Blogs | Community Magazine

Sailing Relationships with R’ Ali

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November 2024

QUESTION:

Dear Rabbi Ali,

I have been struggling with something in my marriage for about a year and it’s only getting worse. My husband has stopped going to minyan in the morning almost completely. He doesn’t go to classes anymore and seems to be falling spiritually in general. I am concerned for him and the family. Our kids see this and I’m worried that they will be lax spiritually as well. I have told him how I feel multiple times, but it turns into a fight every time. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

R’ ALI’S RESPONSE:

There are many points that need clarity. I see many people struggling with this and see many cases that are similar to yours. There’s the point of being a good wife, which does entail caring about your husband and being concerned for his physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. There’s another point of how to approach the situation. And the third point is how your children are being affected, which is not simple at all.

Let’s start with the first point of being concerned for your spouse’s well-being. The feeling that you have, which is that your husband is not holding spiritually where he used to, is the feeling of a good spouse. To say, “Let him do his job and I’ll do mine,” is not really the approach for a spouse. There is a well-known saying that people often say to women when they are getting married, “You are not your husband’s mashgiah (rabbi, mentor, etc…). We will soon explain what this means. However it does not mean that you are not to be concerned about your husband’s spiritual level, similar to his physical and emotional status. Of course, we all agree that “you are not your husband’s doctor.” However, a good wife will instinctively be concerned if her husband’s cholesterol is too high. This is  included in being a “helpmate” for your husband. 

The second point is where things get tricky. The goal is to help your husband, not to hurt him or create a new problem, namely a lack of shalom bayit. You have to realize that this is definitely a sore topic and needs to be dealt with delicately. I would advise against telling him that he’s falling spiritually or hurting the family. This will not be received well, as you have stated. Actually, this is not exclusive to spirituality. To demand, command, or give any rebuke to a spouse, could be degrading and is the source of many shalom bayit issues. This is where the famous saying of “you are not your husband’s mashgiah” comes into play. It is not advisable to tell him where he is failing. Leave that to the rabbi or to anyone else who has an influence on him.

Practically speaking, what can be done? I suggest a three-step process. Number one, show concern. Instead of saying, “Why can’t you wake up?” you can ask if everything is okay, and say that you’re concerned, is there anything that you can do to help? If he says that he’s fine, then drop it. The next step would be to give positive praise and reinforcement when he does go to minyan. Wait for that moment. that I do believe will happen, and let him know how beautiful it is to see him go to minyan. It may sound childish, but this is the way we operate in business as well. Any good boss knows that positivity works wonders and negativity is a failing system.

The third step could be used as a last resort or in conjunction with the first two. Speak to someone who you know that your husband respects and listens to, preferably a rabbi. To get a phone call from a rabbi saying that he’s missed in shul and that things are not the same without him will make almost anyone feel like a million dollars.

The third point that you bring up about your kids is a real concern. However, there is so much that you can do on your end. You can read the young ones bedtime stories about big tzadikim, depending on their age. For the older ones, you can give them positive praise when you see them do mitzvot such as going to minyan or making berachot. The more you praise them, the more you will make them excited about the mitzvot that they do. There is a lot to talk about, but I do believe these are the basics.

Once Upon A Thyme – Red Schug

Community Magazine

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November 2024

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Adina Yaakov, RD CDN

If you love heat, then this recipe is for you. With only six ingredients, Red Schug takes less than ten minutes to prepare. Hot chili peppers paired with sweet sun-dried tomatoes blend seamlessly together to create the ultimate spicy condiment, perfect with challah, burgers, and much more.

Ingredients:

5-6 cloves garlic
8 red chili peppers with seeds intact, stems removed
1 cup sun dried tomatoes
1 tsp salt
¼ cup lemon juice
½ cup olive oil

Directions:

In the bowl of a food processor or blender, add all ingredients and blend to a smooth paste.
Store in an airtight container until ready to use.
Store in the refrigerator and use within 5-6 days.

One on One with Sabrina Benun

Community Magazine

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November 2024

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Ellen Geller Kamaras

“My greatest passion is the Food Connection. It’s tiring but immensely rewarding to cook Shabbat meals for the elderly and for people and their families who are in the hospital for surgery or are undergoing treatment. I hold it near and dear to me.” - Sabrina

Please meet Sabrina Benun. She is the Operations Director for M. Hidary & Company, a wholesale clothing company that specializes in the design, manufacturing, and distribution of wearing apparel.  Its focus is on active lifestyle clothing, such as athletic wear, swimwear, and outerwear for the entire family.

A true woman of valor, Sabrina is the co-founder of Food Connection, which prepares hundreds of Shabbat meals weekly.  She and her friend Remy Zeitoune started the Food Connection at the beginning of the pandemic, in March 2020, when the SBH Food Pantry was about to close. Three years later, the Food Connection reached a milestone of over 50,000 meals prepared by its volunteers for the SBH pantry.  This translates to 50,000 times that a family or individual received a homemade meal prepared with love and care by our community members.

Sabrina wears two more hats! She caters Shabbat meals and also owns a dehydrated fruit business called “Whole Fruits.”

Let’s go back to Sabrina’s childhood and follow her trajectory in becoming the talented and resourceful woman she is today.

Beginnings

Born to Mona and Jack Benun, Sabrina grew up on the Jersey Shore and was a student at Hillel Yeshiva for elementary and high school.  Jack is of Syrian descent and was born in the U.S.  Mona was born in Egypt.  Sabrina is the second of four daughters, Rebecca, Sabrina, Vanessa, and Jasmine. The sisters are still very close and were fortunate to have traveled with their maternal grandmother to Egypt to learn about their roots. 

Sabrina’s dad modeled a strong work ethic, and her mother was very creative and opened her home to guests and family. The Benun girls saw many parties in their childhood home and helped their mother shop, decorate tables, and more. Sabrina always enjoyed cooking.  

As a child, Sabrina was very shy, quiet, and serious. She was an honor student.  “Learning came easy to me and my favorite subjects were science and chemistry.”  Sabrina also liked to paint and play softball.

After high school, Sabrina enrolled at Monmouth University. She was an avid student and took a broad range of subjects including public relations and journalism.  She graduated with honors with a major in communications.

What is Sabrina’s essence?  Her family describes Sabrina as caring, giving, outgoing, smart, savvy, and she possesses a heart of gold.  I would add extremely resourceful, energetic, inventive, creative, and driven.  Sabrina’s devotion to community is boundless.

Career and Hesed

After college, while building her career and community, Sabrina evolved from a shy student to an outgoing, strong woman.

Fresh out of Monmouth U., Sabrina moved to Manhattan and started an e-commerce business in 1999, buying trendy closeout items and selling them on eBay.  Sabrina learned about eBay from a classmate in her public speaking class.  He said that eBay is like an “online garage sale.” This analogy fascinated Sabrina and sparked her interest. 

“I liked fashion and I was one of the first sellers on eBay. My specialty was women’s high-end clothing and accessories.  I thrived on keeping up with the next trend, the next hot item.”  Her younger sister, Vanessa, joined Sabrina when she graduated college.

The eBay market started collapsing in 2007 and completely crashed with the 2008 market and financial collapse.  

In 2008, Sabrina secured a full-time position in logistics for a clothing and accessories company and continues to work in this industry.  She began her role as Operations Director at M. Hidary this past May.  “Logistics and Operations come naturally to me – it makes sense to me and I am very organized at work.  I enjoy the people and every day my job presents me with new challenges.”   

The Pandemic

Sabrina worked for a wholesale company whose customer base was supermarkets. She was therefore considered an essential worker and continued to go into the office even after Covid struck.

Food Connection

The Food Connection was born when Sabrina’s friend Remy saw an SBH flyer asking for volunteers to cook Shabbat meals in March 2020, right when Covid hit.  The SBH Food Pantry was shutting down due to a food shortage.  Remy said, “Let’s volunteer.”  They made 60 meals! After posting on social media, volunteers began to cook the meals at their homes, maintaining strict standards of kashrut.  They even freeze some meals for last minute requests.  An SBH chat was created to ensure all requests are met.

Sabrina organizes events where young people participate and cook meals together.  Approximately 300 Shabbat meals were cooked.

Approximately 250 to 400 Shabbat meals are now cooked by 15 to 20 Manhattan volunteers, largely for the elderly and families in need, served by SBH Brooklyn.

Shabbat meals are also prepared and delivered to community members and their families in hospitals and sometimes to where the Morris Franco Community Cancer Center directs them. 

There is a large Sephardic/Syrian community in Manhattan.  Sabrina prays at the Safra Synagogue and loves the community saying,  “Wherever we are, we stay connected.”

Whole Fruits

Eleven years ago Sabrina launched her dehydrated fruit business, Whole Fruits, on Instagram.  She saw a dehydrated fruit platter on Pinterest and asked a friend, “If I sold this, would you buy it?”  The rest is history! Sabrina dehydrates the fruit herself.  Dehydrated fruit is healthier than dried fruit as there is no added sugar. Dehydrated fruits are a good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals.  They are made by baking fresh fruit in the oven at a low temperature.  

Sabrina sells platters for the holidays that are available on koshervalet.com, under the strict supervision of Rabbi Navarro. She also accepts orders throughout the year, via text or private message on Instagram. Her platters are available at Ouri’s Market in Manhattan and in Deal Foods in the summer. Follow her on Instagram @whole_fruit.

Balance 

Sabrina continually strives for work-life balance.  Her chief challenge is managing her time.

She works out and enjoys meeting friends for dinner. Sabrina has a personal trainer for boxing, which really releases her stress.  She travels as much as she can. Most recently she joined a safari at the Kruger National Park in South Africa. She recommends visiting countries abroad, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana.

What’s Next

Did I mention that Sabrina also loves cooking and hosting meals?  

“I like to try new recipes and putting my own twist on Sephardic dishes.”

Sabrina caters Shabbat meals for community individuals and families. She has also cooked for working moms.  Opening her own full-time catering business is definitely on her wish list.

Sabrina encourages young people “to put it out there if they find something they like.  I never knew I would make and sell dehydrated fruit platters eleven years ago until I tried it.”

To join Sabrina’s team of volunteers or to speak with her, feel free to connect with her by email Sbenun77@gmail.com, text 732-233-5689, or Instagram@sabrinajb. 

Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach. Her coaching specialties include life, career, and dating coaching.  Ellen is active in her community and is currently the acting President of Congregation Bnai Avraham in Brooklyn Heights. She can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com (www.lifecoachellen.com).

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

Community Magazine

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November 2024

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

Adult Supervision Required

Utensils Needed:

Can opener
Strainer
Medium Mixing Bowl
Fork
Measuring cups & spoons
Electric mixer
Baking sheet
Oven mitts

Ingredients:

1 can (15.75-ounce) sweet potatoes
1 cup soymilk
¾ cup dark brown sugar
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 ready-to-bake pie crust (9-inch)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Open the can of sweet potatoes and pour into a strainer over the sink to drain out all of the liquid.
Place the sweet potatoes into a medium mixing bowl. Mash them with the back of a fork.
Add the soymilk, brown sugar, flour, eggs, cinnamon, and salt.
With an electric mixer at medium speed, mix all the ingredients until the mixture becomes a smooth batter.
Place the pie crust on a baking sheet. Pour the batter into the pie crust.
Transfer the baking sheet into the hot oven and bake the pie for 10 minutes.
Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for an additional 40 minutes.
Use the oven mitts to carefully remove baking sheet with the sweet potato pie from the oven.

Serves 12!

Not a Potato Nor a Yam

Despite their name, sweet potatoes are not related to regular potatoes. A sweet potato is a root, while potatoes are tubers. The sweet potato is also often called a yam. Again, the two are unrelated. True yams are starchy, underground tubers.

Community Highlights – Senator Felder Fights Back: Are Sanitation Tickets Targeting Shabbat Observers?

Community Magazine

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November 2024

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Community Highlights – Senator Felder Fights Back: Are Sanitation Tickets Targeting Shabbat Observers?

Senator Simcha Felder has issued a formal letter to the New York City Chief of Enforcement at the Department of Sanitation (DSNY) in response to growing concerns from constituents regarding sanitation violation tickets issued to Shabbat-observant residents. Many in the district and throughout New York City have reported receiving fines for placing their trash at the curb before sunset on Fridays, a religious requirement that conflicts with new sanitation rules.

In New York City, residents and businesses can be fined for setting out trash at the wrong time or in the wrong way. Trash has to be set out after 6pm in a bin with a secure lid, or after 8pm, if putting bags directly on the curb. The Jewish Sabbath begins 18 minutes before sunset on Friday, and as we enter the Fall-Winter seasons sunset comes earlier each week. Shabbat observers with Saturday collection will need to set their trash at the curb in advance, which will be earlier than DSNY’s Trash Setout Times.

Senator Felder’s request is clear. He is urging DSNY to cease the enforcement of sanitation violation tickets for trash setout times on Fridays in neighborhoods where trash collection occurs on Saturdays. By doing so, he aims to protect the rights of New Yorkers to practice their faith without fear of punitive measures.

In his letter, Senator Felder emphasized that the enforcement of sanitation rules must respect the religious practices of all New Yorkers. “For many New Yorkers, placing trash out for collection before sunset on Fridays is not a mere convenience, but a vital aspect of their religious observance, and the City knows this. It was made very clear to the administration during the public comment period before the rule change,” said Felder.

“I know this city never met a ticket it didn’t like, but issuing fines under these circumstances demonstrates a real lack of understanding toward Shabbat observant communities. I am urging the DSNY to work collaboratively with community leaders to find a solution that accommodates religious observances while maintaining public sanitation standards.”

Met Council Distributes Nearly $5m in Food During High Holiday Season

Last month, the Met Council provided $4,781,000 of food to 181,000 Jewish families in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Packages included fresh produce, canned fruits and vegetables, pasta, rice, flour, soup mix, tuna, cholent mix, chickpeas, tea biscuits, honey, apples, grape juice, challah, chicken, fish, and dairy items.

In addition, the organization distributed over 430,000 eggs.

“In the past year alone, egg prices have surged by to over 250 percent, a stark increase for a staple item compared to last Rosh Hashanah,” said David Greenfield, CEO of Met Council. “Everything is more expensive.”

Greenfield noted that the increase in food prices “means more families are facing food insecurity on a regular basis and are forced to choose between nutritional food or paying for basic living expenses. Our mission is clear: to ensure that families can celebrate this yom tov season with dignity, coming together to enjoy the holidays, and start the new year on a positive note.”

Magen David Yeshivah Congratulates 2025 Commended Students

Magen David Yeshivah High School congratulated seniors Philip Sherr and Marc Sutton for being named Commended Students in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation was presented to Sherr and Sutton by Dr. Daniel Vitow, representing both Magen David Yeshivah High School and the National Merit Scholarship Corporations, which conducts the program. Approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise, placing Marc Sutton and Phil Sherr among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2025 competition by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Qualifying Test.

Living Emunah If Only…

Community Magazine

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November 2024

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Rabbi David Ashear

A sentence appears towards the end of the Shaar HaBitachon section of Chovot HaLevavot, which if we internalize and follow its message, could spare us a great deal of heartache and angst. It states, “The one who trusts [in Hashem] says: I never decided to do something and then wished I had done something else.”

When it comes to mundane matters, everything is under Hashem’s complete control. If a person purchases a car, and the next day he hears of a better deal on a nicer car, he might say to himself, I should never have bought this car. What a mistake! I hate this car. I could’ve done so much better! But one who trusts in Hashem, recognizes that Hashem did not grant him access the previous day to the information he now has about the other car, and so the vehicle he purchased is the one Hashem decided he should have, for his benefit. He is therefore perfectly content and happy with his purchase.

Likewise, if a person bought a house and soon after learned about a larger house in the same neighborhood with more sunlight and a driveway, which was selling for the same price, will not regret his purchase if he lives with genuine bitachon. He will realize that Hashem did not allow him to know about this larger house because, in His infinite wisdom, He knew it was best for this person to live in the house he purchased.

This is even true about marriage. If soon after his wedding a man has second thoughts and begins asking himself why he married this woman, wondering if perhaps he made a mistake, he must recognize that these thoughts are instruments of the yetzer hara, evil inclination, which is trying to ruin his life. When he got engaged and married, he was thinking very clearly and it made perfect sense to him. Hashem guided him to that girl and made sure everything would work out so they would get married. He should not regret it now, after the fact, once he is married.

Of course, in situations where something can still be done to improve a person’s condition, he must make an effort to do so. But once the situation is finalized and nothing can be done to change it, he should feel confident and happy knowing that Hashem guided him to make the decision that ultimately works out to his greatest benefit.

Two years ago, a man by the name of Moe* told me the following story:

Every year, he would spend the summer with his family at a camp in upstate New York where he held a certain position, in exchange for which he received room and board for his family and free camp for his children.

During the winter of that year, Moe was not well and decided to take some time off to relax and recuperate. He phoned the camp’s owner and informed him that he would not be joining them that summer.

Toward the end of the school year, though, he felt much stronger and decided he would be able to assume his regular position. Moreover, his family was very disappointed at the prospect of not spending the summer in camp.

Moe called the camp, but the owner informed him that someone else had already accepted his position for that summer. He endured a great deal of heartache and frustration over the decision he had made. “What was I thinking?” he asked himself repeatedly. “Why did I give this up?”

He needed to internalize the words of the Chovot HaLevavot – One who trusts in Hashem never regrets a decision he made. During the winter, he felt he would be unable to handle the summer job. Hashem knew the future, and He certainly knew that Moe would feel better by the summer. Yet, He did not put the thought in Moe’s mind that he might feel stronger in a couple of months, and that his family would be very disappointed if they did not spend summer in camp. Hashem knew what was best for him, and so he was led to make this decision.

At this point, when there was nothing more he could do, Moe should have acknowledged that Hashem’s will was for his family not to spend the summer in camp, and make the most of this situation.

Hashem is in full control of our lives. He arranges the situations that He knows will be best for us. We need to trust Him and feel perfectly at ease knowing that He is directing us, He knows our thoughts and feelings, He knows the future, and He always puts us exactly where we need to be.

* Name has been changed.

Riddles – October 2024

Community Magazine

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October 2024

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RIDDLE: Birthday Budget

Submitted by: Andrea S.

You’re planning to spend your birthday money taking some friends to the zoo. Is it cheaper to take 1 friend to the zoo twice, or 2 friends to the zoo at the same time – or is it the same either way?

Last Month’s Riddle: Neighborly Dilemma

There are four houses in a row. The Wallaces live next to the Clarks but not next to the Randalls. If the Randalls do not live next to the Lodens, who are the Lodens’ immediate neighbors?

Solution: The Wallaces!

Solved By: Claire Shamah, Eli Sabbagh, The Blum Family, Bella A., Meir Saieda, Haim S., Stuart Shamah, and The Shmulster.

Junior Riddle: Shopping Spree

Submitted by: Eli P.

Alan bought a pair of shoes and a tie, which cost a total of $150. The shoes cost $100 more than the tie. How much was each item?

Last Month’s Junior Riddle: The Double Letter Challenge

What English word has three consecutive double letters?

Solution: Bookkeeper

Solved By: Big Mike, H. Soleimani, Family Blum, Bella A., Carl Anteby, and Florence B.

The Lighter Side – October 2024

Community Magazine

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October 2024

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Good Report

Sammy was having trouble in school. That’s why his father was so pleased when Sammy came home and
reported that he got a 100 on his report card.

“That’s fantastic Sammy!” his father exclaimed. “What course did you get it in?”

“Well,” said Sammy, “I got a 20 in math, a 30 in science, and a 50 in spelling!”

Stephen B.

Chelm’s First Medical Student

Chaim Yankel from Chelm passed his exams and is awarded a place in medical school. And because he’s
the first student from his town to do so well, all his family, friends, and neighbors were very proud of him.

Six months into his training, he’s with some other medical students doing the rounds at the Chelm
Hospital with a qualified doctor. Stopping next to the records of one of the patients, the doctor takes out the patient’s X-rays and says to the group, “As you can deduce from these X-rays, this patient limps badly because both his tibias and fibulas are radically arched. So let me ask you, Chaim Yankel, what would you do in a case like this?”

After thinking for a short while, Chaim Yankel replies, “I suppose I’d limp too, doctor.”

Harry G.

Piece of Cake

Hymie was a happy fellow, but unfortunately, he was very overweight. Concerned for his well-being, his co-workers forced him to go on a diet.

For three weeks, Hymie resisted temptation, even changing his route to work to avoid his favorite bakery
– Isaac’s Bakery.

But then, one day, to the horror of his workmates, Hymie turned up at the office clutching a massive chocolate cake.

When his colleagues berated him, Hymie was quick to offer an explanation.

“I accidentally drove by Isaac’s Bakery this morning and there were so many tasty treats in the window. I thought it was basherte, that I was supposed to eat something, so I prayed to Hashem, saying, “If you want me to have one of those delicious chocolate cakes, show me a sign – let there be a parking space directly in front of the bakery. And sure enough, the eighth time around the block, there it was!”

Joey K.

Second Opinion

Something was wrong with Miriam Hymelfarb. She just wasn’t herself lately so her husband Moishe
decided she should go to the doctor. After a long appointment Miriam came out.

“Moishe, the doctor has advised me that I’m stressed and that I should take a one-month vacation to some
place tranquil like the Caribbean or the South of France. Where shall we go?”

Moishe thought about it for a second and said, “To another doctor!”

Sarah T.

Strawberry Fields

Bernstein, retired, is resting peacefully on the porch of his small hotel on the outskirts of Miami, when he sees a cloud of dust up the road. He walks out to see who could be approaching. It is a southern farmer with a wagon.

“Good afternoon,” says Bernstein.

“Afternoon,” says the farmer.

“Where you headed?” asks Bernstein.

“My farm.”

“What do you have in the wagon?”

“Manure.”

“Manure, eh? What do you do with it?”

“I spread it over my strawberry fields.”

“Well,” says Bernstein, “you should really come over here for lunch one day. Mrs. Bernstein serves sour cream with our strawberries!”

Rachel W.

Run for Your Life

Victor decided that it was time to get in shape, so he took up jogging and signed up for the New York City Marathon. Problem was, he wasn’t that strong a runner. As soon as the race started he was almost
immediately in last place.

To make matters worse, the guy who was in front of Victor, second to last, started making fun of him. He said, “Hey buddy, how does it feel to be last?”

Victor replied, “You really want to know?”

Then Victor dropped out of the race.

Molly P.

Pay Up

Morris had a very unpleasant appointment scheduled with an IRS auditor who had come to review his
records. At one point the auditor turned to Morris and exclaimed, “We feel that it is a great privilege to be allowed to live and work in the USA. As a citizen you have an obligation to pay taxes, and we expect you to eagerly pay them with a smile.”

“Wow, thank Gd,” said Morris with a sigh of relief. “I thought you were going to want cash.”

Eddie D.

Two Left Feet

Zadie Stern was coming over to take his grandson Maxie to the park.

“Okay Maxie, we’re going to the park!” said Zadie. “Go get your shoes on!”

Being only four years old, Maxie said, “Okay, but will you tie them for me?”

“Sure,” Zadie replied with a big smile.

Maxie bolted into the next room to put on his shoes, returning with a big smile and the shoes on the wrong feet.

Looking at his shoes, Zadie smiled and said, “Maxie, your shoes are on the wrong feet!”

Maxie looked down, then looked back at Zadie with a very sad face and replied, “These are the only feet I have.”

Cookie M.

Letting Go

A man named Jack was walking along a steep cliff one day, when he accidentally got too close to the edge and fell. On the way down he grabbed a branch, which temporarily stopped his fall. He looked down and to his horror saw that the canyon fell straight down for more than a thousand feet.

He couldn’t hang onto the branch forever, and there was no way for him to climb up the steep wall of the cliff. So Jack began yelling for help, hoping that someone passing by would hear him and lower a rope or something.

“HELP! HELP! Is anyone up there? HELP!”

He yelled for a long time, but no one heard him. He was about to give up when he heard a voice. “Jack, Jack. Can you hear me?”

“Yes, yes! I can hear you. I’m down here!”

“I can see you, Jack. Are you all right?”

“Yes, but who are you, and where are you?”

“I am the Lord, Jack. I’m everywhere.”

“The Lord? You mean, Gd?”

“That’s Me.”

“Gd, please help me! I promise if, you’ll get me down from here, I’ll stop sinning. I’ll be a really good person. I’ll serve You for the rest of my life.”

“Easy on the promises, Jack. Let’s get you off from there; then we can talk.”

“Now, here’s what I want you to do. Listen carefully.”

“I’ll do anything. Just tell me what to do.”

“Okay. Let go of the branch.”

“What?”

“I said, let go of the branch. Just trust Me. Let go.”

There was a long silence.

Finally Jack yelled, “HELP! HELP! IS ANYONE ELSE UP THERE?”

Sharon Z.

The Case – To Catch a Thief

Community Magazine

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October 2024

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Vicky was pushing her child in a stroller while window shopping in Boro Park. She went into a lady’s apparel store, and upon entering she was asked to deposit the stroller and her packages at the far end of the store, to allow free passage for other shoppers. At first Vicky resisted, as her stroller and packages were not obstructing the large passageway, but eventually she complied with store policy and took her child out of the stroller. After selecting several garments, she proceeded to the fitting room to try on her selections. Upon exiting the fitting room, she glimpsed at the far end of the store to check on her stroller and packages, and noticed they were missing. Alarmed, she ran outside the store to catch the thief, but she was unsuccessful. She then attempted to collect her loss from the store owner, claiming that he had assumed responsibility for her belongings, since she deposited it in the corner of his store at his behest. The store owner sympathized with Vicky’s predicament but was unwilling to bear responsibility for the loss. The two presented their dispute to Bet Din to rule on the matter.

How should the Bet Din rule – in favor of Vicky or the store owner?

Torah Law

According to the ruling of the Shulhan Aruch, a person is not liable for the loss of, or damage to, somebody else’s item unless he clearly implies his willingness to guard it. Hence, even if one asks somebody to watch his item, if the latter responds to the request by obscurely saying, “Put it down,” the respondent bears no responsibility. Since this type of response can be interpreted to mean, “Put it down and watch it yourself,” he never assumed accountability. Even though he might appear as participating in the transaction, he did not indicate his readiness to assume responsibility and is thus not responsible for the item.

This ruling applies in instances in which one leaves an item in a public domain, mistakenly relying on another party – who did not accept responsibility – to watch the item. However, according to many halachic authorities, if the transaction took place in the private home of the recipient, he is deemed responsible even if he did not specify his willingness to guard the item. Since he allowed the item into an area off limits to its owner, it is obvious that he assumed responsibility to safeguard it. Unlike in a public domain, unauthorized entry into a private home is considered trespassing, making it impossible for the item’s owner to enter. Hence, as the item’s owner has no legal ability to watch his possession, the responsibility automatically transfers to the owner of the property once he allows the item into his home.

Other halachic authorities, however, dispute this reasoning, absolving one from responsibility even if he allows somebody’s item into his home, unless he clearly implies his willingness to accept responsibility. Although his property is off limits to the item’s owner, he nevertheless did not verbally indicate readiness to assume responsibility. The fact that he approved the item’s entry into his home may hold him responsible only if his personal property or belongings cause damage to the item. He is not, however, responsible for loss, damage, or theft caused by external factors.

A store, although privately owned, falls under the category of a public domain during regular business hours. Therefore, a store owner is exempt from all liability unless he explicitly accepts responsibility for the item deposited. This applies even if the item’s owner left it unattended, and the store owner was present and available to protect it. A store owner is obviously busy tending to his store, and cannot be expected to divert his attention from his own responsibilities.

Endnotes: Baba Metzia 81b; Baba Kama 47b; Shulhan Aruch – Hoshen Mishpat 291:2, 3, Derishah 291:3, Shach 8, Netivot Hamishpat 8; Teshuvat HaRosh cited by Tur 291; Even Haezel – Nizke Mammon 3:15; Kesef Hakodashim 291:5.

VERDICT: Enter at Your Own Risk

The Bet Din ruled in favor of the store owner, exempting him from liability for the stolen stroller and packages. As discussed, a store is considered a public domain, since people are constantly entering and exiting the premises. Therefore, according to all halachic authorities, since the store owner did not explicitly assume responsibility for the stroller, he is not liable. Even though Vicky entered the dressing room, leaving behind her belongings with only the store owner available to protect them, nevertheless, the store owner is not liable. Operating a store is a fulltime responsibility, and a store owner cannot be expected to divert his attention from his duties to guard a customer’s personal belongings. Although he had prevented Vicky from entering with her stroller unless she placed it in the far corner of the store, he never assumed responsibility for her belongings, thereby making Vicky’s entry “at her own risk.”

In Loving Memory of Vera Bat Carol, A”H

YOU BE THE JUDGE

A Back-to-School Blunder

During the summer, Solomon borrowed $400 from his good friend and was unable to return the outstanding loan until after the summer. As a schoolteacher, Solomon received his first paycheck at the start of the back-to-school season. Anxious to return the loan, he handed the $400 cash he owed to a ten-year-old student and asked him to deliver it to the lender. Solomon was confident that the ten-year-old would safely deliver the cash to the lender, since the lender resided next door to the young boy’s home. But when the ten-year-old arrived home and told his mother of the cash he was carrying, she immediately confiscated the money and was appalled by Solomon’s reckless behavior. She then placed the money on top of the piano adjacent to the entrance of the home. A short while later, a delivery boy from a local grocer who was dropping off groceries entered the home, and evidently made off with the $400. The lady of the home notified Solomon of the unfortunate turn of events and chastised him for his reckless conduct. Solomon acknowledged that he acted unwisely, but claimed that had she not intervened, the money would have surely reached the next-door neighbor. Unwilling to compensate Solomon for the lost funds, and unable to find the delivery boy for collection, the matter was presented to Bet Din to resolve.

How should the Bet Din rule?

Is Solomon entitled to compensation or not, and why?

Joey Saban is One of Us

Community Magazine

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October 2024

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The Historic Opportunity to Elect Our Own on November 5th

On November 5, 2024, my grandparents – from both sides of my family – will vote for the first time.

Like so many of our community’s families, my grandparents were effectively kicked out of Syria. They immigrated as refugees to Israel where they rebuilt their lives before coming to the United States and settling in Brooklyn. I often reflect on the struggle and the difficulties that my grandparents faced – the pain of leaving the place they called home and the challenge of starting off new. It’s a familiar story in our community.

And as I run to become the first homegrown elect official, I reflect on my family’s journey now more than ever before. Because after all of the challenges and the hardships, after all they’ve seen and all they have been through, on November 5, 2024, they, like so many community members with similar experiences of faith and resilience, will cast their ballot and vote for the first time in their lives. For my grandparents, the 2024 election is the culmination of a story that began as a persecuted minority forced to leave their homes in Syria and Egypt. Their opportunity to now vote for the first time in their lives and cast their ballot for their own grandson to become our community’s first homegrown elected official is the epitome of the American dream.

So, why did I decide to run for office? Two years ago, my opponent got elected to this position and decided to write off our community.

For those who don’t know, my opponent is a socialist Bernie Sanders supporter who changed his party registration from a Socialist to a Republican because he believed it would win him the last election. In other words, he is a Socialist in Republican clothing. He successfully tricked the community into voting for him and in the last two years, our community has received less funding and resources from our “assemblyman” than any year in the past two decades.

The millions of dollars in funding that have been diverted from our community because our current elected official has written us off, is creating a ripple effect that has led to costs rising for every one of us, from security to education and beyond. The critical work that our community institutions do every day r to help our community thrive, depends in large part on funding from the government. I am running to bring that critical funding back to our district, to have a seat at the table and to fight for our community’s interests.

Issues that are so critical to our community currently being ignored in the Assembly:

Israel. After October 7th, the Jewish Community around the world, and especially in New York, was faced with a level of uncertainty that we haven’t seen in decades. At a critical time in Modern Jewish history, too many of our elected officials have failed us. We hear a lot of folks that say they support us — but actions speak louder than words. My opponent has done almost nothing to use his platform as an elected official to support Israel. And his support of Bernie Sanders in the past only shows a lack of solidarity with Israel in one of the most critical times in history.
Migrants. Last year we saw a situation where the city placed migrants in a local high school. This was a failure on the part of our local elected officials. We have to make sure that our elected officials are always one step ahead and take the steps necessary to protect our children. Schools should be used for our kids and our kids only. We cannot allow city and state government to re-allocate spaces intended for our children.
We need to protect Yeshiva education. We have seen attacks aimed at our yeshivas on every level and it is unacceptable. As a product of the yeshiva system and a graduate of the Yeshiva of Flatbush, this is an issue that I strongly believe in, and I will employ a multi-faceted strategy to help our local yeshivas and schools. I will forge a like-minded coalition of lawmakers and activists who I will work with to create real policy change in Albany. I will work to ensure that yeshivas are properly heard and provided for by City Hall. Finally, I will leverage my influence as an elected official to guarantee the Jewish community’s voice is being heard – especially on the subject of education.
Fighting back against hate crimes. There’s been an explosion of hate against our community in recent years, from masked individuals to swastikas appearing across the district. The Jewish people are under attack and we need one of our own to fight back. I will fight for legislation that protects Jews from rising Antisemitism. Within my district, across the State, and online, I will use my platform as an Assemblymember to speak out against Antisemitic acts and attacks against Israel. As Jews in my community and across the world see hate rise against them, I will do everything in my power to protect and defend them.

Lastly, this election underscores the importance of our community being educated on the candidates who are running to represent us. Just because someone has an R in front of their name, does not automatically mean that they share our values or that they are ready to fight for our interests – and we have seen proof of that with my opponent.

We, as a community, need to look at and vote for the candidate who will be able to deliver for us. The candidate who we know we can hold accountable. The candidate who understands our issues and our challenges because he shares them. The candidate who understands the burden of rising tuition costs because his kids are also in our schools, the candidate who understands the importance of making sure that our community’s institutions are well served because he has seen them serve the needs of the community first hand.

On November 5^th, the choice needs to be clear: We as a community need to make sure that Joey Cohen Saban is elected to the New York State Assembly.

PAID FOR BY SABAN FOR BROOKLYN