Halachic Perspectives on Feeding Tube Removal: The Nancy Cruzan Case

Rabbi Yehuda Finchas

In 1983, 25-year-old Nancy Cruzan was involved in a car accident that left her in a persistent vegetative state, requiring a feeding tube to survive. Her parents requested the removal of her feeding tube, arguing that their daughter would not have wanted to live in such a severely disabled state. However, the hospital refused to remove the feeding tube without court approval.

The case eventually went to the Missouri Supreme Court, which ruled that Nancy’s parents could not have the feeding tube removed. In 1991, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a landmark decision, authorized the removal of Nancy Cruzan’s feeding tube, and she passed away shortly afterward.

Without delving into the legal technicalities, what does halacha say about the removal of a feeding tube?

Halachic Perspective on Self-Starvation

Rabbi Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Aruch and Bet Yosef, explains that to starve oneself to death is included in the Biblical prohibition against suicide. This is evidenced by the fact that an oath to abstain from eating for seven days is considered invalid. The Rambam (MishnehTorah, Shavu’ot 1:7) writes that anyone who swears to abstain from food for seven days is guilty of taking a false oath, receiving lashes, and may eat immediately. The reason for this is that such an oath constitutes an intent to transgress a Torah prohibition -essentially, an oath to kill oneself. Therefore, the oath is invalid (Bet Yosef, Y.D., 236).

Fasting and Endangerment of Life

If a person endangers his life by fasting, it is considered an act of possible suicide, even on Yom Kippur. Hacham Ovadia, zt”l,  (Yechaveh Daat 1:61) writes: “If there is concern that fasting may endanger someone’s life, one must listen to the doctor and eat on Yom Kippur, as pikuach nefesh (saving a life) overrides the mitzvah of fasting. If the sick person insists on fasting, far from being pious, they will be punished for it.” Since eating is a matter of life and death, they should be forced to eat (Radbaz, quoted by Sheyarei Kneset Hagedolah, O.C., 618).

Autonomy in Halacha and Medical Treatment

While Judaism values autonomy and recognizes free will, this does not extend to the right to take one’s life or violate Torah laws. A person must live according to halacha, which limits autonomy and free choice in certain circumstances. Therefore, patients cannot autonomously refuse potentially beneficial or life-saving treatment. These principles shape the halachic position on tube feeding – Judaism prioritizes the preservation of life, considering patient autonomy only in exceptional circumstances.

The Obligation to Provide Nutrition to a Goses

Even a goses (a dying person) must be provided with nutrition and hydration, as long as it does not pose a choking hazard: “One should not feed a goses since they cannot swallow, but one can place liquid in their mouth, such as extracted broth from salvia, from the sage plant, to enable them to speak” (Sefer Hasidim, 234). This applies equally to tube feeding (Igrot Moshe, CM 2:74:3, Nishmat Avraham, Vol. 5, p.155).

Conclusion on Removing a Feeding Tube

In conclusion, the removal of the feeding tube actively shortened Nancy Cruzan’s life and is therefore halachically forbidden. Hacham Yitzhak Yosef (ResponsaRishon Lezion, EH 25) writes that it is forbidden to shorten the life of a patient, even if they are in a persistent vegetative state. Regarding the precise extent of the liability, see Rambam (Rotzeach, 3:10), who classifies various forms of causing death by restricting access to food and drink. Halacha does not differentiate between withholding milk from a baby, withholding nutrition from someone in a persistent vegetative state, or withholding tube feeding from an advanced dementia patient who cannot take food orally. In fact, the first practical application of Kibud Av Va’em (honoring parents), as stated in Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 240:4, is to feed one’s parents. One may certainly not shorten a person’s life by withholding nutrition and hydration from them.

Promises Made, Promises Kept

Frieda Schweky
Growing up, I thought I’d NEVER be interested in politics. Ever since Trump entered the scene in 2015 I’ve been hooked. I think my generation (millennials) crave authenticity and we think Trump is authentic! We don’t want two-faced politicians. We’re not interested in the sameold politics. We want and deserve to know the truth and Trump seems to be the agent for that.

Word on the Street

I was in Brooklyn this last weekend to visit my parents. I noticed that my parents’ neighbors on Bedford Avenue  were talking about  Trump and what he did to improve our country the past week. One neighbor said, “So, what’s new with Trump?!” My dad answered that Trump was very tough with Zelensky, the President of Ukraine. Although many may disagree with Trump’s treatment of our ally, my dad and his neighbors believe Trump did an amazing job advocating for the American people.  One of Trump’s first moves was removing DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies from government agencies including the private sector and the military. Many felt this was important because it challenged the idea that it was reasonable to promote people based on their skin color or other externals. Rather, it makes sense that one’s skillset and merit should be at the top of the list of what is important. I believe that our military should be strong, not colorful. I think that promoting individuals based on their race is not right. However, doing so was a major goal of the past administration. In fact, many of the things Trump did when he first took office were designed to reverse a number of Biden’s policies, which many of us found objectionable.

Women’s Sports

Trump made a campaign promise to bar transgender women from women’s sports. On February 5^th, he signed an executive order that put this into effect.In Maine, instances were cited where transgender women competed in women’s sporting events, contrary to Trump’s executive order. At the 2025 winter meeting of the National Governors Associationthis past February, the president censured the governor of Maine for not complying with his executive order. He noted that even though her constituency is somewhat liberal (Harris won in Maine in the last election), barring transgender women from women’s sports is what the American people want. And if Maine does not comply they willlose federal funding.

Supporters of the ban on transgender women competing in women’s sports feel that there are serious repercussions for allowing men who have become women to participate in women’s sports. Biologically, males are stronger than females. There have been many cases where transgender girls and women have unfairly beaten their female-from-birth opponents. Girls and women are discouraged from participating in sports where they fear they are at an unfair disadvantage with former boys and men competing.

Jews and Israel

Trump has consistently shown hisstrong support for Israel, including its right to self-determination and to defend itself. On March 5^th,Trump met with eight former Israeli hostages, Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher, and Noa Argamani. The president listened intently to the former hostages’ stories about the horrors they experienced on October 7th, about their friends and families that were brutally murdered, and the unspeakable conditions they lived under in Gaza. Immediately after the meeting Trump sent an Instagram message to the former hostages’ captors. “’Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance,” he added. “Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!” This is the kind of leadership we needed on October 8^th, 2023.Let’s not forget the president’s announcement of his plan to relocate the people of Gaza and make it beautiful again. It has received a lot of flak from the Arab world, but I think that’s the best idea anyone’s had to-date.

Anti-Semitism on Campus

Since October 7th, Jewish students on many college campuses have not felt safe. They have met with threats, bullying, and physical violence. Trump has come out strongly, stating that anti-Semitism on campus, and elsewhere, is unacceptable. The U.S. Department of Justice is sending a federal task force to ten universities – George Washington University, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Northwestern, UCLA, UC Berkeley, the University of Minnesota, and USC – where Jewish students and faculty have been left vulnerable to rising anti-Semitism. The task force aims to combat unchecked anti-Semitism and ensure Jewish students can learn in a safe environment. 

Additionally, the Trump administration has cut $400 million in federal grants and contracts with Columbia University because of what the government describes as Columbia’s failure to squelch anti-Semitism on campus. Trump’s message that there will be consequences for our enemies both here and abroad is so refreshing and honestly is just incredible.

My Personal Take

As a Jew and as an American, I felt like my government did not care much about me and my problems. My tax dollars were funneled  overseas or used to aid illegal aliens that were flooding in. I felt that I was the last to be considered. Now, I feel differently! Trump is working to abolish income tax, and I am thrilled, as I’m sure many are. He’s thinking out of the box in terms of how to make our country rich in ways that don’t involve the government’s appropriating our hard-earned money. I am honestly confused when I hear that some people are against any of the president’s policies. However, those who favor Trump are now in the majority, and I thank Gd for that.

I smiled when I saw a news alert stating that the Trump administration revamped the CBP One  app, which was formerly used to process asylum claims at the southern U.S. border. Now, the app has been reimaged as a platform for “self-deportation.”The idea is to get illegal aliens to deport themselves, with the hope that they will be allowed to return legally in the future. I believe this is another way Trump is making America great! We have an obligation to help the homeless, our veterans, and low- and mid-income families who need support. I believe we have overextended ourselves when it comes to immigration.I believe that immigration should happen slowly and with intention. We are not anti-immigration. How could we be- we’re all immigrants! We simply want immigrants to be vetted properly.

I honestly can go on and on about the amazing things that Trump has been doing for us and Israel, but I digress. Hashem thank you for saving Trump and for causing him be elected president. Please bring Mashiach as he is our true savior!

Until next time,

Frieda Schweky!Frieda is an event and portrait photographer. Check Frieda out on Instagram @friedaschwekyphoto. For photography inquiries or article topic suggestions email her friedaschweky@gmail.com.

Leon Sakkal

Yes, it’s that time of year again! As we clean out the cabinets, sweep the floors, and make all the necessary preparations for Pesach, it is important to remind ourselves of the many meaningfullessons and values we transmit to our children at this special time. 

“Let My People Go!” 

When finally agreeing to let the Jewish people leave Missrayim, Pharaoh instructs Moshe, “Go and serve Hashem, your Gd – butfirst, mi va’mi ha’holchim?” – “Just who will be leaving?” Moshe replies, 

“Bi’narenu u’bizkenenu nelech”— “With our young and our old we will go.” The question arises: why does Moshe mention the young before the old? It is no secret that we, as Jewish people, always give precedence to our elders. Why, then, the uncharacteristic choice of phrasing? 

The answer is one of the essential principles of Passover and of our Jewish tradition. 

Pharaoh agrees to let the Jewish People go, but before giving Moshe the absolute “green light,” he needs to know precisely who will be going. Men? Women? Children? For he fears Moshe will take his most significantmembers of Jewish people: the children. 

Well aware that Pharaoh fears the emancipation of the young, Moshe first stresses “bi’narenu” as if to say, “Indeed, we will be taking our young.” It is then that Pharaoh withdraws his sanction. 

The Evil Strategy 

Although this may shed light on Moshe’s choice of words, one cannot help but wonder: What is so significant about the Jewish children that Pharaoh does not want to let them go? 

In the Purim story, we find a similar interest taken by King Ahashverosh. There, the king throws a tremendous party, inviting everybody “mi’gadol ve’ad kattan” both great and small, young and old. But is it not strange? Surely most people would not want children running around a party of such magnificence and grandeur! And so again we wonder: Why the special interest in the little ones? 

On the night of Pesach we can truly understand the intention of Pharaoh, Ahashverosh, Adolf Hitler, and all of the wicked men who have tried so desperately to annihilate us.   

Throughout history, our enemies have realized that the key to both the construction and destruction of the Jewish people is largely dependent on their youth. “If we get the kids,” they muse, “the rest is history.”    

The frightening truth is that this tactic has not disappeared with time. Modern-day villains likewise prey on the innocence of the young. In fact, a recent study shows that more than 75 percent of ISIS and Al Qaeda terrorists recruited from the United States are teens!   

Both past and present tyrants understand that Jewish children are the lifeline of the Jewish faith, the future of our Holy Torah and traditions. Making it so that Jewish children are disconnected from our People would surely threaten the future of Am Yisrael. 

The Seder Night 

Perhaps it is more apropos to transmit our people’s ancient story on Succot, when we leave the comfort of our homes to reside in huts. Surely that is deserving of a “Mah Nishtana?” Yet, it is only on Pesach that we entice our children to ask questions, and teach them the story of our redemption. We are commanded, “Ve’higadeta le’bincha,” to tell our children. On the surface, the instruction seems fair and reasonable: Give the kids a nice lesson in Jewish history. This, of course, is incorrect.    

With the recital of the Haggadah we achieve far more than a mere history lesson. We ensure that those who seek our destruction donot have their way by infecting the pure minds of our youth. This is why we tell the age-old story of our exile and redemption from Egypt exclusively on Passover. 

Transmitting our Story  Understanding the wicked intention of Pharaoh can inspire us to have a more meaningful seder. Knowing that our own children are the target of all who seek our demise, we should do our best to transmit our heritage with pride. This seder night, enlighten your children regarding the gratitude they should feel – not only for being part of the Jewish nation, but for belonging to such a unified community. They are so fortunate to have such an extended family.

Is Yawning Contagious?

Absolutely! It’s one of the body’s most contagious, uncontrollable actions.

In fact, yawning is so contagious that seeing a picture of someone yawning can make you yawn. Not only that, but even reading or writing about yawning can make you yawn! (Are you yawning yet?)

Scientists continue to research the “contagious yawn” phenomenon, but they have yet to discover what exactly causes people to yawn simply because they see another person yawning.

One theory is that yawning may be an unspoken form of communication, and “contagious yawning” is related to empathy (the ability to recognize, understand, and share the feelings of others). People with higher levels of empathy yawn more often when someone else yawns, compared to people with lower levels of empathy or those with emotional disorders.

A recent study discovered that yawns are most contagious among close friends and family members. Apparently, the closer you are to someone genetically or emotionally, the more likely it is that you’ll “catch” his/her yawn. Research has also shown that children under the age of five, as well as older adults, are less likely to yawn in response to somebody else yawning.

What Exactly Is a Yawn?

Everybody yawns on a daily basis, from infants to great-grandparents and everyone in between. But, have you ever wondered what exactly is a yawn?

A yawn is a big intake of air. The mouth and jaw open wide. Through the mouth and nose, there’s a deep inhale, followed by a slow exhale. Sometimes, people close their eyes when they yawn; often they stretch their arms or legs, too. Although we yawn more often when we’re tired or bored, scientists have ruled out sleepiness or lack of oxygen (which would cause sleepiness) as causes for yawning. Then why, exactly, do people and animals yawn?Scientists still do not know for sure, but they do have a few theories.

Animals Yawn Too!

Did you know that dogs, cats, and other animals yawn, too? In fact, nearly all vertebrates, from fish to reptiles to primates, yawn. What’s even more amazing is that research has proven that yawning is contagious among some animals as well. Examples include dogs, chimpanzees, and bonobos. Experiments have shown that dogs will even yawn after a person yawns!

Inventions are the ingenious gadgets and machines that have made our lives a little more fun, interesting, and easier. Real inventions are the things that we did not think were possible yesterday, and yet, it would be difficult to live without today. From the tiny paperclip to the massive jet engine, every month we will explore the history behind our world’s most famous inventions and learn about the innovators that designed them.

This month we explore the history behind an invention that most of us likely just take for granted…

The Post-it Note

Post-it Notes are one of the world’s favorite office supplies. Here’s a little fact about those sticky notes that might surprise you – like many of today’s great inventions, they were invented by accident!

In 1968, 3M researcher Dr. Spencer Silver had the job of developing adhesives for 3M. Although his mission was to create a stronger, more reliable adhesive for the aerospace industry, Silver ended up with something else. He created a weak adhesive that could be removed easily without leaving behind a residue. The glue also kept its stickiness when applied with pressure and was reusable. “At the time, we wanted to develop a bigger, tougher adhesive,” Silver said in a later interview. “This was none of those.”

For a number of years, Silver had a solution on his hand looking for a problem. He presented the adhesives at numerous business meetings and proposed their use for bulletin and message boards, but his proposals were rejected.

In Search of a Bookmark

In 1974, fellow 3M scientist, Art Fry, recalled one of Silver’s presentations when seeking out a way to solve a problem he was having with his bookmarks. Fry would use pieces of scrap paper to mark places in his books. However, it seemed like they always fell out. He dreamt up a bookmark that could stick to the pages, but that could also be easily removed without damaging the paper. That’s when Fry remembered the adhesive invention of his colleague. The adhesive would be perfect, he thought, and Fry then started developing the notes using Silver’s adhesive for 3M.

Using Silver’s adhesive, Fry was able to produce reliable and reusable sticky notes, but it became quickly apparent that these sticky papers had much more potential than just bookmarks.

The Color Yellow

Yet, still, one more accident would help shape the future of the Post-it Note. When Fry and his team began developing the product, they could only find yellow scraps of paper to experiment with. The signature Post-it Note yellow of today can be traced back to this “accident.”

After developing the product, 3M released the Post-it Note during a 1977 test run in four cities in the United States. At the time, they were called “Press ’n Peel” notes, and sales were discouraging. Eventually, 3M decided to pull them off the shelves.

The Launch of the Post-it Note

However, in 1979, 3M re-marketed the Press ‘n Peel notes as Post-it Notes. To re-launch the product, 3M gave free samples to offices throughout the Boise, Idaho Metro Area. It was a huge success as more than 90 percent of offices that received a free sample re-ordered them!

And the rest, as they say, is history. 3M released Post-it Notes nationally in 1980, and expanded distribution into Canada and Europe the following year. Since then, Post-it Notes have become a nearly universally-known office supply item, and today, 3M produces and sells more than 50 billion individual notes per year.

Michele Shrem

We all have many recipes that we make every week. Some people I know never veer off that path, and others, like myself, are always looking for a new dish. But, with many women working in today’s world, it has been harder and harder to find recipes that are easy to shop for, very easy and quick to cook, and yet also look beautiful on the table.

There are so many recipes to be found on the internet, or passed along through friends, but it would be great to have them readily available for the coming weeks for use during special meals with the upcoming holidays approaching soon.

The recipes below all have ingredients that can be found in local supermarkets as well as in our community specialty grocery stores. They are all very easy to put together, and they all make a wonderful presentation for a Shabbat table that you can be proud of showing off to your family, friends, and guests. Some of these recipes can even be used for Passover.

Crock Pot Brisket

From Sofia Sutton

Ingredients:

• brisket
• 1 large onion
• Goodman’s onion soup mix – 1 envelope

Instructions:

• Add water about half way up in the crockpot.
• Place a crock pot liner (bag) over the water. I don’t like the Reynold’s brand liner, since it has ripped on me in the past, and then the water is able to enter the food.
• Slice one onion into rounds, and place on the bottom of the bag.
• Wash the brisket, add salt and pepper to taste, and lay it flat directly onto the onions.
• Add one cup of water and one packet of Goodman’s onion soup mix to the top of the brisket.
• Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.
• This is so easy, especially in the summer months, when you don’t want to cook a roast or brisket in your oven.

Mongolian Beef

From Nathan Rudy

I make this recipe often, since it’s a family favorite. It’s a classic Chinese restaurant item, and it’s always my first choice. There are a few different ways to adjust this recipe as well, so check the notes section.

Ingredients:

• 2 lb. beef tenderloin/beef chuck, cut into strips
• 1/2 tsp of meat tenderizer
• 1/2 cup cornstarch/corn flour
• oil, for deep frying

For the Sauce:

• 2 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 tbsp finely chopped ginger
• 1 tbsp finely chopped garlic
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup rice vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp hoisin sauce (optional)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cornstarch, diluted in 3 tsp water
• 1 tsp red chili flakes (optional)
• 1/2 cup green onion, chopped into 1-inch pieces

Instructions:

• Start off by tossing the beef strips in cornstarch mixed with meat tenderizer. Make sure the strips are coated evenly. Allow it to sit for 10-20 minutes to get to room temperature.
• Deep fry the beef strips for 4-5 mins, drain the oil, and set aside.
• In a saucepan, heat oil on high heat setting. Quickly add in the ginger and garlic.
• Stir quickly for 10 seconds. Immediately add in the soy sauce, water,rice vinegar, and hoisin sauce. Bring the sauce to a quick boil.
• Add in the brown sugar and cornstarch and mix thoroughly.
• Now add in the beef strips and let cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the green onions and cook for an additional minute.
• Serve hot with rice.

Notes:

• To make this recipe spicy, I add 1 to 2 tsp of red chili flakes.
• You don’t need to marinate the beef beforehand in this recipe, unlike the
• other recipes for Mongolian beef. It’s the quickest and most delicious way of making it!
• Add an additional teaspoon of corn flour/cornstarch diluted in two teaspoons of water if you want it to be slightly thicker and stickier.

Rosemary London Broil

From Shiri Zimmerman

Ingredients:

• 2.5 lbs. of London broil

Marinade:

• 1/3 cup olive oil
• ½ cup honey
• ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
• 6 cloves garlic, crushed (can use the frozen squares)
• 1 tbsp dried rosemary
• Salt
• Black pepper

Instructions:

• Score both sides of the London broil in 2 directions, making diamond shapes in the meat.
• Mix marinade ingredients together and place meat & marinade in a gallon size Ziploc bag.
• Marinate for 2 to 24 hours.
• Preheat oven to Broil. Take meat out of the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. Remove meat from marinade and broil on both sides for 10-15 minutes, for medium rare meat. (It will cook more if re-warming lateron.)
• Baste meat with marinade while cooking and discard the rest of the marinade. Can also grill meat on barbecue.
• Slice meat thinly against the grain and enjoy!

Chicken with Caramelized Onions& Chestnuts

From Guila Sakkal

Ingredients:

• 7-8 onions, thinly sliced into crescents
• 1 bunch parsley, chopped (fresh or frozen)
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1 tsp turmeric
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2-3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2-3 tbsp Silan (date syrup)
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 2-3 packages chestnuts
• 1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces (skin-on, bone-in)

Instructions:

• In a large pan, sauté 7-8 sliced onions over medium heat until translucent.
• Add paprika, turmeric, salt, pepper, bunch of chopped parsley (or 5-6 cubes frozen), 2-3 tbsp of soy sauce, 2-3 tbsp of Silan, and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Stir well and continue cooking until the onions caramelize and have a nice golden color. (Add a little water to caramelize.)
• Mix in 2-3 packs of chestnuts, coating them with the onion mixture.
• Add the chicken pieces, turning to coat them fully in the sauce.
• Cover and cook on low to medium heat for about 2 hours, allowing the chicken to release its own liquid.
• Avoid stirring – gently shake the pan or spoon sauce over the chicken as needed. The sauce should thicken up.
• Cook until most of the liquid has reduced and the chicken is tender.

Chicken & Peppers

From Michele Shrem

Ingredients:

• 4 lb. of boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 3 peppers, one red, one yellow, and one orange
• 2 onions
• Hawaage (or, you can use soup spice)
• Salt, pepper

Instructions:

• Cut the onions and peppers into slim slices and add hawaage, salt, and pepper.
• Sauté the onions and peppers in olive oil, and then line them on the bottom of a casserole.
• Then, spice and sauté the chicken pieces on each side until browned.
• Layer the chicken on top of the onions and peppers and re-spice again. Add a little water.
• Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit until done, about 30 minutes or so. Cover after 15 minutes.

Roasted Lamb (can use roast or shoulder)

From Guila Sakkal

Ingredients:

• Lamb roast
• Fresh garlic
• 2 oranges
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• Salt, pepper
• Garlic powder and cumin

Instructions:

• Sear lamb roast on a hot pan (only if using roast, not shoulder).
• Make slits with a knife in the lamb and stuff fresh garlic SLICES (I make 10-12 slits) into the slits.
• In a cup mix juice of 2 oranges, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cumin.
• Add mixture to the lamb and marinate in a cooking bag overnight.
• Cook for 2-3 hours in the bag at 350 degrees. Poke a small hole on top so bag doesn’t explode.
• Once cool, slice up and arrange in Pyrex with sauce.
• For a side dish – serve with jasmine rice with ground beef.

Jasmine Rice with Ground Beef

Ingredients:

• Chopped Meat
• 1 onion
• Salt, pepper, and cinnamon
• Roasted, slivered almonds

Instructions:

• Sauté 1 chopped onion and 1lb of chopped meat.
• Cook until cooked through, and add 2 tbsp of water.
• Season with salt and pepper, and a dash of cinnamon.
• Add cooked rice and mix well.
• Sprinkle roasted slivered almonds on top when ready to serve.

Easy Baked Chicken and Eggplant

Rachel Mizrahi

Ingredients:

• 2 medium eggplants, sliced into ½-inch rounds
• 1 package boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• ¼ cup olive oil, divided
• 1 ½ tsp kosher salt, divided
• 1 tsp garlic powder, divided
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• Freshly ground black pepper (optional)

Instructions:

Prepare the eggplant:

• Lay the eggplant slices on a paper towel-lined surface and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon kosher salt.
• Let them sit for 15 minutes to draw out excess moisture. Pat dry with paper towels.

Roast the eggplant:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit..
• Arrange the eggplant slices on a baking sheet and drizzle with 2 tbsp of olive oil.
• Sprinkle with ½ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp garlic powder, and allspice. Toss to coat evenly.
• Bake for 20 minutes until tender and lightly golden.
• Season the chicken:
• In a bowl, toss the chicken thighs with the remaining 2 tbsp of olive oil, ½ tsp kosher salt, and ½ tsp garlic powder.
• Assemble and bake:
• In a roasting dish, arrange a layer of roasted eggplant slices.
• Place the seasoned chicken thighs on top, then cover with another layer of eggplant. Drizzle with a little olive oil.
• Cover the dish with foil and bake for 1 hour.
• Crisp the top (optional):
• Uncover the dish and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until the top is golden and slightly crispy.

Serve:

Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy on its own or with rice.

Stuffed Eggplant and Chicken

Yola Haber

Ingredients:

• Eggplant
• Oil for sautéing
• Chicken
• Chopped meat
• Rice
• Allspice, cinnamon

Instructions:

• Slice eggplant, sauté it, and then add to the bottom of a roasting pan.
• Make stuffed eggplant  and add it to the top of the sautéed eggplant.
• Spice chicken with your choice of spices, and layer it on top of the stuffed eggplant.  Cook slowly on low until golden.

Yemenite Soup

Michele Shrem

Ingredients:

• 2-3 lb. of flanken on the bone
• 3-5 potatoes (preferably Yukon gold)
• 2-3 onions
• Hawaage and salt
• Schug

Instructions:

• Fill a pot with water, add the flanken, and bring to a boil.
• Cut the potatoes up, and the onions into halves.
• Once the water with flanken comes to a boil, take a large spoon and remove the fat from the top.
• Then add the potatoes, onions, salt, and 2 heaping tbsp of hawaage.
• Simmer for one hour.
• Serve with fresh lemon and schug. Goes great with Syrian/pita bread.

Note:

You can add carrots and/or celery, although I prefer not adding.

For Passover, you can crush up matzah to add to the soup. The Yemenite soup recipe is very special to me. I got the recipe from my mother who made it for my father, may he rest in peace. The recipe was passed down through the generations, and is a family favorite. My father once admitted to me that I made it even better than my mom, and it was as good, or better than, my grandmother’s recipe. It does not have any color, or cilantro, as many of the recipes contain. However, I promise you will love it, and it is so easy to make, too! I hope you will try all of these recipes and keep me posted!

Victor Cohen

Shabbat observance, as we know, requires abiding by numerous restrictions, many of which are well-known to all those accustomed to observing Shabbat. For example, we are keenly aware of the prohibitions against cooking, kindling a fire, using electronic devices, and even handling certain things which are classified as muktzeh. But one of the Shabbat prohibitions that might not be very familiar to observant Jews in today’s day and age is the prohibition against carrying objects into or through the public domain. Many Jews today live in communities with an erub – a symbolic enclosure that, ostensibly, allows for carrying within the area surrounded by the erub. The community in Deal, NJ is one such community, which benefits from an erub.

Unfortunately, however, many people mistakenly assume that this erub grants unrestricted permission to carry on Shabbat. The truth is that the erub relies on leniencies to permit carrying for health and safety purposes, and does not provide a blanket permission to carry.

To understand how the Deal erub works and which kind of carrying it permits, I had the privilege of interviewing Rabbi Nissim Basala, one of the creators of the Deal erub, who continues to maintain and oversee it even today.

The History of the Deal Erub

The process to build the Deal erub began in 1998. Thanks to the efforts of Rabbi Isaac Dwek, Mr. Jack Adjmi, Solly Dweck, and a number of other individuals, the erub was launched in the summer of 1999. It was expanded several times throughout the years, and now surrounds an area of over 24 square miles, extending into sections of Long Branch, Brighton Avenue, and some parts of West Allenhurst. The erub has been down only on very rare occasions, such as after Hurricane Sandy, which took the erub down for around a year.

Rav Moshe Heineman from Baltimore, one of America’s preeminent halachic scholars, was brought to authorize the erub, and he spent three days walking the entire length of the erub to assure its validity. The erub was inspected also by Rav Avraham Moshe Katzenelbogen, the rabbi who oversees the Jerusalem erub. Rabbi Basala says that he consults with Rav Moshe Heineman’s younger brother, Rav Shmuel Heineman – who runs the Star-K Hechsher in the New York/New Jersey area – with regard to erub-related matters.

The Four Shabbat Domains

Just as maps show different kinds of areas – residential, commercial, public, etc. – halachah similarly recognizes four different domains with respect to the prohibition of carrying on Shabbat:

1. Reshut hayahid – private property, referring to homes and other enclosed properties.
2. Reshut harabim – a public thoroughfare.
3. Karmelit – a public area that does not meet the qualifications of a reshut harabim, because of its size or the relatively little traffic passing through it (see below).
4. Makom patur – a small area such as a fire hydrant or a small ditch in the ground.

Inside a reshut hayahid, of course, carrying is permissible. However, Torah law forbids bringing something from a reshut hayahid into a reshut harabim, or vice-versa – from a reshut harabim into a reshut hayahid. Torah law also forbids carrying within a reshut harabim. Carrying from a reshut hayahid into a karmelit, or from a karmelit into a reshut hayahid, is forbidden miderabbanan – by force of rabbinic enactment. It is similarly forbidden miderabbanan to carry within a karmelit,

An erub is effective in halachically converting a karmelit into a reshut hayahid; the enclosure around the karmelit allows us to regard the enclosed area as a private domain, thereby sidestepping the rabbinic prohibitions against carrying within a karmelit, carrying from a karmelit into a reshut hayahid, and carrying from a reshut hayahid to a karmelit. Once the karmelit has been “downgraded” to a reshut hayahid through erub, all these become permissible.

Significantly, an erub has no effect on a reshut harabim. If an area is halachically defined as a public thoroughfare, then the construction of an erub does not allow carrying on Shabbat within this area, or to or from this area.

Hence, in order to determine whether an erub can be effective in a given area, we must determine whether halachah treats this area as a karmelit or as a reshut harabim.

The Differing Opinions, and Why They Matter

The Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 345:7) brings two opinions regarding the definition of a reshut harabim. According to the first opinion, any area that is 25 feet wide or larger qualifies as a reshut harabim. The second opinion, by contrast, maintains that a public area does not qualify as a reshut harabim unless 600,000 people or more pass through it in a day. The question of whether streets in Deal are to be regarded as a reshut harabim or a karmelit – and, by extension, the question of whether an erub is effective in permitting carrying in Deal – hinges on this debate. According to the first view, a large public area qualifies as a reshut harabim, and thus suburban neighborhoods such as Deal, despite their relatively quiet streets and little traffic, must be treated as a reshut harabim, where an erub is ineffective. The second view, however, would allow constructing an erub in places such as Deal that does not see heavy volume passing through them.

In other words: according to the first opinion, bringing a small object outside one’s home in Deal on Shabbat would constitute a Torah violation, just like cooking on Shabbat, despite the erub. According to the second view, this is entirely permissible.

Who is the Erub For?

In light of these differing opinions, Rabbi Basala explained that the Deal erub was erected not to grant a blanket license to carry on Shabbat, but rather for the benefit of those who have a particular need to carry, that justifies relying on the lenient position.

“It was intended for someone, who, let’s say, needs to carry medicine in their pocket,” Rabbi Basala said, “or who need some sort of walker.” By contrast, he clarified, the erub “wasn’t meant to cover people playing basketball.”

Secondly, as Hacham Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, writes in a responsum on the subject, “You should build the erub to save people who don’t know they are violating Shabbat.” Many people are unfamiliar with this prohibition, and so an erub should be erected so they are protected from Shabbat desecration, at least according to the lenient view quoted by the Shulhan Aruch.

Thus, the erub was created for people who need it, and to protect people who are unaware of this prohibition. It is not set up for casual carrying.

In fact, Rabbi Basala said that he himself does not use the erub, even though he leads an entire team dedicated to ensuring it is up each week.

The rabbi emphasized the responsibility we all have to familiarize ourselves with the halachot of Shabbat. He noted the well-known comment of the Hafetz Haim (Rav Yisrael Meir Kagan of Radin, 1839-1933), in his Mishnah Berurah, that learning the laws of Shabbat is an indispensable prerequisite to the proper observance of Shabbat. This is relevant also to the prohibition of carrying. One cannot willfully decide to not know about this issue so he can rely on the erub without any restrictions.

Rabbi Basala concluded by emphasizing two other points relevant to the use of the Deal erub.

First, he wishes to remind everybody that the erub does not allow handling muktzeh items, such as an umbrella. Relying on the erub allows carrying permissible objects, not items classified as muktzeh. It is imperative to educate oneself about the topic of muktzeh to know which objects may not be handled under which circumstances.

Secondly, the fact that “Deal has an erub” does not mean that the entire town is encircled by the erub. Those who rely on the erub may do so only after ascertaining that the area where they will carry is indeed included in the erub. Maps are available for this purpose.

All are encouraged to check the status of the Deal erub, and to sign up for the mailing list, at http://www.njerub.org/, where the information is updated weekly. Updates are also available by phone at 732-660-1001.