The text that we read at the Pesach seder, as we all know, is commonly referred to as the Haggadah. What is the origin of this term, and what exactly does it mean?

One simple answer, perhaps, is that this word stems from the Biblical origin of the obligation of sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim – telling the story of the Exodus on the night of the seder.  The Torah introduces this obligation in the Book of Shemot (13:8) with the words, “Vehigadeta levincha bayom hahu…” (“You shall tell your son on that day…”).  The word Haggadah means “telling,” and is the noun form of the verb “vehigadeta,” and this might be why we refer to the text of the seder with this word.

However, the Maharal of Prague (1512-1609), one of the great giants of Jewish thought, offered a deeper explanation, one which goes to the heart of the essential nature of the seder experience.

Too Much Praise?

The Maharal begins by drawing our attention to a story told in the Gemara (Berachot 33b) of a hazzan who, we might say, went a bit too far.  He stood up in front of the congregation and began singing Gd’s praises, using as many adjectives as He could to describe Gd’s unparalleled greatness.  He exclaimed, “HaKel hagadol hagibor vehanora veha’adir veha’izuz vehayar’ui hehazak veha’amitz vehavadai vehanichbad…” 

When he finally finished extolling Gd’s might and power, Rabbi Hanina turned to him and sarcastically asked, “You completed all of your Master’s praises?!” 

By using so many descriptions to express Gd’s greatness, the hazzan implicitly conveyed the message that this is all there is to say, that he successfully exhausted all the praise that could be said about Gd.

Rabbi Hanina explained that when we give praise to Gd in the shemonah esreh prayer, we are to describe Him simply as “HaKel hagadol hagibor vehanora – The great, mighty, awesome Gd.”  We are permitted to use these three adjectives only because Moshe Rabbenu used them in describing Gd (Devarim 10:17).  In principle, it should be forbidden to praise Gd with any adjectives, because this would imply a limit to Gd’s praises.  But since Moshe praised Gd with these three adjectives, we are allowed to, as well.  Any additional praises, however, are improper.  When it comes to praising Gd, more is less.  As Gd is infinite, and His greatness and power are infinite, we must avoid giving the impression of comprehensively expressing His might.

The Maharal notes that when it comes to the Pesach seder, we are to follow the opposite policy.  Toward the beginning of the maggid section, when we discuss the basics of the sippur Yetziat Mitzrayim obligation, we announce: “Vechol hamarbeh lesaper biytziat Mitzrayim hareh zeh meshubah” – the more one speaks about the miracles of the Exodus on the night of the seder, the more praiseworthy he is.  The text of the Haggadah is not all that we can or should say at the seder.  We are encouraged to extend well beyond this text, and spend as much time as reasonably possible describing the wonders and miracles of Yetziat Mitzrayim.  To illustrate this point, the Haggadah tells the story of the five great sages who joined together in Bnei-Brak for the seder, and spent the entire night discussing the Exodus.  They stopped only when their students entered to inform them that morning had arrived and it was time to read the morning shema.

Whereas we are normally discouraged from speaking at length of Gd’s praises, at the seder, we are specifically encouraged to devote as much time and attention as we can to discussing the miracles of Yetziat Mitzrayim.  Why?

The Jews’ “Thanksgiving Dinner”

The Maharal explains by drawing a critical distinction between praise and gratitude.  When it comes to praising Gd, describing His greatness, more is less.  As Rabbi Hanina said, expressing praise gives the mistaken – and in fact heretical – impression that His power and capabilities can be quantified, and accurately expressed through the spoken word.  But when it comes to expressing gratitude, the guiding principle is “kol hamarbeh hareh zeh meshubah” – more is more.  We can never say “thank you” enough for the blessings we have received.

The Pesach seder, the Maharal writes, is less about praise than about gratitude.  The idea of the seder is not to give Hashem praise for the miracles of the Exodus, but rather to express our gratitude for them.

As we know, halachah requires reciting a special berachah –birkat hagomel – upon emerging from any of four situations of danger: captivity, illness, desert travel, and a sea voyage.  Our ancestors who left Egypt experienced all four situations.  They were held captive as slaves, unable to leave; they were beaten and tortured, thus becoming dangerously frail; and after leaving, they crossed the sea and the desert.  Now in the times of the Bet Hamikdash, a person who emerged from one of these situations would bring a special sacrifice called the korban todah – the thanksgiving offering.  The Pesach seder, which, when the Mikdash stood, was centered around the special pesach sacrifice – could thus be seen as a korban todah – or, what we might call the Jewish version of a “thanksgiving dinner.”  Indeed, some commentators suggested that the four cups of wine that we drink at the seder correspond to the four deliverances listed above.  The entire seder revolves around the notion of todah – expressing gratitude to Gd.  And for this reason, “kol hamarbeh hareh zeh meshubah” – the more the better.

The Pesach Seder&Bikkurim

This theme comes into sharper focus when we examine more closely the heart of the maggid section. 

After a number of introductory paragraphs, in which we present some basic information about the mitzvah to speak of the Exodus on this night, we proceed to perform this mitzvah, which we do by analyzing four verses in the Book of Devarim (26:5-8).  This series of verses (which begins, “Arami oved avi vayered Mitzrayema…”) is taken from a declaration known as mikra bikkurim, which a farmer would recite when he brought his first fruits (bikkurim) to the Bet Hamikdash each year.  After presenting his first fruits to a kohen, he would made this pronouncement briefly recounting the story of his ancestors’ enslavement in Egypt, and ultimate miraculous redemption.  At the seder, we go through this brief text, one phrase at a time, and analyze it based on earlier verses in the Torah.  At first glance, we might wonder why this specific text was chosen for the purpose of telling the story of the Exodus.  Why do we study these verses, instead of simply reading the actual narrative of the Yetziat Mitzrayim story, which is told in the Book of Shemot?  Why was the mikra bikkurim proclamation deemed the most suitable text for the seder?

The answer is found in an earlier verse regarding the procedure of bikkurim.  The Torah (Devarim 26:3) commands that when the farmer arrives at the Mikdash with his first fruits, he should say to the kohen, “Higadeti hayom l’Hashem Elokecha.”  The Aramaic Targum Yonatan Ben Uziel translation renders this to mean, “I give thanks on this day to Hashem your Gd.”  And Rashi, commenting on this verse, writes that the person says this to the kohen to avow that he is “not ungrateful.”  The bikkurim obligation is all about gratitude, expressing to Gd one’s appreciation for the new fruits that he successfully produced, acknowledging the journey his people have undergone from the depths of Egyptian bondage to the heights of prosperity in their homeland.

Appropriately, then, this is the text chosen for our “thanksgiving dinner,” our Pesach seder, which is all about expressing our gratitude to Hashem for all He has done for us.

In light of all this, the Maharal answers our original question, of why we refer to the text recited at the seder with the term “Haggadah.”  The word “higadeti,” as we saw, denotes expressing gratitude.  As this constitutes the primary theme of the seder, it is fitting that we refer to the text read on this evening as the “Haggadah,” the text through which we express our gratitude to the Almighty.

The More the Better

In closing, let us all honestly compare the amount of time we spend complaining with the amount of time we spend giving thanks. Many of us, I’m afraid, are guilty of expressing dissatisfaction more frequently and more passionately than we express satisfaction and gratitude.  Whether it’s toward Gd, toward our world, or toward the people around us, many of us have lots of criticism and complaints, but precious few words of appreciation.  This common tendency is detrimental to our own emotional wellbeing, and also creates an aura of negativity which is destructive to our relationships, to our environment, and even to our souls.

One of the lessons we can take from the seder experience is that “kol hamarbeh hareh zeh meshubah” – we can never say “thank you” enough.  Gratitude should not be reserved for rare moments or special occasions; it should be a constant presence in our lives.  Feeling and expressing gratitude elevates us, strengthens our relationships, and brings us and those around us a sense of joy and fulfillment.  By accustoming ourselves to see the good in the world, to appreciate the kindness of others, and to recognize the countless hidden gifts we receive each day, we live joyfully and contentedly.  A grateful heart is a happy heart, and those who make gratitude a habit will find themselves leading richer, more meaningful lives.

May we all strive to increase our expressions of thanks – not just in moments of joy, but as a daily practice, shaping the way we interact with others and how we view our own lives.  Because when it comes to gratitude, more is truly more.

It’s an uncomfortable conversation for many, yet it might just be the single most important conversation people will ever have in their lives: estate and legacy planning. Emanuel Haas and Ari Zaltz of the law firm Haas & Zaltz, LLP are there to help their clients navigate the highly complex and sensitive issues that arise when making decisions that range from long-term care to inheritance distribution.

One of the biggest concerns Haas and Zaltz work to address with their clients is the prospect of needing long-term care as they get older. In fact, they caution that not making appropriate provisions for long-term care is one of the biggest and costliest mistakes families can make, even though it is one that can be easily avoided.

Haas explained that very often an individual receives a diagnosis or experiences a trauma or other type of debilitating incident that creates the need for long-term care. If a plan is not in place, issues can crop up that make navigating this significant life change much more challenging for everyone. But when a plan for long-term care is already in place, it’s much easier for all involved to react with confidence.

“If you ask a random person who they think covers care as they get older, many people will tell you it’s their health insurance. Other people will tell you Medicare. Unfortunately, neither of those answers are true,” explained Zaltz.

“Sometimes a parent needs money and care immediately. If it’s not done properly and you don’t avail yourself of an elder law attorney, you can really get wiped out. A nursing home today is just an unbelievable amount of money,” he cautioned.

Haas and Zaltz advise clients to plan early, as young as 55, and when everyone is still well. “We try to do traditional estate planning but with an added level to make sure that our clients’ assets are protected for themselves, first and foremost, and subsequently for the next generation,” Zaltz said.

Otherwise, chaos can and will surely ensue. Not only will adult children be faced with how to provide long-term care for a parent, but also with the difficult prospect of how to pay for it. If a parent’s care is not being covered by Medicaid, the cost is nothing short of astronomical.

Many people don’t realize that a person only qualifies for Medicaid once his or her wealth has been depleted. Medicare is only available to those 65 and older (and with certain disabilities) and offers very limited benefits for long-term care.

Haas explained that when a person opts to become dependent on Medicaid for long-term care, a lien will be placed on his or her property and possibly any other assets.

“At least in New York, Medicaid cannot force a sale of a home because even if somebody is in a nursing home and will never come back, there is always an ‘intent to return home’ for that individual,” Haas said. Upon that person’s passing, however, Medicaid will recover what it spent on the decedent’s care, typically by selling the property.

Haas and Zaltz explain that in fact, Medicaid can go after any asset someone owns, but by setting up a trust, the home and any other assets placed in the trust will be protected. “Very often the home is the most valuable asset, and in some sense, creating a trust is a really straightforward way of addressing that problem,” Haas said.

Haas and Zaltz advise their clients that if they have assets in their name, which could be as simple as a home, they should place them in certain kinds of asset-protection trusts. That way, if a parent should require care as they get older, they will still immediately qualify for Medicaid and be entitled to government benefits. Upon their passing, the government won’t be able to claw back those assets which the parents may have intended to leave to their children.

A trust allows a person to say they no longer own the home and instead, the home is “owned” by a trust. Although a “trustee” is a nominal owner, it doesn’tactually belong to them, nor are they necessarily the beneficiary of the trust. In a trust, it can be stipulated that the parents maintain the right to live in the home until their passing. If the trust sells the home, possibly because the parents living in the home wish to downsize, the parents can still maintain the right to reside in any residential property owned by the trust.

It is extremely important to note, however, that the person(s) creating the trust must wait a period of 60 months from the time of the transfer in order to become eligible to receive Medicaid.

“The reality is that the seniors who transferred their home to a trust won’t even notice a difference,” Haas said. “They’ll live in a home just the way they always lived. They can move. They can sell the property and buy a different property and have the same right to live there, and nobody will know the difference. The only difference is that the asset will be protected.” To learn more about what you can do to protect your assets for yourself and your children visit www.haaszaltz.com or email them at info@haaszaltz.com. To make an appointment call 718-412-5288.

Jack Gindi

Grief has a way of reshaping our priorities. After my son Shaun passed, the first eight weeks were a blur. I focused on shiva, family duties, and seeking spiritual understanding. Taking care of my body became the last priority. Comfort food replaced healthy meals. Wine helped me through tough nights. Exercise disappeared from my routine. While focusing on Being and Balance, I neglected the vessel that carries us through life’s storms.

This imbalance demonstrated an important truth: We can’t fulfill our purpose when we neglect our physical body. The Torah commands, “You shall guard yourselves very well” (Devarim 4:15), teaching us that caring for our bodies is not vanity – it’s a sacred duty.

After years of building, I know the best buildings need good care to thrive. Our bodies deserve no less care than the buildings we construct or the businesses we run. Yet, how often do we treat our physical selves as an afterthought?

The following eight thoughtful ideas emerged from this realization:

Respect It – Your Only Vehicle

Like a luxury car, your body needs premium fuel and regular maintenance. During grief, I forgot this principle, treating my body like a junkyard car running on fumes.

MoveIt- Rust or Run

A door that never opens becomes stiff. Our bodies need movement to sustain strength. My morning walks, once routine, became sporadic. Now, they’re my time for reflection and renewal.

Fuel It Right – Quality Matters

We wouldn’t use harmful materials to build, so we shouldn’t give our bodies poor nutrition. Those extra pounds taught me that comfort food offers only temporary comfort.

Rest It – Essential Restoration

Buildings need maintenance. Our bodies need proper sleep. Without it, everything – emotional resilience, mental clarity, physical health – suffers.

Listen to It – Warning Signs

When constructing a building, we heed every warning sign. Our bodies communicate through pain, fatigue, and stress. The question is: are we listening?

Challenge It – Mindful Growth

Like testing a structure’s integrity, we must challenge our bodies to maintain strength. This doesn’t mean running marathons; it means consistent, progressive effort.

Protect It – Your Living Temple

We secure our buildings against damage. Shouldn’t we protect our bodies from bad habits and harmful influences?

Love It – Your Faithful Partner

Your body carries you through every triumph and trial. Even when neglected, it tries its best to serve. It deserves not criticism but gratitude.

The interconnection between body and spirit becomes obvious when we’re out of balance. Neglecting my physical health for weeks showed me how it affected everything else. Simple tasks felt harder. Social interactions became draining. Even my clarity of thought suffered. As I dove into spiritual practices and family ties, I thought I was making up for physical neglect. But in reality, I was harming my ability to be present.

It’s simple to explain this imbalance. You might think, “Business demands are too intense right now,” or “I’ll return to exercise once things calm down.” Your body doesn’t care about your excuses. Ignoring its signals will make you pay attention -often with pain, injury, or illness that stops your life.

Preventive maintenance is cheaper than emergency repairs, which is true in construction and in life. Yet, how often do we postpone taking care of ourselves?

Low energy makes us cancel plans. Fatigue steals the joy from things we once loved. Feeling unwell keeps us from connecting with others. But these aren’t just physical setbacks – they’re barriers to the life we’re meant to live.

It’s ironic: when we sacrifice our health for other goals, we undermine the very support we need for them. No matter how noble its purpose, a broken vessel cannot protect its precious cargo.

As I embrace healthier habits, I realize that caring for our bodies is key to spiritual growth. Every mindful meal, every walk, every good night’s sleep becomes an act of healing and respect.

Consider: How well are you maintaining your sacred vessel? What one small change could you make today to honor your body? Rebuilding: Whether in daily life, work, dreams, or health – begins with recognizing where we are now. Then, we must choose one small step forward.

I BELIEVE IN ME

Jack Gindi helps families face life’s challenges with the I Believe in Me Foundation. If you would like to show your support for the organization, or for further information, please contact Jack at: jack@ibelieveinmefoundation.com.

Yehudit Gindi

You never believed you would make it to the finish line, but here you are, and you’re pretty sure you aren’t dreaming. As you behold the dining room table adorned with your Pesach finest, you realize that you have overcome what once seemed to be a near-impossible feat. After weeks of backbreaking labor, you can relate to those who have climbed to the peak of Everest, for seder night has finally arrived.

At the seder, each person is supposed to feel as if they were redeemed from the harsh slavery of Egypt. For the woman, whose raw hands are a testament to all the sweeping, spraying, sautéing, and scrubbing that she has been up to, this is no problem.  Just as the Jewish people witnessed Hashem’s miracles during the redemption, the Jewish wife and mother experiences Hashem’s miraculous hand in her Pesach preparations each year. So don’t fret. When you find yourself knee-deep in the pre-Pesach pandemonium, rest assured that with the help of these tips, and of course with the ever-present help of Gd, your seder will be spectacular.

Get It All Together

We’ve mentioned it in these pages before, but it is so crucial that it bears repeating: make a list of all the things that you will need on the seder table. Without a written list, the to-dos will be just a big mumbo-jumbo in your mind that will create loads of unnecessary pressure. So put pen to paper and you’ll be off to a successful start. 

Kadesh, Urhatz…

What if you can’t seem to remember exactly what the seder calls for? Well, here’s one way to refresh your memory. When making your “Things for the seder” list, you can either go to Google, or you can take out a Pesach Haggadah. While taking extreme caution to keep it far away from any food, sift through the pages. You’ll probably find a picture of the seder plate and all the significant foods to display, as well as the order of the seder. As you notice items you will need, write them down. (Some key items to remember: haroset, the shank bone, hardboiled eggs, and celery, just to name a few!)

Shulhan Orech

Once all your kosher-for-Pesach dishes have been dusted, washed and dried, you can begin setting your seder table. You’ll want to do this hours before the seder begins so you’re able to walk into the main event relaxed and prepared. An elegant white or ivory tablecloth makes for a stunning backdrop; just be sure to cover it with plastic, since you can expect several grapejuice spills. Rhinestone napkin rings are eye-catching accents, and they will complement all types of silverware. Complete the décor with a nice floral centerpiece, and your table is ready.

So the Children Should Ask

The purpose of the seder is to pique the children’s curiosity so they’ll ask questions and give you the opportunity to fulfill the mitzvah of telling about the Jewish nation’s redemption from Egypt. So, to prevent the kids from falling asleep on top of their marror-filled matzah sandwiches, make the seder kid friendly!  Have incentives ready for children who ask great questions or say the Mah Nishtanah. Bring the Pesach story to life by investing in some bright, colorful Haggadot so the children can follow along. And don’t forget some prizes for he or she who discovers the afikoman!  Before you know it, it will be 2am and your children will be awake singing the “Had Gadya” finale with gusto!

Getting Some Zzz’s…

Speaking of staying awake until 2am, which is likely to happen on seder night, it is a must for your children to take a nap pre-seder. You know how it goes: the kids will resist, but you must insist! This way, the children will be well-rested and ready for loads of fun and learning come seder time. Oh, and moms are allowed to take naps, too! So if you can manage to find even a half-hour, try to squeeze in even a short catnap. The seder is a magnificent time, but putting it all together can sometimes seem like an arduous journey. But you’ll be there soon enough, and you can pat yourself on the back knowing it’s the culmination of all your hard work. When you finally sit down and see the smiling faces of family and guests surrounding you, you’ll know that the hours of effort were well worth it.

Inspiring conversations with the women shaping our community, one story at a time.

“Fitness has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a child I loved walking everywhere, and by high school I got my first gym membership. The gym became my safe space – a place where I could feel strong, confident, and clear my mind.”  – Yael Dayon

Ellen Geller Kamaras

Please meet Yael Frasko Dayon, a passionate mother, wife, and fitness trainer who keeps many of our community women in Long Branch, NJ, healthy and strong.

Yael’s parents, Liat and Yosef Frasko, are of Syrian descent. Yael is the second of seven children and is close with her siblings. She attended Yeshiva Ateret Torahfor elementary through high school.

A social and friendly child, Yael loved being active and in motion and won sports competitions during high school. She admits that she found it challenging to sit at a desk for long hours.

“My favorite part of the day was always gym class – I was naturally athletic and loved sports.”

Fulfilling Her Vision

After high school, Yael went straight to a hands-on sales job, not wanting to work at  a desk job. After work, she would head to the Sephardic Community Center gym, where she trained friends for fun. “Fitness was something I had always loved, and over time it became more than just a hobby.”

Yael turned her passion into a career.  She started with a few clients, training them for free, just to gain experience. Next  she enrolled in school to become a certified fitness instructor. After earning her certification, she started training clients professionally and later began teaching classes at DSN Community Center, which inspired her to open her own home studio.

Yael is also a certified boxing trainer, certified nutrition coach, and is AED (Automated External Defibrillator)/CPR certified.

During the summer of 2023, Yael worked with Nutrition by Tanya as an EMSCULPT tech and earned the honor of employee of the month. She helped women gain confidence about their bodies and view themselves as strong, powerful, and beautiful.

And Then Came Marriage

Yael met her naseeb, David Dayon, one year her senior, through mutual family members and they clicked right away. David, also of Syrian descent, grew up in the Deal area. He works in ecommerce, advising and managing companies on Amazon. 

Yael moved to New Jersey when she married David ten years ago. Living away from Brooklyn was hard at first, but thanks to Yael’s work and dedication, she has built a fulfilling social life and a supportive community in New Jersey.

The couple has been blessed with four children.

Yael’s Essence

Yael describes herself as friendly, outgoing, hardworking, organized, and continually growing closer to Hashem. She is also warm, positive, and energetic. 

Having children was pivotal for Yael. She desired to feel strong and confident in her own body, and that fueled her passion for helping other women feel the same way.  Yael wanted every mother to feel proud of her body through its changes and to embrace becoming the strongest and best version of herself. Yael also understood that prioritizing fitness plays a crucial role in supporting the mental health of mothers, giving them a necessary outlet for self-care and personal well-being.

“My proudest accomplishments are getting my certifications, and empowering women in my community while balancing my career and family life.”  Having a nutrition certification enables Yael to guide her fitness clients about eating healthily.

Work/Life Balance

Yael’s fitness career allows her perfect work/life balance, giving her the flexibility to work from home, set her own schedule, raise her family, and be involved in the Jewish community.

“Balancing work and home life can be challenging. Mornings are hectic, knowing I have a client coming ten minutes after my kids get on the bus.  Some days, I miss out on personal time or the ability to drive my kids when they want, but the trade-off of being my own boss and setting my timetable is worth it.”

Yael starts her day at 5am with her own workout, followed by prayer, breakfast, and getting her kids ready for school. Her first client arrives at 8:40am, and she usually sees clients until the early afternoon and then she is free for her children. Yael works some evenings,as well. 

Over the years, she has transitioned from cardio to weight training, realizing that the heavier she lifted, the better her results and the stronger she became. She noticed the same pattern with her clients.  The more they focused on strength training, the less pain they experienced daily and the more energetic they felt, as opposed to the exhaustion that often comes with excessive cardio.

Yael is grateful for the huge and beneficial impact her career has had on her family. Her children have grown up seeing their mom prioritize fitness and the value of strength and health. Fitness has become a natural part of their lives. “We don’t focus on being skinny but on being strong and healthy. My family is proud of my career, and I know I’m setting a positive example for my children.”

The pandemic was a major turning point for Yael’s fitness business. With big gyms shutting down, people needed a space to train, and that’s when her home training and classes really took off. It afforded Yael the opportunity to build a strong clientele and expand her reach in ways she hadn’t expected.  As an extra boost to her business Yael started to sell juices and healthy desserts. Her clients are primarily women aged twenty and over.  Sometimes shealso trains high school students.

Community

Yael is deeply involved in the Syrian community and teaches in DSN. One of the most wonderful aspects of her career is training people she sees every day, building friendships, and strengthening the community. “Fitness isn’t just about working out – it’s about creating connections and supporting each other in our health journeys.”

For Fun

Yael enjoys activities that allow her to unwind while taking care of her body. That includes lifting weights, going for a run, or spending time in the sauna.  Self-care time slots for massages or recovery time are also a must for her.

Tips

Yael encourages young people to follow their dreams. “Don’t be afraid to start. Everyone begins somewhere, and success comes from consistency, dedication, and hard work. No one achieves success overnight.”

Although there were many instances where Yael questioned whether her career would work, she pushed forward. Over time, she is proud to have formed a strong clientele and a thriving business.  Her challenges helped her grow.

Connect with Yael on Instagram @yael_dayon or by text 703-853-6340. Ellen Geller Kamaras, CPA/MBA, is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach.  Her coaching specialties include life, career and dating coaching.  Ellen can be contacted at ellen@lifecoachellen.com (www.lifecoachellen.com).

Dave Gordon

This past February, six living hostages and the bodies of four Israeli hostages were exchanged for more than 1,100 Palestinian prisoners. One of them is presumed to be Palestinian Khalil Jabarin, who was seventeen in September 2018 when he stabbed and killed a 45-year-old American oleh from New York, Ari Fuld.

Ari’s brother Hillel, 46, said, “Truth is, I think we [our family] all had in the back of our heads that this was a possibility, but I don’t think any of us wanted to face that, so, it’s definitely a punch to the gut.”

An Undoing of Justice

For Hillel Fuld and  Micah Lakin Avni (Micah Hebraicized his last name), who lost his father, Richard Lakin, to a Hamas attack, there is a personal cost to negotiating with terrorists, particularly through prisoner exchange deals – one that reopens wounds, and creates a feeling that justice has been undermined.

They are caught weighing the moral scales between the desire to minimize the suffering of hostages, yet at the price of releasing individuals who may commit further atrocities, thereby undermining long-term security and rewarding terrorism.

Ari Fuld’s killer, Jabarin, came up from behind him on the sidewalk of Harim Mall at the Gush Etzion Junction, just south of Jerusalem, He stabbed Ari in the neck. Ari summoned the energy to chase down his killer, jump over a wall, and shoot him. Jabarin was stopped from attacking Hila Peretz, who only minutes before had served him a falafel from her stand.

“This kid lacked nothing in life,” Hillel Fuld said of Jabarin. “He was not oppressed; he was not occupied. He was living a free life.”

Jabarin, while serving a life sentence in prison, was paid by the Palestinian Authority’s pay-to-slay program, according to Fuld.

At least 59 hostages are still believed held by Hamas. Approximately 200 of those abducted on Oct. 7th have been returned, some alive, others not.

Ari Fuld’s Take on Things

“If Ari were here today, he would be unequivocally against this deal. He spoke about it multiple times, this kind of concept,” said Fuld. “I don’t think our personal tragedy or pain caused by the fact that he’s getting out changes our opinion on the deal, which is that the deal is absolutely terrible and beautiful simultaneously, right?”

Ari had completed his army service. but still volunteered in the IDF. He became leader of his platoon, while also advocating for Israel on social media and at speaking engagements. “Ari was more than an IDF soldier. He was also a staunch, vocal advocate for Israel,” Hillel said, “He spent his days going from base to base, bringing soldiers ice cream and food, just to put a smile on their face.”

On November 7, 2018, the Israel Police posthumously awarded Ari Fuld the Medal of Distinction.

Is Israel Winning the War?

“I think objectively speaking, what Israel has accomplished in this war is unparalleled and unprecedented,” Fuld said, which includes the elimination of the bulk of Hamas and Hezbollah, the Iranian military apparatus, and Syrian defenses.

“And so I don’t think there’s anyone who could say that Israel is not winning this war. The objectives have been very well defined, to remove Hamas from Gaza and from power, and to get our hostages back, neither of which have been accomplished. You can’t say that the war is over and we won the war. We’re in the middle of the war, and it’s a ceasefire,” Hillel said. But he is confident those goals will be reached.

“Ancient Egypt, Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, [the] Babylonians – we don’t have any of these empires. They’re all gone. And Israel, the people of Israel, remain, and not only do we remain, but we are strong and we are resilient. And so that will be the case with this war. I don’t know how often we actually stop and think about the events that led to our holidays. At Purim, the leader of the world agreed to annihilate the Jews. Do we often stop and think that that was near genocide of the Jewish people? And the same thing for Hanukah and for Passover. So today that will be the case again. We will dance again.”

Prisoner Deals Evoke Mixed Emotions

Despite personal anguish over prisoner releases, both Fuld and Avni acknowledge the mixed emotions of needing to release hostages, at an impossibly high cost.

“I don’t think there’s a single person in Israel who wouldn’t do anything on a personal level to get hostages back. But on the other hand, strategically, it makes no sense to my mind to be letting prisoners out. It shows weakness,” Avni said.

Avni’s fatherwas killed by Hamas member Bilal Abu Ganem, part of the duo who killed three Israeli civilians and injured 15, in a bus attack in Oct. 2015. Abu Ganem was due to be freed in a recent prisoner exchange.

Richard Lakin’s Story

Born in the U.S., Lakin marched with Martin Luther King, and was an activist that helped desegregate schools in Connecticut. He was the principal at Hopewell Elementary School from 1969 until he moved with his family to Israel in 1984. He built an English-as-a-second-language school, teaching Jewish, Christian, and Arab children.

“It was a matter of principle for him. He thought that was the way to bring people together,” said his son.

Lakin was on the way home from a doctor’s appointment in Jerusalem, when there was a wave of Palestinian stabbings. Rather than risk being exposed to an attack on the walk home, he decided to take the bus. Two Hamas terrorists boarded, shooting Lakin and two other civilians, and injuring another 15 people.  

During the terror stabbing spree, police killed one of the attackers on the spot. The second, Abu Ganem, was brought to Hadassah Hospital, together with Lakin. Although the terrorist survived, Lakin, 76, did not.

Indoctrination to Terror

Two days after the attack, Hamas released a re-enactment video, said Avni. “They had actors get on a bus and ‘shoot’ another actor who was playing my father, and one playing a terrorist. They put it out to educate young children how to do terror attacks like that. And it got tens of millions of views,” said Avni.

 “An entire generation of kids grew up watching these movies all day long. Now they’re indoctrinated. It’s a culture of terror and death from kindergarten, summer camps, elementary schools, in high schools, in universities, anywhere children spend time.”

Abu Ganem, a resident of East Jerusalem who held an Israeli residency card, was tried in the District Court in Jerusalem, and sentenced to three life sentences. “He admitted to it, and there was no question that he and the other were both members of Hamas. He expressed zero remorse for what he had done,” said Avni.

A History of Prisoner Exchanges

Avni recalls the first time he expressed how adamantly he was against lopsided hostage deals.

Right after his family moved to Israel, a major prisoner exchange deal took place in May 1985, called the Jibril Agreement. “I remember telling my mother at the time – I was just about to enlist in the army – that if I ever get taken prisoner, don’t exchange any terrorists for me. It’s clear that they’re just going to come back and murder more people.”

The Jibril deal took place between the Israeli government and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine – General Command. Israel released 1,150 prisoners. In return, Israel received three prisoners captured during the First Lebanon War: Yosef Grof, Nissim Salem, and Hezi Shai.

The deal included the release of several high-profile prisoners including Ahmed Yassin, a Gazan Muslim Brotherhood leader who later became the spiritual leader of Hamas and Ziyad al-Nakhalah, who was serving a life sentence and later became the leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

It set a precedent for future exchanges, including the Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange in 2011, where 1,027 Palestinian and Israeli Arab prisoners were released in exchange for one IDF soldier.

Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind behind the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, was released as part of the Shalit exchange. Avni saw this as epitomizing a long line of wrongful thinking amongst Israelis and the country’s elites.

Terrorists Do Not Play by Western rules

Avni said that in the past four decades, he watched Israeli leadership “become enamored with being accepted in the West, in a similar way that I watched lots of my Jewish friends in America trying to play both sides.Hamas are “like the Nazis, pure evil and sometimes it’s hard for the Western mind to grasp this.”

“But there is no reasoning with these people,” Avni said, referring to terrorists. “There is no negotiation. Their end goal is to destroy us, to destroy Israel, and for most of them, to take over the West, as well. So that’s ideological. You have to destroy them before they destroy you.” In the time he ran a finance business with thousands of clients across the Arab world, he noticed that their culture respected strength, and “abused weakness,” and he believes the time has come for Israel and her allies to be “strong handed with terrorists.”

Halachic Perspectives on Feeding Tube Removal: The Nancy Cruzan Case

Rabbi Yehuda Finchas

In 1983, 25-year-old Nancy Cruzan was involved in a car accident that left her in a persistent vegetative state, requiring a feeding tube to survive. Her parents requested the removal of her feeding tube, arguing that their daughter would not have wanted to live in such a severely disabled state. However, the hospital refused to remove the feeding tube without court approval.

The case eventually went to the Missouri Supreme Court, which ruled that Nancy’s parents could not have the feeding tube removed. In 1991, the U.S. Supreme Court, in a landmark decision, authorized the removal of Nancy Cruzan’s feeding tube, and she passed away shortly afterward.

Without delving into the legal technicalities, what does halacha say about the removal of a feeding tube?

Halachic Perspective on Self-Starvation

Rabbi Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Aruch and Bet Yosef, explains that to starve oneself to death is included in the Biblical prohibition against suicide. This is evidenced by the fact that an oath to abstain from eating for seven days is considered invalid. The Rambam (MishnehTorah, Shavu’ot 1:7) writes that anyone who swears to abstain from food for seven days is guilty of taking a false oath, receiving lashes, and may eat immediately. The reason for this is that such an oath constitutes an intent to transgress a Torah prohibition -essentially, an oath to kill oneself. Therefore, the oath is invalid (Bet Yosef, Y.D., 236).

Fasting and Endangerment of Life

If a person endangers his life by fasting, it is considered an act of possible suicide, even on Yom Kippur. Hacham Ovadia, zt”l,  (Yechaveh Daat 1:61) writes: “If there is concern that fasting may endanger someone’s life, one must listen to the doctor and eat on Yom Kippur, as pikuach nefesh (saving a life) overrides the mitzvah of fasting. If the sick person insists on fasting, far from being pious, they will be punished for it.” Since eating is a matter of life and death, they should be forced to eat (Radbaz, quoted by Sheyarei Kneset Hagedolah, O.C., 618).

Autonomy in Halacha and Medical Treatment

While Judaism values autonomy and recognizes free will, this does not extend to the right to take one’s life or violate Torah laws. A person must live according to halacha, which limits autonomy and free choice in certain circumstances. Therefore, patients cannot autonomously refuse potentially beneficial or life-saving treatment. These principles shape the halachic position on tube feeding – Judaism prioritizes the preservation of life, considering patient autonomy only in exceptional circumstances.

The Obligation to Provide Nutrition to a Goses

Even a goses (a dying person) must be provided with nutrition and hydration, as long as it does not pose a choking hazard: “One should not feed a goses since they cannot swallow, but one can place liquid in their mouth, such as extracted broth from salvia, from the sage plant, to enable them to speak” (Sefer Hasidim, 234). This applies equally to tube feeding (Igrot Moshe, CM 2:74:3, Nishmat Avraham, Vol. 5, p.155).

Conclusion on Removing a Feeding Tube

In conclusion, the removal of the feeding tube actively shortened Nancy Cruzan’s life and is therefore halachically forbidden. Hacham Yitzhak Yosef (ResponsaRishon Lezion, EH 25) writes that it is forbidden to shorten the life of a patient, even if they are in a persistent vegetative state. Regarding the precise extent of the liability, see Rambam (Rotzeach, 3:10), who classifies various forms of causing death by restricting access to food and drink. Halacha does not differentiate between withholding milk from a baby, withholding nutrition from someone in a persistent vegetative state, or withholding tube feeding from an advanced dementia patient who cannot take food orally. In fact, the first practical application of Kibud Av Va’em (honoring parents), as stated in Shulchan Aruch Y.D. 240:4, is to feed one’s parents. One may certainly not shorten a person’s life by withholding nutrition and hydration from them.

Victor Cohen

“…votes from our community can make a significant difference in shaping the future of Jewish funding allocations.”

Victor Cohen

In an era where Jewish identity is being challenged on multiple fronts, one organization stands at the forefront of the battle to protect our heritage, values, and future. Shas Olami is not just another initiative – it is a movement, a mission, and a call to action. If we fail to act, the sanctity of our traditions and the integrity of our Torah institutions hang in the balance. But if we unite, we have the power to preserve the rich legacy of Sephardic Jewry for generations to come.

You may have recently heard about Shas Olami through group chats, text messages, or from a rabbi, friend, or family member. But what exactly is this organization, and why is it so important?

A Voice on the Global Stage

Shas Olami is a global Sephardic Orthodox movement established in 2010 at the behest of Hacham Ovadia Yosef, zt”l. Its mission is to preserve, protect, and strengthen Sephardic culture worldwide by instilling pride in our heritage, imparting authentic Torah values, and reinforcing the bond with Eretz Yisrael. Today, the movement is guided by Hacham Ovadia’s son, Hacham Yitzhak Yosef, shlit”a.

Shas Olami pursues two primary objectives:

1. Preventing financial allocations to Reform-led causes that challenge traditional Jewish values.
2. Increasing financial support for Sephardic initiatives worldwide and within our community institutions.

As the organization states:

By increasing our Orthodox representation, we can influence decisions that protect the sanctity of our Jewish homeland, adhere to Torah values, and benefit our communities.

Shas Olami provides Sephardic Jewry with a voice on the global stage. This is crucial now more than ever, given the attacks on our homeland and the rise of anti-Semitism worldwide. It is essential that we consolidate our influence and direct it toward protecting our interests and promoting Sephardic values in Eretz Yisrael.

To gain deeper insight into the organization’s mission and impact, I had the opportunity to interview Yehuda Nakkach, a leader within Shas Olami. We discussed the movement’s role, whom it represents, what it has accomplished, and why voting has never been more important.

Shas Olami was formed in 2010 under the guidance of Hacham Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, as a delegation within the World Zionist Organization (WZO) – an international body representing Jews worldwide. The WZO distributes hundreds of millions of dollars annually to Jewish organizations, and the distribution of these funds is determined by elections held every five years.

Today, under the leadership of Hacham Ovadia’s son, Hacham Yitzhak Yosef, Shas Olami has established strong connections within our community. It is supported by numerous community rabbis and remains dedicated to ensuring the continued growth and success of Sephardic Jewry.

The Current State of the WZO and the Need for Change

The WZO plays a crucial role in allocating resources to Jewish organizations worldwide. Unfortunately, past elections have resulted in a disproportionate share of funding being directed toward Reform-affiliated causes, including protests that create unrest in Israel and organizations such as Women of the Wall, which undermine Jewish unity and traditional religious values.

As the Sephardic Orthodox representative within the WZO, Shas Olami works to redirect these funds toward Torah-centered causes that align with Sephardic and Orthodox Jewish values. However, the Reform movement remains a formidable political force.

In the most recent WZO election in 2020, Reform-affiliated organizations secured 39 seats with 31,000 votes. The next highest delegation trailed by 10,000 votes. Meanwhile, Shas Olami secured only two seats with just over 2,000 votes, ranking eighth overall.

Since the WZO operates on a fixed budget, funds directed toward Reform causes come at the expense of Orthodox and Sephardic initiatives. Reform delegations hold numerous key leadership positions within the WZO’s various departments, allowing them to steer funding toward causes that often contradict traditional Jewish values.

If Shas Olami strengthens its representation, it can collaborate with other religious voting blocs to counter this imbalance and redirect funds toward initiatives that support Torah observance and Sephardic heritage.

A Global Movement with a Lasting Impact

Despite its limited representation, Shas Olami is already making an impact. A stronger Shas Olami benefits not just our local community but also Sephardic Jews worldwide, including Bukharian, Persian, and other Sephardic groups across the United States and beyond.

Shas Olami operates in multiple countries, including France, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Spain, Belgium, Mexico, and Chile, serving as a platform for Sephardic communities to voice their perspectives and shape the future of Jewish education and communal life on a global scale.

In a significant milestone, Shas Olami recently gained access to a WZO department for the first time. In 2020, its representatives were appointed to the Department for Fundraising and Strengthening Community Relations. In the capacity of this position, they have organized numerous events, including Selihot gatherings and holiday-related activities. This past Purim, for example, they facilitated the distribution of Megillot. Even with its current limited power, Shas Olami is actively working to promote Sephardic interests both locally and globally.

As Yehuda Nakkach explained, Shas Olami is committed to preventing funds from being allocated to Reform-affiliated organizations that undermine Jewish tradition, and to redirecting those funds towardstrengthening of Torah values, supporting Sephardic education, and protecting the sanctity of the Land of Israel.

A Call to Action

 The key to making this happen is simple: VOTE.

By voting for Shas Olami, we increase its representation within the WZO. A single delegation may have limited influence on its own, but when combined with other religious voting blocs, Shas Olami can help shift control of key WZO departments. Typically, Shas Olami partners with other religiously aligned groups, such as the Likud delegation and Eretz HaKodesh, to strengthen its impact.

As Mr. Nakkach highlighted, votes from “contentious” regions – such as the United States – carry increased strategic weight. This means that votes from our community can make a significant difference in shaping the future of Jewish funding allocations.

Voting requires minimal effort but yields significant long-term benefits for the Sephardic community. You can encourage others – family, friends, and colleagues – to vote, as well.

Our community has an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. If we rally behind Shas Olami and increase its voting share, we can not only curtail the influence of Reform movements but also advance Torah and Sephardic-centered causes with unprecedented strength.

To learn more about Shas Olami’s mission, long-term objectives, and commitment to strengthening Sephardic Jewry, visit shasolami.org.Vote today at azm.org/elections/  Slate # 1 and play your part in preserving Sephardic Jewry worldwide!

Promises Made, Promises Kept

Frieda Schweky
Growing up, I thought I’d NEVER be interested in politics. Ever since Trump entered the scene in 2015 I’ve been hooked. I think my generation (millennials) crave authenticity and we think Trump is authentic! We don’t want two-faced politicians. We’re not interested in the sameold politics. We want and deserve to know the truth and Trump seems to be the agent for that.

Word on the Street

I was in Brooklyn this last weekend to visit my parents. I noticed that my parents’ neighbors on Bedford Avenue  were talking about  Trump and what he did to improve our country the past week. One neighbor said, “So, what’s new with Trump?!” My dad answered that Trump was very tough with Zelensky, the President of Ukraine. Although many may disagree with Trump’s treatment of our ally, my dad and his neighbors believe Trump did an amazing job advocating for the American people.  One of Trump’s first moves was removing DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies from government agencies including the private sector and the military. Many felt this was important because it challenged the idea that it was reasonable to promote people based on their skin color or other externals. Rather, it makes sense that one’s skillset and merit should be at the top of the list of what is important. I believe that our military should be strong, not colorful. I think that promoting individuals based on their race is not right. However, doing so was a major goal of the past administration. In fact, many of the things Trump did when he first took office were designed to reverse a number of Biden’s policies, which many of us found objectionable.

Women’s Sports

Trump made a campaign promise to bar transgender women from women’s sports. On February 5^th, he signed an executive order that put this into effect.In Maine, instances were cited where transgender women competed in women’s sporting events, contrary to Trump’s executive order. At the 2025 winter meeting of the National Governors Associationthis past February, the president censured the governor of Maine for not complying with his executive order. He noted that even though her constituency is somewhat liberal (Harris won in Maine in the last election), barring transgender women from women’s sports is what the American people want. And if Maine does not comply they willlose federal funding.

Supporters of the ban on transgender women competing in women’s sports feel that there are serious repercussions for allowing men who have become women to participate in women’s sports. Biologically, males are stronger than females. There have been many cases where transgender girls and women have unfairly beaten their female-from-birth opponents. Girls and women are discouraged from participating in sports where they fear they are at an unfair disadvantage with former boys and men competing.

Jews and Israel

Trump has consistently shown hisstrong support for Israel, including its right to self-determination and to defend itself. On March 5^th,Trump met with eight former Israeli hostages, Iair Horn, Omer Shem Tov, Eli Sharabi, Keith Siegel, Aviva Siegel, Naama Levy, Doron Steinbrecher, and Noa Argamani. The president listened intently to the former hostages’ stories about the horrors they experienced on October 7th, about their friends and families that were brutally murdered, and the unspeakable conditions they lived under in Gaza. Immediately after the meeting Trump sent an Instagram message to the former hostages’ captors. “’Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose. Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I have just met with your former Hostages whose lives you have destroyed. This is your last warning! For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance,” he added. “Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful future awaits, but not if you hold hostages. If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!” This is the kind of leadership we needed on October 8^th, 2023.Let’s not forget the president’s announcement of his plan to relocate the people of Gaza and make it beautiful again. It has received a lot of flak from the Arab world, but I think that’s the best idea anyone’s had to-date.

Anti-Semitism on Campus

Since October 7th, Jewish students on many college campuses have not felt safe. They have met with threats, bullying, and physical violence. Trump has come out strongly, stating that anti-Semitism on campus, and elsewhere, is unacceptable. The U.S. Department of Justice is sending a federal task force to ten universities – George Washington University, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Northwestern, UCLA, UC Berkeley, the University of Minnesota, and USC – where Jewish students and faculty have been left vulnerable to rising anti-Semitism. The task force aims to combat unchecked anti-Semitism and ensure Jewish students can learn in a safe environment. 

Additionally, the Trump administration has cut $400 million in federal grants and contracts with Columbia University because of what the government describes as Columbia’s failure to squelch anti-Semitism on campus. Trump’s message that there will be consequences for our enemies both here and abroad is so refreshing and honestly is just incredible.

My Personal Take

As a Jew and as an American, I felt like my government did not care much about me and my problems. My tax dollars were funneled  overseas or used to aid illegal aliens that were flooding in. I felt that I was the last to be considered. Now, I feel differently! Trump is working to abolish income tax, and I am thrilled, as I’m sure many are. He’s thinking out of the box in terms of how to make our country rich in ways that don’t involve the government’s appropriating our hard-earned money. I am honestly confused when I hear that some people are against any of the president’s policies. However, those who favor Trump are now in the majority, and I thank Gd for that.

I smiled when I saw a news alert stating that the Trump administration revamped the CBP One  app, which was formerly used to process asylum claims at the southern U.S. border. Now, the app has been reimaged as a platform for “self-deportation.”The idea is to get illegal aliens to deport themselves, with the hope that they will be allowed to return legally in the future. I believe this is another way Trump is making America great! We have an obligation to help the homeless, our veterans, and low- and mid-income families who need support. I believe we have overextended ourselves when it comes to immigration.I believe that immigration should happen slowly and with intention. We are not anti-immigration. How could we be- we’re all immigrants! We simply want immigrants to be vetted properly.

I honestly can go on and on about the amazing things that Trump has been doing for us and Israel, but I digress. Hashem thank you for saving Trump and for causing him be elected president. Please bring Mashiach as he is our true savior!

Until next time,

Frieda Schweky!Frieda is an event and portrait photographer. Check Frieda out on Instagram @friedaschwekyphoto. For photography inquiries or article topic suggestions email her friedaschweky@gmail.com.