King David teaches in the Book of Tehillim (89:3), “Olam hesed yibaneh – The world is built on kindness.” Hashem created the world with kindness, with the intention that we will emulate His graciousness.
In order to fulfill our mission of bringing hesed into the world, we must understand what hesed really means. It means an action that is motivated by a spirit of generosity, an action that we are not obligated to do, isn’t repayment for an act done for us, and for which we expect nothing in return. Hesed means giving out of a spirit of genuine and selfless generosity.
Avraham Avinu is known as the embodiment of the virtue of hesed. Rav Eliyahu Dessler, zt”l (1892-1953), explains that Avraham dispensed kindness not out of a sense of duty, but out of a burning desire to give. Avraham’s soul was infused with the spirit of hesed.
The prophet Michah instructs: “…do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your Gd.” We fulfill our spiritual destiny not by doing acts of kindness – but rather by loving those acts. Our focus must be not on the acts themselves, but on the joy we experience when we perform such acts. We are to not just act kindly, but to love acting kindly.
Rabbi Shlomo Lankry, zt”l, was such a person – someone overcome by a burning desire to help those in need, filled with compassion for his fellow man, who dedicated his life to alleviating other people’s pain and distress, with no expectation of honor or of anything in return.
Not Letting Anyone Feel Alone on His Watch
Just as Avraham sat in the doorway of his tent hoping to welcome guests, Rabbi Shlomo stood on Kings Highway waiting for an opportunity to help another person. And just like Avraham, who not only served his guests water, but fed them an entire meal, Rabbi Shlomo extended himself above and beyond, looking after all of the person’s needs.
His son, Rabbi Moshe Lankry, recalls that as a young boy, he would see his father standing in front of Sisu, his bookstore on Kings Highway, looking “to the left and to the right – not only once, but a few times. I didn’t understand what he was doing. Then one day he said to me, ‘Moshe, you see that lady? Walk her home.’ So I did. I spent an hour with her listening to her life story. And when I got back, my father asked, ‘Nu, how was it?’ I learned a lot about my father then, and a lesson for life.”
The Mishnah (Avot 1:5) instructs, “Let your house be open wide, and let the poor be members of your household.” Likewise, the Gemara (Shabbat 104a) teaches, “The way of those who do hesed is to run after the poor.” Rabbi Aaron Lankry experienced this every Friday night alongside his father.
“Every Friday night after shul, my father would take us to every shul in the neighborhood looking for a rabbi, a shaliah, anyone who didn’t have a place to go, and bring them home with us. And many times they didn’t leave; they would stay for months.”
Rabbi Shlomo Lankry’s daughter, Emily Antar, says she does not remember a week without guests.
“And I don’t mean cousins or other relatives,” she clarifies. “Our guests were people who had no place to be.”
Rabbi Aaron said his father was committed to “not letting anyone feel alone on his watch,” and he attributes this commitment to the rabbi’s own experience as a refugee arriving on American shores, when he and his family were greeted with an outpouring of kindness.
A Mission of Torah and Kindness
Rabbi Lankry was born in the village of Beni-Mellal in Morocco, which had a small but vibrant community of Torah-observant Jews. Prior to his bar-mitzvah, he was sent to learn in the Schneider Yeshiva in England, where he studied under the yeshiva’s founder, Rav Gedalia Schneider, a disciple of the Hafetz Chaim. (The Schneider Yeshiva produced a number of other outstanding rabbis, as well, such as Rav Eliezer Lopian and Rav Alter Alperin.) During his period in the yeshiva, Shlomo learned Yiddish and became acquainted with the culture of European Jewry. He would later credit his experience in the yeshiva with engendering within him the feeling that every Jew is a brother to whom one is committed to help.
Rabbi Lankry (top right corner) while in yeshiva in England.
At the age of 21, he returned to Morocco seeking a bride, and he married the woman who became his eshet hayil and lifelong partner, Zehava. The couple moved to Meknes, where the rabbi taught in the yeshiva while Mrs. Lankry taught in the preschool. Already early in life, he set himself on a mission to teach Torah and extend kindness to his fellow Jews.
Although the Jews in Morocco were treated well, hostility towards them intensified in 1967, following Israel’s victory in the Six Day War. For the sake of their family’s safety, Rabbi Shlomo and Zehava made the difficult decision to leave Morocco. Most of the Jews who left Morocco at this time emigrated to Israel, but Rabbi and Mrs. Lankry decided to sail to the U.S. so they could live near great yeshivot, and because they felt their two sons had a greater chance of retaining their religious commitment in America. Mrs. Lankry had two brothers learning in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn, so that is where they chose to settle.
Upon arriving in Brooklyn, Mrs. Lankry describes, they “were like a computer mouse; a force moved us around, and wherever we went, we found our way.” She says she feels an enormous debt of gratitude to all those who helped them during those early years, and she believes this experience shaped the rabbi’s commitment to helping other people and ensuring that they never feel alone. They were helped by people like the Zachs family, who invited them to live with them from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur; Mr. Meyer Birnbaum, who gave them an apartment rent-free for three months; and Rabbi Avraham Newhouse, who helped them attain their green cards. These people, among others, were the “force” sent by Hashem that guided the new immigrants to where they needed to be.
“Everyone Knows Where to Find Me”
While living in Mr. Birnbaum’s apartment, Mrs. Lankry cooked meals for him to express her gratitude. Mr. Birnbaum, owner of Mauzone catering, quickly discerned her talents as a cook, and hired her to work for the catering business. The rabbi, meanwhile, began working at Magen David Yeshivah and organized a minyan for the Moroccan students learning at the Mirrer Yeshiva.
With his keen eye for the community’s needs, the rabbi partnered with Shimon Cohen to open a store of religious books in the heart of the community. He always wanted to be near a yeshiva, and so he established his store – called Sisu – on Kings Highway, around the corner from the Mirrer Yeshiva.
Rabbi David Ozeri disputes the idea that Sisu was a store. “It was not a store,” he insists. “It barely had any merchandise. Sisu was a front – a front for the rabbi to do hesed, to save people’s lives, to be mekarev people.” In fact, Rabbi Aaron Lankry shared that a pile of checks from rabbis and Torah scholars who had purchased etrogim were found in the back of the store, having never been cashed.
Rabbi Lankry always felt that sitting on an upturned milk crate was the way he could provide the most help. He would say, “Everyone knows where to find me.”
Indeed, everyone knew that Rabbi Lankry would be there when they needed him. As the rabbinic leader of, and driving force behind, the Chevra Kadisha for over 50 years, he was the man that the entire community turned to in their darkest times. He would be available 24/7, even in the middle of the night, to guide, console and reassure. When asked why he would answer the phone at 2am knowing there was nothing he could do for the family until morning, he responded, “I have to pick up the phone in the middle of the night to say, ‘Don’t worry, I am taking care of everything’.” The rabbi couldn’t sleep knowing that a community member, whom he regarded as a family member, was in distress.
Daniel Sultan, whose father and grandfather worked alongside the rabbi in the Chevra Kadisha, and who himself has worked with the rabbi for 30 years, marvels at how he was “so full of energy and compassion, and dedicated to preserving the dignity of the departed.” Mr. Sultan says Rabbi Lankry “supported every endeavor of our committee,” adding, “we owe him a great debt of gratitude.”
When the committee came to the rabbi for advice on purchasing new burial plots, he concluded by saying, “But you won’t need them – Mashiah is coming.”
The Shoulder We All Leaned On
Mrs. Lankry relates that Rabbi Lankry first became involved with the Chevra when a fellow rabbi of Moroccan descent passed away, and he volunteered to perform the taharah (cleaning the body in preparation for burial) to ensure that it would be done according to tradition. Jacob Arama, who himself was a dedicated member of the Chevra, was so impressed with the honor that the rabbi bestowed upon the departed that he urged Judah Sultan, the original head of the Chevra Kadisha, to hire him. The rabbi was working at Magen David at the time, and he didn’t want to accept the position, fearing it would disrupt his teaching schedule. But Mr. Sultan called the Board of Magen David and said, “We need him,” and they worked out an arrangement.
Rabbi Lankry spent the next 50 years ensuring that every deceased person was treated with dignity and respect, helping the deceased greet Gd in the next world in the best way possible. He performed the ultimate act of hesed – “hesed shel emet” (true kindness”) – preparing the body for burial and cemetery rites, a hesed which cannot ever be reciprocated. Rabbi Saul Kassin describes the rabbi’s role as “one of the most difficult responsibilities in public service, the truest, most selfless act of benevolence one can do for another.” He was the shoulder we all leaned on. He worked tirelessly, attending to every detail of thousands of funerals – sometimes handling multiple funerals on the same day – comforting the family during the shivah and even beyond, encouraging them, in his own special way, to stay connected to each other.
Even while devoting countless hours to serving Hashem and community, Rabbi Lankry always made his family his highest priority. His daughter, Adina Mezrahi, recalls, “We knew he was there for us. My father was always the one we would call when we needed someone to pray for us…and we knew we would be well and all would be okay. I remember growing up dancing with him and how he danced with his granddaughters at their weddings. He made us all feel so alive, which is incredible considering what he did every day.”
Rabbi Lankry was blessed with keen insight into human nature, and truly understood people. Rabbi Duvi Bensoussan described the rabbi as a second father who “knew you were capable of greatness and wouldn’t settle for less,” adding, “He believed in me, introduced me to my mission, telling me I was meant to be a talmid hacham, and he never let me be anything less.” Reflecting on Rabbi Lankry’s example, Rabbi Bensoussan says, “If you want to find clarity and purpose in your life, find someone who believes in you and will be relentless to hold you to that path.”
Masquerading as a Simple Man
Rabbi Bensoussan and Rabbi Eli Mansour both humbly acknowledged that “We did not give enough kavod [respect] to Rabbi Shlomo. He wouldn’t let us.” The rabbi’s humor and joviality made everyone around him feel relaxed, but also had the effect of concealing his greatness. As Rabbi Mansour said at the arayat: “The rabbi was very humble, very private in his avodat Hashem [service of Gd]. He masqueraded as an adam pashut, a simple man. But he was very far from simple. Only now will we hear the stories.”
His daughter, Mrs. Emily Antar similarly says, “So many people approach me and begin, ‘You don’t know what your father did for me.’ We are beginning to understand the scope of my father’s legacy of hesed.”
Rabbi Lankry’s passing has left a great void in our community, but the family is mobilizing to fill it, to whatever extent possible, by continuing the rabbi’s work. “So far, there are three of us needed to do his work, and I’m sure more of us will be involved,” Mrs. Emily Antar added. As Rabbi Aaron Lankry said, “It isn’t over.” The impact of the rabbi’s lifetime of kindness, his example of humility, gratitude, and yirat Shamayim (fear of Gd), will, please Gd, endure through the dedicated efforts of his family and the countless people he inspired.
We all pray that these efforts will be successful, in the great merit of Rabbi Shlomo ben Rahel.
(Author’s Note: It has been my humble honor to write this tribute to Rabbi Shlomo Lankry, zt”l. It must be emphasized, though, that no amount of words – and certainly not a 2000-word article – can even begin to capture the sheer magnitude and of his awe-inspiring work and legacy.)
Jerry regularly managed his brother-in-law’s financial portfolio and earned a modest commission from the profits generated. The operating agreement between them stipulated that Jerry was required to receive explicit authorization before each investment. Jerry was instructed and authorized to invest $100,000 in a certain stock. Jerry deviated from his instruction and without authorization directed $10,000 of the monies to purchase a cryptocurrency. Much to Jerry’s delight his cryptocurrency purchase earned an astronomical sum of over $60,000 in profit. Jerry, concerned with the volatility of the coin, immediately sold out and the $10,000 investment along with its profits were credited to the business account. Jerry informed his brother-in-law of the good fortune earned and suggested that they split the profits of the $10,000 investment. Jerry explained that since he was responsible for the funds in case of loss, he is entitled to at least fifty percent of the profits. The brother-in-law rejected Jerry’s claim with a wave of his hand and rebuked him for his illegal activity.
Is Jerry entitled to half the profits? If not, is he entitled to his commission? How should the Bet Din rule and why?
Torah Law
According to the ruling of the Shulhan Aruch one can verbally appoint another person to interact on his behalf in a commercial market. Such appointment can be executed even without a signed power of attorney. Hence, once verbally appointed, the actions of a representative are binding, and his employer is required to follow through with the transaction.
Furthermore, once a representative verbally agrees to an assignment, he is not entitled to claim that he ventured in his own personal financial interest. He may not assume ownership or profit of the designated assignment. If, however, the representative formally cancels his role as an agent, he is subsequently entitled to pursue his own personal business interests.
Notwithstanding, it is highly recommended when hiring another person, to detail in a signed contract his job description, wages, and other relevant information in order to eliminate unnecessary confusion that could result in a dispute. Additionally, in the absence of a signed contract, a representative can wrongfully deny that his appointment ever transpired and falsely claim that he owns the profits he generated.
By rule of the Shulhan Aruch, a representative that deviates from his instruction is responsible for loss and damage caused on account of his deviation. Thus, if by instruction an agent is sent to purchase wheat, and instead he purchases barley, the agent is liable for loss if the cost of barley depreciates.
Nonetheless, by rule of the Shulhan Aruch, if as a result of the agent’s deviation additional profit is generated, the proceeds are credited to his employer. Thus, although the agent is liable in case of loss, he is not entitled to the profits gained when deviating from his employer’s instruction.
The underlying distinction for this ruling is that since the agent was entrusted with the money, he has a fiduciary responsibility to his employer. Hence, all profits generated from the funds entrusted to him belong to his employer. Likewise, because of his fiduciary responsibility, he is required to sustain the loss caused by his deviation and failure to perform as instructed. Thus, although one who steals money is entitled to the profits he generated upon return of the principal, an agent is required to return all funds generated to his employer. He was given the money in good faith and is required to live up to that level of accountability.
While the above ruling is the opinion of the Shulhan Aruch, some early halachic authorities differ. According to this latter view, an agent that deviates is entitled to a fifty percent share of the additional profit he generated. The rationale behind this view is that since the agent is liable in case of loss, he is viewed as a partner in the venture. Additionally, it was his ingenuity that generated the additional profits. The employer of the agent is nevertheless entitled to fifty percent, since it was his money that enabled the profitable transaction.
Interestingly, this latter view concedes that only in instances in which the agent is in possession of the profits is he entitled to withhold his fifty percent share. If, however, the money is in the account or possession of his employer, the agent is unable to collect.
VERDICT: Concrete Evidence Strikes Again!
Our Bet Din instructed Jerry that all the profits generated belong to his brother-in-law, the investor. Nevertheless, our Bet Din awarded Jerry with his standard commission fee for the entire sum profited. As explained in Torah law, Jerry was entrusted with the funds and has a fiduciary responsibility to forward all proceeds to his brother-in-law. Hence, although if Jerry had lost the money, he would have been liable, he is nevertheless not entitled to a share of the profits. When Jerry deviated and did not invest the money as instructed, he personally assumed the risk of loss, without the option of sharing in the profit. Although one opinion differs with the above ruling, since Jerry faithfully conducted the entire transaction through his brothers-in-law’s
account, all opinions agree that he is not entitled to any shares. Since Jerry did not have possession of the funds, he is unable to rely on a minority opinion.
YOU BE THE JUDGE
Avi was driving his car through the streets of a city in central Israel, with three other passengers in his car. He stopped the car to run an errand and requested of one of the passengers to take the wheel and pick him up in twenty minutes. Sammy took the wheel and casually drove the car with the other two passengers. At the turn of the corner a mob of Arab young men surrounded the car and began throwing rocks at its windows. Sammy, the driver, was aware that the scene was life threatening and he decided to recklessly drive the car onto the sidewalk to escape the imminent danger. By doing so, Sammy tore the bottom of the car, and side-swiped the car into an adjacent wall. Backing up and maneuvering the car away from the surrounding mob added further damage to the vehicle. The group escaped danger without wounding any of the attackers, however, hefty damage was done to Avi’s car. In Bet Din Avi explained that his insurance policy did not cover acts of terror, and surely not deliberate acts of damage such as what Sammy inflicted to his vehicle. As per collecting compensation from the Israeli government, Avi explained that the process is costly and very lengthy. Avi requested of Sammy and the other passengers to pay for the damage to the car.
Is Sammy responsible for the damage? Are the other passengers required to participate? How should the Bet Din rule and why?
Take a look at the following and see what triggers you. If you were a parent, teacher (and what parent was not a teacher this past year?) or student during the 2020 pandemic, hold on to your hats as you read! Two weeks to stop the spread. Six feet apart. Distance learning. Zoom. Mute. Unmute. Zoom code, passwords, headphones. Not enough tablets and computers to go around. Two of your children’s classes happening at the same time. Short video clips, play, pause. Work from home while being a morah, a chef, and a housekeeper. And on, and on!
Suddenly having to figure out remote schooling and then having to do it on the daily was a huge struggle for families across the globe. For me, having young children in school during the pandemic was no small feat. Although they were not responsible for studying or tests, the technical coordination fell on me. I had to put in the zoom code and password at the correct time, wait around for the teacher to allow them in, unmute, turn on the camera, mute for the lesson, unmute when the teacher requested, and that was when there weren’t technical difficulties! At first I thought zoom would be a nice break for the kids to distract them during the day with some learning. However, I soon came to realize it was just another chore I was responsible for. It was all too much.
Now we are entering a brand-new school year, so how are parents, teachers, and students in our community preparing for the shift back to what we all hope will be a much more normal year? I interviewed a few community members to find out.
Celia Francis
As a parent (and teacher) I highly recommend parents prepare their kids for back to school. In-person learning is highly important and should be treated as such. Kids should be encouraged to be social, form good relationships, and most importantly, have a good routine set in place.
Home learning was not ideal for many reasons, and a major one was the lack of structure. We have to work to get that routine down of getting up early, eating a good breakfast, and heading out to school prepared for a full day of learning and social interaction. I suggest about two weeks before the first day of school waking your kids up at the hour they would need to be up for school, so they get used to it. They should also have their outfits picked out the night before and have anything else they’ll need to bring with them to school ready to go that night.
As a teacher, I can’t wait for the start of this coming school year. Every district has its own rules, but I’m looking forward to hopefully no masks and no plexiglass getting in the way. And, of course, in-person learning all year as opposed to on and off zoom school. I’m looking forward to fun class projects, inter-grade larger projects in which different classes come together, as well as having the special needs children back with the rest of the children. The social aspects of things really enhances the learning. For faculty, too, I’m eager to work together with co-workers again and to collaborate on different lesson plans and special projects.
If something positive came out of this pandemic it’s definitely to be more aware of having good hygiene at school. That includes being more aware of the importance of more frequent hand washing, personal space, and keeping the classrooms clean and germ-free. No one wants to get sick and hopefully this will make for a happier and healthier classroom experience for all.
Raquel Vogel
I think this school year will be better because there will be more consistency in terms of kids being about to spend time together in the classroom. This is imperative so that they continue to gain social skills. In this day and age of technology it’s a slippery slope. Kids can be more introverted and being isolated can lead to social awkwardness. We all know in the real world social skills are highly important to get ahead.
Although I am unsure of the exact Covid protocols for this coming year, I’m looking forward to the kids hopefully wearing masks a lot less and being able to take full clean breaths as well as seeing each other speak. This should make everything feel much more back to normal.
Rosie Nigri
I really enjoyed all the new social opportunities high school had to offer when I became a freshman in the 2018/19 school year. Sophomore year came around and I was eager for more of the same school experience. Little did I know what 2020 would bring. Zoom school was really rough, as it took away all the fun parts of school and left only the learning. When we were finally
back to in-person school fall of 2020 things were not back to normal. There were masks restricting my breathing, which were uncomfortable and distracting. We no longer ate lunch in the cafeteria with the rest of the school, but instead we ate in the classroom. Speaking of classrooms, we stayed in the same one all day with the same kids, day after day, period after period. Only the subject and teacher would change. It felt more like elementary school and less like high school. We didn’t have sports after school or any fun holiday or rosh chodesh programs like we used to.
I don’t know what this next year has to offer but I am hopeful. I’m hoping for things to go back to the way they were, I’m hoping for lunch in the cafeteria and a change of environment and peers with every class switch. I’m hopeful that the rest of my high school experience will be as normal and fun as that first year was!
Margo Cohen
I really think it’s important that our kids grow up in a normal, stable environment. Masks for children should never be mandated again. I’m hoping my kids will have a more calm and relaxed year, with no sudden or unexpected shutdowns. I’m ready for structure, I’m ready for homework, kids to bed on time, and out of the house bright and early.
I hope it’s not going to be like last year, but we really don’t know. What I honestly feel is that it’s going to be nothing like the beginning of last year. We came to school, buses were canceled, masks were a must, and after just a few weeks of being in school, they had to close down because of an outbreak. I don’t think this September will look anything like that one.
Casey Dweck
We are so stoked and cannot wait to get back to school in full swing! I’m a mom, my kids are from the ages of four to thirteen, and collectively as a family we are eager for what the new year has to offer!
To be honest it feels a little far off. With the holidays in early September we’re only having two full days and two half days in what’s supposed to be the first month of school. But October should be hopefully awesome and consistent. It’ll be nice for us parents to not have to worry about suddenly having kids home from school and on zoom.
At the end of last year there were pretty much no masks and no barriers. Starting off this fall without the fear of the unknown, which was pretty much the whole vibe of last fall, it’s going to be a completely different experience.
As a member of the PTA, school year 2020/2021 was exhausting and eventful. Every time a child was quarantined or a whole class was quarantined, we’d send home care packages for them. It was a lot. We were a small school and we sent out over 70 packages over the course of one year. It was a lot of work. For that reason and much more, we are looking forward to a more normalized year all around. This year instead of buying masks and taking covid tests as school prep, we get to enjoy good old fashioned school supplies shopping for back to school prep! Can’t wait!
Jessica Anteby
I teach kindergarten. Last year was rough when I had some kids or even just one on zoom due to exposure or illness. It was a big challenge. For example, I’d tell the parent to log on at a certain time for writing, but if reading was running late I’d get texts from a parent worried I’d forgotten about their child. Or if we were running early, we would have to wait for that student to log on to begin the lesson. Then when they were finally logged on, I had to juggle zoom and a classroom full of students. It was a struggle I’m looking forward never having to deal with that again.
This coming year I’m looking forward to meeting class parents in person! Last year all the PTA meetings were on zoom, and I feel like I didn’t really meet the parents, like if I passed them on the street, I would have no idea who they were. Also, school events, like authors’ fair, and siddur and chumash plays are so much more exciting for the kids and everyone when parents are allowed to come and join. It was a completely different vibe without them. I’m excited for this year to go back to normal!
Finally, I look forward to just walking in the hallways and hopefully being able to smile at everybody without a mask in the way!
In Conclusion…
School year 2021/2022 definitely looks to be shaping up. When we were in the thick of it during 2020, we really did not know how long all the restrictions and zooming would last. The unknown was daunting and uneasy. This year, although some things are still unknown, there seems to be an overall easiness. There is a vibe of the anticipated return back to normalcy that is calming down parents, teachers, and students. As of now whoever wants a vaccine can get one. It seems as though we have reached some sort of herd/community immunity. So long as no serious Covid variant rears its ugly head, we should have smooth sailing this school year, after, of course, being home almost all of September for the high holidays!
Hoping you and your families stay safe and happy this school year and get the most out of it as possible!
Last month’s cover story about the Morris I. Franco Cancer Center & Medical Referral was spot on. However, there are not enough words that describe the hesed all of the volunteers do.
I was diagnosed with cancer and unaware of the programs available at the cancer center. Fortunately, my daughter-in-law was, and immediately made an appointment for me.
As I entered the center I was a bit apprehensive, not knowing what to expect. Margie Matthews immediately put me at ease and I felt an immediate bond with her. I then conferred with their social worker. It was easy to communicate with her as I was able to relate my feelings… feelings that I could not reveal to my own family at that time. I met other wonderful volunteers who never failed to lift my spirits.
I am thankful to Hashem that He has allowed us to have the best community in the world, offering so many wonderful services. Morris I. Franco Cancer Center & Medical Referrals is our crown of hesed.
Lillian S.
Summer Getaways
Last month’s article about summer getaways (Novel Summer Adventure Getaways) was very nice, with fun and exciting suggestions for those able to travel. My family, however, does not have the opportunity to go away during the summer months. I’m not complaining – as I would not have it any other way. There is something very relaxing and bonding about spending summertime with our children, after ten months of shuttling them to school. I relax my mess-o’meter, stock the fridge with lots of summer fruit that we select at the local farmers market, and take the kids on local trips around the city and state. I highly recommend it!
Laura M.
Anti-Semitism
Thank you for making more people aware of the rise in anti-Semitic attacks in our communities. I never thought I would see the day where there would be so many blatant anti-Semitic attacks and anti-Israel protests in the United States. It has gotten so bad, that I’m scared to walk home by myself on Friday night. Something needs to be done immediately.
What makes this even more disturbing is the fact that whenever there are attacks on other ethnic groups, everyone is up in arms. Every news program continuously covers the incident. Politicians, faith leaders, and ordinary citizens all have something to say, and all are outraged. However, when Jews are attacked it’s barely mentioned. We need to make sure that we show our outrage, and let the public know that we are sick and tired of being the scapegoats for all that’s wrong in the world. If we remain quiet, no one else will care.
Eddie T.
New Israeli Government
Even though I do not live in Israel, I always felt safe with Binyamin Netanyahu in charge. I’m very sorry to see him go. You knew he was not ever going to let Israel fall into the hands of its enemies or anything close to that. He will go down in history as among the best leaders Israel ever had.
The new coalition reflects nothing in particular. The new Prime Minister, Naftali Bennet, serves with a total of six seats. He could not be further removed ideologically from his fellows in the coalition. I’m sorry to say, but the current formulation is doomed. In no time, Israelis will be back at the polls. What is really interesting is whether after the next election a stable government can be formed.
The 2021 MSB Season is nearing the finish line. In a journey that began in early April, now over three months later we are just a game away from crowning a new champion.
Two Great Teams Make It to the World Series
The two World Series teams are the 11-1 Ball Busters – lead by captain Yanky Itzkowitz, alongside Hank Dweck, Alan Jemal, and the Cy Young winner Ray “Payday” Sakkal – and the scrappy 6-6 Rubble On The Double squad lead by captain David “DT” Tawil alongside perennial all-star Steven J. Gindi, Natan Safdieh, and Rookie Edmund “The Phenom” Beyda.
The Ball Busters simply dominated their opponents for the duration of the regular season and earned themselves a bye into the semis and faced off against a hot Mamba Mentality ballclub. After dropping game one of the best of three series, The Ball Busters got to work and went on to win games two and three. In Game 3, the Ball Busters found themselves down early in a 3-0 hole, but the power bats came alive. MVP candidate “Hammerin Hank” Dweck broke the 3-3 tie with a towering blast deep into the night and propelled his team into the World Series.
Rubble On The Double had a much tougher road ahead. Finishing the regular season at 6-6 they barely squeaked into the post season and were tasked with facing Super Smash Brothers in the Wild Card Matchup for a right to play in the semifinals. This game was anything but easy. In true fairytale fashion, Rubble On The Double, who were down 2-0 in the 6th, cut into the lead with a solo blast off the bat of Natan Safdieh and then sent Steven J. Gindi to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, and boy did he deliver! Gindi hit a frozen rope to the right center field gap to walk it off and advance ROTD to the semis where the second-seeded Jokers were awaiting. In Game 1 Rubble came from behind to win and in Game 2 they kept its post season magic going. Rookie Benny Abadi broke a 1-1 tie in the 5th with a two-run HR that painted the Right Field line and Rubble on the Double went on to win and continue its magic carpet ride to the World Series.
World Series Attracts Viewers in Person and Via Livestream
On July 11th at M&S Park, the World Series was underway. With a capacity crowd on hand and the games being livestreamed on YouTube to the community at large, the two teams who had two completely different paths to the dance faced off. After the lineups were announced the ceremonial first pitch was thrown by the 2021 MVP and Batting Champion Jack Harary, and the recipient of the pitch was league legend Ike Miz.
Game One
The World Series is a best of three so Game 1 is extremely crucial. ROTD came out swinging and went up 6-3 in the 6th powered by a Joe Gindi bomb that cleared the fence (first time in league history) and the Ball Busters seemed shellshocked, as they were in unfamiliar territory. But then it all clicked as the bottom of the lineup came alive and rallied to tie it at 6 in the bottom of the 6th, highlighted by a two-run frozen rope off the bat of Abe Dweck. After barely holding off ROTD in the top half of the 7th the Ball Busters walked it off in dramatic fashion as Rookie of the Year Shua Dany drove in the winning run as the Ball Busters won by a final score of 7-6.
Game Two
The Ball Busters were now one game away from completing one of the most dominating seasons in league history and Rubble On The Double with their backs against the wall needed to somehow find a way to win Game 2 to force a Game 3. The Ball found themselves down 3-1 heading into the 6th, the same inning they rallied in during Game 1. Lo and behold, they did it again! And they put up a two spot and tied it up at three and in the top of the 7th aided by untimely walks by Edmund Beyda. They put up another two runs and took a 5-3 lead heading into the bottom of the 7th.
Rubble on the Double, just three outs away from being sent home for a long off season, dug down deep, and pulled out yet another magical finish in the post season. This was definitely a post season filled with memorable moments. ROTD sent up Steven J. Gindi with the bases loaded and one out, and he delivered again with a two-run base knock to tie it up at five, followed by clutch game winning hot shot off the bat of rookie Elliot “Little Papi” Setton to send this series to a decisive Game 3.
Three playing cards in a row. Can you name them with these clues? There is a two to the right of a king. A diamond will be found to the left of a spade. An ace is to the left of a heart. A heart is to the left of a spade. Now, identify all three cards.
Last Month’s Riddle: Home – But Not Alone
A man leaves home, turns left three times, and returns home to face two men wearing masks. Who are the two men?
Solution: A catcher and an umpire!
Solved by: The Jurisdiction Family, Richie Ayal, Ralph Sutton, Jacob Ayal, Daniel Mann, Meir Nakach, Fortune Ayal, Denise Sultan, and The Shmulster,
Junior Riddle: All In The Family
Submitted by Jerry N.
Mr. and Mrs. Mustard have six daughters and each daughter has one brother. How many people are in the Mustard family?
Last Month’s Junior Riddle: Word Dilemma
I am a word. If you pronounce me right, you are wrong; if you pronounce me wrong, you are right. What word am I?
Answer: The word ‘wrong.’
Solved by: H. Solemani, Richie Ayal, Ralph Sutton, Jacob Ayal, Daniel Mann, Caroline S., Elimelech Heller, Meir Nakach, Eliyahu Gottesman, Big Mike, Fortune Ayal, and Denise Sultan.
Every parent hopes that their children will grow up to be happy, confident, and smart problem-solvers. Let’s examine the thinking habits and behaviors of people who are like this. Then we can use this knowledge to teach our children to model them.
In a society where the norm is for children to complain about their hardships, we need to be extra vigilant about teaching our children how to be proactive rather than kvetch. Kids need to recognize that there are many circumstances in life that are beyond our control.
Common Mistakes
Mistake #1: Miserable people invest thought and energy into changing things that are out of their control. This leads us to mistake #2.
Mistake #2: Miserable people do not invest energy focusing on the parts of a situation that they are able to control.
For example, Joey comes home from school every day complaining that two kids on the bus tell him that he can’t sit with them. His mother mistakenly invests much time discussing the misdeeds of the other children. She calls up Joey’s teacher to find out why the other two boys exclude him and asks the teacher to encourage them to sit with him on the bus. The problem here is that they don’t want to sit with him, and since Joey’s mother is working so hard to fix this “problem” Joey now believes that this is very problematic. What a waste of time! Joey’s well-meaning mother spent all of her energy focusing on what she has no control over (other children’s choices, moods, attitudes, and behaviors) and no time asking Joey what he CAN do in this situation.
A Different Approach – Feel the Feeling and Move On
How would this story play out differently if Joey’s mother modeled the healthy mindset and actions of a happy, proactive person? She would be training his brain to embrace the hardships as an opportunity to grow, AND to focus on whatever he CAN control. I like to teach children to “FEEL THE FEELING AND MOVE ON.” Here is how that would work.
When Joey gets off the bus and complains that kids aren’t letting him sit with them, Mom would give him a big warm confident smile, and say, “that happens sometimes.” She would segue the conversation to a different topic, and if he brought it up again, she might say, “It sounds like that was hurtful,” or, “It sounds like you want to talk more about this.” Then, she will acknowledge the hardship in an empathetic way that also is balanced with vibes of strength.
After all, she is confident that if this challenge was sent to Joey, he is perfectly capable of dealing with it. She might ask him if he is looking for advice, and then say that she can think about it and get back to him. He should also think about it and get back to her. If he was asking for advice, she can point him in the direction of looking at his options. “It looks like these two boys like to sit together. You can’t control their choices. What CAN you do? It’s so normal to feel hurt. What would you like to do in the future?” Let Joey come up with his own ideas.
Focus on What You Can Control
When I teach children about how to let go of the things that are out of their control I like to present them with a metaphor: Imagine that you have a remote-control car in your living room. You are having a great time playing with it, until suddenly you look out your window and notice another child playing recklessly with his own remote-control car outside. He is knocking his remote-control car into full-size cars and almost getting it run over. You decide to “save” the car outside and use your own remote to control his car. You start to get frustrated that his car is not following your orders. How silly is it to think that it should?! You can only control your own car!
Next time your children are focusing on all the things about a situation that are out of their control such as, “My teacher gave us so much homework,” or, “A neighbor isn’t being nice to me,” validate your child’s feelings and then ask what they would like to do. If they answer that they would like the other person to change, you can say, “Sometimes I also feel like focusing on the parts of a situation I can’t control.” Then let your child come up with his or her own solutions. If your child IS asking for advice, you can say, “IF I were in your situation, I would…, but that’s just me. How would YOU like to go from here?”
Tuesday, June 15th, 2021, was originally planned as a typical day of school at Magen David Yeshivah. However, as Hashem would have it, the building would be blessed and privileged with a unique and glorious event – an honorable visit by the former Chief Rabbi of Israel, and current Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Hacham Shlomo Amar, shlit”a. Students from kindergarten through eighth grade arrived with great anticipation, all dressed in their crisp blue and white uniforms, and awaited a most sacred and special experience. The red carpet was rolled out, literally. The risers for the choir were erected. Spaces were roped off to provide a safe and spacious walkway for the Rabbi and his escorts. The stage was set, and the audience began to arrive.
A Royal Welcome
The middle schoolers, lined up along the driveway, stood in respectful silence while a full entourage accompanied the Hacham to add honor to his escort. Those included in the procession were the Rosh Yeshivah Rabbi Harold Sutton, Chief Rabbi Saul J. Kassin, Mashgiach Ruhani Rabbi Joey Haber, Principal Rabbi Ezra Cohen-Saban, Religious Advisor Rabbi Joey Mizrahi, Rabbi David Sultan, Rabbi Max Sutton, Mr. Jack Avital, and Mr. Harry Adjmi. Rabbi Amar approached the entrance to the building and the lobby fell silent. He was greeted by hundreds of students. The kindergarten and first grade students stood on either side and the fourth grade students watched from the mezzanine level. As he stood in the doorway, the choir began to sing Yaheed El Dagul. The Rabbi was visibly moved by the impressive welcome. He gave the famous blessing of Yaakov Abinu – Hamalach Hagoel to all those present, and he imparted words of Torah.
Next, the Rabbi was ushered into a packed auditorium with students and teachers standing with reverence for the great talmid hacham. As he made his way down the center aisle, Rabbis and students kissed his hands and were blessed. The audience was silent and respectful, eager to hear the sage’s words and powerful message.
Introductory Remarks
Introductory remarks were offered by the principal, Rabbi Ezra Cohen-Saban, who then welcomed Rabbi Saul Kassin to speak to the assembly. Rabbi Kassin spoke directly to the students, helping them frame the context of this inspiring visit. He related his memories of himself as a young MDY student witnessing the visit of the great Hacham Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, and how it was an unforgettable moment, forever etched in his soul. Rabbi Kassin explained how it is the kedusha of the Torah that Rabbi Amar represents that we revere. The kavod we bestow upon the man is for the wisdom and life of Torah he holds and imparts onto those in his presence. Before introducing Mr. Harry Adjmi, Rabbi Kassin instructed the children to do three things when the Rabbi speaks – stand to give kabod la’Torah, as the Rabbi is like a walking sefer Torah, listen to the holy words of Torah that the Rabbi will speak, and answer amen to the Rabbi’s blessings, which will, be’ezrat Hashem, come true for everyone.
Rabbi Amar’s Warm Response and Words of Torah
Rabbi Amar stood regally with such a strong, yet warm demeanor, with his royal robe and bright radiant expression. The Hacham, visibly moved by the experience, spoke in a well-paced and articulate Hebrew, allowing the students to absorb his message. His words of Torah and the blessings he bestowed on the audience were powerful. In an extraordinary measure, the Rabbi asked everyone to rise and repeat after him the words of Shema Yisrael and other verses in which we accept Hashem’s sovereignty in the world. Echoing his words of tefillah in unison was a life-altering experience that will forever remain with everyone present! It was a truly magnificent moment and our prayers were surely accepted by Hashem.
The Chief Rabbi then exited the auditorium and was greeted by the second and third grade students, as well as the recent eighth grade graduates. He graciously offered his blessings and imparted his final message before leaving.
It is a rare and precious opportunity to be in the presence of someone who lives such a pure life of Torah. Magen David was zoche to be honored by the great presence of the holy Rabbi and be’ezrat Hashem, may it continue to merit the adage, “יהי ביתך בית ועד לחכמים”, until the coming of Mashiah, amen!
The special month of Elul does not always come at a convenient time. Particularly this year, when Elul begins earlier in the summer than usual, it occupies a significant chunk of our summer, a time when we usually like to relax and enjoy trips, family get-togethers, social gatherings, and recreational activities. But precisely for this reason, it behooves us to reflect for a few moments on the meaning and significance of Elul, and on what this month is all about.
On the simplest level, Elul was earmarked as a special period for repentance since the time when our ancestors were encamped at Sinai. Forty days after receiving the Torah, on the 17th of Tammuz, they worshipped the golden calf, whereupon Gd decided to annihilate them. In response to Moshe’s pleas on the nation’s behalf, and the nation’s heartfelt repentance, Gd rescinded the decree. It was during the 40- day period from Rosh Hodesh Elul through Yom Kippur that Moshe earned Gd’s forgiveness, which Gd announced on Yom Kippur. From that time on, these 40 days have been a special period of compassion and forgiveness. The mercy Gd showed to His beloved nation during those 40 days at Sinai is reawakened each year during this time, making it an especially auspicious opportunity to earn forgiveness through our sincere, heartfelt prayers and repentance.
In truth, however, the unique status of Elul predates even the sin of the golden calf, and is rooted in the process of the world’s creation.
The Ultimate Act of Kindness
The Arizal (Rav Yitzhak Luria, 1534-1572) taught that Gd set up the world in such a way that our actions down below trigger actions in heaven. Through “it’areruta detata” – our “awakening” here on earth – there occurs an “it’areruta dele’ela’ – an “awakening” in the heavens. When we pray and perform mitzvot here in our world, this puts into motion certain processes in the upper worlds, resulting in “shefa” – an outpouring of blessing that comes from the heavens into our world. In order to receive Gd’s blessings, we must activate them through our actions.
There was, however, one obvious exception to this rule – the world’s creation. Of course, there were no people in existence to activate the spiritual forces and bring down Gd’s “shefa.” Gd’s creation of the world was thus an exceptional act of pristine hesed (kindness). He provided us with this beautiful world, with a world full of potential and blessing, without any “it’areruta detata,” without any person doing anything to receive it. The world’s creation marked the ultimate act of kindness.
Needless to say, this was done because there was no choice; there were no people to earn the “shefa” through their actions. But even so, Gd did not suspend the rule entirely. Nothing was done beforehand to bring the “shefa” of creation – so He gave it to the world “on credit,” so-to-speak.
This concept is taught to us by Rashi, in his very first remarks in his commentary to the Torah. Explaining the words, “Bereshit bara Elokim et hashamayim ve’et ha’aretz,” which are normally translated as, “In the beginning, Gd created heaven and earth,” Rashi writes that this translation is incorrect. This phrase actually means that Gd created heaven and earth “bishvil reshit – for the first,” meaning, for the sake of Am Yisrael, which is referred to as “reshit” (“the first”), and for the sake of Torah, which is also called “reshit.” In other words, Gd created the world even though this bounty was not earned because in the future, the Jewish Nation would arise and would perform mitzvot. He foresaw that the “credit” would eventually be paid, as it were, through the special, sacred actions which Am Yisrael would perform throughout their history.
It often goes overlooked that the anniversary of the world’s creation falls during the month of Elul. Rosh Hashanah, the first day of Tishri, celebrates the creation of Adam and Havah on the sixth and final day of creation – which means that the first day of creation was the 25th Elul. Indeed, some Kabbalistic sources teach that the 25th of Elul should be observed as a special day – a day when one must be particularly careful to avoid anger, and when one should eat festive meals, immerse in a mikveh, and give charity. There is also a custom to light five candles in the home on this day, corresponding to the five times the world “or – light” is mentioned in reference to the first day of creation.
Developing this point further, Elul represents the time when Gd acted out of absolute hesed, without any initiative on our part, creating the world “on loan,” with the expectation that it would be earned later through Am Yisrael’s good deeds. Each year, during the month of Elul, this special hesed is reawakened. As in the time of creation, Gd is prepared to grant us unbridled kindness and blessing even if we are undeserving – on the basis of our commitment for the future. As long as we genuinely commit to raise our standards during the coming year, to work harder to fulfill His will and refrain from wrongdoing, He is prepared to repeat the ultimate act of kindness, to create for us a beautiful world once again, in His infinite mercy and kindness, despite our current state of unworthiness.
We can harness this exceptional kindness, the kindness of creation, regardless of what this past year looked like. No matter how undeserving we might think we are of earning a favorable judgment this Rosh Hashanah, we can tap into the special hesed with which the world was created by committing ourselves to be better.
The Elul Scouting Mission
Further insight into the significance of this month can be gleaned by examining its name – “Elul.” Although this name does not appear to be related to any familiar Hebrew word, we do find it used in the Aramaic translation of Onkelos to the Humash.
The famous story of the spies begins with Gd’s command to Moshe to send men to “scout the land” (Bamidbar 13:2). Onkelos translates the word “veyaturu” (“and they shall scout”) as “vi’alelun.” The root of this Aramaic verb is alef, lamed, lamed – the same root as the word “Elul.”
The month of Elul, then, is a time for “scouting.” We are to thoroughly scour our characters and our conduct to determine where we can improve, what commitments we can and should make for the coming year in order to earn Gd’s kindness. And just as the scouts traveled throughout the Land of Israel during their mission, so must we examine the entirety of our lives. We are to think very carefully about our conduct in all areas – our relationships within the family, our professional conduct, how we treat and speak about our neighbors, friends and fellow community members, our adherence to halachah, our commitment to Torah study, our charitable donations and volunteer work, our prayers – everything. This process, obviously, takes time. We are given 40 days to “scout,” to search, to study ourselves, to think and to consider where we can improve and how these improvements can be made successfully.
True, this process is not exactly congruous with the relaxed, free-spirited mood of summer, the time when many of us like to “take it easy,” to not work too hard and not think too hard. But with the stakes this high, we have no choice. Sure, we are certainly entitled to relax and enjoy vacation time. But even so, we must ensure to allocate some time each day of Elul to our “scouting mission,” to serious soul-searching and contemplation so we can come before Gd on Rosh Hashanah with a genuine, precisely-formulated commitment to improve.
Recreating Our World
Our tradition associates each of the Jewish months with a different constellation, and the constellation associated with Elul is Virgo, an unmarried woman. The connection between Elul and this constellation lies in the theme of purity and newness. During Elul, we are given the opportunity to return to our original state of purity and regain our innocence. This concept, too, closely relates to the commemoration of the world’s creation. This month is uniquely suited to turn back the clock and recreate ourselves, to turn ourselves into what we should be. Regardless of the mistakes we’ve made and the sins we’ve committed, we are given the opportunity to start anew.
And, as this month marks the anniversary of the world’s creation, we are given the opportunity to earn a new creation, to have Gd recreate our world and our lives. In this month of special kindness, we beseech Gd to create the world anew, to give us a happier, more joyous and more peaceful world than the one we currently live in. Certainly, we all have much to be thankful for, and gratitude for our multitude of blessings must be a significant aspect of our process of “taking stock” as the year comes to an end. But as we all know; this has been a year of great pain and hardship for the Jewish People. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken many lives and many livelihoods. Several horrific tragedies have shaken the Jewish world over the last several months, such as the disaster at Meron on Lag Ba’omer, the deadly rocket attacks from Gaza, and, most recently, the building collapse in Florida. Let us all make the commitment to recreate ourselves so we will be worthy of a newly created world, a world without tragedy and pain, a world without poverty and deprivation, a world of peace, security and prosperity for all, a world in which Gd’s presence and infinite kindness are palpably felt and recognized by one and all, amen.
