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Mabrouk – July 2022

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July 2022

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Births – Baby Girl

Rabbi & Mrs. David Levy

Ronnie & Esti Sitton

Aaron & Joy Bivas

Norman & Michelle Cohen

Bar Mitzvahs

David, son of Elliot and Danielle Brown

Engagements

Joey Mosseri to Melanie Ades

David Beida to Lillian Sasson

Isaac Betesh to Jaime Balassiano

Isaac Sasson to Madalyn Zalta

Morris Gindi to Norma Shriqui

Daniel Cohen to Dana Zalta

Jack Pindek to Shira Tobaly

Moses Betesh to Sophie Bailey

Weddings

Artie Schweky to Allegra Cojab

Sammy Saka to Esther Greenstein

Abraham Seruya to Rachel Mann

Fortifying a Community

Community Magazine

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July 2022

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We live in the era of the digital revolution.

Life in the Digital Age is vastly different than it had ever been, and it affects so many people in almost every area of their lives. It has changed the way we do business, the way we communicate, and the way we interact. For some, it also affects the way they engage in leisure and recreation. In our own time, we have watched as technology advances so rapidly that we can barely keep up with it.

Many people welcome these advances with unsuspecting open arms. Indeed, modern man is living with conveniences that past generations never could have imagined.

Revolutionary Challenges, a Revolutionary Response

However, this massive revolution comes with a host of new challenges. For the first time in history, every imaginable image, video, and recording is available at the click of a button. And it isn’t only sights and sounds that we are privy to. Every idea and value is being brought into one’s home and placed on his desktop – or even in his pocket – regardless of whether he agrees with them or even wishes to be exposed to them. Our children are being placed frighteningly close to whatever the world has to offer – and the world does not shy away from peddling its wares to anyone willing to watch and listen.

We’ve all heard “horror stories” of marriages torn apart, children gone under, and adults who suddenly turned their backs on their entire lives because of the material they were exposed to on these devices. But technology awareness isn’t only about avoiding tragedies. It’s about living life on a higher plane, about understanding that when we set boundaries for ourselves, our lives are that much richer; that restrictions sometimes provide the most powerful kind of freedom.

And then there are addiction concerns. Some are obvious, like gambling, which has become increasingly widespread thanks to the internet. But there are also less obvious technology-related addictions, such as social media addiction. (One indication of how far these lesser-acknowledged addictions have gone is the fact that some people are being made to contend with a challenge to their Shabbat observance – something that the Jewish world has for a long time viewed only in its rearview mirror.)

Revolutionary times present unprecedented challenges. And those challenges call for a revolutionary response.

A New Office on the Jersey Shore

Enter the Technology Awareness Group, more commonly known as TAG. Ever since the standard-setting gathering of tens of thousands of Jews in Citi Field in 2012, much of the Torah world has come to view basic filtering as a must for every technological device in their possession. All across the globe, Jews visit TAG’s 56 locations to have their devices rendered fit for use before bringing them home.

Until recently, the Jersey Shore Jewish community did not have a TAG office of their own. Those who wanted their devices filtered would have to bring them to Lakewood’s TAG headquarters in order to have it done. More significantly, the lack of a local TAG branch meant limited public awareness of the need to filter devices.

All that changed last summer, when the Jersey Shore welcomed its very own TAG office at 211 Monmouth Road in West Long Branch.

Things got underway with a soft opening on July 11, with the enthusiastic participation of many local community rabbis, including Rabbi Shmuel Choueka, Rabbi Reuven Semah, Rabbi Shaul Kassin, Rabbi Eli Mansour, Rabbi Bar-Hen, Rabbi Michael Semah, and Rabbi Leon Cohen. Also present to address those assembled was Harry Adjmi.

Soon after that soft opening, the need for this new TAG office became apparent. Hundreds of devices have since been “tagged,” with many people taking measures to ensure that their entire households are properly protected.

The presence of a local TAG office has benefitted the Jersey Shore community schools, as well. One faculty member at Bet Yaakov of Jersey Shore noted that it is only thanks to a local TAG office that they have been able to maintain a high standard of technology protection among their parent and student bodies. And Rabbi Shaul Kassin of Hillel Yeshivah remarked that proper controls are something that every parent should want to put in place to ensure their children’s proper growth and development.

Personalized Safety Solutions

To be sure, each individual needs a tailored solution, as the detriments of modern technology affect each person differently. Parents of young children worry that their children’s mental development is being hampered by hours of screen time (as has indeed been clinically proven). Parents of teens are concerned that their children’s ability to connect with others and forge meaningful relationships is being compromised by social media’s idea of human interaction (is a true friend someone who “likes” you on Facebook?).

Meanwhile, many children express frustration at their inability to hold their parents’ attention for more than the few seconds’ respite between dings, pings, and updates. Moreover, many children themselves admit that they would benefit from more parental control over their technological use.

At the same time, many people are not ready to do away entirely with technological connectivity. They feel they need it for business, shopping, long-distance connectivity, or for other reasons. But they know that it should be limited to some degree.

For example, everyone agrees that entirely unfiltered internet is too great a danger to expose oneself to. In fact, no less an authority than Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, ruled unequivocally – and repeatedly – that the usage of unfiltered internet is halachically forbidden. But after that, there are a lot of grey areas, and thus many decisions that each individual must make for himself and standards that one must set for his own family.

TAG is here to help create solutions for each individual and every family.

So, whether you want to protect yourself, your children, and your home from the dangers of digital technology lurking just beneath the surface, or you simply aspire to live on higher level, TAG Jersey Shore is ready and willing to create a solution just for you.

TAG Jersey Shore Contact Info

Tel. (732) 538-7350

Website: tagjerseyshore.com

Address: 211 Monmouth Road

West Long Branch, NJ 07764

The Lighter Side – July 2022

Community Magazine

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July 2022

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Silence Is Golden

Light travels faster than sound. Therefore, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

Jack Grazi

A Texan in Jersey

A Texan is visiting New Jersey and feeling thirsty, he stops at a farmhouse along the road. “Can you give me a drink?” asks the Texan.

“Of course,” says the farmer, and he invites the Texan to come in.

“What do you do?” asks the Texan.

“I raise chickens,” says the farmer.

“Really?” says the Texan. “I’m also a farmer. How much land do you have?”

“Well, out front it’s three acres, as you can see, and in the back, we have close to six acres of property. What about your place?”

“Well,” says the Texan, “on my ranch, I have breakfast and get into the car, and I drive, and drive and I don’t reach the end of the ranch until dinnertime.”

“Really,” replies the farmer, I once had a car like that, too.”

David S.

My Son the Doctor

Leah meets her old friend Naomi, and they start talking about their families. “So, how’s your son getting on?” Leah asks.

“What nachat my Sheldon gives me. He’s now a qualified doctor and has just opened an office in the city. His patients all work for the top banks, brokers, insurance companies, you name it. Sheldon is a very good doctor, Leah, you should go see him for a check-up,” said Naomi.

“Listen, Naomi,” replies Leah, “I’m in perfect health, so who needs a check-up?”

“Don’t worry Leah,” says Naomi. “My Sheldon is such a good doctor – he’ll find something!”

Miriam D

A Tie That Pops

Chaim got a new job at a men’s clothing store, and he was hoping that this was the job that he could finally hold down.

On his first day, a customer approached him. With his manager watching the interaction, Chaim was determined to impress.

“Good morning young man. How may I help you?”

“I’m looking for a tie that will really make my blue eyes pop,” said the customer.

“Young man,” replied Chaim, “Any tie will make your eyes pop if you tie it tight enough!”

Leslie B.

Bravery in the Israeli Army

General Marshall is in charge of the American Army, and he is visiting his colleague General Goldstein, who is in charge of the Israeli Army. Marshall arrives at the military camp and is greeted by Goldstein. They both walk around the place, and Marshall asks: “So how are your men?”

“Very well trained, General.”

“I hope so. You see, my men over at the United States Army are so well trained, they’re the bravest men in the world.”

“Well, I’m not so sure about that, General,” replies Goldstein. “My men are very brave, too.”

“I’d like to see that,” says Marshall.

So, Goldstein calls Private Barak and says: “Private Barak! I want you to stop that tank simply by standing in front of it!”

“Are you crazy?” says Private Barak. “It would kill me! Are you some kind of fool?”

Goldstein turns to a Marshall and says, “You see? You have to be pretty brave to talk like that to a general.”

Janet L.

The Will

Bleckstein is seriously ill and decides to make a will. He calls his brother Isadore, a lawyer. When Isadore arrives, Bleckstein directs him to write.

“I give to my sons Alan and Nathan, $150,000 apiece. To my daughter Deborah, I also give $150,000. And to you, I give $75,000.”

“Wait a minute,” says Isadore. “Just last week, you told me your entire estate is maybe $50,000.”

“Nu?” replies Bleckstein, “So let them work for it like I did.”

Alex R.

The Israeli Tax Authority

Dave Rosenberg recently made aliyah to Israel and was still getting used to the new bureaucracy. One day, he received a very strongly worded “second notice” from the Israeli Tax Authority saying that his taxes were overdue. Dave ran down to the tax office, paid his bill, and said apologetically that he must have accidentally overlooked the first notice.

“Oh,” confided the tax collector with a smile, “the Israeli Tax Authority doesn’t send out first notices. We have found that the second notices are more effective.”

Marty A.

The Miracle Doctor

Dr. Bernstein was a new doctor in town. He was a Harvard-trained doctor in the big city with a great reputation, but he decided to move to a small town instead. The townspeople were enamored by their new fancy doctor, and he soon got a reputation that he could cure anything and anybody. Everyone was amazed with what he could do – everyone except for Mr. Thompson, the town skeptic.

Dr. Bernstein scratched his head and mumbled to himself a little, then told Mr. Thompson, “What you need is jar number 47.”

So, Dr. Bernstein brought the jar out, opened it, and told Mr. Thompson to taste it. He tasted it and immediately spit it out, “This is gross!” he yelled. “Looks like I just restored your sense of taste Mr. Thompson,” said Dr. Bernstein. So, Mr. Thompson went home… very mad.

One month later, Mr. Thompson decides to go back to Dr. Bernstein and try once again to expose him as a fake, by complaining of a new problem. “Doc,” he started, “I can’t remember anything!” Thinking he had Dr. Bernstein stumped now, he waited as the doctor scratched his head, mumbled to himself a little, and told Mr. Thompson, “What you need is jar number 47, it’s…”

But before Dr. Bernstein could finish his sentence, Mr. Thompson was cured and fled the room!

Jackie N.

Parenting Style

Shulem and Pessy Schechter were parents in a typical Chassidic family with many children. They had ten kids, six boys and four girls. One night, Shaindy, their oldest, was chatting with her mother about how their parenting style had changed from the first child to the last. Pessy answered that she had mellowed a lot over the years:

“When your oldest sister coughed or sneezed, I called the ambulance. When your youngest brother swallowed a nickel, I just told him it was coming out of his allowance.”

Abe C.

Bet Yaakov of the Jersey Shore Hosts Robotics Tournament

Community Magazine

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July 2022

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Bet Yaakov of the Jersey Shore Hosts Robotics Tournament

Two years ago, Bet Yaakov of the Jersey Shore partnered with CIJE to enhance their STEM curriculum in the elementary school. With each year the school continues to improve the curriculum. This year the enhancement was in robotics. Although the school has dabbled in robotics previously, this year robotics was taken to a whole new level.

Throughout the school year, under the tutelage of Mrs. Betti Missry, the girls have been learning coding, physics, mathematics, engineering, design, and much more to build their robots. With a great deal of learning and diligence in their work, the girls created impressive robots that they could use to accomplish tasks.

With the robots built, Bet Yaakov then decided that they would like the robots to compete! So BYJS created, for the first time ever, an all-girls interschool Robotics Tournament. Bet Yaakov seventh graders hosted YBH from Passaic and Bais Yaakov of Baltimore to compete in this great event!

The event was very exciting for all the students involved and for the students who got to see what robotics is all about. The learning experience throughout the year was tremendous, as the girls tapped into new skills and experiences while at the same time practicing good teamwork and using leadership skills.

Bet Yaakov of the Jersey Shore hopes that this will be the first of many such tournaments with an ever-expanding list of participating schools.

NYPD Inspector Richie Taylor Honored at the Jewish Heritage Celebration

(L-R) David Heskiel, Mr. Albert Allaham, and NYPD Inspector Richie Taylor at the Jewish Heritage Celebration

During Mayor Eric Adams’ first Jewish Heritage Celebration as mayor, he spoke about the strong relationship between the mayor’s office and the Jewish community, and the need for everyone to publicly show support for police officers.

During his remarks, Mayor Adams bestowed a prestigious and unique honor upon NYPD Inspector Richie Taylor, who serves as the Commanding Officer of Community Affairs Outreach throughout NYC. Mayor Adams publicly read Inspector Taylor’s bio, which includes the commands he has previously served in and stated, “Before becoming a police officer, Inspector Taylor was a New York State EMT and a member of Hatzalah, one of my favorite organizations.” The crowd of over 700 people cheered and rose to their feet for a standing ovation. The mayor presented Inspector Taylor with a distinguished Proclamation, declaring June 24th, as “Inspector Richie Taylor Day” in New York City

Monthly Update from Assemblywomen Kim Eulner and Marilyn Piperno

After the horrific mass shootings afflicting our country, now more than ever, we need to have an honest conversation about the state of mental health. We must ensure school districts and counselors have the resources and funding to screen their students for warning signs, help identify disorders early, and decrease suicide attempts and substance abuse rates amongst children and teenagers

We have sponsored legislation dedicated to improving mental health and to increasing access to mental health resources, such as the Improved Suicide Prevention, Response, and Treatment Act. Others would require annual suicide prevention training for mental health practitioners and would require higher education institutions to implement suicide prevention programs and to raise awareness of mental health services

But we must also enact laws that protect our schools and keep our children safe. Two bills we are proud to have introduced addressing student safety are A-299, which requires State Police to maintain a 24-hour hotline for receiving anonymous tips regarding potential threats to school safety and security, and A-303, which would standardize school emergency response training for police officers and would require in-service training regarding school emergencies

Unfortunately, the latter was blocked at our last voting session, only two days after a gunman murdered 19 innocent schoolchildren and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. We proudly support common-sense gun safety legislation, and it is frustrating the Assembly majority has chosen to play politics instead of securing our schools. But we will continue to fight for its passage and to protect our children

MSB Softball Gearing Up for Exciting Postseason

Community Magazine

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July 2022

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MSB Softball Gearing Up for Exciting Postseason

The 2022 MSB regular season is coming to a close. This year the league-wide parody is at an all-time high. The only thing known for certain is that the Dan Braun led Maskeel El Dal squad has clinched first place. All the other spots are very much up for grabs. Heading into the final week, every team is alive for a potential postseason berth. The scenarios are complex, and it will come down to the final pitch in order for the league to know who ends up in the postseason and who will be on the outside looking in.

Postseason Format

Postseason format is as follows: five of seven teams make the playoffs. The 4th seed plays the 5th seed in a Wild Card game. Winner advances to the semis to face the #1 seeded Maskeel El Dal squad.

Heading into the last week the matchups are:

SBH (6-4) vs. SFF (3-6-1)

Bnei Malachim (4-6) vs. Maskeel El Dal (8-2)

Community Assistance Fund (5-5) vs. SAFE (3-6-1)

This season, there is a good chance there will be a three-way tie for the last two postseason spots. If this happens, the league looks at the head-to-head of the three teams with the same records and the team that has the advantage advances. 

The next deciding factor is the head-to-head record of the two remaining teams. If they split the regular season series, they will need to play a play-in game to determine who will secure the final coveted spot. 

The Wild Card matchup will be played the following week and the winner will advance to the semi-finals.

Once the regular season concludes, each player in the league will receive an awards ballot. 

The votes will determine the winner of the Gold Gloves, Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, The Ikey Miz Character Award, and, of course, the MVP. Once the votes are tallied the league will announce the winners at the site of the World Series thirty minutes before the first pitch.

A few seasons back, MSB began a new tradition. Each player of the championship winning team receives his very own customized championship ring. Now this has become a league tradition and MSB looks forward to continuing this tradition for years to come.

MSB Pitches in for Community Hesed Organizations

As mentioned in the past, this season MSB decided to give our amazing community charity organizations much needed exposure by naming each team after an organization. The team names are; SBH, SFF, CARE, SAFE, Bnei Malachim, Community Assistance Fund, and Maskeel El Dal Society .

Thankfully, through the league’s efforts much needed funds were raised for each of the organizations.  If you would like to donate to any of these organizations, please contact commissioner Sam Sutton via email at: SamjSutton@gmail.com. 

If you would like to follow the league action, be sure to subscribe to the league’s YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/samjsutton and follow the league’s Instagram page @MSB_Softball. 

Dear Jido – June 2022

Community Magazine

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June 2022

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Dear Jido,

I live near family and friends. My friends joke that my home is like “Grand Central Station” because most Shabbat afternoons my house is busy with kids and guests. I loved it in the beginning but now I’m burnt out.

I have six young kids and no cleaning help on Shabbat. My guests don’t watch their children, so when they leave I have to clean my home from top to bottom. My house is a mess by the end of Shabbat and my children complain that their toys got ruined and that I didn’t spend time with them. My husband is also upset that I have to clean the whole motzaei Shabbat instead of relaxing and talking.

My question is, how can I stop this without offending anyone?

Signed,

I love guests with a limit

Dear Dis-guest-ed,

It must be wonderful to be so popular. But I guess even that has its limits. Yes, people can be inconsiderate at times, but there’s also a chance that the children and/or the parents don’t realize the extent to which they have overstepped their bounds.

Generally, a grownup does not have to correct someone else’s child if they see him doing something wrong. However, in this case, it has a direct effect on you. Therefore, I would suggest a three-step approach. (Hopefully, you never need to get to Step 3).

Step 1 – the next time that guests come over, call over one of the (middle-aged) kids and speak to him privately. “You know, the last time everyone was here, one of the children broke Joey’s toys and messed up his whole room. His father and I were very upset. Do me  a favor, tell the other kids to try to be more careful and to make sure to put away whatever they take out.”

If necessary, repeat Step 1 privately several times that day with different children.

If the situation does not improve, the next week, try Step 2.

Step 2 – “Sarah, you know we love having you and the kids every Shabbat, but last week one of the children, I’m not sure who, broke Joey’s toy, etc.” Please tell your children, at least, to be more careful, etc.”

If necessary, repeat Step 2 privately several times that day with different parents.

Hopefully, by now, everyone has gotten the message. If the situation still does not improve, proceed to Step 3.

Step 3 – “Sarah / Rebecca / Rachel / Leah, I asked you last week if you could please watch your children so my house doesn’t get turned into chaos. It’s not working. I hate to do this but I think from now on, I have to make Shabbat afternoon get-togethers by invitation only.”

Then choose who you want to invite and when.

Of course, you could do that too from the outset and simply let everyone know, “This Shabbat is only our family.”

Shabbat Shalom Shalom

Jido

Enjoy the New Freedom of Post-Covid Travel

Community Magazine

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June 2022

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Enjoy the New Freedom of Post-Covid Travel

DAVE GORDON

Are you ready?!

The world is opening up again. Travel restrictions have been eased and most mask mandates have been removed. For many, that means taking those long-awaited trips and vacations, after two-years of staying close to home. So, where should you go? Whether you want to head out to someplace close by, or prefer a destination farther away and more exotic, take a look at some ideal choices we’ve already figured out, so you don’t have to spend your precious time wondering what to pick or where to go.

Eleuthra, Bahamas

This stunning island in the Bahamas is famous for its natural beauty and is only about a twenty-minute flight from Nassau airport. For families, we recommend booking your stay at the spacious suites at Daddy Joe’s. You can enjoy the luxuries of a fully furnished living room and kitchen area, with ample play area in the bedrooms, designed to let you sprawl out in comfort.

Eleuthera boasts a wide variety of world-class attractions. Nearby beaches are clean and well-kept. Do not miss one of nature’s true wonders, the Glass Window Bridge. This 30-foot strip of land acts as a divider between the deep blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the calm turquoise-blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Queen’s Bath is an exciting phenomenon. Just a few yards away from the oceanfront, it is a jacuzzi-shaped rock formation containing hip-deep naturally heated waters. Sand Dollar Beach is technically not a beach, but is a sandbar, surrounded by clear blue-green water. You will find the white sands here exceptionally fine and silky. Tourists are advised to visit Sand Dollar Beach at low tide, when the chances are even better for finding sand dollars.

If you visit the Bahamas during off-season, you may be lucky enough to enjoy those pristine beaches all to yourself. But the warm waters, year-round, are a special treat, even if you run into other tourists.

Harbour Island hosts, among many attractions, the renowned Pink Sand Beach, where the sand gains its unusual color from bits of microscopic coral insects interspersed in the sand. The pink sand is always cool, so it is a treat to walk on with bare feet, even when the weather is hot.

Golf carts are a fun method of transportation through the narrow Harbour Island roads. These are easily available for rental. One can drive/wander amongst the boutique shops offering locally made apparel and knick-knacks. But don’t miss taking in the scenic routes that feature the area’s local architecture.

For a fun adventure, head out for a snorkeling trip, led by Bahamas Ocean Safaris. Enjoy swimming among the vibrantly coloured Caribbean fish in the coral.

Food: Virtually every major supermarket has plenty of items with U.S. kosher certification, including imported canned goods, breads, fish, and spreads. Fresh exotic fruit is everywhere.

Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is famous for its cigars, resorts, beaches, and rich history. This all-season holiday destination attracts millions of tourists each year. Community members can feel good about supporting the economy of the Dominican Republic with their tourist dollars, as the country is one of the few that opened its doors to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution.

This era is chronicled at the Museum of Jewish History, in nearby Sosua. Located right next to the city’s synagogue, the museum preserves the memory of those Jewish refugees who sought a haven on Dominican soil and left their mark on the region. The museum houses photographs of early-to-mid-20th-century Jewish immigrants, along with diary entries, ritual items, and copies of letters from Jewish agencies during the war.

Before the Second World War, in 1938, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt summoned the Allies to Evian, France, for a conference on how to handle the exodus of Jews seeking to flee Nazi persecution. Though most participants expressed their sympathy, no resolution was formulated. There was, however, one notable exception. Of the 32 countries that sent delegations, only the Dominican Republic agreed to receive 100,000 refugees, offering land resettlement under generous conditions.

Between 1940 and 1945, the Dominican Republic government issued 5,000 visas for displaced Jewish refugees. Tragically, however, the actual number of immigrant arrivals never reached anywhere near this figure. This was due to the escalation of the war, and also may have been due to delays caused by the Jewish Agency. (Interestingly, in 1916, the president of the Dominican Republic was Jewish, President Francisco Henríquez y Carvajal.)

Suggested luxury stays that offer the feel of home:

Villas Agua Dulce is a jaw-droppingly elegant and spacious facility. Each villa has a fully furnished living room, dining room, and laundry room with a washer/dryer. Three-bedroom villas can accommodate a family of seven. Also included are an outdoor patio, outdoor private pool, a spa centre, tennis and basketball courts, and Bauhaus interior design.

Cabarete Palm Beach Condos are centrally located in the Cabarete area, with the beach and tourist strip right nearby. Each condo has a fully equipped kitchen, living room, dining area, and outdoor patio.

Suggested Adventures:

Monkey Jungle: After enjoying the 4,500-foot, seven-station zip lines overlooking the trees, visit the adjacent capuchin monkey reserve. Scores of adorable monkeys bounce around from tree to tree, hop on to your shoulders, and nibble straight from the fruit plate in your hand.

Ocean World: This is where you can swim with sharks and dolphins and kiss the sea lions.

Tip Top Catamaran: Take a ride on the 75-foot-long catamaran. Tourists are offered the chance to experience the vibrant underwater world through snorkeling Sosua Bay (equipment is provided). Immerse yourself in schools of fish, peer at the coral, get facetime with a puffer fish, and play with the sea urchins.

Waterfalls: Twenty-seven waterfalls of Rio Damajagua are tucked away in the hills of the Northern Corridor mountain range, behind tall stalks of sugar cane. In addition to the mélange of outdoor activities – such as cliff jumping into natural waters and climbing through caves – you are surrounded by forest. And, depending on the season, fruit will be growing from coconut, avocado, coffee bean, and mango trees.

Kiteboarding: Think of yourself hovering over the ocean on a surfboard, propelled by a giant inflatable kite, and you have kiteboarding. Dare2Fly provides kiteboarding packages, lessons, and rentals.

Rancho Luisa y Tommy: Try a horseback ride with owner Tommy Bernard. He will treat you to engaging conversation on topics relating to animals, and almost anything in life.

Food: Major supermarkets have items with U.S. kosher certification, including imported canned goods, breads, fish, and spreads. Fresh exotic fruit is everywhere.

Toronto, Canada

For something nearby, say hello to our neighbors to the north, with several quick and budget-friendly flights available in summer and fall. One plus is that the U.S. dollar is usually worth 25 percent more value in currency exchange than the Canadian dollar, so you can get more for your money.

If you enjoy artifacts, history, and art, the downtown core alone is home to five amazing indoor exhibit halls that can easily fill your days. Start with a deep dive into archaeology with Royal Ontario Museum, and a wide range of sculpture and painting at Art Gallery of Ontario. Go hands-on with kid-friendly Ontario Science Center and see the exotic fish at Ripley’s Aquarium (open 9am to 9pm!). Casa Loma is a real castle and offers an all-ages time warp experience. There you can see what life was like hundreds of years ago.

For another blast from the past, but this time outside, head to Black Creek Pioneer Village, where visitors see a town built as though it was in the Colonial era. From locals chopping wood, cooking their meals, and raising farm animals, many enjoy striking up conversations with villagers to understand how they live and work. This is an obligatory school field trip for many schoolkids.

For something a little more intense, try a harbour cruise – a beautiful boat ride with guides who will help you spot the landmarks of the city, from the water. And experience Toronto’s answer to Six Flags, Canadian National Exhibition, a collection of carnival rides and games, open in the summer months.

Whether you want to window shop, or really shop, three areas are up your alley downtown: Yorkville (for the posh and sophisticate), Eaton Centre (which was once the largest mall in the world), and the Queen’s Quay boutique shops near the waterfront.

And you never have to go very far to find good, kosher food. At the Toronto Blue Jays’ stadium, you can find a kosher hot dog stand. King David Pizza has a location downtown. In midtown and uptown, there are about three dozen kosher restaurants with all different types of cuisine to choose from. The local kosher caterers will deliver to your hotel or Airbnb for a small service fee. Nearly all the supermarkets in the uptown area along the Bathurst corridor feature large kosher aisles.

Of course, that is just a shortlist – you could spend a week in Toronto and still not cover all of the tourist destinations.

So, get out and enjoy, at long last, that vacation you have been dreaming of for the past two years!

Mortgage & Interest Rates Rising

Community Magazine

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June 2022

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One of the hottest real estate topics these days is the going rates for mortgages and interest. As you probably know, the interest rates have slowly started to climb. As of writing this article, the interest rates are hovering around six percent. Many buyers are trying to lock in the rates so they can apply for a mortgage and close in time, before the rates increase any more.

I want to discuss interest rates and how they can affect your borrowing power. Buyers know that interest rates have been on the rise, and are asking mortgage brokers if they should wait for rates to go back down. Rates can easily continue to go up, and Aryeh Brecher from FM Home Loans has prepared a breakdown of how the interest rate rise can affect your monthly payment. Keep in mind that just because interest rates have been going up does not mean that they will not continue rise even more.

Summer Deals

Many people ask me if they wait, will they be able to find a better deal in the summer. I give the same answer to the people who ask if winter is a quiet time so should they wait for the spring to put their house on the market. It happens to be, we sell during all seasons. I do not necessarily see an increase in deals closings or more buyers specifically on the market. I do see that some sellers that are moving out of New York do need to close by the end of the school year. So yes, there are some sellers that want to make a deal by the end of the school year so that they can close and move in before the new school year begins in September. Do I find that sellers are ready to give a $300,000 price break because it is summer? No. Do I feel that if the seller is more motivated he will be more flexible come the summer because many people are away, therefore less buyers are looking? Yes, I do agree with that.

Did You Know?

Many times when we do a home inspection or when I tour a home for the first time,

I like to check out different parts of the house. One of the things I look for is an electric panel. I check out how many amps and which company the sellers are using. Some companies are: GE, Siemens, and Federal Pacific Electrical. Investigations indicate that Federal Pacific Electrical (FPE) panels contain defective circuit breakers that create a substantial fire risk. Some estimates indicate that these dangerous electrical panels cause around 2,800 fires and more than one dozen deaths each year. Generally, the cost for a new panel is $1,200-$1,500 to replace. When we do find an FPE, I like to point it out to the seller so that a buyer does not proceed to ask for a $5,000 credit. Sometimes sellers chip in towards a new panel, sometimes they pay for the whole thing, and sometimes they are adamant about not chipping in. It all depends.

Mabrouk – June 2022

Community Magazine

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June 2022

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MABROUK

Births – Baby Boy

Rabbi & Mrs. Mechael Semah

Hymie & Dena Dana

Births – Baby Girl

Mr. & Mrs. Moshe Mevorach

Elliot & Patricia Tawil

Moshe & Dina Maleh

Manny & Denise Abraham

David & Leah Cohen

Jimmy & Gali Dabbah

Felix & Esther Zafarani

Engagements

Saul Safdieh to Hannah Shalom

Joseph Tawil to Maya Mavorah

Shemuel Menahem to Molly Kassin

Yehudah Semah to Judy Rishty

Aili Lafer to Nina Shamah

Morris Adjmi to Sheila Mishan

Michael Halwani to Sophia Zakaria

Yaakov Cohen to Rosie Ovadia

Weddings

Hymie Franco to Esti Choueka

Yom Tov Arking to Chana Miriam Kanefsky

Rubi Chalouh to Karen Maleh

Riddles – June 2022

Community Magazine

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June 2022

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Riddle: Letter Sequence

Submitted by: Julie C.

Guess the next three letters in the series GTNTL.

Last Month’s Riddle: Egg-Zactly

If 5 peacocks lay 10 eggs in two days, how many peacocks will lay 100 eggs in 24 days?

Solution: None – peacocks do not lay eggs, only a peahen lays eggs!

Solved by: The Ades Family, Joshua Harari, Big Mike, and Sol Tawil.

Junior Riddle: Brain Teaser

Submitted by: Ralph S.

Who is bigger: Mr. Bigger, Mrs. Bigger, or their baby?

Last Month’s Junior Riddle: Chess Masters

Two girls played and completed five games of chess. Each of them won the same number of games and there weren’t any draws. How did it happen?

Solution: The two girls weren’t playing against each other. They played against different competitors!

Solved by: Jennifer Gindi, Family Blum, Haim S., Bella Swed, Gail B., and The Shmulster.