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FIFA World Cup Through the Jewish Lens

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One of the fun things about being an American Jew is that during international competitions like the FIFA World Cup or Olympics, if America loses an event, American Jews can always cheer on Israel as well. For this latest installment of the World Cup, unfortunately neither possibility are true as both teams did not make it to the grand tournament. Israel still has a subtle but surprising presence behind the scenes of this World Cup in Russia.

Although the Israeli national team hasn’t been in a World Cup since 1970, the country and its citizens still love the action and get involved however they can. From Jewish athletes to parts of the game that most people wouldn’t know have Jewish roots, Jewish and Israeli hands are all over the World Cup.

Israel’s men’s national soccer team gets the chance to qualify for the World Cup every four years just like every other country, but it’s not as simple as that. To qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Israel needed to do well enough in the Union of European Football Association’s Group G to get the invitation to Russia for the tournament. The challenge is that this group includes perennial favorites Spain and Italy while Israel’s bordering neighbors played in the Asian Football Confederation. Egypt is one exception, playing in the Confederation of African Football.

The Israeli Football Association once competed in the Asian Football Confederation in the middle of the last century until other members of the confederation boycotted the nascent state. During a time when pan-Arab nationalism and solidarity with the Palestinian people were on the rise, the Asian Football Confederation expelled Israel from the confederation in a 17-13 vote organized and led by Kuwait in 1974.

This history and Israel failing to qualify again hasn’t stopped Israelis from getting the soccer fever, packing pubs just like fans from every other country around the globe.

“There are a lot of Russian-Israelis rooting here,” said Jason Jungreis, owner of Mike’s Place on the Tel Aviv boardwalk, as he referred to the bar filled with fans festooned in national colors for Thursday night’s match between Russia and Saudi Arabia, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Locals seem to show the most support for Argentina, whose national team was supposed to play Israel last week until the match was cancelled. Israel’s embassy even created a video to show its support of the Argentinian team.

Yahel Murvitz Lahav, 26, is a Technion medical student has deeper reasons for supporting Argentina.

“A few friends and I, we made a bet. I’m hoping Belgium will win so I can win [the money]. But I’m actually rooting for Argentina, for my grandparents. On my Dad’s side, they made aliya from Argentina.”

Even Americans in Israel like Joel Strauss are excited to watch despite not having a rooting interest. “I didn’t even plan to watch it at first because neither the US nor Israel qualified,” Strauss said.

People like Strauss can still see a Jewish presence if they look closely enough. The Jerusalem Post details a few of these hidden storylines, including how Colombia has a Jewish coach, Nigeria and Serbia each have an Israeli athlete, an app called “soccer-hay” helps Jews navigating through Russia, and Israel’s booming sports tech industry is behind many of the analytics and innovations that will enhance the experience for fans across the globe. When Jewish soccer fans scream in excitement for a goal, they can also do so knowing that the man who made it famous to shout “GOAL” at the top of his lungs is Argentinian Jew Andrés Cantor.

By: Michael Eric Rosenthal

Chelsea Football Club & WJC Launch Anti-Racism Program

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Chelsea Football Club and The World Jewish Congress today launched the international Pitch for Hope competition, the first stage of a three-pronged joint initiative on combating the widespread phenomenon of racism, xenophobia, discrimination, and anti-Semitism in sports, under the banner Red Card for Hate.

Pitch for Hope is a hothouse of ideas, calling on young people ages 18-23 in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Israel to submit proposals for a unique and creative project to harness the spirit of comradery in sports to build bridges between people of all backgrounds, faiths, and walks of life.

In the UK and the US, Chelsea FC and the WJC have been reaching out to potential participants representing institutions working toward coexistence, including Jewish and Muslim organizations, as well as leading educational institutes. The competition in Israel will draw participants from people of all religions – including Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Druze, to include minority groups in the peripheral north and south of the country, as well as members of the lower socio-economic strata. Seven institutions are scheduled to take part in the Israeli competition, with a focus on the visual arts.

Finalists will be invited to present their proposals at Chelsea FC’s Stamford Bridge stadium in London to a panel of judges representing the WJC and Chelsea FC in September. The winners from each country will receive a $10,000 grant from Chelsea FC and the World Jewish Congress to develop and implement their pilot project.

The competition will expand to Germany and France for a following round next year, following high-demand from football clubs across Europe.

This initiative was made possible due to a generous contribution from Chelsea FC Club owner Roman Abramovich and World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder.

WJC CEO Robert Singer said: “Anti-Semitism is as dangerous in the sporting world as it is in civil society, and both are growing at alarming rates. It is our duty, as fans and as teams alike, to work together to put an immediate stop to this phenomenon. The World Jewish Congress and Chelsea Football Club are committed to sending a clear message that the spirit of sport must be tolerance and respect, not hatred and xenophobia. We look forward to seeing the creative proposals submitted by our participants, and are confident that working together, we will make a difference.”

Chelsea FC Chairman Bruce Buck said: “We hope that our joint initiative will start a process that we believe is vital and long overdue. Change does not happen overnight, it takes time, education and understanding, and therefore we have devised the initiative as a long-term project that will grow and build, and hopefully inspire other clubs to follow our lead and create their own anti-Semitism initiatives, as well as working together with us on joint campaigns and activities.”

By JV Staff

Defending Tour de France Champ Gets Cold Reception; Big Event Starts

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The Tour de France is underway for 2018

Chris Froome may face bigger challenges off the bike as he gets ready for another journey through France for what could be a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title. Fans and the media are giving him a hard time though.

The defending champion was cleared of any wrongdoing by cycling’s governing body following an investigation after excessive levels of asthma drug Salbutamol was found in his urine sample during last September’s Vuelta a Espana, just in time for this year’s Tour de France, Yahoo News reports.

In a column in French newspaper Le Monde, the Team Sky rider, attempting to become the first person since Marco Pantani in 1998 to achieve the Giro d’Italia-Tour double, wrote that: “the build up to this race has not been the easiest for me, for the race organizers and for you all – the cycling fans and people of France who are the heartbeat of the Tour.”

During the teams presentation in the Vendee region on Thursday, Froome was greeted with a hostile crowd. It reminded him of a particularly tough ride on the 2015 Tour de France, when he had a cup of urine thrown on his face and was called a doper by a spectator, Yahoo News reports.

Team Sky’s dominance and their perceived arrogance have raised questions and triggered suspicions, although no doping allegations have been proven, according to Yahoo News.

Froome managed to brush off the criticism and is still a favorite to be at the top of the podium in Paris in three weeks. Karma may be catching up with him as he got caught up in a crash on the first stage on Saturday. He’s still racing but lost some time. He’ll have plenty of chances to make up any lost time this early on and before time trials and mountain stages.

Sky’s collective force and the Briton’s ability to hold off his rivals in the mountains makes him the man to beat even if the opposition has been sharpening their knives, according to Yahoo News.

France’s Romain Bardet, who’s finished in the top three at the tour before, and Giro champion Tom Dumoulin, think Froome should not have been racing while under investigation.

“I hope he will get a kind welcoming,” said Tour de France director Christian Prudhomme.

“The Tour de France fans, it’s about 10-12 million people, who come on the roads with their family. But among those, some of them could have other reactions.”

Team Sky should be the strongest team by far yet again and even have some backup cyclists who can go for the individual overall victory, the yellow jersey

By Harold Zimmerman

$161 Million Buys Baltimore Orioles 157 Batting Average and Worst Record in Majors

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When the Baltimore Orioles signed first baseman Chris Davis to a seven-year, $161 million contract in 2016, the idea was that they were signing one of the game’s top players and game changers. It wouldn’t make sense to pay so much for a player otherwise. Despite shelling out the big bucks, their star player, Davis is, by some measures, a player on track to have the worst single season in the history of the sport, according to The Wall Street Journal.

One of the most basic and longest known ways of tracking performance, especially in a game that puts a heavy focus on offensive productivity, is batting average. After Sunday’s 1-for-4 effort, Davis is hitting .157. No player who qualified for the batting title since 1900 has ever hit below .179, since Rob Deer did it with the 1991 Detroit Tigers and Dan Uggla of the 2013 Atlanta Braves, according to The Wall Street Journal.

As for Davis, despite appearing in 73 of the Orioles’ 89 contests, he has scored just 16 runs, which would put him on pace for 29, or .18 per team game. Those figures put him in league with Mario Guerrero, who scored 27 runs for the 1978 Oakland Athletics despite compiling 546 plate appearances, The Wall Street Journal reports.

A more recent statistic that proves valuable is wins above replacement. It’s a development of sabermetrics and measures a player’s total value. Davis’s wins above replacement is on pace to finish 2018 at around minus-4, or four wins worse than a typical Triple-A call-up, according to Baseball-Reference. The only precedent for this happening would be when Jerry Royster had a minus-4 WAR for the Atlanta Braves in 1977, hitting .216 in 445 at-bats and committing 28 errors between shortstop, second base and third base, according to The Wall Street Journal.

These records may still prove difficult to break because teams rarely allow players struggling this badly to stay on the field. The Orioles do however have the worst record in the majors, so it may not matter.

He’s facing another record that he would rather not beat.

With one more strikeout, Davis will pass Cal Ripken Jr. for the most strikeouts in team history. He tied Ripken’s record of 1,305 strikeouts during a loss to the Twins on Thursday.

Davis matched Ripken in 2,029 fewer games, or more than 12 full seasons. The Baltimore Sun noted Adam Jones, who is third on the franchise list for strikeouts with 89 fewer than Davis, has played 3 1/2 more seasons with Baltimore than Davis.

Ripken never struck out more than 95 times in a season, while Davis has averaged 194 per season in Baltimore since arriving in 2011, according to Sporting News.

By: Michael Eric Rosenthal

Bridgehampton Polo at the Fishels Kicks off the Summer Season in the Hamptons

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This past weekend in the Hamptons was quieter than usual for a pre-July 4th happening but there were still plenty of festivities taking place. I had the privilege of staying at the estate of Maria and Ken Fishel in Bridgehampton who were holding Polo at their house Saturday June 30th to celebrate the magazine “Social Life” and its cover star Rachel Zoe. Zoe is a designer, stylist, and businesswoman who starred in her own show “The Rachel Zoe Project” until 2013. The mother of two owns her own fashion line and has been coming to the Hamptons every summer of her life. Zoe, 46, said she loves hanging out on the beach with her two boys and was honored to be the cover girl for the magazine which was celebrating its 15th year anniversary.

Jean Shafiroff with Carolyn Maloney and Rebecca Seawright

The Polo match and cocktail party which lasted from 4 to 7 PM, was sponsored by Porsche, and tickets could be purchased in advance for $150. The more than 600 person crowd gathered under the hot tent to enjoy the beginning of the summer season and socialize with the eclectic crowd. There were socialites, Hampton locals and Polo enthusiasts who lingered way past the 7 PM closing time to catch up on the happenings of the year. The Fishel family came dressed to impress with Maria, and her daughter Melissa, wearing matching floral Dolce and Gabbana dresses. Maria, even had her two stylists from “Valentino” join her for the weekend as she is contemplating holding a fashion show on her lavish property. Her nine bedroom house was decorated by the same designer as The White House and it contains a screening room, pool, tennis court and guest house

The Fishel Home

The Fishels were concerned that the horses might spoil their property for the upcoming “Samuel Waxman Cancer event” they are holding at their house on July 14th but thankfully their grounds remained unscathed. At the same time as Polo, philanthropist Jean Shafiroff was hosting a crowd of Southampton Hospital supporters at her newly built home in Southampton. Shafiroff welcomed guests Carolyn Maloney, Rebecca Seawright and John and Margo Catsimatidis in a stunning Oscar de la Renta cocktail dress. The Stony Brook Southampton Hospital was celebrating its 60th Annual Summer Party with this exciting kick off and attendees were treated to the music of renowned bandleader Alex Donner. The Stony Brook Hospital is the sole provider of emergency care on the South Fork and many of the Polo attendees such as Paola Bacchini, Jane Scher, and Andrea Warshaw Wernick were heading to the Hospital party to support this pivotal institution.

Rodger Bergman & Rachel Zoe with Maria & Ken Fisher

Christie Brinkley held another competing party at the Surf Lodge in Montauk to launch a line of drinks and make-up. The 64-year-old continues to defy time with her ageless beauty and Malia Obama, Jessica Hart, and Nina Agdal joined her in the celebration. On Saturday evening I headed to restaurant Oreya which was holding a Nikki Beach pop-up and then made my way to nightspots Southampton Social Club and AM Southampton which were less busy than usual. The strange timing of July 4th which falls out on a Wednesday coupled with the brutally hot weather may have left many Hamptonites in their air conditioned home for the weekend; but the next two months are sure to be filled with one event after another as the season kicks into high gear

Joe DiMenna with Maria & Ken Fishel

By Lieba Nesis

The Hamptons Synagogue’s 2018 Jewish Film Series & Author Discussion Forums

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This season, the Hamptons Synagogue is offering a most tantalizing selection of Jewish and Israeli themed films. Synagogue members and Hamptons regulars will be treated to the following films.

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

July 16th – The Testament

Sunday, July 22nd (Tisha B’Av) – BESA: The Promise

July 23rd – Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

July 30th–Humor Med

August 2nd – 1945

August 13th – The History of Love

August 20th – The Cakemaker

The Cakemaker

August 27th – Foxtrot

The 2018 Author Discussion Series take place on Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm. The following authors will discuss their recent and past works and field questions from the audience in what promises to be lively and thought provoking conversations.

July 12th – Ruby Namdar – “The Ruined House”

July 19th – Kenneth Bonert – “The Mandela Plot”

July 26th – Dara Horn – “Eternal Life”

BESA: The Promise

August 2nd – Alexandra Silber – “White Hot Grief Parade & “After Anatevka”

August 9th – Francine Klagsbrun – “Lioness: Gold Meir and the Nation of Israel”

August 16th – Avi Jorisch – “Thou Shall Innovate”

August 23rd – Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat – “President Carter: The White House Years”

August 30th – Cheryl Machat Dorskind – “Celebrating Life Through Photography”

1945
Kenneth Bonert – “The Mandela Plot”
Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat – “President Carter: The White House Years”

Edited by: JV Staff

Hamptons Season Kicks into High Gear

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The past July 4th weekend was quieter than usual in the Hamptons due to its occurrence on a Wednesday, however there were still some major happenings. After taking the 4:06 PM bullet train to Southampton, which was packed with thousands of people, I arrived at the station at 6:06 PM on Friday-two hours later. I proceeded to my hosts, the Shafiroffs, newly built magnificent house on Wyandach Lane-this is a premier location in the Hamptons as it is one block away from the beach and on the lake. The house was replete with a massive indoor pool, a roof deck and an elevator that allowed me to carry my suitcase to the top floor.

Estate of Loida Lewis in Easthampton

On Saturday July 7th, I joined Jean Shafiroff at the Southampton Historical Museum’s annual “Halsey House Gala” where cocktails and light hors d’oeuvres were served. We then ate dinner at Yama Q, a delightful sushi restaurant in Bridgehampton, for which reservations are not taken. Feeling restless after a major meal, I headed to club “AM Southampton” at 125 Tuckahoe Lane which was hosting “Celebrity Saturday” and was packed with dozens of people anxiously trying to attain entry. Owner Zach Erdem had to stand outside to monitor the throngs and calm anxious attendees. Erdem is ubiquitous in Southampton as he owns restaurant 75 Main, AM Southampton and Hotel ZE.

Earlier in the evening the reality show “Summer House” was filming at 75 Main and Erdem could be seen in fancy attire-perhaps signaling his television debut. Hamptons residents are furious that a trashy TV show is being filmed in its backyard and even the cops were recruited to help with the show-they said they were being paid overtime. On Sunday, Jean and I strolled through Southampton town and visited stores Intermix, Alice and Olivia and Michael Kors. After building up an appetite we headed to restaurant Sant Ambroeus which had a delicious beet salad which we ate in the outdoor garden. Traffic was surprisingly light as we made our way to the house of Loida Lewis in Easthampton, wife of deceased entrepreneur Reginald Lewis, who was holding a fundraiser for Perry Gershon and Carolyn Maloney at her massive estate.

Club AM

Alec Baldwin and his wife Hilaria, who just gave birth, held court at the magnificent six acre beach house on Lily Pond Lane. Alec refused to do his famous Trump impression explaining he felt it was time to move on as he hurried home with his wife to put their children to sleep. Loida Lewis, is a delightful dynamo who was CEO of Beatrice International after her husband’s demise in 1993. She is actively involved in politics and holds numerous fundraisers at her homes in the Hamptons and New York. Dinner was served on her deck which had 360 degree views of the entire Easthampton beach and guests were passionately discussing the upcoming elections.

Carolyn Maloney, who is the Congressional Democratic Representative from New York, is a great supporter of Israel, having voted against the Iran deal, and a fashion superstar who wears Oscar, and Herrera on a regular basis. I opted out of dinner and instead met my friend Joanna Fisher at Nick and Toni’s to enjoy their famous zucchini chips which are nothing short of spectacular. Moreover, their bomboloni dessert was handcrafted by their pastry chef who delights Easthamptonites time and time again. While I enjoyed this past weekend immensely there are some other great upcoming events to look forward to including:

  1. Left to right: Jean Shafiroff, Bob Chaloner, our writer and photographer Lieba Nesis and Nick Gold at Halsey House Gala in Southampton

    The Parrish Art Museum’s 2018 Midsummer Party is being held on Saturday July 14th starting at 6:30PM. This event brings together over 500 luminaries from the art, business and philanthropic world in support of the Parrish. Anyone who is anyone in the Hamptons attends. This year’s honorees are Chad Leat and Keith Sonnier with Milly and Arne Glimcher and Fern and Lenary Tessler serving as honorary co-chairs. The young patron tickets can be purchased for $500 and regular $1,500 tickets and $2,500 tickets are available. If you are interested you can call 631-283-2118 or go to the website at [email protected].

  2. Another spectacular event is this year’s “25th Annual Watermill Center Benefit” which takes place at The Water Mill Center on 39 Water Mill Town Road on Saturday July 28th from 6PM to 12AM. The event will feature art installations from International program participants from over 25 countries which will adorn the eight-and-a-half acre property. People fly in from all over the world to experience this awesome event with many calling it the “best” of the summer. Last year Alexander Soros brought three tables of top models and bid on most of the artwork to the chagrin of other attendees. Tickets start at $500 for the cocktail hour and $1,500 for the dinner and can be purchased by contacting Erin Wainwright at 212-253-7484 or accessing the website at [email protected].
  3. Another evening you won’t want to miss is this year’s “Southampton Animal Shelter Dinner Dance” which takes place at a magnificent mansion on Gin Lane on Saturday July 21st from 6:30-11PM. For the reasonable price of $500 you can experience a magical Hamptons evening at a multimillion dollar estate. For more information call Walter at 631-488-8000 or send an email to Sasfinc.org.
  4. Southhampton Beach

    You won’t want to miss “The Southampton Hospital’s 60th Annual Summer Party” on Saturday August 4th at 6:30PM. Held in a tent on Wickapogue and Old Town Road in Southampton this evening gathers the elite of the Hamptons with Lawrence Scott events catering and “The Groove Society” performing. This year’s honorees are John Catsimatidis and Bruce Mosler with emcee Chuck Scarborough hosting. Tickets are only $500 per person and can be purchased by calling 631-726-8700 or emailing [email protected]

  5. Philanthropists Maria and Ken Fishel will host the 14th Annual “Hamptons Happening” at their sprawling Bridgehampton estate this summer to benefit The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation on Saturday July 14th from 6:00 to 10PM. The event features over 30 of the top chefs and restaurants in New York City and tickets are $1000 for VIP’s $425 for adults or $200 for millennials and can be bought by calling 212-867-4502.
  6. For all things Jewish there is no better place to stop than the “Hamptons Synagogue” in Westhampton Beach which will hold an Author’s discussion given by renowned author Ruby Namdar this Thursday July 12th. On July 14th a sermon by Ari Berman, President of Yeshiva University will be given on the exciting topic of “Leadership in the Jewish World” concluding with a 6 PM lecture by Rabbi Ethan Tucker-President of Yeshivat Hadar. On Saturday night at 8 PM a community forum will be held featuring Ari Berman and Eric Metaxas of the “Eric Metaxas Show.” On Sunday July 15th Eli Beer, head of United Hatzalah, will hold a breakfast where he will thank Westhamptonites for donating 35 ambucycles the most of any synagogue in the world.
Watermill Center Benefit
Hamptonites gather for the Watermill Center Benefit
Parrish Museum Gala

By: Lieba Nesis

Thailand Rabbi: Cave Rescue Is ‘The Story the World Needs Now’

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International cooperation, good deeds and prayers to save stranded soccer team

As the world cautiously celebrates the rescue of four children who have been trapped in a cave in Thailand, with nine people still underground, the country’s chief rabbi marvels at the Divine assistance and international efforts that made the moment possible.

“It is beautiful to see the unifying consensus that these lives must be saved,” Chief Rabbi Yosef Chaim Kantor, who has directed Chabad in Thailand since 1993, told Chabad.org. “The effort has transcended the cultural and political divides that have become so deeply entrenched in our society. Representatives of so many countries came together to contribute in any way they can to keep the boys alive and strategize for their rescue.”

The rabbi has been in contact with BBC video journalist Danny Bull, a member of the Bangkok Chabad Young Jewish Professional community, who had been at the site for nearly two weeks.

“I saw them bringing the boys to the hospital,” said Bull, speaking via WhatsApp near midnight local time on Sunday evening. “It was just a miracle that they were alive, well and on their way to getting the care they need.”

Bull reports that locals, journalists and tourists joined together in exuberant celebration upon seeing the ambulances pull up. He notes that the rabbi had shared with him that the rescue took place just weeks after Jewish communities around the world read the Torah portion of Korach, when the earth opened its mouth to swallow up Korah and his rebellious cohorts. This time, however, the earth opened up and allowed the boys to come out alive.

An international team of more than 90 divers, along with hundreds of other emergency personnel, are taking part in the effort. Eight boys, ages 11 to 16, who are part of a soccer team remain trapped with their 25-year-old coach. Rescue efforts will continue at dawn.

“This is the story that the world needs,” the rabbi responded upon receiving the update from Bull. “The story is not over yet, and we are still praying for the safe evacuation of the rest of the team, but for now, we are thankful to G d and praying for more good news, and urge everyone to continue their prayers, good deeds and tzedakah [charity] on behalf of those still trapped.”

By: Menachem Posner
(Chabad.org)

 

Parshas Matos–Putting People First

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During the presidential run of 1992, candidate Bill Clinton published a book entitled Putting People First. He had it right. He just wasn’t the first one to write the book. This week we’ll explore how Moshe — very subtly — taught his nation that people, especially the children, come first.

The Jews were camped on the bank of the Jordan River, about to enter the land of Israel. Representatives of the tribes of Gad and Reuben approached Moshe with a very brazen request. Numbers 32:3-5: “We don’t want to enter Israel,” they exclaimed. “The land here is very suited for our cattle, and it would be quite beneficial if we were to remain here.” Moshe, recalling the calamity of the ten spies who dissuaded an entire nation from entering Israel, reacted in shock. “Do you remember what happened 40 years ago? Do you want to, once again, demoralize your brothers and sisters as did the spies? Do you remember that your parents and an entire generation perished in the dessert due to that sin?”

Moshe then recounted, in full detail, the misfortune of that fateful event. “And now,” he concluded, “you have risen in place of your fathers to rekindle the burning wrath of G-d?” The representatives, sat quietly through the denunciation and then spoke. “No, Moshe,” they exclaimed. “It was never our intent just to remain here. We’ll build stables for our livestock and homes for our children. Then we will join our brethren in the fight for Israel. Only after all is conquered will we return home and settle.” Moshe, obviously pacified by the quick and obviously well prepared response, reviewed the stipulations. “OK,” he countered, “you shall arm yourself for battle, cross the Jordan and fight with your brothers until Hashem drives out the enemy. Once the Land is conquered and settled, you can come back here and this land will be a heritage for you.”

After Moshe reiterated all the prerequisites involved in the deal, he warns them. “If you transgress your commitment you will bear a terrible sin before Hashem.” Then, in what is seemingly out of place he adds the following. “Build cities for your children and pens for your livestock, and thus you shall observe the words that left your mouth.” Two questions bother me: Why is Moshe adding his comments on the domestic portion of their request? Isn’t his only concern that the tribes should join their brothers in the conquest of the land of Israel?

Rashi notes that Moshe switches the order of the request. The tribes said they will “build stables for our livestock and homes for our children.” Moshe switches the order and tells them “build cities for your children and pens for your livestock.” Why is this followed by the words, “thus you shall observe the words that left your mouth.”? Didn’t he already warn them of the consequence of retraction?

Henry Hirsch, the president of the Welbilt Co., one of America’s leading oven and major appliance manufacturers, had another labor of love. He was the president of one of America’s premier Torah institutions, Yeshiva Torah Voda’ath. At a board meeting, at which many of the yeshiva’s prominent lay leaders were present, the school’s cook prepared a beautiful supper in honor of the eminent supporters.

As one of the students was serving the executives, Mr. Hirsch looked at the delicious meal. “Excuse me,” he asked the young scholar. “What are they serving you in the main dining hall?” The boy looked sheepishly at Mr. Hirsch and stammered, ” I think we’re having egg salad sandwiches.”

The renowned philanthropist turned to the executive board and the representatives of the Yeshiva administration. “We are all here for the sake of the Yeshiva boys, I think it is they who should be eating this chicken dinner. Let’s send it to them and we’ll have the egg salad instead.”

Moshe was pleased with the offer to fight. However, he noted a major problem in the honorable plans of the tribes of Gad and Reuben. They prefaced their commitment with a very suspect phrase. “We will build pens for our livestock and then we will build cities for our children.” Moshe listens, reviews their offer and is doubtful. People who put monetary values before humans tend to worry about finances before family. And people who put money first often change their position, when their holdings are at stake.

Thus Moshe reiterates their pledge with one major amendment. He says to them, “build cities for your children and then pens for your livestock; thus you shall keep the word that left your mouth.” If the children come first, then he will trust them. He knows and believes their values are in order and they will uphold their pledge. A major provision in the deal was not only a military commitment, but a philosophy that will guide the Jews for centuries. Put the people first!

By: Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky
(Torah.org)

Rabbinical Alliance of America Calls for Care and Sensitivity in Discussing Shidduchim

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We pray that in the merit of greater care with our words and greater sensitivity for others we will see many more families sprout in happiness as people find their matches

The Rabbinical Alliance of America — Igud HaRabbonim, with a membership of over 950 Orthodox Rabbis — calls for greater vigilance of community members in encouraging, and refraining from discouraging, proposed shidduchim (blind dates). The very word “shidduchim” can send shivers down the spine of a loving parent and a nervous single.

The complex process of finding a mate, and thereby continuing the millennia-old chain of Jewish families, can be daunting. People rightly pray for help in finding a spouse, perform acts of kindness and charity in the merit of finding their match, seek advice and blessings from righteous people, and explore many possible avenues for finding the right person. All of this is important. The Almighty expects us to look toward Heaven for help. However, at the same time as we pray and search we have to be careful to avoid hurting others carelessly.

The challenge facing singles has been called a “crisis.” In recent years, a number of proposals have been suggested to lighten the burden. Some leading rabbis have encouraged young men to expand their sights by considering women slightly older than them, if they are not already doing so. Others have encouraged age parity regarding when young men and women start looking for their matches. Even if no single idea solves the problem, each can be taken as sound advice to make the shidduch search a little easier for many people.

On encouragement from leading educators, RAA/Igud offers the following proposal as a supplement to the many different ideas circulating. A young man or woman often finds that a friend is suggested to date someone whom that person has already dated. A well-intentioned person will want to share with a friend the information he or she has gathered during those unsuccessful dates. RAA/Igud strongly urges people not to share dating experiences. Doing so hurts your friend by inserting prejudgment into the equation. Your judgment is tainted by uncontrollable bias, placing a permanent stamp on someone based on your opinions.

By inserting your views and experiences, you can be destroying a match made in Heaven. No two people respond the same to an experience and a potential spouse may interact differently with your friend than with you. A disastrous date with one person should not ruin shidduch chances with all of that person’s friends.

Every person whom you date has hopes and dreams. They have loving parents who deeply care about their child’s shidduch prospects. Every word you utter should be said while keeping in mind that you are discussing someone beloved by family and by the Almighty. If you have any questions on whether to share your dating experiences, ask an objective rabbi. Saying the wrong thing could prevent the start of a beautiful Jewish family.

No individual can solve the “shidduch crisis” but you can help a few people start a Torah home by refraining from sharing your dating stories. If someone has a bad date, their response should be to think of a friend for whom this person might be a good match. Helping others helps you. The Almighty will give to you as you give to others. Pray for others, give to others, suggest dates to others and the Almighty will respond in kind.

The many community and shul rabbis of RAA/Igud call on educators and rabbis — roshei yeshiva, mashgichim, and mechanchim — to encourage those who are dating to take extra care in discussing their experiences. Every Jew deserves a fair chance at finding a shidduch. We pray that in the merit of greater care with our words and greater sensitivity for others we will see many more families sprout in happiness as people find their matches. May the “shidduch crisis” turn into the “shidduch kindness” speedily in our days.

Edited by: JV Staff

Israel’s Hotel Sector Likely to See Second Year of Strong Growth

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At a conference held a few weeks ago by the Israel Tourism Ministry in London in conjunction with HVS London, aimed at recruiting investors in Israel’s hotel industry, international consultancy firm HVS presented its annual independent report entitled Israel Hotel Market Overview to the many representatives present from international hotel chains. “In 2017, the Ministry of Tourism approved grants for 35 projects throughout the country for a total sum equal to about $50 million. In total, requests for some 2,570 rooms were approved in 2017, an increase of 33% on the previous year, suggesting investors are showing a growing interest and more confidence in the strength and potential of the Israeli market”.

This, against the background of consecutive record highs in incoming tourism over the last 19 months – and a shortfall in hotel rooms to meet the growing demand. 2017 was Israel’s best ever year for incoming tourism with 3.612 million tourists, 25% more than 2016.

Among the participants in the conference were representatives from international hotel chains including, among others, Hilton, Four Seasons, Accor, Accor Luxury, Movenpick, Rosewood, Wyndham, Radisson, Mandarin Oriental, Benjamin West and STR. The Israel Ambassador to the UK, Mark Regev, attended the conference and Tourism Ministry Director, Funding, Investments and Budget Department Avishai Bar-Osher, together with Investor Relations Manager Lorin Maugery presented to the conference the benefits and incentives offered by the Tourism Ministry to entrepreneurs and expanded on the economic feasibility of investing in hotels in Israel.

 

These included, among others:

  • Data on tourism potential in Israel
  • Government aid for entrepreneurs seeking to build hotels in Israel, including: shortened planning tracks; grants for conversion of office buildings into hotels; grants of up to 33% of the total investment and the presentation of a new Ministry of Tourism platform for mapping potential hospitality investment opportunities.
  • Presentation about The International Hotel Investment Summit, which is expected to take place in November 19-20 in Tel Aviv. Part of the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) series, IHIS will be the first international event dedicated to hotel investment in Israel for 20 years and is organised in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism. The conference will provide in-depth analysis of the foreign investment opportunity into the Israel hospitality sector, a forum to meet partners, to share ideas and to build partnerships for tourism projects, mixed-use developments and hotel transactions in Israel.

 

Edited by: JV Staff

How to Stay Safe When Using Public Wi-Fi on Your Travels

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NordVPN provides tips to travelers

Vacation season is in full bloom, and still, many travelers keep getting their identities stolen due to careless use of public Wi-Fi. Free wireless networks are not able to offer security in most cases since public Wi-Fi can be hacked into very easily.

The solution to online safety while traveling is a VPN – which not only protects users on public Wi-Fi but also allows to access restricted sites and even save money while traveling.

Below please find a list of reasons why every Internet user should use a VPN when traveling:

  1. Protect your online activities when you are using public Wi-Fi. The most common threat is a hacker positioning himself as a hotspot. When that happens, a Wi-Fi user will be sending their information to the criminal, and that could include credit card information, all emails, and any other sensitive information they might be transmitting. This is extremely easy for hackers to do, as Wi-Fi spots rarely require authentication to establish a connection. When using a VPN, the Internet traffic between the user’s computer and a VPN server gets encrypted into a secure tunnel, so nothing will be visible to someone trying to hack into the computer.
  2. Access restricted sites: Facebook in Vietnam, Telegram in Russia, gaming sites in Morocco and multiple others sites are banned, depending on a country. A VPN enables users to connect to a server in a country where these sites are allowed, such as the U.S., and the user will be able to browse the Internet as if they were in the U.S. physically.
  3. Access your favorite TV shows or sports event from abroad: With a VPN, you can watch your local TV shows or stream such sporting events as FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world.
  4. Save money on flights. Sometimes for no apparent reason tickets bought from one country cost less than booked from another one. You have to experiment by switching between different countries with a VPN to find the lowest airfare. Travel websites use cookies to track how many times a visitor comes to their particular site and how much time they spend. If they don’t book immediately, the same person might return to a higher price in just a matter of minutes – the site has determined that they want to book the flight anyway, so will accept the higher rate. The trick is to make it appear that you’re accessing the booking website from another country, the one where you can buy the same tickets at a lower price. The solution is to use a VPN

Edited by: JV Staff
(Virtual Private Network).

10 Top Travel Technologies to Ease Your Journeys

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There are close to 300 travel-related companies in the startup nation. We chose 10 that are red hot

Israelis love to travel. Whether it’s a post-army trek to South America or a family outing to the Alps, it sometimes seems there are more Israelis beyond the country’s borders than within. So it’s not surprising that travel technology from Israel is red hot right now – both websites and apps.

With close to 300 travel-related companies in the startup nation, it was hard for us to pick our top 10, but we did the heavy lifting and you get to sit back and go with the flow (of tourists) using these very cool products.

Tell us your favorite Israeli travel apps in the comments section below.

  1. Gooster

Planning an itinerary by swiping through menus in an app or clicking on a website is so 2012. Gooster gooses up the interaction through its free smart chatbot that works within Facebook Messenger. When you fire it up, Gooster asks you where you’re traveling and whether you want to learn more about cool cafés, tourist sites or the latest in-places to party. Gooster responds accordingly.

“Gooster is location-specific and has a database of 50,000 tips and recommendations “from the useful to the off-the-beaten track,” CEO Ardon Wesley tells ISRAEL21c. Gooster is available now for Tel Aviv, Amsterdam and Berlin with four more cities coming in the next six months.

  1. Sidekix

If Bitemojo is Waze for foodies, then Sidekix is Waze for walkers. When you want to get from point A to point B in your car, you usually want the fastest route. Not when you’re walking – then you may prefer the most scenic itinerary, one that passes by hip shopping, food, culture, nightlife and more. Enter your destination and the Sidekix app gives you a choice of walks. Users can also share their routes so others can follow in their footsteps.

Sidekix chief marketing officer Jenny Drezin told ISRAEL21c that locals are using Sidekix as “a tool for urban discovery.” Available in hundreds of cities, London, Paris and New York City have the largest user base, with Tel Aviv, Berlin and Los Angeles coming up strong. During the Tel Aviv “White Night” celebration, Sidekix highlighted the evening’s best parties and outdoor concerts.

  1. EatWith
EatWith enables you to eat with locals. Photo: courtesy

EatWith is like Airbnb for meals. You use the app or website to book a place at a dinner party cooked by local chefs in their homes. It’s a whole lot more social than eating alone in a restaurant. There’s a Tinder aspect to EatWith: Hungry travelers contact a host, but the host chooses the guest based on his or her EatWith profile.

Prices range from $25-$50 per person. EatWith started in Tel Aviv but has expanded to 200 cities across Europe and the US with 650 participating hosts. EatWith is not just for travelers; locals are discovering EatWith as they look for a unique outing or an opportunity to meet their neighbors. EatWith says 11,000 diners have been hosted in 50 countries so far.

  1. Trailze
Trailze is like Waze for hikers and bikers. Screenshot: courtesy

If you’ve ever been out hiking or biking and arrived at a junction where you weren’t sure which way to turn, you’ve probably wished there were a Waze for the great outdoors. That’s Israeli app Trailze’s mission.

Trailze combines the power of GPS mapping with what the company calls “the world’s largest database of trails, locations and outdoor information,” created automatically in part by the 120,000 people who have downloaded the app (another way Trailze is like Waze). Choose the level of difficulty you’re seeking and Trailze will pick a route for you.

Another Waze-y feature allows users to report events along the way – whether that’s a mudslide or an undiscovered swimming hole. There are 5,000 trails currently on Trailze, most in Israel, with a few hundred more available in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. Trailze users have walked or biked a million miles.

  1. ThemeGo

Sometimes it’s not walking you want but a little Disney fun. But with so many theme parks around the world, how do you know which one to choose? And once you get there, which rides are the most appropriate for your family? Which have the shortest lines? Israeli website ThemeGo gives you the lowdown through user-generated reviews and rankings.

Yes, you could get the same on TripAdvisor, but ThemeGo is faster and more targeted. There are sections for attractions, events, restaurants and hotels. Not surprisingly, Disney parks hold six of the top slots in the ThemeGo top 10. You can bookmark attractions to create your own mobile route using Google Maps. Founder Yariv Padva built ThemeGo from his personal passion. “I’m a huge theme park fan and have visited more than 30 theme parks around the world,” he says.

  1. Guiderr

Guiderr is one of two Israeli startups on our list that promises to plan a custom trip for its users. Guiderr’s niche is families. The company uses its network of travel agents and tour guides to piece together a personalized trip for families that even includes meetings with local families.

Start by picking an itinerary for your chosen destination (Israel, New York and Japan are currently on offer), then modify it according to your dates and specific needs. Each itinerary lists the guide who’s developed the plan and a chat button that encourages interested travelers to ask questions before booking. For tour guides, Guiderr has built its own online platform on which tour guides can manage their business, from query to reservation.

  1. RoutePerfect

RoutePerfect offers a slightly different spin on the customized itinerary website. Unlike Voyjer, which uses local guides to map out your travel plan, RoutePerfect does it automatically through a single-click, single point-of-purchase package.

You enter where you want to start and end your trip, what type of vacation you’re looking for, how many days you’re traveling for, and whether your budget is economy, moderate or luxury. RoutePerfect then suggests which cities you should visit, where you should stay and how you should get around. If all that choice is overwhelming, there are ready-made itineraries to choose from. RoutePerfect covers European destinations only.

  1. Bitemojo
Bitemojo enables you to sample local cuisine. Photo by Amir Menachem/VibeIsrael

Gastronomic tourists have a new reason to rejoice: Israeli app Bitemojo provides guided food tours in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Berlin, Rome and Barcelona. Bitemojo is not just a travel guide; you actually book a tour that includes small tastes at six different restaurants along a pre-set itinerary.

In Jerusalem, for example, you can tour the Machane Yehuda market area or the Old City. There are even some vegan tours in Tel Aviv. You pay at the restaurant using a BiteMojo e-voucher. Tours cost $25-$50 per person on average. The app helps eliminate foodie FOMO (the fear that you’re missing out on the best restaurants in town).

“Everyone wants to eat what the locals are eating,” says Bitemojo CEO Michael Weiss, who also founded the culinary tourism company Yalla Basta. Bitemojo plans to add a few more European cities in 2017.

  1. SeeVoov
Asaf Toker, CEO of SeeVoov. SeeVoov is more of a technology company than a customer-facing travel business – although it’s that too. SeeVoov (a transliteration of the Hebrew for “walk around”) calls itself a “high definition trip planning platform” – a fancy way of saying the site crawls YouTube and puts together videos for your requested destination.

SeeVoov is more of a technology company than a customer-facing travel business – although it’s that too. SeeVoov (a transliteration of the Hebrew for “walk around”) calls itself a “high definition trip planning platform” – a fancy way of saying the site crawls YouTube and puts together videos for your requested destination.

Choose Croatia and SeeVoov will find all the travel videos about the country and play them one after another. The secret sauce is machine learning that automatically tags videos based on image analysis. This makes SeeVoov highly scalable – the company can keep adding cities without adding staff. The site is still in beta and it’s not clear yet how SeeVoov intends to make money, but it’s a compelling concept that had us clicking and watching for longer than we should have!

  1. RoomsNinja
According to hotel reservation site RoomsNinja, hotel room prices change an average of 18 times between when you make your reservation and when you check in. Prices can drop up to 60 percent.

If there’s one thing an Israeli cannot bear to be called, it’s freier – Hebrew for “sucker.” But that’s exactly what happens to many travelers when they book their hotel rooms. According to hotel reservation site RoomsNinja, hotel room prices change an average of 18 times between when you make your reservation and when you check in. Prices can drop up to 60 percent.

“Many times booking a room feels more like gambling,” RoomsNinja CEO Omry Litvak tells ISRAEL21c. The RoomsNinja algorithmic ninja watches your reservation and rebooks for you (with your permission) when the price drops low enough. Litvak said the company based its technology on Wall Street. “A stock option has an expiry date. A hotel room does too – it’s the last day of free cancellation,” he says. RoomsNinja covers some 40,000 hotels around the world.

By: Brian Blum
(Israel 21C)

 

Could Aspirin Help Keep Alzheimer’s Away?

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If new research in mice bears out in humans, that daily low-dose aspirin many people take to keep heart trouble at bay might also protect their brains against Alzheimer’s.

Scientists report aspirin appeared to help clear out plaques of waste material called amyloid beta in the brain. Those plaques are a major sign of Alzheimer’s disease.

“The results of our study identifies a possible new role for one of the most widely used, common, over-the-counter medications in the world,” said senior study author Kalipada Pahan, chair of neurology at Rush Medical College, in Chicago.

Previous research has shown a link between aspirin and a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, the scientists gave low-dose aspirin for a month to genetically modified mice with a form of Alzheimer’s disease.

The aspirin helped reduce amyloid plaques by boosting a protein called TFEB, a regulator of waste removal, and by stimulating lysosomes, a part of cells that help clear waste. But not all research in animals holds true for humans.

Still, “understanding how plaques are cleared is important to developing effective drugs that stop the progression of Alzheimer’s disease,” said Pahan.

“This research study adds another potential benefit to aspirin’s already established uses for pain relief and for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases,” he added in a Rush University news release.

“More research needs to be completed, but the findings of our study has major potential implications for the therapeutic use of aspirin in [Alzheimer’s] and other dementia-related illnesses,” Pahan said.

Alzheimer’s disease affects up to one in 10 Americans aged 65 or older. Only a few drugs are approved for the treatment of Alzheimer’s and those medications provide limited relief.

The study was published in the July issue of The Journal of Neuroscience.

On a related note, it has been reported that British researchers are zeroing in on the genes that they believe are responsible for early onset Alzheimer’s disease in people with Down syndrome.

The two conditions have long been strongly linked.

The findings — based on research with mice — could pave the way for new medicines to prevent Alzheimer’s in people with Down syndrome and shed light on the development of dementia in the general population, the study authors said.

However, experts note that research with animals often doesn’t produce similar results in humans.

Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21. By the time they’re in their 60s, about two out of three people with Down syndrome have Alzheimer’s, the study authors said.

Researchers from University College London and the Francis Crick Institute found that extra copies of other genes on chromosome 21 increase Alzheimer’s-like brain changes and mental decline in mice with a Down syndrome-like condition.

Edited by: JV Staff
(Healthday News)

As Temperatures Soar, Study Warns of Fatal Heat Stroke at Work

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Much of the United States has been sweltering in triple-digit heat this week, but new research finds outdoor workers can suffer fatal heat stroke from temperatures that only reach the high 80s.

In fact, six of 14 cases of fatal heat stroke investigated in the new study “occurred when the Heat Index was below 91 degrees Fahrenheit,” noted a team led by Dr. Aaron Tustin, from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The Heat Index — often announced on media weather forecasts — is a calculation of heat and humidity that gauges how the combination “feels” to the human body. It also assumes the person is in the shade, wearing a single layer of light clothing.

Early summer heat waves are particularly deadly, the OSHA researchers said, since people may not yet be acclimatized to high temperatures.

Dr. Robert Glatter, an ER doctor at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, has seen many cases of heat stroke.

“It’s important to remember that extreme heat combined with humidity can kill,” said Glatter, who wasn’t involved in the new study. “Extremes of heat are most concerning to public safety, and a large number of heat-related deaths are generally preventable.”

Glatter called heat stroke “a medical emergency. Patients may develop temperatures of up to 106-108 F, with confusion and disorientation, and loss of ability to produce sweat to cool the body. Skin is generally is red, hot and dry … Cooling ice baths and misting fans can help reduce core temperatures.”

Workers — who often wear bulky clothing and have little choice but to labor outside in searing temperatures — are at particular risk.

In the new report, Tustin and his colleagues focused on 25 cases of outdoor, on-the-job heat stroke occurring between 2011 and 2016, 14 of which proved fatal.

The study found that in half the cases, victims had at least one “predisposing personal risk factor” for heat stroke — illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease, or use of certain medications or illicit drugs. According to Glatter, medicines such as blood pressure pills or diuretics affect a person’s “fluid balance,” upping the odds for dehydration in severe heat.

Glatter said hydration is crucial for people who must work outside in the heat. “Water is the ideal fluid for hydration, and it is recommended to avoid excessive amounts of caffeine, which can lead to dehydration,” he said.

Tustin’s team offered these tips to stay safe from the heat when working outside:

  • Make sure workplace supervisors are trained to recognize the signs of heat stroke, and in first aid to help if it occurs.
  • Designate at worksite heat “monitor” to be mindful of rising temperatures and oversee protective measures.
  • Make sure new workers get the protective measures they need to acclimatize to working outdoors in the heat, and be mindful that workers with predisposing risk factors might need extra precautions.
  • Schedule frequent breaks in shade or air-conditioned spaces to allow workers to cool down, and adjust work schedules to try and avoid the worst conditions.
  • Provide plenty of accessible water or electrolyte-bearing beverages.

The new report was published July 5 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a journal of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

By: EJ Mundell
(HealthDay News)

 

Medical Marijuana a Hit With Seniors

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Seniors are giving rave reviews for medical marijuana.

In a new survey, those who turned to it for treating chronic pain reported it reduced pain and decreased the need for opioid painkillers.

Nine out of 10 liked it so much they said they’d recommend medical pot to others.

“I was on Percocet and replaced it with medical marijuana. Thank you, thank you, thank you,” said one senior.

Another patient put it this way: “It [medical marijuana] is extremely effective and has allowed me to function in my work and life again. It has not completely taken away the pain, but allows me to manage it.”

Study co-author Dr. Diana Martins-Welch said, “The impact of medical marijuana was overwhelmingly positive. Medical marijuana led them to taking less medications overall — opioids and non-opioids — and they had better function and better quality of life.” Martins-Welch is a physician in the division of geriatric and palliative medicine at Northwell Health, in Great Neck, N.Y.

The biggest complaint the researchers heard about medical marijuana was the cost. “It’s an out-of-pocket expense. Insurance doesn’t cover it because it’s federally illegal,” Martins-Welch explained.

As for unwelcome side effects, Martins-Welch said sedation was what she heard about the most. “A lot of people don’t like feeling sleepy,” she said.

It’s also important to work with your doctor to find the right dose, since pain experts say that too little or too much doesn’t ease pain.

Thirty-one states have some type of medical marijuana law on the books, according to the National Conference of State Legislators.

“Every state has its own laws, like what a qualifying condition is. There are a lot of differences. And you can’t take a product from one state and cross another state line,” Martins-Welch said.

According to federal law, medical marijuana is still illegal in the United States. “There are legal fears. Some practitioners worry that the DEA [U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration] might come after them,” she added.

Medical marijuana is different than just picking up some pot and smoking it.

“The goal with medical marijuana is to find the dose that gives a therapeutic benefit without a high, or slowing reaction time or causing sedation,” Martins-Welch said. “To find that right dose, we start low and go slow.”

In fact, it’s important to work with a doctor because there’s a “therapeutic window” with THC, the active component in marijuana that causes the high, according to Dr. Mark Wallace, a board member of the American Pain Society.

If you get a dose that’s within that window, the pain is relieved. If you get too little, you won’t get pain relief, and if you go over the therapeutic window, pain is actually worsened, Wallace explained.

The study included a 20-question survey of nearly 150 seniors who had used medical marijuana for chronic pain. The seniors had received their medical marijuana from dispensaries in New York or Minnesota.

The average age of the seniors was 61 to 70, and 54 percent were female. Many (45 percent) used a vaporized oil in an e-cigarette device. Twenty-eight percent used a medical marijuana pill.

Twenty-one percent said they used medical marijuana daily, while 23 percent said they used it twice a day. Another 39 percent said they used it more than twice a day, the researchers noted.

By: Serena Gordon
(HealthDay News)