By Eddie Esses and Sari Setton

The upcoming November election cycle in New York represents a pivotal moment for our community: one defined not only by political contests, but by the continued rise of Sephardic representation and influence at the highest levels of state government. At the center of this movement stand Sam Sutton, up for re-election to the NY State Senate, and Joey Saban, now running for NY State Assembly after serving as Senator Sutton’s Chief of Staff.

Together, they have built one of the most effective, outspoken, and impactful legislative operations in New York. And the results speak for themselves.

A Record of Results: Senator Sam Sutton

For over 20 years, Sam Sutton served as the co-founder and President of the Sephardic Community Federation (SCF), delivering tens of millions of dollars in government funding to our community and advocating across government for our community’s biggest priorities. Last year, he took his public service to the next level with his successful bid for a seat in the NY State Senate.

In a short time thus far in office, Senator Sutton has delivered tangible, meaningful results for our community on a scale rarely seen. Most notably, he secured $20 million in security funding for religious institutions, ensuring that our schools, synagogues, and community institutions are protected in an increasingly dangerous environment. Additionally, he has brought millions more in direct funding to our community’s institutions – resources that strengthen education, social services, and communal infrastructure.

Legislatively, Sen. Sutton has proven equally effective. He successfully passed multiple bills through the Senate in a very short time frame, demonstrating both policy leadership and the ability to navigate Albany’s complex political landscape. He played a key role in defeating the City Council’s COPA bill, taking a firm stand against anti-business policies that would have harmed our community and our businesses.

Looking forward, his diligence continues with the major Buffer Zone bill, a critical initiative he introduced to create buffer zones around houses of worship to protect worshipers from intimidation and harassment. The bill is now being incorporated into the State Budget, an extraordinary achievement that underscores his growing influence in Albany.

 The Force Behind the Scenes: Joey Saban

While Senator Sutton has led from the front, much of this success has been powered behind the scenes by Joey Saban. As Chief of Staff, Saban has been instrumental in turning vision into reality – coordinating legislative strategy, managing negotiations, and ensuring that priorities become policy.

From securing historic funding to advancing complex legislation, Saban’s role cannot be overstated. His deep understanding of both the community and the political system has made him a driving force in these accomplishments. Now, as he steps forward to run again for State Assembly, he brings with him not only experience, but a proven track record of getting big things done.

By example, Saban initiated and coordinated the press conference with the governor after the anti-Semitic Swastika incident at Magen David, which led to securing the $20M in security funding for religious institutions. He’s also been the driving force behind the Buffer Zone Bill, coordinating the language of the bill and the full strategy behind passing it.

Looking Ahead: The Election That Matters

While primary elections will take place in June, both Sutton and Saban enter this phase without challengers – a testament to the strength of their campaigns and the broad support they have already built.

That means the real contest lies ahead in the general election this November.

We know that elections are not won in a single day – they are built over months of grassroots effort. Every community member has an opportunity to play a role, whether by volunteering time or making a contribution. Thanks to New York’s public matching system, even small donations are amplified 9-to-1, turning modest support into a powerful force.

A Defining Moment for Our Community

What Sutton and Saban have accomplished together goes far beyond legislation and funding. They have transformed our community’s civic engagement, elevating our voice, our presence, and our influence in ways that would have seemed unimaginable just a few years ago.

They have shown that our community can organize, lead, and win – not just for ourselves, but as a major force within New York politics. The path forward is clear. The leadership is proven. And the moment is ours to seize.

QUESTION: 

Dear Rabbi Ali,

Thank you for your monthly articles. They have helped me very much. Baruch Hashem, my marriage is very good, but I would appreciate some advice on how to handle certain situations.

Once in a while (maybe once or twice a week), my wife asks me to do something, and I’m happy to help. The issue is that if it’s not done her way or exactly how she wants, she sometimes becomes agitated and snappy. She might say things like, “Why did you mess it up  again?” or “Hurry up,” in an angry tone. I’m not sure whether I should just let it go or say something. I don’t want to cause a fight, but it does bother me. Or perhaps I’m making something out of nothing. I would really appreciate your guidance.

R’ Ali’s Response: 

You raised several important points. First, I want to commend you for working on your marriage and striving to grow. This is truly admirable. You mention that your marriage is already very good. You want to make it even better. This is a mindset others can learn from. Too often, people reach a level of comfort in their marriage and remain there. While that isn’t necessarily bad, it can be unfortunate when there is potential for something even greater.

Regarding your question – whether to let it go or to say something – I believe this stems from a common but mistaken belief that staying silent preserves peace, while speaking up creates conflict. In reality, the opposite is often true. When we suppress our feelings to avoid “conflict,” we may instead build resentment, and resentment can be damaging to a relationship if left unaddressed.

It’s important to move beyond the idea that expressing ourselves calmly and respectfully will lead to a fight. Many people feel this way because they’ve seen that when they speak up, their spouse becomes upset. However, in this case, it seems she may become upset, regardless. You might as well speak up, communicating in a way that allows for understanding and growth.

To be clear, you should feel comfortable expressing how you feel. For example, if she says, “Hurry up,” you might respond, “I understand you’d like this done quickly, but it’s hard for me to help when I feel pressured. I’m happy to help, just without that pressure.”

In  the case of “you messed it up again,” it may be better to wait for a calm moment and say something like, “I know you don’t mean any harm, and I’m glad to help, however when I hear that I ‘messed up again,’ it hurts.”

These are examples of healthy communication. The key is to be gentle, thoughtful, and kind. Avoid bringing these things up in moments of frustration or anger. That will only escalate the situation. A strong relationship depends on open and respectful communication. She may initially feel defensive, but over time, she will likely come to understand your perspective and may even improve how she expresses herself.

Finally, regarding your concern about whether you are “making something out of nothing” – if something consistently bothers you, and being bothered by this type of thing is considered normal, most likely it is worth addressing. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine what is “normal,” and in such cases, seeking the perspective of a wise and objective third party can be helpful.

One of the many cherished customs observed at Sephardic weddings is the singing of “Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov…” at the huppah.  These famous words are found in Parashat Balak (Bamidbar 24:5), which we read this month, and were, ironically, spoken by one of the earliest and most notorious Jew-haters of all time – Bilam, a gentile prophet who sought to annihilate the Jewish Nation by placing a curse on them. 

Bilam was summoned by Balak, the king of Moav, a nation whose neighbor – the Emorites – attacked Beneh Yisrael who responded by resoundingly defeating them and seizing their land.  Balak feared – irrationally – that Beneh Yisrael would invade Moav, too (despite the fact that Beneh Yisrael had no intention of doing so, and gave Balak no indication that this was their plan).  He therefore hired Bilam to place a curse on them and destroy them.  Bilam, an avowed and passionate Jew-hater, happily accepted the invitation, which also came with the promise of a generous financial reward.  The plan, however, backfired, as each time Bilam sought to curse Beneh Yisrael with his prophetic powers, Gd placed in his mouth beautiful blessings – including “Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov, mishkenotecha Yisrael – How good are you tents, Yaakov; your dwelling places, Yisrael.”

If we were asked to explain the reason for the custom to sing this verse at weddings, we would likely respond, very simply, that it speaks of the unique splendor of the Jewish home, and so we wish the new couple that they will succeed in building a beautiful home that would reflect the quality which Bilam praised.

This is certainly correct, but, if we probe a bit deeper, we will uncover an additional dimension to the relevance of “Mah tovu…” to the wedding ceremony.

An Ancient Wall

We begin with what at first appears as a trivial detail of the Bilam story – a detail so trivial, in fact, that we might have wondered why the Torah bothers mentioning it at all.

As Bilam made his way toward Moav, Gd sent an angel to discourage Bilam from going on this mission.  The angel made itself visible only to Bilam’s donkey – but not to Bilam himself – and on three occasions, it obstructed the road.  The second time, the donkey veered to the side to avoid the angel, crushing Bilam’s leg against the wall at the roadside (22:25).

Notably, the Torah refers to this wall with the definitive article “ha-“ (“the”) – “el hakir,” as though this was some kind of special wall that we would know about.  What distinctive, famous wall was there along the road from Aram Naharayim, in Mesopotamia, and Moav? 

Adding to the enigma is a comment by Rashi to the previous verse telling us that the fence along the sides of the road which Bilam traveled was made from stones.  Why did Rashi find this worth mentioning?  Would it have mattered to us if it had been made from brick or wood?

The answer is found in a passage in the Midrash Tanhuma, which traces the background to this story back to the times of our patriarchs.

Yaakov Avinu spent 20 years in the home of his uncle, Lavan, marrying his two daughters and building a large family and a large fortune.  When Yaakov finally decided it was time to leave, and set off toward the Land of Israel in the middle of the night, Lavan pursued him and his family.  Lavan’s intentions become clear in light of a vision he beheld the night before he caught up to Yaakov, in which Gd warned him not to cause him any harm (Beresheet 31:24).  It is clear that Lavan wanted to kill Yaakov and his family.  Ultimately, however, Yaakov and Lavan made a truce, and they formed a pile of stones as a symbol of their pact.  They declared that if either of them would pass this pile of stones to harm the other, he would be in violation of this truce.

Fascinatingly, the Midrash teaches that this pile of stones was the wall alongside which Bilam traveled, and against which his leg was crushed.  Bilam, the Midrash states, violated the oath by crossing this this wall, this boundary, to annihilate Yaakov’s descendants – because Bilam was actually none other than Lavan himself. 

This point is further developed by the Arizal, who writes that Bilam was a gilgul – reincarnation – of Lavan’s soul.  This explains the numerous similarities between them.  Both Lavan and Bilam deceitfully appeared righteous but were in truth evil.  Both sought to annihilate Am Yisrael – Lavan, by killing Yaakov and his family, thereby preventing the creation of Am Yisrael; and Bilam, by placing a curse upon them.  Both men received a nocturnal prophecy from Gd instructing them not to carry out their plan.  And both men originate from a place called Aram.  Not surprisingly, they shared these features, because they possessed the same soul.  Hence, Bilam violated his own promise by crossing the pile of stones to attempt to destroy Beneh Yisrael, for which he was punished, as the donkey moved against the wall as Lavan rode on its back.

This is why the Torah tells us about “hakir” – this special wall, and why Rashi found it necessary to explain that it was built from stones.  This point is crucial for the story, placing Bilam’s journey in a broader historical context, and presenting it as the continuation of Bilam’s attempts during his former life – as Lavan – to destroy Yaakov and prevent the emergence of the Jewish Nation.

When Evil Backfires

This connection between Lavan and Bilam sheds light on the pronouncement of “Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov…”

In one of the more emotional segments of the Haggadah that we read at the seder on Pesach, we chant that in every generation, enemies rise to annihilate us, “vehaKadosh Baruch Hu matzilenu miyadam – But the Almighty rescues us from their hand.”

Some commentators noted the deeper meaning of the word “miyadam” (“from their hand”) in this passage.  It means that Gd rescues us with the hands of our enemies.  The very efforts that they make to destroy us end up bringing us our salvation, and helping us endure, thrive and prosper.

There is perhaps no greater example of this backfiring of Jew-hatred than Lavan.  Lavan wanted to prevent our nation from being established – but he was actually the one who built it!  His two daughters, and the two maidservants whom he gave his daughters, produced the 12 tribes of Israel.  Nobody did more for the growth of the Jewish Nation than the person who hated the Jewish Nation more than anyone!

This irony forms the backdrop of Bilam’s exclamation, “Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov.”  At that moment, when Gd compelled Bilam to bless rather than curse, to look favorably and lovingly upon Beneh Yisrael, he saw the thousands of homes, the endless rows of tents, the beautiful, happy Jewish families, and recognized that he – in his previous life – created all this.  He saw these tents and exclaimed, “Look at what I built!  Look at this incredible nation which I brought into existence!” 

This proclamation might be the most embarrassing admission of failure in all human history.  Bilam conceded that he not only failed to stop the emergence of Am Yisrael – but he is the one who facilitated its emergence!  He proclaimed “Mah Tovu” to confess that his scheme backfired spectacularly, that he ended up building the nation that he tried to ensure would never exist.

The Greatest Response to Jew-Hatred

Once we understand this, we understand just what a powerful moment it is when “Mah tovu” is sung at a Jewish wedding.

At this moment, we think of Haman, of Ferdinand and Isabella, of Hitler, of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Iranian regime, of all those who have tried to eradicate us throughout the millennia, and all those who spread malicious lies about the Jewish State and the Jewish People – and we recall Bilam’s thunderous concession of defeat.  As a bride and groom stand together to begin building a new Jewish home, we bring to mind Bilam’s failure, and the continued failure of all those who have sought or seek our destruction.  We look to the beaming, exuberant couple as our greatest response to the hostility shown to us, as the greatest revenge we can possible take against those who have persecuted us, and so we invoke the blessing of Bilam, which captures more poignantly than anything else the futility of the efforts to destroy the Jewish Nation.

In the face of the alarming rise of Jew-hatred in our time, this centuries’-old Sephardic custom teaches us what our response should be – building more beautiful Jewish homes, more “tents” and “dwelling places” that are worthy of Bilam’s effusive praise and admiration.  If our adversaries are taking to the streets and to social media to spew hatred and to support the terrorists seeking Israel’s annihilation, let us respond by redoubling our efforts to make shidduchim, to bring Jewish singles together, to create more Jewish families.  And let us recommit ourselves to enhance our homes – with greater shalom bayit (domestic peace), with greater respect for and selfless devotion to one another, with more Torah, with more sanctity, and with more happy, beautiful Jewish children.

As our enemies increase their efforts to destroy, we must increase our efforts to build.

May we continue to see the downfall of “Bilam” in all his manifestations, and may Hashem bless us with more weddings, more children, and more happiness, amen.

Charging for products and services has become a way of life. Today, many people no longer carry cash when purchasing clothing, appliances, or everyday items; instead, they rely on credit cards. For some, this offers convenience and security, while others use credit to make purchases they may not yet be able to afford outright. The modern credit card is largely a 20th-century innovation that developed gradually through a series of financial and technological advancements.

Early Store Credit

Before general-purpose credit cards existed, many department stores and gas stations offered their own charge accounts in the early 20th century. These accounts allowed customers to make purchases on credit, but only within a single business. Because they could not be used elsewhere, these systems are known as closed-loop credit. While limited in scope, they laid the foundation for broader credit systems by familiarizing consumers with the concept of buying now and paying later.

The First Bank Charge System

One of the earliest bank-operated credit systems was introduced in 1946 by John Biggins of the Flatbush National Bank in New York. He developed the “Charge-It” program, which enabled customers to make purchases at participating local merchants without using cash.

Under this system, merchants deposited sales slips at the bank, which reimbursed them and then billed the customer. Although innovative, the program was geographically limited to a small area of Brooklyn and did not yet function as a modern credit card system. Instead, it is best understood as an early bank-mediated charge system.

The First Multi-Merchant Card

The first widely accepted card that could be used at multiple businesses was introduced in 1950 by Frank McNamara and his partners through the Diners Club. According to a well-known account, McNamara conceived the idea after forgetting his wallet at a restaurant, though this story is often considered partly anecdotal.

The Diners Club card allowed customers to pay for meals and travel-related expenses at a variety of participating establishments. Unlike modern credit cards, however, it required the balance to be paid in full each month, making it a charge card rather than a revolving credit card. Nevertheless, it marked a major step forward by introducing a multi-merchant payment system.

The Rise of Modern Credit Cards

A major turning point came in 1958 when Bank of America launched the BankAmericard in California. This program is widely regarded as the first large-scale revolving credit card system, allowing customers to carry a balance and pay interest over time. BankAmericard later evolved into Visa, one of the world’s largest payment networks.

That same year, American Express introduced its own charge card, initially focused on travel and entertainment expenses. In 1966, a consortium of banks formed what would become Mastercard, further expanding the credit card industry and increasing competition.

During this period, cards also transitioned from paper to plastic. American Express introduced the first plastic card in 1959, and the more durable format quickly became the industry standard.

Technological Advancements

By the 1970s, credit cards incorporated magnetic stripe technology, developed and standardized with major contributions from IBM. The magnetic stripe allowed card information to be stored and read electronically, enabling faster processing and reducing errors.

In the following decades, cards were enhanced with embedded microchips using EMV technology, which significantly improved security by encrypting transaction data and reducing fraud. These innovations made credit cards more reliable and secure, supporting their widespread global adoption.

Contactless and Modern Payments

In recent years, credit card technology has continued to evolve with the introduction of contactless payment systems. These systems use radio-frequency identification (RFID) or near-field communication (NFC) to allow users to complete transactions by simply tapping their card on a compatible terminal.

In addition to physical cards, digital payment methods have become increasingly common. Mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay enable users to store card information securely on their smartphones and make payments without presenting a physical card. These systems often use tokenization, replacing sensitive card details with secure digital substitutes to enhance security.

Beyond Plastic: The Future of Credit Cards

The credit card has evolved from simple store-based credit systems into a complex and essential global financial tool through a series of major developments over the 20th and early 21st centuries. Early store-specific charge accounts were followed by bank-mediated systems such as the program introduced by John Biggins, and later by multi-merchant charge cards like those developed by Diners Club. The introduction of revolving credit by institutions such as Bank of America, which led to the creation of Visa, marked a defining shift in how consumers access and use credit. Subsequent technological innovations, including magnetic stripe cards developed with major contributions from IBM, followed by microchip-enabled cards and contactless payment systems, have continued to improve the speed, convenience, and security of transactions.

Today, credit cards remain a central part of the global economy, but their role has expanded beyond the physical plastic card. Increasingly, credit cards function as the underlying infrastructure behind digital payment systems, including mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay. As a result, consumers may not always see or handle a physical card, yet the credit system it represents continues to power a significant share of transactions worldwide.

Victor Cohen

            Our community is known for treasuring its heritage. We are strongly connected to our past. Many of us are named for family members and we know our family tree. We learn in school and from our parents and grandparents about how our families arrived here throughout the 20th century and even earlier. We intentionally practice our family and community traditions and honor our heritage.

            Hillel Yeshiva’s Seventh-Grade Heritage Fair is a celebration of our community’s values. The heritage program helps students learn where they come from, when their families arrived in America, and how they reached where they are today.

            The program originated over 25 years ago with Mrs. Susan Rishty, and is now run by Mrs. Sally Cohen. Mrs. Cohen teaches Sephardic Heritage both to seventh graders and high school students.

A Year of Research

            Throughout the year, the students explore their unique family histories. They research their names, learn about the etymology of their name’s meaning and why they were given those specific names. Students look at their family lineage, tracing their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and potentially further in a vertical fashion. Horizontally, they track their cousins, great-uncles, and distant relatives. The students also interview older family members to learn directly from past generations about their family story.

            The culmination of the students’ research is celebrated at the Heritage Fair, where they proudly display their family’s background and celebrate their traditions. Each student gets a patch with their family’s primary country of origin. The largest number of patches were Syrian. Others included Egypt, Israel, and Europe.

Rabbis Katz and Hanon

Rabbi Katz, the Head of School, spoke briefly about the role of the lechem hapanim and how it ties into the importance of our shared and unique traditions. Why are there 12 loaves of the lechem hapanim? One loaf is for every tribe of Israel, of course. But what is the significance of the lechem hapanim ?

When the Jewish people are in Jerusalem for the shalosh regalim, they look at the lechem hapanim, and they see the 12 loaves. Rabbi Katz explained how important this was, as they saw each tribe of Benei Yisrael received a separate representation. Every tribe of Israel is different, and has a different role to play. “Yehuda is different from Levi, for instance.”

Despite their differences, however, all of the tribes all have one thing in common, and that is their devotion to Hashem. Yes, some factions have different minhagim, which is fine. But when it comes to what is important, we are and will always continue to be united. Rabbi Katz applauded how, year after year, the Heritage Fair continues to help to preserve each student’s family’s unique minhagim. He encouraged the students to learn more about where they come from, to closely embrace their traditions, and to cherish their heritage. “Go over the tunes that you sing at the table, go through some of the things that your families have done – everyone has their own story about something – let’s celebrate it.”

Rabbi Ike Hanon expressed his admiration, watching this night come together year after year. “There’s nothing more important than our heritage,” he said, and emphasized that for the students, this is just the start of a lifelong process.

Mrs. Sally Cohen

Mrs. Sally Cohen spoke next. She welcomed everyone to the 2026 Heritage Fair, and thanked everyone who helped make it happen. She also thanked her father, Mr. Charles Saka, a”h. “My Dad would always say, ‘We are standing on the shoulders of giants who came before us, and it’s our responsibility to build towards the next generation.’” Mrs. Cohen also thanked her mother, Mrs. Brenda Saka, who is also passionate about their family heritage and has researched an impressive family tree, which goes back many generations.

Mrs. Cohen expressed how grateful she felt that the students grew to care about and appreciate their family histories. This year’s theme was “Maaseh Avot Siman Le’Banim.” Mrs. Cohen pointed out how much of tonight’s success was the result of the diligent work and enthusiasm from the parents and grandparents of these students, teaching them and encouraging them to learn more about where they come from. “I can’t thank you enough for passing this message along, and bringing meaning to the work we have done.”

She then described how the students learned about their countries of origin, noting the languages spoken in those countries, the foods eaten, the culture, and the number of Jews remaining there today. There are no remaining Jews in many of these places today.

The Work Accomplished

As an important part of the project, the students spent time talking to their elderly family members, and learning the stories of their relatives’ past and how they arrived in America. The students made family trees, often going back over four generations or more. Some students found out they were related to each other! Each student’s work was displayed at their own station, where they depicted their family trees in unique ways, connecting what they learned about their families and incorporating that information into the tree. Some did so through depicting an actual tree, others chose to use grids, and one student, Jonah Dweck, draped his tri-board station with three flags –  the Colombian flag, the Syrian flag, and the Mexican flag. Jill Gindi turned her station into a 3-D popout tree. Shelly Cohen built a life-size boat with different flags and photos of each of her family members who came here by boat. Students stepped up to the plate to use creativity and ingenuity to display their roots.

On the walls, the students showed what they learned about their names, how their name relates to who they are, and how it helps them connect to themselves. One wall was dedicated to innovations and immigration. What was invented the year the student’s family reached America?

Family Treasures

In Founder’s Hall, each student had the opportunity to display a treasured family artifact, imbued with family history and significance. This year, a pair of cousins, Evelyn Sakkal and Samantha Cohen, included a nearly 200-year-old family shawl, known as the “Missry family shawl” as their artifact.

With the display of the Missry shawl this year, many distant cousins of the Missry family  pulled out pictures of the many family occasions on which they wore this precious family shawl. Sarina Roffe, an author, genealogist, and historian, and is well-versed in the traditions and history of our community, was also in attendance.

Carrying the Torch

The Heritage Fair is important because it helps solidify the link between generations. The students at this year’s fair learned much about where they come from, the journeys that prior generations took to get here, the stories that they took with them, and in turn, the students learned about themselves. It is now their job to continue the examples set by the prior generations, and to carry the torch forward and into the future. Through the Heritage Fair, and other programs of our community – the Sephardic Heritage Museum, the Sephardic Heritage Videos, and more – we ensure that those who came before us are never forgotten, and are always with us as we take our next steps forward.

Ellen Geller Kamaras

Have you noticed that you can’t pick up a newspaper without seeing headlines about AI, Artificial Intelligence, or a new AI company?

Since the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in late 2022, we are living in the world of AI.  While AI can bring many favorable outcomes, such as those described below, it also raises legitimate and serious concerns.  Key fears are malicious use for cyberattacks and misinformation, job displacement, inaccuracy of data, deepfakes, and societal bias present in training data.  Deepfakes are when AI creates, manipulates, or alters images, audio, and video to appear authentic, when they are, as the name implies, deeply fake.

The job displacement issue is particularly relevant to parents of teenagers who worry about how AI will affect their children’s future jobs and livelihood. 

Let’s talk about some of the best careers for high school graduates to pursue, particularly in today’s AI era.

Context

Before we delve into specific jobs, here is some background.

When you google a topic or start a zoom meeting, AI is right there to facilitate your search and even offers to take notes for you during your zoom session.

Those are two AI benefits, and there are many more.  Key positive impacts of AI include enhanced healthcare, financial services, cybersecurity, and productivity, a boost to economic growth, advanced transportation, excellent customer service, scientific discovery, climate change mitigation, reduced human error in critical tasks, and improved agriculture.

Let’s define AI and then move to the careers in demand.

AI is an area of computer science that is committed to creating machines that can think like humans. AI uses the unique abilities of the human brain to understand, react, and interpret, and then integrates them into computers. Vast amounts of data are used in conjunction with algorithms to essentially “train” AI to be able to learn and grow of its own accord, without the need for programming and code updates.

Research indicates that the jobs that are most at risk to be replaced by AI are basic customer service jobs, simple bookkeeping, data entry, and repetitive office tasks.

The good news is that there are careers that are highly resistant to AI automation.

Human-Centered Jobs

If you choose a career that combines human interaction plus problem-solving plus adaptability, it is highly unlikely that AI will replace you.  Human-centered professions are very AI-resistant because they rely heavily on human connection, emotional intelligence, trust building, empathy, comfort, crisis intervention, and communication with family. 

Many jobs include tasks that can be automated.  However, humans are not being replaced by AI because these careers also need physical dexterity in unpredictable settings, creative intuition, and ethical and moral judgment in addition to the qualities listed above.

First, let’s address the career categories that are both in demand and are resistant to AI, and then delve into those that do not require a college degree.

Even in careers that are resistant to automation, basic AI literacy will become increasingly valuable. Students who learn how to use AI tools responsibly and effectively may have an advantage in nearly every profession.

Professions in Demand That Are AI Resistant

AI does facilitate human-centered jobs and steps in to support these professionals in many ways.  The first five careers listed below require a minimum of a four-year college degree, if not post-graduate work. 

1. Nurses and healthcare workers
2. Medical specialists and surgeons
3. Psychotherapists, social workers and counselors
4. Early childhood educators and specialized teachers
5. Authors, creative directors, and high-level content strategists
6. Crisis responders:  firefighters, paramedics, disaster relief workers
7. Artisans, restorers, and high-end craft professionals
8. Leaders: managers, founders, and change agents
9. Community builders, mediators, and organizers

10. Skilled trades: electricians, plumbers, mechanics and carpenters. 

In-Demand Jobs That Do Not Require Four-Year College Degrees

For high school graduates who want to go straight to work and do not want to pursue a four-year college degree, the soundest choices are jobs that involve hands-on work, human interaction, technical skill, and problem-solving in real environments.

The solid options and career paths are skilled trades, health care jobs, tech careers, personal service careers, and jobs that involve transportation and logistics.

Skilled trades do not require a college degree and are also AI resistant.  AI and robots struggle in unpredictable physical environments like homes and buildings. An electrician generally trains through apprenticeships and has a skill that is difficult to automate. Other jobs in this category include plumbers, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) technicians, and welders.

These professions involve hands-on work, human interaction, licensing or physical presence, and are therefore harder to replace with AI. 

Healthcare Careers

There are several healthcare careers that one can pursue without a four-year degree.  These jobs often require three months to two years of training. They are – certified nursing assistant, dental hygienist, medical assistant, pharmacy technician, emergency services provider, physical therapy assistant (PTA), and veterinary technician (VT). 

It generally takes two years to become a dental hygienist.  Dental assistant certification can usually be earned under one year. Training to be a medical assistant is a shorter path with fast training programs available.  Some accelerated programs that can be completed in a year are available for PTA training.  VT training can be self-paced and completed online in eight to twelve months. 

The TIA School of Allied Health and CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) Training in NYC offers programs for nursing assistants.  Training for nursing and medical assistants is available at NY Medical Career Training Center, and NY Career Institute provides medical assistant programs as well.

EMT certification is offered in many community colleges in NYC and NJ.

Tech Careers

Tech careers that do not require college degrees include IT support/network technicians, web developers, and cybersecurity technicians.  IT support and cybersecurity technicians can enroll in certification programs, whereas web development can be learned independently.  Depending on your current technical knowledge, IT support and cybersecurity tech training can range between three to 12 months. Training frequently starts with CompTIA Security + certification, CompTIA A+, Network+, and Google IT Support. Programs are available at Fullstack Academy, App Academy NYC, and Technical Institute of America.

Personal Service Careers

Personal service careers are very AI-resistant. These include professions as a hairstylist, color specialist, esthetician (skin care and beauty services) and personal trainer. Required training for hair and skin care are set by each state and average between nine to 18 months.

Programs for certified personal trainers can range from between three to six months.

Hands-On and Transportation Careers

Apex Technical School offers electrician and HVAC training. Electrician, plumbing, automotive (electric vehicle repair is growing quickly) and welding courses are available at Berk Trade & Business School.

In New Jersey, Lincoln Technical Institute, Eastwick College, and Fortis Institute have respected options for many of the above careers.

Transportation careers require a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and include truck driving, bus driving, and delivery/logistics.  Self-driving is still limited.

An important note:  Not getting a college degree does not translate to “no education.”   Many successful individuals are those that take certifications, go to trade school, do apprenticeships, or do paid training programs.

Next Steps

Before you decide on a career, talk to someone who works in that field and see if you can volunteer or shadow that person.

Take advantage of the resources available in our own communities to explore these careers.  We have wonderful organizations such as Sephardic Bikur Holim and Propel Network. Your own high school guidance counselor can also help you to  explore your potential and your strengths and can guide you towards a career that is the right match for you.  Two of our high schools have valuable career path programs to support our children: the Shifra Hanon Pathfinders Department at Flatbush Yeshiva and Harry I. Franco Leadership Academy at Hillel.  The Pathfinders mentoring program focuses on four main goals with every student: self-exploration, career exploration, professional skills, and extracurricular involvement.  The Leadership Academy Director is Shifra Hanon who created and launched the Pathfinders program.

In Pirkei Avot, Ethics of Our Fathers, we are told to appoint a teacher or mentor for ourselves.  Mentors can offer perspective, guidance, and lessons learned from their own experience.  They can also assist in setting goals and expanding one’s network. We have talented people in our own backyards who are willing to mentor students.  What are you waiting for?

Jack Gindi

I didn’t grow up with the education many people have today. I left high school early, and even now at times I read something and don’t fully understand the words or what someone is trying to say. For most of my life, I had to work through that on my own.

Today, I use AI to help me. If I don’t understand something, I ask AI to explain it in simpler terms. I’ll go back and forth until I understand what’s being said. That has been incredibly helpful.

Answer vs. Understanding

I’ve also learned something important: understanding what something means is not the same as knowing what to think about it. AI can help me understand, but it cannot decide for me.

That realization has stayed with me, especially when I think about the world our children are growing up in.

We are raising kids in a system that, in many ways, no longer exists. Most of us were taught to memorize, get the right answers, follow the rules, and perform well on tests.

However, getting an answer is no longer the challenge today. A child can ask a question and receive a response in seconds. They can generate an essay, solve problems, or summarize information almost instantly. But getting an answer is not the same as understanding. And it is not the same as good judgment.

Thinking Is Critical

What I’ve seen is that people who continue to grow are not the ones who rely only on what they are given. They know how to think about things. They question what they are given, test it, and stay with it long enough to understand it. AI does not remove the need for human ability. In many ways, it exposes it.

The real gap forming today is not about intelligence. It is the difference between people who develop maturity and judgment and those who simply gather information without knowing what to do with it.

Over time, that difference will matter more than anything else. The world ahead will not reward people who can repeat information. It will reward people who can understand context, solve problems, and adapt to change.

Real Observation

I was recently introduced to a camp here in Colorado where children are brought into the wilderness. They climb rocks, build fires, and spend time outdoors without screens. For many of them, it is a life-changing experience. That might sound simple, but for some children today, it is the first time they are fully present in the real world.

That matters more than ever. If a child does not develop a relationship with real observation – what they can see, feel, and experience – how will they know what is true in a world where so much is artificial?

If they look outside and it is raining, but a system tells them it is sunny, and they trust the system more than their own experience, then something essential has been lost. That is not a failure of technology. It is a failure of preparation.

Adults Need to Change

This is where we, as parents and grandparents, have to be honest. We cannot simply raise children the way we were raised and assume it will prepare them for what is coming. If we want our children to be ready, many of us will have to change first.

We will have to think differently about what education really is. We will have to value judgment over speed, discernment over convenience, and depth over constant stimulation.

And we have to model it.

Using AI correctly does not mean depending on it. It means using it as a tool. I use AI to help me understand what someone is saying. Then I stop and think. I ask myself if I agree, if it makes sense in my life, and what I believe about it.

That step, forming your own judgment, is the part no system can do for us.

Stay Connected to What Is Real

The children who will thrive will not be the ones who rely on AI the most. They will be the ones who know how to use it without losing themselves in it. They will stay connected to their thinking, their experiences, their relationships, and the world around them. They will use AI as a tool, not as a replacement.

Because while the future may change quickly, the ability to think, question, and understand what truly matters has never changed. AI can help you understand what someone is saying. It cannot tell you what to believe about it.

Joey Baghdadi, Bowl Night Commissioner

Every Tuesday night, something special is happening at Fun Fest – and it’s not just the sound of pins crashing.

It’s BOWL NIGHT!

What started as a simple idea quickly turned into one of the most energetic, competitive, and genuinely enjoyable weekly meetups in the community. Thirty-six players strong (and growing), ranging from 13 to 60+, lace up their bowling shoes each week not just to play – but to compete, connect, and create something bigger than the game itself.

This Spring 2026 season was a perfect snapshot of what makes BOWL NIGHT so unique. Twelve 3-man teams battling it out over a 10-week regular season (three games a night). And yes – each roll matters. With the top eight teams advancing to the postseason, the energy definitely reaches that “every frame counts” level.

But what truly levels the playing field – and keeps everyone engaged – is our 85 percent handicap system. It’s the great equalizer. The guy grinding out an 82 average can go head-to-head with someone throwing 180s, and win. That dynamic creates something rare: real competition across generations and skill levels. No one is out of it. Everyone has a shot.

Magical Moments

And that’s where the magic happens – because BOWL NIGHT isn’t just about scores – it’s about people.

It’s fathers and sons sharing a lane (something I personally look forward to every week, bowling alongside my two sons). It’s old friends reconnecting, new friendships forming, and a mix of personalities that keeps the banter lively and the vibe loose. There’s laughter after gutter balls, celebrations after strikes, and just enough friendly trash talk to keep things interesting.

Don’t forget the Three Weekly Winners – those who bowl a game highest above their average – who can choose from a trio of great prizes, too!

A Community of Players

Off the lanes, the league has taken on a life of its own.

Our WhatsApp group chat is buzzing daily – recaps, reactions, lineup debates, and the occasional “power rankings” that somehow spark more controversy than they should. Our Instagram page, Instagram (@BowlNightSY), captures the action each week with photos and videos that bring the night to life. And for those who like to track the numbers, we send out detailed weekly stats – standings, averages, schedules – keeping everyone locked in and accountable.

There’s structure. There’s consistency. But most importantly, there’s excitement.

For me, this has been especially meaningful. Years ago, I ran a league called the SBL for over a decade – a run filled with great memories and even better people. When that chapter ended in the early 2010s, I always hoped we’d find a way to bring something like it back.

In Fall 2025, we did just that. And the response? Incredible.

BOWL NIGHT came roaring back with energy, enthusiasm, and a community that was clearly ready for it. What we’ve built in just a short time feels like the foundation of something long-lasting – something that people genuinely look forward to each week.

Looking Ahead                                            

And now, we’re ready to grow.

As we look ahead to our Fall 2026 season (starting this September), the goal is simple: expand from 12 teams to 16+. The interest is already there. The buzz is building. And the lanes are waiting.

Whether you’re a seasoned bowler or someone who hasn’t picked up a ball in years, there’s a place for you here. You don’t need a perfect game – you just need the desire to show up, compete, and be part of something fun.

Because at its core, BOWL NIGHT isn’t just about bowling. It’s about community.

It’s about showing up on a Tuesday night after a long day and knowing you’re stepping into something positive. It’s about the shared moments, the inside jokes, the small victories, and the big strikes. It’s about building something together – one frame at a time.

So if you’re reading this and thinking, “I could see myself out there,” you’re probably right.

We’d love to have you!

To join or for additional info – please reach out via: [email protected].