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

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris sparred at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Tuesday, September 10^th, during the presidential debate hosted by ABC. The debate covered multiple issues and was fraught with intense exchanges between the two candidates. 

Harris condemned the Oct. 7th attack by Hamas on Israel and added that, “Far too many innocent Palestinians have been killed” by Israel’s ongoing offensive. The sitting vice president reiterated support for a ceasefire in exchange for hostages and said that she sympathized with both sides affected by the fighting. 

Trump claimed that the war would not have happened under his watch.  He claimed, “She hates Israel. If she is president, I believe Israel will not exist within two years from now. I’ve been pretty good at predictions, but I hope I’m wrong on that one.” 

Harris argued, “I will always give Israel the ability to defend itself,” while expressing support for a two-state solution. 

Another issue discussed was abortion. The Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade this year and Trump said that it (the Court] gave autonomy to individual states to vote on the issue domestically. Harris, however, disagreed, and said that it could put women at risk in emergency cases.

Trump also lambasted the Biden-Harris border policy. “They allowed [in] criminals. Many, many millions of criminals. They allowed terrorists. They allowed common street criminals. They allowed people to come in, drug dealers, to come into our country, and they’re now in the United States.” Harris countered and accused Trump of blocking a border bill earlier this year that she believed would have alleviated the matter. 

Both candidates vehemently attacked each other without holding back punches while denying the other’s accusations. 

Trump and Harris are literally neck to neck in most opinion polls and many predict a very close race. 

Which Candidate Would Be Best for US-Israel Relations?

Dave Gordon

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, one question of special concern to Jewish voters is which candidate – Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump – would be better for U.S.-Israel relations. Both have expressed strong support for Israel and the Jewish people, yet each has faced scrutiny over the depth of their commitment.

At the heart of this complex issue lies a number of competing priorities: maintaining America’s strategic alliance with Israel, addressing the Iranian threat, combating rising anti-Semitism, and potentially brokering peace in the Middle East. As voters weigh their options, they must consider not just the candidates’ rhetoric, but their track records and likely policy approaches.

Harris’s Record

Harris has voiced support for Israel’s right to self-defense, while equating it to concern for Palestinian civilians. She attracted criticism, however, when she snubbed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he spoke before Congress and sent a low-level politician to sit in her seat. During her first presidential bid, she did not attend the pro-Israel AIPAC convention, when nearly all the other candidates came to greet attendees. During that bid for the highest office, Harris received the endorsement from J Street, a notoriously anti-Israel group.

Biden, at one point, paused shipments of large munitions to Israel, but reversed course in September, sending armaments to fight Hamas, leaving some guessing if Harris would also flip-flop on this issue as president.

In addition, on Biden-Harris’ watch, on March 25, 2024, the United States abstained from voting on United Nations Security Council Resolution 2728, which called for a temporary ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan. This abstention allowed the resolution to pass, breaking with the previous U.S. policy of vetoing similar resolutions. The resolution did not condemn Hamas or explicitly condition the ceasefire on hostage release. 

Trump’s Record

Trump, on the other hand, touts his pro-Israel achievements, which include moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, standing up for Israel in the UN, recognizing Israel’s claim to the Golan, visiting Israel in his first 100 days as president, and brokering the Abraham Accords. 

Regarding Iran, both candidates have talked tough. Harris has backed the Biden administration’s efforts to counter Iranian aggression. While critics maintain that Biden began his presidency softening his stand on the Islamic Republic, originally intending to reboot the Obama-era negotiations with the ayatollahs.

For his part, Trump withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal – which he called a “disaster” – citing how it ultimately left Iran with more time and money to pursue nuclear weapons. This decision was met with mixed reactions. This time around, he has not said much about how he will deal with the largest sponsor of terror. 

Combatting Anti-Semitism

Combating anti-Semitism presents another key challenge. Harris has forcefully condemned attacks on Jews and supported efforts to fight hate. Trump’s record is similar, yet critics point to his divisive remarks that some argue trivialize anti-Semitism.

“She’s totally against the Jewish people,” Trump declared of Harris, at the July 24, North Carolina campaign rally. He told a New York radio station on July 30, “Number one, she doesn’t like Israel. Number two, she doesn’t like Jewish people.” In other interviews, Trump said that Jews who support Democrats should “have their head examined,” and he called New York Senator Charles E. Schumer – also Senate Majority Leader – “A proud member of Hamas.”

Meanwhile controversial podcaster Candace Owens, who has been accused of slurring Israel and the Jewish people, was to appear alongside Donald Trump Jr. at a recent campaign event, but was removed from the slate due to pressure from Jewish Republicans. The former president also raised eyebrows when hosting rapper Kanye West at his estate, despite it being known that the entertainer had made anti-Semitic remarks. 

On the Democrat’s side, it is no less controversial. 

Regarding Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, CNN’s John King told Anderson Cooper, “He’s Jewish – there could be some risk in putting him on the ticket,” referring to Shapiro being shortlisted as the potential vice-presidential candidate. In a video podcast for The Free Press, Newsweek editor Batya Ungar-Sargon was certain that Shapiro was not chosen because of anti-Semitism in the Democratic party. 

Certain fringe elements of the Democrats have been staunch and fierce in their opposition to Israel, including the small group in Congress known as “The Squad,” rarely admonished by the leaders of their party. The Democrats even gave a podium at the Democratic National Convention to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who in a House floor speech accused Israel of committing genocide, said that Israel was “occupied Palestine,” and advocated for military aid to be withheld. 

Responding to Israel’s Enemies and the “Two State Solution”

In Oct. 2023, thirteen progressive Democratic lawmakers signed a petition for a ceasefire in Gaza (code for Hamas to re-arm and re-attack). Neither the president nor the vice president spoke out. 

Harris expressed a “both sides” statement when commenting on anti-Israel protesters: “They are showing exactly what the human emotion should be, as a response to Gaza,” Harris told The Nation. “There are things some of the protesters are saying that I absolutely reject, so I don’t mean to wholesale endorse their points. But we have to navigate it. I understand the emotion behind it.” Her vice-presidential nominee, Tim Walz, said in a radio interview that anti-Israel protesters are “speaking out for all the right reasons,” and that more pressure should be applied to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a Palestinian state.

Regarding a potential peace agreement, Harris has expressed repeated support for a “two-state solution” while emphasizing Israel’s security needs. Trump – who during his first term proposed a map of two states, and never heard back from the Palestinians – decided then to bypass the Palestinians, to normalize Israel’s relations with Arab states, such as UAE, Morocco, Sudan, and Bahrain.

Ultimately, while both candidates profess support for Israel, their differing worldviews and political pressures could lead to divergent approaches on key issues affecting U.S.-Israel relations. Voters will need to carefully consider how each candidate might navigate these complex challenges.

To get a well-rounded approach, Community Magazine interviewed Dov Hikind, former local New York State Assemblyman (1983-2018); syndicated columnist and political strategist, Warren Kinsella; and U.S.-Israeli presidential scholar and author Gil Troy, to get their take on the candidates’ records and how their policies might affect Jews in the U.S., and Israel.

Dov Hikind

“I always supported the person who I thought was best for America, for the Jewish community, never really a Republican, or Democrat,” Hikind stated. “I always said publicly, without hesitation, that I am a Jew, period. And what’s best for our people is what determines what my position is, nothing else, and it’s that simple.” Hikind is now a registered Republican, but served as an elected official for 36 years as a Democrat.

Hikind added that he understands those who hesitate to back Trump, being “concerned about a guy who behaves sometimes in a way that is really not cool. It’s not acceptable, it’s not proper, it’s not the way we want our kids to behave, much less an adult.”

But the alternative is worse: “The idea of a Harris administration scares the daylights out of me, without a question. To so many of us, Trump was a better friend to Israel. And if you were to ask me, who was the second best, the third best, it would be Donald Trump. That’s how good he was.” 

Hikind is heartened when scores of non-Jewish Republican lawmakers across the country support Israel – some who have few Jews in their state. “They are so on target when it comes to American support for Israel, recognizing who we’re dealing with. They know you can’t compromise with terrorists.”

Though President Biden unabashedly calls himself a Zionist, Hikind doubts Harris will be so bold. 

From funding the United National Relief Works Agency – that has had terrorists on its bankroll – to holding back shipments of weapons to Israel, Hikind said the Biden-Harris policies needed to tilt to the radicals because they believe, “If we’re going to win in a very close race, we need them on our side.”

Though, for Hikind, Israel is not the only big issue – he believes Trump would also be the best candidate regarding the issues of crime, border patrolling, and national security.

“I know that a lot of people, every presidential election, call it [the election] ‘consequential.’ And I never have called any election consequential. I actually believe this one is.” 

Warren Kinsella

Warren Kinsella is the founder and president of Daisy Consulting Group, a Toronto-based firm that engages in paid political campaign strategy work, lobbying, and communications. He was a partner at the law firm of McMillan Binch, in its Public Policy Group, and has also worked as a consultant, journalist, and political Chief of Staff. In 2020, he worked in several states on the victorious Biden-Harris campaign and is now canvasing for Kamala Harris.

Concerning Iran, Kinsella noted that in early September, Avril Hanes, the Director of National Intelligence (DNI is a senior cabinet-level U.S. government official) issued a series of statements that confirmed the Islamic Republic was actively and presently funding protests against the United States, and funding efforts to destabilize American democracy. Around the same time, the Justice Department revealed that it was holding Iran responsible for terrorism that led to the murder of American citizens.

A prospective President Harris would not be able to contradict what the intelligence establishment has concluded, Kinsella said. “There’s no way you can normalize relationship with a nation that is engaged in destabilizing your democracy, period. There may have been a desire within the Democratic Party to lower the heat with Iran. Those days are now gone,” he said.

“So, just by virtue of the statements and the actions of the U.S. government, the U.S. government cannot now turn around and adopt a conciliatory approach towards Iran.” 

Kinsella is certain that a Harris presidency would take anti-Semitism seriously, as Harris is married to a Jewish man, and has been to Israel more times than her husband.

“She may not identify as a Zionist in the way Biden does, but you know, by her words and her actions [she shows she is], I draw comfort from that.”

Regarding support for the Gaza war, Kinsella touted that in early September the Biden administration sent $25 billion in military hardware to Israel, and a U.S. Battle Group – “the biggest military formation you can possibly have, to the Mediterranean to ensure that Hamas and Iran do not ramp up their attacks on Israel.”

“That’s not the action of an anti-Semite,” Kinsella said. 

In terms of The Squad, the Democrats have “already run candidates, moderate, centrist, pro-Israel candidates, against those people. And those people have lost their nominations, so they’re gone. So, they’re doing it. They may not be doing it out in public, you know, with a meat cleaver, but they’re doing it.”

“AOC [Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, known for her virulent anti-Semitism]

survived it, but so you know, that her position on a lot of stuff has become much more centrist than it was.”

Kinsella noted that at the Democratic National Convention the parents of Israeli American Hersh Goldberg-Polin (who was held hostage by Hamas and was murdered in September), were given the podium, “and the whole place was crying.” 

“The Palestinian types were aggressively seeking a spot on the podium,” but were not permitted.

“Measure them by their actions,” Kinsella insisted. “Forget about their words, forget about their tweets, forget about what they put on Facebook and Instagram.”

As for the so-called “two-state solution” he said, “That’s gone for a long time, in my opinion. And she [Harris] knows that. As long as Hamas is in the picture, you’re just not going to have a two state solution.” 

Gil Troy

Gil Troy is an American presidential historian and is a popular commentator on politics and other issues. He is a professor of history at McGill University in Montreal. Troy noted that predicting Harris’s policy “is particularly difficult, because she’s made a conscious decision to try to obscure her positions. I don’t say that as a Democrat or Republican, I just say that as an observer.” 

“She’s chosen, tactically, to make this a politics of joy campaign,” he said, “and while there have been occasional ups and downs, fundamentally, each president has understood the importance of supporting Israel, and to the extent that Kamala Harris – part of the Democratic mainstream – one would bet smart money on that staying the same.” 

The fear is, both in tone and substance, Troy said. “As vice president, she definitely was very careful to distance herself just a little bit from her boss and be a little bit more of the bad cop to Joe Biden’s good cop when it came to Israel, and to be the one who made sure to try to open up some initiatives with the Arab Americans and Muslim Americans. So, to the Jewish community, that’s a source of concern, because it often was done in a very kind of tit-for-tat way, that established a moral equivalence between Israel, which was defending itself and fighting for its life, and Hamas, which was hiding behind civilians.”

The Party, in general, has become one with the “most vocal anti-Semitic and anti-Israel minority in the way the Republican Party had 30-40 years ago,” Troy said. He lamented that “not enough people in the Party have taken them on. She’s less likely than Trump to fight left-wing anti-Semitism.” 

What Troy referred to as a “Democratic blind spot” is the Party’s tendency, since the Obama administration, to “be less hard on the mullahs” with a foreign policy establishment that “have not done enough to use soft power to try to undermine the Iranian regime.” Troy said this limp-wrist response was demonstrated at two critical moments, in 2009’s Green Revolution, and then more recently under Biden, during the Mahsa Amini protests for women’s rights. Troy believes that a Trump administration would have seized the chance to ramp up pressure on Iran.

But when asked if there was a vulnerability that both candidates share concerning Israel, he said that they are both likely to want to claim a victory in pushing for an end to the war with Hamas and will exert pressure on Israel to do so. 

Troye is further worried that a Harris administration would be “so addicted to the two-state solution and October 6^th thinking,” flawed in the notion that “if the Palestinians only had a state, then it would all be good.”

“The smart money would definitely be,” he said, “Harris being stuck on that same 30-year-old failed vision and policy, not even being willing to open a taskforce to look at changing the language to ‘two democracies for two people,’ which would automatically put more pressure on Palestinians.” 

On Nov. 5th, the choice is yours – decide wisely, balancing what you want most in a candidate. Most importantly, exercise your right to cast your ballot.

Rabbi David Sutton & Dr. David Katzenstein, LCSW-R

Contrary to contemporary postmodernist thought (which permeates our society and our approach to life) the idea that we should pursue all desires to our hearts’ content is actually antithetical to overall life satisfaction. The pursuit of desires often leads to excessive and unhealthy behaviors, creates unrealistic expectations, and can cause emotional distress when desires are not met.

Here are some risks associated with pursuing all of one’s desires:

Addiction: Engaging in excessive behavior to fulfill a desire can lead to addiction, which can negatively impact one’s health, relationships, and overall well-being.

Unfulfilled Expectations: Unrealistic expectations about fulfilling desires may lead to disappointment when those desires are not met, leading to emotional distress and to a decrease in overall happiness.

Ignoring Other Priorities: Pursuing desires at all costs can lead to ignoring other important aspects of life, such as one’s relationships, physical health, and personal growth.

Decreased Satisfaction: Excessive focus on external desires can cause decreased satisfaction and happiness in life.

Increased Stress: The pursuit of desires can also lead to increased stress levels, due to pressure to achieve those desires, and can lead to unrealistic expectations in connection with those desires.

A legend is told about the mighty Napoleon. While at war, he and his army found themselves within ten miles of a city famous for its cigars. Though Napoleon did not need to capture the town in order to succeed at war, he did want those cigars. So he made a detour. Who knows how many people he killed on the way, but he and his men captured this little city.

At long last, the moment arrived, and Napoleon’s second-in-command excitedly brought Napoleon a cigar. Napoleon put the cigar to his lips and just after the soldier had lit the cigar, suddenly, to the amazement of all those present, Napoleon broke the cigar in half and declared with conviction, “Napoleon will control the cigar. The cigar will not control Napoleon.”

When we let things control us, those things are not us. Those things are outside of us.

Once the Alter of Novaradok, Rav Yosef Yoizel Horowitz, was walking in the streets of Europe, when he saw a policeman walking with a thief. The two of them were handcuffed to each other. Embarrassed to be seen in this predicament, the thief announced to all who passed him, “I’m the officer and he’s the thief.”

When describing the scene, the Alter asked: How do we know who is telling the truth? He answered: The one who holds the keys to unlock the handcuffs is the one in control.

Though we may tell ourselves, “I’m in control. I can stop this anytime. I can lose ten pounds, quit my smoking habit,” and so on, the only way to know if we can do it, if we are really in control, is when we do it. Otherwise, we are being controlled.

Jenna Ashkenazie

Recently, there has been a significant rise in the number of Jews owning guns. We are generally a peaceful group. However, with the rise of anti-Semitism and concern about the upcoming presidential election, more people are choosing to acquire guns in order to feel more secure, and to defend themselves and their families if needed, Gd forbid. 

U.S. Supreme Court Ruling

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a decision in favor of Americans’ right to carry guns in public. This decision impacted many states with stricter gun laws. In New Jersey, for example, in 2021, (the year before the ruling) 631 permits to carry guns were issued. In 2023, the number went up to 19,993, a whopping 3,000 percent increase! Prior to the Supreme Court decision, New Jersey residents seeking permission to carry a gun had to demonstrate they faced “specific threats or previous attacks” that presented a danger to their life. That requirement was struck down.

The number of New Yorkers applying for gun permits rose significantly as well. Last year, the NYPD License Division received 13,369 requests to possess a handgun or rifle at home – an 80 percent increase over the previous year. That’s nearly triple the applications received in 2019. The number of applications to carry concealed weapons in just January and February of this year already surpassed the total for the years 2019-2021 combined. 

Community Response to Gun Ownership

According to Mark Abady, co-owner of the shooting range WESHOOT,  in Lakewood, New Jersey, “It is important that every person has a plan in order to keep their families safe. To some, that means owning a gun, and learning how to shoot it.”  Abady maintains that although owning a gun might not be right for everyone, it can give people a sense of security during these times of animosity and uncertainty. “It [owning a gun] brings control, self-esteem, and confidence.”

John Deloca owns the Seneca Sporting Range in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and has seen a huge spike in customers buying guns and enrolling in classes for people wanting to obtain concealed weapons carry permits. He claims his customers want to arm themselves because they feel unsafe. “People are getting guns because everybody is out of control,” Deloca said. “We’re selling guns like pancakes.”

Has Gun Shooting Practice Gone Mainstream? 

 Not long ago it would have been a crazy idea to go to the shooting range for a date night. But WESHOOT thinks it’s a great idea. “New Jersey’s friendliest public indoor range” offers  a variety of fifty different lessons, “ranging from a simple date night at the range to going through all the training and paperwork to purchase and legally carry a gun.” Customers as young as ten years old are allowed to come shoot a few rounds. They must be accompanied by a legal guardian over 21.WESHOOT even offers a separate class for women. 

Covid, October 7^th, and the Upcoming Elections

Gun sales climbed nationally during the height of the pandemic. Mark Abady noted that both Covid and October 7^th prompted Orthodox Jews to look into gun ownership. He notes,  “Covid and October 7th brought a lot of people to train, buy, and conceal guns. About 40 percent of our clients are Orthodox Jews. With elections coming up, more and more people are looking into acquiring guns. The increase in gun ownership has in turn increased the number of WhatsApp group chats concerning guns.  People ask questions about different types of guns, the benefits of owning certain kinds of guns, and ask general questions about maintaining guns, or even obtaining a license.”   

Increased incidents of anti-Semitism throughout the U.S. have caused extra security precautions throughout the nation – at schools, shuls, Jewish community centers, and in general, buildings that have any sign of servicing the Jewish population. It is no wonder that individuals feel the effects of increased anti-Semitism, and look for ways to protect themselves, including taking self-defense classes, and looking to own a gun. Times of uncertainty naturally cause many to feel heightened anxiety. One response has been to seek protection in the form of firearms. In our community, we know that we are required to do our hishtadlut (make our own efforts) but we recognize that ultimately, our protection comes from Gd.

Rosh Hashanah has flown by, and Sukkot is right around the corner.  Shaatra moms across the globe have started thinking about the fact that the kids will be home from school for quite some time during Sukkot break. And this year, hol hamoed falls out on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, which means that there is plenty of time for trips. 

It’s possible that in years past, you’ve been overwhelmed by the thought of hol hamoed travel. Memories of cranky kids and long car rides to Hershey Park or Amish Town may stand out in your mind, and you may feel apprehensive to do it all over again. But the truth of the matter is, New York and New Jersey have lots to offer when it comes to family-friendly entertainment. So this time, stay local! Be grateful that you live just a short car-ride away from several happening locations, and know with some in-advance planning and some fun and fresh ideas, hol hamoed 2024 can be memorable for the whole family.

FOR FELLOW BROOKLYNITES…

If you live in Brooklyn, you have your own fair share of local choices when it comes to trips and activities. The Botanical Gardens is a gorgeous place to relax and take in the sights and sounds of nature. The Jewish Children’s Museum in Crown Heights is a bright and colorful space for children to play, explore, and learn, while Kids ‘N Action is a world of excitement for the littlest ones in your bunch.

The New York Aquarium is right on Coney Island and has an amazing assortment of marine life. And if the weather is nice, there is no need to stay cooped up indoors. Head to Prospect or Marine Parks, since both are perfect grassy locations for sports, flying kites, or riding bikes. 

IF YOU WANT TO HEAD TO MANHATTAN…

If you’re okay with a short car ride from Brooklyn, you can head out to the city that never sleeps. There are hundreds of attractions for tourists, some of which include The Intrepid, The Museum of Natural History, and the observation deck at the Empire State Building. Chelsea Piers, which is right outside the city, is a jam-packed center of things to do. Once inside, your children can choose to ice-skate, play golf, go bowling, or play arcades. 

IF YOU LIVE IN THE GARDEN STATE…

You may have heard the sentiment that there’s not much to do in Jersey. Well, whoever said that forgot about the numerous exciting options that are available, and that you can take advantage of this hol hamoed! 

Younger kids might enjoy watching sea life at Jenkinson’s Aquarium or the rides and arcades at FunTime America. For those families with both older and younger kids, Great Adventures is a great compromise. And if your brood gets hungry, there is usually a sukkah and kosher food on premises come Sukkot time, so you can settle them down and serve lunch before they jump onto every ride in sight. 

IF YOU GET THE MUNCHIES…

At some point during your travels, your family will get hungry and want to eat, and the men in your family will need a sukkah to do so. Certain kosher restaurants will put up a sukkah outside, but before you go, call ahead of time to be certain. Until you get to have a sit-down meal, serve some “shehakol” snacks to tide everyone over. Or, if your travels haven’t brought you too far from home, you can get to your own sukkah in time for lunch!Wherever you decide to go this hol hamoed, know that it’s all in your mindset. When Mom is happy, everyone is happy! Enjoy every moment of wherever your travels take you, because pretty soon you’ll be back in the kitchen cooking delicious holiday dishes for the second half of Sukkot!

Rabbi Hayim Asher Arking

What Is Hosha’na Rabba?

There are three designated days in the calendar for good judgment, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Hosha’na Rabba. A judge can sign a court order; however, it will only go into effect when it is handed over to the clerk. On Hosha’na Rabba decisions from Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are sent out to be delivered. On this day we can beseech Hashem, The Judge, before He hands decrees to His “clerks” to reverse His decision.

Every day of Sukkot we walk around the Torah with our lulav and etrog in hand, asking Hashem hosha’na – to please bring salvation and goodness throughout the coming year. On the last day of hol hamo’ed Sukkot, as this is the seventh time that we encircle the Torah and is the climax of Sukkot, we ask for salvation and help from Hashem in many ways, namely regarding the crops and rain. This is the why the day is called Hosha’na Rabba – hosha = save, na = please, rabba = great.

In the times of the Bet Hamikdash, circling the mizbeach with aravot was performed every day of Sukkot once, and on the seventh day – Hosha’na Rabba – seven times. This was so important, that even if it occurred on Shabbat, circling the mizbeach with aravot was still performed in the Bet Hamikdash. 

What do we do that is special on this day? 

1) We study the tikkun throughout the night reviewing the entire Sefer Devarim before midnight and then we recite Tehillim with excerpts of selihot. We recite Hashem Hu HaElokim in Shaharit as we do during the High Holidays. 

2) After Hallel, we circle the Torah seven times reciting the hosha’not prayers which are all-encompassing, as will be detailed. 

3) After the tefillah, we take a bundle of five aravot and bang it against the dirt. It is customary after banging the aravot to go back inside the bet haknesset, open the hechal, and recite Nishmat Kol Hai until (but not including) the blessing of Yishtabah. 

What is the meaning of the extra hosha’not prayers?

We circle around the Torah seven times with our lulav and etrog asking “hosha’na” – please help – while mentioning selihot that upon each segment highlight the merit of one of the seven ushpizin, the first one corresponding to Avraham, the second to Yishak, etc. 

After the seventh circuit, we then build upon the refrain of hosha’na to more and more steps of beseeching, totaling ten steps. 

1. Hosha’na – we open with the core prayer that we have recited every day of Sukkot, asking Hashem to save us. 

2. Anna hoshia na – we ask for the rebuilding of the Bet Hamikdash.

3. Ani VaHu hoshia na – we ask for salvation from oppression with the merit of the four species that correspond to parts of our body etrog = heart, lulav = spine, hadasim = eyes, aravot = lips.

4. Anna El na Hosha’na v’hoshia na – we ask for Him to open the bounty of produce (naming wheat, barley, spelt, oats, rye, rice, millet, beans, lentils, olive trees and their oil, grapes, figs, pomegranates, walnuts, dates, apples, pistachios, almonds, chestnuts, carob, mini fruit, peaches, berries, pears, etrogim, and all types of vegetables and grains).

5. Anna El na hosha’na v’hatsliha na – we ask to be transplanted back in Eretz Yisrael with its full blessings of bounty and water.

6. Anna El na hosha’na v’harviha na Avinu attah – We invoke the merit of Noah, Avraham, Yishak, Yaakov, and Moshe Rabbenu, who found favor in the Eyes of Hashem, and in their merit, we ask Hashem to not withhold blessed rainwater. 

7. Anna El na refa na, selah na, hasha’na v’hoshia na, Avinu attah – we invoke the merit of Noah, Avraham, Yishak, Yaakov, Moshe, and Aharon to have our prayers today be of glory, praise, cherished, etc. to carry us throughout the year.

8. Hoshienu Moshi’enu ki lecha enenu u’lecha lishuatenu – as tomorrow, on Shemini Aseret, we will switch over to ask for rain reciting morid hageshem, we pray for a year of light, blessing, etc. in Aleph Bet order. Here we ask the first four of the Aleph Bet, seemingly introducing and opening the prayer of Shemini Aseret for rain.

9. Ha’El l’mosha’ot am nosha B’Adonai, hosha’na behasdicha meyahalim l’Adonai, ki lishuatecha kivinu Adonai, Adam u’behemah toshia Adonai, ki lishuatecha kivinu Adonai. The yearning for salvation from Hashem is the reason and source of us finding favor in the eyes of Hashem. 

We then culminate these prayers with beseeching Hashem to herald the final redemption through Eliyahu HaNavi with the recitation of kol mevaser, mevaser v’omer.