Births – Baby Boy
Eli & Esti Yazdi
Rabbi Eliezer & Yvette Zeytouneh
Births – Baby Girl
Evan & Rhonda Dana
Marc & Rachel Sitt
Engagements
Albert Wahba to Sara Douek
Weddings
Joshua Maze to Alyn Saadia
Albert Rishty to Rochelle Cohen
Avraham Sutton to Miri Safdieh
Felix Ades to Marielle Salem
Jimmy Sayegh to Lizzy Hamoway
Jacob Gindi to Sarah Sananes
Dear Jido,
My 12-year-old son has a circle of good friends, but suddenly another boy has joined the group. My son has had problems with this boy in the past. This boy has regularly been mean to my son, but my son says they have reached a sort of “peace agreement.” I don’t want to get involved, but I really don’t want my son to spend time with this boy. Should I do anything?
Signed,
Being Overprotective?
Dear I Don’t Think So,
Trying to protect your son from unnecessary abuse is not being overprotective. Perhaps the other boy will honor his side of the peace treaty. Perhaps not. You would simply rather not take that chance.
However, convincing your son of the potential danger is another issue. One of the toughest lessons for a parent to learn is – never criticize your child’s friends in front of your child. It has a very odd effect on your child. S/he says to her/himself – “These are my friends, if my parents think that they are no good, it also means they think that I am no good.”
You certainly didn’t say that, but that’s what they hear. The “Experts” say – “Criticize their friend (even if what you say is TRUE), and you’ve made them a friend for life.”
So how DO you separate your children from less than desirable companions?
A few ways:
Your child’s friends are a very important ingredient in developing your child’s self-esteem. It is wise to make sure that he surrounds himself with good people who make HIM feel good about HIM.
Jido
Despite a massive deficit brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, New Jersey’s recently passed budget handed several funding victories to private schools, especially increases for spending on security and special education.
The budget process was delayed for months as a result of the virus, which both slashed revenue and disrupted normal government functions. There was much talk of a massively scaled-down spending plan to deal with the over-$5 billion revenue gap. Ultimately, Governor Phil Murphy and the legislature opted for a huge borrowing package and a “millionaires tax” to continue funding for most items the state has financed in past years.
In light of the steep hill the state had faced, advocates for the Orthodox community were pleased with the results.
“Given the challenges the state faced, we are exceptionally grateful for the gains we made and that other programs escaped any cuts,” said Rabbi Avi Schnall, Agudath Israel of America’s New Jersey Director.
The other most notable increase was in the reimbursement available for special-education services – covering supplementary instruction for English language and mathematics – which was increased from $31 million to $33 million. The move is especially significant as it is the first adjustment to the funding in over seven years. In that time, the number of children requiring extra help has grown exponentially, while funding levels remained stagnant, placing increasing limitations on the services that could be provided to needy students.
Rabbi Schnall, who has been heavily involved in efforts to secure the increase for several years, said that while the pandemic left less cash to draw from, it also highlighted the need to offer more support to struggling students.
“In terms of education, COVID hurt these students the most and highlighted the need to do more for vulnerable populations,” he said.
Agudath Israel of America Sues Gov. Andrew Cuomo Over New Coronavirus Restrictions
On October 8th, Agudath Israel of America sued New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in federal court for pandemic restrictions on religious gatherings that the group says are discriminatory, coming just ahead of three important holy days.
The lawsuit filed at the U.S. District Court in Brooklyn seeks a restraining order on restrictions Cuomo announced on October 6th, a declaration that Cuomo’s order is unconstitutional, and reimbursement for legal costs.
“Forty-eight hours before the onset of these holidays, Defendant Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order that singles out and discriminates against all houses of worship – and synagogues in particular – by imposing occupancy and gathering restrictions that make it impossible for Orthodox Jews to comply with both their religious obligations and the Order,” the lawsuit stated.
The lawsuit notes that New Yorkers must comply with the order beginning no later than Friday, which is when Hoshanah Rabbah falls, and which is followed by Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. The order will be in place for two weeks.
“These holidays each have special prayers and rituals that are incorporated into worship services,” the lawsuit states. “Orthodox Jews will gather at their synagogues for collective prayer, Torah readings, remembrances of deceased loved ones, and other rituals.”
The group claims the order “will disrupt the religious observance of tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews in New York state, depriving them of their religious worship and holiday observance,” the court documents show.
Dov Hikind Says Gov. Cuomo Unfairly Singling Out Jewish Community in COVID Clusters
Some Jewish leaders are voicing concern over what they say is Gov. Andrew Cuomo singling out the Orthodox Jewish community in New York’s COVID-19 “cluster zones.”
Last month, Cuomo announced that the state would cut funding to “red zone” schools and governments that were caught not enforcing or complying with the new restrictions in those areas.
Brooklyn activist and former State Assemblyman Dov Hikind said that he believes the governor’s rhetoric around the crackdowns is “causing an outbreak of the virus of anti Semitism.”
A wealthy man decided to go on a safari in Africa and took his small pet dog Fido along for company.
One day, while roaming the African plains, Fido started chasing butterflies, and before long the little beagle realized that he was lost. Wandering about, he suddenly noticed a leopard heading rapidly in his direction with the obvious intention of having lunch.
“Uh oh,” the dog thought to himself, “I’m in deep trouble now.” Noticing some bones on the ground nearby, he immediately settled down to chew on the bones with his back to the approaching cat. Just as the leopard was about to leap, the dog loudly exclaimed, “Man, that was one delicious leopard. I wonder if there are any more around here!”
Hearing this, the leopard halted his attack in midstride and, overcome by fear, quietly slinked away into the trees. “Whew,” the leopard said. “That was close. That dog nearly had me.”
Meanwhile, a pint-sized monkey who had been watching the whole scene from a nearby tree figured he could put this knowledge to good use and trade it for protection from the leopard. So, off he went to speak to the leopard. The dog saw the monkey heading toward the leopard, and figured that something must be up. The monkey quickly caught up with the leopard and, after striking a deal, revealed that the dog had tricked him. The cat, furious at being made to look like a fool, said, “Here, monkey, hop on my back and see what’s going to happen to that conniving canine!”
The dog saw the leopard coming with the monkey on his back, and began thinking, “What am I going to do now?” But instead of running, the dog decided to sit down with his back to his attackers, pretending he hasn’t seen them yet. And just when they got close enough to hear, the dog says, “Now where’s that monkey already? I knew shouldn’t trust him.”
Curious about the dog’s remarks, the leopard pauses for a moment and looks at the monkey.
Then the dog continues, “It must have been at least half an hour since I sent him to bring me another leopard!”
Yitzy D.
After my friend landed a coveted job from DHL, we went out to lunch to
celebrate. At the restaurant he was contacted by the company’s human resources department with an urgent request to complete and send back some forms. “No problem,” he said, “I’ll FedEx them right over!”
Abe C.
I admit I was becoming frantic when I couldn’t find my luggage at the airport baggage area and went to the lost luggage office to report the loss. Thankfully, Cindy, the baggage claim representative, calmed me down.
Smiling warmly, she told me not to worry as she assured me that she was a trained professional and I was in good hands. I was starting to feel relieved when this professional asked me her first question… “So, has your plane arrived yet?”
Eddie G.
Ruth, a travel agent, took a call from a man who wanted to book a flight for two to Colorado. When Ruth quoted him $59 per ticket, he wasn’t happy with the price.
“I want the $49 fare I saw advertised,” he insisted, saying that he would accept a flight anytime. After much searching, Ruth finally managed to find two seats on a 6am flight.
“I’ll take it,” he said. But he then expressed his concerns that his wife might not like the early hour.
“Well you’d better tell me for certain,” Ruth warned him. “There is a $25 cancellation fee for each ticket if you change the reservation.”
“Oh, that’s no problem,” he said dismissively. “What’s 50 bucks?”
Jack V. Grazi
Bob walked in to Fred’s Barber Shop one day.
“Hello there,” Fred the barber said as he recognized the repeat customer. “Do you want a trim or a regular cut today?”
“How much for a crazy cut?” Bob replied.
“A crazy cut? What exactly is that?” asked the barber.
Bob answered, “That’s where you cut one inch off of the left side, nothing off of the right side, shave just the middle part of the top of my head, and cut the hair in the back on a slant from left to right.”
Fred the Barber laughed and said, “Yeah, right… I’d do that one for free!”
“Really?” asked Bob. “Because you charged me for it last time I was here.”
David B.
As a sergeant in a parachute regiment, I took part in many exercises with young officers.
Once, I was seated next to a lieutenant fresh from jump school. He was quiet and looked a bit pale, so I struck up a conversation.
“Everything ok, sir?” I asked.
“Yes,” he answered quietly.
“Scared?” I asked.
“No,” he replied, “just a bit apprehensive.”
I asked, “What’s the difference?”
“That means,” he explained slowly, “I’m scared, but with a university education.”
Sari R.
Little Simon was applying to a religious school for third grade. Before being accepted, he had to be interviewed by the principal. “Now, Simon,” the principal asked, “tell me honestly, do you say prayers before eating?”
“No sir,” Simon answered, “I don’t have to… my Mom is a very good cook.”
Sarah S.
Morris was in need of much dentistry work. At his first appointment to fill one of his root canals, the dentist gave him laughing gas to ease the pain from the drilling. Upon completing the work, the dentist removed the mask, and Morris asked, “When am I going to stop laughing?” The dentist replied, “When you see your bill.”
David S.
Barbara was in Grand Central Station on her way to Connecticut. She had never taken the trip before, and was wondering if she had to switch trains in Stamford. When she reached the ticket booth, she placed her money on the counter and announced her destination. As she received her ticket she asked the ticket agent, “Will I need to change?”
The agent looked up at Barbara and said, “Well, I wasn’t going to say anything but, yes… those shoes really don’t go with that belt.”
Jack V. Grazi
As the judge entered the room, everyone rose to attention. But as the judge sat down, a few people in the courtroom began talking again. Banging his gravel down the Judge bellowed: “Order in the court!”
“Ok,” a reply came back from the corner of the room, “I’ll take pastrami on rye with extra pickles.”
Victor D.
Chaya Steinman
SCENARIO ONE: Savory aromas of perfectly cooked gourmet food fill the air. The table is neatly set and the family is presented with a balanced, healthy meal of brown rice, steamed spinach, and seasoned chicken breast with a light side salad. Yet the mood quickly turns sour as one child suspiciously eyes the food announcing, “I’m not eating that!” followed by a dramatic “Ewwwwww!” from another child, while the toddler expresses his disgust by spitting out what’s in his mouth and throwing the rest on the floor. The parents, horrified by such a display of chutzpah, will not tolerate this blatant disregard of the revered food pyramid. The dinner table soon becomes a battlefield of parent vs. child, with threats and punishment fired from one side are fought with whines and resistance from the other. After much tears and coercion, each child has ingested enough nutritious food to satisfy the parents, but everyone is left with a bitter aftertaste.
SCENARIO TWO: The ding of the microwave announces that the frozen pizza and fries are ready. Happy kids scamper to the table and eagerly eat their share of greasy packaged food. Mom is enjoying the easy mood yet at the same time she feels guilty and embarrassed, hoping that no unannounced visitors arrive to bear witness to this feast of innutritious calories that her children are filling up on. One by one, the satisfied children finish the meal and continue the evening calmly and cheerfully.
While these examples are extreme, most families have probably experienced their version of each scene. Parents of picky eaters face the daunting challenge of choosing either wholesome food and miserable kids, or junk food and happy kids. Parents need to decide whether or not to burden their mealtime with anguish by forcing healthy foods on finicky kids, weighing the benefits of nutritional health on one hand and emotional health on the other. Tangentially, it bears mentioning that while forcing kids to eat healthily has short-term payoffs, in the long run, if eating is associated with emotional negativity, it might result in unhealthy habits in adulthood.
With this problem in mind, let’s take a look at the Jewish custom to serve stuffed cabbage or stuffed noodle dumplings during the Purim feast, in which the hidden food filling echoes the theme of the hidden hand of the Almighty in the Purim story. Taking inspiration from this Purim tradition, we can use the concept of hidden foods, to create a new repertoire of meal ideas in which healthy foods are concealed in kid-friendly fare.
Hidden Veggies
The best place to start is with food that your children already like, and then think of a vegetable that, when shredded or puréed, will blend in visually and add little to the taste. Any recipe with ground beef, chicken or turkey, such as meatballs or meatloaf, is the perfect blank canvas. Add in shredded veggies such as carrots and zucchinis, and seasonings that will overpower the vegetables. Similarly, ground chicken with cooked diced veggies or greens can be formed into bite-size patties, coated with breadcrumbs and transformed into mouth-watering chicken nuggets.
Sauces and gravies are an excellent place to hide puréed veggies. Marinara sauce can be enhanced with squash, carrots or red pepper, as the tomato paste and spices create the dominant flavor. Try puréed cauliflower in Alfredo sauce for an instant nutritional upgrade, or get in a serving of greens by adding spinach leaves to your pesto. Mashed avocado, seasoned with fresh lemon juice, garlic, and oregano, makes an unexpected yet delicious creamy sauce for noodles.
Another kid favorite is macaroni and cheese. Put puréed butternut squash in the mix, and it will blend in with the natural colors of the dish and add a unique rich flavor (see sidebar for recipe!). And who doesn’t love mashed potatoes? Make them more nutritional with mashed kohlrabi or cauliflower. For kids who fancy breaded chicken fingers, sneak some ground flax seed into the bread crumbs to boost the meal’s fiber content.
One of the more unique and fun trends in vegetable presentation is “spiralizing.” A Spiralizer is an inexpensive kitchen gadget which turns vegetables into spaghetti noodle shapes. Spiralized veggies can be simmered in a skillet, cooked in broth, boiled, baked, or even eaten raw. When cooked, you can serve up guilt-free, carb-free, veggie-based pasta with your favorite sauce and toppings. The Spiralizer can also transform your veggies into rice, fries, chips and other interesting shapes. The list of vegetables that can be spiralized is wide-ranging, and includes zucchini, cucumber, beet, butternut squash, eggplant, carrot, apple, potato, cabbage, and broccoli stems. In addition to the nutritional bonus of a super healthy, hearty, plant-based meal, kids will love watching the Spiralizer in action, and might even join you in the meal prep.
Play With Your Food
Anyone who grew up eating “ants on a log” – celery sticks filled with peanut butter and topped raisins – can attest to the attraction of food that doubles as play. When food captures the imagination, kids will eat it, so get creative with food presentation to engage your child’s sense of fun. Try uniquely shaped sandwiches made with cookie cutters, or bite-size pieces of fruit and cheese on a skewer for a cool arrangement. Better yet, give your kids cut-up fruits and veggies in a variety of shapes and colors and challenge them to create original food art.
Quick Tricks
For cooks who are short on time, these concepts can be adapted for quicker meals. Vegetable purées and homemade spiralized veggie noodles can be prepared ahead of time, frozen and then defrosted when needed. You can easily then add these veggies to jarred sauces or boxed meals for a healthy boost. But if the thought of cooking, mashing, portioning and freezing makes you dizzy, look for packaged foods that do the work for you. For example, the company Barilla makes a line of pasta that incorporates fresh produce, such as carrots, butternut squash, spinach and zucchini, right into the noodles. They offer “[v]eggie pasta made with 25 percent freshly puréed in-season vegetables that delivers 20 percent of the daily recommended intake of vegetables so you can feel good knowing your family is getting the nutrition they need.” Many other brands are hopping on this bandwagon, so peruse the shelves of your grocery for ready-made food with hidden vegetables.
Last But Not Least
When it comes to dessert, there’s no reason why the last course needs to be the least healthy. In fact, with sugar to offset other flavors, mild veggies can be easily concealed in many sweet treats. Brownies, with their chewy texture and rich chocolate flavor, are the perfect base dessert for a healthy mix-in. There’s something magical about the combination of cocoa powder, sugar, flour and oil that no vegetable can ruin. Play around on Google and you will find brownie recipes that include shredded zucchini, black beans, kale, carrots, beetroot, and spinach. Similarly, you can satisfy your sweet tooth with chocolate chip blondies made from a garbanzo bean base (see Deep Dish Cookie Pie recipe in side bar!). Quick breads, muffins and pancakes are also a great place to sneak in some produce—think mashed bananas, chunks of apples and pears, berries and even shredded zucchini and carrots. Or, how about some creamy chocolate pudding with avocado slipped in!
We learn in Mishle (14:1), “Hochmat nashim banta beitah – The wisdom of a woman is what builds her home.” Let us be wise and use these ideas to build up the joy in our homes by removing meal time tensions with our precious children, and nourishing them physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
SECRET RECIPES
Mac & Cheese
1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
Nonstick cooking spray
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. all-purpose flour
1/2 cup skim milk
1/2 cup butternut squash, carrot, or cauliflower purée
1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup reduced-fat or nonfat cream cheese
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp paprika
1/8 tsp pepper
Cook and drain noodles according to package instructions. Coat a large saucepan with cooking spray and heat over medium heat. Add the oil, then the flour, and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture resembles a thick paste but has not browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the milk, stirring until thick. Add the vegetable purée, Cheddar, cream cheese, and seasonings, and stir until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth. Stir in the macaroni and serve warm. (Adapted from Deceptively Delicious)
Deep Dish Cookie Pie
2 cans white beans or garbanzos (drained and rinsed) (500g total, once drained)
1 cup quick oats
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3 tbsp. oil (canola, vegetable or coconut)
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 and 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup chocolate chips
Blend everything (except the chips) very well. Mix in chips, and pour into an oiled pan. Cook at 350 degrees for around 35-40 minutes. Let stand at least 10 minutes before removing from the pan. (chocolatecoveredkatie.com)
Rabbi Eliyahu Haim Aboud
The violent war of Gog Umagog forebodes terrible times for the entire world and an especially perilous period for the Jewish Nation in particular. This segment will discuss the prophecies that describe the war and its ultimate purpose in the redemption process.
Prophetic Visions
“Behold, the day of Gd will come… I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem for battle and it will be captured, its homes plundered and its woman abused; half its inhabitants will be evicted but the other half will not… (Zecharya 14:2)
“It will be a time of suffering that has never been, from the birth of our Nation up until this time…” (Daniel 12:1)
The prophet Zecharya describes the gentile nations’ successful conquest of Israel and its capital city, Jerusalem, after which they will neutralize its government and inflict severe pain and suffering upon the Jews. This is the period which the prophet Daniel foresaw as being the harshest period in the Jewish Nation’s history.
The early commentaries explain[1] that only “half its inhabitants will be evicted” because a bitter internal conflict will erupt among the Muslim and Christian conquerors, which will disrupt a campaign of persecution against the Jewish inhabitants. Gd will then visit harsh retribution upon the marauders, until they are finally destroyed.
Yehezkel’s Vision
“And Gd spoke to me saying… turn towards Gog, the land of Magog… and prophesize as follows: So says Gd, sovereign of the world… I will awaken in you [Gog] a strong desire to leave your country – you and your entire army…the nations Paras, Kush and Put accompanying you…and many other nations as well…to converge upon the land recently inhabited by the Jews who have gathered and returned from their many countries of exile to dwell among the mountains of the land of Israel that have always laid desolate…you will ascend upon them as a shoah (a sudden, deafening, dense darkness) covering the land like a tremendous cloud.” (Yehezkel 38:1-9)
It emerges from Yehezkel’s prophecy that the war will be instigated by Gog Umagog, who will convince the other nations of the world to come forth and invade Israel. The primary motivation behind this initiative, the commentaries explain, will be not to harm the Jews living in Israel, but rather to wrest control of the land from them and divide it among several nations. However, once they conquer the land, the invading armies will viciously persecute its Jewish inhabitants[2] [3].
The commentaries[4] identify the nations of Paras, Kush and Put as the Muslim countries of Persia (which is today Iran), Assyria (which is today Iraq and part of Syria) and Egypt. These nations will not have much ammunition in their arsenals, but Gog will supply them with arms to wage this battle against Israel.
Gd’s Ultimate Retribution
“Behold it will be at the time that I return the captives of Yehuda and Yerushalayim, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Yehoshafat and judge them there for what they have done and exiling my nation…” (Yoel 4:1-2)
During this war, Hashem will visit His final retribution upon the gentile nations that have caused suffering for the Jewish people throughout the exile. According to the Midrash[5], all the ancient rulers who had persecuted the Jews will be brought back to life during this war to receive their due punishment. These punishments will come in the form of supernatural events that will overshadow even the miracles performed at the time of the Egyptian Exodus[6]. In fact, according to some views[7], we will no longer be required to remember the Exodus from Egypt, as we will instead praise Hashem for our miraculous salvation during Gog Umagog and for establishing Mashiah as sovereign over the entire world.
This final retribution will take place during the holiday of Sukkot[8], and every year henceforth, the gentile nations will converge upon Jerusalem on Sukkot to pay homage to Hashem who revealed his glory and awesome strength to the entire world on this day[9].
The Downfall of the Gentile Nations
“And then prophesize, saying to Gog: So says Gd, sovereign of the world… I have brought you here [to Israel] to make My Name known to all when they beheld the punishment with which I shall afflict you… on that day My anger will be aroused…a tremendous trembling will seize the land…mountains will be flattened, towers and buildings will crumble, and fortified walls will fall to the ground…I will cause chaos and man will strike his fellow brother… and I will strike him [Gog] with torrential downpours and huge hailstones; fire and sulfur will rain down on him and all who joined him, and then I will be recognized and revered and all will know that I am Gd.” (Yehezkel 38:14-22)
“And this will be the punishment that Gd will deliver upon all the nations who have laid siege on Jerusalem: their flesh will melt off their bodies while standing, their eyes will fall from their sockets, and their tongues will fall from their mouths…” (Zecharya 14:12)
Many commentaries[10] assume that the “tremendous trembling that will seize the land” refers literally to a devastating earthquake that will bring chaos to the invading armies stationed in Israel, leaving death and destruction in its wake. The earthquake will occur just east of the Temple Mount, on Har Hazetim (the Mount of Olives), which will be split into two smaller mountains separated by an enormous crater. Interestingly enough, geologists have identified two significant fault line beneath the Land of Israel that have causes a number of earthquakes in Jerusalem and throughout the country[11]. Approximately once every century, the city is struck by a powerful quake, the most recent one having occurred in 1927[12].
Others, however, explain[13] “the deafening sounds and enormous explosions” as a reference to the heavy exchange of heavy artillery fire between the two armies, who will encamp on either side of Har Hazetim. The sound and force of the ammunition will cause the land to tremble and destroy much of the city.
The commentaries[14] explain the phrase, “and man will strike his fellow brother,” as referring to a bloody conflict that will be waged between armies representing nations of Yishmaelim and nations of Nossrim. These groups are called “brothers” because they descend from the same family: the Yishmaelim descend from Yishmael, and the Nossrim from Yishmael’s nephew, Esav. In fact, Esav married Yishmael’s daughter, thus forming an even closer relationship between the two. But during the war of Gog Umagog, these “brothers” will fight mercilessly against one another to the bitter end.
The Survivors
“And it will be that out of the entire world, Gd says, two thirds will be destroyed and only a third will remain. And I will bring that third through fire and cleanse them…I will test them…and I will answer those who call out in My name…” (Zecharya 13:8-9)
The commentaries[15] explain this prophecy to mean that a minority group of gentile nations will survive the ravages of this war. Which nations will these be?
The prophet Ovadia[16] predicted the complete annihilation of all vestiges of Edom, the descendants of Esav. The commentaries explain that the name “Edom” is used by the prophets in reference to Nossrut, which will be entirely eradicated during the war of Gog Umagog.[17] The survivors, then, will include Yishmaelim and perhaps other non-Nossrim. They will be “tested” and “cleansed” from their allegiances, and only those who call out truthfully in Hashem’s name will merit survival.
The Sages teach that Esav, the father of Edom, never repented and died a wicked man, whereas Yishmael repented toward the end of his life and departed the world in a state of piety. This is one of many reasons why adherents to Nossrut will not merit to see the End of Days while some Yishmaelim will.[18]
Seven Months of Burial
The prophets[19] describe the gruesome sight of hundreds of thousands of bodies, the remains of the fallen gentile soldiers, strewn all over the hills of Jerusalem with no survivors left to bury them. Their bodies will be open prey to the vultures and other wild beasts. The only nation that will merit a proper burial will be that of Gog Umagog, the descendants of Yefet, son of Noah, who will be rewarded for their forefather’s kindness in covering Noah when he found him sleeping unclothed. The Jews will bury them in a valley near Lake Kinneret, in the city of Tiberius, which will then be named, “The Valley of Gog’s Army.” The process of burying these thousands of cadavers will extend over a period of seven months! [20]
Jewish Survivors
The war of Gog Umagog will differ from the other calamities that have befallen the Jewish people over the centuries, during which righteous Jews were killed together with the sinners. In the war of Gog Umagog, all who remain steadfastly faithful to Torah and missvot are guaranteed to survive the war and behold the final redemption.[21] It therefore behooves us all to properly prepare ourselves for these turbulent times and ensure that we will be worthy of surviving the persecution and living to see Mashiah’s arrival.
The Purpose of Gog Umagog
Three main reasons are clearly outlined by the prophets as to why this catastrophe must precede the Messianic era. For one thing[22], as mentioned, the destruction wrought upon the gentile nations will serve as divine retribution for persecution of the Jewish people throughout the centuries of exile, and particularly for the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash. Hashem will cause them all to gather in the place of their past misdeeds, in Israel, where they will wage war against each other and ultimately be destroyed.
Additionally[23], the war will serve to rid the Jewish Nation of the sinners who are not worthy of redemption, and to purify those who are worthy but require atonement for sins they have committed.
Most importantly[24], however, the miracles that will occur during the war of Gog Umagog will clearly demonstrate to the entire world that Hashem is the true Gd, upon whom we depend and to whom we must dedicate our lives during the Messianic Era. The war will pave the way to Mashiah by allowing all mankind to witness firsthand Gd’s infinite power and the chosen status of Am Yisrael.
Next issue: The Return of the Prophet Eliyahu before Mashiah
[1] see Abarbanel and Malbim on Zecharya 14:2
[2] see Yonatan ben Uziel on Parashat Beha’alotecha 11:26
[3] see Abarbanel and Malbim on Yehezkel 32:17, 38:1-9
[4] ibid
[5] see Sefer Aderet Eliyahu on Parashat Balak, Part 5
[6] see Tractate Berachot 12b
[7] ibid
[8] see the Tur, Orah Haim 490
[9] Zecharya 14:17-19, see commentaries
[10] Ibn Ezra and Radak, on Zecharya 14:2
[11] Jerusalem Post November, 2007
[12] Israeli Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
[13] Abarbanel and Malbim on Zecharya 14:2 and Yehezkel 19
[14] ibid
[15] See Rashi, Ibn Ezra and Abarbanal..
[16] Chapter 1:18
[17] See Abarbanel and Malbim on Ovadia
[18] Yeshurun (2002), page 766.
[19] Yehezkel 39:4
[20] Yehezkel 39:11-12, see commentaries
[21] Daniel 12:1, see commentaries
[22] see Malbim on Yehezekel 38:1
[23] see Tractate Ketuvot 112b and Sefer Massme’ah Yeshua pp. 244-250
[24] Yehezkel 38:23, 39:21-29
DAVE GORDON
Former Trump advisor Sebastian Gorka speaks candidly about the president’s values and about several issues that concern our community
This past summer, Sebastian Gorka took on the role of presidential appointee to the Defense Department’s National Security Education Board. He says his position “Ensures that our Armed Forces have the requisite academic support from the private sector and academia in order to keep the Republic safe.”
Previously, Gorka served as Deputy Assistant to the President, and Trump’s strategist. Gorka’s initial remit was related to counterterrorism. However, once he came on board with all the clearances the job entailed, he worked on many other strategic issues, from the Defeat ISIS Plan, to the U.S. leaving the disastrous Iran Deal, and to dealing with the threat of China.
Gorka is also a Fox News contributor, and currently broadcasts his own radio show on the Salem Radio Network.
This election, Gorka says, will be more crucial than ever: “My biggest concern is the subversive Deep State, and getting our personnel policy right if, Gd-willing, we get the Boss re-elected.”
Community Magazine spoke to Dr. Gorka on several issues that concern our readers:
CM: You are a supporter of Donald Trump, and I’m curious to hear your response to the “Never-Trumpers” who say that his Twitter feed is unbecoming of an American leader.
Gorka: The mainstream legacy media is irredeemably corrupt. Just look at the way they aided and abetted the Obama administration, and the permanent bureaucratic class of Trump haters to subvert a duly-elected president with false accusations, such as Russian “collusion” and the Mueller probe.
That is why the President’s Twitter feed is so important, and why Never-Trumpers hate the fact that, with it, he can talk directly to more than 80 million people.
You have no right to call yourself a conservative if you complain about his tweets. With the caliphate of ISIS destroyed, 200 conservative judges and three originalist Supreme Court judges appointed, Jerusalem recognized as the capital of the eternal State of Israel, NATO revitalized, Iran contained, et cetera… Someone has a problem with his tweets? Those people are either leftists, or just fake conservatives.
CM: What are the top reasons, in your opinion, why North Americans should support Israel (not just Jews)?
Gorka: Easy. As my friend Jeff Ballabon taught me, our two nations are inextricably linked: America is the greatest nation made by man, and Israel is the greatest nation made by Gd.
More geo-strategically, Israel is the only functioning democracy in the Middle East. As such it is a beacon of hope for all those benighted communities in the Middle East who still yearn for freedom in the face of corrupt regimes, theocratic dictatorships, and religious fanaticism.
For that reason, all decent people should support Israel. But more importantly, all decent nations must support our great ally to ensure that the horror of the Shoah never happens again, and so that our Jewish friends will always have a safe homeland.
CM: Working with Donald Trump, what’s something you learned about him as an insider that most people don’t know, or might never see?
Gorka: That, despite the bluster and alpha-male character, he is also a very compassionate man. Read my book Why We Fight to get a full picture of who he really is.
CM: With the latest in peace deals between Israel, Bahrain, and UAE, these are optimistic times. What do you think differentiated Donald Trump from any leader before, that enabled him to foster this historic moment?
Gorka: Because he loves both Israel and the Israelis, and is not a career politician beholden to the moronic practices of the “elite” that failed in the Middle East for so long.
CM: What was the purpose of the Trump Plan for a “two-state solution,” if there was only an inevitable, predictable result of it being refused by the Palestinian leadership?
Gorka: Jared Kushner (the President’s son-in-law and advisor) and Jason Greenblatt (advisor on Israel) wanted to start with a tabula rasa (blank slate). This demanded figuring out for themselves that the PA was not acting in good faith, and that they still wish to see Israel destroyed. It took them two years to come to that conclusion by themselves.
CM: Trump visited Israel four months into his presidency. Trump recognized the Golan and Jerusalem as heirlooms of the Jewish people. And of course, he moved the embassy. His administration declared Israeli control over Judea and Samaria as “not illegal.” Trump removed Palestinian Authority funding and UNWRA funding. Question: What could a realistic “second act” look like?
Gorka: I can’t say more than just what is reasonable to expect in the near future: the addition of several more Arab nations to the Abraham Accords.
CM: In these particularly challenging times during COVID-19, people are worried about the economy and their own finances. What do you think has been a good move by Trump to help Americans get their heads above water?
Gorka: Everything. From the Payroll Protection for America’s businesses, to creating the fastest virus testing and vaccine production pipelines in medical history.
CM: Do you think the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) in Seattle – the month-long occupation protest that commandeered whole city blocks this summer – is just the beginning, or an aberration that will demonstrate itself to be a passing, failing fad?
Gorka: That is up to us. Brave Americans need to take a stand in the face of any new attempt to denude us of our rights, and subvert America, the greatest experiment in democracy the world has ever seen. That is why it is so vital that my boss, President Trump, be re-elected.
SARINA ROFFÉ
Rabbi Michael Seixas (1952–2019), was a beloved religious leader in Madeira and Belmonte, Portugal. He lived a full and inspiring life, that was tragically cut short last year. Rabbi Seixas was born in California and was the eldest of six children. Without quite understanding why, he was drawn to Israel.
Discovering His Passion
Rabbi Seixas researched his genealogy and discovered that his Portuguese paternal ancestors had an impressive Jewish lineage. This fantastic discovery helped Rabbi Seixas understand his deep love for Judaism.
His neshama led him to the deep faith of his ancestors. On his first trip to Jerusalem, Rabbi Seixas realized his heart longed to be there. His interest in Judaism grew and he constantly studied until he discovered that teaching about Judaism was his tafkid (role in life).
Rabbi Shlomo Kassin, the Rosh Yeshiva of the Shehebar Sephardic Center, helped Rabbi Seixas and accepted him as a student in his yeshiva in Jerusalem.
Israel
At the Shehebar Sephardic Center, Rabbi Seixas received extensive religious training. He made Jerusalem his home. Despite being ill with kidney problems, his greatest happiness was studying the Torah.
In 2018, Rabbi Seixas was overjoyed to receive his rabbinical ordination from the Abe M. and Geri Cohen Rabbinical College at the Shehebar Sephardic Center. He was appointed to serve as rabbi on Madeira Island, Portugal.
Rabbi Seixas was a humble , educated man who possessed great kindness. His smile was always present, as well as a word of hope. He always used to say this phrase in Portuguese: “Tudovaiserbom,” which means “everything will be fine.”
Rabbi Seixas’ wife, Batya Pontas, was from Venezuela and her mother lived in Madeira, Portugal. The Seixas family moved to Madeira and Rabbi Seixas became rabbi of the Jewish community there. He organized Friday evenings with the community, tourists, and Anusim, and he worked to rebuild the synagogue.
Belmonte
Rabbi Seixas came to know of a group of B’nai Anusim in Belmonte, Portugal, who lived there since the time of the Expulsion. They lived in a secluded area, had never assimilated, and only married within their community. Many of them have returned to rabbinic Judaism. Rabbi Seixas spent time with them, saw their needs, and taught them the Talmud. Upon returning to Israel, Rabbi Seixas promised to return to Belmonte, and did so twice a year, forming a strong and affectionate bond. He even taught himself Portuguese.
From Israel, Rabbi Seixas taught Skype classes to his Belmonte students. If there was no internet signal where he was, he would look for an appropriate place, sometimes in a town square and sometimes even in the rain. He would sit there with his laptop and would give a Torah class. Passersby often stopped and supported him with words of encouragement.
Once, at night (due to the time difference), Rabbi Seixas had a class scheduled. Although he felt weak and very ill, he still got out of bed, grabbed his laptop, and went to another room to give his shiur. Whenever a student could not be present for some reason, Rabbi Seixas felt very sad. His teaching method consisted of capturing and holding the student’s attention, and, at the same time, he presented varied topics in an attractive way.
The story is told of a boy from Belmonte who did not know anything about Hebrew. With patience and dedication, Rabbi Seixas worked with the boy for several months to prepare him for his bar mitzvah via Skype. Rabbi Seixas taught him to read from the Torah. The success was resounding! This young man currently reads the Torah just like an Israeli. In fact, many of Rabbi Seixas’ students have made aliyah to Israel.
Rabbi Seixas’ Last Visit to Belmonte
Rabbi Seixas traveled to Belmonte in 2019 to teach for a week before returning to Madeira. As soon as he got to Belmonte, he went from home to home motivating the men. He prayed with them every morning, donning tefillin with them and infusing them with love for their Jewish heritage. Rabbi Seixas dedicated the last days of his life to the Jews in Belmonte, tirelessly teaching Torah, praying, teaching classes, and helping people. Rabbi Seixas’ work was done purely out of love for the Torah.
The rabbi’s failing health did not allow him to work so hard without proper rest and nutrition. In early September 2019, his health was seriously affected, and he had to be hospitalized. Sadly, he suffered a massive stroke and died on 20 Elul, 5780 (12 September 2019), two weeks after his arrival in Belmonte. Within just a few hours, the Shehebar Sephardic Center, under the leadership of Rabbi Sam Kassin, arranged for Rabbi Seixas to be buried in the Holy Land.
Heading into the Playoffs, WWG1WGA had an impressive 10-2 record, was the number one seed, and was the favorite to take home the storied M&S Cup. But what you don’t know is how they got there. They seemed to be a team that was all on the same page from day one, that clicked on all cylinders. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
It all began in the 2019 M&S season. The Yankees, captained by Jackie Tawil, drafted and traded for much-needed emotional leaders and lock down defenders at 3B and SS in Sammy Esses and Teddy Ishak. This team soon was taken over by Sammy and TI and they reached the Wild Card, only to be derailed by a dropped ball. What came out of this season was clear: the duo was set for captain duties for the 2020 season.
Draft Night
It was clear that TI and Esses had their sights set on drafting the best players available, regardless of the personalities and potential fit. This almost backfired when they drafted former superstar CF turned SP Michael “MC” Cohen and perennial masher Yaakov Seruya. After weeks of trade demands and empty threats, co-captain Teddy Ishak finally found the right angle to take, stating: “Listen bro, if your friend wanted you, he would have drafted you. Now show them why you are the best players in the league.” This ignited a fire that never extinguished.
Aside from the aforementioned Cohen and Seruya, this team was rounded out to perfection with the likes of up-and-coming outfielders Aharon Cohen and Alan Jemal, which essentially gave them three center fielders. Yanky Gutman, a shortstop in his own right, was moved to 2B, and most importantly jumping on board was Eddie Harari, who slipped to the 12th round, giving them a total of two pitchers, two shortstops, and three center fielders. Teams like these are a rarity, but what’s even more difficult is getting all this to gel.
No team in community history succeeded with two starting pitchers that pitched on a weekly basis. As they say, there is only one ball. But with the presence of veteran David “Coney” Cohen at the catcher position, coupled with daily “team first mentality” pep talks from the captains, this team started to roll.
Even though this team was already stacked, the trade for first baseman David Harari put them over the top by adding yet another bat and emotional leader.
Post Season Run
WWG1WGA felt so confident going into the playoffs they hand selected their opponent in G.O.A.T. who was captained by reigning league Cy Young and World Series defender Max Yedid.
The G.O.A.T. organization took it personally and won game one via mercy, which sent shockwaves throughout the M&S universe. The sign of a great team is how it handles adversity, and instead of being down and out, they went on to win Games 2 and 3 and advanced to the World Series. A storyline that emerged was Eddie Harari, who was splitting games all season long with counterpart Yaakob Seruya, got the ball in the deciding Game 3 after stemming the tide in Game 2 and held down G.O.A.T., which set the stage for the World Series.
2020 Award Ballots
The 2020 M&S Award ballots were as star-studded as ever. A ballot was sent to each league member and league associate to vote upon the winners of the Gold Glove, MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year, and much more.
After tallying 90 plus ballots, almost every award was decided within three votes. M&S will be hosting its yearly M&SPY’s/Award Dinner to reveal the winners with the entire league and softball diehards in attendance. A date has yet to be set but the gala event will be hosted in the social hall of the Synagogue of Deal in the wintertime.
World Series
Veteran Co-Captain Teddy Ishak has been playing in community leagues for 17 years, yet astonishingly, he never won a championship. It was clear that just like everything else in 2020, this year was just different. The yin to Teddy’s yang kept everything in order. Sammy Esses – the calm to Teddy’s storm, masterfully captained this team all the way to the championship with just the number two seeded Spindrift in their way of accomplishing eternal softball glory.
Spindrift, captained by the disciplined squad of Steven J Gindi and Joe Sefaradi, were fresh off dismantling the high-powered Punisher’s organization, and were not to be deterred.
Rookie starting pitcher Joey Cohen, brother of WWG1WGA star outfielders Michael and Aharon, was determined and ready to create a storybook ending of his own.
After the World Series festivities were finished the two teams were primed and ready for a battle, and boy oh boy did these games live up to the billing.
Game One
In the top half of the 7th inning with a 3-2 lead, Spindrift had the bases loaded for captain Steven Gindi. Hearts were racing as SJG fouled off pitch after pitch vs. young Eddie Harari. In the 11th pitch of the at bat, Gindi hit a hot shot towards the 2nd base hole. Yanky Gutman alertly cut it off and fired a strike to secure the all-important Game One.
Game Two
WWG1WGA came out strong in Game Two and took a 2-0 lead with a Gutman blast deep in the night, which set the tone. But like the first game, Spindrift had one last rally in their bats and battled back to get within one run. The score was 5-4 with hulking slugger Aharon “Hank” Dweck up. But like they did all year, WWG1WGA dug deep one last time and induced a long fly ball to the left field track, which was tracked down by Aharon Cohen and completed the journey.
The celebration ensued. “GAME OVER!”
A Time to Celebrate
The following week, the championship BBQ was hosted at the house of Victor Chrem and was fully covered by TI to kick off an offseason of festivities.
So, the question remains, is WWG1WGA the greatest team ever assembled? As a league commissioner for the better part of 15 years, I will tell you that they are definitely in the conversation.
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