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Less Clutter, More Offers: How to Make Buyers Fall in Love with Your Home

Decluttering is an essential step in preparing a home for sale. Beyond making a space look more spacious, it creates a welcoming environment that helps potential buyers visualize themselves living there. Research shows that most people use only 20 percent of their belongings, meaning the rest takes up unnecessary space. When selling a home, the focus should be on the house itself, not the items inside.

Areas to Focus On

Hallways should be kept tidy. They are often narrow and are one of the first areas seen upon entry. Coats, shoes, pet leashes, and other everyday items should be neatly stored. Investing in good storage solutions can make a big difference in creating a clean and organized first impression.

The kitchen, a focal point for many buyers, should be free of unnecessary appliances, personal photos, and cluttered countertops. Cupboards and drawers should be neatly arranged, and excess décor removed to enhance the sense of space.

The living room, another key selling point, should feel warm and inviting while remaining neutral. Personal items like family photos and memorabilia should be stored away so buyers can imagine their own lives unfolding in the space. Extra furniture can make a room feel crowded, so keeping only essential pieces helps create an open and airy atmosphere. In the master bedroom, a neatly made bed with minimal decorative elements conveys a sense of tranquility. Overstuffed closets give the impression of limited storage, so paring down clothing and organizing drawers ensures a more spacious feel.

Declutter and Depersonalize

Although these main areas are crucial, every room in the home should be decluttered and depersonalized. A well-maintained home not only looks more attractive but also suggests to buyers that the property has been well cared for. The time and effort spent decluttering can directly impact how quickly a home sells and the price it commands.

A truly clean home goes beyond dust-free surfaces. Hidden “toxins” in the form of outdated or unused items should also be removed. Old clothes, broken objects, expired products, and unnecessary paperwork contribute to a cluttered and stagnant atmosphere. Letting go of these items can create a healthier and more appealing space while simplifying the staging process. Sorting unwanted belongings into categories – donate, discard, or sell – helps streamline the process.

Benefits of a Structured Approach

Starting small can make the task of decluttering less overwhelming. Setting aside just five minutes at a time builds momentum, and a daily habit of letting go of even one item can lead to significant progress over time. A structured approach, such as setting limits on the number of clothes kept in a closet or following a decluttering checklist, ensures efficiency. Viewing the home through the eyes of a guest can also provide insight into areas that need attention. Taking before-and-after photos serves as a visual motivator, highlighting the transformation and reinforcing the benefits of an organized space.

Decluttering is not just about selling a home; it’s about creating a space that feels calm, spacious, and filled with positive energy. Whether preparing to move or simply wanting a more peaceful home environment, the benefits are undeniable. Less cleaning, reduced stress, and a sense of order make the effort worthwhile. By adopting decluttering as a habit, homeowners can ensure their space always feels inviting, whether for themselves or for potential buyers in the future.

The Importance of Hazzanut and Tradition

Victor Cohen

Our traditions in large part define our community. Many of us are named after our grandparents, giving us a link to past generations. When our community first arrived in the United States, we focused on staying close to each other and to keeping our beloved traditions alive. We treasured our pizmonimand our different customs. Our community was well-known for how connected we were to our past and how we worked together to keep from assimilating.

Over the past century, we have largely avoided being consumed by the culture around us, popular culture has still seeped through, in ways large and small. We follow sports, listen to popular music, and participate in popular American activities. This is not all bad. However, unfortunately, being distracted by the culture outside of our own has meant that over time, our own songs and customs have started to become forgotten. Few people in our community now wake up for Bakashot, like those attend the Ades Synagogue in Jerusalem.

Certainly, our traditions have been completely abandoned. In large part, the younger generation is bringing them back, studying the songs of our ancestors and reviving them. Someone leading the charge is the prominent community hazzan, Ikey Levy. He has been a hazzan for over ten years and has been the hazzan for the Eatontown Synagogue for the last four years. Let’s listen to some of Ikey’s insights into the world of our heritage with traditional music and how it is making a comeback today.

Building a Connection to Our Heritage Through Hazzanut

Ikey has always had a great voice, but he did not always sing. Here’s how he got his start. Ikey’s father liked singing the song Habibi at the Shabbat table with Ikey’s older brother Aaron, who was eleven when Ikey was five. One Friday night, Aaron, who also has a great voice, was not around. So, Ikey’s father called him over to sing, and was astonished by what he could do.

Ikey’s father taught him the basic pizmonim and took him to various sebets on Shabbat so that he could hear how others sang. “He’d take me to two sebets a day sometimes just to hear them,” Ikey reminisced.

Then Ikey’s training really went to another level. “When I studied in Israel,” he said, “I went to study by Moshe Habusha with a group of five other boys. Habusha is one of the top hazzanim in the world.” Ikey studied there for nine months, and Habusha gave Ikey a strong foundation in hazzanut, from which he could expand.

Inhazzanut,there are certain musical scales called ma’amat. They start and end on certain notes, and when training to become a hazzan, you learn how to sing many of them.

One can incorporate his own creativity when it comes to when and how the ma’amat are used within a passage. “Sometimes when you listen to the music or have instructions from another hazzan, you have instructions on how to infuse one maqam with more personality,” Ikey said.

He explained that the key for an aspiring hazzan is to listen to Middle Eastern music, which will help you expand your options. In a way, it is similar to learning to play chess. You can study by learning all of the different openings, or studying different patterns, but there is something special that comes with watching a true master perform. The same goes for hazzanut, and the more a hazzan listens, the more he can become inspired in his own songs to try out different methods. It is a highly creative, fulfilling pursuit with lifelong learning.

Educating the Community

Ikey taught pizmonim in YDE for five years, then taught keriah and pizmonim in Hillel Yeshiva for two years. Currently he tutors privately, and also tries to help encourage knowledge of our community’s traditions. To that end, he began a community minhagim WhatsApp chat, which is not dedicated only to hazzanut. In the chat he informs members about traditions from Aleppo, Damascus, Lebanon, Jerusalem, and Egypt. “Things get mixed up,” Ikey said, adding that “we just want to know where each custom originates from.”

Certain customs we follow today were not always done universally. “In Halab, they did not stand for Alenu Leshabeah.” Everywhere else in the Middle East, they stood.

“Aleppo used to be unique in that way.” Ikey said he knows one elder who, following this custom, still sits during Alenu! “I’m not saying that we all start changing what we do, but to me it is fascinating to see where certain customs originate from. In Syria, some didn’t have the custom to bow at all for Barechu, others did a small bow based on the Ben Ish Hai’s opinion, but in Egypt they stood up and bowed.”

The Weakening of Our Customs

There was a certain beauty to the old customs, accompanied by a level of devotion and a sense of community that is not easy to capture in words. Ikey described how he used to go to Bakashot when he lived in Brooklyn. “In my time in Brooklyn, I’d wake up Shabbat mornings 6am for Bakashot by Rabbi Mansour’s old Knis. Between 6:30 and 7:45, every Shabbat morning, Menachem Mustaki, Mordechai Salem, and Haim Eliyahu, were all there.” When Moshe Habusha, Ikey’s teacher from Israel, came in, the whole room filled up.

“It was very electric in the building,” Ikey reminisced. “It warms my heart when we do those things, because people forget what our community did in the old days in the Lower East Side and in Bensonhurst where they’d sing Bakashot in people’s houses.

“Unfortunately the greater part of Bakashot, most of our community has forgotten,” Ikey said. But pointed out how parts of Bakashot live on in other forms, such as songs, for example: Ki Eshmera Shabbat and Yom Zeh Shiru Lae-l were originally from Bakashot. Today, the Bakashot still are heard early Shabbat mornings at Rabbi Mansour’s new Knis.

Ikey recalled howsebets used to run, “lead by the hazzan, the crowd would sing pizmonim well into the afternoon with the Hacham speaking words of Torah either before or in between. Today, however, there’s more emphasis on speeches from friends and family members along with other genres of songs being sung with much less of our pizmonim in focus. Again, I’m just pointing out the change.”

The New Revival of Our Customs

In an interesting twist, though, this decline is beginning to reverse itself where it was least expected. It is the younger generation that has begun to revive the old music. While some of the melodies are a little archaic, there are many that are still being sung today. “There are nineteen-year-olds singing in Arabic today,” Ikey said. While much of the decline was due to the overwhelming popular culture, we are starting to see a certain yearning for what came before. “If you look at Shaare Zion today,” Ikey said,“the younger crowd is reviving the old ways within the community. That is happening.Our job is to keep it going for as long as possible.”

Ikey pointed to a positive development. “The hazzan David Shiro is putting out albums of new songs, taking our old songs and putting new packaging to them. If people hear it, they might be inspired to hear more.”

Hopefully, the revival of our community’s old ways continues to grow from here. We have the unique ability to look both back to our history and forward to our future at the same time. Informed and enriched by the traditions, songs, and ways of our past, we can strive towards the future, holding close to what makes us special.

Hazzan Ikey Levy performs professionally at weddings and special occasions.  Please contact him at 347-715-0350. He can also be found on Instagram @hazzan_ikey and on YouTube at youtube.com/@IkeyLevy.

Emotional Wellness – Rabbi David Sutton & Dr. David Katzenstein, LCSW-R

Don’t Fool Yourself!

Suppression is a psychological mechanism that refers to the deliberate effort to consciously avoid or inhibit thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. It is a form of self-control that allows individuals to regulate their thoughts and emotions, so they can align with their goals, values, and social norms. From a psychological perspective, suppression is often seen as a coping strategy that can help individuals maintain mental balance, especially in the face of stressful or challenging circumstances.

The Impact of Psychological Suppression

Suppression has been the subject of much research and has been found to be an effective, but also a limited, form of self-control. While suppression makes it easier to navigate challenging situations, it can also have negative consequences, as it requires a significant amount of mental effort and can result in feelings of psychological distress, especially when used over an extended period. Research has shown that repeated suppression can result in emotional exhaustion, and that the energy required for suppression is taken from other cognitive resources, resulting in decreased performance on tasks that require attention and memory.

One study that investigated the impact of suppression on emotions, “The Cognitive Control of Emotion” by James J. Gross, published in the Annual Review of Psychology in 1998, analyzed the effects of emotion regulation strategies, including suppression, on emotional experience and physiological responses. The research found that suppressing emotions did not lead to the elimination of the emotional experience, but instead led to an increase in physiological arousal, which subsequently fostered an increase in psychological distress. Furthermore, suppression was associated with decreased cognitive control and increased negative feelings.

Developing Better Strategies

This highlights the importance of understanding the mechanisms behind emotion regulation, and the need to develop more adaptive strategies for managing emotions. This study and others like it have contributed to our understanding of the impact of suppression on emotions and have helped to inform the development of more effective emotion regulation techniques.

Suppression is also to be avoided when it comes to working on our middot and avodat Hashem. We must acknowledge the negative feelings we have and not suppress them. But acknowledging these negative feelings must be sincere.

 Lesson from Rav Wolbe

There’s a difference between what Rav Wolbe calls a “frum Kriat Shema,” which means just closing our eyes and thinking of all of the high and holy things, and saying Kriat Shema in a real and sincere way. Rav Wolbe discusses how easy it is to fool ourselves, to close our eyes and pray aloud with a lot of kavanah. To imagine walking in joy to die al kiddush Hashem, but having no idea what’s going on inside of ourselves.

Our job is to be sincere and serious and realize what’s going on inside of ourselves. Kabbalat ol Malchut Shamayim means that our ears won’t listen to devarim assurim, our mouths won’t speak devarim assurim or eat prohibited foods or do so l’shem taavah, and so on and so forth. In Rav Wolbe’s words, “If you really know yourself, you’re going to realize all these forces are not agreeing to kabbalat ol Malchut Shamayim.”

TAKEAWAY:

Look at yourself honestly and ask yourself: What am I REALLY willing to give up for the sake of Hashem?

Sam Sutton Announces Candidacy for State Senate, Poised to Make History for Sephardic Community

Special Election for NY’s 22nd Senate District Set for May 20th

by Joey C Saban and Sari J Setton

In a historic move, Sam Sutton, one of the Sephardic community’s respected leaders and long-time advocate, has officially launched his campaign for New York State Senate in the 22nd District, seeking to fill the seat vacated by Senator Simcha Felder. The special election will take place on Tuesday, May 20th, and could mark a monumental moment: the first time a member of the Sephardic community would serve in the New York State Senate.

Sutton’s candidacy is more than a political run – it is a powerful statement about representation, community empowerment, and a long-overdue voice for a growing and vibrant constituency. As Sutton put it in his announcement, “Given our community’s growth and needs, we deserve a representative who is deeply rooted in our community and understands its dynamics.”

A Proven Civic and Communal Leader

A lifelong Brooklyn resident, Sam Sutton’s decades of leadership and advocacy stretch across civic, educational, and humanitarian spheres. He served over 30 years on the board of Sephardic Bikur Holim (SBH), including five years as President, helping grow the organization into a multidivisional social service center.

Sam also co-founded and is the President of the Sephardic Community Federation (SCF), the political and public policy arm of the Sephardic Jewish community, and has played a central role in securing government resources and legislative support for key community needs.

His resume also includes supporting his wife Nancy when she founded the New York Cancer Center. He also was a founding board member of the SAFE Foundation. Sam also was privileged to serve as a Trustee at NYU Langone Hospital. 

An Advocate for Education and Jewish Continuity

Education has long been at the heart of Sutton’s public work. Sam was chairman of the education committee at the Sephardic High School and shortly after chaired their fundraising committee as well. A graduate of Yeshiva of Flatbush (67’) and Yeshiva University (71’), he was nominated as a Trustee to CUNY Board of  Trustees by Governor Pataki and served from 2006 to 2012. During his tenure Sam helped hire the Presidents of Brooklyn and City College. He is also the co-founder and current chairman of Teach NYS, an organization committed to securing government support for non-public schools. 

In 1973, Sutton ,along with four other young men, founded the Sephardic Torah Learning Center, which was eventually brought over to Shaare Zion by former President David Cohen.

Sam along with a few other community leaders, including Harry Adjmi, relaunched Ozar Hatorah NY in 2017, helping transfer over 3,200 children in France from public schools into yeshivot -a bold, international effort in Jewish continuity and education.

 A Humanitarian with Global Impact

While his civic accomplishments are impressive, Sam and Nancy are equally admired for their quiet, personal acts of compassion. Sam and Nancy were likely the first Sephardic family to become foster parents, after going through a 3-month training program. They opened their home to 14 foster children, including one with special needs who lived with them for 18 months and became like a sixth child. 

In 2005, in partnership with American Jewish World Service, Sam led a humanitarian mission to Senegal to launch a development project focused on clean water access and sustainable agriculture. Earlier in his life, in 1973, Sutton took part in a mission facilitated by the Nativ Division of the Mossad to the Soviet Union, countering false propaganda against Israel as well as facilitating individual efforts to escape the USSR. 

A Moderate Voice at a Critical Time

If elected, Sutton would bring a much-needed moderate voiceto the State Senate – someone capable of bridging divides and working pragmatically on behalf of all constituents. In a political climate often defined by polarization, Sutton’s balanced, solutions-oriented approach would bring stability, clarity, and credibility to Albany.

Sutton’s top legislative priorities reflect both local concerns and core Jewish values. Among other community priorities, he is committed to:

• Fighting anti-Semitism with zero tolerance, protecting Jewish students and institutions across New York.

• Unwavering support for Israel, ensuring state partnerships and moral backing for the Jewish state.

• Delivering increased funding to critical institutions like SBH, The Sephardic Community Center, SAFE, and the community’s Yeshivahs, ensuring they continue to thrive and serve all generations.

• Funding (not defunding) the Police and fighting against the current Bail Reform

A Community Milestone

For the Sephardic community in particular, Sam Sutton’s campaign represents more than a candidacy – it’s a chance to make history. After decades of growth, contribution, and community-building, the opportunity to elect one of our own to such a high level of state government sends a clear message: our voice matters.

“I believe it’s time for me to contribute directly from within government,” Sutton said. “We’ve come so far as a community – this is our moment to take the next step.” As May 20th approaches, the momentum behind Sutton’s campaign is growing, fueled by grassroots support and the recognition that this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure representation that truly reflects the community’s values, heritage, and future aspirations.

Mabrouk – May 2025

Births – Baby Boy

Jacob & Linda Gindi

David & Francine Zagha

Hymie & Fortune Chera

Felix & Marielle Ades

Ezra & Ester Yedid

Joe & Mollie Betesh

Ikey & Leah Rudy

Jack & Shelly Sasson

Joseph & Rachel Sitt

Births – Baby Girl

David & Pearl Sabbagh

Andrew & Corine Cohen

Sammy & Rakefet Habbaz

Hal & Naomi Doueck

Jesse & Sarine Antebi

Mr. & Mrs. Yehuda Chazon

Mr. & Mrs. David Moses

Mr. & Mrs. Yitz Kanefsky

David & Rhonda Dweck

Steven & Danielle Esses

Bar Mitzvahs

Abie, son of Rabbi and Mrs. Leon Cohen

Michael, son of Jack and Frances Haddad

Engagements

Nathan Botton to Elle Cohen

Sammy Doueck to Jessica Saadia

Mark Gindi to Linda Warren

Meyer Sakkal to Jamie Shamah

Weddings

Ariel Edelstein to Norma Serrur

Michael Salem to Marlene Levy

Eddie Salameh to Stelly Swed

Abie Shomer to Mazal Zami

A Palace of Purity: The Miraculous Transformation of the Shore Area Mikveh

Machla Abramovitz

Sometimes, fairy tales do come true.  Such was the case with the Shore Area Mikveh, which was in drastic need of repair and was revived and transformed into a magnificent palace imbued with serenity and kedusha, as befitting the unique mitzvah it embodies. 

The women taking advantage of this newly renovated space, in turn, step into a wonderland of luxury and comfort and, during their short stay, feel themselves equally transformed into royalty.

From Dream to Reality

It was a project that, once begun, incurred the blessings of shamayim, hastening its speedy completion under extremely challenging conditions and with the skillful hands of a highly talented and dedicated team of professionals:  a creative community fundraiser, a uniquely-gifted designer, highly experienced builders who all accomplished the impossible, all united in their goal of elevating this mitzvah onto a higher plane and completing the project on schedule.

It was also a credit to its Rabbinic council – Rabbi Shmuel Choueka, Rabbi Shlomo Diamond, Rabbi Moshe Malka, Rabbi Saul J. Kassin, and Rabbi Edmond Nahum, who provided spiritual guidance and, when given the option between a much nicer but more costly décor, looked the other way and approved the more expensive choice in keeping with the commandment of beautifying a mitzvah.

The Heart of the Community

However, it was largely due to the efforts of Eddie Mizrahi, who stepped up in every possible way to make this project financially viable.  As president, Eddie took on the responsibility of fundraising and established a new mikveh committee with Maurice Zekaria as vice president and Edgar Cohen as treasurer.

“We have the most generous and special community on the face of the earth,” says Maurice Zekaria.  “Without their financial support, we could not have gotten the project off the ground, whether it was the donor money or those that helped with short-term loans.   What other community could do that?”

Today, when one enters the newly renovated stucco edifice, one encounters a waiting room wallpapered with large haiku flowers and branches, blush colored, as well as a cascade of plaster flowers.  Arches connect additional spaces that bear additional memorials, including a breathtaking matriarch wall, the inspiration of Eddie Mizrahi, and dedicated by Jack A. Kassin.

The Matriarch Wall was built in memory of Mrs. Mazal Kassin, the wife of Chief Rabbi Jacob Kassin, zt”l, who built the community by setting its religious standards.  Fifteen preparation rooms, including a magnificent bridal suite and four pools, branch out from the reception and waiting areas.  All rooms are painted a soft cream and creamy white; they flow harmoniously into one another, their newness glistening, producing an aura of luxury and serenity.  During the summer, when the town of Deal is overflowing with summer residents, this community mikveh accommodates over eighty women nightly, a number that has been steadily growing.

Mikveh manager Elyse Kairey still cannot believe her eyes.  Having served the mikveh for 25 years, she never thought she would see the day when the community mikveh she loved and dedicated her life to so generously would physically reflect the splendor of the mitzvah it embodies.

Under the spiritual guidance and care of Rabbi Shmuel Choueka, this mikveh accommodates a broad spectrum of women from all walks of life.  Elyse and her team of beautiful, hard-working, committed women work diligently to make every attendee feel as comfortable as possible.  As the community’s mother mikveh, it accommodates special times, many out-of-towners and kallah teachers from different states who, she says, “are looking for a serene, easy-going place for their brides, a place that will provide them with the TLC they need and a time to pray.”

The Need for Renewal

Only three years ago, the mikveh’s future didn’t seem as promising.   Humidity and inadequate air circulation had left their marks since its previous renovation 16 years ago:  tiles fell off the walls, telephones stopped working, and water compressors that control the water filtration system broke down often, at considerable expense to the mikveh.   It was hard to keep up with the mikveh’s rapid deterioration.

Elyse recalls the day when yet another compressor broke, and Rabbi Choueka gave the go-ahead to move forward with a significant renovation. 

Divine Inspiration

It was in 2022, during a conversation with Debra Shiloach, that Elyse mentioned the need for a renovation and Debra, as a talented interior designer, volunteered to undertake the project.  Debra was no novice when it came to designing mikvaot.  She has worked on a small mikveh in Ocean City, Maryland, dedicated in memory of her mother-in-law, Molly Shiloach.  She has also worked under the guidance of interior designer, Abie Jerome, who designed the renowned Carroll Street Mikvah in Crown Heights, which was a major inspiration for her.  “That mikveh took what a mikveh could be to another level; it enabled women to have a different kind of experience,” Debra recalls.

Inspired and anxious to start, she began researching her sources.  She hit upon a haiku-patterned wallpaper that deeply moved her and proved to be the inspiration for the entire décor.

Rising to the Challenge

Unfortunately, it would not be until two years later, when Maurice Zekaria offered to take over the reins of the project, that matters came to a head.  Maurice, who has left his mark on many significant buildings and structures in Deal was also eager to get started. For him, it was yet another opportunity to give back to the community. 

This project, though, proved incredibly challenging in many ways.  “It was clear that we would have to gut the entire interior, which meant that the mikveh would be closed to the public for nearly six months – from January 2024 till the end of June 2024 – when the mikveh was desperately needed to accommodate the influx of summer residents in Deal.  “We had no choice,” explained Maurice Zekaria.

The possibility of keeping some parts open while closing off others was impossible – doing so, they said, would not resolve the air circulation problems that were primarily responsible for the rapid corrosion of the mikveh. 

Another challenge was that, unlike new construction, there were no building plans to follow.  “We had no time to make plans.  The builders, therefore, determined the plans on the job while the subcontractors were working.  This job was my toughest project yet.  Fortunately, we had an amazing team all around.”

“The biggest challenge, though, was that we had to do this quickly, yet we didn’t have a dollar in the bank to meet the budget.  We had to fundraise and borrow money from a handful of us.  We also had to do whatever we could to pay the contractors and subcontractors swiftly before even having a fundraising event.  So, we often met on-site with donors.  No doubt, Hashem was watching over us,” he says.

Despite these formidable challenges, they rolled up their sleeves and got started. 

Maurice brought in contractor, Richie Benedict, whose company Ray Builders, located in Lakewood, was responsible for building many prestigious buildings in the area. “Timing restraints didn’t allow us to do this job normally, so we often had dozens of contractors working in very tight corners simultaneously,” said Maurice.

“All of the tradesmen were religious Jewish businessmen,” Debra recalls, who worked closely with Maurice and Ray Builders.  “Every person was yirat shamayim.  They forged onward, united in their goal of opening this building for the women coming for the summer.  It was beautiful to see everyone working so cohesively.”

Community Support

Eddie Mizrahi, renowned for his community work and creativity, ran full steam ahead to raise the funds. He started off working with graphic designer Stacey Gindi to produce a professional, gorgeous brochure citing the mikveh’s history and including rabbinical endorsements.

Park Avenue Synagogue’s Rabbi Shmuel Choueka reminded the community, “how important a mikveh is to a community, surpassing many, if not most, other institutions. I urge all those who can participate in this magnificent mitzvah opportunity to do so, and may you all be blessed with success from your own families.” 

Rabbi Joey Haber emphasized, “There are a few things that every Jewish community needs to survive.  With them, you have a community; without them, you have no continuity.  One of those things is a mikveh.  The mikveh, like a shul, and a yeshivah, allows our traditions to endure. We live in a time where our homes are prettier, our cars are nicer, and our vacations are more beautiful.  How can our mikvaot not meet that same standard?”

Rabbi Shlomo Diamond also encouraged donors to give generously.  “All who help in this holy project are doing a tremendous mitzvah and will not only help support the renovation of the mikveh but bring untold beracha to themselves and their family and realize the blessings of the Torah,” he explained.

Eddie Mizrahi undertook organizing a gorgeous gala event to benefit the mikveh. He dedicated endless hours and worked diligently to ensure the success of the event. Working closely with party planner Norma Cohen, Stacey Gindi, Debra Shiloach, Ellen Sutton, and other volunteers, Eddie held a memorable event at Ely and Rena Cohen’s home last Memorial Day weekend.  Community rabbis spoke about the significance of completing this project.  They also honored the mikveh’s founders Ike Hidary, Sonny Laniado, and Manny Haber, while Rabbi Diamond presented them each with an award.

Eddie, along with Joe Mansour, produced a beautiful, inspiring video for the event. 

“With Hashem’s help, we raised the necessary funds,” Eddie says.

Meanwhile, Elyse and her group of mikveh ladies held down the fort.  They accommodated their regular women and others by teaming up with a small local mikveh.  “We spread the word that we would be closed for a few months; we took phone calls and sent the women to small local mikvaot.  We juggled.  We coordinated.  We didn’t put down the phone for six months.”

The Miracle of Completion

Elyse believes that the reopening of the mikveh at the end of June was nothing short of a miracle.  “The dedication of Eddie Mizrahi, Maurice Zekaria, Debra Shiloach, Richie, Baruch, and Eli Benedict, went way beyond,” she says.

It’s an endeavor, she believes, that is greatly appreciated by the community at large, especially the women using the mikveh, who express their appreciation on comment cards, thanking them with words written from the heart.

Looking Forward

Eddie Mizrahi, though, is not yet finished!  He is determined to raise another million, half of which will go towards finishing off the building and the other half towards the budget.  But it’s not the money that motivates him.  He’s put his heart and soul into this holy endeavor. His next project is to produce an all-women’s video (women speaking to women) to promote women going to the mikveh.

“This mikveh is like a spa.  It’s beautiful.  Since its opening, women who had never connected to their religion started coming.  I believe we created a nice buzz.  We made going to the mikveh cool,” he says.

The next event will be a Breakfast & Celebration in honor of community matriarch, Cookie Chera. It will be held in May at the beautiful home of Lisa and Lee Cohen, who, along with the Setton family, have generously sponsored the name of the campus. There are many sponsorships opportunities available ranging from the Bridal Mikveh Pool to the dressing rooms and mezuzot. For more information, please contact Eddie Mizrahi at (347) 260-0745.  “We built nothing short of a palace and wish to publicize this accomplishment to all women.”

Confetti Pretzels

A Crunchy Favorite

Pretzels are a favorite snack for millions of people across the country. Americans spend about $1.5 billion on pretzels every year!

Chef Shiri Says…    

Its creamy texture and pale color make white chocolate a popular choice for drizzling, molding, and creating decorative designs on desserts.

The Jewish World of Wonders presents…

Creative Cooking with

Chef Shiri

Kids – See if you have what it takes to become a Junior Chef!

Utensils Needed:

  • Baking tray
  • Wax paper
  • Microwave-safe glass bowl
  • Spoon
  • Plate
  • Oven mitts

Ingredients:

  • 12-ounce bag of parve white chocolate chips
  • 20  Pretzel rods
  • 3 Tablespoons of rainbow sprinkles

Let’s Get Started!

Adult assistance required!

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Line the baking tray with wax paper and set aside.
  2. Pour the white chocolate chips into a microwave-safe glass bowl and melt in the microwave on medium setting for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each 30-second interval, until completely melted (about 2 minutes).
  3. Dip the pretzel rods into the melted white chocolate and spoon additional white chocolate over the rods until about three-quarters of the pretzel is covered.
  4. Hold the dipped pretzel rod over the plate and shake or spoon rainbow sprinkles onto the pretzel, turning the rod to cover all sides.
  5. Place dipped and decorated pretzel rods on the prepared baking tray and allow coating to set for about 15 minutes before eating.

Makes 20 CONFETTI Pretzels!

Fast Food Fact

White chocolate isn’t technically chocolate because it doesn’t have cocoa solids. It’s made from cocoa butter and has a sweet, creamy flavor, making it great for baking and holiday treats.

The Lighter Side – April 2025

Asking Your Age

An elderly Jewish man was called to testify in court.

“How old are you?” asked the District Attorney.

“I am, kayn aynhoreh, 81.”

“What was that?”

“I said, ‘I am, kayn aynhoreh, 81 years old.’”

“Just answer the question!” yelled the D.A., “How old are you!?”

Kayn aynhoreh, 81,” the old man replied.

The judge said, “The witness will answer the question and only the question or be held in contempt of court!”

The counsel for the defense rose and asked the judge, “Your Honor, may I ask?” He turned towards the old man and said, “Kayn aynhoreh, how old are you?”

The old man replied, “Eighty-one!”

Y. S.

A Magician in the Making

“I am going to be a famous magician,” said Eddie to his father, “because I can make a golf ball float.”

Eddie’s father was very curious. “And how do you do that?” he asked.

“Well, it’s very scientific. It requires some magic ingredients,” said Eddie.

Eddie’s father leaned forward in his chair. “Oh, really?” he said. “And what are they?”

“Well, the golf ball, of course. And then two scoops of ice cream and some root beer.”

Francine M.

Just to be Safe….

A woman goes to her doctor with some concerns about her memory. She tells him that she forgets to pay bills, mail letters, and get groceries. And she can’t remember where she’s going or what she needs when she gets there. She looks quite worried and asks her doctor, “What can I do?”

The doctor replies, “Pay me in advance.”

Ikey S.

Bicycle Trouble

The first time my son rode a bike with training wheels, I shouted, “Step back on the pedals and the bike will brake!”

He nodded but still rode straight into a bush.

“Why didn’t you push back on the pedals?” I asked, helping him up.

“You said if I did the bike would break.”

Rosie Husney

Guilty of Annoyance

A defendant isn’t happy with how things are going in court, so he gives the judge a hard time.

Judge: “Where do you work?”

Defendant: “Here and there.”

Judge: “What do you do for a living?”

Defendant: “This and that.”

Judge: “Take him away.”

Defendant: “Wait! When will I get out?”

Judge: “Sooner or later!”

 

Joey S.

Free at Last

A man who’d been in jail for 20 years began to dig a hole out of prison with nothing but his bare hands and a spoon. He dug for three days and finally got out. He ended up in a preschool, surrounded by small children. He was so happy that he shouted, “I’m free! I’m free!”

A little girl standing next to him replied, “Big deal. I’m four!”

Joseph A. Guindi

Medical Advice

A man visits his doctor and says, “Doctor, I have a ringing in my ears.”

His doctor replies, “Don’t answer!”

Jack V.

The Truant Child

Teacher: “Mrs. Jones, I asked you to come in to discuss Johnny’s appearance.”

Mrs. Jones: “Why? What’s wrong with his appearance?”

Teacher: “He hasn’t made one in this classroom since September!”

Rosie S.

Some Uncle!

A man calls his brother with a request. He says, “As you know I’m going on a business trip soon, and if my wife gives birth while I’m away, I want you to name the twins.”

“It’ll be an honor to do that for you,” replies the brother.

A month later, the brother calls with news that the twins were born. “Your wife gave birth to a beautiful girl and a handsome boy,” says the brother.

“That’s wonderful! What did you call them?” the man asks.

“I called the girl Denice,” says the brother.

“That’s very pretty. And what did you call the boy?” asks the man.

“I called the boy De nephew.”

Joey B.

A Perfect Ten

Shulem and Pessy Schechter were parents to ten children – six boys and four girls. One night, Shaindy, their oldest, was chatting with her mother about how their parenting style had changed from the first child to the last. Pessy admitted that she had mellowed a lot over the years:

“When your oldest sister coughed or sneezed, I called the ambulance. When your youngest brother swallowed a nickel, I just told him it was coming out of his allowance.”

Sari K.

Consumer Warning

A little boy returned from the grocery store with his mom. While his mom put away the groceries, the little boy opened his box of animal crackers and spread them all over the kitchen table.

“What are you doing?” asked his mom.

“The box says you shouldn’t eat them if the seal is broken,” said the little boy. “I’m looking for the seal.”

Joseph D.

The Parking Ticket

The other day my wife and I went into town and visited a shop, browsing for a while. When we came out, there was a parking meter cop writing out a parking ticket. I went up to him and I said, “Come on, man, how about giving a senior citizen a break?” He ignored me and continued writing the ticket. I called him a dimwit. He glared at me and started writing another ticket for having worn-out tires. So my wife called him a birdbrain. He finished the second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first. Then he started writing more tickets. This went on for about ten minutes. The more we abused him, the more tickets he wrote. Just then…our bus arrived, and we got on it and went home.

Alfred Harary

Classroom Humor

Teacher: “James, do you use bad words?”

James: “No, sir.”

Teacher: “Do you disobey your parents?”

James: “No, sir.”

Teacher: “Come now, you must do something wrong every once in a while!”

James: “I tell lies.”

Gabe D.

Night Owls

Two boys were camping in the backyard. Late at night, they started wondering what time it was. “Start singing really loudly,” one of them suggested.

“How will that help?” asked the other boy.

“Just do it,” insisted the first.

They both started singing as loudly as they could. Moments later, a neighbor threw open her window and shouted, “Keep it down! Don’t you know it’s three o’clock in the morning?!”

Bobby T.

An Unlucky Break

Joey was playing in the schoolyard when he fell down and broke his right arm. His friend came running up to him with a big smile on his face. “Wow, Joey, you’re so lucky! Now you don’t have to take any exams!”

“Actually, I’m really unlucky,” replied Joey.

“What makes you say that?” the friend asked.

“I’m left-handed,” Joey moaned. “I meant to fall on my other arm.”

Carole H.

Riddles – April 2025

RIDDLE: A Long Line

Submitted by:  Alfred K.

You draw a line. Without touching the line, how do you make it a longer line?

Last Month’s Riddle: The Hidden Number

I am a three-digit number. My tens digit is five more than my ones digit. My hundreds digit is eight less than my tens digit. What number am I?

Solution:  194

Solved by:  Morris Kabani, The Big Cheese, Family Blum, Steve Salem, Janet D., Carol Ashkenazie, David E., and The Shmulster.

JUNIOR RIDDLE:  Cookie Mystery

Submitted by: Janice P.

An elementary school teacher wanted to give her students a snack. She had ten cookies in her cookie jar – which was perfect – since she had ten students in her class. The teacher gave one cookie to each student, but still managed to keep one in the jar. How did she do it without breaking any of the cookies in half?

Last Month’s Junior Riddle: The More You Take 

The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?

Solution: Footsteps!

Solved by:  The Blum Family, Joshua B., Marc Esses, Morris Kabani, Eddie Fallas, Carol Ashkenazie, The Shmulster, Cynthia K., and Steve Salem.

Fudgie Squares

 The Jewish World of Wonders presents…

Creative Cooking with

Chef Shiri

Kids – See if you have what it takes to become a Junior Chef!

Utensils Needed:

  • Small pan
  • 9×13-inch baking pan
  • Parchment paper
  • Electric mixer
  • Oven mitts
  • Wire rack
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Whisk
  • Spoon
  • Knife

Ingredients:

  • 6 eggs
  • 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (pareve)
  • 1-1½ cups margarine  (3 sticks)
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 3/4  teaspoon salt
  • 1-1/2 cups matzo cake meal   (need to adjust the font size for the fractions) 3 teaspoons vanilla extract

Let’s Get Started!

Adult Supervision Required

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on all sides of the pan. Set aside.
  2. Combine chocolate chips and margarine in small pan, and melt over very low heat. Set aside to cool.
  3. Beat eggs well with electric mixer for 5 minutes; add sugar and vanilla extract and mix well.
  4. Add salt and stir chocolate mixture into eggs with whisk.
  5. Stir in matzo cake meal until blended.
  6. Pour into 9×13-inch pan and bake for 30-35 minutes, until center is cracked.
  7. Wear the oven mitts and take pan out of the oven. Let cool for 15 minutes.
  8. Then lifting the squares from pan by pulling up gently on the edges of the parchment paper. Let cool completely on a wire rack before cutting with the knife.

Makes 20 Fudgie Squares!

Don’t Toss That Egg!

Did you know the date on your egg carton isn’t the “expiration” date? It’s more like a “best by” date, but eggs can still be good for 3 to 4 weeks after that. So, don’t throw them out just yet! You can still use them for a while.