Pnina Souid

Tony (not his real name) found himself driving in Williamsburg when suddenly – boom! – his car bumped into the car of a local chassid.

A former U.S. marine and current personal trainer, Tony not only looked formidable with his broad shoulders and impressive biceps, but he also had a temper, which he knew how to keep in check. When the man got out of his car, he began screaming at Tony.

“Look!” the man demanded. “Look at this dent! Look at this scratch you made in my car! Why didn’t you watch where you were going?!” You could almost see the steam coming out of his ears beneath his payos.

Tony flashed back to his time in Vietnam. As he felt the trauma rising, he felt like responding aggressively. Instead, he took a deep breath. “Baruch Hashem it wasn’t worse,” he said in an even tone.  “It’s just a scratch and a dent; it’s not your life. This is not something to get so upset about.”

Baruch Hashem

The man stopped in his tracks. He recognized that Tony was clearly not Jewish. “What did you say?” the man asked, incredulous. Did you say, “Baruch Hashem? Where in the world did you get that?!”

Tony explained that he learned those words at the gym, where he works as a personal trainer. The gym is owned by Mike Cohen, known as the Mitzvah Man. Tony learned from Mike’s Jewish clients that everything in your life comes from Hashem, so no there’s no need to ever get upset. When someone asks them how business is going they answer “Baruch Hashem it’s good.” When they get to work late, they say, “Baruch Hashem, at least I got to work.”  Anything that you might complain about, they do not. They just say, “Baruch Hashem.”

The man was astonished.

He said, “You work at a gym as a personal trainer, right? What’s the name of the gym?” Tony replied, “Mike’s Gym.”

Immediately, the man said, “Incredible! I see you are familiar with Jews. I and my 17 Chassidishe friends are looking for a personal trainer. Could we hire you to train us?”

“Of course!” Tony responded with a smile. He booked all 18 new clients.

Lessons Learned

Mike Cohen gives us the recap of this story’s lessons:

1. The non-Jewish personal trainer gave this Jewish man mussar – teaching him that everything is from Hashem
2. Tony booked all 18 clients, which would earn him a significant sum. And he saw how Hashem rewarded him right away.
3. The clients at my gym made a tremendous a kiddush Hashem without even realizing it.

When you praise and thank Hashem you never know who is listening and will learn from it.

Make a kiddush Hashem, say, “Baruch Hashem.”

Rabbi Yehuda Finchas

Eddie phoned me from his grandfather’s bedside: “I’m saying Tehillim, but on the other side of the curtain there is a bedpan, and I can smell an unpleasant odor. May I continue saying Tehillim, or must I leave the room?” This question arises regularly in hospitals and nursing homes. Eddie then added, “My grandfather also has a urinary catheter. May he pray with the catheter in place?” Halacha addresses these realities.

The Principle

The Torah teaches, “And your camp shall be holy” (Devarim 23:15). Chazal derived that one may not recite words of holiness in the presence of excrement or a foul odor. Maran rules in Shulhan Aruch that one must distance himself four amot – approximately eight feet – beyond the point where the smell ceases. Even if the individual cannot smell because of illness or a dulled sense of smell, halacha evaluates the situation according to someone with a normal sense of smell (Orach Chaim 79:1).

Covered Waste

Maran rules that a covered container containing excrement or urine is treated as though it were buried, provided no foul odor emanates from it (Shulhan Aruch, Orach Chaim 87:3). The Or LeTzion applies this principle to praying next to babies wearing diapers. Accordingly, if there is no foul odor, one may pray or study Torah next to them (see Or LeTzion, vol. 2, 6:15).

Neutralizing the Odor

Hacham Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, rules that when a foul odor enters a synagogue from nearby sewage, one can spray a pleasant fragrance until it overpowers the odor, after which the congregation may recite Keriat Shema and pray (Halichot Olam, vol. 1, Parashat Bo 14).  Once the foul odor has been completely overpowered, it is halachically regarded as having been neutralized (batel). This differs from someone who cannot smell because his sense of smell is impaired. In that case, the odor remains present even though he cannot perceive it.

Hospital Curtains

The Tzitz Eliezer (12:12; 20:11) discusses a curtain separating hospital beds when a bedpan is situated on the other side. Rav Eliezer Waldenberg rules that even if the curtain does not satisfy every requirement of a formal halachic partition, it may still serve as a covering, since it conceals the bedpan from view.

Rav Waldenberg also cites Sephardic authorities, including Zechut Avot, Chesed La’alafim, Rav Chaim Palagi’s Lev Chaim, and Petach HaDevir, who maintain that a strong pleasant fragrance may overpower the foul odor. Rav Waldenberg therefore permits prayer when the waste is separated by a curtain and the odor has been completely neutralized. Nevertheless, where it is possible to leave the area, doing so avoids the dispute among the authorities, since many poskim rule that odor-neutralization applies only when the odor comes from a separate room (shinui reshut), and not from behind a curtain in the same room (see Halacha Berurah 79:10).

Urinary Catheters

A urinary catheter drains urine through a tube into a collection bag. The Or LeTzion (vol. 2, 6:15) rules that if the system is closed and emits no foul odor, the patient may recite words of holiness. Halacha Berurah (78:2) similarly permits the patient to recite Keriat Shema, pray, recite blessings, and wear tefillin, provided his outer clothing is clean and odorless. If he feels a flow passing, he should pause until the flow stops and then he may then continue.

Conclusion

The challenge is preserving the kedusha of prayer and Torah in these circumstances. Returning to Eddie’s questions, because he could smell the bedpan, he should move beyond the range of the odor before continuing reciting Tehillim. If the bedpan is concealed and a pleasant fragrance completely overpowers the smell, there is room to permit him to remain, particularly in a pressing hospital situation.

His grandfather may pray with the catheter in place, provided the system is closed, his clothing is clean, and no foul odor is present. The Torah’s command that “your camp shall be holy” preserves the dignity of prayer while allowing patients to continue serving Hashem even amid illness and physical frailty.

Rabbi Yehuda Finchas is a worldwide expert, lecturer, and author on Medical Halacha. He heads the Torat Habayit Medical Halacha Institute. He is the author of Brain Death in Halacha and the Tower of Babel Syndrome and his latest book is Nutrition and Hydration in Halacha. To contact Rabbi Finchas, email rabbi@torathabayit.com.

By Sean Dweck, President of The LEV Organization

On July 9th, more than 500 people gathered for an unforgettable evening of inspiration, community, and purpose at the LEV Organization’s summer event, hosted graciously at the beautiful home of Barbara Fallas Klaus and Shirley and Jordan Granger.

The evening was filled with powerful speakers, meaningful stories, and a shared commitment to strengthening Jewish families, supporting children, and helping individuals navigate some of life’s most difficult challenges.

The event also demonstrated something that has become part of the LEV Organization’s identity: the ability to push forward no matter the circumstances. When unexpected challenges arose surrounding the evening’s planned program, the LEV team quickly scrambled, adapted, and came together to create an incredible night that exceeded expectations. It was a true reflection of the organization itself. When challenges arise, LEV does not stop. It finds a way forward.

The Mission of LEV

The LEV Organization was founded with a simple but powerful goal: to strengthen Jewish families and help individuals and children navigate difficult moments in their lives.

LEV began by helping agunot and agunim facing the painful and complex reality of being unable to move forward from a marriage. Over the past five years, LEV has helped resolve 61 cases, with countless additional individuals and families receiving support along the way.

As the organization’s work grew, so did its mission. LEV recognized that when one person in a family is struggling, the entire family can be affected. Today, LEV serves the broader needs of Jewish individuals and families through three divisions: Shalom Bayit, LEV Youth, and Client Services.

Together, these divisions provide support, guidance, resources, and hope to people who need help moving forward.

Strengthening Marriages Before They Become Crises

At the heart of LEV’s expanded mission is its Shalom Bayit Division, led by Rabbi Ali Cohen.

Rabbi Cohen has dedicated more than 10 years to chinuch and the past five years to professional counseling. He is also the author of the bestselling book Where You End and I Begin. Through his work with LEV, Rabbi Cohen privately counsels couples, helps spouses navigate difficult situations, and provides couple mediation for those experiencing marital conflict.

His work extends beyond helping couples who are already in crisis. LEV believes that every couple can benefit from learning how to communicate better, manage disagreements, and strengthen their relationship before problems escalate.

Through weekly shalom bayit classes, private counseling, mediation, educational programs, and community events, LEV is working to create stronger marriages and healthier homes.

This work is also supported by the community’s rabbinic leadership. With the backing and guidance of rabbis who believe in the importance of strengthening Jewish homes, LEV is building a culture where couples can seek help, guidance, and support without waiting until their marriage reaches a breaking point.

The message is simple: marriage does not have to be in crisis for a couple to invest in making it stronger.

Supporting the Next Generation

LEV’s Youth Division focuses on children and teenagers, particularly those whose families are experiencing difficult circumstances.

Every child deserves to feel valued, supported, and remembered. LEV works to create positive experiences and meaningful memories through birthday and holiday gifts, special activities, programs, and opportunities that help young people feel connected to their community.

One example was LEV’s support of a 12th grade student whose graduation trip to Israel was made possible through the organization. The experience represented more than a trip. It allowed a young person to share an important milestone with peers and create memories that will last a lifetime.

These moments are a reminder that supporting children means more than helping them through difficult times. It means giving them reasons to smile, experiences to look forward to, and a community that reminds them they matter.

Being There When Families Need Help

LEV’s Client Services Division continues the organization’s original work of helping individuals and families facing complex and difficult situations.

The division provides support and resources based on each family’s unique needs, including assistance navigating challenging family circumstances, support programs, holiday assistance, and other services that help individuals move forward with greater dignity and hope.

LEV’s goal is to meet people where they are and help them take their next step forward.

The organization also works to ensure that those it serves have access to qualified professionals and appropriate resources, including counseling, social work, mediation, and other forms of support when needed.

A Night of Powerful Voices

The evening brought together speakers who each offered a different perspective on family, resilience, and hope.

President of The LEV Organization, Sean Dweck, opened the evening with a brief but powerful speech highlighting the organizations recent successes and outlining the work that lies ahead. The message was clear: The momentum is real, and there is no slowing down now.

Rabbi Joey Haber spoke about what it truly means to be a hero. He reminded the audience that heroes are not always found in headlines. Sometimes, a hero is the single mother who works tirelessly to care for her children or the father who continues to support and be there for his children even when a marriage unfortunately does not work out. True heroism, he explained, can be found in the everyday acts of sacrifice, responsibility, and love that parents demonstrate for their families. He also shared that, in his eyes, the LEV Organization itself is a hero for being there for individuals when they are in some of the darkest and most difficult places in their lives, standing beside them when they need support the most.

Rabbi Ali Cohen spoke about the importance of creating peaceful, healthy homes and the work being done through LEV’s Shalom Bayit Division to help couples strengthen their marriages and relationships.

Adina Kamkhatchi, founder of Adina Eden Jewels, delivered an especially inspiring and personal message. Having experienced some of these challenges herself, she spoke from a place of firsthand understanding and reminded the audience of the strength and resilience that can emerge from difficult experiences.

Politician Joey Saban offered a particularly meaningful perspective as someone who personally experienced the challenges of growing up while his parents faced marital issues. His story demonstrated that the struggles a child experiences at home do not have to define their future. Despite the challenges he faced as a child, Joey did not allow his family’s circumstances to stop him from becoming the person he is today. His story served as a powerful reminder of the importance of supporting children and families through difficult times, while also recognizing the strength and potential that exists within every child.

The LEV HASHRA’AH Heart of Inspiration Award

One of the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the LEV HASHRA’AH Heart of Inspiration Award to Zevi Samet, the all-time leading scorer in Yeshiva University history.

The award was created to recognize individuals who serve as positive role models and sources of inspiration, particularly for the next generation. Zevi was recognized for the example he sets through dedication, perseverance, hard work, and the pursuit of excellence.

Looking Ahead

The July 9th event was more than a single evening. It was a reflection of how far LEV has come and how much work remains ahead.

In just five years, 61 cases have been resolved, changing the lives of individuals and families. But the work of LEV cannot be measured only in numbers.

It is measured in the couple who finds a way to communicate again.

It is measured in the family that receives support during a difficult time.

It is measured in the child who feels remembered and valued.

And it is measured in the individuals who find hope when they thought there was nowhere else to turn.

With three divisions working together, Shalom Bayit, LEV Youth, and Client Services, LEV continues to expand its reach and strengthen its ability to support the community.

The July 9th event showed what can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose. Even when circumstances change and challenges arise, LEV continues to push forward.

Because the mission remains the same: to strengthen Jewish families, support our youth, help individuals in need, and bring hope to those who need it most.

LEV is always looking for people who want to make a difference. Whether you are interested in volunteering, supporting our work, or simply want to learn more about how you can get involved, we invite you to reach out. And if you or someone you know is facing a difficult family or relationship situation, or you have questions about how LEV can help, please do not hesitate to contact us. 

Reach out to us at info@thelev.org or call +1 (732) 320-2617.

Victor Cohen

The requirement of shnayim mikra ve’ehad targum – reviewing the Torah portion each week – is, we might say, “back on the map,” thanks to a unique, groundbreaking initiative called Shnayim Yomi that was launched just six years ago, but has already made waves throughout the Jewish world.

The obligation to read the weekly portion twice in its original Hebrew (“shnayim mikra”) and once in translation (“ve’ehad targum”) is explicitly mentioned in the Shulhan Aruch, and is accepted as halachah.  Shnayim Yomi has helped countless Jews across the globe fulfill this requirement through its innovative programs and publications, including a series published by Artscroll, triggering an exciting, worldwide Shnayim Mikra renaissance.

I had the wonderful privilege of speaking with the organization’s founder, Elad Danino, to hear about the history of this initiative, its remarkable achievements, especially over the past year, and its ambitious plans for the future.

The Subway Ride That Inspired a Movement

On January 1, 2020, Elad Danino was traveling on the subway to the Siyum Hashas, the grand celebration of the completion of the 13^th Daf Yomi cycle. On the train, he was reviewing the weekly parashah, in fulfillment of the halachic requirement, when a fellow traveler approached and said he was learning the wrong subject. As he was heading toward the celebration of the completion of the Talmud, this fellow said, it would be more appropriate for Elad to learn Gemara, rather than Humash.

Elad explained that he was catching up on his shnayim mikra, and he asked the fellow if he was caught up.

The man replied in the negative. Elad then got curious. He went around the subway car asking the people heading to the Siyum Hashas whether they learned shnayim mikra each week. He was shocked at how few people said they did. Otherwise committed Jews, who make time for a full page of Gemara each day, were regularly neglecting an explicit halachic obligation.

Always having an affinity for challenges, Elad decided to act. He was determined to bring more attention and enthusiasm to this neglected mitzvah.

He perceptively noticed two differences between Daf Yomi and shnayim mikra which led to the latter being so less popular than the former, despite its being an outright obligation: a lack of structure, and the absence of celebrations of milestones. And Elad figured – correctly – that by addressing these two needs, he could precipitate a significant change.

To provide structure, Elad launched a program consisting of a two-minute video of a rabbi delivering a short, uplifting insight into that day’s aliyah, arousing interest and enthusiasm to motivate subscribers to learn that day’s section. For celebrations, festive siyum events are held at the completion of each of the five books of the Torah, each time in a different city. These have taken place in Brooklyn, Miami, LA, and Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel. Thanks to the close connections forged with scores of rabbis around the world – many of whom are active, enthusiastic participants – numerous synagogues and yeshivot happily open their doors to host these unique events.

This proved to be a winning formula, as the numbers indisputably show.

Elad began his program in October 2020 with just 50 participants – all friends and family, who remain members to this day. Already in the program’s second year, Shnayim Yomi signed up over 1,100 members across ten different cities. By 2025, 5000 people were learning every day through Shnayim Yomi, and that number has since grown to the tens of thousands.

It was in early 2025 that Elad began his discussions with Artscroll. They saw what he was doing, and wanted to help with the first-of-its-kind Shnayim Mikra Chumash. Elad worked closely with them and helped develop it in the Shnayim Yomi style – easy to read, with an introduction to each aliyah – written by esteemed author Rabbi Moshe Bamberger – and featuring an English translation to Onkelos (the ancient Aramaic translation of the Humash). The book was produced with the blessings and under the guidance of leading Torah sages, such as Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky, shelit”a, and Hacham Yitzhak Yosef, shelit”a, both of whom stated that one fulfills his “ehad targum” obligation by learning this English translation. Thanks to many generous donors, the first volume, on Beresheet, was released in late 2025, just in time for the new cycle following the holidays.

With lightning speed, the next four volumes – covering the rest of the Torah – were completed over the course of 2026, and was Artscroll’s Best Seller. The project’s popularity reveals how so many Jews truly wished to fulfill this weekly obligation, and were just waiting for the right framework that would make it more accessible.  A pocket edition is currently in the works for those interesting in learning shnayim mikra on-the-go.

“There are few times we [Artscroll] go to print on pocket-sized sefarim,” said Rabbi Gedaliah Zlotowitz, President of Artscroll. “With the Shnayim Yomi Chumash, that was an easy decision.”

The goal is to make Shnayim Yomi more accessible to all Jews, helping them to fulfill the shnayim mikra requirement each and every week.

Shnayim Yomi Florida

In early 2026, Rabbi Zlotowitz advised Elad to reach out to a Floridian named Eli Neger, who was passionate about the Shnayim Yomi project, and offered to sponsor a free Humash for anyone who signed up for the program through the synagogues and high schools in Boca Raton. Elad flew down to Florida and met a group of remarkable individuals who wanted to take part in this new initiative. These included Mr. Neger, Rabbi Daniel Gross, Rabbi Dovid Bogupolsky, and Rabbi Issamar Mandel. After a mere few hours, Shnayim Yomi Florida was born.

Together with the other rabbis in Boca, the group started a WhatsApp chat, and created their own version of the Shnayim Yomi program. Chat members receive the same daily two-minute videos as other participants, but on Fridays, they receive also a separate video, featuring a different South Florida rabbi each week.

Shnayim Yomi Florida started big – with hundreds of members – but strives to grow even larger, planning to extend throughout the state, to places such as Aventura, Hollywood, Surfside, and North Miami Beach. Elad proudly shared that the project received a glowing endorsement from the renowned Rabbi Yosef Galimidi of the Safra Synagogue in Aventura, who said: “The obligation to do shnayim mikra is on every one of us. Hashem should bless all those that are involved in this holy project.”

Bringing Jews Together Through a Shared Obligation

Elad sees Shnayim Yomi Florida as a model for the future of the movement, whereby each participating community receives both the global program and something specialized and unique, such that Shnayim Yomi can unify Jews across the world while allowing for each region to preserve and express its individuality and distinctive style.

Elad has been contacted by people from many different communities around the world, who reached out to thank him for this initiative and show their appreciation for Shnayim Yomi. Plans are underway for a special project for Chicago and the broader Midwest, involving communities such as Cleveland, St. Louis, and Milwaukee. Besides helping more Jews fulfill the requirement of shnayim mikra, this will also have the effect of bringing together communities spread across hundreds of miles.

There is also an effort to connect the Anglo-Israel community to this project. For many, making aliyah means leaving behind one’s community and network which was built over many years, and starting from scratch. Elad believes that a beautiful way for Anglo immigrants in Israel to connect with one another is through a Torah project – and one which is required of all Jews. Shnayim Yomi Anglo-Israel seeks to bring together Jews who moved to any part of Israel, whether in Jerusalem, Raanana, Beit Shemesh, Netanya, Efrat, or anywhere else.

Shnayim Yomi Teens

But perhaps the most important initiative Elad has undertaken is the effort to reach students through Shnayim Yomi Teens. If youngsters get into the habit of learning shnayim mikra, they are much more likely to keep up this wonderful practice throughout adulthood. Elad has thus made it a high priority to bring his program to as many Jewish teens as possible.

To reach kids, Elad explains, the program must offer enticing incentives. He therefore introduced exciting raffles, prizes, and other perks to generate enthusiasm among teens for this daily learning program.

In addition to incentives, Elad says, kids need role models – figures they look up to who learn shnayim mikra and can motivate youngsters to do the same. Elad therefore brought Zevi Samet, the legendary Yeshiva University basketball star who is also a committed student of Torah, to speak to kids about the importance of shnayim mikra, and how they could best stay on track. One exciting initiative in the works is a special basketball tournament led by Zevi for all students who participate in and successfully complete the Shnayim Yomi program.

Additionally, Elad hopes to bring inspirational singers, dynamic educators and speakers, and famous Jewish figures to help generate interest and excitement for the program among teens. Singer Yaakov Shwekey will also be part of the teen program, adding an exciting and inspiring musical component to the experience.

Throughout this past year, the organization has distributed free Shnayim Mikra Chumashim to boys in various schools across our community.

The 2026-27 Kickoff Event

One of the ways Shnayim Yomi ignites enthusiasm and draws interest in learning shnayim mikra is the annual kickoff event around the time of Shabbat Parashat Beresheet – the first Shabbat after the holidays, when the yearly learning cycle begins anew. Last year’s event was a smashing success – filling two halls in Yad Yosef right here in Brooklyn, with nearly 2,000 attendees. This year – hard as it is to believe – they’re bracing for twice that figure.

Plans are already well underway for this year’s kickoff, scheduled for Sunday, October 11^th at the Manhattan Beach Jewish Center Hall. Rabbis from across the country are planning to fly in for the event, where they will join many rabbis from our community.

The goal of this event, Elad explains, is to celebrate the past year and to kick-off the new cycle. The two go hand-in-hand: taking pride in what was accomplished, and arousing excitement for the work that lies ahead.

Shnayim Yomi warmly invites the entire community to attend. For those interested in fulfilling the mitzvah of shnayim mikra ve’ehad targum, or in learning more about it, this is ground zero, the place to be. All are invited – whether you’re thinking about jumping on the shnayim mikra bandwagon for the first time, or if you’ve been learning shnayim mikra for years.

Rabbi Joey Haber, who has been a part of Shnayim Yomi for several years, and whom Elad describes as a “mentor” for the program, says, “Shnayim mikra is non-negotiable. We’re celebrating that Shnayim Yomi is allowing and inspiring every one of us to have no more excuses.”

Rabbi Haber has spoken at the kickoff each year, his words uplifting all the participants and many others who tuned in online.

This year’s event will begin with a special Parasha Expo, offering many different Torah learning projects the opportunity to showcase their initiatives. Prominent attendees include OU’s All Torah, Chumash & Rashi Tests, and Parsha by Inkredible Kids. Artscroll is running a mega-sale exclusive to the Shnayim Mikra event, so make sure you attend!

Shnayim Yomi has also held a Shnyaim Mikra Awareness Shabbat (“SMASH”) with many different shuls across the world participating. Last year, 150 synagogues took part, spreading awareness about the importance of this mitzvah and motivating people to make the commitment to fulfill it.

If you’re not a part of the program yet, there’s no better time to sign up then now, as the year comes to a close, and the new cycle rapidly approaches. You can find Shnayim Yomi’s classes at https://www.shnayimyomi.org/, where you will also find information about the WhatsApp chats, this year’s kickoff event, and so much more.

Whatever your background, and no matter whether or for how long you have learned shnayim mikra in the past, Shnayim Yomi invites you to take part in this life-altering learning regimen that connects you not only to the sacred words of the Torah, but also to fellow Jews throughout the world.

Morris Schweky

When I made aliyah to Tzfat (Safed) six and a half years ago, I could not have imagined the life that awaited me. 

I grew up in Brooklyn’s SY community, surrounded by family and tradition, where everyone knows how to show up for one another. When I was eighteen, my mother and I started Stitches, a needlepoint business that became a familiar part of the Syrian community. We ran it together for fifteen years, getting to know our customers and helping them turn their ideas into one-of-a-kind pieces. Moving to Israel meant stepping away from work I loved and had put my heart and soul into, to begin again in the Holy Land. 

My Israel Experience

Three and a half years after making aliyah, I met my wife. We settled in northern Israel and were married one month before October 7th. We have since been blessed with a beautiful baby girl, and much of our family life has unfolded against the background of war. 

Like so many communities up north, Tzfat changed dramatically after October 7th. Tourism disappeared, businesses struggled, and daily life revolved around uncertainty, sirens, and bomb shelters. After working from home for so long, my wife and I agreed that I needed a change of atmosphere and a renewed sense of purpose. 

That was when I was introduced to Mordechai Kaplan, who was managing Beit Binyamin. At first, I thought I had found a job. Over time, I realized Hashem had opened a door I never expected. 

Enter Beit Binyamin

Beit Binyamin was created by Jen and Rob Airley of Beit Shemesh (originally from NY and the UK, respectively) after the loss of their beloved son, Sergeant Binyamin Meir Airley, H’yd, who fell in Gaza on November 18, 2023 (5 Kislev 5784), at just 21 years old, only a little more than a month after the war began.  

Before Binyamin’s passing, the Airley’s purchased a beautiful property in Tzfat with plans to make an Airbnb. Their overwhelming grief transformed that vision into a retreat home for soldiers and their families, a place where people carrying the weight of war could rest, reconnect, and begin to heal. In the process, it also became a source of livelihood for local tradespeople, artists, caterers, cleaners, and small businesses throughout Tzfat.  

The house, with its ancient stone walls and beautiful pergola overlooking Meron, has a peace that is difficult to describe. It feels both like an escape and like home.

The Story Unfolds  

As I became more involved, I met parents mourning children who had fallen defending Am Yisrael and soldiers arriving straight from the Lebanon front, grateful for a few days of rest, music, conversation, and good food.  

Standing among them, I realized I had been invited into a much bigger story. 

For the first time, Israel’s war was no longer something I was watching. It had become something that allowed me the privilege to serve Am Yisrael in my own way. 

Before Passover, after a major cleanup of the property, I was offered the role of House Manager. My job was to prepare the house for each event and welcome every soldier and family. The position connected naturally with my background, but at Beit Binyamin those practical skills came to serve something far more meaningful. 

A few days before Lag BaOmer, a group of soldiers arrived for an intensive three-day retreat. We filled those days with shiurim, music, spa treatments, meals, and an atmosphere of genuine unity.

Precious Pages Turned into Song

After the retreat, Mordechai asked me to dispose of papers left behind from one of the shiurim. When I brought them to the genizah, I noticed handwritten notes on the back.  

The question at the top read: “Why do we fight?”

Three soldiers had poured out their hearts. I could not throw those pages away. 

For nearly two hours I stood beside the genizah, reading and rereading their words. I realized there was a song hidden in those pages. I began writing, building the lyrics from their reflections, and “Soldiers of Truth” took shape. 

When I shared it with Mordechai and the Airleys, they immediately understood these words deserved to be heard. Binyamin’s longtime counselor, mentor, and friend, Shlomo Lipman, himself a soldier, graciously agreed to sing and produce the song. 

As I grew closer to Jen and Rob, I also felt I was getting to know Binyamin. I heard about his mischievousness, his aspirations, and his determination to become a better person. One soul changed the course of an entire family, and through that family he continues to inspire a nation.

Then another part of the story unfolded. 

A Painting Takes Flight

While scrolling through a WhatsApp art group, I came across a heartfelt video from an artist asking for help. One of her paintings, Kiddush HaShem, had been copied and reposted on X by a vicious anti-Semite who hoped to mock the work, the artist, and the message behind it. Instead, the post introduced the painting to more than 2.7 million people. Rather than hide, she encouraged people to keep sharing it, believing that truth would travel farther than hatred. 

When the painting was revealed, my heart stopped. It showed an Israeli soldier making kiddush over a cup of wine. I immediately knew it belonged at Beit Binyamin. 

The artist was Jordana Hanono, a talented member of the SY community from New York. Since October 7th, she had devoted herself to painting Israeli soldiers and donated her first year’s collection to support Israel’s war effort.  

Learning that Jordana was also from the SY community made the connection even more meaningful. Here was someone from our own community using her gifts to stand up for Am Yisrael through art. 

Once Jen understood the story behind the painting, she immediately saw what I saw. This was more than an image of a soldier. It was an image of Jewish identity, sacrifice, faith, and the longing to return home for Shabbat. 

It felt only natural that kiddush Hashem would become the cover artwork for Soldiers of Truth. A painting inspired by Israeli soldiers now embraces a song born from the reflections of Israeli soldiers. Though they have never met, they are telling the same story.  

Today, kiddush Hashem hangs at Beit Binyamin, greeting the very soldiers and families whose experiences inspired both the painting and the song.  

The soldiers, the song, and Jordana’s artwork all tell the same story: each is fighting for Am Yisrael in its own way. 

The Essence of Beit Binyamin

To me, that connection captures everything Beit Binyamin represents: grieving parents who transformed unimaginable loss into purpose, soldiers who continue to inspire through their courage, an artist from our SY community using her talent to fight anti-Semitism, and a fellow member of the SY community from Brooklyn who somehow found himself helping bring their stories together.  

Every time I open the doors of Beit Binyamin, I meet another soldier, another grieving parent, or another family searching for strength. I see how Binyamin’s life continues through every retreat, every meal, every conversation, every song, and every work of art.  

I am deeply grateful to Hashem for bringing me here. What I thought was simply a new job became an opportunity to witness courage, kindness, sacrifice, and faith in ways that continue to shape me every day. 

To my fellow members of the SY community, I hope you’ll visit Beit Binyamin and experience this remarkable place for yourselves. I would be honored to welcome you and share some of the extraordinary stories that continue to unfold within its walls. Whether by visiting, supporting our mission, making a donation, or simply sending words of encouragement to the soldiers and families who pass through our doors, you can become part of their story as well.  

I came looking for a job. Instead, Hashem brought me to a place where stories meet. 

For that, I am forever grateful. 

Contact Beit Binyamin at office@beitbinymin.org.

Frieda Schweky

Every summer, our community shows up and shows out. This summer’s events included private simhas,  fundraisers, and gatherings for programs that quietly do so much good.  I asked a few friends to share the events that stood out for them most this year, and their answers reminded me all over again why this community is so special.

The Lev Organization Gala

One of this summer’s most stunning events was put on by the Lev Organization, a non-profit group that helps individuals and families navigate the Jewish divorce process. The evening was Lev Organization’s Fourth Annual Awareness Event: Surrender and Soar. It was held on July 9th, at the home of Barbara Fallas Klause and Jordan and Shirly Granger. The setup alone was breathtaking – a huge, magnificent tent stretched over the pool, twinkling with light, with a photobooth for guests to capture the night and a Chinese auction table piled with prizes. Dinner was catered by AkiMori, and it did not disappoint.

The planned keynote speakers were Rabbi Ali Cohen, a marriage counselor and motivational speaker, and Gedale Fenster, a motivational speaker. Unfortunately, due to weather-related disruptions and logistical challenges, Gedale Fenster had to cancel at the last minute. But the evening was saved when Rabbi Joey Haber and Adina Eden Kamkhatchi (founder of the jewelry brand Adina Eden) stepped up to the mic. Despite the short notice they delivered speeches so powerful and moving that most guests probably did not even realize there had been a change of speakers. It was a beautiful reminder that in our community when something doesn’t go as planned, someone always steps up.

Paint with Jill

Not every meaningful “event” of the summer is a big formal affair, and Paint with Jill, run by the talented Jill Levy, is proof of that. Twice a month throughout the summer, Jill hosts intimate parent (or grandparent)-child watercolor classes, sometimes mother and child, sometimes father and child, and sometimes grandmother and grandchild. Many kids count down the days until it’s their turn to attend with a parent or grandparent.

There’s something so lovely about sitting side by side with your child or grandchild, music playing softly in the background, with no phones or distractions, just paint, conversation, and each other. Jill always teaches something new, whether it’s a blending technique or a new way to look at color. Many see their painting abilities improve over the years thanks to Jill. Paint with Jill offers the kind of quiet, connective summer tradition that doesn’t make headlines but makes beautiful memories.

Leah Setton on Shirah Elementary’s Chinese Auction

Shirah Elementary (Bnot Shirah) really outdid themselves this year with a stunning Chinese auction hosted at the beautiful home of Charles and Ariella Ben Dayan. The evening had it all: garden photoshoots by Shelly Shmool, a lively Mahjong tournament, and guest speaker Jackie Bitton, who left a lasting impression on everyone.

Jackie’s message stuck with me long after the event ended. She told the story of how, right at the start of the school year, her son’s school announced there would be no school bus and every family would need to arrange carpool themselves. For Jackie, this felt like a genuine burden, another 40 minutes lost each day to Brooklyn traffic on top of everything else on her plate. Then, one day she got a call from a friend who was seriously ill in the hospital. Her friend told her that if she could be anywhere in the world at that moment, she’d choose to be driving carpool, because that would mean her life was back to normal. It would mean she didn’t have to rely on the kindness of others just to get her kids where they needed to go or to feed her family dinner. It would mean she had the privilege of doing those small, everyday tasks herself.

That phone call changed everything for Jackie. She never complained about carpool again. She shared a teaching from Rabbi Nachman of Breslov about always choosing simha and gratitude toward Hashem. She also told an inspirational story about noticing an African American woman in a store who, after accidentally knocking something over, laughed it off and said, “I’m too blessed to be stressed.” Jackie’s takeaway was simple but powerful: we all have the ability to brighten someone else’s day and be a light to the people around us, something her own daughter reminded her of before heading off to speak at a Shabbaton.

The line that’s stayed with me most is this: “I don’t have to, I get to.” The next time you’re tempted to complain about something mundane, like carpool, or laundry, or the school run, it’s worth remembering that somewhere, someone would give anything to be doing that very thing. A small shift in how we talk about our everyday tasks can entirely change how we feel about them.

Sari Shamah on the Morris Franco Cancer Center Spa Day

There’s no shortage of incredible programming in our community every summer. Sari could easily point to the Hatzalah Carnival or Yaakov Shweky’s electric concert for the Children’s Center, both of which were fantastic. But she wanted to shine a light on something a little more under the radar: the Morris Franco Cancer Center spa day, hosted at Dr. Gayle Krost’s home.

It’s a day built entirely around celebrating life together, volunteers and clients, side by side. There are massages, art projects, and wonderful food, but the real heart of the day is hearing directly from the clients and volunteers about how the program has touched their lives. It’s the kind of event that puts everything into perspective and reminds you exactly what this community stands for: when someone is struggling, there is an entire tribe ready to step in and help. Sari felt it was important to give credit to these unsung heroes who don’t always get the spotlight but absolutely deserve it.

Suzy Haber on Serenity by the Shore

Suzy’s favorite event of the summer was Serenity by the Shore, hosted by Magen Abot Yeshivah at Kassin Beach on July 13^th. The day began with a workout overlooking the ocean, followed by a beachside meditation led by Nomi Simhon. From there, guests took a “roots and remedies” class, learning about which herbs and roots can be used for different ailments. Attendees got to make and take home their own tinctures. The Hut set up a jewelry-making station with beads and charms. Breakfast and lunch, catered by Nicole’s Kitchen, were absolutely delicious.

What struck Suzy most was how thoughtfully the entire day was planned. It wasn’t just about putting on a nice event or raising awareness for the school. It was about giving the school moms a relaxing, joyful day surrounded by wonderful company. There was a coffee bar, an acai bar, and even childcare so moms could actually unwind. The school principal gave a parenting class that Suzy and her friends found incredibly helpful. By the time the day ended, she and her friends didn’t want to leave.

A Summer to Remember

The common thread our community members picked up on this summer was the theme of connection. Whether it was a black-tie gala under a tent, a quiet watercolor class with a child or grandchild, a spa day for cancer patients and their families, or a sunrise workout on the sand, all of these moments was really about showing up for each other.

That’s what our community does best. We celebrate together, we support each other through hard times, and we find small ways to make ordinary days feel a little more special. As the summer winds down and we start thinking about the school year ahead, I hope we carry a little of that spirit with us: the gratitude, the willingness to step up when someone else can’t, and the reminder that even the mundane tasks of daily life are something to feel very fortunate about. Here’s to another summer of memories, and here’s to next summer already being something to look forward to.

Until next time, 

Frieda Schweky

Frieda Schweky is a community photographer, videographer, and writer. For photography & video inquiries or article topic suggestions, email her at friedaschweky@gmail.com or follow her on Instagram @friedaschwekyphoto.

Jack Gindi

Over the years, I’ve noticed something about the way we talk about stress.

We use the same word to describe running late for work, losing a job, receiving a difficult medical diagnosis, or burying someone we love. We call it all “stress,” but those experiences are not the same. One type of stressful experience asks us to take a deep breath. Another type of stressful experience changes the course of our lives.

In construction, load-bearing walls support everything else. When one of those walls is damaged, you don’t simply patch the crack. You strengthen the structure because the integrity of the entire building depends on it.

Life works much the same way.

Preparing for the Storms

Some problems are temporary inconveniences. Others shake the very foundation beneath our feet. That raises an important question: Have we prepared ourselves and our children for the storms every one of us will eventually face?

As parents, we spend years teaching our children how to read, write, solve math problems, drive a car, and treat others with kindness and respect. We teach them to swim before they fall into deep water, change a tire before they’re stranded on the side of the road, and perform CPR before they encounter someone who stopped breathing. We understand that preparation creates confidence.

Yet when it comes to life’s biggest turns, we often leave our children to figure things out while they’re living them.

Very few of us ever say, “One day someone you love will die. One day your heart will be broken. One day life won’t unfold as you planned. Here’s how you begin finding your way through it.”

Most of us learn those lessons after life has already handed them to us.

Learning Acceptance

When I think about where I learned those lessons, I don’t remember my mother sitting me down to explain resilience or adaptation. She taught me by the way she lived. Like every family, ours experienced disappointments, hardships, and losses. My mother never pretended those moments didn’t hurt, and she didn’t waste her energy wishing reality were different. She accepted what had happened and then quietly began deciding what to do next.

Looking back, I learned one of life’s most important lessons simply by watching her.

Acceptance.

But here’s what I wish we had talked about. Acceptance is where mastering life begins. It isn’t where it ends.

Mastering Life

The older I get, the more I believe mastering life means preparing ourselves mentally, emotionally, physically, relationally, and practically before life’s storms arrive. Every storm asks something different of us. Grief asks us to mourn. Betrayal asks us to rebuild trust and establish healthy boundaries. Financial hardship asks us to make difficult decisions. Illness asks us to adapt to a new reality. Every major turn in life requires different skills, yet we rarely teach them until someone is already struggling through them.

One of the greatest surprises in my own life has been discovering that hardship rarely arrives alone. Losing a job often becomes financial pressure. Financial pressure strains relationships. Strained relationships affect sleep. Poor sleep clouds judgment. Before long, what began as one difficult event has spread into every corner of life.

Life has a way of creating ripples.

Planning Ahead

Understanding that has changed the way I think about preparing for life. We cannot prevent every storm, but we can become better prepared to weather one. A boxer doesn’t learn how to take a punch during the championship fight. A sailor doesn’t learn to navigate in the middle of a hurricane. Preparation happens long before the moment it’s needed.

Yet life is the one thing we rarely prepare for until we’re already living through it.

Imagine teaching our children how to recover from disappointment, ask for help without shame, recognize unhealthy relationships, think clearly under pressure, and begin again after failure. Those lessons may prove just as important as algebra, history, or science because life’s storms test far more than knowledge.

They test character. Perhaps that’s what mastering life really means. It isn’t mastering every circumstance. It’s preparing ourselves before life’s biggest storms arrive.

Giving Skills to Our Children

My mother gave me one of life’s greatest lessons by the way she lived. I only wish we had talked about the storms I hadn’t yet seen coming. Perhaps that’s one of the greatest gifts we can give the next generation. We can’t promise them a life without hardship, but we can prepare them with the skills they’ll need to weather hardship when it arrives.

After all, that’s how my mother taught me – not with a lecture, but with a life.