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INDEX
NORPAC Goes to WashingtonBeit YatirPayments and PasswordsProfile: Mollie FischBeth Aaron Officers Beth Aaron ContactsBeth Aaron News Weekly ShiurimMen’s Club KiddushTree of LifeMemorial PlaquesMovie RentalsNCSYDivrei Chizuk by Yehiel LevyChildren’s Corner by Gavriella Hagler The Mystery Bag Word Scramble Word SearchBanim MitpalelimUpcoming Events
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Kol Beth AaronJune 2015 Sivan/Tammuz 5775
UPDATEDJUNE CALENDAR
JUNEYAHRTZEIT LISTPlease note that
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BETH AARON MEMBERS GO TO WASHINGTON WITH NORPAC
by Mollie Fisch
Early in the morning on May 13, more than 50 Beth Aaron members, ranging in age from middle school students upwards finished davening at Congregation Keter Torah and hopped on the bus to travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with 1425 more NORPAC members. In D.C., our groups had appointments with members of Congress to advocate for maintaining a strong and mutually beneficial U.S.-Israel relationship. Almost every Congressional office had agreed to an appointment with NORPAC; each of our groups had two or three meetings. We were well prepared with our Talking Points (mostly prepared by our own Allen Friedman), and we had the names of our assigned MoCs, whom we had researched.
We strategized and rehearsed on the bus, and the teens were as well prepared as the adults on these pre-selected topics: The Foreign Aid Bill, which includes $3.1 billion for Israel; support for Israel’s missile defense program (Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and the Arrow 2 and 3 systems for long-range missiles); the Corker-Cardin Bill, requiring Congressional review of any proposed Iran nuclear deal before it can be finalized; and the Hizbollah Financial Sanctions Bill, with the purpose of drying up funds for this terrorist organization.
When we arrived at the Washington Convention Center, we made quite a stir with almost 1500 people filing in to the Plenary Session, where we were greeted by NORPAC leaders and addressed by a number of prominent Senators and Representatives, among them Senators Menendez, Kirk, and Cardin (or Corker, it was one of them!), and Congressman Engel. Each described his feelings for Israel and his
(continued on page 14)
In Mollie’s group were (left to right) Susan Fisch, Mollie Fisch, Miriam Fisch, Chana Fisch, David Brusowankin, Aryeh Brusowankin, Yaakov Zinberg, Yonatan Kurz, Rebecca Kurz, and Nachum Fisch.
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PAYMENTS AND PASSWORDS
Statements have been mailed out to those who have outstanding balances. Full payment of balances by June 30, the end of the current fiscal year, is appreciated. Payment can be made by sending a check to the shul or paying online at www.bethaaron.org.
In order to properly post payments made by check, please note on the memo line how the funds should be applied.
If you are paying online, please log into your account to ensure that payments are applied appropriately. If you do not know your password, contact the office at [email protected] to have your password sent to you.
If you require financial consideration, you may contact [email protected].
For questions regarding statements, please contact Judi in the shul office, 201-836-6210, [email protected].
Thank you for your cooperation.
Beit Yatir
SHEVA BRACHOT WITH MAHMOUD AND YOUSEF by Tzvi Ben-Gedalyahu
The SMS read:“A reception will be held for the son of Yousef Abu-Kabeta, who married this week. Please let us know if you plan to attend.”
Yep, you read it right - the son of Yousef, who also is the nephew of Mahmoud, our two Bedouin neighbors.
Our relationship with the Abu-Kabeta family is one of those tales you might read in a spy novel, but you won’t find it in the New York Post or Daily News. The New York Times also is not likely to carry the story.
Here we are, a bunch of settlers, living in what the world likes to refer to as the “occupied territories,” being invited to a wedding reception for our Bedouin neighbors across the flimsy fence that supposedly separates “us” from “them.”
The less said about Yousef Abu-Kabeta, the better.
We can talk more freely about Mahmoud, whose sheep and goats have wandered on our roads and frequently into several back yards. Hundreds of trees, most of which I planted when I was Yatir’s pseudo-gardener, have disappeared or have been stunted by the goats and sheep, but that is the price we pay for peace.
As for Yousef, everything can be said in one sentence. Years ago, he enlisted in the IDF Intelligence Unit.
End of story. The less said, the better.
Let’s put it this way. Approximately 20 years ago, when I was the Beit Yatir security officer - don’t ask me why - I had a firm policy with Mahmoud. “Good fences make good neighbors.” I made it clear where he could take his animals to pasture and where he could not.
I did not know Yousef very well since he was not living “at Yatir” very much at the time. I don’t know what he was doing. There are some questions you don’t ask. He is a businessman, but that is not all.
Years ago, during the Intifada, Arabs burned his car in Hebron. Enough said.
One day, when I was handyman - not really, but that is what they called me - for Beit Yatir, the Mechina Pre-Army Torah Academy got rid of Beit Yatir’s old, old playground items, such as a horse on a spring and a rusty see-saw, which were used by Yatir children back in the old days when families lived where the Mechina now is located.
I took whatever was salvageable and put them in a small playground that is behind one row of houses in Yatir. Beyond the small playground, there is a field that is inside our fence, but which belongs to Abu-Kabeta.
Got it? Their fields are inside our fence.
Don’t ask why, because I won’t tell you. If I do, it won’t be the truth, especially if you read it in the newspapers.
I innocently placed the horse and a see-saw a bit beyond the playground, and then Yousef appeared out of nowhere. What the heck was I doing on his property?
I argued, refused to budge, and then Yousef made a phone call. A minute later, I received a message from the Office of the Prime Minister to remove the see-saw and horse. Enough said.
Now you know why several families received an invitation to the reception for Yousef’s son and new wife.
Yousef has built a nice home, which easily could serve as a banquet hall. In fact, it was. I walked in with several friends from Yatir. We all wished the Abu-Kabeta family a “mazal tov.” The food was strictly
(continued on page 13)
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Profile:
MOLLIE FISCH
On a snowy New Year’s Day in 1972, when Mollie Fisch, her late husband Rabbi Stanley Fisch, and their children Shalom and Mindy helped found a minyan that would become Congregation Beth Aaron, there were just 10 families who came together for a Shabbat service led by Rabbi Gottesman in a basement on Merrison Street. As the Fisch family walked through the Rudichs’ side door and went downstairs, “I remember saying that ‘this must be what the Marranos felt like,’” Mollie reminisced. A series of temporary locations that included the Fabers’ basement and the Eugene Field School eventually led to a doctor’s office at the corner of Queen Anne Road and Edgemont Terrace that kept expanding until it became the building that now welcomes people for many minyanim during the week and on Shabbat and on Yom Tov, as well as for a wide variety of educational and social programs.
The founding families were a very warm and friendly group, she said, where everyone knew everyone else. With the shul now approaching 400 full and associate member families, that can’t exist anymore, but Mollie stressed that what has remained is “a certain intimacy” that she feels isn’t apparent in other shuls in town. “We have more of a feeling of a chevra than some of the other shuls do,” she said.
Beth Aaron also is “accepting of people in a very nice way, so that there is a tremendous range of people within the shul community,” she noted. “Some are to the right and some are to the left and some are in the middle, but everyone seems able to find their place. Many people have memberships in more than one shul, but we don’t lose members often because they are uncomfortable here.” Another point in Beth Aaron’s favor is that it “offers a variety of experiences,” she added, “so that we can accommodate both those who are interested mainly in learning and those who want a more social experience.”
And, of course, having “a wonderful Rabbi and Rebbetzin” really helps, she said. “Each Mara de-Atra has brought his unique gifts to lead our shul through its various stages, and we are very fortunate to have the extraordinary team of Rabbi Larry and Chaviva Rothwachs to lead us now.”
At the beginning, everyone took on some responsibility, a feature that continues in a very lay-led congregation to this day. And many families who were among our relatively early members still are strong supporters of the shul, she noted, including the Baumans, Feders, Mermelsteins, Presbys, Buckmans, Rosses, Zeidels, Gellises, Karasicks, Leffels, Vogels, Gertlers, Marilyn Mogul, Friedmans, Eiziks, Danny Chazin, and several more. Even those of our earliest members who made aliyah still retain their connection with the shul.
The Fisches were a little older than some of the other early members, many of whom were newly married, and that meant that the Fisches saw everyone’s children grow up. “That was a lovely experience,” Mollie said, “as we saw so many kids mature into responsible adults, with many married who now have children of their own, with several in Israel.”
Mollie and Stanley also encouraged others to join Beth Aaron in its early years. “Shelly Leffel called,” Mollie said, “and told us they were looking at a house across the street from ours. When he wondered if the shul would survive, I said ‘yes, if you move in and we stay.’ So they bought the house.” And that is how the shul grew, she said, with a lot of people coming from “the apartments” and buying houses.
In the early days, Mollie was on the Board several times. Stanley never wanted to go to meetings, but he was a very active member. “He was often a shaliach tzibbur, would lain a lot, and blow shofar, and served as the gabbai,” Mollie noted, adding that he was “a great believer in training teenagers. As soon as he found a teenage boy who was willing to be a gabbai, Stanley trained him. He wasn’t looking to hang onto honors, but rather wanted to push the youth of the shul to take on more and more responsibility because that is the future of the shul and of Judaism.”
The Fisches were there at the beginning of the Hashkama Minyan, too -- more than 30 years ago, when Rabbi Fass led the congregation. Mollie likes it because it is quieter and has a smaller group attending. “It also gives you a long day for whatever you need,” she said.
And they have sponsored the shul’s Tikkun Leil Shavuot ever since it started, she said. They decided on (continued on page 13)
Beth Aaron Contacts
KiddushAri Gononsky
LibraryMitch First & Josh Zakheim
[email protected]@mosessinger.com
MembershipHillel Hyman
Men’s ClubMoishe B. Singer, [email protected]
SecurityDavid Fisher & Yakov Eizik
[email protected]@gmail.com
SisterhoodDeena Fisher & Sari Samuel,
YouthErica & Jason David
BETH AARON OFFICERS2014-2015
PresidentYair Mayerfeld
1st Vice PresidentIsaac Hagler
2nd Vice PresidentNeal Yaros
Vice President FinanceJosh Klavan
Vice President ProgrammingRachelle Mandelbaum
TreasurerMicah Kaufman
SecretaryMoishe B. Singer
Financial SecretaryPinny Wechter
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MAZAL TOV TO• Barbara & Kal Feinberg, on the birth of their granddaughter Hodaya Malka, born to their children Debra & Erez David in Jerusalem. • Eli Fenyes, on his engagement to Shani Hirsch of Bala Cynwyd, PA. Mazal Tov also to Eli’s parents, Susie & Shaya Fenyes• Marcia & Isio Jacobovitz, on the birth of a grandson, born to their children Shalhevet & Andre Jacobovitz. • Aliza Kahan, on her Bat Mitzvah. Mazal Tov also to Aliza’s parents, Michal & David Kahan, and to her siblings Elie, Ariel, and Liana. • Rachelle & Chaim Mandelbaum, on the birth of their grandson Akiva Tzvi, born to their children Miri & Jonathan Maik. Mazal Tov also to great- grandparents Lorraine & Rabbi Sam Vogel.• Ora Presby, on her upcoming marriage to Eli Gewirtz of Monsey. Mazal Tov also to Ora’s parents, Susan & Lenny Presby. • Sariva & Jeff Sklar, on the birth of their granddaughter Miriam, born to their children Shani & Ariel Kopitnikoff.• Aliza & Kal Staiman, on the birth of their grandson Asher Yechiel, born to their children Atara & Zach Bienenfeld. • Gilla & Yitz Stern, on being honored at the Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavneh Annual Dinner.• Esther & Mordechai Trainer, on the birth of twin grandsons, born to their children Ruchie & Rabbi Yissochor Dov Trainer. • Lorraine & Rabbi Sam Vogel, on the marriage of their grandson Moshe Katz to Michal Fink.• Tikva & Larry Yudkowitz, on the birth of a grandson, born to their children Efrat & Avi Kemp of Highland Park, NJ.
CONDOLENCES TO• Joshua Deutsch, on the passing of his mother, Sylvia Deutsch.• Yitzchok Furst, on the passing of his mother, Vivian Furst. • Susan Presby, on the passing of her mother, Toba Fuchs.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW MEMBERS• Tamar & Avi-Gil Chaitovsky, who live on Sherman Avenue.• Dov Shepper, who lives on Barr Avenue.
BETH AARON NEWS
PARNAS HAYOM DEDICATIONSDedicate a day of learning at Beth Aaron on the occasion of a yahrtzeit, in the zechut of a refuah shelaima, or in honor of a simcha, a birthday or any other occasion. Each week’s dedications are prominently displayed in the shul lobby and sent out to the membership via email. For more informa-tion, or to sign up, please go to www.bethaaron.org/parnashayom.
Parnas Hayom dedications in May were made by:• Judah Isaacs, commemorating the yahrtzeit of his mother, Helene Isaacs, Chana bat Avraham Dovid.• Susan & Lenny Presby, commemorating the yahrtzeit of Yitzchok Aizik ben Mordechai.• Barbara & Neal Yaros, commemorating the yahrtzeit of Neal’s mother, Malka Feiga bat Naftali Yisroel, Molly Yaros.
YAHRTZEIT DONATIONS
• Myra & Samuel Aksler• Ruthy & Joey Bodner• Evelyn & Moish Elbogen• Marsha & Tom Friedman
YIZKOR DONATIONS• Adrienne Breen• Miriam & Herbert Danzger• Shifra & Larry Shafier
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BETH AARON NEWS
DONATIONS TO THE STANLEY FISCH YOUTH FUND
• Mollie Fisch, in honor of Robin Benoff, on the birth of a granddaughter• Mollie Fisch, in honor of Barbara & Kal Feinberg, on the birth of a granddaughter.• Mollie Fisch, in honor of Rachelle & Chaim Mandelbaum and Lorraine & Rabbi Sam Vogel, on the birth of a grandson/great-grandson.• Mollie Fisch, in honor of Susan & Lenny Presby, on Ora’s marriage to Eli Gewirtz.• Mollie Fisch, in honor of Sariva & Jeff Sklar, on the birth of a granddaughter.• Mollie Fisch, in honor of Aliza & Kal Staiman, on the birth of a grandson.• Mollie Fisch, in honor of Lorraine & Rabbi Sam Vogel, on the marriage of their grandson Moshe Katz to Michal Fink, and to Moshe’s parents, Sharona & Shlomo Katz.• Mollie Fisch, in honor of Tikva & Larry Yudkowitz, on the birth of a grandson.• Mollie Fisch, in memory of Joshua Deutsch’s mother.• Mollie Fisch, in memory of Yitzchok Furst’s mother.• Mollie Fisch, in memory of Susan Presby’s mother.
DONATIONS TO THE RABBI’S DISCRETIONARY FUND
DONATIONS TO THE PHILLIPS AND HARRIS EDUCATION FUND
• The Harris Family, le-iIlui nishmat Rafael Meir ben Zvi Hirsch (Dick Harris), on his third yahrtzeit, 2 Sivan.• The Harris Family, in honor of Lorraine & Rabbi Sam Vogel, on the birth of a great-grandson.• The Harris Family, in honor of Rachelle & Chaim Mandelbaum, on the birth of their first grandson.
• Razel & Yosef Adler• Elaine & Howard Alt• Cindy & Marc Bernstein• Joyce & Ira Buckman• Tamaz & Avi-Gil Chaitovsky• Tal & Marc Felsen• Rachel Frazer• Roz & Ira Friedman • Mikki Friedman• Beverly Jan Kramer & David Gertler• Gila & Sanford Ginsberg• Morton Goldberg• Linda & Rabbi Dr. Jay Goldmintz• Sylvan Goodman• Rochelle & Steven Greenbaum• Leah & Avi Greengart• Chaya & Steven Gruber• Batya Harris, le-illui nishmat Rafael Meir ben Zvi Hirsch • Chaya Hayardeni• Jennifer & Eric Horn• Amy & Steven Kagedan• Ria & Tim Levart• Brooke & Aryeh Lewitan
• Tova Resnick & Philip Meyer• Carolyn & Gary Moses• CB & Jeffrey Neugroschl, for Organization for the Resolution of Agunot (ORA) sponsorship• Barbara Glick Oslick, in honor of the birth of Diane & David Fogel’s grandson Jonah Greenbaum, born to Avital & Brad Greenbaum• Ilene & Mark Pollack• Susan & Lenny Presby• Abbe & Yossi Rosner• Nomi & Yechiel Rotblatt• Karen & Ari Rubin• Miriam & Izzy Salomon• Alona & David Shapiro• Richard Simmonds• Marlene & Michael Sperling• Rachel Fleischmann & Chaim Stadtmauer• Tzippy & Mark Staum• Rebecca & Joshua Teplow• Marcia & Bob Trinz• Yaffa & Mordechai Ungar• Shelly & Gershon Weiss• Tikva & Larry Yudkowitz• Claire & Dov Zakheim
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BETH AARON MEN’S CLUB KIDDUSH
As part of our ongoing effort to further the friendliness of Beth Aaron, we are happy to provide our weekly kiddushim. Kiddushim are held weekly, except when there are private events or rentals in the Social Hall. The Men’s Club is pleased to offer four options for kiddushim, both single-sponsored as well as multi-sponsored. Our standard weekly kiddush is the “Weekly Cold Kiddush.” WEEKLY KIDDUSHIM: Weekly dairy cold kiddushim with chips, cookies, and soda. Become a Mezonot sponsor for only $54 or a L’Chaim sponsor for $72. MULTI-SPONSORED KIDDUSH: Hot fleishik Kiddush with chulent, kugel, cakes and more. Multi-sponsored kiddushim are held approximately every six weeks. Sponsorships are only $200.
If you are celebrating a simcha, commemorating a yahrtzeit, or simply want to say “thank you,” consider sponsoring an upcoming kiddush. Visit our website to sponsor. If you have any questions, contact Ari Gononsky, [email protected].
Hashkama Minyan Kiddush “Society”To support the Hashkama Minyan’s monthly hot Kiddush on Shabbat Mevorchim for a second year, join the Hashkama Minyan Kiddush “So-ciety.” The membership of $54 can be made online; please note in the “comments” section that the contribution is for the Hashkama Minyan Kiddush. Contact Ari Gononsky, [email protected], with any questions.
TREE OF LIFE
The Tree of Life commemorates the birth of a child or grandchild, honors someone, or celebrates a marriage or other family simcha. Leaves on the Tree of Life are $100 each. For further information, please contact Aviva Leffel, [email protected].
NCSY
For information about NCSY events, or if you have questions, comments, or ideas, please mail Spence Weitzen, [email protected]. Join us on Facebook or email us, [email protected].
MEMORIAL PLAQUES
Memorial plaques commemorate the passing of a loved one and perpetuate his or her memory. Plaques are $350 each. For further information, contact Aviva Leffel, [email protected], or Larry Kahn, [email protected].
WEEKLY SHIURIM
• Daf Yomi in Teaneck: For Daf Yomi shiurim and resources in Teaneck, go to www.teaneckshuls.org/daf/.• Daf Yomi shiur by Rabbi Rothwachs / Rabbi Daniel Feldman / Rabbi Mark Staum: Monday-Thursday evenings, at 9:45 p.m.• Tanya shiur by Rabbi Moshe Rosenberg: Tuesday evenings at 9:00 p.m.• Rabbi Rothwachs’ Bava Kama shiur: Wednesday evenings at 8:30 p.m. • Morning Mishna Chabura: Monday, Thursday: 6:55 a.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 7:00 a.m.
SHABBAT SHIURIM• Daf Yomi: one hour and ten minutes before mincha• Women’s Learning: one hour and ten minutes before mincha• Meir Hirsch’s shiur: one hour before mincha
MOVIE RENTALS
The following movies are available for rent for a month at a time in exchange for making a donation to Congregation Beth Aaron.
The titles from the Ma’aleh Film School of Jerusalem, are “Newspapers and Flowers,” “Shira,” “Prague,” and “The Divide.” Trailers can be viewed at www.maale.co.il/default.asp?PageID=74&CatID=1.
Thanks to Mordy Ungar, “Follow me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story” also is available.
To borrow the films, please contact Sandy Zlotnick, [email protected].
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POURING OUT HIS HEART TO HASHEM - YISHTABACH SHEMODivrei Chizuk heard by Yehiel Levy
A couple that had been married for fifteen years without being blessed by children decided to divorce, despite their harmonious marriage. Shortly after the get was completed, the woman discovered that she was expecting a child. The joyous news had a very sad side, as the husband was a Kohein and was forbidden to remarry his wife. Their pain and heartbreak knew no bounds.
The husband described his painful situation to Rav Chaim Kanievsky, who told him that he couldn’t see any way that he could remarry, but suggest-ed that the Kohein consult with his father in-law, Ha-Gaon Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv.
The man went to R’ Elyashiv and repeated his tale. R’ Elyashiv told him with great pain that it’s definitely forbidden for a Kohein to remarry his former wife. “The only thing I can tell you is that you should go to the Kotel ha-Maaravi and daven to Hashem that he should save you.”
The Kohein regarded R’ Elyashiv’s words as a direct instruction and immediately went straight to the Kotel. He approached the stones and poured out his heart without restraint. After davening for a lengthy period of time, the Kohein felt a hand on his back. He turned around and saw an avreich talmid chacham, who inquired what had happened to him. The Kohein repeated his story, and the stranger asked him, “Do you have a father?” The Kohein didn’t understand the point of the question, but he answered that of course he had a father. His father was very old and was living in a nursing home in America, and could barely communicate with those around him. “In my opinion, you should fly to America, and tell your father what has happened to you,” said the man, and he turned to leave.
It didn’t seem to matter that the father’s condition made it almost impossible to communicate with him at all, and the avreich still recommended the trip. The Kohein reasoned that if Rav Elyashiv told him to go to the Kotel to daven, and if this stranger approached him while he was davening and advised him to fly to America, maybe it was worthwhile for him to go to do so. He decided to heed this man’s words.
He arranged a flight, and, a day and half later, he was at his father’s side, in the nursing home. The medical staff had informed the son when he first arrived that his father had not uttered a word for many months, and that he shouldn’t expect his father to speak to him.
The Kohein began telling his father the story, and his father didn’t respond, but seemed to be listening to what his son was saying. As the son continued his story, he began crying uncontrollably. Then, unbelievably, his father began speaking and said clearly, “You are not my biological son, but you were adopted after the Holocaust. You do not have the status of a Kohein, and there is no reason that you couldn’t remarry your former wife!”(Barchi Nafshi)
8
THE MYSTERY BAG
bv Gavriella Hagler
On a warm sunny day in the beginning of June,The Amir kids took a walk one late Shabbat afternoon.
They ran into their friend Dov as they headed down the block. And after a brief conversation, he decided to join their walk.
So a friend, two kids, and a toddler all trailed down the street, Single file - marching and stomping, foot after foot.
“Where are we off to?” Shira called from all the way from the back.Aviel answers, “To find something interesting.”
“Ima and Abba want to rest,” he continued, “They’re tired and need to sleep.”“And they are not going to get rest unless they don’t hear a peep.”
They continued walking in silence, listening to the soft murmur of kids talking and laughing, somewhere their eyes could not meet. As the only noises they made were the rhythms from their feet.
“How about the park?” Dov suggested, as the swings came in sight, “Good idea,” Aviel agreed with his friend as baby Bracha squealed with delight.
As they continued down the hill they passed some trees. However, there was one tree in particular that Shira couldn’t ignore.
“What’s that?” Shira questioned, as she bent down to get a better view.There was a black bag, nestled in the hole of the stump, simply out of the blue.
“Ooohh, wha is dat?” baby Bracha yelled excitedly, “What if it’s a toy? O’ a tweasher? O’ maybe a twuck.”“Or,” Shira added, “maybe it’s like a charm, that brings you good luck?”
“It’s probably just garbage,” Dov simply said. “Like an old soda, and stale moldy bread.”Aviel shrugged. “But what if it’s money? Tons of money? We could become so wealthy!”
Dov shook his head. “And what if it’s moldy food, and you touch it - that would be gross and unhealthy.”“Maybe it candy,” baby Bracha said, bending closer to the tree. “And I would get to eat all of it… all for just me!”
“What if it’s something dangerous? Should we tell a cop?” Dov says, slowly backing away. “Maybe we should all just come back another day.”“That’s a good idea,” Aviel agreed. “Besides, what if it’s muktsa like money or a pen? Let’s continue on our walk and after Shabbat, we’ll come back then.”
“That’s it. I’m gonna open it,” Shira states, and she marched right over to the stump. As she untwisted the bag, there sat a empty soda can and some kind of bread formed in a lump.
“Ewww” she cried, dropping the bag and backing away. “Thinking about this now, I probably should not have touched the bag. It was not the smartest of ideas, and I will learn for the future.”
“Hey,” Aviel said, trying to comfort everyone’s disappointment. “It wasn’t a great treasure, but we still had a really fun day. Although the mystery turned out to be nothing special, we still had a great time. Even though all that was in the mysterious bag was grime.
But none of this would have happened if we hadn’t done Kibbud Av ve-Em when we let our parents rest. When we keep mitzvot and try our hardest, Hashem provides us with the best.”
CHILDREN’S CORNER
9
WORD SCRAMBLE
Please unscramble the words below:
Retse ___________________________________________________________________
Msetyyr ________________________________________________________________
Pesle ___________________________________________________________________
Trse ___________________________________________________________________
Gba ___________________________________________________________________
Ymnoe _________________________________________________________________
Etruersa ________________________________________________________________
Lodls ___________________________________________________________________
Cukrst _________________________________________________________________
Ados ___________________________________________________________________
Rdbea _________________________________________________________________
Iderfn __________________________________________________________________
Akwl ___________________________________________________________________
Tansepr _________________________________________________________________
Ptsmu __________________________________________________________________
Karp ___________________________________________________________________
Fnu ___________________________________________________________________
Mesmur ________________________________________________________________
enJu ___________________________________________________________________
blkca ___________________________________________________________________
CHILDREN’S CORNER
10
CHILDREN’S CORNER
WORD SEARCH
by Gavriella Hagler
W L S T R W F S N Z C S Y P G
A N A U A E W C S K I U U N N
T B O L N I H D U K C N U M O
E S K I M G N J R X E S R P A
R S P M T E L A Y O E C W B T
H K I O I A P A W I S R C G V
M N D R R C C Q S H H E M P G
G L F A A T U A M S E E S R N
P B O K D U S V V L E N E Q I
S U N S U M M E R F P S C V N
S M E W L E W P X S U O I Y N
W C A F R F H P O B X N T U A
E N U J A J S F M X N C X V T
M A E R C E C I B A P C J M S
Y I G Q M Z R N U M C K B J J
CAMPFRIENDS
FUNICE
ICE CREAMICESJUNEPARK
SPORTS
SUMMERSUN
SUNGLASSESSUNSCREENSWIMMING
TANNINGVACATION
WALKSWATER
11
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Lamdeinu at Congregation Beth Aaron 950 Queen Anne Road Teaneck, NJRachel Friedman, Dean | Shira Schiowitz, Assistant Dean
SUMMER 2015 SEMESTER Register at lamdeinu.org
Drop-in rate for a class is $25. Please consider dedicating a shiur for a minimum contribution of $180.
TUESDAY10:15 - 11:30 AM
Harmonizing the Wilderness Narratives: Devarim Chapters 1-3 and Its Relationship to Sefer Bamidbar.R. Nati Helfgot, For men and women, Price $54
June 2, 9, 16
THURSDAY10:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Megillat EichahShira Schiowitz, For women, Price $54
June 4, 11, 18
TUESDAY8:15 - 9:30 PM
The End of Moshe's Lifein Peshat and DerashR. Nati Helfgot, For men and women, Price $54
June 30, July 7, 14
WEDNESDAY10:15 - 11:45 AM
Sefer YonahRachel Friedman,For men and women, Price $80
July 1, 8, 15, 22
MON & WED9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Advanced Talmudfor WomenR. David Nachbar, For women, Price $200
June 29, July 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, 29
TUESDAY10:15- 11:30 AM
Halakhic Perspectives on Marriage, Intimacy and Family LifeNechama Price, For women, Price $90
June 30,July 7, 14, 21, 28
JULY
JUN
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Profile: Mollie Fisch
(continued from page 3)the sponsorship because the date always fell near their anniversary as well as the date of her mother’s yahrtzeit. Now it also serves as a yearly siyyum mishnayot that Shalom makes in his father’s memory. Mollie and her children Shalom & Susan Fisch and Mindy Mellul stay up all night to learn; they also set up and serve the refreshments. “As the grandchildren have gotten older, they stay up all night, too, learning and helping,” she said.
Currrent shul members know Mollie as the person in charge of the Women’s Learning on Shabbat afternoons and one of the local organizers of the NORPAC Mission to Washington (see story on page 1). The Shabbat program was begun about 8-10 years ago by Judy Schaffer, who wanted a venue for women to start learning, Mollie recalled. Now, Mollie has responsibility for the sessions, encourages women to prepare shiurim, and delivers many shiurim herself for the almost 20 women who come on regular basis.
When the Fisches moved to Teaneck in 1958, it was a totally different town from what is now. “There was just one orthodox shul (Bnai Yeshurun) and no kosher restaurants in town for the first 20 years of my married life,” said Mollie. There were shopping trips into the city, especially to the Lower East Side for pickles and cheese, and always a shopping trip before Pesach, she remembered. Over the years, Teaneck has “evolved Jewishly in a very dynamic way.”
Still, the influx of more observant Jews has created resentment among some of the other residents of the Township. “Giving back” was one of the reasons that her late husband decided to join the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps (TVAC). It was a very visible way for “non-frum people to see that the Orthodox are giving back,” Mollie explained. Rabbi Fisch also was very vocal in his opposition to having Hatzalah come to Teaneck. “The Ambulance Corps provides a great service to the Jewish and non-Jewish communities alike,” Mollie stresses, “and we can’t be divisive.” Now, many Orthodox Jews fill the ranks at the TVAC .
Stanley Fisch was a teacher who worked in the Bronx and the Lower East Side and also taught in the Hebrew schools at the Teaneck Jewish Center and at Teaneck’s Congregation Beth Am for many years; later in life, he also offered a first aid class at TABC. When her husband got his semicha and his private pilot’s license at the age of 40, she noted, he used his knowledge and skills in both fields in volunteer activities. He was the chaplain for TVAC, for the Jewish patients at Holy Name Hospital, for the Fire Department, for the Civil Air Patrol, and for other organizations, as well as the Hillel chaplain at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He was a Pied Piper for youth, which is why the family started the Rabbi Stanley Fisch Youth Fund in his name.
A pharmacist by trade, Mollie worked at Holy Name Hospital part-time and taught Hebrew school in the afternoon, then moved on to teaching pharmacology at the hospital’s School of Nursing (Helen Deutsch was one of her students!), and finally to working for the pharmaceutical industry itself as Director of International Labeling at Schering-Plough. Now mostly retired, she still works as a consultant, but spends much time attending shiurim, is active in Project S.A.R.A.H., and is a Reading Buddy in the public schools. A pet peeve of hers, which also bothers many non-frum residents, is the habit some shul-goers have of walking in the middle of the street, rather than on the sidewalk, on Shabbat. And her emphasis on not being divisive within a town made up of many types of Judaic observance and many flavors of ethnicity and diversity, as well as an innate politeness, informs her practice of greeting everyone she sees while she is walking on Shabbat.
Sheva Brachot(continued from page 2)
kosher because Yousef ordered it from Yatir caterer Shuki Tal. A “natlah,” “the cup for washing hands for bread,” was waiting for us in the sink. Yousef was careful not to touch the bread. He knows Halacha.
Yatir’s administrator Yisrael Kevin gave a “dvar Torah,” citing Yousef’s contribution to the security of the State of Israel. Enough said.
Guests from outside Yatir included people who served with Yousef years ago, one of them a Jew who looks like an Arab and speaks Arabic in any accent you want. You won’t get much information out of him. Nor from Yousef. We know enough not to ask.
After dinner, we “benched” and went back across the fence to our homes in the “occupied territories.”
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CONGREGATION BETH AARON950 Queen Anne Road Teaneck, NJ 07666
Phone: 201-836-6210www.bethaaron.org [email protected]
Laurence Rothwachs, Rabbi Yair Mayerfeld, President
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Shabbat, June 6:Young Member’s Seudah Shlishit, at 5:00 p.m., at the Hoenig home:
Monday, June 8:Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb speaks at Rochi Lerner Annual Yahrtzeit shiur, at 8:30 p.m.:
Shabbat, June 13:Men’s Club Graduation Kiddush and Multi-sponsored KiddushSiyum Mishnayot Seudah Shlishit
Sunday, June 14:General Membership meeting at 8:00 p.m.
NORPAC(continued from page 1)
reasons for being a strong and pro-active Congressional advocate and assured us that Congressional support for Israel is bipartisan, staunch, and unwavering, because it is the “right thing to do.” Senator Kirk of Illinois spoke passionately about his continuing advocacy, despite having recovered recently from life-threatening illness. He considers his position part of his destiny. As did Moses and Queen Esther, he feels responsible to defend the Jewish people, whatever it takes.
Our Beth Aaron group also was warmly greeted by our friend George Marino, our former custodian, who makes the yearly six-hour drive up from North Carolina to attend as a member of Allen Friedman’s group. (George sends regards to all and is happy to report that he and his wife are doing well – Baruch HaShem! [as he says] – and are expecting their third child!)
My group consisted of five adults (Rebecca Kurz, David Brusowankin, Susan and Nachum Fisch, and myself) and five teenagers (Yonatan Kurz, Yaakov Zinberg, Aryeh Brusowankin, and Chana and Miriam Fisch). We visited three offices: Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii; Congressman Ruben Hinojosa D-Texas; and brand-new Congressman Garret Graves, R-Louisiana. In the first two offices, we had productive meetings with staff members. Rep. Gabbard is a young woman, the first female Hindu in Congress, and a combat veteran of two rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan. She sits on the House Armed Services Committee. We felt that was an important connection, and her Chief of Staff was quite knowledgeable.
Rep. Hinojosa is a long-time Congressman who has shown support for Israel in the past. His Foreign Relations aide, who was appointed recently to this position, met with us, and we did quite a bit of educating. He was very receptive and pleased that we had knowledgeable and committed teenagers in our group. Congressman Graves met us himself and was less familiar with some of the issues and bills, but extremely receptive and interested. As each of the teens presented their part of the Talking Points, he asked them pointed questions. We were so proud that they could each answer confidently, showing that they knew quite well why they were there and were not just mouthing a prepared script.
As we discussed on the trip back, some groups felt they were “preaching to the choir.” My group, however, had the opportunity to educate. In all cases, the size of the total NORPAC group is an important reminder to Congress that we are here and we care!! As U.S. citizens, we are fortunate to have the privilege of addressing these members of Congress in a personal way. Howie Kaufman told me that he made a point to mention in each of the meetings he attended that each Shabbat in our Teaneck community we pray for the welfare of the President and all the U.S. Government officials, and also for our U.S. troops.
We boarded our buses for the trip home after a long and productive day in which we received chizuk for our love for Israel, finally arriving back in Teaneck after 10:00 p.m.
The next evening, we learned in the news that the House had voted on, and passed with extremely high numbers, both the Corker-Cardin Bill and the Hizbollah Financial Sanctions Bill. It was a worthwhile day, indeed.
A special thanks to those of you who participated, and to those who could not attend themselves, but helped to sponsor others so that they could participate. Chazak, chazak ve-nitchazek!
