As your newly elected members of the New Jersey General Assembly, we are proud to represent a large and growing Jewish community in the 11th Legislative District and we welcome back our summer residents to the Jersey Shore. We are focused on collaborating with community members and local leaders to tackle antisemitism and to keep our neighborhoods safe and secure amid the rising level of car thefts and home invasions.  

To that end, we encourage all our residents to lock their car doors, remove their keys, and never leave their vehicles running, to prevent these egregious thefts. While these preventative measures will go a long way to deterring criminals, we understand that this is not enough to attack the problem afflicting our communities.  In 2022 alone, 14,320 vehicles have already been stolen, a 53 percent increase since 2020. So far, the Legislative Majority has done nothing to confront this issue. We believe this must be addressed legislatively, and in the coming weeks we will be introducing legislation that will demand increased penalties for criminals charged with these crimes. Our proposed legislation is dedicated to keeping these lawbreakers behind bars and off our streets. It  includes lowering the monetary threshold for stolen vehicles, not just luxury cars, to constitute a second-degree offense, making joyriding a third-degree crime, and removing pretrial release for suspected offenders. 

We look forward to supporting the passage of these bills in the legislature. However, this is just a glimpse into our actions during our first three months in the General Assembly. We are aggressively fighting to get New Jersey back on track and to make our state more affordable as a place to live, work, and raise a family. We have introduced, sponsored, and voted on legislation to support our small businesses, to protect our first responders and front-line workers, to advocate for mental health and suicide prevention, to preserve our beaches, to lower our taxes, and to honor our veterans. We are equally dedicated to providing equitable access to high-quality education and achieving academic excellence, while combatting the loss of state aid, which results in staff and program cuts, increased class sizes, and local tax hikes.  

District 11 public schools have collectively lost $28 million since the implementation of S2, the law that dictates the school funding formula, in 2020. This year, these public schools are losing another $11 million in state school aid. Five of the schools are considered high poverty/high need districts and are entitled to receive $18 million in funding increases under the federal American Rescue Plan. Instead, they face $15 million in cuts. This is completely unacceptable, and these cuts are truly a  disservice to teachers, administrators, parents, and children. We call on the Murphy administration to reevaluate the unfair school funding formula and to put an end to this failed policy disaster. Additionally, a top priority is protecting all our students through improved security measures. That is why we are working to secure additional security and technology funding for our local private schools, such as Hillel Yeshiva.  

We also stand in opposition to the learning standards for grades K-12, as we are actively engaged in ensuring parental involvement in what their children are learning in school.   After two years of learning loss, this shift away from hard academics in favor of social justice subjects is shortsighted. Thankfully, after a considerable amount of pushback from lawmakers and parents across the state, we are glad to see the state is reevaluating its curriculum standards. Our fundamental belief is that these sensitive conversations are best held at home, and parents should remain involved in their children’s education moving forward.  

We are proud of our work so far in Trenton, and this is just the beginning. We hope to hear from you and learn more about the issues affecting you and your families. In the meantime, if you require assistance, or if you have any suggestions or ideas to help our district, please call the 11th Legislative District Assembly office at (732) 268-8968 or send an email to District11Help@njleg.org. 

Yours in service,
Kim and Marilyn 

Assemblywomen Kim Eulner and Marilyn Piperno represent the 11th Legislative District in New Jersey’s General Assembly, comprised of the following towns in Monmouth County: Allenhurst, Asbury Park, Colts Neck, Deal, Eatontown, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Interlaken, Loch Arbour, Long Branch, Neptune City, Neptune Township, Ocean Township, Red Bank, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Tinton Falls, and West Long Branch

You pick up the phone and soak in the wonderful news: They’re finally engaged! And the wedding date has already been set. You feel a bit lightheaded when you hear that the big day is in a month or two! 

The future bride or groom may be a sibling, in-law, or other close relative, and we know the preparation for any family wedding is surrounded by much excitement and anticipation. In our community, where engagements are relatively short and the wedding happens pretty quickly, those who need to prepare for it can feel delight tinged with a sense of overwhelm. Here are some steps you can take to ease the pressure and help ensure that you and your children can all arrive at the hall calm and ready to bring lots of joy to the bride and groom. 

Right Together, Left Together 

So you hear that some, or even all, of your children will be marching down the aisle before the kallah makes her grand entrance. Whether your children are toddlers or pre-teens, it is best for them to practice marching in advance.  But there is no need for “marching practice” to be as pressure-filled as homework. This is the perfect opportunity to use your creative side and turn it into a game. 

Stage a mock-wedding in your home, and let each of your children rehearse marching down the hallway. Teach each child to start with the right foot, and then bring the left foot forward so the two feet are side-by-side. Show them how to take the same step once again, this time leading with the left foot. Demonstrate how to make this into a cohesive march, and rehearse until they are able to make it all the way down the makeshift aisle.  

In a few weeks’ time, when your children find themselves in a colossal brightly-lit room, with hundreds of people surrounding them and the rose-covered huppah facing them, they will be prepared to give a flawless march! 

Petticoats and Tuxedos 

Each child needs special wedding attire to wear to the big event. Younger girls will shine in flower-girl dresses, and the older ones will wear ball gowns. Younger boys will look adorable in miniature tuxedos, and the older ones will do fine in freshly-pressed suits. 

You have the option to buy something new for each child, but for a more economical route, visit one of the numerous community wedding gemachs or bring out the wardrobe from a past family wedding and ask a good tailor to make a few changes. Adding rhinestones, ribbons, and lace are great ways to bring fresh accents to a tired look. Whatever you decide to dress your children in, make sure all outfits are tailored, cleaned, and pressed at least a week in advance. 

Get a Sitter 

Of course, even the tiniest members of your family have been invited to the wedding, and they are all expected to attend. However, little children need constant supervision, which is quite difficult to provide when you are busy greeting guests and dancing with the bride or her mother. So it’s best to hire a babysitter or find a family friend who is willing to attend the wedding and offer an extra set of hands. When the pictures and ceremony are done, you can bring  the babysitter and your small children home, settle everyone in, and return to the wedding assured that everyone is supervised and getting a good night’s sleep. 

Speaking of Sleep… 

It’s going to be a long night! So even if you plan on bringing your children home in the middle of the wedding, make sure all of them (yes, even the ones that claim they are not tired!) get some rest the day of. The last thing you want is for your children to be bleary-eyed and hysterical during the wedding. So, set aside some naptime in the hours before the wedding, so everyone is alert, awake, and excited for this most special evening. 

Family weddings are special occasions that only come along every so often. That is why it’s so important to give children the tools to capture the joy of the moment. Prepare ahead of time so that when the night of the wedding finally arrives, your family will be ready to revel in the celebration

Sam Sutton 

M&S is heading into their 15th season as the community’s premiere softball night league. This year M&S is excited to welcome back its generous sponsors for the 2022 season, Zeh Arak and Mill Basin Yeshiva Academy. 

The 2022 M&S summer night league season is just few weeks away and that means it’s time to introduce this summer’s cast of captains. 

Sammy Esses and Teddy Ishak 

The tandem of Sammy Esses and Teddy Ishak are back, and they will be going for their third consecutive World Series title. This is a feat that has never been done before and the target will be squarely on their backs

Michael “Sabon” Salomon 

M&S’s first ever inducted hall of famer Michael “Sabon” Salomon has his eyes set on his fifth title as a captain. After losing in last season’s World Series, “Sabon” has had a long offseason. 

Michael Cohen 

League legend Michael Cohen will making his rookie debut as a captain. Michael is one of the most decorated players in league history. To his credit, “MC” is a three-time MVP award winner, four-time Gold Glove award winner, and two-time champion.

Albert Sitt 

In his fifth season in the league, Albert Sitt, who captained the expansion team 1.5 back in his rookie year in 2018, was fortunate to be M&S’s captain lottery winner last season for a right to captain a team. Albert has two World Series championships in his young career along with two Gold Gloves in RF.  

Raymond “Berry”  Esses 

M&S stalwart Raymond “Berry”  Esses is back at the helm. Berry is no stranger to winning, as he has five championships to his credit and was an integral part of each of them. When it comes to professionalism and captaincy, Raymond is the one who comes to mind.

Steven J. Gindi 

In his tenth season in M&S, Steven J. Gindi is back as a captain for the sixth consecutive season. Steven is notorious for being one of the best on-field captains in the league. Steven has captained a World Series title team back in 2017 and is yearning for another opportunity to hoist the cup.

Aaron “Hank” Dweck 

The seventh and final captain this upcoming season is Aaron “Hank” Dweck. Entering his eighth season in the league, “Hank has accomplished what some have not done in their careers. Hank is a Rookie of the Year winner, Gold Glove winner, Batting Title winner, Comeback Player of the Year winner, and lastly an MVP winner. The one piece of hardware missing from Hanks’ trophy case is a championship.

To stay up to date on all league multimedia including highlight reels of games and talk shows where league commissioners give their in-depth analysis on all league news – follow the league’s Instagram @MandS_Baseball and the league’s YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/samjsutton.

“Kol sasson vekol simhah, kol hatan vekol kallah…” 

In the footsteps of a young couple’s engagement comes a dizzying whirlwind of preparation for the upcoming wedding. Shopping for gowns, furniture, suits as well finding an apartment takes over a good chunk of the schedule of the soon-to-be bride and groom. And as they run around, preparing for their new life together, it becomes easy to forget about just that: that they are preparing to spend the rest of their lives together.  

Before the couple knows it, the countdown on the calendar winds down until it has been entirely crossed off, and the wedding day arrives. On this day, that the couple has dreamed of for so long, it is natural to become submerged in the nitty-gritty – getting dressed for the occasion, taking pictures and greeting guests – nearly forgetting what this most extraordinary day is all about. 

It is crucial for the couple to take a step back from the flurry of activity that surrounds the day, and recognize that the wedding is, in fact, the foundation of their future. The wedding day, encased in purity and sanctity, gives the couple a unique opportunity as they cross over the threshold from singlehood into married life. 

The Gates of Heaven Stand Wide Open 

The Talmud Yerushalmi states that on their wedding day, a bride and groom are granted complete atonement for all their sins. In essence, this makes the wedding day a kind of “Yom Kippur” for the couple. As they stand pure, their prayers on this day are especially powerful. Prior to the wedding, a couple should be aware that the gates of prayer are wide open to them throughout this holy time, and particularly as they stand underneath the huppah where the Shechinah dwells.  

The couple should do all that they can to seize this prime opportunity for tefillah. Yes, enjoying the wedding is also of upmost importance, but the bride and groom should each take time to beseech Hashem for a peaceful, loving, and joyous home. These prayers create a seed that will form the root of their bayit ne’eman be’Yisrael, and with Hashem’s help, bear blessing, health, peace, and prosperity throughout the rest of their lives.  

Take Notes 

It is normal for the couple to become overwhelmed, and in the excitement of the moment, forget what they intended to pray for. Therefore, it is a good idea for the bride and groom to take time before the wedding to write a list of what they wish to pray for.  

When penning the list, the bride and groom should note that this is a time to ask for a successful marriage, children, health. and longevity. They can also ask for family members, friends, and community members to have success in all their endeavors. Adding to the list the names of those who are sick and struggling, and keeping them in mind during this holy day, is a beautiful act of giving. The couple can also pray for the wellbeing of the Jewish people as a whole and for Mashiah to come speedily and peacefully in our days.  

A Day of Prayers and Blessings for All 

Hundreds of people come out to rejoice with the bride and groom on their wedding day, and during the huppah, the guests should also take advantage of this momentous occasion to pray. As mentioned, the Shehinah is present during the huppah, and each guest should ensure to make the most of this unique opportunity for prayer. It is crucial to respect the holiness of the day by sitting quietly and dressing and behaving in a modest fashion.  

When dancing with the guests, the bride and groom can once again take the time to bless each one, wishing health, happiness and success for all. The Talmud teaches, “Anyone who prays for his fellow and he has that same need – he is answered first.” And so, when a bride and groom bless and pray for others, they are effectively making the best possible investment, as these tefillot will, with Hashem’s help, increase their own future happiness and success. 

Note to the bride and groom: you have a unique power of prayer on your wedding day, and you can use it to give to others and build a solid foundation for your own lives. So, as you walk into a beautiful life together, make it all the more beautiful by clutching onto the holiness of your wedding day and pouring out your hearts in prayer. 

How the Rabbis in the Gemara were Familiar with Scientific Truths Long Before Modern Research

Even in ancient times, people knew about medicine and cures for certain conditions. The Gemara mentions cures for many different maladies, including at least one cure that is more advanced than what medical technology offers today. It describes a type of surgery to remove a brain tumor, involving a drug given to the patient to put him to sleep, and a mixture of herbs that was boiled, cooled, and poured on the patient’s head until his skull became soft, allowing it to be cut open and the growth removed. Two millennia before MRIs and CT scans, medical practitioners had a method for determining the exact location of a brain tumor, and an incredibly detailed understanding of human anatomy.

Unfortunately, many, if not all, of those remedies were specific to that era, and with time, directions for their use were forgotten, as was much of the medical wisdom presented in the Talmud.

The Discovery of Bacteria

In recent centuries, of course, we have seen remarkable advances in the field of medicine. Before the microscope revealed to us the hidden world of bacteria, physicians never imagined that there exist creatures which are invisible to the naked eye.

The size of an average bacterium is about two microns by half a micron (a micron being a millionth of a meter, or a millionth of 39.37 inches). This means that laid end to end, there are 500,000 bacteria in a meter (or in 39.37 inches), or 2,000,000 lying side by side.

The first step towards discovering the existence of bacteria was taken by the Dutch scientist Antony van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723), using an early form of microscope which he helped develop. This was a simple brass plate fitted with a single lens capable of magnifying 200 times. Despite its relatively weak power, it allowed Leeuwenhoek to discern tiny creatures moving within materials taken from between people’s teeth.

But it was only in the second half of the 19th century that the existence of bacteria and their role in transmitting disease was finally verified. The famous French scientist Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) was the most important 19th century researcher of microorganisms and their relationship to various diseases. After discovering the existence of bacteria, Pasteur introduced disinfectant methods into hospitals and clinics to rid them of these invisible menaces. Prior to Pasteur’s work, a single dirty scalpel might have been used to perform multiple surgeries, unwittingly transferring bacteria from one patient to another, thus resulting in an extremely high death rate among surgery patients. No one had previously drawn a connection between the bacteria-laden instruments and patient deaths. After Pasteur introduced his disinfectant methods, patient death rates dropped sharply.

Continuing his research, Pasteur found that heat could destroy harmful bacteria present in cow’s milk. As a result of this discovery, millions of infants previously unable to breastfeed were saved from death, as they were able to ingest cow’s milk. The process he developed was subsequently named after him – pasteurization.

Germs in the Talmud

Remarkably, the notion of invisible harmful bacteria is mentioned in ancient Jewish texts. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 170:16) rules:

“A person shall not drink from a cup and then give it to another, because of life-threatening dangers.”

The Taz commentary explains this ruling based on a teaching of the Tanna Rabbi Eliezer:

“For perhaps there is an illness in his body, which might go from his mouth into the cup, making his friend ill.”

Further evidence that the sages knew of the existence of microbes and bacteria may be drawn from the following statement of the Gemara (Avoda Zara 28a), written some 1,600 years ago:

“Shmuel said: An open wound caused by a piece of iron is to be regarded as life-threatening, and one is allowed to violate Shabbat [to treat it].”

Shabbos desecration is permitted only for the purpose of treating life-threatening illnesses, and therefore, treating a simple wound is generally forbidden on Shabbos if it entails a Shabbat violation. However, when a wound was caused by a piece of iron, it should be treated even with procedures that involve Shabbat desecration, because even a superficial wound of this type can be life-threatening.

Brilliance of Our Torah Sages

Did medical experts of the time find this statement puzzling, seeing that it refers to a relatively minor wound? And why is such a wound considered life-threatening?

Today, we know that rusty iron contains bacteria that can cause a tetanus infection, also known as lockjaw, and that the entry of these bacteria into the body through even a superficial wound can ultimately be lethal. The Torah sages knew this before the advent of modern science.

Scientific opinion at the time (and till centuries later) denied any connection between superficial wounds and life-threatening illness. Indeed, before the discovery of bacteria, there was no good reason to imagine that a small wound could cause death. Non-Jewish medical experts would have claimed that the patient died from some previous, internal disease. And undoubtedly, they would not have recommended that a Jew violate Shabbat to treat a patient under such circumstances. Yet, despite the sages’ efforts to preserve the sanctity of Shabbat, they were not ready to accept the current medical opinion in this case. Their knowledge had been passed on from generation to generation, and they knew that a wound caused by iron could be life-threatening. Appropriately, they gave practical instructions to treat such a wound, big or small, on Shabbat, even if this required desecrating Shabbat, as it could cause a massive lethal infection. Eventually, scientists reached the same conclusion through their research.

Pasteurization Before Pasteur

Even more astonishingly, there is reason to believe that our sages were aware of the concept of pasteurization – the use of heat to destroy bacteria.

The Gemara (Chulin 84b) emphasizes the importance of drinking liquids only after they have been boiled:

“Rabbi Yochanan said: [Drink] a cupful of witchcraft, but not a cupful of tepid water.”

Rabbi Yochanan warns that drinking a cup of non-boiled water poses greater danger than drinking a witch’s brew. We must remember that at the time, water was drawn primarily from wells and cisterns and did not undergo the standard purification processes performed today.

Another story told in the Gemara (Bava Metzia 83b) demonstrates that the sages of the time also understood the importance of maintaining strict cleanliness during surgical procedures. Rabbi Elazar, the son of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, underwent an operation, whereby “he was given a sleeping draught, taken into a marble chamber and had his abdomen opened…” Note that the surgery was performed in a marble-lined room, which is easier to clean and keep dust-free. Undoubtedly, a special chamber had been designed to maintain the highest level of cleanliness, provide the proper environment for the surgery, and prevent the patient’s body from infection.

Conclusion

Thus, the sages have said: “Probe into the Torah over and over” – that is, examine it again and again as deeply as possible – “for everything is in it – for all that you need, you will find there.”

Modern Science in Ancient Texts

It is quite remarkable that through the study of the Torah, our sages that lived some 2,000 years ago, already knew the following:

* Tiny, invisible creatures exist in our natural world.

* These invisible creatures, now called bacteria, can cause the transmission of infectious diseases from one person to another.

* Bacteria are present throughout the sick person’s body – including in bodily secretions, like saliva – and not only in the affected organ.

* We should therefore be careful not to drink from someone else’s cup, in case he is sick and the bacteria in his saliva prove contagious.

* This applies regardless of whether the person is healthy or not, for a person may carry bacteria that do not harm him, but can be dangerous to other

You will probably identify with this fairly common occurrence. You are busy bustling around the house – taking care of this and that, your mind preoccupied with the multiple tasks at hand – when you suddenly turn a corner and let out a shriek of fright at the sight of an “intruder.” The startling moment, though, rapidly gives way to a feeling of intense relief, as your brain quickly processes the fact that this unexpected person is not a dangerous thief, but is a non-threatening family member. Phew!

The Relief Response

This relief response is a uniquely human characteristic according to neuropsychiatrist Dr. Katherine Brownlowe, Chief of Neurobehavioral Health at Ohio State University. “When stress activates the amygdala – it temporarily overrides conscious thought so that the body can divert all of its energy to facing the (perceived) threat,” Brownlowe said. The release of neurochemicals and hormones causes an increase in heart rate and breathing, shunts blood away from the intestines, and sends more blood to the muscles. It puts all the brain’s attention into ‘fight-or-flight’.”

But there is a difference in the ways humans and animals deal with fear. “We can get startled,” explained Brownlowe, “but instead of running away like bunny rabbits, we reassess the situation and figure out that we don’t need to respond in a ‘fight-or-flight’ manner. And then we can just get on with our day.” So that ability to take a step back and rationally assess the situation is something that sets us apart from the animal kingdom.

“Amazingly enough, a large portion of humanity seeks out fearful experiences, like riding roller coasters or viewing terrifying media programs. Is fear pleasurable for them? According to Brownlowe, no. What they are enjoying is the ensuing chemical euphoria. “Once the ‘fight-or-flight’ signals cease,” Brownlowe elaborated, “the brain releases neurotransmitters and hormones that mediate… ‘rest-and-digest’… heart rate [comes] down, breathing is slowing, goose bumps are relaxing. There’s a sense of internal cognitive relief in the body, and that feels good.”

Strategy to Calm Your Fears

Brownlowe postulates that this can help people face life’s inevitable stressors and anxieties. For example, “If you are anxious about talking to your boss about getting a raise, and then you get the [wits] scared out of you, then talking to your boss is no big deal.”

I guess Brownlowe’s motto would be: if you’re scared, scare yourself even more! This is like the desensitization component inherent in the CBT approach of psychotherapy. A noted director of a psychotherapy clinic once put it this way: “If you’re scared of spiders and are locked in a room full of spiders for a week, do you think you’ll still be scared of spiders at the end of that week?” Perhaps not, if you survive the ordeal and don’t die from fear.

The Brisker Rav’s “Ein Od Milvado” Approach

Not surprisingly, we Jews seem to have a divergent tradition in dealing with fear. “Ein od milvado” is the mantra, says Rav Chaim Volozhiner, that can trump any fearful situation. Intently focusing on the fact that there is not even one subatomic particle in the entire universe that exists without the will of its Creator, neutralizes the influence of perceived negative forces.

The Brisker Rav employed this tactic during his escape from German-conquered Poland during the Holocaust. Numerous times, doom seemed inevitable as Jews underwent German soldiers’ inspections, and the resultant release – which the Rav attributed exclusively to focusing on “ein od milvado” – was nothing short of miraculous. Tapping into the higher consciousness that there is no power whatsoever besides the Creator lifts a person above all the perilous sources of fear and propels him into a realm where the only thing that exists is the will of Hashem.

Rabbi Avigdor Miller’s Teaching – Life’s Two Roads

Of course, it’s no simple feat to emulate the Brisker Rav. Rabbi Avigdor Miller once said that life’s journey has two roads:

The super-fast highway and the slow, winding country road. The highway of life is “gam zu l’tovah”: recognizing that absolutely everything is an expression of Hashem’s will and is thus for the person’s benefit.

The low road, Rav Miller said, is “gam zeh yaavor,” this too will pass. Realizing that a negative situation – as painful, fearsome, or unpleasant as it may be – will eventually fade into the oblivion of history past.

The preferred, more efficient route is gam zu l’tovah. But not everyone can navigate that path, so Hashem gave us another, workable route called gam zeh yaavor. But there is no reason why anyone should have to resign himself to isolated mediocrity. Even while making use of lower-consciousness methods such as “this too shall pass” or “if you’re scared, scare yourself some more,” we can remain cognizant of the fact that another approach does exist.

That is the approach of gam zu l’tovah and ein od milvado. That awareness alone connects us to this superior approach and gives us a part in it. And who knows, maybe, just maybe, we will sometimes manage to infuse a bit of that higher consciousness directly into our lives.