impress. I was training to align.
2. Shabbat: The Original Recovery Protocol
   Every serious athlete knows recovery is non-negotiable. Your body needs rest to grow. And yet, most of us suck at slowing down. Enter Shabbat. Judaism hardwires a weekly 25-hour reset into the calendar. One day to unplug, unwind, and reconnect to what matters. I used to see it as inconvenient. Now I see it as performance-enhancing. On Shabbat, I rest my nervous system. I eat with gratitude. I spend time with people I love. No email, no scrolling, no hustle. And on Sunday, I come back sharper, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Shabbat is the original recovery protocol.
3. Discipline is Devotion
   Fitness after 40 isn’t just about six-packs. It’s about energy, confidence, longevity, and showing up for the people who matter most. But staying consistent is hard. The excuses are loud and the cravings are real.
   In Judaism, we talk a lot about yetzer hara, our inner temptation, that voice that says, “Sleep in.” “Skip the workout.” “You deserve that second (or third) dessert.” Fitness trains you to quiet that voice. Every time you say no to that temptation you’re building spiritual muscle. You’re saying: I’m not a slave to impulse. I run this body. I run this mind. Avoiding processed sugar, stretching at night instead of scrolling, hitting your step goal when you’d rather crash. These healthy choices are also spiritual wins.

The Body is a Vessel
Judaism is against body shaming. The body is a vessel for the soul, something to be respected and cared for. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to show up, and to show up strategically. When you train, when you fuel yourself cleanly, when you sleep like it matters, you’re getting fit and making yourself a stronger vessel for everything G-D wants to bring through you: love, energy, leadership, clarity. That’s spiritual energy.

High Performance
Judaism is a blueprint for high performance, a source of values that aligns with what the best coaches are already preaching:

• Be consistent.
• Rest intentionally.
• Treat your body like it matters.
• Live for something bigger than ego.

If you’re already working on your fitness, beautiful. Bring some spirituality into it. Ask yourself deeper questions while you move. Try unplugging on Shabbat. Say a blessing before your meals with presence. And if you’re already on a spiritual journey, but your health is falling behind, don’t let that gap widen. Your soul deserves a strong, clear, energized body to move through the world in. The more I align my body with strength, clarity, and consistency, the more I feel connected to something bigger than me. And the more I lean into Jewish wisdom, the more dialed-in I get physically. Don’t wait for a crisis to start treating your body like it matters. Don’t wait for inspiration to explore your faith. Start now, right where you are.

Separating medical progress from internet promises

Peptides are showing up everywhere right now. You hear about them in medical journals, fitness podcasts, dermatology offices, and increasingly in new peptide clinics opening in cities across the country. Some people describe them as the next major step in medicine. Others see them as hype driven by social media and wellness culture. The truth is more practical and less dramatic.

Peptides are not new. Scientists have studied them for decades, and some peptide medicines have been used safely for a long time.
A peptide is simply a small chain of amino acids. Amino acids are the basic building blocks your body uses to make proteins. When these chains are short, they act like messengers that tell different parts of the body what to do. Your body already uses peptides to control hunger, healing, hormone release, and immune responses.
One well known peptide is insulin, which has been used to treat diabetes for many years. Another example is the group of GLP-1 medications such as semaglutide, which help regulate blood sugar and appetite. These drugs are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and prescribed by doctors. They show how peptide science can turn into real medicine when it goes through proper testing.
You are also seeing peptides show up in beauty and dermatology. In medical dermatology, some peptide based treatments are FDA approved and prescribed by doctors, such as injectable treatments that affect muscle activity or support specific skin conditions. In skincare products, peptides are used in creams and serums to support hydration and collagen signaling, but these are regulated as cosmetics, not drugs, and their effects tend to be modest. As with other peptide uses, the difference comes down to clinical testing, regulation, and medical supervision.
Today, a different set of peptides is getting attention online and in wellness clinics. These are often discussed in fitness, anti aging, and recovery communities. You may hear claims like peptide BPC-157 promises faster healing, TB-500 promises muscle recovery, growth hormone related peptides promise fat loss, and retatrutide promises dramatic weight reduction.
Some of these peptides are being studied in laboratories and clinical trials. Retatrutide, for example, is still in research stages for obesity treatment and has not yet received FDA approval. Others, like BPC-157 and TB-500, have very limited human research available. Much of the data comes from animal studies or small experiments. That does not mean the science is fake, but it does mean the evidence is incomplete.
This gap between research and real world claims is where confusion begins. Early research can sound exciting, but it is not the same as proven treatment. Drug development takes years because researchers must study safety, dosing, side effects, and long term outcomes. Many compounds that look promising early on never become approved medications.
The difference between approved peptide medicine and internet peptide culture mostly comes down to regulation and testing. When the FDA approves a drug, it means controlled clinical trials showed the medication works and is reasonably safe when used as directed. It also means the drug is produced under strict manufacturing standards so the dose and purity are consistent.
Many peptides sold online do not go through this process. Some are labeled “for research use only,” meaning they are not approved for human treatment. Products sold this way may vary in strength or purity, which is why medical professionals remain cautious.
Another reason peptides attract attention is that they sound natural. Because peptides already exist in the body, people often assume they must be safe. But anything that changes hormones, metabolism, or immune function can have strong effects. Natural does not always mean harmless.
Health information also spreads faster than scientific confirmation. A new study can appear online one week and become a trending topic the next. Personal stories about rapid weight loss or faster injury recovery can sound convincing, even when they do not represent typical results or controlled research.
That does not mean peptides are fake science. Many researchers believe peptides will play a major role in future medicine. Scientists are studying peptide therapies for wound healing, cancer treatment targeting, metabolic disease, and autoimmune conditions. Some of these treatments may eventually become standard medical care, while others may not work as hoped once larger trials are completed.
For readers trying to make sense of the topic, it helps to separate three categories. First are peptide medicines that are already approved and widely used. Second are peptides currently being studied in clinical trials. Third are peptides promoted online without strong human evidence. These categories often get mixed together in public conversation.
Another practical issue is sourcing. Medications that require a prescription are meant to be dispensed through regulated pharmacies. Injectable or experimental compounds should never be purchased online or used without proper medical oversight. Do not take peptides or similar substances without consulting your doctor and using them only under medical supervision. If you are exploring peptide therapy, look for established medical clinics where licensed physicians evaluate you, order appropriate lab work, and monitor treatment over time. Avoid places that offer quick injections without a full medical review or ongoing supervision.
Peptides are neither miracle cures nor meaningless hype. They are tools scientists are still learning how to use. Some have already changed modern medicine. Others remain ideas in progress, shaped by research rather than promises.

This article is intended for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice and should not be used to diagnose or treat any condition. Readers should consult a licensed medical professional before starting any treatment or making any health decisions.

This month’s Community Photo Album highlights Hesed in Action. Our community is filled with so many organizations and volunteers willing to step up and do hesed. From food drives and hospital visits to volunteer efforts and community support initiatives, these moments reflect the quiet strength of caring for one another. The photos capture individuals and groups giving their time, offering help, and showing up where they are needed most, whether spending time with the elderly, supporting special needs children, or organizing help for families. Each image reflects the heart of our community, where acts of kindness are lived, not just spoken about.

Practical wisdom for handling emotions and moods without escalating tension

Sarah Pachter

Learning to navigate the moods of others, especially in families, is one of life’s hardest jobs. And yet, it’s learnable. Below are five key principles for becoming a master of moods, based on Jewish wisdom and real life experience from Rabbi Aryeh Nivin.

1. Don’t Communicate in a Low State
   Timing is everything. Don’t give constructive criticism or try to resolve conflict when one or both parties are in a low emotional state.
   Unfortunately, this is precisely when most people want to talk. When you feel hurt, angry, or constricted, the urge to “get it off your chest” feels urgent and justified. But this instinct is generated by your lower self and masquerades as honesty. Don’t fall into the trap.
2. The 72 Hour Rule
   Rabbi Aryeh Nivin teaches a simple but radical practice. When you’re angry, wait 72 hours before addressing it. “Fifty percent of all negativity would disappear if people did this,” he says.
   Why? Because when you’re in a low state, you are not only reactive, you’re often unaware that you’re reactive. Your perception narrows and instead of creating any positive change, you damage the other party and yourself. That’s why giving your child a consequence to his misbehavior should never be done in the heat of the moment when you’re infuriated.
   Instead, try saying something like this: “I’m upset right now and I don’t think we can talk productively. Let’s talk tomorrow and we’ll figure out how to fix this together.”
   The child sleeps peacefully. The next day, the conversation happens in expanded consciousness, when the opportunity to positively educate your child is more likely to happen.
3. Look for Opportune Moments
   An opportune moment is when you and your spouse or child are both in a positive state of mind. When both parties are calm, relaxed, or even giddy, then deep, meaningful conversation flows more naturally. These moments are rare and when they appear, they should be utilized wisely.
   Rabbi Aryeh Nivin shares an example of an opportune or “magic moment” in his house.
   “One late night, I came home exhausted from work and saw my teenagers sitting on the couch in great moods, laughing. They wanted me to join. I was tired and wanted to go to bed, but I poured a cup of coffee and stayed up to talk.
   “We had phenomenal conversations and developed real connection, depth, and trust.
   “I paid for it the next day because I was tired. But the Return on Investment. Unmatched. That hour was worth weeks of parenting.”
4. Create Magic Moments
   (Don’t Just Wait for Them)
   If you know what puts someone in a positive state, you can engineer connection. Different people enter good moods through different doors:
   • One child connects through food, take him out to eat.
   • Another connects through movement, go for a walk.
   • Another through humor, invite him to make you laugh, or share a joke.
   • Another through nature, go to the beach, the boardwalk, outdoors.
   Rabbi Nivin shares, “One of my sons and I took a walk together every Saturday night for an entire year before he got married. Those were some of the best memories we created together and it was in those moments we had some of the deepest and most constructive conversations.”
   Don’t just wait for magic moments. Actively work to create them and take advantage of them for the opportunity of deep conversation. This applies with everyone, parents, teachers, employers, spouses.
5. Create a Good Mood Inside Your Home
   Homes have energy. You feel the vibe when you walk in. Our sages explain that the walls and beams testify before G-D what is happening behind closed doors. The walls of your home absorb spiritual residue. Love, tension, laughter, restraint, it all leaves an imprint.
   There are homes where you feel calm the moment you enter. Others feel heavy. That’s not accidental or random.
   Be conscious about:
   • Infusing warmth, unity, gratitude
   • Bringing intentional presence into the space
   • Taking actions to produce sweetness in the home environment through cooking and music. A mother’s challah tastes like love because it is love. A father reading to his child is a gift that their child holds in their heart for years.
   When the energy of the home is positive, the difference is palpable, and a happy mood can more easily ensue amongst all family members.
   Moods shape relationships. When you learn to work with them wisely, connection becomes easier and your home becomes warmer.

Emuna Braverman

It is possible not only to enjoy Passover cleaning, but to find it to be the most meaningful aspect of holiday preparation.

Everywhere I turn I hear: “I got the Here-Comes-Pesach blues,” sings Moshe Yess. “Have you started cleaning yet?” “I’m so stressed.” “We’re going away to a hotel this year. I just can’t face the cleaning.”
I’m beginning to feel like an endangered species, because I like Passover. It’s actually my favorite holiday. I enjoy the cleaning. I love throwing things out (if my husband hasn’t worn it in a year, make that a week, watch out!) and getting organized. And I like the cooking. I like the creative challenge inherent in the limited ingredients. I like the constant phone calls between friends, sharing new recipes and old stand-bys.
I like the community of Jewish women scrubbing our homes, grocery shopping, cooking, grocery shopping, making menus, grocery shopping… and just when you think you have everything you need… grocery shopping.
And I like the exhaustion. Not out of some masochism, but because it’s also a link. When I look in the eyes of my friends and other Jewish women in the neighborhood I see the same weary expression. It’s a look that says, “I can’t do one more thing.” And it’s a look that says, “I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished.” And it’s a look that says, “We’re in this together. We’re a community.”
I’ve had four children who were due to be born Erev Pesach, the day before Pesach (the Almighty’s sense of humor). Finally with number 3, I admitted to some physical stress and fatigue and suggested we try going away for the holiday.
There was an event at a rustic wood-studded location near here. I thought, “This is my chance. Every other year I’m so busy cleaning and cooking (and grocery shopping) that I have little time to apply myself intellectually, but this is my chance to really delve into all the ideas and commentaries in the Haggadah. This year I can do it. This year I’ll be prepared.”

THE LEARNING IS IN THE DOING
And I learned an important lesson. Studying the ideas underlying Passover was not the true preparation. It was the hours of cleaning, the hours in the kitchen and the hours at the grocery store(s). It was the physical effort that led to the emotional and intellectual preparation. I felt less prepared when I didn’t take out my special dishes, when I didn’t clean my children’s bedrooms (after all, it’s been a year!), when I didn’t make my chicken soup and cabbage soup and famous (doesn’t taste like Passover) brownies.
And I felt more alone. That crucial link to other Jewish women was not being forged. I had no war stories or battle wounds to share. I hadn’t planned any creative menus and my Passover cookbooks were neatly packed away.
I had more energy, but I was disappointed. I missed the exhaustion borne of accomplishment. I missed the weariness shared across the globe.
And I missed involving my children in an important and meaningful mitzvah. (I also missed yelling at them about dropping crumbs all over the house!)
So, much as I would like a vacation, as tempting as some events sound, I’ve returned to what I enjoy.
I can’t wait to start cleaning. (I force myself to hold out until after Purim, putting some limits on my compulsivity.) I can’t wait to start planning menus and discovering new treasures. I’m excited to bring out my Passover dishes. (When I read that you should use your most beautiful tableware for this holiday I decided this was a mitzvah I wanted to be very strict about!) I can’t wait to start cooking huge quantities in anticipation of many guests.
And I can’t wait to sit down at the Seder prepared for the event, feeling the pride of being a Jewish woman linked to other Jewish women, and taking pleasure in being part of a nation redeemed by the Almighty from slavery (all jokes about the connection between Pesach cleaning and slavery are prohibited!) A happy and healthy Passover to all.

Like Esther, growing up in Iran I was encouraged to keep my Jewish identity private

Jacqueline Saper

For me, the Purim story has a deep historical connection to my heritage and homeland where the story took place. During the Iranian monarchy in the 1960s and 1970s, the joyous holiday of Purim of my childhood was celebrated at the grand Yousefabad synagogue in Tehran with Persian sweets, such as halvah, the flour-based, rose water infused dessert. Some Persian Jews took the opportunity to make a pilgrimage to the city of Hamedan, located 200 miles west of Tehran and believed to be among the oldest Iranian cities, where the Tomb of Esther and Mordechai is located.

Purim is the one holiday where my two distinct worlds of the East and the West intersect. In the late 1940s, my parents met at a school dance when they were students at the University of Birmingham in England.
My British Ashkenazi mother was confused about my Sephardi/Mizrahi Iranian father’s homeland. She had never heard of Iran (Persia was renamed in 1935) and had no idea that Persia still existed. Coincidentally, my mother Stella’s Hebrew name is “Esther” which has the same definition of star or Setareh, which is Queen Esther’s moniker in Persian. After a courtship of almost a year, my father had to return to his homeland and then they continued their romance by international post for two years. My parents were married in Tehran, Iran on January 4, 1951, and remained married for 63 years.
Mordechai advised Esther to hide her Hebrew name Hadassah and thus her Jewish identity. To this, I can relate. My dual Jewish identity as a person living in modern-day Persia while visiting relatives in England depended on which side of the ocean I happened to be. In England, I was encouraged to be proud and to vocalize my ideas about democracy, Israel, and Judaism. In Iran, I was encouraged to keep my Jewish identity private and, especially after the Islamic revolution, be mindful that Israel was the enemy whose destruction was based upon one of the new regime’s principles.
Celebrating Purim in Iran, I was more aware of the fact that its story occurred in the pre-Islamic Zoroastrian era of the Persian Empire, a millennium before the rise of Islam in Persia. Therefore, it is not surprising that non-Islamic Persian and Jewish holidays have been influenced by each other. Purim and Nowruz, the Persian New Year, both occur at the beginning of spring. The scroll of Esther celebrates the courage of a Persian queen and the survival of a people.
Following the Iranian revolution and the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979 and the subsequent eight-year Iran-Iraq war that began in 1980, the Persian Jewish community faced increased antisemitism and animosity toward Israel. Unlike their ancestors who relied on fasting and the courage of their heroine Queen Esther, the majority of contemporary Persian Jews lacked a royal advocate and had to leave their ancient homeland for good. Today, by some estimates, the Persian Jewish community is one-tenth of its size 40 years ago.
Nevertheless, in Iran Jews are considered the “People of the Book,” and they are free to practice their religion in private, as are Christians. I left the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1987 and moved to the United States. But during the eight years I lived under the new regime, Purim was celebrated with less fanfare. Persian Jews were mindful about drinking wine during Purim in a country where consuming alcoholic beverages is prohibited and punishable by law and placed more emphasis on the Fast of Esther.
In the fifth century B.C.E, Haman was vizier to the Persian Empire under King Ahasuerus, also known as Khashayar Shah to Iranians and Xerxes to the rest of the world. He sought to annihilate the Jewish people. In modern-day times, the Jewish Iranians are once again confronted with a Persian ruler who desires to destroy the state of Israel, the land of the Jewish people. Iran’s current government labels Purim as an anti-Iranian holiday. On December 10, 2010, when tensions between Iran and Israel were particularly high, hundreds of Iranians protested in front of the Tomb of Esther and Mordecai on a small street, fittingly called “Esther Lane.”
Like other displaced Jewish Iranians, I will reminisce about Purim in Iran. Before the Islamic revolution, Iran and Israel had amicable relations and we were proud Iranian citizens who didn’t have to conceal our joy for the holiday or our affiliation to the land of Israel. I will remain hopeful that one day the remaining Jews in Iran will be able to celebrate Purim with full joy once more.

10 Ways to Increase Happiness In the Chaos

Devora Levy

When the month of Adar enters, increase joy. But how?
Practical steps for choosing happiness when life feels overwhelming.

Let’s be honest. You probably don’t wake up glowing. You wake up to alarms, news alerts, and carpools. You wake up to deadlines and WhatsApp messages that already feel like a bit too much before your day has even started. And then Judaism tells you: When Adar enters, increase joy.
How? Jewish thought teaches that joy is a decision, not a mood you wait for. It’s about where you place your attention and how you interpret the chaos around you.
You can’t control the headlines. You can’t control other people. You definitely can’t control every outcome. But you can choose what story you’re living inside. Joy builds resilience. It protects your relationships from the friction stress creates. It gives you energy instead of draining what little you have.
Purim teaches this in such a dramatic way. The Scroll of Esther reads like a total political mess, hidden motives, power plays, and strange coincidences. G-D’s name doesn’t even appear once. And yet, everything turns around.
Haman’s plot to destroy the Jewish people becomes the very thing that elevates them. The gallows he builds for Mordechai becomes his own execution site. The decree meant to authorize genocide transforms into permission for Jewish self-defense and triumph. Esther, who hid her identity out of fear, becomes the hero precisely because of that hidden identity. What looked like the end of the story was actually just the middle, and the reversal was total. Joy is the refusal to believe that the surface story is the final one. So, how do you actually choose it?

Decide That Joy Is Not Optional
If you treat joy like a nice extra, it’s the first thing to go when life gets hard. Try to see joy as part of your emotional responsibility. The Jewish month of Adar shows you not to wait for joy to show up, it tells you to increase it. That implies effort.

Catch One Hidden Good Each Day
Purim is built on things being masked. Start looking for small reversals, the meeting that got canceled right when you needed to breathe, or a tough conversation that finally cleared the air. Train your eyes to notice what might be quietly working in your favor.

Loosen Your Grip
Costumes on Purim remind you that your identity isn’t as rigid as you think. If you’re holding on too tightly to one specific outcome or one version of how things should go, try to soften a little. Joy enters more easily when your need for control relaxes.

Strengthen One Connection
Make that call you’ve been putting off. Text a friend you haven’t spoken to in months just to say you’re thinking of them. Joy expands when you’re in relationship with others; isolation shrinks it.

Move Your Body
Joy is physical. We dance on Purim for a reason. Put on music while you’re cooking, or walk a little faster than usual. Sometimes your body leads and the mood follows.

Interrupt the Negative Narratives
Notice the broken record in your head. “This always happens” or “Nothing works out.” Stop and ask: Is that actually 100% true? The Scroll of Esther teaches that there are hidden layers. Leave room for the story to unfold differently.
Give Generously
Whether it’s money, time, or encouragement. Purim centers on giving because generosity shifts you out of your own head. When you contribute to someone else’s joy, something inside you expands.

Allow Real Emotion
Choosing joy isn’t about suppressing frustration. Adar doesn’t erase reality, it adds dimension to it. Let yourself feel what’s real, and then gently point yourself back toward what’s possible.

Mark the Small Wins
You finished a project, kept your patience, or made it through a rough week. Light a candle or share dessert. Say, “That mattered.” Celebrating the small things builds momentum.

Create One Daily Habit of Gratitude
It doesn’t need to be a long list. Just one acknowledgment, said out loud or written down. Gratitude trains your attention. What you look for, you start to see.
Adar isn’t about pretending life is easy. It’s about remembering that reversals are possible, that hidden good exists, and that joy can be built, even before your circumstances change. You don’t have to transform your whole personality this month. Just increase. A little more warmth. A little more generosity. A little more lightness. Sometimes that small increase is what begins the reversal. q