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Welcome to Congregation Beth Rambam – A Jewel of a Sephardic Synagogue in Houston, Texas

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February 2023

Welcome to Congregation Beth Rambam – A Jewel of a Sephardic Synagogue in Houston, Texas

ELLEN GELLER KAMARAS

Pull quote: “We are not just a shul – we are a family, a second home for our members and a full-fledged community.” ~ Rabbi Daniel Masri

When my editor asked me to interview the Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Rambam of Houston, Rabbi Daniel Masri, I immediately said yes. When my children lived in Houston for four years I enjoyed the warm Southwestern vibe and I loved the wonderful community in Houston..

Congregation Beth Rambam is known as a vibrant and diverse Orthodox Sephardic synagogue. After watching a five-minute video about CBR, I wished that Houston was closer to New York so that I could experience CBR’s warm and welcoming ambiance in person and take back some lessons learned to my own shul and community.

A Little History

CBR describes its mission as “preserving our past building towards the future.” It set down roots in the Houston Jewish community forty years ago, in 1982. Already, several Ashkenazic shuls were on the scene, including Chabad, Meyerland Minyan, Young Israel, Heimish, and United Orthodox Synagogue

Back in 1982 there was a clear need for a local Sephardic shul. CBR’s founders, a handful of Syrian and Lebanese families, set their sights on creating a small Sephardic shul in their community. The group initially met in people’s homes for daily minyanim, and moved on to set up their semi-permanent headquarters in the Meadow Walk Townhomes clubhouse, not far from where the current shul building stands. The shul is located in the Southwest Fondren neighborhood of Houston, not far from the Medical Center and the beautiful Galleria mall.

The founding members envisioned the establishment of a synagogue where all Sephardic Jews could feel comfortable and could continue to preserve their Sephardic traditions. CBR’s original members included some Lebanese families, and a few Syrian and Israeli families. The congregation quickly grew to include first and second-generation Americans of Sephardic background, including Israelis, Latin Americans, immigrants from the Balkan countries, Syrians, and Lebanese, as well as Ashkenazim.

Within a few short years, the shul’s founding families’ generous donations funded the construction of its first permanent building at 11333 Braesridge. The Zalta family kindly donated the land for the larger sanctuary and the shul was erected in 1984. A larger extension was added in 2010. The membership now include Israelis, Latin Americans, Persians, Europeans, Syrians, Lebanese, Egyptians, Moroccans, as well as Ashkenazim.

Rabbi Daniel Masri, the current Senior Rabbi of CBR, moved to Houston in 2005 and is a dedicated, energetic, and caring leader of the CBR family and the larger Jewish community. He was born in Mexico City to a Syrian father and an Ashkenazic mother. When Rabbi Masri was seven years old, his family moved to Brooklyn. He proudly states that he was in the first graduating class of Yeshiva Ateret Torah’s elementary and high school.

Rabbi Masri attended Ashkenaz yeshivot including Beth Medrash Govoha in Lakewood, NJ, and Mir Yeshiva in Israel. Rabbi Masri married while he was a rebbe at Ohr Sameach Yeshiva in Monsey. He and his bride moved to Israel for three years. Rabbi Masri received his smicha from Rabbi Yitzchak Berkovits at The Jerusalem Kollel, and Rabbi Masri has maintained a relationship with Rabbi Berkovits ever since. Rabbi Masri’s strong foundation in Torah and hashkafah shine through in his Shabbat lectures and shiurim, and in the way he skillfully guides each member of the community.

Houston of 2023

Although Jews have been living in Houston for over a century, the frum community has seen a rebirth over the past 15 years. Every year, the frum community welcomes tens of families from Brooklyn, Queens, Deal, Lakewood, Baltimore, Chicago, California, Israel, and beyond. These families include resident doctors who come to practice medicine in Houston’s world-renowned Medical Center, young families who are attracted to the affordable housing and cost of living, as well as kollel families who come to learn in either Houston’s Sephardic or Ashkenazic kollel. Wherever you turn, Houston is exploding with new energy and Beth Rambam is expanding its resources to welcome the influx.

Communities Working Hand in Hand

Rabbi Masri is very proud that CBR’s members collaborate and connect with their neighboring Ashkenazi communities. Members of both communities interact and come together for happy and social events as well as in times of crisis. When Hurricane Harvey hit in 2017, community members sprang into action. Rabbi Masri recalls that Beth Rambam handled the restoration effort and Young Israel handed the food drive (including the delivery of home-cooked kosher food), so that, together, the community weathered the enormous challenge presented by Hurricane Harvey.

In guiding the community, Rabbi Masri works closely with Torah Umesorah and the Orthodox Union to maintain the highest standards of Jewish education and support for the Orthodox Jewish community. Yeshiva Torat Emet is a local frum day school located right across the street from CBR. Rabbi Yerachmiel Garfield, the head of the day school, welcomes both Sephardic and Ashkenazic students and it is beautiful to observe the mix of students growing so beautifully together. Beren Academy is a Modern Orthodox day school led by Rabbi Jordan Silvestri. Many students at the school are from the Sephardic community.

A Wealth of Programs

CBR’s programs and activities are truly something they can be proud of. There is something for everyone, for all ages and walks of life, including children, teens, young professionals, and older adults. CBR provides for the community daily minyanim, a Sunday Hebrew School, bar and bat mitzvah preparation, Shabbat and hagim meals, Bikur Cholim, Shabbatons, Scholar-in-Residence programs, Shabbat groups for children and teens, seudah shelishit, daf yomi, morning study programs, Sunday morning breakfast and learning, Tomchei Shabbat, NCSY, events for young professionals, and more..

In May 2022, Beth Rambam launched the CBR Learning Center. It is a full-day kollel in which accomplished Torah scholars were appointed to learn together throughout the day and engage the community with Torah study in the evenings. The daytime program is a Choshen Mishpat halachah kollel led by Rabbi Sheya Lazenga, the Rosh Kollel, and is under the auspices of Beth Din Maysharim of Lakewood, NJ. The evening program is coordinated by Rabbi David Azancot, the Assistant Rabbi and Outreach Director. The CBR Learning Center hosts a number of weekly shiurim including gemara classes, practical and business halacha classes, and parashah and hashkafah classes. The hope is that the CBR Learning Center will expand to one day touch each and every member of the community.

Rabbi Masri views the children as the “lifeblood of the congregation” and the programming caters to their spiritual and educational needs. Rabbi Masri teaches ta’amim and pizmonim on Shabbat afternoons to the boys. Mrs. Ashlene Azulay, the Hebrew School Director, runs Shabbat groups for the younger boys and girls, and Rabbi Golfeiz runs Shabbat learning groups and seudah shilishit for the older boys.

Rabbanit Nomi Masri, a software engineer by profession, teaches a weekly Tanach class and coordinates the woman’s programming and Shabbatons for the shul. Additionally, she is the founder of Kivun, an organization dedicated to the inspiration and growth of women in the Houston community.

Rabbi Samy Soussan, the CBR hazzan and Director of Marketing, is the former Assistant Regional Director and City Head of NCSY, and he was enormously instrumental in its success. NCSY creates learning and social programs to connect teens with their Jewish identity and to and foster self-confidence. Today, Rabbi Soussan continues to remain active in the coordination and marketing of CBR events.

J-HYPE – Jewish Houston Young Professional Experience – is led by Rabbi Johnny Ouzzan. The shul website posts: We are a community of growth oriented Jewish young professionals…aiming to cultivate meaningful relationships with each other and with our Jewish heritage through exciting programs, trips, events, and educational initiatives. Our goal is to provide every Jewish young professional, regardless of affiliation or denomination, with the beauty and wisdom of Jewish life and learning, while building community and friendship among peers.

Rabbi Nechemia Golfeiz, a former writer for ArtScroll/Mesorah Publications and member of the CBR Learning Center, publishes the weekly CBR Connect. The publication includes an article with the rabbi’s thoughts on the parashah as well as a list of upcoming community events. Houston’s Jewish Herald-Voice, the largest and oldest Jewish newspaper in Houston, runs Rabbi Golfeiz’s weekly article on the parashah in his column titled “New Perspectives.”

CBR’s Tomchei Shabbat program ensures that every Jewish family in Houston has enough food for their weekly Shabbat and Jewish holiday table. The shul coordinates volunteers to pack and deliver food for families in need. Deliveries are made in a way that preserves the families’ privacy, with no names on food packages. The food packages are dropped outside the door, so no one is embarrassed by having to face someone in person.

Aside from the day-to-day functions of the shul, CBR hosts activities and events for the community throughout the year. Recently, the shul hosted a children’s Chanukah Bingo Bash, with over two hundred adults and children attending. Last year, CBR held a Sephardic Festival in which the community came together to learn about the history and culture of Sephardic heritage. Booths were set up to feature the culture of key Sephardic countries including Syria, Yemen, Iran, Iraq, and Morocco. Each booth presented that country’s cuisine and a brief biography of the rabbis who lived there.

Growth and Future Outlook

The synagogue is growing and thriving, with new families regularly moving to Houston. The rate of migration to Houston from California, New York, and other states increased during the pandemic.

When Rabbi Masri came to Houston in 2005, CBR had 60 families. Today over two hundred families are affiliated with the shul.

As Houston (“the Space City”) continues growing into the third-largest city in the U.S., more and more people are moving to Houston for its economic appeal. Houston boasts one of the largest health care systems in the world and is home to the headquarters of 24 Fortune 500 companies.

Rabbi Masri is very optimistic about the future of CBR. The shul has an excellent infrastructure, and a fabulous staff. The shul staff works to attract members both from inside and outside of the Houston community. Rabbi Masri believes that the new Learning Center will have a positive impact on the congregants and the community and will attract new shul members. Rabbi Sheya Lazenga, the Rosh Kollel, regularly invites rabbanim and dayanim from Lakewood, New York, and Israel to give shiurim to the avrechim of the kollel and to the community, either in-person or via Zoom. Rabbi Masri is passionate that Beth Rambam should serve as a vital makom Torah for the Houston Sephardic community, should provide a strong learning environment for its Torah scholars, and should create an inviting atmosphere for all who enter its Bet Midrash.

“We are reaching out to people within the community and without to come and learn. Some live far away from the shul. But Torah is engaging and thought-provoking for them and they enjoy it. That’s how we connect with them. We try to connect with people in whatever way that speaks to them, to be part of the community.”

As Rabbi Masri so aptly summed it up: “CBR is an in-reach shul, a frum shul, and an outreach shul. Everyone finds their place here.”

CONTACT INFO:

Please check out the synagogue’s website, https://bethrambam.org/ and drop in if you are in the neighborhood!

You can reach out to Rabbi Masri at rdm@bethrambam.org or the office at office@bethrambam.org.

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 Vice-President of Congregation Bnai Avraham in Brooklyn Heights. She can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com (www.lifecoachellen.com).

Constant Contact

Community Magazine

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February 2023

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Constant Contact

Shlomo Hamelech teaches (Mishlei 20:24), “A man’s steps are from Hashem; what does a person know about his way?” So often, we set out to do something, but end up doing something entirely different. Hashem places us in various situations that we never intended to be in, and we believe that everything is directed by Him. Often, this occurs in a concealed manner, through what appears to be natural means. The Hebrew word for nature, tevah, has the same numerical value as Elokim, the Divine Name that signifies Hashem’s power. Hashem uses the forces of nature to communicate with us and direct us to where we are supposed to go. As the Chazon Ish teaches us in his work Emunah U’Bitachon (Chapter 2), the obligation of bitachon includes the belief that there is no coincidence, nothing happens by chance, and everything is set and directed by the Almighty.

Many people desire to see Hashem in their lives. The truth is, He is in their lives, but they simply need to open their eyes and look more carefully. He communicates with us regularly to let us know that He is here, but generally in concealed ways.

I read a book that tells of a tzaddik who made a point of thanking Hashem for everything, for even the minor, everyday blessings in his life. The example mentioned in the book was a situation where a glass bottle fell but did not break. When this happened, the man made a point of saying “thank you” to Hashem. I wrote up a lesson mentioning other examples of similar situations, including where one is late for the train but manages to get on because it was delayed. When this happens, one should thank Hashem and acknowledge that this occurred because Hashem wanted it to occur.

Shortly thereafter I taught a Gemara class, and one of the men asked to share his experiences that day. He had to fly that day for a business meeting, and had a ticket for the return flight immediately after the meeting. However, his first flight was delayed, and he had no choice but to reschedule his meeting for several hours later than its original time. He realized there was no chance of making his return flight, and as the airline had only one return flight a day, he would not be able to return home that day. He did not want to stay overnight, but it seemed like there was no alternative.

After the meeting, however, he thought to himself how everything is in Hashem’s hands, and Hashem could find a way to get him home. He went to the airport and discovered that, sure enough, his return flight was delayed two hours. He got on the flight and thanked Hashem for His kindness.

Upon hearing the story, I said to the man, “That’s unbelievable! Just two hours ago I recorded this exact example, where somebody was late for the train but it was delayed.” The very next day, I was carrying a few goblets in my home, and one slipped out of my hands. It landed safely on my foot and did not break. I thanked Hashem, and then thought to myself, This is amazing – I just gave this exact example!

When things like this happen, it is Hashem communicating with us, letting us know that He is with us. Incidents like these occur all the time; we need only to open our eyes and recognize that everything is from Hashem.

Positive Parenting Tammy Sassoon, M.S. ED

Community Magazine

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February 2023

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Positive Parenting Tammy Sassoon, M.S. ED

Dear Tammy,

I have three children – ages six, eight, and nine, and they fight with each other so often that I really wonder how normal this is. Do you have any tips or suggestions to offer me that would help them to be kinder to each other?

Signed,

Looking for Peace

Dear Looking for Peace,

Many parents describe what you are experiencing. I believe that it is human nature to be selfish and competitive. Our job is to motivate our children to rise above that, and to become kind and giving people. How that can be achieved?

First, we must understand that changing a culture of a home is very exciting, and requires hard work and consistency! And hard work is something to be enthusiastic about!

So, you are describing the current culture in your home as being competitive. Children only fight when they want something they don’t have, or they are worried that they will lose something that is rightfully theirs. Your goal is going to be to change the culture of your home from one of competition, to one of having a “win-win” attitude. Go right ahead and teach your children (not in the midst of the fighting, of course) that there are two ways to go through life. One is with a “win-lose” attitude, and one is with a ‘win-win’ attitude. People who think “win-lose” can’t ever be happy because they do not realize that they can be successful EVEN if other people (in this case siblings) are successful. They always feel like they never have enough, and that if another person “wins” or has, they have “lost” or do not have. That is a sure recipe for misery. People who think “win-win” can be much happier because they realize that Hashem has enough success and abundance for everyone to enjoy (tailor made for each person). And if someone else has, it does not have to mean something is taken away from them.

Another tactic I suggest is that you teach your children about the different levels of viewing other people’s differences. Tell them that there are three levels:

Lowest: Shunning differences

Medium: Tolerating differences

Highest: Celebrating differences

When people celebrate differences, they realize that it’s exciting that every human being (including their siblings) adds value to the world and to their family, and one must rise above their natural instincts in order to recognize that.

We want our children to learn how to celebrate differences, because then they are able to:

Look out for each other.
Go out of their way to make each child feel important.
Be happy for each other when they are successful.

We want our children to believe that thinking “win-win” and “celebrating differences” are difficult things to do, and are only reserved for those who CHOOSE a strong, capable, and confident path. Therefore, after you teach these concepts:

Go out of your way to comment on them having a “win-win” attitude, or celebrating differences even if they are simply not fighting because they are spacing out. (For example, say, “Your brother just got a new pair of nice gloves, and you are thinking ‘win-win’ because you know that you have exactly what you need already.”
Talk often about how “Mature People” choose to have a “win-win” attitude, and understand that other people’s differences are something to be celebrated and excited about. (All children want to be considered mature and capable, and we are teaching children what types of choices strong and capable people make.)

And of course, above all, we need to always practice what we preach! So, make sure that you are living your life with a “win-win” attitude, and are celebrating the differences of people in your own life. Let your children see that you are happy for your friends, neighbors, and relatives when they succeed. Let your kids see that you embrace everyone you meet with a feeling of the camaraderie, which is just what you hope your own children will emulate and embrace.

The Lighter Side – February 2023

Community Magazine

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February 2023

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A Clean Sweep

Morris, owner of Moe’s Kosher Grocer, decided to do his friend Herb a favor and hire his grandson David, fresh out of college, to work in the grocery store. David reported for his first day of work and Morris greeted him with a warm handshake and a smile, gave him a broom and said, “Your first job will be to sweep out the store.”

“But I’m a college graduate,” David replied indignantly.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that,” said Morris. “Here, give me the broom – I’ll show you how.”

Alex G.

Hard Day at Work

Jesse dragged himself home and barely made it to his chair before he dropped, exhausted. His sympathetic wife Rose was right there with a tall cool drink and a comforting word.

“My, you look tired,” Rose said. “You must have had a hard day today. What happened to make you so exhausted?”

“It was terrible,” Jesse said, “We had no computer or internet access the whole day, so all of us had to do our own thinking.”

Carl D.

The Best Gift

Josh’s favorite uncle, Uncle Heshy, was in town.

“Thanks for the harmonica you gave me last Hanukah,” little Josh said. “It’s the best present ever! It makes me money!”

“That’s amazing!” said Uncle Heshy. “How are you making money? Are you being paid to play at parties?”

“Oh, I don’t play it at all,” little Josh said. “Mommy gives me a dollar a day not to play it during the day and Daddy gives me five dollars a week not to play it at night.”

Esther B.

Photo Shoot

Little Moishe walked to and from school daily. On one particular morning, the weather was questionable, as clouds were forming, and the sky was grey. But Moishie made his daily trek to school anyway.

As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up and the thunder and lightning began to roll. Moishie’s mother was concerned that her son would be frightened as he walked home from school and feared that the electrical storm might harm him.

Worried, Mrs. Rosenbloom got into her car and drove along the route to Moishie’s school. Upon finding her son, she noticed her boy was walking along just fine, but at each flash of lightning, Moishie would stop, look up and smile. More lightning followed and with each flash Moishie would look at the streak of light and smile.

Puzzled, the mother approached him in her car, lowered the window and asked him, “What are you doing?”

Moishie answered, “I am trying to look nice. Hashem keeps taking my picture.”

Colette C.

A Close Shave

A man and a little boy entered a barbershop together.

After the man received the full treatment – shave, shampoo, manicure, haircut, etc. – he placed little Joey in the chair. “I have to step out,” said the man. “I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

When little Joey’s haircut was completed and the man still hadn’t returned, the barber said, “Looks like your daddy’s forgotten all about you.”

“That wasn’t my daddy,” said Joey. “He just walked up, took me by the hand and said, ‘Come on, son, we’re going to get a free haircut!’”

Marlene H

A Real Steal

Max is not the world’s greatest businessman – he loses money all of the time, but this time it’s not his fault because he was robbed. Henry, his friend, hears about the robbery and goes to visit Max.

“I’m very sorry to hear about the robbery,” says Henry. “Did you lose much?”

“I lost a few things, but it’s okay – I got off lucky. I’m just happy it didn’t happen one night earlier.”

“Why?” asks Henry.

“Well,” replies Max, “just on the day of the theft, I marked everything down by 30 percent!”

Victor K.

Two Words

It was the first day of school in September, and thank Gd, kids were back in school after a long- extended summer. Mrs. Greenberg, the 10th grade English teacher, was setting some of her ground rules. “There are two words I don’t allow in my class. One is gross and the other is cool.”

From the back of the room little Ikey called out, “So, what are the words?”

Joey C.

Service with a Smile

A customer was really hassling an El Al agent at the ticket counter in Tel Aviv – yelling and using foul language. But the agent was polite and pleasant, and smiled while the customer continued to verbally abuse her.

When the man finally left, the next person in line, a tourist from Canada, said to the agent, “Does that happen often? I can’t believe how nice you were to him.”

The El Al agent smiled and said, “No problem, I took care of it. He’s going to Detroit. His bags are going to Bangkok.”

Alan P.

A Fishy Story

Shlomo and Rachel go to their local kosher restaurant and order the “Salmon Special.” When their food arrives, Shlomo and Rachel are not impressed. It doesn’t even look like Salmon. So, Shlomo calls over the waiter.

“Waiter,” he says, pointing to their plates, “be honest with me, these pieces of fish are from cans, aren’t they?”

“From cans, sir?” says the waiter, indignantly. “They’re not from cans. They came directly from Alaska.”

Rachel pipes up, “But were they exported or deported?”

Lisa A

You’re Out!

Coach Epstein was having some trouble when he was coaching the Stars of David in the Bnai Brit little league baseball league. At one point during a game, Coach Epstein said to one of his young players, “Do you understand what a team is?”

The little boy nodded.

“Do you understand that what matters is whether we win together as a team?”

“Yes, Sir,” the little boy said.

“So,” Coach Epstein continued, “when a strike is called, or you’re out at first, you don’t argue or yell at the umpire. Do you understand all that?”

Again, the little boy nodded. “Yes, Coach, I understand.”

“Good,” said Coach Epstein nervously. “Now, could you go over there and explain it to your father?”

Donald P.

New Security Device

The Israelis are developing an airport security device that eliminates the privacy concerns that come with full-body scanners. It’s an armored booth you step into that will not X-ray you, but will detonate any explosive device you may have on your person.

Israel sees this as a win-win situation for everyone, with no fears about racial profiling. It will also eliminate the costs of other long and expensive security techniques.

So basically, you’re in the airport terminal and you hear a muffled explosion. Shortly thereafter, an announcement:

“Attention to all standby passengers, El Al is pleased to announce that a seat is now available on flight 670 to London. Shalom!”

David E.

An Inside View of Chaim Medical

Community Magazine

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February 2023

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Chani Krausz

During a crucial roundtable discussion with the executive team of the Sephardic Division of Chaim Medical, Rabbi David M. Haber explores the all-encompassing scope of the organization, as well as the tremendous love and care that are responsible for the transformative impact of their life-changing endeavors.

The Panelists:

Nathan Hoffman, Co-founder and Senior Case Manager

Ezra Zaafarani, Co-founder and Senior Case Manager

Abe Sutton, President

Norman Jemal, Vice President

RH: The medical world is frequently misunderstood, particularly post-Covid, which is why Chaim Medical is so important. In its simplest form, what is Chaim Medical?

NH: An experienced team that is dedicated towards helping people overcome medical challenges. In a nutshell, this encompasses an organization of over 60 people who specialize in separate areas of medicine to support patients.

EZ: Medicine is so much more complex than it was 10-20 years ago. That’s why the help we offer is mainly educational.

AS: Chaim Medical also provides access to information they wouldn’t otherwise have access to.

NH: It’s where to find the best doctor, the best hospital… what kind of questions to ask, how to prepare for an appointment…

RH: So, the average person who goes to the hospital, myself included, barely understands the technicalities of what is really happening. How does Chaim Medical change that?

EZ: I think people are surprised to hear the different questions we ask but, in many cases, it’s something mentioned during intake that proves crucial to the case.

NH: It often starts when somebody suspects they’re not feeling well and they don’t know where to begin. They call Chaim Medical and now they feel, wow, I’ve got somebody in my corner. I can rely on them to help me through it.

AS: Most of the time patients grant us access to their medical portal, which allows our well-trained medical coordinators to look into their case.

RH: So, what does the intake process look like?

EZ: Every patient is asked a sequence of detailed questions, which helps us categorize the case and ascertain its level of urgency. Next, they are assigned a case manager, an assistant case manager, and a medical coordinator. Every patient has three people constantly monitoring their case.

NH: They have an army behind them and they feel it. Just this week we had a challenge where tissue slides needed to be sent from one NYC hospital to another and the family was calling the hospital relentlessly, without success. You can imagine what the family was going through! Then one of our team members stepped in and said: I’ll take care of it. And it was transferred that very day. Now, this patient will likely receive treatment faster than they typically would. But that’s not the point.

AS: It’s that somebody took over the worry.

RH: If somebody receives an appointment far into the future, what should they do?

NJ: Take the appointment and then call us to expedite it.

NH: Not every case warrants an expedite, but when presented properly, doctors are usually happy to expedite appointments when necessary. It’s about understanding how the medical system works.

RH: This is somewhat of a sensitive question. Ultimately, none of you are doctors; why should somebody trust a seemingly amateur group to handle anything medical?

AS: They’re not amateurs and they’re not telling anyone what to do. They’re simply sharing Chaim Medical’s vast knowledge to help them make a decision.

RH: I know Chaim Medical has access to information, experimental treatments, and studies. How does that help?

NJ: People don’t generally think to seek an opinion from a hospital in Houston or Minneapolis. But a coordinator who researches this day in, day out, will know which hospital has dealt with something similar and they will reach out for an opinion.

NH: We’ve had many situations where doctors from top hospitals worldwide have consulted on a case because of our relationship with those doctors. It happens all the time.

EZ: We’ve been involved in complex neurosurgery cases where we got 10 opinions from around the world in 48 hours. So yes, these connections come into play and it’s comforting to know we can call upon them when needed.

RH: What categories does Chaim Medical deal with?

NH: There isn’t a category that they don’t deal with.

RH: So, there’s no area in which Chaim Medical is unable to dig deeper for a patient. Another sensitive question: Is there ever a situation where one should give up hope?

NH: Those words aren’t in our dictionary. I’ve yet to come to a circumstance where there weren’t any options. Not every situation ends happily, unfortunately, but we never stop trying.

RH: Please share a story where you reached to the ends of the earth for someone, because for a lot of people, this is beyond the scope of their imagination.

NH: We’ve been involved in cases where doctors called the family three to four times to come and say their goodbyes. And I think if it weren’t for Chaim Medical, it would have been just once. End of story. But we constantly asked, what do we have to do to get the patient through the next 24-hours? Over and over again. And then imagine hearing that the patient is coming home?! All you need is one story to realize that you should never give up and really, that’s what Chaim Medical is all about.

RH: True. It sounds like very intense work. What does it take to be a Chaim Medical team member?

AS: In one word, commitment. If the patient or their family needs you, you need to be available. We don’t like to say 24/7, but that’s what it is.

NH: Approximately 10% of our cases are urgent. And from our point of view, those cases are anytime, anywhere, anyplace. We’re always with you.

NJ: This is actually an important point. There are many things that don’t need to be dealt with immediately. As Nathan said, 10% of our cases are urgent, but the other 90% just need proper guidance.

RH: What do you wish people knew?

EZ: How much our team loves every community member. I don’t know 70% of the people we deal with and it doesn’t matter. I’ll stay up all night for whomever. If it’s a community member, if it’s a Jew, it’s my pleasure! And I think every team member is like that. The software rings on our phones day and night, so there is always somebody with you around the clock. It’s love for our fellow Jews during their time of need.

RH: What is the current caseload?

NH: We have 160+ active cases at any given time. And the list, unfortunately, keeps growing.

AS: The non-urgent cases require less input but there are 100 of those…

NH: Yes, and that’s just in our community. Chaim Medical, the parent organization of our division, deals with thousands of cases every day. The 160+ cases are from our division alone.

RH: I want to address another aspect because I’ve been there and I think it’s important. What can you advise a family member taking a patient to the hospital?

NH: Be prepared.

NJ: You’ve got to be really present. Pay attention, introduce yourself, say hello, say thank you.

EZ: Many times, we deal with complicated family dynamics, and we always recommend appointing one contact person for the family, so we can go back and forth and everybody can get the information from that one person.

NH: You know, something as small as asking for CDs after imaging. It’s a small thing but you know how much time that could save?

AS: The average person that is thrust into a medical issue doesn’t know what to do.

NH: And they don’t want to do it. Nobody wants to be sick. Nobody wants their family members to be sick. We recognize that if the roles were reversed, Gd forbid, we would need somebody to tell us what to do, too. There are a lot of emotions.

EZ: Many times, I’ll call a team member to review a case. Imagine, we’re doing this every day and I still sometimes need to bounce it off somebody else. How much more so does a clueless family member need to bounce it off somebody so they can figure out their next step.

RH: Also, some people get scared off by medical terms and they assume that if somebody in a lab coat said it, it’s written in stone.

NJ: You need to trust doctors, but you should take notes and you should review the case with someone knowledgeable.

AS: And there might be another doctor in a lab coat with another opinion.

NJ: To be sure, doctors save lives. We’re just facilitating the process and helping you find a doctor you can trust.

RH: Tell me about the skillset and dedication of your team.

NH: Dedication is really the first and foremost aspect. Never in my life have I seen a group as dedicated as the people working for Chaim Medical. Ezra and I get shocked every day, seeing how they go above and beyond for a community member in need.

RH: Do you have a parting message?

AS: We want the community to know that they don’t have to go through a medical crisis alone.

Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein Appointed as New York State Assembly Assistant Majority Whip

Community Magazine

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February 2023

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Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein Appointed as New York State Assembly Assistant Majority Whip

On the first day of the 2023 legislative session, NYS Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie announced the appointment of Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein as the new Assistant Majority Whip of the New York State Assembly.

“I am proud to have appointed Assemblymember Simcha Eichenstein to serve as Assistant Majority Whip for the Assembly Majority,” said Heastie. “He is a valued member of the Assembly and will be an asset to our leadership team. It is critical to me that our team be representative of the communities we serve, and I look forward to working with Assemblymember Eichenstein to lead New York forward in the term ahead.

“I am honored to have been appointed as Assistant Majority Whip and want to thank Speaker Heastie for entrusting me to carry out the duties inherent in this position,” said Assemblyman Eichenstein. “As always, I am committed to advocating for my constituents who have put their trust and faith in me by giving me the privilege of representing them in this great chamber. I will do my best to fulfill my responsibilities and will continue to work tirelessly on their behalf.

Assemblyman Eichenstein continued, “I am committed to working together with all members of the State Assembly to ensure a better and brighter future for all New Yorkers. Only by working together as a unified force can we successfully accomplish our goals for the people of this great state. Together we can achieve greatness.”

MDY HS Students Tour Mount Sinai Hospital

Last month, students from Magen David Yeshiva High School’s Medical Explorers Club visited Mount Sinai Hospital, located in Midwood, Brooklyn. As an acute care specialized hospital, the students had the rarest opportunity to walk straight through the entrance into the emergency room during its busiest hours. Both the Club Director, Dr. Jack Fatiha, MD, and Mr. Shimmy Braun, Senior Director at Mount Sinai Hospital Brooklyn, led the trip.

The students, accompanied by Ms. Sarah Gray, were intrigued by the fast-paced environment and the patients’ urgent needs. Dr. Peter Shearer, MD, Emergency Medicine Specialist, elaborated on some of the most common medical devices used in an ER, from the TeladocHealth (which makes use of virtual medical services) to a close-up view of a computed tomography (CT) scan.

The trip allowed the MDY students to get a firsthand look at emergency medicine, which is unusual for high school students who are not patients themselves. This was an eye-opening trip, which offered a special opportunity for students interested in a medical career.

Monthly Update from Assemblywoman Kim Eulner and Assemblywoman Marilyn Piperno

This month, we celebrate our first full year in office as the dutifully elected Assemblywomen of the 11th Legislative District. It is a tremendous honor to represent our constituents, and we are forever grateful for the trust bestowed upon us. We greatly look forward to another year of providing accountable and approachable leadership

A new year provides an opportunity to reflect on all that we have achieved on behalf of the people of New Jersey. However, it is also a reminder that there is much more to do – that fighting for the rights and freedoms of every individual in our state does not end with one year’s accomplishments

We have made it our mission to be readily available and willing to fight for you and your family 365 days a year. With the help of our incredible staff, we successfully introduced 90 pieces of legislation in our first year alone and had 17 co-sponsored bills signed by Governor Murphy. We also brought mobile office hours to 12 of our municipalities while securing assistance for constituents in need across the district

From day one, we have worked hard to make New Jersey safer and more affordable, advocating for reforms to improve residents’ quality of life. But despite our hard work, there is still much to be done. So now, more than ever, is the time to stand together and work towards a common goal – to improve the state we call home and make New Jersey more accessible and livable for all its citizens for years to come.

Bringing the Torah With Us Into the Modern Age

Community Magazine

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February 2023

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Bringing the Torah With Us Into the Modern Age

This month, we begin reading the section of the Torah that describes the Mishkan – the portable Sanctuary which Gd commanded our ancestors to construct at Mount Sinai. This structure served as the site of sacrificial offerings throughout the 40 years of travel in the wilderness, and even after Beneh Yisrael entered the Land of Israel, until the construction of the permanent Bet Hamikdash in Jerusalem.

At the center of the Mishkan stood the aron – the wooden, gold-plated ark which contained the two stone tablets which Moshe received atop Mount Sinai, and upon which Gd had engraved the commandments. It also contained the first ever written Sefer Torah.

Rabbenu Bahya (Spain, 1255-1340) comments that the aron is given this name because it contains the Torah, our source of light (“or”). We might say, tongue-and-cheek, that the word “aron” means “lightbox.” It is the box which radiates the spiritual light of the Torah upon the nation.

There is, however, something startling about the aron that requires explanation. Namely, it was kept hidden, and hardly ever seen. Gd commanded placing the aron in the kodesh kodashim – the inner chamber of the Mishkan, which was set off from the rest of the structure by a cloth partition called the parochet. The ark thus remained concealed. Nobody was ever permitted to enter this chamber, except the kohen gadol, who was allowed there one day a year – on Yom Kippur, to sprinkle the blood of the special atonement sacrifices toward the ark. And even then, he had to first create a cloud of smoke by offering incense inside the kodesh kodashim so that he would not see the ark.

Oddly, the holiest and most important feature of the Mishkan, which symbolized the light of the Torah which is to shine upon the Jewish Nation, was never seen. It was hidden behind a curtain.

Why? Should the aron not have been on public display for everyone to see upon coming to the holy site? If it is the most important of the all the articles in the Mishkan – and, later, in the Bet Hamikdash – then why was it kept concealed behind a partition?

The Immutable Torah

Rav Zalman Sorotzkin (1881-1966), in his classic Torah commentary, Oznayim LaTorah, offers an insightful answer.

All other fields of knowledge, he explains, evolve. Scholars in every generation carefully study and scrutinize the conclusions of earlier scholars, questioning their theories and ideas, and making new discoveries. The science of the 20th century is quickly being replaced by an updated, 21-century science. This is true of every field.

The Torah, however, is immutable. We do not update or question our sacred text. One of the famous 13 articles of faith listed by the Rambam is that the Torah we have received will never be exchanged. We upgrade our phones and our cars, but not our religion. Like a sturdy tree that remains firmly in place even during the fiercest storms, the Torah that Moshe brought us at Mount Sinai remains with us permanently, its original form, continually withstanding the gale force winds of change that are blowing all around it.

This, Rav Sorotzkin explains, is the message of the aron which remains hidden and protected inside the inner chamber of the Temple. The concealment of the aron represents the need to protect the Torah against attempts to reform it, to erase some of the text and add new text. The original text is to be kept hidden inside the inner chamber of the Bet Hamikdash, where no people ever go, to teach us that we must carefully preserve the Torah in its authentic, original form, and to firmly reject all attempts to tamper with it, to “update” it to conform with modern trends.

The Ark’s “Feet”

Someone might then ask, does this not consign the Torah to irrelevance? If the Torah remains static and immutable, then how does it maintain its importance even today, several millennia after it was first given? Does this ancient text really have to what say in the 21st century, when life is so drastically different than it was at the time of Matan Torah?

The answer, of course, is a resounding “yes.”

The Torah commands affixing to the ark four rings (“taba’ot”), through which wooden poles were inserted so that the ark could be transported when necessary. These rings are to be positioned “al arba pa’amotav” (Shemot 25:12) – on its four “pa’amot,” a word which most commentators explain to mean “corners.”

However, Rav Avraham Ibn Ezra (Spain, 1092-1167) notes that the word “pa’amot” is never used anywhere in Tanach in reference to corners. Boldly disagreeing with the majority of the commentators, Ibn Ezra asserts that the word “pa’amot” actually means “feet.” Thus, for example, the verse in Shir Hashirim (7:2) states, “Mah yafu fea’amayich bene’alim – How beautiful are your steps in shoes…” Similarly, a verse in Tehillim (85:14) says about the Almighty, “…veyasem lederech pe’amav – He directs his steps toward the road.” In both these contexts, the root p.a.m. denotes walking. Accordingly, Ibn Ezra posits that when the Torah commands affixing rings to the four “pa’amot” of the aron, this means that they are to be placed near the aron’s feet. Ibn Ezra explains that it would be disrespectful to place the sacred ark directly on the floor, and thus, necessarily, it had four “feet,” protrusions on each corner, on which it stood.

What might be the significance of the aron’s “feet”? Assuming that Ibn Ezra is correct, and the ark did not lie directly on the ground, what might we learn from this intriguing feature of the most sacred article in the Bet Hamikdash?

The “Walking” Torah

Later writers observed that the sources cited by Ibn Ezra to prove this meaning of the word “pa’amot” actually refer not to feet, but, more specifically, to steps. The “feet” implied by the word “pa’amot” are not stationary, but rather moving forward, marching toward a destination.

The aron’s “feet” signify the fact that although the Torah is unchanging, it comes with us wherever we go. Throughout our long, tumultuous history, the Jewish Nation has lived in many different places, among many different kinds of societies, under many different sets of circumstances, and under many different sorts of spiritual, ideological and cultural influences. And wherever we were, we brought the Torah with us. The Torah remains forever concealed and protected inside the ark, so-to-speak, but the ark does not stay in only one place. It comes with us wherever we go, throughout our journey through history.

One who reads halachic responsa by the leading Torah luminaries of the modern age, such as Rav Moshe Feinstein (1895-1986), Rav Ovadia Yosef (1920-2013) and Rav Eliezer Waldenberg (1915-2006), will not see questions about horses and buggies, or about ancient methods of agriculture. The questions they masterfully address concern things like electrical devices, in vitro fertilization, cutting-edge medical procedures, telephones, cars, airplanes, and so on. And while these and other great scholars often disagree, and reach different conclusions, their essays have one thing in common: they never reply to their questioner that the Torah has nothing to say about the topic. Instead, they draw from our ancient scholarly tradition in an attempt to apply the timeless principles of halachah to modern-day realities. As humankind has entered the modern era, we Jews have brought the Torah with us, protected in its ark, preserving it in its original form. It continues to guide us and inform our decisions to this very day, just as it did for our ancestors in the wilderness, and for every generation of Jews since. As the Jewish Nation marches through history, the Torah marches with us.

The image of the “walking Torah” is instructive in another respect, as well.

It instructs that we must bring the Torah with us wherever we go throughout our day. We don’t leave Judaism behind in the synagogue when we work, tend to our families, go on vacation, socialize, or do anything else. The Torah has “feet” because it must accompany us to the office, to our homes, on our trips, in restaurants, and everywhere we go. Everything we do, from the time we wake up until the moment we close our eyes at night, must be informed and governed by the Torah’s timeless values and laws.

The “walking Torah” also accompanies us throughout every stage of life. The Torah teaches us what to do as youngsters in school and yeshiva, as we get married and enter the workforce, as we raise children, as we help our children get married, and when we retire. We recite each night in the arvit service before the reading of Shema, “Ki hem hayenu ve’orech yamenu – for they [the words of the Torah] are our lives and the length of our days.” Throughout our lives, and day in and day out, the Torah accompanies us and shows us the right way to conduct ourselves.

Our world today is changing at a dizzying pace. Technologies which are considered cutting-edge become obsolete in a matter of a few short years. Cultural fads come and go, and newfangled ideas are always coming fresh onto the scene. The Torah is and always was our anchor, our source of stability in our rapidly changing world. When we commit ourselves to halachic observance and to the Torah’s ideals and values, we always know what to believe and how to act regardless of what the world around us is doing. Let us, then, strengthen this commitment, and devote ourselves to hang tightly to the “tree of life” that has always withstood and will always withstand even the most powerful cultural winds.

Jewish Boys Chased by Thugs with Tasers in Flatbush

Community Magazine

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January 2023

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Jewish Boys Chased by Thugs with Tasers in Flatbush

Several men, one armed with a taser, chased a group of Jewish boys in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn last month. “Run Jews, get out of here!” the men reportedly yelled while chasing the boys near Avenue J and East 16th Street, according to Shmira Public Safety.

The incident comes amidst an ongoing wave of anti-Semitic violence in New York City. The New York City Police Department released data showing an 125 percent increase in anti Semitic hate crimes during the month of November.

On December 4, a Jewish man and his son were shot with a BB gun while leaving a kosher supermarket in Staten Island, leading to the arrest of twenty-five-year old Jason Kish on charges of assault, child endangerment, and committing a hate crime. The NYPD also recently arrested a 17-year-old suspected of striking two young Orthodox men before taking off on an electric Citi Bike.

“Everyone has to be vigilant and aware of their surroundings,” a spokesperson for Flatbush Shomrim Safety Patrol said. In April, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), reported that more anti-Semitic incidents are recorded in New York than in any other state, accounting for “an astounding 15 percent of the total reported anti-Semitic incidents across the country

The Rochelle Gemal A”H Educational Center

Community Magazine

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January 2023

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My wife and I would like to share with your readers our experience with the Rochelle Gemal A”H Educational Center in Yeshivat Keter Torah.

Our son was a weak student in Gemara. We hired a tutor to help him, and Baruch Hashem, he was doing a lot better. Then, Covid hit, and I got laid off from my job. Virtual learning was hard on everyone, and we looked forward to in-person class starting again. School xresumed in person again and the kids were adjusting beautifully. There was just one issue – we no longer could afford to hire a Gemara tutor and our son started to fall behind. That’s where the RG Educational fund kicked in. They matched us up with a rebbe and once again our son’s marks were up. The rebbe taught him the necessary skills and he no longer needs tutoring! We are overwhelmed with gratitude to the organization.

For more information about utilizing the services of the RG Educational Fund or to sponsor a session for a student please call Rabbi Norman Cohen 908-917-3901, or Mitchell Gemal
732-829-0794

It’s Not All or Nothing

Community Magazine

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January 2023

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I was asked the following question: “I thought I had bitachon [trust in Hashem]. I am constantly telling people that Hashem is great and is always taking care of us. But when a problem comes up in my own life, I lose it. I become nervous and worried. So, of what value are all my lessons in emunah? What good are they if they do not help me when I confront a personal problem?”

I answered that each and every lesson in emunah that we learn and internalize is valuable beyond estimation. Emunah is not an “all or nothing” enterprise. Whatever we accomplish is immensely significant, even if there is room for us to grow further.

I once heard a remarkable story from Rav Fishel Schachter that beautifully illustrates this point. There was once a certain Rabbi who was a towering scholar, spending all his time learning, teaching, and writing. He composed pages upon pages of chiddushim (novel Torah insights) which he very much wished to have printed. The nearest printing press was overseas, and so he summoned a student and entrusted him with his precious pages. “Please take this, my life’s work, overseas and have it printed. Guard it with every fiber of your being.”

The student was petrified, being entrusted with such a priceless treasure, but he agreed. Soon after he set sail, a violent storm broke out at sea, and the ship began to capsize. Fortunately, the student somehow managed to survive, but his Rabbi’s papers were lost.

He returned home and told his peers what had happened. The students were all very frightened. How could they break such terrible news to their dear Rabbi? How could they tell him that his life’s work was lost forever?

One boy devised a plan. The next day, when the Rabbi entered the classroom, this student raised his hand to ask a question. He mentioned the Mishnah’s comment (Berachot 60b), “Just as we bless [Hashem] for the good, so do we bless [Hashem] for the bad.” The student asked, “How is this possible? How can one bless Hashem over misfortune just as he blesses Hashem for joyous events?”

“What do you mean?” the Rabbi asked. “Everything Hashem does is good! There is never anything ‘bad’!”

Another student raised his hand and asked, “But what if such and such happens?”

The Rabbi repeated what he had said, this time more emphatically: “Everything Hashem does is good! If something happens, then, of course, this is the best thing for the person.”

One by one, the students raised their hands to ask what the Rabbi would say if this calamity struck or that calamity struck. The Rabbi grew red in the face repeating himself with greater and greater emotion that Hashem is good, and we thus can and must bless Him and be grateful for everything, even for that which might initially appear as bad.

Finally, a boy spoke up and informed the Rabbi that his papers were lost at sea. The Rabbi heard the news and promptly fainted.

The boys realized that their plan had failed. They thought they could prepare their Rabbi for the devastating news, but it didn’t work.

They revived the rabbi and then apologized, explaining that they had hoped to prepare him by speaking about this theme of trusting that everything Hashem does is good, but apparently their efforts were inadequate.

“What do you mean?” the Rabbi replied. “At least I woke up. Who knows what would have happened if you hadn’t prepared me!”

There are thousands of levels of bitachon, and every lesson we learn and contemplate brings us to a higher level, and is thus immensely meaningful and significant.