Frieda Schweky

Hello again, it’s me, Frieda. Welcome back to my monthly column, in which I interview community members about trending topics.  

This month, I decided to talk about natural remedies. Through my contact with people via Instagram and in direct conversation, I have noticed a clear trend to reach for things that people already have in their kitchens over modern, Western medicine.  

I must begin with the critically important disclaimer that I am not a doctor, and neither is any of the people interviewed for this article. My intention here is not to present authoritative medical advice, but rather to describe people’s experiences with natural remedies. It goes without saying that one should not begin any remedy without first consulting with his or her physician. 

There are many reasons why people are resorting to more traditional ways of healing. One is that the 2021 vaccine push, urging us all to take a brand-new vaccine before its consequences and side effects had a chance to be accurately studied, disillusioned many people. Additionally, people began realizing how much money big pharma makes off of our illnesses, leading to a good deal of skepticism about conventional medicine. And, with the growing trend toward natural and organic foods, many people feel uncomfortable putting into their bodies medications with ingredients that they do not know anything about.  

But the question then becomes, do natural remedies really work?  

To answer this question, I asked on my Instagram page @friedaschwekyphoto if anyone had tried a natural remedy that had worked for them, and I received numerous responses. Let’s hear what some of our fellow community members had to say.  

Leah Nachmani @dumbanddelish

I began to make my own elderberry syrup, and I truly believe that my kids didn’t get sick this winter because of it. I give it to them every day. Whenever I feel something coming on, I take it three times that day and feel better. I also bring my kids to the chiropractor once a week to make sure their drainage systems are working properly, especially during the winter. I’ve also been seeing the chiropractor regularly, and this winter I’ve felt better than I have during any winter in my life. 

Once, my son was complaining about pain in his ear, and the doctor said it was an ear infection and prescribed antibiotics. I picked up the antibiotics, but then decided to hold off until nighttime to see if he really needed it. I went straight from the pharmacy to the chiropractor, who had my son adjusted to drain the fluid causing the pain. On the way home, I asked my David how his ear felt, and he said, “What ear?” He really felt better. I called the doctor and told him what had happened, and he said that if David felt better there was no need for antibiotics.  

To be clear, I’m not saying not to take your kids to the doctor, and I do take my kids to the doctor, but the chiropractor visits have really been working well for us.  

Sandra H Cohen 

As a patient suffering from IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), I attended a Zoom meeting run by a community leadership consultant about this disorder. He spoke about acid reflux, which is one of the symptoms I experience, and he recommended Bragg apple cider pills. My gastro had told me about using apple cider with warm water, but it’s exceedingly difficult to drink. So when I heard about the pills, I bought them right away. I take one whenever I know I’m about to eat something acidic, and it helps a lot. Apple cider vinegar works even better than Pepcid. It’s amazing! I had a feeling it would work because many people on the Zoom conference mentioned how well it works, but even so, I was still shocked at just how well it helped me. 

For nausea, Yogi brand ginger tea helps me a great deal, as do oregano tea (hot water with fresh oregano leaves or regular oregano spice), eating mints, and smelling perfume. A heating pad or hot water bottle on the stomach alleviates both stomach pain and nausea.  

Unfortunately, I have lots of experience, and I find that natural remedies work much better, and have a longer-term effect, than conventional medicine. It’s sometimes not as potent, and it takes patience, but it definitely works with the body’s natural chemistry.  

In general, I don’t like medication, as many of them are not healthy for the liver, can have side effects, and damage one thing while fixing another. Many medications simply mask symptoms, leaving you with a temporary good feeling. They can also be addictive. Natural remedies have healing properties, and that’s why I now reach for them first. 

Frieda Laniado, Co-founder (along with Michelle Bendayan) of Roots and Remedies @rootsandremedies_  

My friend, Michelle Bendayan, and I were both interested in giving our children cleaner options to help them feel better, and so we began making our own elixirs for our families. After four years and lots of research, it became second nature. We gained confidence and knew what we were doing; we had both knowledge and experience in healing. When corona came around, friends and family members began turning to us for help, asking us questions and expressing interest in natural remedies. We knew we needed to help them, because no one had been there to help us, and we knew that feeling. We had to figure it out on our own. That’s when we started our company, Roots + Remedies. 

Here’s how it works: you contact us, tell us what you or your child is experiencing, and we will tell you what product or package you need in order to feel better. Simple and fast, we offer the remedies and the recommendation for what you need, so you don’t have to do the research. This process empowers the patient or parents to try and help the body heal naturally, and to feel good doing it. As moms, we’ve got a lot to handle, and one of the things that moms in the recent past couldn’t really do was be proactive about preventing and treating illness. These products help give a mom more tools in her arsenal to help combat certain things and even heal common illnesses. 

We sell elderberry syrup, cough syrup, and drops for pain relief and for boosting the immune system. We also sell Glycerites that we make from roots. Each Glycertie can help different conditions, such as UTI (urinary tract infection), coughing and anxiety. We have a chest rub which is like a natural Vicks VapoRub, and an “everything balm” which is great for scrapes and dry skin. We also have body oil, scar oil, and many other products to help to heal – rather than just mask – ailments. 

We are using Hashem’s natural medicine that He provided for us, and which has been here for thousands of years, to help our families heal without the discomfort and side effects of Western medication. The pharmaceutical industry has not been around since the beginning of time; natural remedies were what people used before you could run to the pharmacy and purchase medication. Hashem provided all these things as part of creation; we just need to tap into these resources and take full advantage of them. Of course, there’s a time and a place for Western medicine, but these herbs and roots also have a place in the home. Their healing properties are not to be ignored or dismissed as ancient and outdated wives’ tales. We’ve had countless successes in healing ourselves and others where traditional medicine wasn’t working or, in some cases, were causing more harm. 

We did not expect the success of this enterprise. Most people grew up like us, going to pharmacies and taking what is now regarded as “normal medication.” But as time went by, the people who were open to natural healing saw success with our products, and told their friends and family. Through word of mouth, more and more people decided to give our remedies a try. We’re so happy to be able to provide an alternative option for situations where Western medicine isn’t working or is causing problems – which, as we all know, it can. 

The herbs don’t suppress; they help heal. If we can imagine the immune system as an army, then these remedies are the weapons, going in and aiding your body to go fight illnesses. Our success in both healing and in business is all from Hashem; He provided these solutions by placing them in our world, and we are just helping to popularize them again. The products speak for themselves. I could tell you many stories of people who have “tried everything” before turning to us, and we were able to help them with our natural arsenal of remedies.   

Mollie Elbaz 

When my son was suffering from a virus last year, he became very congested. He couldn’t sleep through the night because he’d wake up coughing. A friend recommended that I cut onions in large chunks and leave them around him and his room while he was sleeping. I did it the first night and he finally slept!! I ended up doing it for three days, and he was all clear. I changed the onions each night, and I touched them with gloves because they were filled with germs.

Lauren F. 

I suffered from painful menstrual cramps for years. I tried Tylenol, Advil and Midol, but nothing helped. And, Midol made me extremely jittery. My mom told me to try fresh ginger in hot water, and it worked like magic. It completely relieved the stomach aches, and helped so much when I was pregnant, too. 

Sophia Beda  

When I’m not feeling well, I always load up on zinc drops. It’s a concept I’ve read about, called “zinc shock therapy.” I also drink one full glass of freshly-squeezed orange juice with three drops of oregano oil and vitamin D, one drop of vitamin K, and a ginger shot. I drink this twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening . This really helps with any cold symptoms or sore throat. 

Lillian Cohen 

I’m very new to natural healing, but I want to share my recent experience.  

Just last month, around Hanukkah time, my daughter got sick. My husband and children tend to run extremely high fevers when they are sick. This time, I decided to take alternative routes to healing. The thought entered my mind: “What in the world am I actually giving my children when I just reach for Advil and Tylenol?” So the first thing I did was contact Roots and Remedies and asked them to drop everything in their arsenal. Then I went to the health food store and got a bunch of things, including bentonite clay and magnesium bath, and Doterra essential oils. When I got home, I tried making a bunch of things I saw on Instagram: fermented garlic in honey, a ginger shot, a castor oil pack, and anise tea for stomach unease, to name a few. I also tried the cold sock foot treatment (putting wet cold socks on the feet and dry wool socks over them), potato slices in the socks, and onions in the bedroom. I basically threw the entire holistic book at my daughter. During the night, I regularly went in to check on her, because she had a fever and I was so nervous about not giving her typical medication, wondering if maybe this was the wrong move. To my shock – I was really mind-blown – she slept through the night, fever free. She told me “Ma, your oils are magic.”  

It took about 36 hours, but whatever she had was gone. I did so many different things that I can’t pinpoint which particular remedy helped, but I definitely feel like I did the right thing, and I’m so pleased that I have the tools to naturally heal my family. 

~~~

When I began working this article, I had a cough, and was so congested that I would peel a tangerine and wouldn’t smell it, and take a bite of food and taste nothing. It was difficult to sleep because I was so congested. I even tried wearing a nasal strip to bed, which normally works, but I still had to open my mouth to breathe. So I decided to try some of the things I was writing about. Firstly, I got Roots and Remedies’ elderberry syrup and immune boost drops, as well as their chest rub, which was great. I also used the chest rub as a replacement for Blistex on my dried lips. It worked like a charm. Next I tried taking ginger shots from Trader Jo’s and a Suja immunity defense shot with turmeric from Costco. Additionally, I drank Yogi Tea I found at Trader Jo’s, that was said to help with immunity. Now, four days later, as I am completing this article, I feel 95 percent better. My cough and congestion are much less extreme, and I can taste and smell again. These things tend to linger for weeks, so I am amazed at my speedy recovery. I for sure plan to use natural remedies for myself and my family going forward, and I hope that you give these things a try, as well. 

Please remember: This is not medical advice; please check with your doctor before you try anything. 

Follow me on Instagram @friedaschwekyphoto and let me know what topic you would likeme to write about next!

The Hatzalah organization has touched everyone in our community. We are so very blessed to have Hatzalah services just a phone call away. 

Unfortunately, emergencies happen every day, and often when we least expect them. However, instead of  panicking, the thing to do is to reach out to Hatzalah, knowing that within minutes competent help will be at your doorstep. These trained medical professionals immediately  assess the situation, and assist with every issue. They direct family members or whoever may be on the scene. . Many questions arise, such as: should the patient go to the hospital or should they wait and see what happens? Who should be called? What is the best protocol for the person in need? Having Hatzalah volunteers present, who not only are trained, but are objective (unlike family members) is so important in an emergency situation. Seeing the situation with an outsider’s perspective is one of the most important things that Hatzalah volunteers do when helping families with medical emergencies.  

Who Volunteers for Hatzalah? 

In order to be a volunteer for this organization, you have to be a very special person with a neshama that will rise to the heavens. Not only is skill required, but stamina to work at odd hours, be on call at all times, and do all this while being patient and caring. These  character traits, which Hatzalah volunteers come by naturally, are certainly what Hashem granted them, and are gained from what they learned at home. The average individual may wish that they had the ability to truly multi-task, but these Hatzalah volunteers can do it all. They have solid values that lead them to want to volunteer with Hatzalah, and they demonstrate a serious work ethic. As a community, we should be so proud of them, and recognize them often. If we are lucky, our children will emulate the way these selfless volunteers conduct themselves.   

Hatzalah volunteers are trained and certified Emergency Medical Technicians, and some are nationally registered. All members carry a trauma and oxygen bag in the trunks of their cars. In addition, the NJ branch is currently the only EMT agency in the area to equip all of its members with an automated defibrillator. This is greatly needed when a patient is in cardiac arrest. The Hatzalah ambulance fleet contains state-of-the-art vehicles that are fully equipped with the latest and highest quality equipment.

Dispatchers – Critical to the Team

Additionally, the dispatchers are all trained in-house, to the specifications of Hatzalah Central. As the first contact when someone calls for help, it is especially crucial that the dispatchers be well trained, able to quickly ascertain the nature of the emergency, and can relate to the callers in a compassionate manner while being 100 percent professional. The dispatchers play a critical role, as they are the ones who ensure proper help is sent, and in a timely fashion. Their role in Hatzalah is often overlooked, since they are not at the emergency scenes. But, they are a critical component of the Hatzalah team.

A Personal Story  

There is a personal reason I wrote this article. I want to share something beautiful about Hatzalah with the community at large. First, a little background. My parents moved to Long Branch, NJ after my dad retired, and they hoped their children would follow. After my last child graduated from college, I felt that the time was right for my family to move. We bought a larger home together with my parents to accommodate all of us. That way, I would be right there to help my parents on a daily basis, and could be there for them 24 hours a day. My father was no longer able to drive, and my parents hated taking a car service. My mother was getting frustrated with Instacart. After moving, I was so thankful I could help them with the day-to-day things, including banking, going to lunch, doctor appointments, etc. But more importantly, I was able to talk to them, cook them meals, clean up, and let them rest. 

We needed to call Hatzalah for my father a number of times over the course of several months. Each time, he needed to go to the hospital for different reasons. When we called the first time, I must tell you that only minutes passed – I really mean minutes! It is truly unbelievable. One moment, you are on your own, and the next minute Hatzalah volunteers are by your side helping you. It is incredible to witness, and is immensely comforting. You know that cozy feeling when you warm yourself under a blanket? Well, that is how you feel in their presence. 

What Happens When Hatzalah Hits the Scene

They are always professional, and go into patient-care mode seamlessly. They ask questions and try to assess the situations as quickly as they can, while trying to calm down the other family members, as well as the patient. This is multitasking at its finest, especially when there are multiple people living in a home (like mine!). Everyone has an opinion, people are going in multiple directions, and it can be hard to concentrate on what to do in the moment. The Hatzalah team brings the situation together to form a game plan, which is just what everyone needs during stressful times. 

Each time we had to call Hatzalah, the volunteers who came took care of my father  as if he was a family member. They employed care, patience, warmth, and knowledge. Often, it was confusing to determine what to do for him. We leaned on the Hatzalah volunteers to guide us. It was as if they were holding our hands throughout the ordeal, and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts.  

From the Patient’s Side

On another occasion, my husband had to call Hatzalah for me. I was having chest pains that would not go away. It was not the first time I felt these, so I was beginning to really panic. My husband called them, although I initially protested, and of course, they were there in minutes. They immediately took my blood pressure, put electrodes on my chest, and determined that I needed to go to the hospital. While in the ambulance, which was moving fast, someone proceeded to drew blood from my arm. Did I mention that it was a bumpy ride?  I could not believe that anyone could really do this in a speeding vehicle! Once at the hospital, the staff said there was no need to redo the blood test. It was just perfect. This was simply amazing to me! And I was thankful that it was already done, and I did not have to do this at the hospital.

In Conclusion 

In conclusion, I want our community to remember that we are not alone. That is one of the things that makes our community so special. We have wonderful organizations and people to help us get through life’s difficulties. Chas V’ Shalom, we should never need to call upon them, but just knowing they are a phone call away is so reassuring. Our community is truly blessed to have such a treasure available to us at all times. 

This article is especially dedicated to my father, Mordecai Ackman, a”h. He passed away at 93, and it still feels fresh to me, as tears blur my vision while writing this article. Even though many people say he lived to a ripe old age, he was my daddy, and I still miss him dearly. When we all lived together, I thought I would have had more time to enjoy him. He passed away less than a year after we moved. I guess we always wish we had more time to spend with those we love. Although now, I am able to be there for my mother, who was the light of my father’s eyes.

Michele Shrem is a professional writer, who has written for several magazines, as well as being a resume writer for a community organization. She has been married for over 30 years, and has three beautiful children. She resides in NJ. 

When Julie Danziger was 21 years old, she had no idea what she wanted to do professionally. The only thing she did know was that she needed a job. Seeing Julie struggle with uncertainty prompted her mother to say, “You love to travel and you’re very organized. Why don’t you look for a job with a travel agency?”
 

Julie followed her mother’s sage advice. Through friends she found an internship, followed by
a paying job in a brick-and-mortar travel agency. After that first year, Julie moved to a larger
agency, where she met Jack Ezon.
 

Julie became a co-founder of EMBARK Beyond, a globally recognized luxury travel advisory with affiliated offices and agents around the world. Her co-founding partners are Jack Ezon and Eli Ashear.
 

Julie never planned to own a business or be an entrepreneur. So, you might describe her as an “accidental entrepreneur.” 

Most people are interested in learning how to become successful. The “how to” part is usually
not glamorous and stays remarkably consistent across industries and personal histories. Hard work always plays a role as does timing. Julie adds that, for her, success was also a result of perseverance.
 

From the time she first began working, Julie was patient. She rolled up her sleeves, and showed
respect to those who had more experience and knowledge. She focused on bringing value. Her
time working as an employee prepared her. When the opportunity presented itself to become a
business owner, she was ready. Julie wisely says, “You can’t cross the finish line without running the race.” 

Over the years, Julie married and gave birth to three beautiful children. Her husband, Joe, is her full partner in raising her family. Having a supportive husband has been key to Julie’s success as a business owner, a mother, and a wife. Even with great support, managing the challenges that
inevitably come up is not easy.  

One unforeseen event popped up soon after opening EMBARK Beyond. Julie was invited to join a hotel chain advisory board. This is an honor and a strategic career boost to anyone in the travel industry. But, it required attending an event in Europe.
 

Initially, Julie accepted the invitation because the event was mid-week and Julie calculated that she could easily be home for Shabbat. Shortly after accepting, she found out her daughter was having a siddur party at school that same week. Julie rescinded her acceptance to  attend the European event, which meant losing the opportunity to serve on to the advisory board.  

Not going to the event might have set her career back a bit but it was consistent with her desire to be a good parent. Julie says, “When you’re a working mother you have two jobs. For me, my home job as a mother and wife always takes precedence.” When one of the children is sick, fortunately, Julie’s husband offers, “Do you want me to stay home so you can go to the office?” That kind of support is key to Julie’s being able to successfully juggle work and family responsibilities. 

According to Julie’s husband, “No matter how much she has on her plate the children
always come first.” Therefore, it is certainly no wonder that all three children – ages seven, ten, and thirteen – feel positively about their mom being a business owner. The oldest describes his mom as being a lot more fun than other moms. Her middle child appreciates traveling to really cool places. The youngest admits to missing her mom when she goes to work, but appreciates that Mom can occasionally work from home. She also loves the popcorn machine in her mom’s office.
 

Julie is most proud of the growth her business has experienced in a relatively short time. She
never thought she’d be in business for herself. According to her, she was just happy working in
the travel industry and being around people that made her happy. “I am grateful to be working
with amazing, incredibly honest, hardworking, thoughtful people all over the world,” she says.
Regarding her personal life she shared, “I am proud that Joe and I are part of a supportive,
loving, incredible family.”
 

At the onset of our interview, Julie adamantly described herself as a “regular, average
person.” She stated, “There was never anything special about me. I was average in school. My
family was a typical community family.”
 

In spite of her many declarations to the contrary, Julie Danziger is not at all average or ordinary. By her own admission, she has high standards. Professionally, she wants to keep learning. Being a working mother means she always strives to be a better mom. Her take home message is: You can achieve great things if you like what you do and you’re willing to work hard at becoming the best.
 

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ELLEN GELLER KAMARAS 

Pull quote: “We are not just a shul – we are a family, a second home for our members and a full-fledged community.” ~ Rabbi Daniel Masri 

When my editor asked me to interview the Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Rambam of Houston, Rabbi Daniel Masri, I immediately said yes.  When my children lived in Houston for four years I enjoyed the warm Southwestern vibe and I loved the wonderful community in Houston..  

Congregation Beth Rambam is known as a vibrant and diverse Orthodox Sephardic synagogue. After watching a five-minute video about CBR, I wished that Houston was closer to New York so that I could experience CBR’s warm and welcoming ambiance in person and take back some lessons learned to my own shul and community. 

A Little History

CBR describes its mission as “preserving our past building towards the future.”  It set down roots in the Houston Jewish community forty years ago, in 1982. Already, several Ashkenazic shuls were on the scene, including Chabad, Meyerland Minyan, Young Israel, Heimish, and United Orthodox Synagogue

Back in 1982  there was a clear need for a local Sephardic shul. CBR’s founders, a handful of Syrian and Lebanese families, set their sights on creating a small Sephardic shul in their community. The group initially met in people’s homes for daily minyanim, and moved on to set up  their semi-permanent headquarters in the Meadow Walk Townhomes clubhouse, not far from where the current shul building stands. The shul is located in the Southwest Fondren neighborhood of Houston, not far from the Medical Center and the beautiful Galleria mall. 

The founding members envisioned the establishment of a synagogue where all Sephardic Jews could feel comfortable and could continue to preserve their Sephardic traditions. CBR’s original members included some Lebanese families, and a few Syrian and Israeli families. The congregation quickly grew to include first and second-generation Americans of Sephardic background, including Israelis, Latin Americans, immigrants from the Balkan countries, Syrians, and Lebanese, as well as Ashkenazim.

Within a few short years, the shul’s founding families’ generous donations funded the construction of its first permanent building at 11333 Braesridge. The Zalta family kindly donated the land for the larger sanctuary and the shul was erected in 1984.  A larger extension was added in 2010.  The membership now include Israelis, Latin Americans, Persians, Europeans, Syrians, Lebanese, Egyptians, Moroccans, as well as Ashkenazim. 

Rabbi Daniel Masri, the current Senior Rabbi of CBR, moved to Houston in 2005 and is a dedicated, energetic, and caring leader of the CBR family and the larger Jewish community.  He was born in Mexico City to a Syrian father and an Ashkenazic mother. When Rabbi Masri was seven years old, his family moved to Brooklyn. He proudly states that he was in the first graduating class of Yeshiva Ateret Torah’s elementary and high school.

Rabbi Masri attended Ashkenaz yeshivot including Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, and Mir Yeshiva in Israel.  Rabbi Masri married while he was a rebbe at Ohr Sameach Yeshiva in Monsey. He and his bride moved to Israel for three years.  Rabbi Masri received his smicha from Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits at The Jerusalem Kollel, and Rabbi Masri has maintained a relationship with Rabbi Berkovits ever since. Rabbi Masri’s strong foundation in Torah and hashkafah shine through in his Shabbat lectures and shiurim, and in the way he skillfully guides each member of the community.  

Houston of 2023

Although Jews have been living in Houston for over a century, the frum community has seen a rebirth over the past 15 years. Every year, the frum community welcomes tens of families from Brooklyn, Queens, Deal, Lakewood, Baltimore, Chicago, California, Israel, and beyond. These families include resident doctors who come to practice medicine in Houston’s world-renowned Medical Center, young families who are attracted to the affordable housing and cost of living, as well as kollel families who come to learn in either Houston’s Sephardic or Ashkenazic kollel. Wherever you turn, Houston is exploding with new energy and Beth Rambam is expanding its resources to welcome the influx.

Communities Working Hand in Hand

Rabbi Masri is very proud that CBR’s members collaborate and connect with their neighboring Ashkenazi communities.  Members of both communities interact and come together for happy and social events as well as in times of crisis.  When Hurricane Harvey hit in 2017, community members sprang into action.  Rabbi Masri recalls that Beth Rambam handled the restoration effort and Young Israel handed the food drive (including the delivery of home-cooked kosher food), so that, together, the community weathered the enormous challenge presented by Hurricane Harvey.

In guiding the community, Rabbi Masri works closely with Torah Umesorah and the Orthodox Union to maintain the highest standards of Jewish education and support for the Orthodox Jewish community. Yeshiva Torat Emet is a local frum day school located right across the street from CBR. Rabbi Yerachmiel Garfield, the head of the day school, welcomes both Sephardic and Ashkenazic students and it is beautiful to observe the mix of students growing so beautifully together. Beren Academy is a Modern Orthodox day school led by Rabbi Jordan Silvestri. Many students at the school are from  the Sephardic community.

A Wealth of Programs 

CBR’s programs and activities are truly something they can be proud of. There is something for everyone, for all ages and walks of life, including children, teens, young professionals, and older adults. CBR provides for the community  daily minyanim, a Sunday Hebrew School, bar and bat mitzvah preparation, Shabbat and hagim meals, Bikur Cholim, Shabbatons, Scholar-in-Residence programs, Shabbat groups for children and teens, seudah shelishit, daf yomi, morning study programs, Sunday morning breakfast and learning, Tomchei Shabbat, NCSY, events for young professionals, and more..

In May 2022, Beth Rambam launched the CBR Learning Center. It is a full-day kollel in which accomplished Torah scholars were appointed to learn together throughout the day and engage the community with Torah study in the evenings. The daytime program is a Choshen Mishpat halachah kollel led by Rabbi Sheya Lazenga, the Rosh Kollel, and is under the auspices of Beth Din Maysharim of Lakewood, NJ. The evening program is coordinated by Rabbi David Azancot, the Assistant Rabbi and Outreach Director.  The CBR Learning Center hosts a number of weekly shiurim including gemara classes, practical and business halacha classes, and parashah and hashkafah classes. The hope is that the CBR Learning Center will expand to one day touch each and every member of the community.

Rabbi Masri views the children as the “lifeblood of the congregation” and the programming caters to their spiritual and educational needs. Rabbi Masri teaches ta’amim and pizmonim on Shabbat afternoons to the boys. Mrs. Ashlene Azulay, the Hebrew School Director, runs Shabbat groups for the younger boys and girls, and Rabbi Golfeiz runs Shabbat learning groups and seudah shilishit for the older boys.

Rabbanit Nomi Masri, a software engineer by profession, teaches a weekly Tanach class and coordinates the woman’s programming and Shabbatons for the shul. Additionally, she is the founder of Kivun, an organization dedicated to the inspiration and growth of women in the Houston community.

Rabbi Samy Soussan, the CBR hazzan and Director of Marketing, is the former Assistant Regional Director and City Head of NCSY, and he was enormously instrumental in its success. NCSY creates learning and social programs to connect teens with their Jewish identity and to and foster self-confidence. Today, Rabbi Soussan continues to remain active in the coordination and marketing of CBR events. 

J-HYPE – Jewish Houston Young Professional Experience – is led by Rabbi Johnny Ouzzan. The shul website posts: We are a community of growth oriented Jewish young professionals…aiming to cultivate meaningful relationships with each other and with our Jewish heritage through exciting programs, trips, events, and educational initiatives. Our goal is to provide every Jewish young professional, regardless of affiliation or denomination, with the beauty and wisdom of Jewish life and learning, while building community and friendship among peers.

Rabbi Nechemia Golfeiz, a former writer for ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications and member of the CBR Learning Center, publishes the weekly CBR Connect. The publication includes an article with the rabbi’s thoughts on the parashah as well as a list of upcoming community events. Houston’s Jewish Herald-Voice, the largest and oldest Jewish newspaper in Houston, runs Rabbi Golfeiz’s weekly article on the parashah in his column titled “New Perspectives.”

 CBR’s Tomchei Shabbat program ensures that every Jewish family in Houston has enough food for their weekly Shabbat and Jewish holiday table.  The shul coordinates volunteers to pack and deliver food for families in need. Deliveries are made in a way that preserves the families’ privacy, with no names on food packages. The food packages are dropped outside the door, so no one is embarrassed by having to face someone in person.

Aside from the day-to-day functions of the shul, CBR hosts activities and events for the community throughout the year. Recently, the shul hosted a children’s Chanukah Bingo Bash, with over two hundred adults and children attending. Last year, CBR held a Sephardic Festival in which the community came together to learn about the history and culture of Sephardic heritage. Booths were set up to feature the culture of key Sephardic countries including Syria, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, and Morocco. Each booth presented that country’s cuisine and a brief biography of the rabbis who lived there.

Growth and Future Outlook

The synagogue is growing and thriving, with new families regularly moving to Houston.  The rate of migration to Houston from California, New York, and other states increased during the pandemic.

When Rabbi Masri came to Houston in 2005, CBR had 60 families. Today over two hundred families are affiliated with the shul.

As Houston (“the Space City”) continues growing into the third-largest city in the U.S., more and more people are moving to Houston for its economic appeal. Houston boasts one of the largest health care systems in the world and is home to the headquarters of 24 Fortune 500 companies. 

Rabbi Masri is very optimistic about the future of CBR.  The shul has an excellent infrastructure, and a fabulous staff.  The shul staff works to attract members both from inside and outside of the Houston community.  Rabbi Masri believes that the new Learning Center will have a positive impact on the congregants and the community and will attract new shul members. Rabbi Sheya Lazenga, the Rosh Kollel, regularly invites rabbanim and dayanim from Lakewood, New York, and Israel to give shiurim to the avrechim of the kollel and to the community, either in-person or via Zoom.  Rabbi Masri is passionate that Beth Rambam should serve as a vital makom Torah for the Houston Sephardic community, should provide a strong learning environment for its Torah scholars, and should create an inviting atmosphere for all who enter its Bet Midrash.

“We are reaching out to people within the community and without to come and learn. Some live far away from the shul. But Torah is engaging and thought-provoking for them and they enjoy it.  That’s how we connect with them.  We try to connect with people in whatever way that speaks to them, to be part of the community.”

As Rabbi Masri so aptly summed it up: “CBR is an in-reach shul, a frum shul, and an outreach shul. Everyone finds their place here.” 

CONTACT INFO: 

Please check out the synagogue’s website, https://bethrambam.org/  and drop in if you are in the neighborhood! 

You can reach out to Rabbi Masri at rdm@bethrambam.org or the office at office@bethrambam.org.

Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach.  Her coaching specialties include life, career, and dating coaching.  Ellen is active in her community and is currently the Vice-President of Congregation Bnai Avraham in Brooklyn Heights.  She can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com (www.lifecoachellen.com).

Dr. Yossi Shafer 

Last month we introduced the “do nothing” parenting approach in which tuning into your children and their needs – while setting limits with confidence – is vital. 

While this approach can be life-changing for many parents, it can be significantly more difficult for those whose children are challenging due to emotional or behavioral differences. For these parents – who may be dealing with diagnosed conditions or simply a child with an impulsive, oppositional, or intense personality type – the same “do nothing” advice applies, but with tweaks to make it implementable under complicated circumstances. 

Understanding and parenting a challenging child can seem like an insurmountable obstacle. The good news is that it’s actually quite the contrary. With the proper knowledge and perhaps treatment, you’ll be surprised by how your child will not only thrive, but also that you can develop a loving and strong relationship with him/her.  

The more you learn about your child’s behaviors, the more you’ll discover what’s “normal” for a child like yours. 

There is typically a set of behaviors that we see in children who visit our offices. Though it may seem like your child doesn’t fit into a specific classification, there are common traits across the board, making the treatment plan quite similar. Many children present with few overlapping characteristics of three similar diagnoses – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) – which unfortunately confuses parents (and some practitioners). For example, these children need more stimulation in non-stimulating environments (school, Shabbat meals, waiting rooms), they have trouble processing their surroundings, and they suffer from impulsivity (ADHD). These challenges are often compounded by clashes with authority, as these children don’t seem to process consequences (ODD) and are often highly irritable and angry as they have difficulties processing feelings (DMDD).  

Common patterns include: 

• If they are not interested in a task, they won’t be able to do it for even a minute (e.g., cleaning their rooms), yet they can also hyperfocus on things they enjoy like playing with LEGO or watching movies for many hours at a time. 
• Sensory imbalances: food pickiness (won’t eat their food if ketchup touched their plate or is even on the table), clothing sensitivities (constant coat-wearing, may hate tags and seams), a need for physical stimulation 
• Anger, irritability, negativity 
• Black-and-white thinking, literal thinking – if you say, “I need two minutes,” they’ll be back in exactly 120 seconds. 

• Taking every “maybe” as a “yes.” 
• Strong aversion to boredom and they seem to always be bored. 
• Processing difficulties – may overreact to something small like a broken pencil because their brains cannot process, at that moment, that you can go to the store and get a new one. 
• Lagging 30 percent behind their peers in social, academic, and behavioral areas. 
• Persistent – will ask the same question 30 times until they get a satisfactory answer. 

• Have a hard time falling asleep and often are awake and energized at 5:30am regardless of when they went to sleep. 
• Creatures of habit – they’ll often eat the same foods, preferring not to eat if those foods are not available, and they wear the same style of clothing over and over. 
• More challenging with breaks in schedules and with parents or teachers who are wishy-washy; they need firm expectations and routines. 
• Display different behavior patterns in different settings – may behave perfectly in school and terribly at home or vice-versa.

A child may not display all of these behaviors, and other behaviors are indicative of similar personality types. 

These children have actual neurological differences and require constant stimulation in order to function. Neurologically, they are programmed so that they’d prefer to get yelled at, punished, or retaliated against rather than spend time understimulated and bored. It’s also why they often act without seeming to care about the consequences. They do care, deeply, but by the time their brains engage, it is too late. They have already hit their brother, or said something inappropriate in front of a group of people. They may express, “Why did I do that?” “I am so weird,” or “What’s wrong with me?” – constantly beating themselves up internally.  

As you learn more about your challenging child, you’ll also discover the more heartening characteristics: their creativity, spontaneity, enthusiasm, ambition, resilience, and energy. Successful adults with ADHD can run multinational businesses but be unable to pay their own electric bills. Life is frustrating because they can do what they’re supposed to if they really want to.  

Empower yourself and your child with knowledge and empathy, and you’ll unleash his supercharged potential for greatness.

Dr. Yossi Shafer, PhD is the clinical director and a clinical psychologist at Empower Health Center, a private practice of multispecialty psychotherapists. They have offices in Deal/Long Branch and Lakewood and can be reached at (732) 666-9898 or office@empowerhealthcenter.net. 

Chani Krausz

During a crucial roundtable discussion with the executive team of the Sephardic Division of Chaim Medical, Rabbi David M. Haber explores the all-encompassing scope of the organization, as well as the tremendous love and care that are responsible for the transformative impact of their life-changing endeavors.

The Panelists: 

Nathan Hoffman, Co-founder and Senior Case Manager 

Ezra Zaafarani, Co-founder and Senior Case Manager 

Abe Sutton, President 

Norman Jemal, Vice President

RH: The medical world is frequently misunderstood, particularly post-Covid, which is why Chaim Medical is so important. In its simplest form, what is Chaim Medical?

NH: An experienced team that is dedicated towards helping people overcome medical challenges. In a nutshell, this encompasses an organization of over 60 people who specialize in separate areas of medicine to support patients.

EZ: Medicine is so much more complex than it was 10-20 years ago. That’s why the help we offer is mainly educational.

AS: Chaim Medical also provides access to information they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

NH: It’s where to find the best doctor, the best hospital… what kind of questions to ask, how to prepare for an appointment…

RH: So, the average person who goes to the hospital, myself included, barely understands the technicalities of what is really happening. How does Chaim Medical change that?

EZ: I think people are surprised to hear the different questions we ask but, in many cases, it’s something mentioned during intake that proves crucial to the case.

NH: It often starts when somebody suspects they’re not feeling well and they don’t know where to begin. They call Chaim Medical and now they feel, wow, I’ve got somebody in my corner. I can rely on them to help me through it. 

AS: Most of the time patients grant us access to their medical portal, which allows our well-trained medical coordinators to look into their case.

RH: So, what does the intake process look like?

EZ: Every patient is asked a sequence of detailed questions, which helps us categorize the case and ascertain its level of urgency. Next, they are assigned a case manager, an assistant case manager, and a medical coordinator. Every patient has three people constantly monitoring their case. 

NH: They have an army behind them and they feel it. Just this week we had a challenge where tissue slides needed to be sent from one NYC hospital to another and the family was calling the hospital relentlessly, without success. You can imagine what the family was going through! Then one of our team members stepped in and said: I’ll take care of it. And it was transferred that very day. Now, this patient will likely receive treatment faster than they typically would. But that’s not the point. 

AS: It’s that somebody took over the worry. 

RH: If somebody receives an appointment far into the future, what should they do?

NJ: Take the appointment and then call us to expedite it. 

NH: Not every case warrants an expedite, but when presented properly, doctors are usually happy to expedite appointments when necessary. It’s about understanding how the medical system works. 

RH: This is somewhat of a sensitive question. Ultimately, none of you are doctors; why should somebody trust a seemingly amateur group to handle anything medical? 

AS: They’re not amateurs and they’re not telling anyone what to do. They’re simply sharing Chaim Medical’s vast knowledge to help them make a decision. 

RH: I know Chaim Medical has access to information, experimental treatments, and studies. How does that help? 

NJ: People don’t generally think to seek an opinion from a hospital in Houston or Minneapolis. But a coordinator who researches this day in, day out, will know which hospital has dealt with something similar and they will reach out for an opinion. 

NH: We’ve had many situations where doctors from top hospitals worldwide have consulted on a case because of our relationship with those doctors. It happens all the time. 

EZ: We’ve been involved in complex neurosurgery cases where we got 10 opinions from around the world in 48 hours. So yes, these connections come into play and it’s comforting to know we can call upon them when needed. 

RH: What categories does Chaim Medical deal with? 

NH: There isn’t a category that they don’t deal with. 

RH: So, there’s no area in which Chaim Medical is unable to dig deeper for a patient. Another sensitive question: Is there ever a situation where one should give up hope? 

NH: Those words aren’t in our dictionary. I’ve yet to come to a circumstance where there weren’t any options. Not every situation ends happily, unfortunately, but we never stop trying. 

RH: Please share a story where you reached to the ends of the earth for someone, because for a lot of people, this is beyond the scope of their imagination. 

NH: We’ve been involved in cases where doctors called the family three to four times to come and say their goodbyes. And I think if it weren’t for Chaim Medical, it would have been just once. End of story. But we constantly asked, what do we have to do to get the patient through the next 24-hours? Over and over again. And then imagine hearing that the patient is coming home?! All you need is one story to realize that you should never give up and really, that’s what Chaim Medical is all about. 

RH: True. It sounds like very intense work. What does it take to be a Chaim Medical team member? 

AS: In one word, commitment. If the patient or their family needs you, you need to be available. We don’t like to say 24/7, but that’s what it is. 

NH: Approximately 10% of our cases are urgent. And from our point of view, those cases are anytime, anywhere, anyplace. We’re always with you. 

NJ: This is actually an important point. There are many things that don’t need to be dealt with immediately. As Nathan said, 10% of our cases are urgent, but the other 90% just need proper guidance. 

RH: What do you wish people knew? 

EZ: How much our team loves every community member. I don’t know 70% of the people we deal with and it doesn’t matter. I’ll stay up all night for whomever. If it’s a community member, if it’s a Jew, it’s my pleasure! And I think every team member is like that. The software rings on our phones day and night, so there is always somebody with you around the clock. It’s love for our fellow Jews during their time of need. 

RH: What is the current caseload? 

NH: We have 160+ active cases at any given time. And the list, unfortunately, keeps growing. 

AS: The non-urgent cases require less input but there are 100 of those… 

NH: Yes, and that’s just in our community. Chaim Medical, the parent organization of our division, deals with thousands of cases every day. The 160+ cases are from our division alone. 

RH: I want to address another aspect because I’ve been there and I think it’s important. What can you advise a family member taking a patient to the hospital?

NH: Be prepared.

NJ: You’ve got to be really present. Pay attention, introduce yourself, say hello, say thank you. 

EZ: Many times, we deal with complicated family dynamics, and we always recommend appointing one contact person for the family, so we can go back and forth and everybody can get the information from that one person. 

NH: You know, something as small as asking for CDs after imaging. It’s a small thing but you know how much time that could save? 

AS: The average person that is thrust into a medical issue doesn’t know what to do. 

NH: And they don’t want to do it. Nobody wants to be sick. Nobody wants their family members to be sick. We recognize that if the roles were reversed, Gd forbid, we would need somebody to tell us what to do, too. There are a lot of emotions. 

EZ: Many times, I’ll call a team member to review a case. Imagine, we’re doing this every day and I still sometimes need to bounce it off somebody else. How much more so does a clueless family member need to bounce it off somebody so they can figure out their next step.

RH: Also, some people get scared off by medical terms and they assume that if somebody in a lab coat said it, it’s written in stone. 

NJ: You need to trust doctors, but you should take notes and you should review the case with someone knowledgeable. 

AS: And there might be another doctor in a lab coat with another opinion. 

NJ: To be sure, doctors save lives. We’re just facilitating the process and helping you find a doctor you can trust.

RH: Tell me about the skillset and dedication of your team. 

NH: Dedication is really the first and foremost aspect. Never in my life have I seen a group as dedicated as the people working for Chaim Medical. Ezra and I get shocked every day, seeing how they go above and beyond for a community member in need.

RH: Do you have a parting message?

AS: We want the community to know that they don’t have to go through a medical crisis alone.