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Voiceitt Breaks Down Communication Barriers

Dr. Rachel Levy

Just imagine opening your mouth to speak, but finding your lips don’t close when they need to. Your tongue doesn’t move where you want it to go. And strangers can’t understand you.

Unfortunately, this scenario is an everyday occurrence for people with motor speech impairments, which are often the result of cerebral palsy, stroke, Down’s Syndrome, Parkinson’s Disease, and ALS. Speakers try to communicate with others but fail to convey their message. Even smart home devices can’t understand them. A simple command like “play my favorite song” goes unanswered. This is a reality that many people with speech disabilities contend with daily, but Voiceitt is working to change that reality. 

A Breakthrough Propelled by Love

Voiceitt is a voice technology startup and social enterprise based in Israel. Fifteen years ago, co-founder Danny Weissberg’s safta (grandmother) had a stroke. He clearly remembers the pain and sadness he felt because he could no longer communicate with her. Safta would open her mouth to speak, but the family could not understand her. The only person who knew exactly what Safta was saying was the nurse. That was Danny’s “eureka” moment: If the nurse could understand Safta and many others like her, then AI (artificial intelligence) could be trained to do the same. That’s when the idea for Voiceitt was born and developed in Ramat Gan, Israel.

Voiceitt uses artificial intelligence as a means of understanding non-standard speech patterns and converting them into easily understood speech and text. Currently, Voiceitt has a free iOS app with two main functions, interpersonal communication and smart home control with Alexa integration. The unique integration with Alexa allows users to communicate directly with Alexa through the Voiceitt app, making the interactions seamless and efficient. The app requires the user to train each phrase and use them to communicate with others and their smart home technology. 

A benefit of the app for users who find speaking difficult is that the user can train short words or phrases to trigger the app to output longer sentences. For example, if the user wants to order a hamburger made a certain way, all he needs to do is train the word “hamburger” and program the app to “say” the extended order out loud. 

Voiceitt Users Speak Up

Alex Lytwin, a Voiceitt user, describes the experience of living with a disability and how Voiceitt helps him: “Having Cerebral Palsy and a speech impairment can cause many struggles on a daily basis. However, Voiceitt allows me to speak with ease and lets the world see my entire life’s potential.” For some, the current app does not quite meet their needs.

Barbara, who was diagnosed with ALS, a disease causing progressive deterioration of the muscles, writes, I’m seeking deeper communication with my partner and friends.” Barbara will be among the first users to test the next generation of Voiceitt innovation.

A New Win-Win for Ensemble Community Members 

Voiceitt has been collecting non-standard speech samples in a proprietary database called Ensemble. The database allows the automatic speech recognition technology to learn the different ways people can pronounce words and learn to recognize non-standard speech. As the database increases and expands with more audio data, Voiceitt’s technology advances. Voiceitt invites more people with non-standard speech (clinically called “dysarthria”) to join Ensemble. Those who join will be a part of the Ensemble community who have done their part in enhancing speech recognition for all while removing barriers to communication. Ensemble members, by recording their voices, will have the chance to be among the first to experience the newest technology by joining a closed cohort of beta users.

Currently, Voiceitt is beta testing the next generation of speech recognition technology, offering select beta testers and those who have completed 1,000 recordings in Ensemble a unique spontaneous speech recognition web-based tool that will work on any device that can open a web browser. The technology will allow speakers to communicate freely on video calls with live transcriptions, transcribing emails, or ordering a pizza!

Partnering for Success

Voiceitt was born out of a seemingly impossible dream to create a communication solution for millions worldwide with non-standard speech who are not being served by existing voice products. The goal was to develop technology to support those individuals’ unique speech patterns. Voiceitt’s partners now include Yoocan, an Israeli-based empowerment and community resource for people with disabilities and their families, and AMIT Technion, which invests in exceptional biomedical innovations conceived by Technion students, faculty, and alumni (co-founders Danny Weissberg and Stas Tiomkin are both alumni).

 Voiceitt’s investors include Amazon, Microsoft, and AARP. The company is also working with state governments, such as the Department of Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities in Tennessee, to bring Voiceitt’s groundbreaking technology to people with speech and motor impairments, to enable them to contribute to society and to enter the workforce. 

Members of the public can now be a part of this effort to bring accessible speech recognition technology to all, regardless of speech ability. Voiceitt invites people with dysarthric speech to join Ensemble and contribute to the next generation of continuous speech recognition. Additionally, Voiceitt seeks investors to join their efforts in building    sophisticated technologies that remove barriers to communication for all. To further the initiative, Voiceitt also works with college interns seeking to be a part of the voice equity revolution and to join an impactful Israel-based startup.  

For those who have experienced a breakdown in communication with a loved one or who have experienced the frustration of not being understood, Voiceitt is an excellent resource to help them to be listened to and understood. For more information, please visit voiceitt.com.

Dr. Rachel Levy is a practicing speech-language pathologist and customer success manager at Voiceitt. She is a proud Magen David Yeshiva alumnus, and  is wife to Cantor Shmuel Levy of the Edmond J. Safra Synagogue in Manhattan. Please connect with her at Rachel.Levy@voiceitt.com

If I Keep Asking – Will I Lose My Merits?

Everything is accomplished through tefillah. Rav Shimshon Pincus writes that even if a person is deserving of a certain blessing or salvation, he will not receive it unless he asks for it. This is the system that Hashem set in place because He wants us to turn to Him in prayer.

There are several reasons why people do not constantly ask Hashem for what they want. Some people feel that they do not wish to use their limited supply of merits by asking Hashem to give them what they want. This rationale, however, is based on a fundamental misconception. Our Sages teach that a person forfeits merits only when a miracle occurs. Ordinary blessings that come through the natural system are not “changed” to a person’s account of merits. And the Maharsha, in his commentary (Kiddushin 29b), writes that anything one receives as a result of prayer is not considered a miracle. Therefore, one does not use up any merits by asking Hashem for something. In fact, it is specifically through the merit of his tefillah that he will be granted his request.

Another reason why some people do not ask Hashem for what they want is because they do not want to feel indebted to Him. Rabbi Yosef Zalman Bloch noted that this reason is entirely without validity, and, in fact, is ludicrous. We already receive infinitely more from Hashem than we deserve; everything we have, without exception, is from Him. By saying that we do not ask too much so we do not feel indebted, we are in essence denying how much we are already indebted to Him.

Rav Bloch drew an analogy to a very wealthy man who was driving and saw what looked like a pile of rags on the side of the road. He told his driver to pull over, and it turned out that it was a destitute, gravely ill Jew wearing tattered clothes who had collapsed and was freezing. The man brought this person to the hospital, where it was discovered that he suffered from sixteen different maladies. The wealthy man covered all this person’s medical expenses and he received the treatment he needed. When the man was discharged from the hospital, he thanked the wealthy man and told him that he was homeless and had nowhere to go. The wealthy man gave him a position in the company with a handsome salary, and the man was finally able to buy a home and respectable clothing. He then gave him his daughter in marriage.

At the end of the last sheva berachot celebration, the wealthy man turned to his new son-in-law and offered him a cup of tea. The groom politely declined.

“Why not?” the father-in-law asked, curiously. “You always enjoy a cup of tea after your meal.”

“I prefer not,” the groom said, “because I don’t want to feel too indebted to you.”

“What?!” the father-in-law bellowed. “You don’t want to feel indebted?!  Everything you have is because of me. If I had not taken care of you, you would have died a long time ago. Your job, your house, your car, your wife, your very life – it’s all because of me. And you’re concerned about a cup of tea?”

This is our situation vis-à-vis Hashem. He gives us everything, and we already owe Him far more than we can ever imagine. If we refrain from asking Him for favors out of fear of being indebted, we are, in effect, being ungrateful, showing that we do not already feel indebted.

When we ask Hashem for a favor, we are asking for His compassion, and this is how we honor Him: by showing Him that we need and rely on Him for everything. This is what He wants, and this is how we achieve everything in life.

Open Communication is the Key

Dr. Yossi Shafer

You’ve heard it before: communication is key for a healthy relationship. 

It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? But in real life, many couples have a hard time communicating effectively, often without knowing why.  

Consider this fairly typical scenario: 

Mazal has had a rough day. The kids are acting up, her boss yelled at her for missing a deadline, she ran out of a key ingredient while cooking dinner. The rice burned and the cleaning help never showed up. To top it all off, her husband Ezra is late and she’s facing bath and bedtime alone, with skyrocketing stress levels. 

When Ezra finally walks through the door, he’s accosted by a disheveled wife, an upside-down house, an empty dinner table, and overtired kids bouncing off the walls. He starts to observe his surroundings and says with a chuckle – “Wow, smells smoky in here!” – which completely sets Mazal off. She thrusts the baby at him and stomps off to cool down, leaving Ezra bewildered and hurt… not to mention hungry and overwhelmed. Within a few minutes, he’s angry, too, shutting down, stewing in thoughts of, “Why didn’t she even say hello to me?!” “All I did was make a joke and there she goes again, always angry and miserable.” “To top it all off, I was the one hustling at the office since 8am.”  

What Happened Here? 

Mazal didn’t have a second for herself all day long. She was constantly attending to her frustrating job during working hours, then to the needs of her children and the home after work. On top of this, all day she kept thinking of how she could meet the needs of her husband once he got home.  

Ezra walks in late, doesn’t acknowledge anything Mazal did that day, and offers a single offhand comment that makes Mazal feel belittled and unappreciated. Mazal’s needs at that moment were a simple acknowledgment and appreciation of her work, which were unmet during every passing minute as Ezra was still not home yet, and he didn’t even bother texting her he was running late. His innocent remark ignited that slow-burning fury, unwittingly making her feel misunderstood and overlooked.  

The entire fiasco could have been mitigated had Mazal been open and vulnerable from the start –  (“I had a terrible day; can you please take the kids so I can take a breather?”). Ezra – who loves her, but couldn’t have known how awful she was feeling – would have responded with compassion rather than judgment, anger, or passive-aggressiveness. 

Learn About Each Other – Accept Each Other 

The crux of a relationship is mutual openness between spouses. As human beings, we crave the ability to be ourselves and to be loved and accepted for who we are. To foster a healthy marriage, each spouse needs to learn about the other’s needs, values, vulnerabilities, and what’s important to them. Assumptions and attempts at mind-reading impede those relationship-building abilities. 

It’s human nature to avoid the risk of pain, and often our thoughts and emotions run away with us. When a spouse is afraid to share his or her feelings, he or she will avoid doing so – as resentment builds up. The trouble is that people often assume that those closest to them automatically know what they want or what they’re experiencing: he knows I’m trying to lose weight, why did he tempt me with my favorite cake? All I wanted for my birthday was some quiet time together, why did she throw a big party and buy a fancy present? He knows I want to try out that new restaurant, why does he keep blowing me off? 

Many couples who seek counseling express similar sentiments: I want to make my spouse happy, but whatever I try backfires. 

That’s because everyone has different preferences, needs, and emotions, and spouses often assume – wrongly – that they know what their partner wants, based on their own experiences and desires. The clichés are clichés for a reason, because there is some truth to them: generally, men are from Mars, women are from Venus; men express their love and care by problem-solving, while women show their love by offering emotional support. So when a wife vents about her tough day at work (seeking validation and sympathy) and her husband responds with logical solutions, she feels misunderstood (why can’t he give me what I need?) and he gets frustrated (why doesn’t she appreciate my advice?). 

The pasuk in Parashat Beresheet says that Adam knew Chava. In marriage, spouses need to know each other – and the simplest way to accomplish that is by creating an open space for both to express their needs without fear of rejection, judgment, or hurt feelings. This concept applies to people in every type of relationship, including the parent – child relationship – from a slightly different angle – which we will address next month.

Dr. Yossi Shafer, PhD is the clinical director and a clinical psychologist at Empower Health Center, a private practice of multispecialty psychotherapists. They have offices in Deal/Long Branch and Lakewood and can be reached at (732) 666-9898 or office@empowerhealthcenter.net. 

Torah Prophecies and Predictions

Rabbi Adi Cohen 

The eternal existence of the Jewish People, despite all the upheavals and hardships that they have suffered, is truly miraculous. But what makes the wonder of Jewish survival especially awe-inspiring is the fact that this miracle was predicted already in the Torah. The Torah foresaw the exiles, the persecution, the dispersion across the world, the reduction of the nation’s population – and its eternal survival against all odds.

The Four Corners of the Earth 

In the Book of Devarim, the Torah warns of the calamities that would befall the nation as punishment for betraying Gd, and states: “Gd will scatter you among all the nations, from one end of the earth to the other” (Devarim 28:64). We are told that the Jews would be exiled from their land and dispersed throughout the world. History bears witness to the fulfillment of this prophecy; there is hardly a place on earth without any Jews residing there. No other nation has been exiled to every possible civilization. Only the Jewish Nation, which is, by nature, close-knit, and thus could be least expected to spread out, has been scattered to the four corners of the earth. 

The Torah continues: “And there you will serve other deities which are unknown to you and your forefathers, deities of wood and stone” – meaning, the Jews in exile will be subservient to worshipers of other deities, and subjected to forced labor, such that they will, in a sense, be considered as worshipping foreign deities. As Rashi explains: “They will not serve the actual deities themselves, but rather will pay taxes in the form of forced labor.” These foreign deities will have been previously unknown to the exiled Jews and their forebears, and these faiths will be represented by “wood and stone.” 

Two new religions emerged after the Jewish Nation’s exile – Christianity and Islam. The symbol of Christianity is the wooden cross, and that of Islam is the stone in Mecca. These are new religions which the Jews and their forefathers never knew, and to which they were subservient throughout the centuries of exile. 

The Exile Within Exile 

In this same section, the Torah warns: “And you will remain few in number, instead of your once being as numerous as the stars of the heavens, because you did not obey…” (Devarim 28:62). The Jews’ population in exile will be exceedingly small, but they will survive. Logically, of course, the larger a nation’s population, the greater its chances of survival; and the smaller the population, the greater the risk of extinction, for several reasons, including the simple fact that it is more difficult for people to find a suitable mate. Sure enough, throughout our nation’s exile, its population was small, numbering  just 17 million at its peak,  and dwindling to just about 1 million during its darkest periods. 

The Torah continues: “And among those nations, you will not be calm, nor will your foot find rest” (ibid. 65). The nations among whom the Jewish People will be scattered will not allow them peace or stability; as we know from Jewish history, the Jews were driven from country to country, rarely finding a safe, secure haven. 

This phenomenon of an “exile within an exile” – a nation in exile being driven from one country to another – is unparalleled. No other nation has been exiled and then expelled from the land to where it was exiled. This phenomenon also belies logic; there is no explanation for why self-respecting governments, such as France, England, Spain, Germany, Russia, and others, forcibly expelled their innocent Jewish citizens. What human being could have possibly predicted that different nations, with completely different mentalities, would all behave the same way in respect to one particular matter – their attitude toward the Jews? 

The “Stupidity” of Anti-Semitism 

The Torah continues in the same section: “And your life will hang in suspense before you; You will be in fear night and day, and you will not trust your life. In the morning, you will say, ‘If only it were evening!’ and in the evening, you will say, ‘If only it were morning!’ because of the fear in your heart which you will experience and because of the sights that you will behold” (Devarim 28:66-67). 

The Torah alludes in this passage to the phenomenon of anti-Semitism, which has no parallel in world history. Professor Yosef ben Shlomo, in an essay written for officers of the Israeli Defense Forces, writes:  

This hatred [of the Jews] is principled and unconditional, and therefore depends on no factors…not on any economic situation, not on societal conditions, not on the type of government and not on its relationship to the Jews, not on their success and not on their lack of appeal, not on failure and not on progress, for we have had experience in all these circumstances, and the hatred remains… 

They hate us with the complaint that we are too good, and on the other hand, because we are bloodsuckers; because we are separate, and because we are too involved. They hate us in periods of economic prosperity, and persecute us in times of economic depression. The monarchy is disgusted by us, and so is the dictatorship, and the democracy. In times of anarchy we are the first prey of the looters. They view us as responsible for every disaster, and unnecessary for any success; they beat the one who bends to them and attack the one who walks upright; they prevent the observance of our religion, but will not accept one bent on assimilation; at every moment and in every situation, they have a reason to hate the Jews. 

In 1923, David Lloyd George, who had served as Prime Minister of Britain, was quoted as saying:  

Of all the bigotries that savage the human temper there is none as stupid as the antisemitic. In the sight of these fanatics, Jews of today can do nothing right. If they are rich, they are birds of prey. If they are poor, they are vermin. If they are in favor of war, that is because they want to exploit the bloody feuds of gentiles to their own profit. If they are anxious for peace, they are either instinctive cowards or traitors. If he lives in a strange land, he must be persecuted and pogrommed out of it. If he wants to go back to his own, he must be prevented.

“A Topic of Discussion” 

The Torah describes further: “And you will become an astonishment, an example, and a topic of discussion, among all the peoples to whom Gd will bring you” (ibid. 37). 

Rashi explains the phrase “an astonishment” (“leshamah”) to mean that people will be baffled and astonished by the hardships and suffering that the Jewish Nation will endure. And “an example” (“lemashal”), Rashi writes, means that “when some terrible calamity befalls someone, people will say: ‘This is like the trouble that happened to so-and-so’.” Meaning, the Jewish People will serve as an example of every kind of disaster and misfortune. They will also be “a topic of discussion” – meaning, people will speak about them. The Jews will always be the focus of people’s attention, and they will be rigorously scrutinized, with people eagerly looking to identify their faults. 

It seems bizarre that a tiny nation, scattered throughout the world, would be the focus of people’s attention and consistently subject to scrutiny. Such a prediction sounds utterly irrational. And yet, history has proven the accuracy of the Torah’s words. In every generation, the entire world spoke about the Jews; and in our day, of course, Jews are always highlighted on the news and are continually the subject of conversation. 

Mark Twain wrote in 1899: “If statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of stardust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people.” 

A nation that will suffer countless exiles, oppression, hostility – even the “final solution” of complete annihilation – could be expected to disappear from the world. Yet, the Torah promises that against all odds, and contrary to all reason and laws of history, the Jewish People will survive: “But despite all this, while they are in the land of their enemies, I will not despise them, nor will I be repulsed by them to annihilate them, thereby breaking My covenant that is with them…” (Vayikra 26:44).  

Additionally, the prophet Malachi wrote: “For I, Gd, have not changed; and you, the sons of Yaakov, have not reached the end” (Malachi 3:6). The Rambam, in his Iggeret Teman (“Epistle to Yemen”), explains: “Just as it is impossible that the existence of Gd could be nullified, so too, it is impossible that we should be lost and nullified from the world.” 

These explicit promises, and others like them, appear throughout the books of the Torah and the Prophets. They promise that the Jewish People will be few in number, scattered among the nations, persecuted and hated, but they will nevertheless survive forever.  

The Land’s Desolation  

The Torah describes the Land of Israel as “a good land, a land with brooks of water, fountains and springs that flow in valleys and mountains; a land of wheat and barley, of vines, figs and pomegranates; a land of oil-producing olives and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, you will lack nothing in it” (Devarim 8:7-9). 

Even before Beneh Yisrael entered the Land of Israel, they were told that it is a fertile land, suitable for development and agriculture, a land with the necessary water sources, a flourishing land whose inhabitants will “lack nothing.” Elsewhere, however, the Torah states that when the Jewish Nation will be exiled, “I will make the Land desolate, so that it will become desolate also of your enemies who live in it… Your land will be desolate, and your cities will be laid to waste” (Vayikra 26:32—33). During the nation’s exile, the land will be empty. 

The Torah foresaw that when the Jewish people will reside in their homeland, it will blossom, but when they live in exile, it will be desolate – not only without Jews, but also without enemy nations. 

This prediction runs contrary to all historical experience and logic. In the natural order of things, once a nation is conquered, the new settlers come and exploit the land’s resources and take full advantage of its economic potential. And let us not forget that the Land of Israel is sacred not only to the Jews, but also to millions upon millions of Christians and Muslims. Moreover, it is located at the meeting point of three continents – Asia, Europe, and Africa, such that it has great strategic importance as a transportation route. Additionally, the climate is mild and the soil is fertile, making it a desirable place to live. 

Yet, the Torah foresaw that after the Jews were banished from the land, it would remain desolate and undeveloped. 

The Ramban, in his Torah commentary, explains that “in all our exiles, the land will not accept our enemies. This is also a great proof and promise for us, for nowhere else in civilization will you find a land that is good and spacious, which had always been settled, that is as desolate as the Land of Israel. Everyone tries to settle there, and no one is successful.”  

The Modern-Day Blossoming of the Land of Israel 

Did the promise that the Land of Israel will flourish when the Jews reside there come true? 

The historian Josephus Flavius, who lived during the Second Commonwealth and saw the Land of Israel before its destruction, writes in The Wars of the Jews 

 

It is a rich land with ample pasture, with numerous fruit trees and a wealth of grain that attracts men from far away who love agriculture. The entire land is tilled by its inhabitants; there is no desolate stretch of land anywhere. Because of the land’s great fertility, the cities and villages of the Galilee are very populous; the smallest village has 15,000 inhabitants. 

What happened to the Land of Israel once the Jews left? Did it lie desolate, as the Torah predicted?  

Famous tourists who visited the land in the 19th century described what they witnessed. 

  1. V. Schultz writes: “And what is the current state of Palestine? It has turned into a desert in comparison to its former, usual fertility. In our travel, we were forced more than once to hike for hours until we found a shady place to rest under a tree.”

Mark Twain, who visited the Holy Land in 1867, writes in Innocents Abroad: “Arrived at an elevation of twelve hundred feet above the lake (Sea of Galilee); as bald and unthrilling a panorama as any land can afford, perhaps, was spread out before us.” He continues: “Desolation is here that not even imagination can grace with the pomp of life and action… We never saw a human being on the whole route…hardly a tree or shrub anywhere. Even the olive tree and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country.” 

In another place he describes: “Palestine sits in sackcloth and ashes. Over it broods the spell of a curse that has withered its fields and fettered its energies.” He concludes: “Palestine is no more of this work-day world. It is sacred to poetry and tradition – it is dream land.” 

Professor Sir John William Dawson writes in 1888: “Until today no people have succeeded in becoming settled as a nation in Palestine. No national entity or national spirit has acquired a foothold there. That mixed multitude of sparse tribes that dwell there hold onto the land only as sharecroppers, temporary owners, and it appears as if they are awaiting those with the right to permanent ownership of the land to return.” 

Now, what happened to the Land of Israel when the Jews returned to it? Did it again flourish and bring forth fruits? 

To answer this question, we need only take a look around the Land of Israel today and feast our eyes on the green fields and blossoming fruit trees that fill the length and breadth of the Land, and take a walk in the modern cities, where we can only be amazed by the skyscrapers and enormous bridges. And to think that all this took place within only 100 years! 

Such an important event in the history of the Jewish People should certainly be foretold by one of the prophets, and sure enough, the prophet Yehezkel foresaw thousands of years ago the land’s return to prosperity when the Jews return, describing it as if it happened right before his eyes: 

Mountains of Israel, hearken to the word of Gd… So said the L-rd Gd to the mountains and to the hills, to the streams and to the valleys, to the desolate ruins and to the deserted cities, which became a scorn and a mockery among the remnant of the nations that are around… And you, the mountains of Israel, will produce your branches, and you will bear your fruit for My people, Israel, because they are about to come… and you will be tilled and sown. And I shall multiply men upon you, the whole house of Israel in its entirety, and the cities will be settled, and the ruins will be built up.” (Yehezkel 36:1-10) 

Yehezkel prophesies that once the Jews return, the Land will bear fruit and prosper as it had in the past. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 98a) adds that the flourishing of the Land of Israel is a sure sign of redemption: “Rabbi Abba said: There can be no more manifest sign of the imminent redemption than that which is said: ‘And you, the mountains of Israel, will produce your branches, and you will bear your fruit for My people, Israel, because they are about to come’.” 

Rabbi Shmuel Ideles, the Maharsha, comments on this Talmudic passage: “As long as the Jewish people are not in their land, it does not yield its fruits the way it should. However, when it goes back to yielding fruits, this is a revelation of the imminent redemption and that the Jewish people will return to their Land.” 

The Torah and the Prophets promised thousands of years ago that the Land of Israel will flourish only when the Jewish people inhabit it – and we see today with our own eyes how this promise has been fulfilled. 

Rabbi Adi Cohen is the head of Maagley Yosher educational institutions, who has educated hundreds of students over 

the years.

The eternal existence of the Jewish People, despite all the upheavals and hardships that they have suffered, is truly miraculous. But what makes the wonder of Jewish survival especially awe-inspiring is the fact that this miracle was predicted already in the Torah.  

“…Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. …the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other people.”  

srael’s 8,522 square miles makes it smaller than the state of Massachusetts. Yet, despite its size, this tiny strip of land is the most hotly-contested real estate in the world. It is truly miraculous that Israel exists, considering that it is surrounded by enemies that want to destroy it. 

The Ramban writes that “in all our exiles, the land will not accept our enemies. This is also a great proof and promise for us, for nowhere else in civilization will you find a land that is good and spacious, which had always been settled, that is as desolate as the Land of Israel. Everyone tries to settle there, and no one is successful.” 

PROPEL – SPOTLIGHT ON CAROL MISSRY: READING SPECIALIST

Ellen Ades

Reading is the gateway to learning in school and in life. In many instances, reading specialists are the catalysts that allow students to reach their full potential. Let’s meet Carol Missry, reading specialist extraordinaire.

Carol studied for her Bachelor of Science at New York University. She worked as a certified special education teacher for over twenty years in New Jersey’s most challenging public schools. Carol eventually focused becoming a reading specialist and trained in the Orton-Gillingham method. This method is a multisensory phonics technique for remedial reading instruction. Carol integrates this method along with others, as she sees fit. Carol considers the unique needs of each of her clients, so they can make optimal progress. She has been successfully teaching private clients for the past ten years and takes particular pride in having helped children who were struggling in math and language arts to reach fluency level.

Carol shares, “When I came to PROPEL, I was advised to brush up on my computer skills by signing up for classes through SBH Career Services Division. That advice led me to acquire skills that help me manage and market my business more efficiently. PROPEL is a great resource for every woman, no matter where she is on her journey to earn.”

Carol has a special talent for connecting with her students. And she makes learning enjoyable! Carol says, “The students enjoy the sessions because I create a fun and inviting learning environment.”

I asked Carol to share a success story. She related,  “I remember one 9th grader who could not read any of the letters of the alphabet. He was not interested in English Literature, so I had to identify what did interest him. We began focusing on song lyrics. After two years he was literate and was able to read.”

Carol does not judge her students, and she meets them wherever they are academically. She knows what it takes to engage pupils and inspire them to learn. Carol is creative in her approach to teaching, and will make use of different teaching methods and learning tools. Her students respond by reaching higher and higher. She has taken unmotivated do-no-homework types of children and helped them through a metamorphosis to emerge as enthusiastic learners who fully participate in the classroom.

Carol believes parents are the best advocates for their children and they must become involved in their children’s education.

Carol offers two parting pieces of advice, for students and for parents. For students: “All children want to do well. We must develop skills and strategies that remove obstacles to learning.” For parents: “Reading can be fun. Education can be fun. Make it enjoyable!”

_________ 

If you are interested in a career or career advice, please reach out to PROPEL and we can help you take the steps to fulfill your professional goals and dreams. 

PROPEL:  Call 646-494-0822 | Email info@thepropelnetwork.org | Instagram @PropelNetwork  

Malliotakis Beats Rose to Retain Seat in New York’s 11th Congressional District

Republican U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis defeated Democratic challenger Max Rose in a rematch for New York’s 11th Congressional District seat. Malliotakis will represent Staten Island and southern Brooklyn for a second term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Malliotakis is the only Republican member representing New York City in Congress. Prior to serving in the U.S. House, she was a member of the New York State Assembly.

The 11th Congressional District has gone back and forth between Democratic and Republican control over the last few elections. This year’s race was a rematch of the 2020 election, when Malliotakis defeated then-Congressman Rose.

Rose, an Army combat veteran, represented the 11th Congressional District for a single term from 2019 to 2021. He was only the second Democrat to represent the district in 30 years.

The 11th Congressional District encompasses all of Staten Island and includes southern Brooklyn communities such as Fort Hamilton, Dyker Heights, and Bensonhurst.

 

SBH FOOD DIVISION

Drivers Needed!

Help SBH feed their clients by picking up home-cooked meals from fellow SBH volunteers and delivering them to the food pantry at SBH 425 Kings Highway.

Wednesday Evenings

From 6:15pm to 7:15pm

For more information, please contact Lorraine Eliahou at 917 202 7268.

 

SBH CAREER DIVISION

Free Computer Courses

Improve your skills and stand out in the workforce with SBH’s free virtual workshops that you can take from home!

For more information, please contact jshapiro@sbhcareer.org or call: 718 787 1400 ext. 239.

 

Suspects Arrested in Flatbush Burglary Spree

Two suspects in last month’s burglary spree – including as many as 70 thefts in Brooklyn altogether – were arrested after a miles-long chase in a stolen vehicle, Shomrim reported.

The suspects are believed to have burglarized dozens of homes in Flatbush since last month, taking jewelry, cash, and even a car. The suspects were seen walking up and down driveways of homes on East 4th Street, between Avenues L and M.

Shomrim were called, and they began following the suspects, for 15-20 minutes. As NYPD were contacted, calls came in, one after another, reporting burglaries in the area.

The suspects then hid in several backyards between Avenues N and O, jumping between East 3rd, 4th, and 5th Streets. They emerged on East 5th and ran into a parked car with Pennsylvania license plates, later found to have been stolen. While being chased by an NYPD car and Shomrim, who at this point had dispatched 10 units, the alleged bandits drove down the wrong side of one-way streets, as well as on the walking path of Ocean Parkway, eventually crashing on Avenue X and East 2nd Street. Police surrounded the suspects and apprehended them.

Evidence gathering teams recovered large amounts of cash, jewelry, and car keys from the suspects, and are currently visiting homes of the victims to search for more evidence.

The standard modus operandi used in last month’s thefts included opening windows of homes the thieves entered. This was the strategy of the apprehended suspects, who were able to enter undetected by opening side windows and climbing inside homes.

Together with last month’s invasions, the pair are believed to have perpetrated 70 burglaries in Brooklyn, across six precincts. Last month, they allegedly stole a luxury car with keys they found inside of a home. That car was later found, together with a gun, in the possession of two other men. It is not clear if the two groups are related, or if the alleged thieves simply sold the car.

In the wake of last month’s theft rampage, Shomrim has increased its nightly patrols.

“We’re going to stay out there and be persistent,” said Tzvi Weill, a coordinator for Flatbush Shomrim.

Hanukah FAQ

The misvah of menorah is an extremely beloved misvah (Rambam). All misvot have a standard way of performance and an enhanced and more meticulous way. By the strict letter of the law, one can fulfill his obligation by lighting only one candle each night. Hanukah is so beloved, that it has been unanimously accepted for all to perform the misvah in a superior manner. We begin with a single candle on the first night, then add a candle each night, until ultimately kindling eight lights on the final night. We hope the following guide will enhance your performance of this beloved misvah. 

 

Who is required to light? 

Both men and women are obligated in the misvah of lighting. Although it is a time-bound commandment, which women are generally exempt from, women are obligated in this misvah as they played a significant role, through Yehudit’s actions when she killed an important Greek general.  

Unlike other misvot, such as eating massah or shaking lulav, where each person is required to perform the misvah individually, any one member ― man or woman over bar/bat misvah ― may light the menorah on behalf of the household. 

Children under the age of bar/bat misvah may light any subsequent candles after the first candle is lit by an adult, provided that they have reached the age of chinuch (i.e., they understand how to perform the misvah). 

I have a child studying out of town. Is he required to light himself? 

Children who are supported by their parents and view their parents’ house as their home are still considered part of the household. Even if they are temporarily not living in the house, they can fulfill their obligation with their parents’ lighting.  

The question becomes more complicated if the child is in a different time zone. For example, if the child is in Israel and the parents are lighting at home in America. At the time of lighting in Israel, it is not time to light in America, and when it becomes nightfall in America it is past the time for lighting in Israel. Therefore, it is preferable for the student to light himself, and according to some opinions even with a beracha. If the child is in a later time zone, for example, their home is in New York and the child is studying in L.A., then according to all opinions, a beracha is not recited. 

What should I do if I am a guest? 

One may fulfill his obligation with his host. The guest should participate in the misvah by acquiring partial ownership of the oil and wicks. For close family members visiting and sleeping over, we can assume the host gives them partial ownership, just as he allows them to eat and drink in his house without payment. Concerning other guests, it is preferable for the host to verbalize that he is giving the guest acquisition as a partial owner in the oil, wicks, etc. 

 

Should I use candles or oil?  

The miracle occurred through the flask of oil lasting eight days. Therefore, the preferred manner of performing this misvah is with olive oil; otherwise, candles are acceptable.  

Every Friday night while reading Bameh Madlikin, we recite a list of wicks and oils unsuitable for Shabbat candles. Some are not suitable because they do not draw the oil well, thereby causing the flame to flicker, while others are not suitable because of their odor. The objective of Shabbat candles is to enjoy and benefit from their light, and we are worried one may mistakenly adjust or tilt the flickering candle for it to light better, or he might leave the room if there is an unpleasant odor. For Hanukah, however, these wicks and oils may be used. The Hanukah candles are not for our personal use. Therefore, even if they do not light well, we are not concerned that one may adjust the candles. 

Where do I light? 

Initially, the lighting would be outside, by the entrance to the courtyard or home, as a public display of the miracles Hashem has done for us. Nowadays, that we are in exile among other nations, it is recommended in most places to light inside so as not to incite our gentile neighbors. Although when lit inside, the menorah is primarily meant to be seen by those inside the home, we light the menorah by the window so that it is also visible to passersby. 

How high should I place my menorah? 

The menorah should be placed at a height where the flames of the candles are above three tefachim (approximately 9.6 inches), and preferably below 10 tefachim (approximately 32 inches). If the menorah would only be visible to passersby outside if placed on a higher window ledge, or if there are young children around, there is no problem placing the menorah higher than 10 tefachim. 

Which side of the menorah do we start lighting from? 

On the first night, we light the rightmost candle in front of the one lighting. On the second night, a second candle will be added on the immediate left of the first candle. And so on ― every added candle is placed in the next left slot. The lighting will always begin with the newest added candle (increasingly left) so that when you actually light, your direction will bring you to move your hand toward the right. The reason to perform the lighting in a rightward direction is like all Avodah service in the Bet Hamikdash where the setup of the service positions the Kohen to begin at a point where his direction during his Avodah will subsequently turn toward the right. 

 

When is the preferred time to light the menorah?  

The preferred time to light is twenty minutes after sunset (4:55pm in the NY/NJ), or at least within a half hour after this time. If one is unable to light then, he should strive to do so as soon as possible. It is important to light while there are still passersby outside, as it is still considered lighting at the proper time. In a situation where no one will be home until late at night, one may light, as long as it is still nighttime. However, one should endeavor to have at least one other family member awake, so that the berachot can be recited according to all opinions.  

May I eat before I light?  

Once it reaches within a half hour of the time to light the menorah one should not sit down for a bread meal. However, if one already started his meal before that half hour, he may continue, though he may light during his meal.  

How do I get to the Hanukah party on time?  

One does not fulfill his misvah with what was lit at a family Hanukah party unless he is sleeping there overnight (or was sleeping there already from the night before even though he will be leaving that evening). If one would like to light quickly at home and then go, then his menorah will have to stay lit for a half hour. After this time, it is permitted to extinguish the lights. Otherwise, one can light the menorah when arriving home (as long as it is before dawn!).  

When do we light on erev Shabbat 

Although one should first light the menorah and then light the Shabbat candles, if the wife mistakenly lit the Shabbat candles first, the husband may still light the menorah afterwards. If the woman is the one lighting the menorah, and she lit the Shabbat candles first, lighting the menorah at this point will depend on if her custom is to accept Shabbat with the lighting of the candles or not. 

What if my candles went out? 

It is proper to keep one’s hand lighting the flame until most of the wick is lit before proceeding to the next candle. Once the fire caught onto the wick properly, even if it went out within a half hour, one is not required to light again. However, it is preferable. The leftover oil or candle from it extinguishing prematurely can be used for the next night. Otherwise, it should not be disposed of like regular garbage since it was dedicated for a misvah. Therefore, it is burned, similar to leftover sacrifices. 

A project of “Ohr of the Shore.” For questions or comments, feel free to contact us at: faqs@ohrhalacha.org or (732) 359-3080.

The Real Miracle of Hanukah

areful readers of the end of the Book of Beresheet and the beginning of the Book of Shemot will notice that Yosef appears to die twice.  The Torah mentions his death in the final verse of Beresheet, and then again in the opening section of Shemot (1:6).  Why are we told of Yosef’s passing twice?

Rav Yitzhak Hutner (1906-1980) explained that these two verses correspond to the two aspects of Yosef.  On the one hand, he was one of Yaakov’s twelve sons, who formed the twelve tribes of Israel.  After the three patriarchs – Avraham, Yitzhak, and Yaakov – the twelve sons, including Yosef, all carried their legacy, forming twelve tribes.

But on the other hand, Yosef was, in a sense, the fourth patriarch.  We might say that Yaakov was patriarch 3a, and Yosef was patriarch 3b.  This is corroborated by a passage in the Zohar which teaches that the three daily prayers – shaharit, minhah, and arvit – correspond to the three patriarchs, whereas the musaf prayer added on special occasions corresponds to Yosef (as alluded to by the etymological connection between the words “Yosef” and “musaf”).  Although we have three patriarchs, Yosef in some sense was the fourth.  Thus, his death is recorded twice – in the Book of Beresheet, which tells of the deaths of the other patriarchs, and in the Book of Shemot, which tells of the death of Yaakov’s twelve sons.

In what way was Yosef a patriarch?  And what is the meaning of this status?

Resisting Assimilation

Rav Hutner explained that each of the patriarchs established a certain precedent, created a certain force, that would remain with their descendants.  Avraham established the precedent of choosing to join the Jewish Nation.  Raised as a pagan, Avraham recognized the truth of monotheism and founded the Jewish People, thus setting the example of foreigners joining Am Yisrael through the process of conversion.  Yitzhak, Avraham’s son, established the precedent of being born into the Jewish Nation without having to make the choice to join them.  Finally, Yaakov established the precedent of begetting children who all become part of Am Yisrael.  Whereas Avraham and Yitzhak each had only one son that carried their legacy, Yaakov bequeathed his spiritual legacy to all twelve sons.

Yosef, Rav Hutner taught, also established a crucial precedent – guaranteeing the eternal survival of the Jewish Nation by resisting assimilation.

As we read this month, Yosef was cruelly driven from his home as a 17-year-old boy, and brought to Egypt, a society which was then characterized by immorality.  He served as a slave to a prominent Egyptian nobleman, in whose home he lived.  His master’s wife desired an intimate relationship with Yosef, but he refused her advances.  He heroically resisted the temptation to assimilate, to bond with foreign women

In so doing, Rav Hutner explained, Yosef set a crucial precedent for the Jewish People for all eternity.  If a Jewish man has a relationship with a gentile woman, halachah regards the child born from this union as a gentile.  Hence, even once Yaakov established the precedent of having children who all become part of Am Yisrael, there remained the risk that our nation might disappear, Heaven forbid, through intermarriage.  Yosef fortified the future of the Jewish Nation through his resistance to the lure of assimilation.  What was at stake was not only a one-time sin of immorality, but rather the Jewish People’s ability to withstand the overwhelming pressures that they would face throughout the centuries living among foreign nations.  Yosef’s refusal to cohabit with his master’s wife empowered Jews for all time to resist the temptation to join the surrounding culture, to struggle to maintain their identity and distinctiveness even when they are pressured and lured to assimilate.

The Devotion of Yosef

The story of Yosef is always read during the season of the celebration of Hanukah, and this is no coincidence.  There is a profound and fundamental connection between Yosef’s heroism and the heroism of the Hashmonaim who successfully opposed and battled the Greeks.

During the time of the Greek occupation of Eretz Yisrael, the majority of the Jewish Nation assimilated.  The Greeks’ decrees against religious observance, coupled with the attraction of Greek culture, led the Jews to reject their heritage and embrace Hellenism.  The Jewish religion nearly disappeared, and it survived thanks to the courage and resolve of a small minority that remained steadfastly committed to Torah and mitzvot. 

The source of this strength to resist the pressure of Hellenization was Yosef.  He was the one who created this force, who set the precedent of fierce determination in the face of overwhelming pressure and temptation.  We might say that Yosef laid the foundation of the real miracle of Hanukah – the miracle of Jewish resilience, of a commitment strong enough to withstand the most powerful cultural forces.

The verse in the Book of Ovadia (1:18) says, “The house of Yaakov shall be fire, and the house of Yosef – a flame.”  Yaakov is compared to a fire, which burns and provides warmth and light, but could potentially be extinguished.  Yosef, however, is the “lehavah” – the flame taken from the fire which ensures its continuity by kindling additional flames.  The Hanukah candles represent not only the kindling of the menorah in the Bet Hamikdash after the ousting of the Greeks, but also the “flame” of Yosef, the eternity of the Jewish faith which is assured through the unwavering, passionate devotion exhibited by Yosef, by the Hashmonaim, and by generations of Jews throughout the millennia who refused to yield to the pressure to forsake their faith and assimilate.  And thus halachah follows the view of Bet Hillel that “mosif veholech” (Shabbat 21b) – we add one candle each night.  The term “mosif” alludes to Yosef, who established the precedent of the “flame” that assures our survival.

Spiritual Protection Through Torah Learning

The story of Yosef begins by describing Yaakov’s special love for Yosef, who was his “ben zekunim” (37:3).  Rashi explains this to mean that Yosef was especially learned, and Yaakov taught him all the Torah he had learned in the yeshiva of Shem and Ever.

Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky (1891-1986) noted that although Yaakov learned Torah for many years before attending the yeshiva of Shem and Ever, Rashi speaks of Yaakov teaching Yosef specifically the Torah he learned during those 14 years he spent in that academy.  Yaakov went to learn with Shem and Ever when he left home, and prepared for his long, difficult sojourn in Haran, where he lived with his corrupt, idol-worshipping uncle, Lavan.  Rav Kamenetsky explained that Shem, Noah’s son, lived in the generation of the flood, a debased, corrupt society.  Yaakov learned from Shem and his grandson, Ever, the Torah of exile, the Torah of how to retain one’s faith and commitment even in a spiritually hostile environment.  This is the Torah that enabled Yaakov to retain his faith and his values in Lavan’s home – and this is the Torah which Yaakov passed down to Yosef, prophetically foreseeing that Yosef would one day be tested in a foreign land and foreign culture.

In the Al Ha’nissim text which we add to our prayer and birkat hamazon during Hanukah, we speak of how the Greeks set out “lehashkiham Toratecha” – to have the Jews “forget Your Torah.”  The first target of the Greeks’ program of forced assimilation was to pull the Jews away from Torah learning.  The Greeks sensed that the Jews’ unrelenting commitment to their faith was fueled by Torah study – and so their strategy began with the goal of “lehashkiham Toratecha,” denying the Jews access to learning, the greatest shield we have against assimilation.  We fortify ourselves against the pressures and lures of our culture primarily through Torah study, by immersing ourselves in the sacred wisdom of the Torah.  This is what protected Yaakov in Lavan’s home, this is what protected Yosef in Egypt, and this is what has protected the Jewish Nation throughout the centuries in exile.

Yaakov is Speaking to Us

Originally, the mitzvah of Hanukah candles required lighting by the entrance to the home.  However, when the Jews found themselves in exile, living among hostile gentiles, the custom became to light indoors, by the window.  This custom perhaps hearkens to the Gemara’s depiction (Sotah 36b) of Yaakov’s image appearing to Yosef “in the window” as Yosef was about to succumb to his master’s wife.  This image of Yaakov is what stopped Yosef from committing a sinful act. 

As we kindle the Hanukah lights in exile, we are to see the visage of Yaakov speaking to us just as he spoke to Yosef in Egypt.  He is imploring us to remain strong and committed, to draw strength from Yosef’s example of withstanding pressures and lures.  He is there reminding us that we have inherited from our righteous forebears the spiritual fortitude to hurdle the difficult challenges we face even in our time, that we are fully capable of remaining faithful to our religious heritage despite the hurdles that we face.  The power we have received from Yosef is stronger than the lure of the device in our pocket, the computer screen in the home, the people around us who ridicule Torah law and values, our peers who seek to draw us away from strict religious observance, and from every other obstacle that gets in our way.

This Hanukah, as we light the candles each night, let us pay close attention to our patriarch in the window, listen carefully to his words, and recommit ourselves to the intensive study of Torah, from which we gain the strength we need to continue bearing the sacred legacy of our righteous ancestors in our time.  

Riddles – December 2022

Riddle: All In The Family

Submitted by:  Morris K.

Leah has a very big family. There are 25 uncles, 25 aunts, and 40 cousins. Each of her cousins has an uncle who is not Leah’s uncle. How is this possible?

Last Month’s Riddle: Cat Compensation

A duck was given $9, a spider was given $36, a bee was given $27. Based off of this information, how much money would be given to a cat?

 

Solution: $18.00 ($4.50 per leg)!

 

Solved by: Family Blum, Moshe Picciotto, Celia & Momo, Belle Gadeh, H. Soleimani, Samuel Laskin, Big Mike, and Rabbi Max.

Junior Riddle: Figure Out The Word   

Submitted by: Esther N.

The first two letters signify a male while the first three letters signify a female; the first four letters signify a champion while the entire world signifies a great woman. What word is it?

Last Month’s Junior Riddle: Escape Artist   

Imagine that you are trapped inside a windowless building with nothing but a box of matches, 3 candles and a ceramic mug. The flood waters are rising and are currently up to your neck. The door is hopelessly locked and there is no one within 500 miles of you. How can you get out of this situation?

Solution: Stop imagining!

 

Solved by: Family Blum, Belle Gadeh, Haim S., Samuel Laskin, Allan G., and The Shmulster.

One on One with Frieda Franco

ELLEN GELLER KAMARAS

“We do have a voice and we need to exercise that voice. We have opportunities to make changes when it comes to Israel and to keep Israel strong, safe, and secure.”  

~~ Frieda ~~

I first saw Frieda Franco’s video interview, “My AIPAC Story,” on the huge Convention Center screen, at the AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) Policy conference in Washington, DC, on March 1, 2020. Coincidentally, that was the day the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in New York State.  

I knew Franco was a Syrian surname and emailed my editor to pitch an article about the Brooklyn Syrian delegation at the AIPAC conference.

If you have ever been to an AIPAC conference, you know that there are approximately 18,000 delegates there, all looking to advocate for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.  Searching for Frieda would be like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

When I returned home, NYC quickly became the epicenter of the pandemic.  Still determined to track down Frieda, I discovered that Franco was a popular name, and I did not succeed in finding her

Moving forward to October 2022, my brother excitedly told me about traveling to the United Arab Emirates on an AIPAC Minyan Mission. I was inspired to search for Frieda again.

Luckily, a community member introduced me to Frieda.  Googling Frieda to learn more about her, I was overjoyed when I found her 2020 AIPAC video

I had come full circle and the timing was perfect for sharing Frieda’s story.

Please meet Frieda Hamowy Franco.  In the past seven years, Frieda has grown into a fiercely passionate advocate for Israel, rallying the Sephardic community to support AIPAC’s mission for a strong U.S.- Israel relationship.  

AIPAC, a bipartisan American organization, works to encourage and persuade the U.S. government to enact policies that create a strong, enduring, and mutually beneficial relationship with its strongest democratic ally in the Middle East

Let’s travel back to Frieda’s childhood and accompany her on her journey to become the passionately  dedicated wife, mother, daughter, community member, and advocate she is today.

Frieda’s Roots

Frieda is the daughter of Manny, a”h, and Sylvia Hamowy, both of Syrian descent.  Frieda is the youngest of four girls, and was “surrounded with lots of love.”

As a child, Frieda was painfully shy.  Today, she still sounds humble, although she works on becoming more extroverted.  What struck me the most is that Frieda speaks from her heart.  

Frieda’s early years were spent in Deal where she attended Hillel Yeshiva. Her family moved to Brooklyn when she was nine years old and enrolled her in Magen David Yeshivah elementary school.  She then studied at Yeshiva of Flatbush High School.

Frieda was a great student but was not confident in her abilities.  She enjoyed high school and loved meeting different and interesting people outside of her own community.  She made close friends in high school, many of whom she is still in touch with today. She also met and got to know her naseeb, Joey Franco. They married in 1998.  

Adulthood

Frieda majored in English at Brooklyn College. She and Joey got married and settled in Brooklyn. They are now blessed with six children.  

Frieda is a lifetime learner.  “I love learning, whether it’s history, politics, an insightful parasha class, psychology, parenting, or podcasts about anything and everything.”

Frieda’s parents strongly influenced her values and her commitment to community and to hesed.  “They always gave back.  It was part of their everyday life and came naturally. My mom has a huge heart and continues to care for and help others.”  

A pivotal moment occurred when Frieda’s father took her to vote when she turned eighteen. He taught her the importance of voting, and they always voted together after that first time. Frieda remembers a gentleman named Maurice Hedaya approaching young adults in Deal, clipboard in hand, to convince them to register to vote. Over the years, he registered hundreds of Jewish voters.

It is no surprise that Frieda’s father had such an impact on her, given that Frieda became a dedicated AIPAC activist. She, for one, certainly recognizes the value of the Jewish vote. 

Marriage and Family

Frieda’s husband is her biggest champion.  “Joey is one of the smartest people in sheer knowledge and moral perspective. He is supportive of all my interests including our children’s education, and Israel advocacy.”

Frieda’s kids are the center of her universe. She dedicates an incredible amount of energy and focus when it comes to raising her children.

A common theme running through our interview was education.  Frieda spoke of her own education as a constant learner, her children’s education, and the education she received to enable her to do Israel advocacy.

Frieda and Joey both feel strongly that they want to raise their children with a strong yeshivah education. The Franco’s chose Barkai Yeshiva, whose mission is to cultivate the unique potential of each ben and bat Torah, based on the belief that all elements of our world should be appreciated through the framework of Torah.

Frieda views Barkai as family and serves as a board member.  She loved volunteering in the classroom and ran the book fair for years. “Joey was on the board but stepped down due to work commitments.  He said, “Appoint my wife, she’s much better than me, and knows what’s going on at school day to day.”

AIPAC Activist

Frieda always felt a strong connection to Israel, but she did not visit until she was in her twenties.  She saw her tour guide’s home in Shomron and recognized its biblical significance. “I was struck by how the settlers lived so close to danger, without modern necessities, and the sacrifices they were making to hold on to the land for us.”

Freida’s second education, as she calls it, began in 2015 when she attended her first AIPAC Policy Conference in DC.  A handful of community members attended. Sam Sutton encouraged Jack Ashkenazie to attend the AIPAC conference and to get the community involved. Jack and his wife Regine invited the Franco’s to join them in 2015.

Frieda walked into the convention center, and was floored, “Eighteen thousand people were all there for the same reason, to promote and preserve the relationship between the U.S. and Israel.”

She asked many questions, as she was not yet familiar with all the politics. What struck her at the conference was the strong connection she felt with the other participants.  

Frieda met and listened to people from different walks of life who had a deep commitment to  Israel and had become staunch supporters.

“We heard about a family from upstate NY that loves hiking, and it was becoming more difficult for their son with cerebral palsy to join them.  An Israeli company invented a backpack for soldiers in the field to carry back the injured and still hold their guns. The parents were introduced to this Israeli firm and the specialized backpack changed their lives.”

Returning home from the conference, Frieda kicked off her second education. She followed the news, read books about politics and Israel, and continued to ask questions. The first time she joined a lobbying trip to Capitol Hill, she did not speak.  On subsequent trips, she grew secure enough to speak up.  For Frieda, advocating for Israel became a privilege.

The Franco’s helped introduce AIPAC to the Brooklyn Sephardic community, hosting events, Shabbatons, and speakers.  They took community members to the AIPAC Policy Conference to experience Israel advocacy for themselves. When the Sephardic Council was established by Jack Ashkenazie, Frieda joined with other community leaders who recognized the value of Israel advocacy and could spread the word.

At the March 2020 Policy Conference, over 500 Sephardic community members from Brooklyn, Deal, and Manhattan attended.

To Frieda, her AIPAC advocacy is not just an expression of her love for Israel.  It’s about educating others to be informed advocates for the Jewish state. Her goal is to bolster the U.S. – Israel relationship, to ensure that the Abraham Accords continue, and to make certain that Israel receives the $3.8 billion of security assistance approved by Congress annually.  The trips to Israel that AIPAC arranges for freshmen members of Congress and candidates are key to understanding the politics of the region in a way one  cannot grasp through just watching the news. These trips help to promote AIPAC’s mission, to maintain a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.

Passions, Pursuits, and Community

To unplug, Frieda loves to read, bake, practice yoga (which she says is so good for the body and the soul), and to give in any way she can to her family.

The Franco’s participated in the AIPAC Minyan Mission to the United Arab Emirates, and were thrilled to meet local officials, hear both Arab and Jewish views on Israel, and see the excitement and commitment to the Abraham Accords.

Returning home, Frieda realized how blessed we are to witness Israel’s growth and prosperity, to raise our children in a Torah environment and in a community that encourages them to stay true to their traditions.  For Frieda, community life is about Shabbat dinners, living close to relatives, hesed and tzedakah on a high level, and living in one of the most tolerant places for Jews in the Diaspora.  Today, we are citizens with the right to vote and impact our own  government, as well as help assure the security and safety of the State of Israel.

Connect with Frieda at friedafranco@gmail.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

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  (www.lifecoachellen.com).