DAVE GORDON

Support for Israel has become a litmus test in New York politics, but on Fifth Avenue this year, the city’s Jews discovered the gap between what their leaders say and how safe – or abandoned – they actually feel. The Israel Day Parade still drew 100,000 people, a sea of blue-and-white and bipartisan dignitaries. Yet, the first-ever absence of a sitting mayor since the parade’s inception in 1964 – and the rise of a City Hall openly aligned with anti-Zionist activists – left many wondering whether political power is drifting away from those who march, and toward those who are against them. “It’s almost like not to be an anti-Semite or not to be anti-Israel, you’re in the minority today,” says veteran activist and former New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind. “That is a fact.”

In the shadow of that new reality, the three Jews who were interviewed for Community Magazine say that they are working with others across the city to form their own responses – from quiet coalition-building, to grassroots digital advocacy, to calls for a Jewish defense force that will meet hostile demonstrators in the streets of Brooklyn. The parade has become more than a festive annual ritual. It is a stress test of New York’s political soul, exposing the widening distance between a community that still turns out in huge numbers for Israel and a political class increasingly split, hedging, or openly hostile.

Who Came and Who Did Not

Last month’s Israel Day Parade should have been a straightforward display of solidarity. The route up Fifth Avenue was lined with Israeli flags and school banners, and the roster of dignitaries suggested business as usual: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Representatives Jerry Nadler and Dan Goldman, Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, City Comptroller Brad Lander, and others were in attendance. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch marched. Former mayors Michael Bloomberg and Eric Adams appeared, reinforcing a message that at least some of the city’s establishment still wanted to be seen on the pro-Israel side of the ledger.

But the absence of Mayor Zohran Mamdani was impossible to ignore. For the first time in 61 years, no sitting mayor walked in the parade, a decision Mamdani’s critics view not as scheduling trivia, but as a declaration of values. For a Jewish community watching anti-Israel activists grow more organized and more brazen, the no-show crystallized a fear that the center of gravity in city politics has shifted – and that the people who most loudly oppose Israel now have a friend in City Hall.

Jews with Views

Against that backdrop, three very different Jewish New Yorkers – an old-school Brooklyn power broker, a young Black Orthodox litigation assistant, and a former communal insider turned independent consultant – offer a composite portrait of a community trying to understand what changed, and how to respond.

For decades, Dov Hikind has been the archetype of the Brooklyn Jewish machine politician: a former State Assemblyman, founder of Americans Against Anti-Semitism, and a fixture in any discussion of New York’s Jewish power structure. Speaking from Israel, he sounds less like a retired lawmaker, and more like a man warning of an emergency that the usual institutions no longer know how to handle.

Dov Hikind – Shifting Tides

“In all the years, we’ve always had anti-Semitism,” Hikind says. “We’ve always had issues with particular people. But to the level that we have it now, it’s [anti-Semitism has] become more mainstream than ever before.” Hikind describes a political climate where hostility to Israel is no longer confined to fringe activists but increasingly shapes campaigns for the State Assembly, City Council, and Congress. In his telling, Democrats are especially susceptible, but he notes with alarm that among Republicans, more and more so the polling is turning, as well.

The mayor, in Hikind’s view, is not a disappointment so much as the logical outcome of this shift. Hikind blasts Jewish leaders who continue to attend receptions at Gracie Mansion – “laughing with this anti-Semite mayor,” as he puts it – as if nothing fundamental has changed. “You have to deal with the mayor – he’s the mayor,” he concedes. “But you don’t have to socialize with him. Really? Where’s your faith in Gd? Where’s your pride?”

Communal Strategy

Hikind reserves particular scorn for recall talk and hashtag campaigns, which he dismisses as childish. The hard question, he insists, is not who to blame but what the communal strategy should be. “We have a very serious problem,” he says, pointing to soaring anti-Semitism statistics that he believes undercount reality. “What’s the plan? Does the ADL have a plan? Does the American Jewish this or that have a plan? What is the plan to deal with the phenomena that exists now?”

His own emerging answer is blunt. Hikind, now 75, is working with others to create what he calls a Jewish defense force – a group of trained Jews committed, devoted to the Jewish community, professionally led. These are not vigilantes, but are individuals prepared to physically stand between hostile demonstrators and Jewish neighborhoods. “If they’re coming into Midwood, if they’re coming to Crown Heights or to Williamsburg or to whatever, we need to have people who are going to stand up and be proud and confront those who are terrorizing the Jewish community,” Hikind says.

The parade itself passed peacefully, but Hikind’s mind is on the footage that circulated the day after, a Jewish nurse assaulted on the subway, marches snaking through Brooklyn with demonstrators chanting in support of Hamas, intimidation outside synagogues and schools. For Hikind, these are not isolated incidents but are the visible symptoms of a mainstream culture that has grown comfortable treating Jews and Israel as legitimate targets.

DeVante Montgomery 

If Hikind embodies a past era of Jewish clout, DeVante Montgomery represents a newer, less conventional face of Orthodox activism. Open about his conversion to Judaism, the 29‑year‑old litigation assistant in Manhattan is also a writer and online creator. He is shomer-Shabbat, and unabashedly online. Montgomery describes himself as “just an average, normal guy” who stumbled into prominence when his social media posts pushed back against anti-Israel agitators targeting Jewish neighborhoods.

At the parade, Montgomery felt something close to relief. “It was a very awesome and very uplifting experience,” he says. “It really felt like a weight lifted. It felt like we were in peace within nirvana, within our own little bubble within the perimeter of that parade.” Montgomery has attended three times – first with Park Avenue Synagogue and most recently as part of an organized group. He speaks with wonder about the diversity of the crowd – people of every age, some flying in from abroad, all there to say that Israel still matters.

Social Media’s Influence

Yet, the euphoric atmosphere exists alongside a growing sense of isolation. Montgomery notes that Jews scrolling Instagram and TikTok are bombarded with videos portraying Zionism as a crime and Israelis as oppressors, narratives he calls disgusting and deeply detached from historical fact. In his analysis, the election of Mamdani was partly a product of that information ecosystem. “Everyday New Yorkers were seeing the images come out of the Middle East,” he says. “They, again, are being fed a certain algorithm.” That feedback loop, he argues, helped normalize support for protesters who now march past Jewish schools and into Brooklyn’s heavily Jewish neighborhoods.

Montgomery is not nostalgic for the last administration. He is precise about its limits. Under Eric Adams, Montgomery says, the city witnessed a lot of anti-Semitic instances, particularly after October 7, even as the mayor spoke in defense of the Jewish community. But Montgomery describes a boomerang, ricochet type effect as Adams sided with Jews, anti-Israel voters became more energized, helping pave the way for a successor who is actively vocal in his support of the pro-Palestinian protesters.

Begin with Conversation

Where Hikind reaches for confrontation, Montgomery begins with conversation. He argues that big organizations and individual Jews alike need to meet people at where they are instead of speaking at them. That starts, Montgomery says, with listening to what critics actually believe – including the many who think that somehow, in some way, that Jews originate from Europe and disregard their own biblical history, let alone factual history. Often, he notes, protesters chanting, “from the river to the sea” cannot even name the river in question.

Still, even the outreach advocate has limits. Montgomery worries that interactions between Jews and anti-Israel protesters have grown very violent and very insulting, citing two instances of anti-Semitic confrontation. One was an incident on May 15^th when dozens of Muslim men gathered in Brooklyn to pray directly outside Bnos Leah Prospect Park Yeshiva High School for girls. Secondly, he cited marches through Brooklyn that feel more like intimidation than political speech. These are very old tactics, he says, familiar from Jewish history. His hope, perhaps more fragile than he lets on, is that New Yorkers can agree to disagree yet maintain a level of respect – not because they will resolve the wars in Gaza or Lebanon, but because they still share a city.

Noam Gilboord

If Hikind and Montgomery speak from the street, Noam Gilboord speaks from the world of organized Jewish life – and from just outside it. The former senior official at the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York left the organization in December and now works independently. He spent years helping shape the very parade he attended this year as a rank‑and‑file parent.

A Parade with No Problems

Gilboord’s account of the day is almost defiantly normal. “I saw nothing. No problems. No problems whatsoever,” he says. “It looked like a normal parade to me.” Security was extensive and familiar, with metal detectors, blocked streets, sand trucks, fencing along the Central Park side, and the presence of NYC Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch herself. From Gilboor’s vantage point, marching with his kids’ school, it was the same careful choreography he had helped arrange in previous years.

Yet, he is acutely aware of the anxiety that preceded the parade. In his view, the community’s nervousness was less about credible intelligence than about the new mayor’s posture. “Because of the mayor and his antagonism towards Israel and his hatred of Israel, I sensed that the community itself was much more nervous in the lead-up to the parade,” he says. The worry was that a City Hall aligned with anti-Israel activists might quietly downgrade security. When that did not happen, he concluded that much of the fear had been, in hindsight, for no reason.

What Has Changed?

On the question of whether Israel has become more central to city politics, Gilboord offers a long view. “It’s been an issue in city politics for a very long time,” he says, pushing back on the idea that this is entirely new. What has changed, he argues, is the organizational muscle of the anti-Zionist left – especially the Democratic Socialists of America, whose campaigns against trips to Israel and pro-Israel legislation have dragged debates that once lived in internal party meetings into the full glare of public attention.

If Hikind sees institutional Jewish life as adrift and Montgomery sees it as too often reactive, Gilboord’s comments hint at a third layer – a community that still knows how to work the levers of power, is still capable of coordinating with police and keeping a massive parade safe, but is increasingly unable to reassure its own members that those levers will continue to work under a mayor who pointedly stays away.

The Real Story

Taken together, the three voices suggest that the real story of this year’s Israel Day Parade is not simply that it was more political – it always has been – but that politics has migrated from the reviewing stand into the streets, the algorithm, and the Jewish psyche itself.

Hikind calls for a literal line of defense in Brooklyn. Montgomery preaches hard conversations and mutual respect. Gilboord quietly measures whether the machinery he once ran can still be trusted. The flags still flew on Fifth Avenue, the bands still played, the children still marched. What has changed is that for many of New York’s Jews, the parade no longer feels like an endpoint of communal confidence, but a starting point for a much more fraught fight over how – and whether – their city will stand with them when the march is over.

The Super Soaker quickly became a best-seller that transformed backyard water battles, and later earned a place in the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2015.

Some inventions are carefully planned over many years. Others appear completely by accident. Few inventions prove that better than the Super Soaker – the powerful water gun that became one of the best-selling toys in history.

What makes the story even more remarkable is the man behind it. The Super Soaker was invented not by a toy designer, but by an aerospace engineer and former NASA scientist named Lonnie Johnson.

Johnson’s invention transformed summer fun for millions of children around the world. Yet the path from experimental laboratory equipment to a billion-dollar toy was anything but straightforward.

A Curious Mind from the Beginning

Lonnie Johnson was born in Mobile, Alabama, in 1949. From an early age, he showed an extraordinary interest in science and engineering. While many children spent their free time playing games, Johnson loved building things and experimenting with machines.

His father was a World War II veteran and skilled handyman who taught Johnson how to repair household appliances and to think mechanically. Johnson later said that growing up in the segregated South made opportunities difficult to find, but he refused to let obstacles stop him from pursuing science and engineering.

As a teenager, Johnson built a robot named “Linex” for a science competition sponsored by the University of Alabama. Despite attending an underfunded school, Johnson’s robot won first prize against students from much wealthier schools. The victory helped convince him that he could compete with anyone through hard work, creativity, and determination.

After graduating from Tuskegee University with degrees in mechanical engineering and nuclear engineering, Johnson joined the United States Air Force. He later worked on important aerospace projects involving advanced weapons systems and stealth technology.

Work with NASA and the Air Force

Johnson’s engineering career quickly became impressive. He worked for the U.S. Air Force and later for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California.

At NASA, Johnson contributed to several important space missions. He worked on spacecraft power systems and thermal-control technologies connected with missions such as Galileo; the unmanned probe sent to study Jupiter. The Galileo mission dramatically expanded scientists’ understanding of Jupiter and its moons after arriving at the giant planet in 1995.

Johnson also worked on projects involving the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, one of the most advanced military aircraft ever developed. His work required precision, creativity, and deep scientific knowledge.

But despite his serious work in aerospace engineering, Johnson continued inventing in his spare time. He held dozens of ideas for new technologies and spent evenings experimenting at home.

One of those experiments would unexpectedly change the toy industry forever.

The Accident That Changed Everything

In the early 1980s, Johnson was experimenting with a new type of environmentally friendly heat pump. At the time, many refrigeration systems relied on chemicals such as Freon, which scientists increasingly worried could damage the environment.

Johnson wondered whether water could be used instead.

One evening, while working in his bathroom laboratory at home, he attached a nozzle to some tubing connected to a sink. When he activated the system, a powerful stream of water suddenly blasted across the room.

Most people might have simply cleaned up the mess and moved on.

Johnson immediately saw something else.

“This would make a great squirt gun,” he later recalled thinking.

That single moment sparked the idea for what would eventually become the Super Soaker.

Building the First Prototype

Johnson quickly began designing prototypes in his basement workshop. Unlike the small squirt guns available at the time, Johnson’s invention used air pressure to fire a powerful continuous stream of water over long distances.

The design was revolutionary.

Traditional water pistols relied on tiny squeezable reservoirs that held very little water. Johnson’s invention used a hand pump to build pressure inside a larger water chamber, allowing users to shoot stronger streams much farther than before.

His early prototypes were built from plastic tubing, Plexiglas, and spare parts. Johnson tested them on family members, neighborhood children, and coworkers. The response was immediate excitement.

Everyone who tried the prototype loved it.

Johnson realized he might have invented something far bigger than a backyard experiment.

A Long Road to Success

Although the invention showed enormous promise, turning it into a real commercial product proved difficult.

Johnson initially hoped to manufacture the toy himself, but production costs were far beyond what he could afford. Bringing a new toy to market required expensive molds, manufacturing facilities, packaging, shipping, and retail agreements.

For years, toy companies rejected his invention.

Some executives simply did not understand how different Johnson’s water gun was from existing toys. Others doubted children would want a larger, more powerful water blaster.

Johnson continued improving the design while searching for the right business partner. Finally, after nearly seven years of persistence, he partnered with Larami, a toy company known for producing inexpensive outdoor toys.

Larami agreed to manufacture and market the invention.

The Birth of the Super Soaker

The toy first appeared in stores in 1990 under the name “Power Drencher.”

It sold well, but the following year Larami redesigned and rebranded the toy as the “Super Soaker,” creating one of the most successful toy launches in history.

Children loved the Super Soaker’s ability to shoot water farther and faster than any previous squirt gun. The toy became a cultural phenomenon almost overnight.

During the summer of 1991 alone, more than two million Super Soakers were sold.

Soon, children across the world were staging massive backyard water battles armed with brightly colored Super Soakers of every shape and size.

The toy generated enormous profits and inspired countless imitators. Over time, Super Soaker products generated more than $1 billion in sales, making it one of the most successful toy franchises ever created.

In 2015, the Super Soaker was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in recognition of its enormous cultural impact.

The Legacy Continues

Today, more than three decades after Lonnie Johnson accidentally invented the Super Soaker, the famous water blasters are still being sold in stores and enjoyed by children around the world. Modern versions such as the Power Drench, Mega Dunk-Fill, and XP35 continue to fill toy store shelves each summer, carrying on the legacy of one of the most successful outdoor toys ever created. While the designs have evolved over the years, the excitement remains the same – backyard water battles, neighborhood competitions, and hours of summer fun. What began as a simple engineering experiment has become a lasting part of childhood for generations, proving that a single creative idea can make an impact far beyond what anyone imagined.

Jenna Ashkenazie

Debanking has affected many people in our community. As this issue prevails, we, as a community, have begun to conjecture that when this happens, it is not simply a coincidence, but is something more politically charged.

Debanking History

Debanking is defined as “the closure of a person’s or organization’s bank accounts by financial institutions that perceive them to pose a financial, legal, or reputational risk.”

Debanking had become such an issue that on August 7, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order, “Guaranteeing Fair Banking for All Americans,” instructing federal agencies to stop debanking that can be considered politicized or unlawful. The executive order stated, “Bank regulators have used supervisory scrutiny and other influence over regulated banks to direct or otherwise encourage politicized or unlawful debanking activities.”  In 2013 “Operation Chokepoint,” for example, was a well-documented and systemic means by which federal regulators pushed banks to minimize their involvement with individuals and companies engaged in lawful activities and industries disfavored by regulators (such as firearms dealers, payday lenders, and coin dealers calling them “high risk” for fraud and money laundering) based on factors other than individualized, objective, risk-based standards.

As a result, individuals, their businesses, and their families have been subjected to debanking on the basis of their political affiliations, religious beliefs, or lawful (but disfavored) business activities, and have suffered frozen payrolls, debt and crushing interest, and other significant harm to their livelihoods, reputations, and financial well-being.  Such practices are incompatible with a free society and the principle that the provision of banking services should be based on material, measurable, and justifiable risks.

OCC and FDIC Step Up

Ballard Spahr LLP (a leading US law firm) reported that in April of 2026 the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) adopted a joint rule to “prohibit the agencies from criticizing or taking adverse action against a financial institution based on reputation risk.”

The rule will also prohibit the agencies from “requiring, instructing, or encouraging an institution to close customer accounts or take other actions on the basis of a person or entity’s political, social, cultural, or religious views or beliefs, constitutionally protected speech, or solely on the basis of politically disfavored but lawful business activities perceived to present reputation risk,” according to a statement from the agencies.

Ballard Spahr LLP continued to report, “While a bank’s reputation is critically important, and many financial institutions over the years have failed due to a loss of confidence, supervisory focus on ‘reputation risk’ outside of traditional risk channels (such as credit risk or market risk) adds little value to promoting safety and soundness.” FDIC Chairman Travis Hill said, “On the other hand, an explicit or implicit focus on ’reputation risk’ untethered from other risk channels can pressure banks into debanking law-abiding customers who are viewed unfavorably by supervisors.”

Close to Home

While this action – preventing legitimate organizations and individuals from being unfairly debanked – is greatly appreciated by many, the question begs asking, what about those who were affected before the new rules were put into place? For example, about four to five years ago, a very  prominent synagogue and Torah center in our community was debanked.

One day, out of the blue, a letter arrived stating that Chase Bank was closing the synagogue’s account and that they had thirty days to collect the money  in the account, which had been opened over the thirty years ago. . The office manager immediately went straight to Chase Bank. She attempted to get answers as to why that letter was sent, and what could be done to preserve the account.

Instead of providing real answers,  the bank teller told her that new rules had been put in place allowing banks to debank organizations without even providing a reason. There was no explanation, and no ability to negotiate. The office manager’s only option was to take the check, which included the full balance in the account, and open an account at a new bank, which she did.

Connecting the Dots

The synagogue’s office manager stated later, “When I was going through it, I was very surprised. I have never heard of anything like it. But as I was talking to people about it, more people were saying it had happened to them as well. All people from the community, all given no answers as to why. Every day I would hear about two to three people who it had happened to.”

With banks now no longer required to provide reasons for debanking, no one in the community had been given any explanation, leaving room for speculation. “I would believe that it all had to do with international wiring. That is what we were able to come up with.” The synagogue is a nonprofit, which deposits all of their donations into their bank account. They pay all of their bills on time. They did nothing wrong, nothing to warrant being debanked after thirty years of being model banking clients. The only thing that had changed, was about a year or two before they were debanked, the synagogue had begun sending support directly to causes linked to Israel. Is it a coincidence that it was only after this new development that they were debanked? Or a politically motivated attack? It is nearly impossible to know for certain.

As time has passed, similar stories have come out. Another community member was also debanked by Chase with no explanation. To make matters worse, the bank never even sent him advance notice of the account closures. “We had a bunch of checks that were issued to vendors at the time, many of which were already sent for deposit so there was no way to stop them from bouncing. When some of the larger checks we issued to vendors were dishonored, it caused a cascade of check rejections as the payments they issued to their vendors and employees were returned for insufficient funds. We ended up eating thousands in fees from vendors while Chase refused to even acknowledge their negligence.”

Question Left Hanging

He was never provided with a reason for the account closures but noted that he had made a very substantial donation to a Jewish organization just a few months before the account closure. There is no way to know for certain why a particular account was closed, or why certain organizations get debanked. We can only speculate. However, it is difficult not to wonder if things like donations to Jewish organizations, or supporting Israeli organizations are a major factor in the mass debanking.

Frieda Schweky

Summer in our community can be one long string of celebrations. Between semahot, birthday parties, barbecues, end-of-camp blowouts, and everything in between, there’s something happening almost every single day – and if you’re the one hosting, it can feel equal parts exciting and completely overwhelming. Over the years I’ve picked up a few tricks that make the whole thing less daunting, save real money, and make for better memories. Here are some of my favorites.

The Combined Birthday Bash

I’ve pulled this one off a few times and it never gets old. All of my kids have birthdays either in or right around the summer, which makes it surprisingly easy to combine their parties into one epic day. The centerpiece: a giant inflatable water slide. Yes, the rental cost stings a little – but when you consider that one slide replaces the entertainment budget for multiple separate parties, you’re actually coming out way ahead.

Here’s how I run it: the older kids come first, say 10am–12pm. Pizza, the slide, custom coloring sheets (such an easy, low-cost touch that kids genuinely love), and an additional craft to fill out the two hours. Then cake or cupcakes, a round of Happy Birthday, and we send them home happy.  I‘m able to reset, take a breath, and about an hour and-a-half later the second group arrives – usually my friends with their toddlers, so the spread gets a little more elaborate. Another celebration, another birthday song, another very successful party.

But here’s the best part, and honestly the part I look forward to most, the day after. I ask the rental company to hold off on pick-up until late the next day, then I invite my friends over – without kids, who are all in camp by then anyway. We get the water slide entirely to ourselves. We act like absolute children and it is glorious. Maximum fun, maximum value!

Keep a Vendor List

This one is simple and it has saved me so much stress. Throughout the year, whenever I’m at an event and I come across a vendor I love – a caterer, a balloon artist, a DJ, a face painter – I take down their contact info on the spot. I keep a running list on my phone, and when it’s time to plan something, I already know exactly who to call. No scrambling, no asking around in group chats, no settling for whoever someone’s neighbor used two years ago.

As a photographer, I’m at a lot of events, so I’ve had plenty of opportunities to build this list. But honestly, our community is so full of simchas and gatherings that anyone who pays a little attention can do the same thing. Start the list. Future-you will be very grateful.

Pauline Sharabi

Pauline Sharabi has a genius hack that’s equal parts practical and satisfying: freeze your water bottles. They pull double duty as ice packs. Slide them under your fruit trays to keep everything cold, or use them in your coolers instead of regular ice so you’re not dealing with a giant puddle two hours in. And when the day heats up, they’ve thawed into perfectly cold drinks. Two problems, one frozen bottle.

Raquel Sabzehroo

Raquel’s formula for a party people actually talk about comes down to four things: go all-in on a theme and order everything to match (the theme makes it simpler for her so she has direction), put together a fun tablescape, invest in a showstopping cake, and don’t skip the entertainment. When all four elements come together, the party basically runs itself.

Olgi Hashemi

Olgi Hashemi uses a summer party cheat code. First, if you don’t own a splash pad, go buy one from Costco. “It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” she says. Kids are completely obsessed, they get soaking wet, and the best part is that zero supervision is required. No lifeguard, no hovering parent, just happy kids doing their thing. Her second trick is one of those ideas that makes you wonder why you never thought of it yourself: make your craft the party favor. At her daughter’s doggie-themed party, kids decorated collars for little plush dogs, then tucked them into mini-paper doghouses to take home. One activity, zero separate goody bags, and guests walked away with something they actually made and loved. And her third hack? If you have two kids close in age, just combine the parties. (Sound familiar? Clearly, great minds think alike.)

Rain Dates

A community member who prefers to remain anonymous has some hard-won wisdom about outdoor summer events. Always set up a rain date – ideally the very next evening, so all your food and prep can carry right over. And whatever you do, don’t skip the backup generator. “Power goes out very quickly in the summer,” she says, speaking from experience. “You don’t want that to be the reason your event bombs.” She also reminds us to set up umbrellas for shade and to never leave food sitting out too long in the heat. Nobody wants their party to be remembered as the one where everyone got food poisoning.

Don’t Overlook the Gemach

One of the most underutilized resources in our community is right under our noses – our gemachs. We are so lucky to have gemachs dedicated specifically to party supplies — tablecloths, chairs, tables, fake flowers, and more. And they can completely transform what a party costs. Instead of buying decorations you’ll use once or renting equipment that adds up fast, you can borrow beautiful, ready-to-use items and return them when you’re done. It’s one of those uniquely community-inspired resources that makes hosting so much more accessible, and honestly, it’s worth getting familiar with what’s available before you start spending. A little research upfront can save you a lot of money!

The Bottom Line

Summer entertaining doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune or running yourself into the ground. With a little planning, a few smart shortcuts, and maybe a water slide or a frozen water bottle, you can throw parties that people genuinely remember, without the post-party regret. Our community knows how to celebrate, and now you have the insider playbook on how to do it like a pro. 

Happy summer, and happy hosting!

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

Human beings have always disagreed.

Families disagree. Married couples disagree. Friends disagree. Business partners disagree. Communities disagree. That part of life is not new, and honestly, it probably never will be.

What worries me sometimes is not disagreement itself. What worries me is how quickly people can lose sight of the bigger thing sitting in the room.

I’ve seen it happen in business meetings where emotions ran high and everyone became more focused on proving their point than solving the problem. I’ve seen it happen inside families, where people stopped listening because they became so committed to defending their position. I’ve caught myself doing it, too.

Over the years, I’ve learned something important: most lasting damage does not come from disagreement. It comes from forgetting what we were trying to protect together in the first place.

The marriage. The family. The friendship. The business partnership. The mission. The relationship itself.

Once that gets forgotten, conversations begin to change. Listening disappears. Curiosity disappears. The focus quietly shifts from understanding to winning. And when winning becomes more important than understanding, trust begins to erode.

Healthy Disagreement vs. Division

The truth is, healthy disagreement can strengthen relationships. Some of the people who helped me grow the most in life challenged me. They questioned my thinking. They pushed me to see situations differently. In business, some of my best decisions came from people willing to disagree honestly instead of simply telling me what I wanted to hear.

The problem begins when disagreement turns into division.

Division happens when people stop seeing one another as part of the same shared purpose.

I think many of us must be feeling that today. Conversations feel shorter. Patience feels thinner. People seem quicker to assume the worst about one another. It sometimes feels as though we are being trained to see one another as opponents first and human beings second. Politics, media, and social platforms often reward outrage more than understanding. The louder the conflict becomes, the harder it is to remember that most of us are still trying to build meaningful lives, care for our families, and find our place in a complicated world.

But underneath all of it, most people still want many of the same basic things. We want our children to be okay. We want meaning, opportunity, safety, connection, and hope for the future. We want to feel respected. We want to know we matter.

That common ground still exists, even when we forget to look for it.

My wife and I have not always agreed over fifty years of marriage. My children and I have certainly seen things differently at times. In business, I’ve sat across from partners, brokers, tenants, and investors with completely different opinions about what should happen next.

Building Things That Last

But lasting things are rarely built by people who agree on everything.

They are built by people willing to stay at the table long enough to keep listening, adjusting, and working toward something larger than themselves.

That takes maturity. It takes humility. And it takes emotional discipline, especially during moments when emotions are strongest.

I’ve also learned that certainty itself is not the problem. Certainty gave me the courage to walk into a real estate office years ago believing I could become successful long before I knew how. Conviction and belief are often what move people forward in life.

But certainty becomes dangerous when it leaves no room for listening or growth.

The moment we believe we fully understand another person, growth usually stops. Relationships begin to harden. Conversations become performances instead of opportunities to learn something new.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can say is: “Help me understand how you see it.”

Not because we will always agree. But because understanding preserves connection, and connection is what allows people to continue building together.

Strong families are built that way. Strong friendships are built that way. Strong businesses and communities are built that way too. Not through constant agreement, but through a shared commitment to something bigger than individual pride.

Maybe that is one of the most important reminders life keeps teaching us. Not every disagreement needs to become division.

Sometimes growth happens when people stay in the conversation long enough to rediscover what they were trying to protect together all along.

And maybe, now more than ever, that matters.

Jack Gindi is a mentor, writer, and family coach. He helps people tackle life’s challenges with his Believe Become Be You platform. Drawing from 50 years of entrepreneurship and personal growth, he guides individuals and families in building strong, resilient lives. Reach him at papajack@believebecomebeyou.com.

The tribes of Reuven and Gad made a deal with Moshe Rabbenu.

This happened after Beneh Yisrael benignly asked the Emorite king for passage rights through his territory, and the king responded by launching an unprovoked and ill-advised attack.  Beneh Yisrael not only successfully fended off the offensive, but also vanquished the enemy, seizing their territory.  This region seemed like nothing more than a passageway along the nation’s route to their homeland – the Land of Israel – but Reuven and Gad had other plans.  Seeing how this vast, verdant territory was perfectly suited for their large herds of cattle, they approached Moshe and asked to be given this land as their permanent home, rather than join the other tribes in settling Eretz Yisrael across the Jordan River.

Reuven and Gad promised that they would not abandon their brethren during the war to capture Eretz Yisrael.  As we read this month in Parashat Matot – and as Moshe then recounts in Parashat Devarim – the men pledged to join the other tribes in war.  Moreover, they would be the “Halusim” – the ones standing in the front lines during battle.

While this promise was made by both Reuven and Gad, Rashi indicates to us that it was mainly the men of Gad that served as the “Halusim” standing in the front lines.  Both in Parashat Matot and in Parashat Devarim, Rashi comments that the tribe of Gad excelled in warfare, as we know from Moshe’s blessing to this tribe just before his death.  He says about the men of Gad (Devarim 33:20): “Vetaraf zeroa af kodkod” – that they “preyed” on their enemies’ “forearm” (“zeroa”) and “skull” (“kodkod”).  Rashi writes in Parashat Devarim: “They would go before Israel to war, because they were mighty and their enemies fell in front of them, as it says: Vetaraf zeroa af kodkod.”  The reason why they led the nation in war was their unique military prowess which Moshe described in his blessing.

Let us, then, take a moment to look at this quality, and see what practical lesson this might have for us as we wage our own battles in today’s world.

The Arm & the Head

Rashi, commenting to Moshe’s blessing to the tribe of Gad, explains the meaning of this description – of Gad’s warriors “preying” on the arms and heads of their foes.  He writes: “Their fallen were readily identifiable: They would sever the head and the arm with a single blow.”

Gad’s men had an unusual manner of eliminating the enemy troops, using their swords to sever the enemy’s head and arm together.

We must wonder about the significance of this practice.  It seems reasonable to assume that this was not done for some display of “machoism,” to show off their might and skill.  Why was it important for the men to Gad to kill their enemies specifically in this fashion?

The answer emerges from a comment of the Midrash (cited by Rabbenu Bahya ben Asher, in his commentary to Parashat Matot), associating Moshe’s description of the warriors of Gad with the mitzvah of tefillin.  The Midrash teaches that Gad succeeded in removing the enemies’ arms in the merit of the tefillin shel yad – the tefillin worn on the arm – and in decapitating the enemies in the merit of the tefillin shel rosh – the tefillin worn on the head.

The unique connection between the tribe of Gad and the mitzvah of tefillin is expressed even in the name “Gad.”  The Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rav Menachem Mendel Schneerson, 1902-1994) noted that this name is comprised of two letters – Gimal and Dalet – which in gematria equal 3 and 4, respectively.  The tefllin shel rosh features the letter shin and both sides – once with three branches, and the other time with four branches.  The name “Gad,” then, is associated with the tefillin.

If, indeed, Gad’s military prowess is linked to their observance of the mitzvah of tefillin, then we can understand the significance of this tribe’s unique manner of eliminating enemy soldiers, as Rashi describes.  The Gaon of Vilna (1720-1797) draws our attention to the Gemara’s teaching in Masechet Menahot (36a) that speaking after placing the tefillin shel yad, before placing the tefillin shel rosh, constitutes a serious infraction.  And if even an otherwise scrupulous individual is guilty of this infraction, he is deemed unworthy of participating in the nation’s wars.  This, the Vilna Gaon explains, is the meaning of Rashi’s description of the warriors of Gad.  They were especially vigilant in the observance of this halachah – avoiding any interruption between the tefillin shel yad and tefillin shel rosh – and so they were rewarded with the strength to eliminate their enemies by severing their head and arms together, without any interruption.

Sins of the Mind & Sins of the Heart

The next step is to try to understand the deeper meaning of this quality.  While we of course recognize the importance of observing every halachah, down to the finest details, we must nevertheless ask what makes this particular halachah so critically important, especially in reference to the tribe of Gad and the battles they fought.  Why, of all the many halachot that we are required to observe, was it the uninterrupted placement of the tefillin shel rosh and tefillin shel yad that made Gad worthy of special military skill?

The answer to this question lies in the sequence of the events told in Parashat Matot. 

The story of Reuven and Gad’s request to permanently settle the region east of the Jordan River is preceded by the account of the war Beneh Yisrael waged against the nation of Midyan.  This war was fought to avenge that nation’s role in the insidious plot devised by Bilam, the wicked gentile prophet.  After failing to place a curse on Beneh Yisrael, Bilam proposed an innovative way to defeat Beneh Yisrael – by luring them to sin.  The nations of Moav and Minyan sent their women to entice the men of Beneh Yisrael to immorality and idol-worship.  The plan – tragically – worked, though not entirely.  The men indeed became involved with the women of Moav and Midyan, and participated in the worship of their pagan deities.  Gd unleased a devastating plague, killing 24,000 violators – and the plague would have annihilated Beneh Yisrael if not for the heroic act of Pinhas, who killed two public offenders, being an abrupt end to the plague.  Gd then commanded the people to wage a war of revenge against Midyan.

What might be the connection between this story – Beneh Yisrael’s sin with the nations of Moav and Midyan – and Reuven and Gad’s request to permanently settle in the region east of the Jordan River?  Why are these stories juxtaposed in the Torah?

The answer might be that Gad embodied the tikkun – rectification – of the two sins that the people had committed.  The tefillin shel yad, situated near the heart, the seat of desire and temptation, represents the struggle to restrain one’s sinful impulses and drives.  The tefillin shel rosh, sitting on top of the head, signifies our intellectual obligations, the requirement to have the correct ideas and beliefs. 

Gad’s ability to sever the head with the arm symbolized their combined devotion to both areas – to exercising self-restraint, and to fervently upholding authentic Jewish beliefs.  They were committed equally to both, without compromising either, and without ever favoring one over the other.  They adhered to the messages of both the tefillin shel yad – resisting temptation and controlling sinful impulses – and the tefillin shel rosh – believing in Hashem and in the eternal relevance of His Torah.

The war against Midyan represents the war to preserve these two elements.  In response to Midyan’s successful efforts to lure them to immorality and idolatry, Beneh Yisrael went out to battle against wanton indulgence in forbidden pleasures, and against false ideologies.  Appropriately, this story is followed by the account of how the tribe of Gad, who excelled in these two areas, was appointed to lead the charge as Beneh Yisrael continued this struggle in the next stage of their history, in the Land of Israel.

This battle continues to this very day – and perhaps even more so.  If we look at the formidable challenges facing the Jewish religion in our time, we will see that it is precisely these two aspects: self-restraint, and ideology.  Modern society shuns restraint, championing instead unlimited indulgence.  And, modern man ridicules religious belief, dismissing the notion of a Gd who imposes restrictions and demands accountability as primitive superstition.  In our day – no less than at the time of Beneh Yisrael’s war against Midyan – both the “tefillin shel yad” and the “tefillin shel rosh” are under assault.  We face a Herculean struggle to maintain our commitment to self-discipline, to exercising moderation and restraint in the pursuit of physical pleasure, and to maintain our belief in a Creator who revealed Himself to our ancestors and gave us the Torah.  The fight against Midyan is one which we are bidden to fight even today, thousands of years later.

We must follow the example of Gad, who demonstrated their commitment to both the tefillin shel yad and tefillin shel rosh, who valiantly set out to preserve the value of self-restraint, and of the integrity of Jewish faith.  May Hashem grant us the strength, determination and skill that we need to successfully wage this battle, to remain steadfastly and uncompromisingly committed to both Torah beliefs and Torah observance.