Community is thrilled to launch its new-and-improved website, redesigned by the outstanding team of Webterior Design
It was 2001 when the first issue of Community appeared. Throughout the next two decades, the magazine has faithfully strived to fulfill its goal of providing monthly content which is informative, relevant, well-researched, and in accordance with Jewish faith, Torah values, and Sephardic tradition. We have always endeavored to maintain high professional standards and to promote unity and mutual respect among the various subgroups within our increasingly diverse community.
We take great pride in being, by far, the most widely circulated Sephardic monthly magazine in the world. But with this achievement comes great responsibility, requiring that we continually work to accommodate the rapidly changing mechanisms through which information is presented in the modern age.
This sense of responsibility has led us to redesign the magazine’s website for the benefit of our readers who access our content digitally. The new improvements will make it easier for readers to view our archive, business directory, classified ads, “mabrouk” announcements, and online “flipbook” for convenient reading. The enhanced digital environment will also allow readers to easily search for relevant information about our community’s institutions and events.
The state-of-the-art design was produced by the professional team of Webterior Designs, which conducted a detailed analysis of the site’s needs and objectives and then got to work creating for our readers the perfect user-friendly and visually attractive virtual magazine.
As anyone in the press industry knows, it is critical for websites to be optimized and to provide the best possible interface in order to attract and keep users, thereby assuring advertisers that they are receiving considerable exposure to a large number of potential customers.
We at Community express our gratitude and appreciation to Webterior Designs and their creative team for their expertise and dedicated work, helping us develop a detailed strategy for maintaining a dynamic online presence. It is our delight and our duty to recommend Webterior Designs for any institution or business looking to set up or upgrade their website to gain maximum exposure and provide users with the best online experience.
Special Lechaim held in the home of Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a
One of the highlights of this year’s annual gathering of Shas Yiden, which included oral exam on the entire Shas as well as an emotional Siyum Hashas celebration, was the participation, for the first time, of the contingent from London, UK. Shas Yiden-London was opened a year-and-a-half ago by the Pozna Rav, founder of Shas Yiden, with the encouragement of HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shleit”a, Nasi of Shas Yiden.
The London Shas Yiden geonim landed in Israel together with the patron of Shas Yiden-London, the honored philanthropist Reb Yisroel Moskowitz, shlit”a. Two of his sons-in-law are among the Shas Yiden geonim – HaRav Avrohom Dov Olevsky, shlit”a, formerly one of the top scholars in Shas Yiden in Jerusalem, who now serves as the Rosh Kollel of Shas Yiden-London; and HaRav Yisroel Shvirtz, shlit”a, who learns in Shas Yiden in Jerusalem.
The London scholars joined all the other Shas Yiden geonim from Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Beit Shemesh, Beitar and Kiryat Sefer at the incredible public exam on the entire Shas. Just a few minutes into the exam, it became clear to everyone in attendance that they all shared a comprehensive knowledge of all tractates of the Talmud. Their remarkable achievements have earned them great acclaim in the Torah community, and have dispelled the misconception that thorough knowledge of Shas lay only with scholars of bygone times. The addition of Shas Yiden-London, whose members faced the same rigorous testing as their colleagues in the five Shas Yiden kollelim in Eretz Yisrael, has shown that such achievements are possible also in the Diaspora.
A special and unforgettable moment for the Shas Yiden-London avreichim during their Israel trip took place the morning after the exam and siyum celebration, when they were invited to a special lechaim in the home of HaRav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a. Maran expressed his great excitement at the establishment of Shas Yiden branches in the Diaspora, and made an exception to his normal practice by drinking a “lechaim” with the distinguished visitors. Thereafter, each of the young scholars was privileged to meet with Rav Kanievsky individually. He blessed each avreich that he should continue rising to ever greater heights of Torah scholarship.
The avreichim hurled back page references and sources from all over Shas, exhibiting their breathtaking knowledge. When they would pause, it was to refer and to determine the different sources and to debate with the examiners. All who were present were amazed by what they saw.
Where are kerem rivai and neta rivai mentioned in Shas, and what is the difference between them?
Which halochot are learned from the verse, “Lo tochelu al hadam” (literally, “You shall not eat over the blood” – Vayikra 19:26)?
Where in Shas do we learn the concept of biryah (the special status of a whole object), and in which contexts?
What is the reason why one does not receive lashes for violating a lav she’en bo maaseh (a prohibition which is transgressed without performing an action)? And where is this mentioned in Shas?
How many implications of the law of modeh biknas (one who admits to being required to pay a penalty) are mentioned in Shas, and where?
What is the source of the requirements to add time (“tosefet”) onto Shabbat and shemitah?
Regarding bittul (the negating of a minority component of a mixture) – how many items are there that cannot be negated in a mixture due to their importance? (This question led to many unanticipated examples of such items which are mentioned in Shas.)
Which violators are put to death even if they did not receive hatra’ah (warning)?
Regarding mixtures min bemino (between two identical items) and min bish’eno mino (between two different items), how do we determine if the two items are considered similar or different? What if wine becomes vinegar?
Which halachot are derived from kabbalah (tradition) and not from verses in the Torah?
Where is it better to live – with a son or a daughter?
How many times and where in Shas is it mentioned that the Torah “is not in heaven”?
How many times in Shas does it say that one should not perform miraculous actions?
How can the Gemara say that we do not listen to Eliyahu Hanavi, but also mandate the opposite?
Where does the Gemara refer to a transgression committed by thought alone, without any speech or action?
From where in Shas can we infer the law relevant to a case of a person who shoots an arrow at someone, and before the arrow strikes the targeted person, either the attacker or the targeted individual converts and becomes Jewish?
Where in Shas do we learn a law from what occurred before Matan Torah? What does the Tosafot Yeshanim say in this regard? What does it say in Ketubot, and where is this referenced in Yevamot and Zevahim?
Where is it mentioned that “beneh aliyah” (superior scholars) are few in number?
Who is to be preferred – the migmar (one who learns) or the misbar (one who explains)? A Sinai (scholar with a broad scope of knowledge) or the oker harim (“uprooter of mountains,” a scholar with exceedingly sharp analytical skills)? A sefer Torah or a Torah scholar? Rav Direnfeld remarked that these choices do not apply to the Shas Yiden because they each combine all these traits.
To watch a video recording of the exam, please visit www.shasyiden.com.
Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a:These are emesdike (true) Shas Yiden.
The Sanzer Rebbe, shlit”a: When the Shas Yiden Kollel opened, all thought that even with its lofty goal, it would only be able to produce a few individuals proficient in the entire Shas. Today, to our joy, we witness a significant and tremendous Torah institution. Its founder, the Pozna Rav, is certainly fulfilling the shelihut (mission) of Klal Yisroel.”
When the Boyaner Rebbe, shlit”a, left the hall, he grabbed the hand of the founder of Shas Yiden, the Pozna Rov, and broke into an emotional rikud (dance).
Reb Elimelech Biderman, shlit”a: “At this time, the ministering angels on High are dancing in honor of the Shas Yiden avreichim….
The Torah world has closely followed the exciting annual gathering at which the geonim (prodigies) of the Shas Yiden kollel study program once again celebrate the completion of the study of the entire Shas.
Before the siyum, they were publicly tested on the entire Shas, which, in the last year alone, they have each covered a minimum of five times. As in previous years, the gathering was graced by the presence of our generation’s leading Torah sages, who came to honor and recognize the accomplishments of the avreichim (young kollel students) of the Shas Yiden network.
Founded 13 years ago by the Pozna Rav, HaRav Avrohom Eisen, shlit”a, of Brooklyn, Shas Yiden has brought about a worldwide Torah revolution, producing outstanding scholars who have mastered the entire Talmud with its commentaries. It currently runs six kollelim, situated in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Beitar, Bnei Brak, Kiryat Sefer, and Stamford Hill in London, UK. The organization’s motto is “Lo bashomayim hi – It is not in heaven” (Devarim 30:12), expressing that through hard work and devotion, in-depth knowledge of the entire Shas is attainable, and belying the myth that comprehensive knowledge of Shas is something of the past.
Beyond honoring the young luminaries, the magnificent gathering also provided an opportunity to recognize the rapid expansion of the Shas Yiden network. The dais seated some 94 avreichimgeonim, all of whom have achieved comprehensive knowledge of the entire Shas, putting on public display the fulfillment of a blessing given years ago by Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlit”a, Nasi of Shas Yiden. For over a decade, Kollel Shas Yiden consisted of a mere minyan of avreichim in a small room in Beit Shemesh, but Rav Kanievsky blessed the Pozna Rav and encouraged him to establish additional branches of Shas Yiden. To many it appeared to be a distant, and perhaps impossible, vision, but today it is clearly a vibrant reality.
Rav Kanievsky was so enthused by the great growth of Shas Yiden that he did not just attend the event, but also brought his personal letter to be read aloud at the event on his behalf by his illustrious study partner, HaRav Yisroel Meir Druk, shlit”a. In the letter, Rav Kanievsky wrote, “Praiseworthy are these talmidei chachomim[Torah scholars], outstanding in their great knowledge of Torah, of the entire Shas Bavli in breadth and depth. These are emesdike [true] Shas Yiden, whom I have personally tested, and I found them beki’im gedolim [exceptionally proficient] in the entire Shas.”
Rav Kanievsky also noted the great revolution in the Torah world that the Pozna Rav began 13 years ago, how it has inspired other efforts in the Torah world to learn the entire Talmud. He also highlighted the fact that the Shas Yiden students not only know the Shas, but also constantly review all the Gemara and commentaries of Rashi and Tosafot throughout the year to commit all this material to memory.
“Praised is the Pozna Rav who has been privileged to be the ‘Nahshon’ [pioneer] with this idea to establish such kollelim, and to produce incredible scholars who are privileged to study Gemara, Rashi and Tosafot, and to make a siyum of the entire Shas each year, through great effort and with great clarity.”
When he concluded reading the letter, Rav Druk noted that Rav Chaim’s son, HaRav Yitzchak Shaul, described to him how much his father enjoys and looks forward to the visits of the Shas Yiden scholars when they come before him to be tested.
All the Shas Yiden Avreichim ready for the Farher Hagadol
A Father’s Tears
It is difficult to find the words to adequately describe this incredible gathering. Throughout the event, the atmosphere was electric.
Prior to the exams, the 94 geonim entered, took their places, and were rocking back and forth, each holding a Gemara in his hand. Every minute of the day, they have the sacred words of the Shas with them, and the moments before the exam were no exception. Indeed, the Shas Yiden program is not confined to any specific time frame. These avreichim are not in kollel – they are the kollel, devoting themselves to learning at all times. Each weekday, they must cover nine blatt (double pages) and review the material four times. On Erev Shabbat and Erev Yom Tov, and on Shabbat and Yom Tov, they are required to complete four blatt and review the material four times – so that they complete the Shas – a total of 13,555 blatt – five times every year.
The faces of these avreichim shone with purity and Torah knowledge. Like the Torah (Bamidbar 14:24) says about Kalev, these outstanding men possess a “ru’ah aheret – a different spirit.”
When the exam was about to begin, an older member of the audience was seen with a tear rolling down his cheek, which he tried brushing away. It turned out that he was the father of two Shas Yiden. Two towering scholars from the same home.
“Yes, my boys are learning Gemara, Rashi and Tosafot every day and night,” he said. “Baruch Hashem, they really know Shas. As soon as the test starts, you will understand why I am so emotional and excited. Even though you don’t have a son here, you will be just as excited.”
Somebody turned to the father and asked, “Are both your sons iluyim [geniuses]? After all, this program is for iluyim, isn’t it?”
“Actually, no,” the father replied. “This kollel is for those who are serious about their Torah. It’s for those who learn with all their might, day and night. Being an ilui has never been a condition to becoming a Torah giant.”
Shas Yiden Avreichim opposite the Examiners
A Torah Tidal Wave
Finally, the moment that the avreichim have been preparing for all year arrived.
Two exams were conducted. Like all the previous exams they had taken, there was no way to anticipate the questions, which could be asked about any line of Gemara, anywhere in Shas. Every question was asked by an eminent, distinguished Torah sage.
The head of the kollelim, Harav Moshe Isaac Samet, shlit”a, opened the gathering by saying, “We are again entering an awesome gathering that is unique in its combination of yir’ah [trepidation] and rahamim [mercy], a holy gathering before Gd. Lift your eyes and look about you, how our avreichim have gathered from across the Land of Israel and from as far as London – the scholars of Shas Yiden. May the pleasantness of Hashem our Gd rest upon us…”
The first rav to pose a question to the avreichim was HaRav Chaim Freund, shlit”a, Rosh Kollel of Yeshiva Nachalas Moshe in Bnei Brak, and rav of Kehilas Lomdei Torah in Rechovot. After delivering his blessing to the young scholars, he began to challenge them with a barrage of questions. Each avreich had a microphone, and the immediate responses sounded like a tidal wave of Torah, quoting sources from all over Shas and its commentaries. It was a battle of Torah titans.
The second examiner was HaRav Avraham Direnfeld, Rosh Kollelei Iyun of Belz, rav of Kehillot Belz in Tel-Aviv and Beit Shemesh, and a member of Badatz Machazikei Hadas. In a fascinating “plot twist,” one of the avreichim being tested was Rav Direnfeld’s son. Once again, “no quarter was given” as the mighty scholars squared off. Everyone in attendance was awestruck, wondering how these young men could absorb so much material and commit it all to memory.
The audience included many American yeshiva students whose parents are supporters of Shas Yiden. They could not believe their eyes, and immediately following the exams, they were on their phones calling their parents to tell them about the awesome gathering that they had just witnessed.
After the exam, HaRav Direnfeld reflected, “After so many tragedies that occurred over this last year, we are fortunate to witness such a simcha as this – that in our midst are great geonim who know the entire Shas. This is an amazing kiddush Shem Shamayim [glorification of Gd’s Name]!”
The gathering moved to the adjoining hall for a seudat mitzvah (meal which fulfills a mitzvah), celebrating the completion of the Torah She’b’al Peh (Oral Law). The Shas Yiden geonim were surrounded by their families – including their parents and their children, all basking in joy and nahat (pride). They had all concluded a year of hard work and toil to master the Torah. Each family member is a full partner with his or her Shas Yid gaon. Once again, as in past years, the wives were each presented with a gift, a generous cash-filled envelope, and a personal letter from the Pozna Rav.
The participants also included the selfless supporters of Shas Yiden, who were overcome by emotion witnessing this special occasion. The excitement and awe intensified as the honored guests began to arrive – the generation’s leading Torah sages and Hassidic figures. Their presence testified to the deep impression the Shas Yiden geonim have made upon our Torah leaders, a result of the exams held every several months conducted by scholars spanning the Torah spectrum. The emotion peaked with the arrival of the Nasi of the Shas Yiden network, Rav Kanievsky. The room erupted in festive singing and dancing, and it was a sight to behold. Rav Kanievsky was joined on the dais by numerous outstanding Torah sages, including Harav Boruch Dov Povarsky, Harav Shimon Badani, the Sanzer Rebbe, the Boyaner Rebbe and Harav Shimon Galai.
As each of the avreichim had completed the Shas five times over the course of the year, the total number of Shas completed by the avreichim geonim was 470! These were all combined into one grand and inspiring celebration.
The Sanzer Rebbe recited the Hadran (traditional prayer recited at a siyum) and delivered an emotional address. He remarked that even if just one individual completes the study of a single tractate of Talmud, a celebration is held, and here, at this event, nearly 100 geonim have completed the entire Shas, reviewing it several times, committing it to memory, and delving into its intricacies.
“There is no greater Yom Tov than this!” the Rebbe exclaimed, adding that everyone in attendance was witnessing the fulfilment of the divine promise that the Torah will never be forgotten.
“What in yesteryear was the inheritance of the few, the Pozna Rav, shlit”a, has made into a gigantic revolution,” the Rebbe marveled. He added, “We see the Shas Yiden network growing exponentially. It must be a gift that the Pozna Rav was granted from Heaven, for he is certainly doing the shelichut (mission) of Klal Yisrael [the Jewish Nation].”
Maran Hamashpia Hagadol Reb Elimelech Biderman addresses the SiyumSanzer Rebbe making the Hadran
The Sanzer Rebbe pointed out that he knows some of the Shas Yiden avreichim personally, and their faces reflect their fierce love of Torah. He said that the “charm” which these students attain through their rigorous Torah study “clearly negates the power of the evil inclination, hastens the redemption, and is a source of salvation for all of Klal Yisrael.”
The honor of reciting the kaddish on behalf of all the geonim was given to HaRav Yisroel Moskowitz, shlit”a, of London, patron of the London Shas Yiden Kollel. His son-in-law, HaRav Avrohom Dovid Olevsky, shlit”a, was one of the leading scholars of the Shas Yiden kollel in Jerusalem, until being appointed to serve as the Rosh Kollel of Shas Yiden, London. A second son-in-law, HaRav Yisroel Shvirtz, is one of the avreichim geonim learning in the Jerusalem branch of Shas Yiden.
One of the most memorable and emotional moments of the evening came when the Boyaner Rebbe, shlit”a, was about to leave and the Pozna Rav escorted him to the building entrance. Unexpectedly, as they exited the hall, the Rebbe grabbed the Pozna Rav by the hand and began dancing with him in a spontaneous outburst of joy, as the Rebbe celebrated and expressed his amazement at the Torah revolution wrought by Shas Yiden.
Hagaon Harav Yisroel Meir Druk reading the letter of the Sar HatorahDancing on the DaisShas Yiden Avreichim Geonim seated at the Siyum Hagadol
The Angels are Dancing!
The participants were privileged to hear the inspiring and warm words of the great tzadik HaRav Elimelech Biderman, shlit”a, who has a special and close connection with Shas Yiden. In a dramatic speech, he described how the vision of the Pozna Rav some 13 years earlier developed “skin and bones, veins and sinews” in such an amazing manner that there are now almost 100 Shas Yiden, an almost unfathomable achievement.
“In the beginning, I thought that this developing of emesdike (true) Shas Yiden was an exaggeration,” Rav Biderman said in an interview. “Perhaps the avreichim don’t really know Shas, never mind the entire Shas. Who had ever heard of training large groups to know the entire Shas? However, after I personally sat with them and tested them, I saw that this was no exaggeration. Each of them knows Shas from beginning to end – the words of Shas are on their lips!”
Rav Biderman noted the hymn traditionally sung on Friday night that refers to Shabbat as “me’en Olam Haba – a taste of the World-to-Come,” and said, “Now, here at this time, the ministering angels in heaven, in honor of the Shas Yiden geonim, must be dancing and singing: ‘me’en olam hazeh – a taste of this world.’ These Shas Yiden have shown how it is possible to really rejoice with Hashem in this world. Even now, just to sit under the same roof with the Shas Yiden avreichim is to experience this world in the fullest sense of what this world could and should be.”
Other sages in attendance included: HaRav Shimon Badani, a member of Moetzet Chachmei Hatorah, and HaRav Binyamin Finkel, Mashgiach of the Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem, both of whom addressed the gathering; HaRav Yerachmiel Ungarisher, Rosh Yeshiva of Bais Medrash Elyon; HaRav Moshe Shimon Edelstein, rav of Neot Yosef; HaRav Moshe ben Shimon, rav in Bnei Brak and Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshiva Or Elitzur; HaRav Chaim Peretz Berman, Rosh Yeshiva of Ponevezh; HaRav Shimon Galai of Kollel Taharos; HaRav Itamar Garbuz, Rosh Yeshiva of Orchot Torah; HaRav Chaim Feinstein, Rosh Yeshiva of Ateret Shlomo; HaRav Shevach Tzvi Rosenblatt, rav in Bnei Brak; and many others.
After spending many joyous hours together, the talmidei chachomim and geonim began dancing, expressing the genuine joy of Torah which is absorbed within the fiber of their beings. The prayer in the hearts of the Shas Yiden avreichim was, “Master of the world! Just as you enabled us to complete the Shas this year, so may You allow us to do so this coming year, and beyond. May the sacred words of the Torah never cease from our mouths and from those of our children, through all generations.”
Pozna Rov and Harav Yerachmiel Ungarisher (Beis Medrash Elyon) expressing his appreciation of the envelopes of cash gifts for the wives of the avreichimHageonim: Harav ChaimPeretz Berman, Ponevez; Harav Itamar Garbuz, Orchot Torah; Harav Yaakov Dovid Halberstam, Eidah Chareidis; Maran Harav Berel Povarsky, Rosh Yeshiva Ponevez; Pozna Rov
To watch the dynamic exam, receive more information about Shas Yiden, or to donate, please visit www.shasyiden.com, call 718-702-1528, or send a letter to 1274 49th Street #562, Brooklyn, NY 11219.
London: UK Registered Charity # 1191225 – 2 Timberwharf Road, London N16 6DB, England
Welcome to JDSA where your child will get an action-packed Summer 2022 filled with fun, adventure, and more, right in the heart of the community at our eleven-acre campus.
Our kids are constantly on the move, and you’ll see them smiling at every destination, be it American Dream Mall, Hershey Park, paintballing, baseball games, or jet skiing.
We have a great staff of dedicated rabbis, educators, professionals, and teachers, that will help build your child’s self- esteem, self-confidence, and resilience. Add to that our staff’s special emphasis on good middot and the love for doing hesed.
Great days start out on the right foot, with the boys attending morning prayers, followed by learning with their friends and familiar rabbis. Then come fun activities that all the campers look forward to, such as sports, special events, art, woodworking, and karate.
Dedicated to a Healthy and Safe Experience
Lunch and snacks at camp JDSA are healthy and nourishing to keep the fun going all day. We are a nut- free camp and all our products are Chalav Yisrael.
Camp meals are carefully selected from a team of community mothers and prepared to be both nutritious and delicious. Throughout each day, light snacks, ices, and refreshments are served.
Our on-site registered nurse and security guard always put the safety and well-being of our children as their number one priority.
Fun for Tots to Ninth Graders – We Do It All!
The JDSA goal is simple – to be a one-stop-shop when it comes to fun. We provide preschool camp for kids aged three to five, a day camp for kids in grades one through nine, pre-camps, post camps, after camp/school leagues, after camp learning, Sunday /Friday programs, night leagues, one-one-one sports training, school team sports training, tennis, and so much more. At JDSA we’re more than just a camp, we’re a family! A growing family,!
JDSA is proud and excited to announce the opening of their pre-school division “Camp Little Stars,” directed by Morah Erin Beda. Camp Little Stars is for campers aged three to five and is jam packed with awesome programming such as gymnastics, instructional swim, music, instructional sports, Zumba, and more! We offer our youngest campers the same awesome JDSA campgrounds, structure, and security.
Many adults, and working moms in particular, struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Today’s women are juggling more than ever before. How many hats do we wear?! We are wives, mothers, housekeepers, cooks, drivers, and everything else that comes along with the role as family co-CEO. Add to that, women may have a full or part-time jobs. As the price of tuition, food, gas, and everything else continues to rise it has become more difficult to make ends meet on one income. Fortunately, women are incredible multi-taskers and most are able to juggle a lot. But do we get it right all the time? Some of the time? Maybe our goal should be to just do our best and let go of what we cannot accomplish.
Let’s hear from some of our own community working moms to understand why they chose to work outside the home, how they manage work-life balance, and what advice they want to leave us with.
Natalie Zenou
I am a Physician’s Assistant. I’m married and have one little girl. I work because I fell in love with medicine and worked really hard for many years to get where I am. Also, I feel good about contributing financially. I don’t feel like I have a great work-life balance. However, there are a few things that help me immensely. First and foremost I have help. I could not realistically manage otherwise. I have a part-time housekeeper and I send my daughter to full-day daycare. It’s rare that I get me-time during the week, but I have carved out one precious night a week, after Shabbat, just for myself. On Shabbat, I take the “morning shift” of tending to the baby and the household. Saturday night my husband stays home with our daughter and clears up while I go on a run. It’s the one time a week I always have to myself and I cherish it, even if it’s zero degrees outside, I go for my run and come home to a clean house and a baby that is ready for bedtime. It’s my opportunity to escape responsibilities for a while and have some quiet time.
I don’t have a perfect balance yet, but it’s getting better as time go by. I learned to delegate more and accept/hire help. Things are always changing, but I always try my best.
I’d like to share one tip. It’s okay to shift gears and make a change if something is not working for your family. I learned the hard way. Just a few months after giving birth I got my first opportunity to finally work as a PA. The job was doing a night shift at a hospital. I took the job, but it was not right for my family. My husband had to take on an immense amount of my responsibilities and it really took a toll on both of us. I’m not a quitter, so we did our best to make it work. But ultimately, I decided to quit and look for another job. It wasn’t an easy decision, but in retrospect, it was for the best. I found a day-time job that works better for me and my family.
Claudine Winitsky
My company is Faceworks, which I co-own and manage with my mother. We do facial care using muscle manipulation. We both have a background in personal training, which helps us to have the same approach to our work.Faceworks is a cosmetic service. We aim to revitalize the face through natural techniques.
We’ve curated a series of specific facial massage exercises that help brighten, contour, and rejuvenate facial skin and structure. With enough consistency you can sustain these improvements without needing injections, chemical ointments, or cosmetic surgeries.
I am also the mother of three wonderful children, ages six, four, and six months. I work because it gives me a sense of independence that empowers me. It’s also a great feeling to know that I’m instilling in my children strong work ethic values. They see the time and effort I put into my craft.
Work-life balance is a really tricky thing for me, and I think for all working moms. Something I try to do is to schedule my work life around the hours my children are in school or sleeping. By creating and sticking to a set schedule I am able to make sure that I have enough time for all of my responsibilities both at home and work.
I am also very fortunate to have an amazing support system. At least one day a week is spent on the road in Brooklyn, servicing out-of-town clients, which means we leave early in the morning when the kids are still home, and return after they’ve finished school. I’m very fortunate that I have my husband and mother-in-law around to help care for the kids when I am not around. I also have amazing help from my housekeeper, who helps keep my house clean and organized.
Balance is something I struggle with every day. I always want to be there for my children, but at the same time, there is a great demand for our services. I always have to take a step back and remember what’s important to me, which of course is my family. Once I’m aware of that, I have to relay that message to my clients. I have to say no sometimes. Sometimes I’m just honest and I say my children are home right now, and I have to give them my attention. It’s not simple saying no to clients, but it’s essential for a healthy balance.
Melanie Falack
I run a referral agency for baby nurses, elderly care aides, and nannies. I live in Deal, NJ and have three kids. I choose to work because I appreciate having my own life outside of my home. It gives me a feeling of independence and I am able to utilize a different skill set when I’m away from home.
Having a career or job presents a struggle for women. We are expected to be everything that comes with being a mother and a wife – no matter what. As a working mother I found that if I’m going do it all, I have to cut corners. I want to go to the grocery store and hand pick my vegetables. I would love to be the one to fold my own laundry and color code my husband’s shirts. But it’s also so important to have something for myself outside of my home. (It doesn’t have to be a job; it can be a hobby or hesed once a week.) For me, I feel fulfilled by working and earning an income. I have always felt this way, and worked all through college and it felt invigorating.
Only when I got full time live-in help was I able to have a full-time job and feel like I could disconnect from the home at my job. The only way I personally can have a career is by having someone else clean my house every day, laundry done for me, my groceries delivered to my door (I love Instacart), and my vegetables cut and prepared by someone else so that when I begin cooking it cuts the time in half. I don’t like to cut corners in the family meals. I really believe in providing my kids with wholesome and healthy home-cooked food. But sometimes I do serve pizza or store-bought chicken nuggets. But I do try to give the kids a nice variety of vegetables, protein, and a starch/carb every night.
Being a mother is a blessing and is very rewarding. But, I also love to work. Work also makes me feel accomplished. I do it for me. I work for myself. I love talking to people and helping people. I work because I love it. Another thing I love about working is that my children know that I work and I have something of my own. It’s so important for me to be a role model to my children. They see that I have a career, a hobby, and I create my own financial independence.
To be able to work outside the home I found I needed to have live-in housekeeping and nanny help. I tried taking on jobs before I had live-in help and I was way too overwhelmed. I would end up feeling like I wasn’t 100 percent doing my job anywhere – not as a mother and not at work. So, instead of feeling a sense of accomplishment from my working extra on the side, I felt like an all-around failure at work and at home. Now that I know what I need in order to work, I am able to really do it all.
To maintain a healthy work-home life balance I moderate the time I am available to respond to people for work. I am a night owl and can stay up until 11pm with work phone calls. I recently made the conscious decision to put my family first. I actively try not to respond to non-urgent matters on weekends and on weekdays after my kids come home from school. Scheduling specific times for work and specific times to be a wife and a mother really helps me balance it all.
Rebbecca Veyg
I work for Progressive Insurance, handling injuries from car accidents. I have one child, and it was a shock how much having a baby changed my day-to-day routine. Before I had a baby my work got done, I always cooked dinner, and my house was spotless. Post-baby life is very different! I had a nanny when my baby was younger, but it was hard having someone living with us and the inconsistencies in my schedule resulted in her leaving. I work from home, remotely. My father or mother-in-law sometimes come to babysit while I’m working, which is a big help.
My baby is my priority (over work and housework) so when he’s around and wants to play, needs to be fed, or changed etc., everything else is on hold. I work when the baby is napping. As for the home – some days dishes pile up in the sink, the beds aren’t made, and there are toys everywhere. Some days I don’t get around to cooking dinner, and we order in. I try to work out or do something for myself, in between caring for my baby and working. So, dinner and tidying up do not come first.
I work because living in Brooklyn is expensive, so my salary, of course, helps us financially. To make this work it’s very helpful that my husband is very hands on with the baby. If I need to go out or just need a break, he doesn’t mind watching the baby and he even will feed, bathe, and put him to sleep.
I don’t have any specific tips for your readers, but I’ll say what makes me happy is online shopping. It’s something I do for myself often now that I have a baby. It’s like a reward, I never had so many boxes coming to the house before and it’s just fun!
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The take-home message is that there is no perfect work-life balance. Working moms accept that when you work outside the home, some things have to give. But you do your best with what you have, and the rest is up to Hashem. Women need to do a careful accounting of what works best for them and their families. Extra money coming in may be a necessity. For some women, self-fulfillment from work may also be a necessity and not just a bonus. But, when you have an outside job, all agree that you need support, be it from hired help or willing family members. Working moms are heroines, doing their best to juggle work and family obligations, and trying to do it all with a smile.
Thoughts on this topic? I’d love to chat! Follow me on Instagram @friedaschwekyphoto.
Although companies can try their best, transactions may not always run so smoothly for customers. Customer Service, aptly named, can be touchy for both the company and the customer. When a customer feels the need to contact a company’s Customer Service department, they are likely to be upset and by the time they reach the customer rep they are already agitated. Some customers might have more patience than others, and some might be nightmares.
In 1876 an amazing invention – the telephone – changed business, and the world, forever. Individuals wealthy enough to own a telephone were able to connect to store owners directly to order goods, issue requests, or make complaints. This created a trend of businesses providing service at the customer’s convenience. Fast forward nearly a hundred years to 1967, when AT&T introduced the toll free 1-800 number, allowing customers to call a company at no charge.This consumer benefit generated an overwhelming number of calls, creating the need for more customer service staff to deal with customer issues. This led to outsourcing customer service calls to other countries such as India, the Philippines, and the like starting in 1989. But the high cost of managing their teams overseas compelled companies to search for better options. Once E-mail became more commonplace and adapted to business, companies found they did not need so many employees to take calls and realized that smaller teams were sufficient to respond to E-mails on a first come first served basis.
As technology progressed, consumer interaction with companies kept evolving. Live chats with a real representative were the next form of communication, and then came the apps. Following the business model of the first iPhone in 2007 and the App Store in 2010, companies utilized the idea of providing support and guidance to their customers using apps and guides on their websites, which answered most common issues and concerns. This helped to cut down the requests coming in from their customers.
Today, AI (Artificial Intelligence) has been leading the way in supporting customers’ requests in a much more efficient and cost-effective way. You can see this in the works currently by visiting a website and clicking on a chat window option. Once you type in your question a Bot (an automated response system) will read your question and analyze the best help articles that can give you the answer you are looking for.
Timeline of customer support
In today’s commerce, customer reviews are essential to a business’s success. The correct formula needs to be in place to deal with customers and keep them happy, without overwhelming your resources.
Service Level Agreement (SLA) is a common metric that companies use to determine the quality of the support they are providing to customers. Key factors that can affect your SLA score are:
How long does it take to respond to a customer?
How many requests were transacted until the ticket was resolved?
Did the issue have to go up the chain to a supervisor?
Was the customer satisfied?
All these points, when categorized and weighed correctly, can give you an SLA score that lets you know how your support team is doing. It can also help you identify specific issues that might need to be resolved within a product itself. These metrics can also let you know who your target market is and what they want.
Some companies have even introduced the ability to support their customers through iMessage, Whatsapp, or text messaging. Instead of waiting on hold for a support agent or an E-mail that takes time to get a response, the customer will get placed in a queue, and a customer support agent will message with him to assist with his issue.
ServiceBell is a company that provides access to a great tool that we have all been using lately – video chat. Add ServiceBell’s chat window to your website, and the customer can click to video chat with an agent. They can share their screen and be guided, face to face, through resolution processes.
Companies can also utilize this to help convert their site visitors to actual sales. When a potential customer visits the pricing page of your website, your customer support agents get a notification to chat with that visitor and help close the sale.
Finding the best consumer care solutions for your customers is critical to company/brand growth and reputation. Weigh all the options out there to find that sweet spot for you.
YJS Solutions empowers organizations to embrace new strategies in marketing, distribution, and E-commerce. They can be reached at 646-437-8879.
These oatmeal cookies are my all-time favorite. The texture is everything and more you could want in a cookie – soft and chewy with just a bit of crisp on the outside. I usually make a double batch and keep some in the freezer. You can freeze both the cookie dough (after it’s been rolled into balls) or the baked oatmeal cookies in a sealed container. You can also customize these cookies by adding in raisins, walnuts, white chocolate chips, Rice Krispies, or whatever you love in oatmeal cookies.
2½ cups old fashioned oats
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) margarine
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
12 oz chocolate chips
Optional: 1 cup chopped nuts or raisins
Nonstick cooking spray
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together oats with the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together the margarine and both sugars until light and fluffy, 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Beat in the vanilla extract. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the flour mixture, beating just until incorporated. With a rubber spatula, fold in the chocolate chips and any optional add-ons.
4. Roll the dough into balls and place about 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit until the edges are set but the center still looks undone, about 10 minutes.
5. Cool the cookies completely on the baking sheets. The cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days (they can also be frozen for up to 2 months).
Recipe, Photo, and Styling by Adina Yaakov, Dietetic Intern and Recipe Developer. For more recipes follow @OnceUponAThyme__ on Instagram. NEW! Find more recipes on www.OnceUponaThyme.us
Although the Democrats dominate Congress, the Senate, and the White House, some recent major elections indicate that the pendulum may be swinging towards the right, with unexpected wins that may be a sign Americans are looking to the GOP to move the country forward.
Around the country, the people have spoken – loud and clear, that they had enough of the liberal policies they see as resulting in inflation, over-regulated education, increased crime, and wokeism.
John Fund, national affairs reporter for National Review Online and a senior editor at The American Spectator, commented that this new wave of wins was a repudiation of Joe Biden and the progressive left agenda.
Turnabout in Virginia
With the defeat of former Virginia Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe, the democratic congressional majorities have been put in jeopardy, as voters elected Republican businessman Glenn Youngkin.
McAuliffe had hoped former President Donald Trump’s double impeachment and cloud of the January 6th violence would stain the GOP brand in his state. He also made several efforts over the course of the hustings to tie Youngkin’s politics directly to Trump’s, but surveys showed that voters were not interested in this topic.
Voters were more keen to know about what their politicians were doing on a more local level, with tangibles, which Youngkin stressed, vowing to repeal the grocery tax, suspend the gas tax, and resuscitate Virginia’s economy.
But the more prominent part of his platform came from his policies regarding the hot-button issue with conservatives, the “culture war.” Youngkin promised to ban critical race theory, a topic that is currently absent from Virginia school curriculums, and lent support to an expansive charter school program. He also was in favor of ending current COVID-19 restrictions, such as mask mandates and school shutdowns.
That same said backlash against leftism appeared to be why two additional Republicans won big in Virginia: Winsome Sears, the Lt. Governor of Virginia, a former Marine, and the first black woman to hold this office, and their attorney general Jason Miyares, the first Latino to hold this office and the son of Cuban refugees.
Surprises in New Jersey
In a shocking surprise for the Democratic party, the New Jersey race for governor resulted in a tightly contested race with only a slight lead for Governor Phil Murphy, who was expected to face no trouble in his re-election bid.
Another surprise came with the election for New Jersey’s 3rd Legislative District. Republican Edward Durr, a former truck driver who was new to politics, triumphed over Democratic New Jersey Senate President Stephen Sweeney. Sweeney was New Jersey’s longest-serving legislative leader. Although the state of New Jersey has a history of being blue, with registered Democrats leading the population by more than one million, changes are being made at both high and low levels of government.
The candidates’ spending on their campaigns differed dramatically, with Sweeney raising more than $2.7 million in 2021, and Durr spending just $153 (including the $66.64 spent on Dunkin Donuts).
Biden won the state by a 16-point margin in 2020.
Voters Take a Stand in Minnesota and New York
Minneapolis voters faced a ballot issue regarding police reform measures, with 56 percent of voters saying no. In the city famous for sparking global protests brought on by the George Floyd incident, citizens rejected the measure to create a city council run Department of Public Safety and to eliminate the Minneapolis Police Department. Law and order won out.
In New York, meanwhile, it is tough to expect a Republican win – though it has happened with Michael Bloomberg and Rudy Giuliani as mayors, and George Pataki as governor – the political needle moved closer to the center with mayor-elect Eric Adams, in November.
Adams, the former Brooklyn borough president and a retired former police captain, ran on a promise to crack down on crime and police abuse, and handily won election against his Republican opponent, Guardian Angel founder Curtis Sliwa. Many are anticipating Adams to be a right-leaning Democrat, likely to avoid the state intervention and leftist policies so often associated with his predecessor, Bill de Blasio.
What Will the Future Hold?
In the final analysis, pundits are wondering whether these winds of change (or wins of change) will be a bellwether for 2022 mid-terms, and a reflection Americans’ overall growing discontent with the hard-left turns occurring in the Democrat party.
