Jenna Ashkenazie

Every November, Americans prepare to turn their clocks back one hour, marking the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST) and the return to Standard Time. This shift effectively moves an hour of daylight from the evening to the morning, helping to brighten the darker winter mornings. In March, the clocks “spring forward” again, and Daylight Saving Time resumes, extending daylight into the evening hours.

Daylight Saving Time was first implemented during World War I as a strategy to conserve energy. It was repealed after the war, reinstated during World War II, and finally standardized nationwide with the passage of the Uniform Time Act in 1966, which set consistent start and end dates.

Who Observes – and Who Doesn’t

Not all countries – and not even all U.S. states – follow DST. Hawaii, due to its equatorial location, and most of Arizona, due to its desert climate, observe Standard Time year-round. The Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona is an exception and does follow DST.

Most of Asia, South America, and Africa also do not observe Daylight Saving Time. These regions are located closer to the equator, where the amount of daylight remains relatively consistent year-round, making clock changes largely unnecessary.

A National Debate: Should DST Be Permanent?

In recent years, the relevance of Daylight Saving Time has come under scrutiny. Some argue it’s an outdated practice that disrupts sleep and daily rhythms. Others advocate for making DST permanent to take advantage of longer evening daylight.

Among the most vocal proponents of permanent DST is U.S. Secretary of State and former Florida Senator Marco Rubio. Along with Washington Senator Patty Murray, he introduced the Sunshine Protection Act, a bipartisan bill aiming to eliminate the biannual clock change and maintain Daylight Saving Time year-round.

Rubio stated, “Americans are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year – it’s an unnecessary, decades-old practice that’s more of an annoyance to families than a benefit to them.”

Health Experts Push Back

Despite public support for permanent DST, many sleep and health experts urge caution. They argue that permanent Standard Time – not DST – is more beneficial to human health.

Dr. Alaina Tiani, a clinical health psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic’s Sleep Disorder Center, emphasizes the biological importance of morning light.

“Sticking to Standard Time is undeniably better for our health. We would have more light in the mornings, and having more of that light exposure at those earlier times is essentially better for our body’s rhythms.”

Morning light helps regulate the circadian rhythm, our internal biological clock that influences critical functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels.

Sleep, Learning, and Behavior

Children, in particular, may benefit from permanent Standard Time. According to Dr. Karin Johnson, studies have shown that students living in areas that follow Standard Time perform better on standardized tests like the SAT.

She notes that earlier sunrises, while sometimes seen as a nuisance, could be beneficial:

“You’re more likely to be able to sleep through those early sunrise hours. They also come with earlier sunsets, which could make falling asleep at night easier – especially for your kids.”

Earlier daylight may also encourage healthy routines such as morning exercise and reduce reliance on artificial light in the mornings.

Lack of sleep due to circadian misalignment has been linked to a range of serious issues, including mental health disorders, risky behavior, poor academic performance, and even lower employment salaries. Dr. Johnson adds,

“We know that a lot of the drivers for people becoming criminals increase in the sleep-deprived population.”

Arguments in Favor of Permanent Daylight Saving Time

Despite medical concerns, many politicians and members of the public support staying on DST year-round, citing both social and economic benefits.

According to The Columbus Dispatch, permanent DST could reduce household energy usage by minimizing the need for lighting and appliance use in the evening—a claim supported by a U.S. Department of Energy study.

Safety may also improve. The Brookings Institution found that crime rates drop when daylight is extended into the evening hours:

“Offenders know they’re more likely to be recognized and get caught if they’re fully visible.”

Steve P. Calandrillo of the University of Washington further explains that:

“Crime rates are lower by 30 percent in the morning-to-afternoon hours, even when those morning hours occur before sunrise, when it’s still dark.”

Potential Downsides to Permanent DST

Still, the shift to permanent DST is not without its risks. Northwestern Medicine reports that DST has been linked to an increased risk of various health problems, from cognitive and mental health issues to heart disease and digestive disorders.

Neurologist Dr. Beth Ann Malow warns:

“The misalignment of our natural circadian rhythms can contribute to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.”

Lack of sleep and circadian disruption also contribute to lower productivity in workplaces and schools. Dr. Ilene M. Rosen of the University of Pennsylvania notes:

“Employers are recognizing the costs of poor sleep in their employees,” adding that there’s “a strong U-shaped relationship between absenteeism and presenteeism (when employees come to work while physically or mentally not well, which leads to decreased productivity) and hours of sleep.”

In educational settings, students – especially those at earlystarting schools like yeshivot – may find it harder to focus and stay safe when leaving home in the dark.

Lessons from Around the World

Other countries have experimented with permanent DST – with mixed results. In 2011, Russia adopted permanent DST but reversed the decision in 2014 after widespread public dissatisfaction and health complaints.

According to TimeandDate.com, medical studies found a spike in morning road accidents, particularly in northern regions. The backlash was so strong that the government passed a law to reinstate permanent Standard Time instead.

Russia’s experience serves as a cautionary tale: even well-intentioned changes can produce unintended consequences.

What’s Next for the U.S.?

With public opinion split and expert opinions largely favoring Standard Time, the future of clock changes in the U.S. remains uncertain. Bills like the Sunshine Protection Act have garnered support in Congress, but no federal law has yet been passed to make DST permanent.

While it’s tempting to embrace more evening light year-round, the trade-offs to health, safety, and productivity need to be carefully considered. As the debate continues, one thing remains clear: any decision should be made with the full picture in view—not just what feels convenient.

In the end, only time will tell…

To Our Beloved Community,

We, the undersigned rabbinic leaders of the Syrian Jewish community, write to you with a message of responsibility, urgency, and obligation. At this critical juncture in our city’s history, we declare without hesitation: every eligible member of our community must vote.

This is not about politics. It is about our sacred duty, to our families, to our schools, to our yeshivot, to our synagogues, and to our way of life. Voting is not merely a right. It is a halachic and moral responsibility. It is a declaration that we care, that we are engaged, and that we will not stand idly by while the future of our people is at stake.

The decisions being made in the coming elections, for mayor and other critical offices, will shape the future of our yeshivot, synagogues, schools, neighborhoods, and religious freedoms. We cannot afford silence. We cannot afford apathy. We dare not be passive when our way of life is on the line.

We are living in a time when the values that have allowed our community to flourish are under growing threat. The upcoming elections will have real and lasting impact on the safety of our neighborhoods, the strength of our institutions, and the ability of our children to grow up proudly and freely as Jews. To sit this out is to abdicate our communal responsibility.

This is not optional. It is a mitzvah. It is a communal obligation, like tefillah, like tzedakah, like educating our children. When we stay home and do not vote, we weaken the very foundations of the blessings we have built over generations.

Over forty years ago, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein zt”l expressed this obligation with clarity:

“The rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights have allowed us the freedom to practice our religion without interference… Therefore, it is incumbent upon each Jewish citizen to participate in the democratic system which guards the freedoms we enjoy. The most fundamental responsibility incumbent on each individual is to register and to vote.”

We are blessed to live in a country that has allowed Torah to thrive. But that blessing must not be taken for granted. It must be protected with commitment, with unity, and with action.

We therefore implore and expect every member of our community to do the following:

Community of NY and NJ regarding voter registration

Register to vote. Show up to vote. Ensure your children, your siblings, and your friends vote. Speak about it.

Take it seriously. Treat it as a mitzvah, because it is. Our strength has always come from our dedication to Torah, to family, and to each other. With pride in our past and responsibility for our future, let us stand together, firm in our values and united in action.

May Hashem bless our community with continued protection, unity, and strength.

Rabbi Rahamim Aboud	Rabbi Eliyahu Elbaz	Rabbi Ely Matalon
Rabbi Yehoshua Alfieh	Rabbi Shlomo Farhi	Rabbi Yitzhak Farhi
Rabbi Ovadia Alouf	Rabbi Joseph Faur	Rabbi Edmond Nahum
Rabbi Moshe Arking	Rabbi Moses Haber	Rabbi David Ozeri
Rabbi David Ashear	Rabbi Joey Haber	Rabbi Ezra Cohen Saban
Rabbi Yehuda Azancot	Rabbi Hillel Haber	Rabbi Reuven Semah
Rabbi Aviad Barhen	Rabbi Raymond Haber	Rabbi Albert Setton
Rabbi Ronald Barry	Rabbi Ike Hanon	Rabbi Yoshiyahu Shammah
Rabbi Yaakov Ben Haim	Rabbi Avi Harari	Rabbi Leibel Shapiro
Rabbi Haim Benoliel	Rabbi Rahamim Harari	Rabbi Sion Setton
Rabbi Raymond Beyda	Rabbi Abraham Hayoun	Rabbi David Shelby
Rabbi Joey Beyda	Rabbi Ricky Hidary	Rabbi Joey Soffer
Rabbi Yosef Carlebach	Chief Rabbi Shaul J. Kassin	Rabbi Joey Sourur
Rabbi Shmuel Choueka	Rabbi Moshe Lagnado	Rabbi David Sutton
Rabbi David Cohen	Rabbi Uri Lati	Rabbi Harold Sutton
Rabbi Eli Cohen	Rabbi Moshe Malko	Rabbi David Tawil
Rabbi Yohai Cohen	Rabbi Eli Mansour	Rabbi Ikey Tawil
Rabbi Joseph Dana	Rabbi David Maslaton	Rabbi Meyer Tobias
Rabbi Shlomo Diamond	Rabbi Max Maslaton
Rabbi Moshe Douek	Rabbi Shaul Maslaton

The day has the power to energize real change and help a person become unrecognizably different.

Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen

The spiritual forces operating at moments of beginning are unique. “Hakol holech achar harosh – Everything goes after the beginning” – the entire course of any process is determined by its beginning. This is because a beginning is a conception, and conception represents the laying down of the genes that are the blueprint for everything that is built later. The spiritual rule is that the closer something is to the moment of conception, the more potent and critical the forces: a small injury to the human body may not be of major significance for an adult. However, a fetus during its development is much more sensitive to such an event, and a minute change to the genes may have the most far-reaching results imaginable.

The Importance of New Beginnings

At the moment of conception all details are being coded most potently; it is therefore the most critical moment. No subsequent moment can ever have the intensity and significance of that first moment. The flash of conception contains everything. All later development is simply a revelation of what was created during that first flash.

Rosh Hashanah is the conception of the year and the next ten days are its gestation. That is why these days are so critical to the whole year. That is why a person is judged for the entire year as he appears on Rosh Hashanah – the personality as it exists then is the core. It will take supreme effort to change later. Change on Rosh Hashanah is much easier – one can manipulate the “genes” of one’s character then. People of spiritual knowledge take extreme care to live as perfectly as possible on Rosh Hashanah – the year is being conceived.

Rosh Hashanah’s Unique Energy

What is the source of this special energy? The first Rosh Hashanah ever, which of course must represent its true nature most powerfully, was the day of the Creation of man. That day of Creation was the world’s first Rosh Hashanah, and its climactic event was the Creation of the human. That is why this day always retains its power to re-create man. When we genuinely and intensely decide to elevate our personalities on Rosh Hashanah and become inspired to live the coming year as higher beings, we are using the day’s deeply rooted energy as the day of human creation. The day has the power to energize real change and help a person become unrecognizably different.

There is an idea that Adam was created at the very place that would later be the mizbeach (altar) in the Temple. “Adam mi’makom kaparato nivra – Adam was created from the place of his atonement.” His very first moment of life was generated from earth that was gathered from all parts of the world, but that was concentrated on the one spot that would later become the site of sacrifices – that activity that most powerfully atones and brings man close to the Divine. Adam’s moment of creation is at once the most intense newness possible and also contains the element of the most intense change possible – from sin to atonement, which is really new creation itself. Hence, the unfathomable power of Rosh Hashanah to help us to become new. Little wonder that the mystical custom is to minimize sleep on Rosh Hashanah.

Significance of the Order of the Tefillah

The service of the day reflects this idea of reaching for the root. The order of prayer is based on Malchuyot (kingship), Zichronot (memory), and Shofrot (shofar-blowing).

Kingship

Malchuyotrepresents the effort of renewing the root of all Creation and all service – establishing that Hashem’s rule is absolute and primary. Before accepting the yoke of specific mitzvotwe must accept Hashem’s kingship in general, as expressed in the famous mashal (parable) of a great king who was asked to decree laws for a country. The king agreed only on condition that the people first accept his sovereignty over them. Only then would his laws be binding and meaningful. The root of Creation is Hashem’s Kingship, and so too is the root of all spiritual growth. This realization is the most primary of all on Rosh Hashanah, and it requires a delving into the deepest level of ratzon (desire) during the prayer service to reach the consciousness of and desire for Hashem’s complete rule.

Memory

Zichronot represents the idea of remembering in true spiritual depth the points of origin of the world and of the Jewish people and its destiny. This deep form of memory is a re-entering of the male phase of new conception – to go back to the initial flash or spark and re-live it vividly and literally. The root of zachor, “remember,” is identical with zachar “male.” The connection should be obvious. Maleness is exactly that: a carrying over of the distilled essence of all previous generations in a seed that will form the next generation. The seed is a “memory” of the past. In fact, the words “memory” and “seed” are numerically equivalent in Hebrew. The work of memory, re-living the flash of creation, is perfectly fitting and necessary for Rosh Hashanah. 

Shofar-Blowing

Shofrotindicates, along the lines we have been discussing, reaching for the heart, reaching for the root of the neshama and the personality. The essence of the shofar is that it has a voice but no words. The mystics explain that the voice is the root of speech and contains far more than the individual finite words. Words may convey information, but the voice conveys the essence of a person. This is why prophecy is referred to as “voice,” not words: when Hashem tells Avraham to listen to Sarah’s prophetic advice the verse says: “Shma b’kola – Listen to her voice,” not “Listen to her words.”

Hashem tells the prophet: “Kra b’garon, al tachsoch – Cry out in your throat, do not hold back.” Prophecy is not from the mouth, the origin of words, but from the throat, the origin of raw sound. The blessing we pronounce on hearing the shofar is “lishmo’a kol shofar,” to “hear the voice of the shofar.” The shofar is raw sound, a raw cry, and that is why it has the power to open the neshama. All the words in the world cannot convey the emotion of the scream of a child in the night. The shofar is that scream.

Rosh Hashanah correctly lived should leave one supercharged. The energy achieved should be so great that the rest of the year can be lived accordingly – not as a continuation but as a constant experience of newness! Spark must become flame, and that flame must spark a new blaze, always. That is Jewish living. There is a mystical idea that being alive today because one was alive yesterday is called dying. Being really alive means that one’s life is generated today, not as a passive result of the past, but as an explosion of newness, now and always.

Spiritual Renewal

The Hebrew root ani meaning “I” has two fascinating derivatives, ana and ayin. The word ayin means “is not.” Ana is much harder to translate. It indicates an inexpressible pleading or longing as in: “Ana Hashem hoshi’a na,” the longing for redemption. These words, ayin “is not,” and ana, intense hope for the future, also mean “from where” and “to where.” When one wants to ask, “Where have you come from?” one says, “Me’ayin ba’ta?” When one wants to say, “Where are you going?” one says “Ana telech (or le’an)?” But incredibly, if one stops to consider the literal meaning of these expressions, a most inspiring depth becomes apparent: me’ayin ba’ta – “From where have you come?” literally means “You come from nothingness”! And ana telech – “Where are you going?” literally means “You are going to an inexpressibly great dimension”!

Hebrew, the language of holiness, is pregnant with spiritual depth. The simple, mundane idea of a person arriving from some previous place is expressed in common Hebrew as the transition from nothingness to his present state (yesh me’ayin – something from nothing!). In other words, the spiritual grasp of this moment is that it is relative to the previous moment, as existence compared to nothingness! That is newness! And from this moment to the next, the explosion is so great that it cannot be translated! That is the striving of a spiritually sensitive person, to generate a new inner life continually.  Avraham Avinu says of himself, “Va’anochi afar va’efer – And I am dust and ashes.” Torah is never mere poetry – every nuance has infinite meaning. What is the meaning of “dust and ashes”?

The idea is this. Ashes are the bare elements left when a substance has been completely burned. “Dust” of the earth is the rich soil in which growth takes place. Avraham, who most profoundly represents the idea of newness, of being the father, the founder of the Jewish people, who forged a whole new way of living, sees himself as constantly incinerating what he has become, in order to use those elements as soil for new growth. No element of his development is allowed to continue passively, here today because it was here yesterday. All of Avraham’s being is distilled into a memory that is the nucleus for a new birth – constantly! That is the power of hiddush, self-generating newness, the source of spiritual life and growth.

Dave Gordon

You think you’re too savvy to be scammed. We all do. But the unsettling truth is that modern fraudsters have elevated deception to an art form, weaving themselves into our daily routines and exploiting the people, institutions, and events we trust the most. In neighborhoods from Brooklyn to Lakewood, Monsey to Passaic, scams are no longer rare cautionary tales – they’re a weekly threat, circulating through WhatsApp groups, whispered in synagogue foyers, and cropping up in local newspaper headlines.

It starts small. An email from your rabbi. A call from your grandchild. A pop‑up on your computer. Each one feels just plausible enough, just urgent enough, to push you past skepticism. And then – in minutes – your savings, your peace of mind, and your trust are gone.

Here are real stories of fraud in our communities, reported by reputable media outlets, tied to exact dates and places. Together, they create a portrait of a crime wave hiding in plain sight.

The Brooklyn Computer Con

Recently, CBS News New York ran an exclusive story by investigator Mahsa Saeidi about a 75‑year‑old woman from Brooklyn who lost $100,000 in a deception that began with a locked computer screen. A pop‑up message told her to call a number. On the line, a voice claiming to be from Microsoft warned that her bank accounts had been compromised. The man guided her step by step – first to the bank to withdraw her funds “for safe keeping,” then to an in-person rendezvous. He gave her a secret code word – “red” – before sending a fake courier to collect the envelope. By the time she realized that she had been coached into surrendering money, the cash was gone.

Police say this hybrid scam – part tech support hoax, part old‑fashioned face‑to‑face con – is targeting older residents in Brooklyn who live alone. Its sophistication lies in how it turns modern technology’s veneer of authority into a weapon.

Social Security Scams in New Jersey

Government impersonation scams might sound like a distant problem, but a high‑profile case in New Jersey made headlines on April 24, 2025, when the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey announced that 68‑year‑old Deborah Bailey of Piscataway had pleaded guilty to stealing $150,903 in Social Security benefits. For eight years after her mother’s death, Bailey quietly continued to withdraw her late mother’s retirement checks. While that case involved a relative exploiting a loophole, the prosecution noted that fake “Social Security” calls are proliferating statewide – with con artists posing as federal agents who claim your Social Security number has been “frozen” and threaten arrest unless you transfer money immediately. Officials stress that legitimate agencies never ask for payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, yet these methods appear in nearly every successful scam they investigate.

The Deepfaked Grandchild Emergency

The classic “grandchild in trouble” scam took on a sinister technological twist in March 2025, as NPRreported from the Upper West Side of Manhattan and Passaic, New Jersey. Senior citizens began receiving not only panicked phone calls but also what appeared to be FaceTime videos from their own grandchildren – begging for bail money after supposed car accidents or arrests. In one documented case, a retired couple wired thousands of dollars to an account provided by the caller, believing it was to secure their grandson’s release in Vermont. Only hours later did they discover he had been at home all along. Investigators believe Montreal‑based criminal groups are behind the wave, using stolen personal data and AI‑generated voice and video “deepfakes” to trick even the most cautious targets.

Fake Charity Appeals in Boro Park and Lakewood

When tragedy strikes – a fatal fire before Shabbat, a family caught in an anti-Semitic attack, or a sudden medical emergency – Jewish communities act quickly. Scammers know this. Media outlets from Hamodiato The Jewish Presshave covered how, during such crises, residents of Boro Park in Brooklyn and the yeshiva community of Lakewood, New Jersey, are bombarded with WhatsApp messages and phone calls from “fundraisers” claiming to represent respected charities. Messages often include blurred photos, real names from local news reports, and fabricated payment links redirecting donations to private accounts. In some cases, community members have emptied their savings on the assumption they were aiding neighbors, only to find that the “emergency fund” never existed. Misaskim, the respected crisis‑response group, has issued repeated public alerts warning donors to slow down and verify before giving.

The Rabbi Gift Card Scam

One of the fastest‑growing frauds doesn’t come out of a high‑tech lab, but it’s brutally effective. Last September, the Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer alert after multiple synagogues in the New York area reported emails and texts from scammers posing as rabbis or synagogue presidents. The messages used familiar greetings and urgent tones – “I’m at a meeting and need a favor” – and asked congregants to buy gift cards for “families in crisis” or “a shul project.” Recipients were told to scratch off the security strip, photograph the numbers, and send them back via text or email. Once the numbers are sent, the value is drained within minutes, leaving no recourse for the victim. The FTC emphasized that no genuine rabbi or community leader will ever make such a request.

Final Thoughts

Trust is a cornerstone of Jewish communal life. But trust without verification is exactly what scammers need to succeed. The cases from Brooklyn, Lakewood, Passaic, Monsey, and beyond – each documented by reputable news outlets or government agencies – remind us that fraud is both hyper‑local and globally connected. Whether it’s a stranger on the phone using your grandson’s voice or a longtime neighborhood business adding a “holiday surcharge,” scams today are designed to slip past your defenses.

The simplest, hardest lesson is to pause before you act. Make that extra call, search that name, confirm that email. In the war between caution and con artists, hesitation isn’t weakness – it’s strength. In our communities, a moment’s doubt can be the only thing standing between you and the next devastating loss.

Scam Tactics

These cases show common threads in modern fraud:

• They Impersonate Trusted Figures: a rabbi, a tech support representative, even a family member.
• They Manipulate Urgency: making you believe that hesitation will cause harm or loss.
• They exploit community knowledge: citing real local news, synagogue events, or religious obligations.
• They Adjust Tactics to Technology: using spoofed numbers, AI‑generated videos, or hacked email accounts.

What makes them especially dangerous in Jewish neighborhoods across NY and NJ is the deep‑rooted culture of trust and fast action in emergencies – the very qualities scammers weaponize.

Guarding Against the Next Con

FBI agents, state attorneys general, and local police departments give the same advice:

Verify Independently – Call known official numbers, not the ones provided in a message.

Slow Down – No legitimate cause will collapse for lack of a same‑day transfer.

Refuse Unusual Payment Methods – Gift cards, crypto, or wire transfers are almost always red flags.

Educate the Vulnerable – Hold scam‑awareness sessions in shuls, schools, and senior centers. Communities should also normalize healthy skepticism. In the United States, the FBI estimates that elders lose over $3 billion each year to these schemes. That’s a number that can only grow if people keep treating suspicious requests as impolite to question.

Back-to-school season is the perfect time to refresh your gear and set yourself up for a successful year. Whether you’re returning to campus, heading into a new classroom, or just embracing a fresh start, having the right gadgets can streamline your routine, boost productivity, and make everyday tasks more enjoyable. Here are eight standout items that are practical, thoughtfully designed, and ready to elevate your daily routine.

OXO Sweep & Swipe Laptop Cleaner
Compact and affordable, the OXO Sweep & Swipe is the perfect tool for keeping your tech spotless. It features a retractable soft brush for sweeping dust and debris from keyboards, and a microfiber pad that effortlessly wipes smudges from screens on laptops, tablets, smartphones, and more. It’s a simple, effective way to keep your gadgets looking their best.

The Ridge Bolt Action Pen – Alpine Navy
Blending analog charm with premium materials, the Ridge Bolt Action Pen is a stylish alternative to screen time. Crafted from lightweight aluminum, this durable writing tool is satisfying to click, smooth to write with, and available in a range of finishes – from bold and modern to understated and classic. It’s a great addition to any student’s everyday carry.

Troubadour Apex Backpack 3.0
Designed for students and professionals alike, the Troubadour Apex Backpack 3.0 combines sleek aesthetics with serious utility. It boasts a spacious interior with numerous compartments, including a dedicated sleeve for a large laptop and room for a tablet and accessories. Built to carry up to 50 pounds, it’s a rugged yet refined option for those on the move.

Hatch Restore 3 Sunrise Alarm Clock
The Hatch Restore 3 is more than just an alarm clock – it’s a personal sleep coach. This smart bedside device uses a simulated sunrise to wake you gently, while offering calming sounds and a warm, sunset-like glow to help you wind down. With white noise and ambient sound options to mask distractions, it can improve your sleep quality night after night.

Pelican Marine AirTag Holder
When it comes to protecting your AirTag, the Pelican Marine Holder is unmatched. Constructed with a rugged, shock-resistant shell reinforced by ultra-strong Dupont Kevlar, it’s built to endure harsh conditions. The IP68 rating means it’s fully waterproof and dustproof, making it ideal for travel, outdoor adventures, or just everyday peace of mind.

SoundcoreAeroFit 2 Open-Ear Headphones
The SoundcoreAeroFit 2 delivers an open-ear listening experience that’s comfortable, safe, and surprisingly immersive. These wireless earphones rest outside the ear canal – no tips required – making them ideal for all-day wear. With a sleek design, customizable sound through the companion app, 10-hour battery life, and several color options, they offer exceptional value and performance.

Flashforge AD5M 3D Printer
For aspiring creators or experienced makers on a budget, the Flashforge AD5M 3D Printer is a standout choice. This compact machine can quickly print detailed, multi-material objects with ease. It features built-in auto-leveling and a user-friendly interface with touchscreen controls and app connectivity, making it a powerful tool that’s also beginner-friendly.Satechi Qi2 Trio Wireless Charging Pad
Apple users looking for an elegant, efficient charging solution will love the Satechi Qi2 Trio 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad. It can charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods simultaneously at full speed, thanks to Qi2 compatibility and MagSafe support. Its flexible design allows it to transform from a sleek upright stand to a flat pad, with Apple Watch support for both flat and nightstand modes.

By Stuart H. Ditchek, MD
Board Certified PediatricianFaculty, NYU School of Medicine

The issue of childhood vaccinations is critical for parents to understand fully and not be influenced by parties that frankly will take no responsibility should a child be harmed by a serious and preventable infection.  During my early career and training, I witnessed the horror parents faced in the pre-vaccine era. I trained in the 1980s at Kings County Hospital which was an epicenter of care for many poor families and many new immigrant families.

Many came from countries that had very poor conditions, poor nutrition, and limited vaccination availability. We treated many cases of bacterial meningitis (typically Haemophilus Influenza B or Hib), whooping cough (Pertussis) and Measles.  Babies with whooping cough have sporadic but severe episodes of coughing spells to the point of turning blue (cyanosis).

Firsthand Experience in the Pre-Vaccine Era

The drooling and secretions would not allow the child to even take a complete breath. All we could do was provide oxygen by mask and hold the child until the coughing fit and choking resolved. Many suffered seizures as a result causing significant damage to their young brains.

In the case of bacterial meningitis which we saw frequently, there was not yet any vaccine (Hib  vaccine). Babies were brought to the hospital with fever and often poorly responsive as these infections act quickly and invade the spinal fluid surrounding the brain.

Spinal taps were a daily event in order to determine the extent and specific type of the infection. Virtually none of these babies left the hospital intact. Many died over days. Those that survived were often left with deafness, blindness, or severely cognitively impaired.  Since the vaccine introduction in the  early 1990s, the number of cases of invasive Hib infection in the United States has gone from 20,000 cases a year to less than 50 currently. This accounts for more than 99 percent reduction. I have not seen a case of Hib meningitis or invasive disease since 1991.

Measles victims were often admitted with classical rashes followed by high fevers, coughs and in many cases invasion of the lungs  and involvement of the developing brain(encephalitis). Many affected babies who were admitted died or were left with lifelong neurological impairment as Measles can destroy young brain tissue often  liquefying the damaged brain cells.  

Let’s take one more example that hit our community in the most catastrophic manner. The names have been changed for anonymity purposes. Years ago, Sara, a”h, was a young mother of a four-year-old child. Sarah was a patient in my practice in her later teen years. At the age of 26 years old, she developed rapid onset meningococcal disease (bacterial blood and brain infection). Despite dramatic efforts to save her, she succumbed to the infection within 36 hours. This was not uncommon in the pre-meningococcal vaccine era.

The meningococcal vaccine was approved several years later, too late to save Sara. Several years later when her mother Rebecca, a”h, was suffering from end stage cancer. I had the privilege of spending many hours with her. I asked if I could encourage apprehensive parents to vaccinate by using her name and discussing the tragedy. She looked at me and said, “Of course! Why should any parent ever suffer the loss of a beautiful child as we did when it is preventable? Please tell them what I said.”  I have not seen a single meningococcal infection since the vaccine has been implemented in my practice. 

Debunking Vaccine Myths and Ensuring Safety

The  anti-vaccine movement has exploded in recent years for a variety of reasons, all false and misinformation. They would have you believe that doctors are being paid and influenced by “big pharma” or  false claims  that vaccines cause autism. This issue has been studied repetitively over the last forty years with absolutely no evidence of that claim. They will also tell you that vaccines are not monitored for safety, also false.

Vaccines go through well over ten years of study before approval. I have participated in both successful and unsuccessful FDA-monitored vaccine trials and I can attest that the oversight is absolutely intense and multi-layered.

Parents should not confuse theemergency implementation of the COVID vaccine with childhood vaccinations. That vaccine was critically needed during the peak of the pandemic when we were seeing many thousands of deaths a week during the Spring and Fall of 2020. At this time, the vaccine saved millions of lives worldwide. The mandates that followed were certainly politically influenced on both sides of the aisle. The mandates had nothing to do with childhood vaccinations for the diseases being discussed. At this point, there is very little need for COVID vaccination except in the highest risk groups.

Just to give one final example of how serious an issue vaccine safety is to physicians. In 1998, the initial Rotavirus vaccine was being implemented nationally. Many agencies and organizations were responsible to monitor for variations in safety signals. In 1999, monitoring agencies noticed a possible safety signal raising the question of whether a very small number of babies who received the vaccine had developed a complication of the intestine called intussusception.

The CDC, FDA, and American Academy of Pediatrics acted very quickly. Within 24 hours, ALL pediatricians in the United States received a series of  faxes instructing  doctors to immediately cease vaccination with Rotavirus vaccine and to return all existing doses to the manufacturer. The vaccine was put on hold, reformulated, tested, studied, and reintroduced in 2006 with none of the complications seen initially. That is how vaccine surveillance worked in the 1990s and it has improved dramatically since then with even better computer modeling. Pediatricians take vaccine safety very seriously as we should do with all therapies and interventions. 

Currently, parents are being inundated with false information from anti-vaccine activists on social media. These are individuals who frankly feel that if they can create fear in young parents who will then refuse or delay vaccination, it will somehow validate their own dangerous actions.

The Measles crisis in Texas(January 2025)  was very serious with three deaths and many hospitalizations including ICU admissions. Almost all cases were proven to be unimmunized.

Israel is currently experiencing a serious outbreak with over 500 cases in the past three months reported and growing. There have been many hospitalizations and currently several toddlers on ECMO(extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) who are critically ill, both with lung involvement. Unfortunately, a two-year-old passed away in Jerusalem in mid-August.

ECMO is used when the heart or lungs are no longer capable of providing oxygen when severely damaged. The child is sedated and invasive access lines are placed in the child as a life saving last effort. The ECMO machine then functions essentially as an artificial heart and lung by removing blood from the body and oxygenating the blood externally. The blood is then returned the bodyThis is a very high risk situation which can result in strokes, blood clots, bleeding, and infection complications, all avoidable if the children would have been immunized. These are preventable tragedies.

If the crisis hits our community, it could lead to many cases of Measles in children and pregnant women who have impaired immunity during pregnancy. Unfortunately, there are now many in the community who are avoiding vaccination, some by very nefarious means.

For those who have falsified vaccination records, they will be at very high risk when we are faced with new infections as the unimmunized account for more than 98 percent of new infections. What is especially dangerous to the public is that many with falsified records who come down with Measles will claim that they became infected despite immunization. This false claim will further erode trust in vaccinations which serves the anti-vaccine movement well.

Proper vaccination at 12 months and four years of age provides 98 percent immunity to children. Measles is a highly contagious infection which can remain in air particles in closed spaces such as rooms or elevators for several hours. The 2019 outbreak in the New York area had several terrible outcomes including children with encephalitis.

Why Vaccine Timing Matters for Babies

I am often asked why babies need to be immunized under a year of age. Some parents are attempting to tailor their own vaccine schedule starting late. This is a dangerous approach for a variety of reasons, most importantly the susceptibility of the young brain to infection.

Babies need to be protected from very young ages because they have limited ability to fight infections naturally. In addition, their immature blood brain barrier allows infection to invade from the blood to the young brain and damage the developing neurological system. Delaying vaccination until children are older makes absolutely no sense as it leaves the most susceptible, babies under a year of age, open to terrible outcomes should they get infected with one of these vaccine preventable infections.

In my practice, I have never, and will never allow modifications in the recommended vaccine schedules. The timing of vaccination was not created in a vacuum. It required many years of testing and research to know which vaccines need to be given and at what timing. Vaccines in 2025 are the safest vaccines and continue to be monitored as always. Seeing reemergence of these vaccine preventable diseases is devastating knowing historically how life was before many vaccines were available My prayer is that our communities will take these warnings seriously. Having a child is a gift and a privilege. It is not an experiment when being educated by those who quite frankly will take no responsibility when a child is stricken.

“Drawing and painting are what I love to do. It’s demanding and hard work, but I love the challenge. Before I put brush to canvas, I approach my easel with a prayer to Hashem asking for success. I know that success depends on siyata dishmayah,  Divine intervention.”

~~ Chava Roth ~~

Ellen Geller Kamaras

Chava Roth is a gifted and passionate artist and teacher. She is a loving sister, wife, mother, and grandmother.  She has an extensive background in the visual arts and throughout her flourishing career has won scholarships and prestigious prizes for her art.

Her Flatbush home and art studio is a visual delight.  Portraits adorn the walls, including a beautiful rendition of Rabbi Avigdor Miller, zt”l, Chava’s husband’s rebbe.Another touching portrait features her husband sitting at a table learning, with their young son gazing at him.

Chava recently completed a stunning oil painting, a scene featuring the charming Yemin Moshe neighborhood in Yerushalayim.  Yemin Moshe was the first settlement built outside the Old City walls in 1892. Adding her own special touch, Chava included her personal vision and perspective to the painting, so you will not find the exact house or even block in Yemin Moshe if you go looking.

Her most popular painting is titled “Four Soldiers.” It depicts two soldiers and two Chassidim wearing talletim walking in Jerusalem’s Old City.

Chava’s studio is lovely, well-lit, and spacious. Her easel was signed by a mentor and close friend, the artist Itzshak Holtz, a”h.  Holtz was considered the most influential contemporary Jewish genre painter of his time.

Let’s explore Chava’s roots, her childhood and education, her professional trajectory, and Chavathe Jewish woman.

Roots

Of Ashkenazic descent, Chava was born and bred in Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents, Hadassa and Chaim Shapiro, were Polish Holocaust survivors who met and married in a D.P. camp in Germany before emigrating to the United States. 

Hadassa spent four of her teenage years in a concentration camp. After raising her children, she worked as a mashgiach for the OU and Star K. “My mother was a tremendous ba’alat hesed.”

Her father Chaim, a”h, was a renowned speaker and author who told of his war experiences of hiding and survival. He is the author of the popular memoir, Go My Son. As a young yeshiva student, he went from frozen tundra to battlefields, fleeing from the Nazis and barely escaping death. His account is an upbeat story of survival, faith, and ingenuity laced with miracles and Divine intervention.  He was the first to write about the Gedolim of Europe in his many articles in the Jewish Observer and his book Once Upon a Shtetl.

The second of five children, Chava describes her childhood as very happy.  Her parents chose to speak about the Shoah with their children. They always provided an uplifting and loving atmosphere filled with Yiddishkeit.

Chava studied at Bais Yaakov institutions from 1^st through 12^th grade. After high school she spent a year at “BJJ” Bais Yaakov of Yerushalayim Seminary in Israel.

“I had no formal art lessons until after seminary.  I recall my mother showing me how to draw flowers at a young age.”

In sixth grade, Chava had a school assignment to create a booklet of the 39 melachot, the categories of creative activity that are forbidden on Shabbat. Her fellow classmates illustrated their booklets with pictures from magazines.  Since her parents didnot subscribe to any magazines, Chava drew her own illustrations of the 39 melachot. Upon returning the graded booklets, her teacher praised Chava profusely and she became the “artist of the class” and the school artist as well.

Awarded a scholarship to the prominent Maryland Institute of Art, Chava began her studies there after studying in seminary in Israel.  While pursuing her degree, she taught in a Baltimore Hebrew school.  A summa cum laude recipient of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Chava moved to New York to study for her master’s in fine arts at Queens College. 

Chava’s Essence

She possesses a special spark, charm, and chen (grace).  Her friends and family say she is creative and fun, and she lights up when speaking about her family and her art.

And Then Came Marriage

Chava was introduced to her husband, Dovid Roth, in her second year of graduate school.  He was a math lecturer and later became a statistical analyst working in medical research and for retail companies.

They adopted the hashkafa of Rabbi Avigdor Miller, Dovid’s rav, and raised their children accordingly. Rabbi Miller teaches that, “In Hakodesh Boruch Hu’s beautiful world, a person has to utilize everything around him to attain perfection of his soul. And to know that this temporary world is a corridor to Olam Haba, the true everlasting world.”

Now retired, Dovid is the gabbai at Rabbi Miller’s shul and instructs people of all ages how to learn Gemara. He studies and teaches Rabbi Miller’s sefer, Lev Avigdor, which imparts how to live successfully in this world. Lectures are available on Zoom.

During graduate school, Chava’s work was primarily abstract expressionism.  She appreciates her husband’s encouragement for her subsequent focus on realism.  Shortly after they married, he asked Chava to paint a charcoal portrait of Rabbi Miller.

“Several people saw it and commissioned me to paint the Rav’s portrait in oil. So began my career in portrait painting.”Chava has created portrait paintings of many famous rabbis including Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zt”l.

She was given a photo of the Lubavitcher Rebbe delivering a lecture surrounded by his followers.  After obtaining written permission from the photographer, she began the painting. It took her a full six months to complete.  Leaving the Rebbe’s portrait for last, she spent all night working on it. In the morning the news spread that the Rebbe had passed away that night. 

Chava has created captivating, realistic Jewish marionettes, which are beautifully crafted.  She even madea marionette that looks like of herself as a narrator.  At the Maryland Institute, Chava took a course in puppet making.  Her teacher was a famous puppeteer who had performed in the White House for President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s family.  When her teacher retired, Chava bought his marionette stage (used in the White House performance) that he had spent a lifetime building.  She constructed the marionettes and stage sets and developed shows based on midrashim.

Her first puppet performance was in a notable Manhattan gallery, along with her paintings.  Metropolitan Museum of Art and Jewish Museum representatives attended. As a young newlywed, Chava received a government grant to create and perform puppet shows all over NY in hospitals, nursing homes, community centers, and schools.  She and her puppets appeared on television.

“When I was expecting our first child, I gave up puppeteering because the stage setup was physically too taxing.  But the puppets still accompany us to weddings to be misameach the chattan and kallah and for our grandchildren on Hanukah.”

Chava focused on two-dimensional projects for the next years, drawing and painting classical realism. She uses the classical approach to paint true-to-life strikingly beautiful scenes.

She took a position as an art teacher for women at the Boro Park Y when her youngest child started school.  Chava has been there for over 35 years, teaching Chassidic, Sephardic, and Ashkenazic women of all ages.  “These classes are so much fun and [are] an important part of my life.”  

Chava also gives art lessons to developmentally disabled adult women in HASC residences. These students especially enjoy the creative process.

She established her own company, Judaica Fine Art, where she sells originals, reproductions, and accepts new commissions.

Balance

Chava always found time to draw and paint.  When her kids were young, she focused on pastels instead of oils as this medium was neater, which was necessary in her small apartment. She worked on many commissions.

Her children appreciate her art.  Before leaving for camp one summer, one of her sons set up a shul scene in her living room for her to paint.  He borrowed a Sefer Torah cover and a parochet, (the Ark cover) from his yeshiva.  Chava added her own vision by inserting a sewing machine, thereby making it relatable to her. Portraits of her grandchildren are often included in Chava’s scenes, which gives them her own personal touch.

For over 40 years, Chava has created Judaica paintings portraying the Jewish people and religious places and objects that are close to her heart.  Her paintings have been showcased in galleries, museums, and private collections throughout the U.S., Europe, and Israel.

”It’s a privilege that I don’t take lightly to be able to focus on the beauty and splendor of Hashem’s world, for it is truly breathtaking.”

Fun Facts

Chava illustrates and paints portraits for invitations and benchers for semachot. Prints of her pictures hang in kosher restaurants and other venues. You can email Chava at chavaroth@verizon.netand check out her website, www.judaicafineart.com.Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach.  Her coaching specialties include life, career, and dating coaching.   She can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com.