Linda Sadacka

Tila Falic Levi brings her grandmother’s story of survival in Poland to the heart of remembrance in Washington, D.C.

When President Donald J. Trump announced the appointment of Tila Falic Levi to the board of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, it marked more than an honor. It represented a generational full circle. The granddaughter of Holocaust survivors is now entrusted with shaping how the world remembers the Shoah, confronting anti-Semitism, and strengthening Jewish identity in modern times.

When Tila speaks about her grandmother, her voice softens. “She remembers eating grass,” Tila says quietly, “and weaving strings from potato sacks to make a sweater. We still have that sweater. It is living proof of what happens when the Jewish people have no land.” That sweater, preserved by her family for decades, will soon be donated to the Holocaust Museum. It stands as a living testament to the price of survival and the sanctity of memory.

Tila’s grandmother, Pola Leder, fled her home in Tomaszów Lubelski, Poland, at just nine years old. The daughter of a community rabbi, she escaped into the forest with her parents and eight siblings as the Nazis advanced, surviving with the partisans.

After the war, the family rebuilt their lives in Chile, where Pola’s father, Rabbi Isaac Leder, became Chief Rabbi and founded the country’s first synagogue.

Three generations later, the granddaughter of that little girl hiding in the woods has been appointed by President Trump to the board of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. From the forests of Poland to the halls of Washington, the arc of Tila Falic Levi’s family story embodies the miracle of Jewish survival and renewal.

A New Chapter in Holocaust Education

Under Tila’s leadership, the Museum is entering a new era. While its mission will always remain the remembrance of the six million, she believes remembrance must evolve.

“The Holocaust is the Holocaust,” she says firmly. “It stands alone and should never be compared or diluted. But October 7th changed everything. It reminded us how quickly Jew-hatred can resurface. We need to show what happens when hate goes unchecked.”

The Museum is now preparing an October 7th memorial and exhibit, ensuring that the story of that day, with its brutality and its courage, becomes part of the Jewish historical continuum. “It is not about equating the two,” she explains. “It is about understanding that the same seed of hatred can lead to both.”

Faith, Food, and Moral Courage

Among the first tangible changes Tila helped champion was both simple and profound: introducing kosher food at the Museum Cafe.

“For decades, survivors, families, and Jewish visitors would walk the museum grounds, but they could not even buy a kosher sandwich,” she says. “Now they can. It may seem small, but it is deeply symbolic. It says that Jewish life belongs here, not only Jewish death.”

For Tila, these changes are not merely administrative adjustments. They are moral imperatives that reflect the living continuity of the Jewish people. “When we elevate the dignity of Jewish life,” she says, “we remind the world that our story did not end in darkness. It continues every day through faith, courage, and unity.”

Another initiative close to her heart is a new section honoring righteous non-Jews, beginning with Charlie Kirk.

“Charlie was one of the hasidei umot ha’olam of our time,” Tila says. “Like those who risked their lives during the Holocaust to save Jews, he used his voice to defend Israel and the Jewish people. His courage should inspire others to speak truth even when it is unpopular.”

The Falic Legacy: Faith, Family, and Purpose

Tila Falic Levi comes from a family whose name is synonymous with generosity, enterprise, and love for Am Yisrael. The Falic family’s contributions to Jewish life, both in Israel and abroad, reflect the same spirit of purpose that defines Tila’s work today.

“In my family, being Jewish was never about labels such as Ashkenaz or Sephardic. It was about unity,” she says. “My husband is Sephardic. I am Ashkenaz. In our home we embrace every tradition. We are one people.”

That unity extends to faith in action. “If I did not believe in Gd, I would be afraid,” she says. “My faith is my moral compass. I am not praying all day or sitting with Tehillim, although I wish I could. Instead, I turn faith into action. Everything I do is for my people and my land.”

Israel: The Word That Holds It All

Tila speaks of Israel not as an idea but as an inheritance.

“Israel is the one word, not one line, that captures both remembrance and redemption. We are Eretz Yisrael, Am Yisrael, and Torat Yisrael. If one is missing, we are in danger, and history has shown that.”

Her commitment is lived, not theoretical. “You cannot just talk the talk; you have to walk the walk,” she says. “We take our children to Israel every year for holidays and summers. My daughter served in the IDF, and my son is there now for the year. They understand that Israel is the only reality for our people.”

Carrying the Torch Forward

Tila Falic Levi’s appointment by President Trump is more than a personal honor. It is the continuation of her family’s journey from persecution to purpose.

From a little girl weaving a sweater from potato sacks in the forests of Poland to a granddaughter shaping how the world remembers Jewish history, the story of this family is breathtaking.

Tila is a woman of profound conviction, embodying the courage and faith that define our people. She reflects the same spirit that once carried her grandmother through the forests of Poland, the strength to transform survival into purpose and pain into legacy.

“Our story is not about tragedy,” she says. “It is about survival, faith, and building a future where no Jewish child ever has to eat grass to stay alive.”

Coca-Cola

In 1886, Atlanta pharmacist John Pemberton, a wounded Civil War veteran, was seeking a cure for his painkiller addiction. Through experimentation, he created a medicinal tonic containing small amounts of cocaine, as well as the caffeine-rich kola nut. This mixture, combined with carbonated water, was the original formula for Coca-Cola. In the years following, fellow pharmacist Asa Candler secured the formula and rights to the beverage for a reported sum of $2,300. (It’s worth noting that the company stopped adding cocaine extracts to the drink by 1903.)

Potato Chips

The popular potato chip was born out of spite in 1853. At Moon Lake Lodge in Saratoga Springs, New York, a demanding patron repeatedly rejected chef George Crum’s French fries, claiming they were too thick. Frustrated, Crum decided to teach the diner a lesson. He sliced a potato paper-thin and fried the pieces to an unusable, brittle crisp. To Crum’s surprise, the customer loved the crunchy slices, and they became an instant sensation. Customers began requesting the new creation, which was known as “Saratoga Chips” until the mid-20th century.

Popsicles

In 1905, eleven-year-old Frank Epperson was mixing powdered soda and water to make soda pop. He accidentally left the drink on his porch overnight. When he returned the next morning, he found the liquid had frozen solid, with the stirring stick frozen upright. Epperson discovered that his frozen fruit-flavored concoction was delicious. He originally called his invention ‘Epsicles’ and began selling them. In 1923, he patented the idea, eventually changing the name to the one we know today: the Popsicle.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

The chocolate chip cookie was invented in 1930 by Ruth Graves Wakefield at the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts. While baking a batch of regular cookies, Ruth ran out of the standard baker’s chocolate. As a substitute, she broke a bar of semi-sweet chocolate into small pieces and added them to the dough, expecting them to melt and blend. Instead, the chocolate pieces held their shape, softening into distinct chips throughout the cookie. Ruth’s unexpected invention was an immediate hit. She later reached an agreement with Nestlé to print the “Toll House Cookie” recipe on their packaging in exchange for a lifetime supply of chocolate.

Kellogg’s Corn Flakes

In 1894, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, superintendent of The Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan, and his younger brother, William Keith Kellogg, were attempting to make bread dough from boiled wheat. Unexpectedly, they were called away to the sanitarium, and the wheat dough went stale by the time they returned. Rather than discarding it, they decided to roll out the dough anyway. Instead of a cohesive sheet, the wheat flattened into small, thin flakes. The brothers toasted the flakes, finding them crunchy and tasty. They initially experimented with different grains before settling on corn to create the first batch of Kellogg’s Corn Flakes.

Chewing Gum

The first successful chewing gum factory in America was the result of a failed venture. In 1869, Thomas Adams of New York was attempting to use chicle, a natural gum from the sapodilla tree in Mexico, as a substitute for rubber to make items like toys and tires. Every attempt failed. Frustrated, Adams one day put a piece of the surplus chicle in his mouth. He liked the chewy texture and realized it could be an excellent base for flavored chewing gum. Shortly after, he

began adding flavoring and opened the world’s first chewing gum factory. In February 1871, Adams’s “New York Gum” went on sale in drugstores for a penny apiece.

Diet Soda

The world’s first sugar-free, zero-calorie, carbonated soft drink, called “No-Cal,” was invented by Hyman Kirsch and his son Morris in 1952. They developed the sugar-free drink, initially a ginger ale, to benefit those suffering from diabetes.

Ellen Geller Kamaras

“I love games and logic puzzles, and career counseling feels like the ultimate version of both. At the same time, it’s deeply meaningful because I get to guide people toward recognizing what makes them truly unique. It’s the perfect mix of challenge, fun, and fulfillment.” ~~ Caroll ~~

Please meet Caroll Dweck Sutton. Caroll was born and raised in Brooklyn and attended Yeshivah of Flatbush from first through twelfth grade. Her parents, Paulette and Jack Dweck, are both Flatbush graduates as well. Caroll, named after her grandmother, who also spells her name with two L’s, has three younger siblings. “My personality is very much [that of] an oldest child, and my siblings are my best friends.”

Extremely social, Caroll shared her mom’s recollections of Caroll making friends immediately wherever they went. When she was three years old, her mother took her to the beach and reportedly within five seconds she was digging holes with kids she had never met.

Caroll absolutely loved school and took it very seriously. She was Salutatorian of both her high school and college graduating classes, but she also made sure to have a lot of fun. She participated in every extracurricular activity from sports to the dance team to Model UN and student government, and kept up a very active social life.

After high school graduation, Caroll studied psychology at Macaulay Honors College at Hunter.

She earned two graduate degrees at Columbia University (Teachers College), a Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling and an Ed.M. in Psychological Education.

Her Essence

Caroll describes herself as outgoing, fun-loving, adventurous, competitive, and a doer. “I am most definitely a thrill seeker. I have jumped out of planes and dived with great white sharks – no relaxing on the beach for me on vacations!”

Her friends and family would definitely tell us that Caroll loves games! She is super competitive and will play any game at any time – sports, board games, you name it. “I can spend hours upon hours figuring out logic puzzles without sleeping or eating. More than playing games, I also love to make up games. If it’s someone’s birthday or other celebration, I’ll create a funny game about that person.”

Caroll views herself as an “all-around camper.” Why a camper? Camp was her very favorite environment, and her interests and skills are all over the place. “I love switching activities every 45 minutes, and color war is me in a nutshell. If I won the lottery and could do anything forever, I would be a camper, no question.”

Career Trajectory

While Caroll was attending grad school, she volunteered at The Propel Network and was a Young Leadership Board member. PROPEL is a community nonprofit organization that enables women to enter the workforce by providing career guidance, educational coaching, and ongoing mentoring, and by guiding women to enroll in training, professional, and higher education.

At PROPEL, Caroll was responsible for developing programming for first-generation working women including panels, seminar-based discussion groups, and individual career coaching.

After completing graduate school, she was hired by Flatbush Yeshivah High School for two positions, the Pathfinders Department Director and AP Psychology teacher.

Through the Pathfinders Program, students are encouraged to discover and expand their special talents and abilities and explore career options for the future.

Among her many functions as Pathfinders Department Director, Caroll – along with her amazing team – created and organized programs including a Career Day with over 40 presenters, resume writing workshops, dozens of curated professional speakers and career-based trips. They provided individual career counseling to high school students and developed clubs and commissions for student growth.

“I had a phenomenal psychology teacher in high school, Erika Levavi, who really made the material come to life. After that class, not only did I want to become a psychologist, but it was my dream to teach AP Psychology. I was honored to teach AP Psych for six years alongside Erika, which was a real dream come true.”

For close to a year, Caroll was a mental health counselor at the SBH Counseling Clinic. At SBH, she did individualized therapy with clients with disorders such as generalized anxiety and major depression, and Caroll co-facilitated art therapy for geriatric women.

Taking on the Reins as Executive Director of PROPEL

Last June, Caroll left Flatbush Yeshivah to become the Executive Director of PROPEL.

She is thrilled to see how the community members support one another, especially the entrepreneurs. For example, experienced interior designers will mentor aspiring designers and teach them about pricing models. Or an established fitness instructor might help a newcomer

figure out how to structure group classes to build both community and income. Instead of viewing their mentees as competition, they give them the tools to thrive to strengthen the community at large.

Caroll is energized and in awe of working with such powerful and successful women. PROPEL recently launched a podcast called Chapters.. In each episode, they dive into the highs, lows, and turning points that shaped the careers of trailblazing community women.

PROPEL has changed over the last ten years. When PROPEL was established, the majority of its clients were a little older They were women who needed to enter the workforce for financial reasons such as divorce or their husbands’ losing jobs. Later came an influx of younger women who wanted careers, and PROPEL’s demographic changed.

Passions

On a professional level, career counseling is Caroll’s passion. In graduate school, the class she took in career counseling was her favorite.

Caroll thrives on helping people find their unique strengths. The clients she most loves to work with are the ones who have no clue as to what they want to do in the future. “It’s deeply meaningful for me because I get to guide people toward recognizing what makes them truly unique. It’s the perfect mix of challenge, fun, and fulfillment.”

Caroll’s proudest accomplishments are the little moments, such as running into a client on the street and hearing that she landed her dream job or chose a career path because of a conversation they once had.

What really lights up Caroll is coaching women, in particular. That is the demographic she is most impassioned about. When Caroll was growing up, she often heard girls say, “Why work so hard if I’m just going to be a mom?” She is dedicated to supporting young girls and women as they navigate the complexities of wanting to be incredible mothers and also pursue meaningful careers that contribute to the world and their finances.

Role Models

Caroll’s mother Paulette deeply shaped the woman she is today. “My mom was a huge role model for me: she had a career and was still a phenomenal homemaker and mother.”

Paulette owned an accessories business, decorated swanees and other occasions, and then switched to real estate sales, which she is still actively involved in.

Other significant female mentors in Caroll’s life include Shifra Hanon, the creator of the Pathfinders Department at Yeshivah of Flatbush High School, Dr. Gayle Krost, the President of Propel Network, and Viviane Darwish, the Director of Operations at PROPEL.

It’s no surprise that both Shifra and Gayle have been featured in this column. Who knows, Viviane may be next!

Family and Work-Life Balance

Caroll is married to Ovadia Sutton. The couple has two daughters, Aura, two years old and Paulette, seven months. “During high school, I learned to juggle and manage a million things at once. Those skills help me every day as a working mom.”

Work was a breeze for Caroll before she had children. As a mother, one of her greatest challenges is if her nanny doesn’t show up or she quits. “If I don’t have the proper support for my kids, I can’t be the person I want to be for my clients and colleagues. It’s something I am trying to figure out for myself and the community at large.”

At PROPEL, Caroll oversees the career coaches and volunteer mentors and plans business and career-related events. She appreciates the flexibility she has at PROPEL to pick up her daughter from nursery and to work remotely part time. Caroll works in person some days and evenings, especially when she runs programs or workshops.

For fun, Caroll enjoys sports (volleyball, tennis, and skiing) and connecting with friends. When her children are in elementary school, she looks forward to being a PTA mom.

Advice for Young Women

Learn about yourself, who you are. Do new things and try new experiences.

You can connect with Caroll at Caroll@thepropelnetwork.org. Please check out thepropelnetwork.org and follow @propelnetwork on Instagram and Caroll’s Instagram page, @careersbycaroll.

Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach. Her coaching specialties include life, career, and dating coaching. Ellen can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com.

Dave Gordon

A delegation of Jews from the U.S. and Israel took advantage of the relaxing of tensions in Syria to pay a historic visit to Damascus last month.

This was an unimaginable venture not long ago, especially for Israeli citizens. The trip served as a vehicle for goodwill outreach, reconnection to lost Jewish heritage, and the startling possibility of new beginnings.

Asher Lopatin, an Orthodox rabbi from Michigan, spearheaded the trip sponsored by the Syrian government. Participants included Carl Gershman, the founding president of the National Endowment for Democracy and a former U.S. representative to the UN Security Council, Jill Joshowitz, a historian of Jewish visual culture, Prof. Lawrence Schiffman, professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at New York University and director of the Global Institute for Advanced Research in Jewish Studies, Marlene Schiffman, Rabbi Mendy Chitrik, born in Safed, currently the rabbi of Turkey’s Ashkenazi community and the chairman of the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States, Rabbi Asher Lopatin, Steven Dishler, Assistant VP of International and Public Affairs at the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago and former lieutenant in the IDF, Adin Kleinfeldt co-founder of Youngfeldt Holdings, and David Horovitz, Times of Israel editor.

The trip was coordinated from Syria by Syrian-born American Joe Jajati, the grandson of a former leader of Syria’s Jewish community who has established the Syrian Mosaic Foundation, which aims “to unite Syrians and global supporters in celebrating our diversity and building a brighter future.”

Tourists with a Purpose

The visitors moved through a city marked by a Jewish history that once numbered tens of thousands but is now reduced to only six residents clinging to fading memories and crumbling cemeteries.

Through tightly controlled visits to sites such as the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue and the Elfaranje Synagogue – historic sanctuaries once central to Syrian Jewry – the visitors pieced together a portrait of a community that has been nearly erased.

At the centuries-old Jewish cemetery, the group prayed together, underscoring both the endurance and fragility of communal memory. One poignant episode unfolded as the group saw the recovered doors of the Menarsha synagogue, stolen in recent years and now objects of both state pride and communal nostalgia.

Dura-Europos Synagogue Murals

Perhaps the emotional high point arrived with a visit to see the Dura-Europos Synagogue murals – 2,000-year-old Biblical wall paintings renowned as the earliest known figurative depictions in a synagogue. Normally off-limits, the group was granted privileged access to this “sacred chamber,” a brush with antiquity that momentarily unites past and present. Museum officials even revealed salvaged relics from synagogues destroyed in the recent Syrian Civil War, vowing restoration in the future.

Despite the presence of uniformed guards and carefully orchestrated encounters, the group’s openly wearing of kippot and tallitot in public was met with curiosity, smiles, and even requests for selfies – a tableau suggesting that, at least in these controlled circumstances, old enemies can briefly become benign onlookers. Encounters were described as uniformly warm, upending stereotypes and hinting at undercurrents of change even as official policies remain rigid.

Damascus at a Crossroads

The travelogue closes with a city at a crossroads: Damascus, still wary, still scarred, but beginning to tentatively acknowledge its lost Jews – and opening the door, however slightly, to a new dialogue. The group spent only forty-eight hours in Damascus, which was a very short time to try to take in decades of history, heartbreak, and hope. The trip included a blur of lost sanctuaries, guarded optimism, and the stubborn possibility of something new taking root amid the ruins.

Speaking to Community Magazine is Prof. Lawrence Schiffman, who offers an astonishing eyewitness chronicle – revealing the silent persistence of memory, and the slightly surreal promise that even the most unlikely journeys can open up surprising new opportunities.

Below are the highlights of our exclusive interview with Prof. Schiffman.

CM: How did you connect to the trip and why did you think it was important to go?

It was suggested by my former student, Jill Joshua. But mainly, she initially had interest in t the Dura -Europos Synagogue (with remains from the 3rd century). She told me there was a chance to go to Damascus and see the synagogue and I was on [board] before I even knew what the whole thing was about. Then I realized that it [the trip] was something very valuable, and [I]

wanted to participate in it. But initially it was the possibility to get to see the stuff that I would never otherwise be able to see.

CM: Did you fear for your safety?

No. First of all, I knew about security arrangements. And second of all, maybe I’m crazy, but I didn’t worry about it.

CM: What did security feel like for you on the ground?

We had four guys with rifles and some plain clothes guys. I don’t know if we needed that security but it was very reassuring.

Believe it or not, there were no traffic lights, and no stop signs anywhere in Damascus. They were apparently destroyed during the war. And whenever we got into a traffic jam, the security guys would jump out, push the traffic away until we got moving, jump back into their cars, and we would be off.

That’s mostly what they did. I’m sure they were doing their job as far as security, but I didn’t see anything risky. Admittedly, we were in a different situation because we were traveling in a bunch of fancy cars. But we didn’t feel anything negative anywhere.

We walked in the shuk, the open-air market, and one of the plain clothes security guards trailed us. We recognized him, of course, and we motioned to him to come and walk with us.

So, he walked with us a little bit. We didn’t feel in the shuk that there was any need for his protection. There were some people said, “Shalom,” when they realized we were Jews.

We didn’t feel any issue at all about being recognized as Jews. We also visited a police station where we were very nicely received. The police had just recovered two doors from a synagogue that had been stolen, and we wanted to see them. They gave us fruit. Then we hobnobbed a little with them. From the first minute that we after we got off the plane we were very well received, including our visit to an airport VIP room, where there were a variety of airport officials and other types there.

We went to the Jobar Synagogue (also known as Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue, dating back 2,700 years). I would not suggest somebody going there without security, because it’s an abandoned room. [The synagogue was severely damaged in the Syrian Civil War in May 2014.] Any kind of criminal or whatever could easily hide there, wait for some poor visitor, get his wallet or something. It’s not a place to go to without some security or accompaniment. But other than at that place, we got the impression that there were a lot of nice people around, and we had no issues.

CM: Why do you think times have changed?

The first thing to realize is that it is very important to be careful of something. We met certain people and went certain places. We can’t testify about anybody else, right? So that’s the first point that I think is very important. I’m not claiming that there aren’t other people who are not like the ones we met, who, for all I know, may be anti-Semites, ISIS, or Hamas sympathizers.

I am only able to testify about the people we met, be it the government officials or just people who we happened to see.

So, I’m not in a position yet to claim that everything has changed. That’s the first point. Second of all, I have no comparison. I know this sounds funny, I don’t have any comparison. There are places in the Arab world where the anti-Israel feelings are rooted deeply in anti-Semitism, and that anti-Semitism seems to stem from the combination of the “second class citizen” nature of the Jew in Islamic thought and law, which then gets married to a kind of European anti-Semitism that was imported to the Middle East during the Holocaust period.

We encountered people who disagreed with Israeli policies very strongly. It was clear to us, in one of our meetings. with the Deputy Foreign Minister. He rationally explained their view about relations with Israel, and the hope for the security agreement that’s being worked on. But at the same time, they display very strong disagreement with some Israeli policies that can be separate from hating Jews.

I’ll tell you a funny story which illustrates [this]. We went to visit the Jewish cemetery, and we were wandering around there. We met a woman there who seems to maintain the cemetery.

Her house is right next to the cemetery, as is her backyard. Before I know it, I see that my wife is sitting with this woman’s family, and they’re drinking ice water that they brought out and they are talking to these people.

They were just nice people. They keep the cemetery. They probably get tips from people who visit. We did not experience animosity.

That is a really good sign for the future. Remember, we’re talking about our visit to the area that is controlled by the government. I think the majority of the territory is not controlled by the government. Remember that the entire north, the Kurdish north, and the southern Druze area don’t want to be part of the country yet. And in the eastern part of the country, closer to Iraq, the United States military is still battling ISIS. That doesn’t hit the news. So, when we talk about Syria, eventually, we will want to know what the approach of these other people is, as well. We know, of course, the Druze are all friends of Israel. And a Druze journalist interviewed me, and before he started the interview, he said, “I’m Druze. We love Israel, we hate Syria.”

CM: Do you think we’ll see Jewish tourism in Syria soon?

We’re going to be seeing Jewish tourism to Syria soon. They clearly want it. There’s a demand. I think that there’s a lot that has to happen to make it really possible, but I think they would like to see Jewish tourism. And more than that, they would like to see Jewish business. In a country that has to completely rebuild, there’s enormous economic opportunity there.

CM: What would have to happen for another Jewish group to go?

I think that we have to get to a point when there’s confidence in the security situation. I think it would be great if they sign the border agreement with Israel. That’s going to be good for everybody. And I think they know that will be a first step.

And some settling down has to occur. It’s kind of funny to say this, but I really don’t know anything at all about the infrastructure for tourism, like tourist guides and busses and the right kinds of hotels. I don’t know anything about that.

One important thing to remember is you can’t use your credit card there. The U.S. dropped the sanctions. Now what has to happen is, after the drop of the sanctions, various private enterprise and banking and financial transfers have to be possible. And you need to be able to use your cell phone, which only works now with Wi-Fi, because no company has service there.

CM: What for you was the standout part of the trip?

The standout part of the trip aesthetically was the opportunity to see the paintings from the Dura Europas synagogue. And of course, for others, the standout part of the trip was the chance to pray at the grave of Chaim Vital, to have the first minyan, and to meet the government officials who we met. And we met other wonderful people. Our group had a unified purpose. We understood our unified purpose, and we put it into effect successfully.

CM: What message would you send to people now, after having gone on the trip?

I would say the first thing is that we have to hope the notion of Syria reinstituting good relations with the Jewish community, which they certainly want, and better relations with Israel. It is going to be a process. It’s going to take some time. We should all be supporting it, and while we’re supporting it and beginning to interact with the Syrians, we have to be careful to send the right message. That is, that we appreciate the moves in this direction, and we understand the

difficulty that they have in trying to re-establish a new Syria, and we’re in favor of that happening. It is very important to understand why the process with Israel can’t be immediate.

Pnina Souid

Kindness Brings Miraculous New Life

The phone rang at the Mitzvah Man hotline. The voice on the other end was that of an elderly woman. Although she spoke softly, her voice had the tone of one with a quiet resilience.

“My name is Mrs. Levine,” the caller said, sounding rather tired. “I’m a 96-year-old Holocaust survivor. My old, worn-out easy chair finally collapsed. It was my only comfortable piece of furniture, which I’ve had for fifty years. It was nothing special, but I spent my days there. I have no family left and no friends nearby. Just that chair kept me comfortable. Is it possible for you to help me find a replacement please? Even a used one would be a tremendous help.”

The Mitzvah Man’s heart was touched by Mrs. Levine’s simple request. “We usually focus on basic necessities,” he responded. “And furniture is often not so easy to acquire., But I truly understand your need for comfort. I’m going to send a text to our network of volunteers right now to see if we can come up with something for you.”

He immediately sent a brief, urgent message detailing Mrs. Levine’s situation and her need for a comfortable chair. Moments later, a response pinged back from Susan, one of the Mitzvah Man Organization’s dedicated volunteers.

“Please, let me take this mitzvah,” Susan wrote. “I need to do this immediately. I need the zechut (merit).”

When the Mitzvah Man messaged her to ask about the urgency of her situation, she explained, “My daughter is in the hospital right now, in labor for over ten long hours. She suffered two tragic miscarriages before this pregnancy. I’m praying so hard for a healthy birth and a healthy child. I want to send this precious survivor an extra special gift as a zechut for my daughter and her baby. I don’t want to buy her a second hand chair. I want to order her a brand-new, specialized automatic recliner chair, one that helps her to stand up and sit down. This will give her the comfort and dignity she deserves. Please give me her details right away so I can place the order.”

The Mitzvah Man quickly texted back: “Her name is Mrs. Levine, and she lives at 1712 Avenue N.”

Susan called him back, her voice shaking with emotion and astonishment.

“Mrs. Levine? 1712 Avenue N?!” Susan exclaimed. “That’s impossible! That’s my childhood home! I sold that house thirty years ago, and I sold it to a Mrs. Levine who I remember was a Holocaust survivor. I can’t believe this connection!”

The knowledge of this remarkable coincidence only deepened Susan’s resolve, convincing her that this divine alignment was a sign. She went online instantly and placed the order for the expensive, specialized chair to be delivered the very next morning.

Susan called the Mitzvah Man back a short while later. Her voice was now filled with overwhelming, tearful joy. “As soon as I pressed ‘send’ on the delivery order, the doctor came out of the delivery room and told me, ‘Congratulations! Your daughter just gave birth to a healthy baby girl!’”

The next morning, Mrs. Levine received her beautiful new lift chair. The comfort and independence it provided brought light and relief back into her life. She told Susan, “I’m happier than I’ve been in years.”

The Mitzvah Man wants to remind everyone: We can never know which specific mitzvah will be the one that breaks a spiritual barrier, creates a divine connection, or tips the scale of a blessing we desperately need. Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity or the biggest charity. Just go out there and do a mitzvah. Surely, Hashem is going to reward your efforts in the most profound and unexpected ways.

Sam Sutton

Under the lights at M&S Park, with the stands packed and anticipation thick in the air, a new chapter of league history was written. The 2025 M&S World Series had all the makings of a classic, powerhouse rosters, superstar performances, heartbreak, and redemption. And when the final out was recorded when Captain Uri Adler dove to his knees and fired across the diamond for the clinching play the celebration began.

Champions: Kaboom.

For Uri Adler, it was the storybook ending to his first season as captain a debut campaign that began with high hopes and ended in pure glory. For Abe Saka, it was the long-awaited validation of years of excellence and grit. For ten of the twelve players on this roster, it was a first-ever taste of M&S immortality. And for the league, it was a reminder of why M&S Softball remains the gold standard – passion, competition, and community under one banner.

The Journey to the Crown

Kaboom’s road to the championship wasn’t easy. The postseason bracket was a gauntlet, and every step tested their chemistry, resilience, and belief.

In the Semifinals, Kaboom squared off against Vandelay Industries, a veteran team loaded with bats and experience. But Kaboom had something special – a unified energy that couldn’t be shaken. On the mound, Abe Saka was masterful. Pitching with the poise of a seasoned ace and the fire of a man on a mission, he controlled the tempo, silenced the bats, and carried his squad into the World Series. His performance was so commanding it earned him Player of the Week honors and set the tone for what was to come.

That semifinal series featured one of the most memorable defensive plays in M&S postseason history. In Game One, Sol Fallas, playing short center field, ranged deep up the middle and laid out for a full-extension catch that saved the game and, perhaps, the season. It was the kind of play that would replay in fans’ minds for years. From that moment, the message was clear: Kaboom was on a mission.

A Showdown for the Ages

Waiting in the Finals was the juggernaut King Salomon: Part Deux, led by legendary captain Michael “Sabon” Salomon, a team chasing dynasty status and hungry for another ring. The matchup was everything fans hoped for: two powerhouse teams, two brilliant captains, and lineups filled with stars.

Over the course of three unforgettable games, both teams traded blows. King Salomon struck early and often, with JoJo “Box Office” Levy continuing his meteoric rise as one of the league’s elite hitters. Levy, who crushed another ball over the fence in Game Two, put himself in a new category of player this postseason as a young star whose ceiling keeps climbing, and whose name now belongs among the league’s best.

But Kaboom, true to their name, always answered. Each rally from King Salomon was met with equal fire. Big hits, timely defense, and the unshakeable calm of Captain Uri Adler kept the team focused. By Game Three, the tension was unbearable – until Kaboom broke it open with a relentless offensive surge. The score may have widened late, but make no mistake: this was a battle of inches, decided by heart.

When it ended with Adler’s diving play and the eruption of cheers under the lights the team mobbed the field. Gloves hit the dirt, and years of frustration turned into joy.

Kaboom had done it. They were champions.

The MVP: Abe Saka

At the center of it all was Abe Saka, the bulldog on the mound who refused to bend. His command, endurance, and unrelenting focus made him the heartbeat of Kaboom’s title run. Every inning he threw carried weight; every pitch was a declaration.

Saka’s performance across the playoffs – and especially in the World Series – cemented his place in M&S lore. For years he had flirted with greatness. This time, he conquered it. Fittingly, he was named World Series MVP, a title that felt like destiny fulfilled.

The Captain: Uri Adler

Adler’s leadership was the glue that bound Kaboom together. Known across the league for his professionalism and calm demeanor, he captained his team the same way he played: composed, steady, and relentlessly respectful. He never let his team get too high or too low. He managed personalities, lineups, and moments with quiet confidence – the mark of a true leader.

In his first season wearing the “C,” Adler delivered the ultimate prize. Few captains in league history have ever steered a team to the mountaintop so quickly. His championship pedigree is now sealed in M&S history.

Respect to the Runners-Up

No championship is complete without acknowledging the greatness of the opponent and King Salomon: Part Deux was every bit the worthy adversary. Led by Michael “Sabon” Salomon, the team was a powerhouse from Opening Day. With players like Mo Shamah, TI, and JoJo Levy, to name a few, King Salomon pushed Kaboom to the brink.

Levy’s growth this season was particularly noteworthy – another ball over the fence, another step into stardom. Though they fell short, King Salomon’s mix of veterans and young stars this team was oh-so-close to winning it all.

Legacy of a Champion

What made Kaboom’s title run special wasn’t just their talent, it was their chemistry. They laughed, battled, and believed together. They responded to every setback with focus, every challenge with faith.

For ten first-time champions, the M&S Cup now symbolizes more than just a trophy. It represents late-night Glatt Bite runs, shared trust, and a team that refused to let go of the rope. And for veterans like Finkel and Chrem, it’s another golden moment to add to their legacy.

As the lights dimmed at M&S Park and the crowd lingered to soak in the celebration, one thing was clear: this was more than a championship. It was a statement.

Kaboom arrived. They battled. They believed. And they conquered.

From first pitch to final out, the 2025 M&S World Series will be remembered as one of the greatest in league history and Kaboom’s name will forever be etched on the M&S Cup.

Congratulations to Captain Uri Adler, World Series MVP Abe Saka, and the entire Kaboom roster your names are now written in M&S history!

The Champions: Player by Player

Abe Saka (P, World Series MVP) – The bulldog on the mound. Unwavering, unrelenting, and unstoppable. Saka willed Kaboom to victory with his mix of grit, poise, and power. The title that had eluded him for years is finally his and he earned every ounce of it.

A.Y. Slanger (C) – The starting pitcher’s dream. Slanger’s defensive instincts and lightning-fast releases kept runners honest all season. Behind the plate, he set the tone, controlled the rhythm, and gave Saka the trust every ace needs.

Barry Finkel (1B) – One of only two returning champions on the roster, Finkel once again proved he’s a winning player. His glove was reliable, his bat clutch, and his leadership invaluable. Another ring for a true veteran presence.

Neil “Real Feel” Shweky (2B) – The name says it all. Shweky’s smooth hands and field awareness made him a defensive standout at second base. Add in his timely hitting and you get one of the league’s most underrated stars.

Mordy Chrem (SS) – The defensive wizard. Chrem captured championships in back-to-back seasons, this time anchoring Kaboom’s infield with elite range and veteran composure. His bat packs pop, but his glove is poetry.

Uri Adler (3B, Captain) – The captain who brought it all together. Adler’s steady hand and even-keeled demeanor defined Kaboom’s culture. His leadership off the field was as vital as his steady play at third base.

Sol Fallas (SCF) – The bopper in the lineup with a highlight-reel glove. His legendary catch in the semifinals will go down as one of the greatest defensive plays in M&S postseason history. A true two-way force.

Morris “Mo” Levy (LF) – One of the breakout stars of 2025. Levy’s bat came alive this season, complementing his already-stellar defense in left field. A rising star who proved he can shine brightest on the biggest stage.

Nadav “Nutty” Auerbach (CF) Electric. Auerbach is one of the best center fielders and hitters in the league. His range, instincts, and consistency at the plate make him a cornerstone player and Kaboom’s all-around superstar.

Shimmy Cohen (RF) – The veteran finally gets his crown. After years of near misses, Cohen captured his first championship alongside longtime teammate Saka in a career-defining moment. His bat, his glove, and his leadership all came through when it mattered most.

Isaac “Icy Hot” Cohen (IF) – Reliable and clutch. Isaac delivered steady production and a veteran presence. Every contender needs a player who’s always ready that was Icy Hot.

David Minzer (IF) – The power bat Kaboom needed. Minzer stepped up in key spots throughout the postseason, delivering muscle in the lineup and big-moment energy when it mattered most.