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Jewish Groups Weigh in on Pompeo for Secretary of State

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Major American Jewish organizations are pleased by the nomination of CIA director Mike Pompeo to succeed Rex Tillerson as U.S. secretary of state, and some are expressing hope that Pompeo will reverse Tillerson’s recent decision to side with the PLO in a lawsuit by victims of terrorism.

Contrasting Mike Pompeo with Rex Tillerson, who reportedly opposed U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

Major American Jewish organizations are pleased by the nomination of CIA director Mike Pompeo to succeed Rex Tillerson as U.S. secretary of state, and some are expressing hope that Pompeo will reverse Tillerson’s recent decision to side with the PLO in a lawsuit by victims of terrorism.

Pompeo “has had close ties to the Jewish community and is a strong supporter of the U.S.-Israel relationship,” Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman and CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, told JNS

Pompeo “has had close ties to the Jewish community and is a strong supporter of the U.S.-Israel relationship,” Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman and CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, told JNS. “We look forward to working with him on the many international issues and challenges he will be addressing. We hope he will review the State Department’s position on the terror victims’ lawsuits.”

Sarah Stern, president of the pro-Israel advocacy group EMET (Endowment for Middle East Truth), said she worked with Pompeo when he was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. “He genuinely appreciates Israel’s unique role as America’s only reliable, democratic ally in one of the most volatile regions in the world,” Stern told JNS. She also pointed out that it was Pompeo, together with Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who exposed the fact that the Obama administration signed a series of secret side agreements with Iran that gave Tehran additional benefits from the nuclear agreement.

Stern said she was “deeply disappointed” by the State Department’s decision to side with the PLO, which is currently being sued by terror victims under the terms of the Anti-Terrorism Act. The department recently submitted a brief in the Sokolow vs. PLO case, urging the Supreme Court to decline to hear the suit, primarily on technical grounds.

EMET will urge the new secretary of state to reverse that position, she said.

In a statement to JNS, B’nai B’rith International said it is “encouraged by Mike Pompeo’s record of support for the U.S.-Israel relationship,” and “shares his concern about the Iranian nuclear threat and his view of the need for continued pressure on Iran.”

Regarding the lawsuit against the PLO, B’nai B’rith said: “The Anti-Terrorism Act is intended to deter terrorist acts against the U.S. and to give recourse to victims who seek justice. B’nai B’rith supports victims of terror and their families.”

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, told JNS that in his view, President Donald Trump “has two key foreign-policy challenges he wants to tackle: North Korea—with China an associated challenge—and Iran.” With Pompeo as secretary of state, “it seems the U.S. will actively try to deal with both. This is a big development.”

Debating the pros and cons

Conservative and Reform groups did not respond to requests for comment on the nomination. Several Orthodox groups, however, strongly praised the choice of Pompeo.

Farley Weiss, president of the National Council of Young Israel, to which more than 100 Orthodox synagogues belong, said he was “very pleased” by the choice of Pompeo, “who has a strong track record of support for Israel and clearly understands the threat from Iran.”

He contrasted Pompeo with outgoing secretary Rex Tillerson, who reportedly opposed U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“We also received reports of some concern about Tillerson’s position regarding a land dispute between Lebanon and Israel,” said Weiss, “and we hope that [incoming] Secretary of State Pompeo will take the right position on the issue and support the position of Israel.”

Rabbi Pesach Lerner, president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, which represents several hundred Orthodox rabbis, told JNS that his group “would like the State Department to reverse its decision not to fight for victims of the PLO terrorist organization, a decision which eviscerated the Anti-Terrorism Act of 1992.”

He also expressed hope that under Pompeo and in the wake of Trump’s Jerusalem decision, “the State Department will list ‘Jerusalem, Israel’ as the birthplace of my newest granddaughter.”

Left-of-center American Jewish groups, however, are not pleased by the nomination.

Paul Scham, president of Partners for Progressive Israel, told JNS that Pompeo is “a dangerous hawk” who “seems to believe war is a handy solution” to diplomatic conflicts.

Americans for Peace Now this week distributed an “Action Alert” calling on its member to urge senators to vote against confirming Pompeo. APN said it opposes Pompeo because he is “an ultra-hawk on Iran and fierce critic of the Iran nuclear deal,” and has “close relationships” with what it characterizes as “Islamophobic organizations.”

By: Rafael Medoff
(JNS.org)

 

A Primer on Mortgages in the 21st Century – The Jewish Voice Interview with Power Express’ President Keith Kantrowitz 

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Pictured above is Keith Kantrowitz, the president of Power Express mortgage lending firm, located in Long Island

Entering the offices of the renowned mortgage lending company Power Express in Long Island one is immediately taken by the highly professional yet relaxed and friendly aura, but behind an impressive looking desk is the man who is the driving force behind a company that has made a name for itself in terms of integrity, service and keeping the customer as the top priority.

An ebullient, articulate and well versed man, Keith Kantrowitz is the president of Power Express, also known as “the Wall Street Mortgage Bankers.” Talking with Keith for only a few moments, one can easily detect his gregarious nature as well as his extensive knowledge in the mortgage lending field.

Power Express President Keith Kantrowitcz pictured here holding up a treasured photo of himself and prominent rabbis.

Hailing from the Canarsie section of Brooklyn and now residing in Manhattan, it appears that Keith knows just about everyone who grew up in that neck of the woods in the 1960s and 70s. His remarkable networking skills have proven quite successful as they have reached far and wide. This is evidenced by the array of photographs on his wall of celebrities and prominent personalities of all stripes.

Just to give a “for instance” Keith is pictured with veteran public servants such as former First Lady, former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to retired NBA star and current sports commentator Shaquille O’Neal to the legendary New York Yankees pitching closer Mariano Rivera and to former New York Mets player Darryl Strawberry. And many more I might add.

Beginning his illustrious career as a mortgage banker in 1978, in 1990 Keith opened shop as a mortgage banker. Lending billions of dollars to a litany of prominent clients, his reservoir of experience is unparalleled in the industry.

“Understanding what you have is how you will understand where to go”, Keith explains. “It is one of the cardinal rules of lending. One must understand that all applicants are different but the goal is the same, close their loan and that’s our job. Plain and simple.”He adds, “We must create simplicity in the work we do so others could benefit from our experience.”

“If you want to get some idea of the success of a client, just ask them what is important to them,” he says.

Keith prides himself and his company on providing the customer a simplification of an otherwise complicated mortgage process that is appropriate for them. “We find the best mortgage for each customer in the quickest manner possible and we make the experience as hassle-free as possible. Our advice to customers is totally unbiased so that the customer knows that we are dedicated to getting them the mortgage that suits their requirements,” he says.

For the financially uninformed amongst us plebeians, perhaps it is best to really get a handle on the work that Keith has devoted his life to by obtaining a rudimentary education on the ins and outs of the mortgage business.

A mortgage requires you to pledge your home as the lender’s security for the repayment of your loan. The lender agrees to hold the title to your property (or in some states, to hold a lien on your title) until you have paid back your loan plus interest. If you do not repay your mortgage loan, the lender has the right to take possession of your house and sell it in order to satisfy the mortgage debt.

All mortgages have two features in common. The first feature is the mortgage principal, which in the actual amount you borrow. For example, if you take out $200,000 mortgage, you mortgage principal is $200,000.

The second feature is the interest, which is the money you pay for the use of the money you borrow. Interest rates are highly volatile and how much interest amount you pay over the mortgage loan depends upon many different factors. The interest you pay on your mortgage may be deductible. (Consult a tax professional for advice) The higher the income tax bracket the more you may save in taxes by owning your own home.

Over specific time of loan (30 years–15 years–7 years–5 years–3 years–1 year, etc,), you will pay your mortgage gradually through regular, monthly payments of principal and interest. The amounts of these payments are calculated to let you own your home debt-free at the end of a fixed period. During the first few years, most of your payments will be applied toward the interest you owe. During the final years of your loan, your payment amounts will be applied almost exclusively to the remaining principal. This type of re-payment is called amortization. In addition, when you sell your home you will be required to pay back any remaining principal balance due on your mortgage loan to your lender.

The price of the house is determined by location, size, special features (such as garage, a deck, an extra bathroom, extra master bedroom), and overall market condition. However, before you fall in love with your new home, Keith advises his customers to learn the four factors that may be the key to whether or not you can afford that house of your dream. They are the size of your down payment, the amount of your mortgage, your mortgage interest rate, and re-payment terms of the mortgage loan you choose.

“Speaking of owning one’s home, I always say that even the worst landlord is in much better shape financially than even the worse renter, “ says Keith who proffers his wholehearted endorsement to those who are in a good position to purchase property, whether it be in the commercial of residential realm.

On a more personal note, Keith’s natural charisma shines through as he guides us through the veritable treasure trove of photos on his wall. Offering tantalizing back stories on the people photographed next to him, it is clear that Keith has collected an eclectic cadre of friends and personal business acquaintances.

Possessing an unwavering commitment to his Jewish heritage, Keith has immersed himself in a potpourri of charitable causes and his stalwart support for the State of Israel remains on the top of his list of priorities.

On that note, Keith vividly recalls the time that he visited Israel with New York Yankees star pitcher and likely Cooperstown inductee Mariano Rivera.

“Mariano and his wife are very religious people and they expressed a desire to visit Israel and its holy sites, so I was honored to accompany them there. His wife is a Christian minister and an incredibly devout person. I recall the day that we had visited Jerusalem’s Western Wall. Mariano and his wife were really absorbing the flavor of the Old City of Jerusalem. Later that night, or more accurately in the wee hours of the following day, Mariano and his wife wanted to return to the Western Wall, so my wife and I walked with him from our hotel to the Kotel in the middle of the night and it was simply remarkable,” said Keith as he flashed an ear-to-ear smile.

By: Fern Sidman

 

The Passover Food Guide – Part 1

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This list is compiled after extensive research and correspondence with food industry experts and experts in the field of Kashrut

The Jersey Shore Orthodox Rabbinate takes pride in once again presenting to our Sephardic Community a comprehensive guide to Passover products. In order to supply the community with up to date information, this is also available on the website: www.jsor.org. We have added some popular food categories for this year, including some commonly used health foods.

This list is compiled after extensive research and correspondence with food industry experts and experts in the field of Kashrut. Since Sephardic Jews have different customs and traditional foods than our Ashkenaz brothers, this list is designed to serve those whose custom includes the consumption of Kitniyot, or legumes on the holiday. Since the majority of Jews in America are of Ashkenazic descent, the major Kashrut organizations have only certified those items that are permissible for them.

In the last several years, the Star K (Star-S), OU and the OK have begun to certify some foods that are for those who eat Kitniyot

In the last several years, the Star K (Star-S), OU and the OK have begun to certify some foods that are for those who eat Kitniyot. We have included those items, and as well have listed those foods that are permissible without special Kosher for Passover (KFP) symbols. This year we have expanded the listing with some gluten free and Paleo friendly ingredients, as these items have become increasingly popular. Please note however, that gluten free is NOT necessarily Kosher for Passover! Oats are gluten free, but they are pure HAMES! Use only items listed. (Also note that the Beracha on those items, although they may be in the form of typical Mezonot foods, the correct blessing is SHEHAKOL.)

Whenever possible, buy those products that bear a reliable Passover label to be assured that the product has been prepared for the holiday. All products whether or not they need special supervision should only be used if the package is new and unopened.

NON FOOD PRODUCTS: All Aluminum Foil, Foil tins, Foam, paper and Plastic dishes and cups are acceptable. Cling wrap and wax paper are also fine.

Parchment paper: 365, Bagcraft, Bakomatic, Master Baker, Reynolds, Norpac and Kirkland are acceptable without a P.

BABY PRODUCTS:

Baby Cereal: Due to information from the Rabbi at the O.U. in charge of Pesach production, Beech Nut Pure rice cereal should not be used. There is Materna brand from Israel that has supervision, but it is not widely available. Alternatively, may we suggest one of the following:

1) Cook whole checked rice thoroughly and then puree in the blender with formula.

2) Preparing the cereal from ground checked rice.

3) Soak Passover breakfast cereal or crumbled lady fingers in milk or formula and then mash or blend.

4) Try a variety of baby\ hot cereals that are made from finely ground Matza meal or potato starch. (see cereals)

Baby Formula: 365, Alsoy; Enfamil; Enfacare; Isomil; Prosobee; Similac LeMehadrin and regular; Nestle Good Start and Next Step- are all acceptable. Additionally, the following store brands are good: Kirkland Signature, CVS, Target, Walgreens and Wegmans brands.

Pediatric Electrolytes: Pedialyte (all flavors), CVS, Shoprite and Walgreens brands.

Baby Foods:

This year we have expanded the listing with some gluten free and Paleo friendly ingredients, as these items have become increasingly popular. Please note however, that gluten free is NOT necessarily Kosher for Passover! Oats are gluten free, but they are pure HAMES! Use only items listed. (Also note that the Beracha on those items, although they may be in the form of typical Mezonot foods, the correct blessing is SHEHAKOL.)

Must have Kosher for Passover supervision.

Gerber: Carrots, Green Beans, Peas and Squash are acceptable. Plain OU only.

First Choice CRC/P: applesauce, carrots and sweet Potato

Shneiders Shlock Squeezable Fruit- Star K/P

NOTE: Beech Nut is no longer certified for Kosher for Passover.

Ideally, it is best to (gasp!) prepare baby food at home using a blender or food processor.

Baking Powder: Gefen, Haddar, are KFP. Baking Powder that DOES NOT list Oat flour in the ingredients, is ok for use.

Baking Soda: (Bicarbonate of Soda) No Passover Supervision necessary. (New box)

Candy and Chocolates: Passover Supervision is necessary for all chocolate candies; likewise, hard sucking candies need supervision because they are often coated with flour.

Beware! Some candies coming out of Israel may contain ‘gelatine’ or ‘gelatin’ which may be derived from animal sources! Do not use any candy, even from Israel, without verifying the supervision.

Cereals and Breakfast Foods: All cereals made from the five grains are of course, Hames. In addition, many cold cereals such as corn flakes and rice krispies are Hames since malt is added to them. We strongly suggest that even those cereals in which the listed ingredients are 100% kosher for Passover, should not be used as they are in constant contact with grains that are real Hames.

You will find many types in the Supermarket Kosher for Passover aisle. They MUST be marked. Most are made from finely ground Matza flour, but some are made from Tapioca and are ‘Shehakol’…There are many brands that offer these breakfast foods: Crispy O’s, Gefen, Manischewitz.

Cider Vinegar: Requires supervision, the nutrient may be Hames.

Cocoa: Any 100% pure powder that is made in the USA. Exception: Hershey’s Special Dark. (not good)

Cacao Beans or Nibs are acceptable without a P

Coconut Products:

Coconut Milk: Coconut Dream Original OU –no P, Trader Joe Original (canned)

Coconut Oil: Cold Pressed, Virgin, un-refined coconut oil – any. i.e.. Spectrum Organic, Coconut Secret (no P)

Coconut Shredded needs Passover supervision if sweetened or flavored. Plain unsweetened /unflavored is acceptable.

Coconut Secret Brand: Star-K (No/P)The following varieties are acceptable: Aminos, Crystals, Flour, Nectar, and Vinegar.

Coconut Chips and Flour: The following brands are acceptable: Aunt Patty’s, Cocozia and Epicurex

COFFEE:

Instant- In former years, most instant coffees were acceptable if they were unflavored, this is no longer the case. As a flavor enhancer, malto dextrirn, which may be derived from barley is added. This year, the only brands not requiring a P are:

Tasters Choice brand of regular, unflavored coffee

Folgers: Regular and Decaf instant.

Ground, Regular unflavored only:

No chicory or Decaf: The following brands may be used for Pesach (new can) even without special supervision: Chock Full O’Nuts, Duncan Donuts (bagged only), Folgers, Hills Bros., Lavazza, Melitta, Shoprite, Trader Joe’s & Wegmans.

Maxwell House Ground and Instant (with OKP only) Elite Turkish Coffee (O.U.-P.)

K-cups for Keurig Machines: are recommended when bearing the OU Reg (not decaf) Unflavored only!

Note: The machine may be used after thoroughly cleaning all parts and running 2x without a k-cup, hold cup up to spout and discard hot water.

Nespresso: Nespresso CClassic NC, Professional NP, Vertuo.

Decaffeinated: Acceptable without a P: Brooklyn Coffee House, Ellis, Parker House and White House brands.

All Other Decaffeinated coffee must be marked for Passover. Sanka (with OK-P), Maxwell House Decaf varieties (with OK-P); Gevalia,

Flavored coffees are not acceptable for Passover use.

Coffee substitutes: Postum, Roma or Teeccino contain grain and may not be used for Pesach. Any leftovers of these brands must be sold with the Hames.

Coffee Creamer: must be marked for Passover: Gefen, Kineret, Mishpacha, Ungers. KP

Cooking Spray: Pompeian Avocado Oil or Grapeseed Oil. Star-K (no P required) All others Must be marked! BEWARE! This is a frequent mistake. Gefen, Mothers, Seasons and Mishpacha, require an OU-P Haddar, bears a KAJ-P.

DAIRY PRODUCTS:

Milk: It is preferable to purchase kosher milk with Passover supervision for Pesach, but one may buy regular milk for the holiday, if purchased before Pesach. In addition to the Halav Yisrael brands, many supermarket brand milks are marked Kosher for Passover and are able to be purchased throughout the holiday. Only marked milk should be purchased during the holiday, since the dairy company adds vitamins to the milk and also may process chocolate milk that contains malt (Hames) on the same equipment.

Please note! OU-P designation does not mean that the product is Halav Yisrael.

             (To Be Continued)

Edited by: JV Staff

 

Parshas Tzav – Every Mitzvah is Important

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In this week`s parsha the Torah teaches us that after the Kohen cleaned the ashes of the offerings from the altar, he had to change his priestly garments before he continued his service in the Temple. There is a profound lesson in derech eretz — respect and proper conduct to be learned from this. The Kohen is not to wear the same clothing when he removes the ashes as he does when he performs his service unto G-d. We are not to serve our G-d, in the very same clothing in which we do menial chores. So, for example, women should change their clothing before lighting candles in honor of the Sabbath. But the question still remains, why would the Torah not have designated special priests for the cleansing of the altar, and others to perform the service. This way, it would have been unnecessary to change garments.

The Torah wants to impress upon us that when it comes to serving HaShem, every mitzva is sacred. Cleaning the altar is no less holy a calling than performing the service. Within this teaching is once again an important message for us, especially in this pre-Pesach season when we are called upon to thoroughly clean our homes — a task which can be very tedious. If we bear in mind however that this menial chore is also the service of G-d, then we will be invested with zeal and enthusiasm and our work will become meaningful. It is not only on erev Pesach that this teaching should sustain us, but throughout the year. There are always those who volunteer for glamorous jobs, for chairmanships that lend honor and distinction, but when it comes to the nitty-gritty menial tasks, there are all too few candidates. At such times, it is important for us to recall the Kohen who removed the ashes and remember that that too was the service of G-d — all mitzvas are equal.

Alas, we no longer have the holy Temple. We can no longer offer sacrifices, but the Midrash teaches us that if a Jew repents and comes closer to G-d, it is considered as though he ascended to Jerusalem, rebuilt the Temple and gave an offering to G-d. In the absence of the Temple, our tables are regarded as altars. This is especially important to remember as we sit around our Seder tables which symbolize hospitality, tzedukah, and commitment. In these embattled times, when our brethren in Eretz Yisroel are in the throes of danger, our Seder tables must take on an added dimension, and we must fervently offer our prayers and demonstrate our dedication to our people and to our G-d.

The Power of Love

At the end of this week`s parsha there is a puzzling passage, “This is the thing that HaShem commanded to be done..” (Leviticus, 8:5), but the Torah does not specify what “the thing” might be. In order to gain illumination, we turn to the previous verse wherein G-d instructed Moshe to gather the entire assembly of the Jewish people “to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting”–and herein lies the explanation which in and of itself is paradoxical. Although the area at the entrance was very small and could not contain so many people, nevertheless, miraculously, there was ample room for everyone. Through this phenomenon, the Torah teaches us a profound lesson that speaks for all time: When true love prevails among people, no room, no place is too small. On the other hand, when contention and animosity fill hearts, then no space is big enough. The most majestic palace cannot accommodate those who are not at peace with one another, thus the meaning of the passage becomes clear–”This is the thing that HaShem commanded to do”: to reach out with love, kindness and understanding, and if we do that, then even the smallest, most limited space will miraculously expand. That is the power of love.

SHABBOS HAGADOL

The holiday of Pesach is a celebration of our nationhood–and our strength as a people is contingent upon our unity and our willingness to band together as one.

Shabbos HaGadol is called “The Great Sabbath.” Some of the reasons for this are: 1) There is an ancient custom that on this Sabbath the Rabbi delivers a lengthy sermon dealing with the intricate laws of Pesach. 2) The Haftorah for this Shabbos states: “Behold, I will send Elijah the Prophet to you before that great and awesome day” 3) It was on this Sabbath that our forefathers in Egypt set aside the Pascal lamb for the first Pesach. Since the lamb was the deity of the Egyptians, it was miraculous that the Egyptians did not attack the Jews (who had merited G-d`s protection through their great courage and loyalty in fulfilling His command). 4) Finally, on this Sabbath, it is a minhag (custom) to read part of the Haggadah.

By: Rabbi Osher Jungreis
(Hineni.org)

Questions for a Thoughtful Seder

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Tips for making the Pesach seder both an educational and enjoyable experience
  1. On Pesach we celebrate our freedom from slavery. What do you feel enslaved by in your life today?
  2. The salt water on the table represents the tears that the Jewish people cried during their struggles. What has made you cry this year? Both tears of happiness and sadness count!
  3. The egg that some have the custom of eating at the Seder represents aveilut. Its round shape symbolizes the cycle of life. Has anyone you cared for passed away since the last Pesach? Have any babies been born in your family?
  4. The Sages in Bnei Brak stayed up all night discussing the story of the Exodus. What keeps you up at night? What was the last book you read that made you want to stay up reading?
  5. Am Yisrael has observed Seder night each year since we left Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. Today, it is one of the most widely observed mitzvot in the Torah. What is the secret to its longevity and popularity?
  6. “Ha Lachma Anya” is an invitation (in Aramaic) to those who are hungry to come and eat. Yet the Seder has already started and the poor on the streets can’t hear us in our homes. Why is it in Aramaic? What is its role in the Haggadah? And how do we really feel about hosting strangers, let alone homeless people, in our homes?
  7. We start the Seder by listing the order of the night. The ritual stages are important. We don’t have this tradition before any other mitzvah, so why do we do so on Seder night?
  8. After we eat, we bentch and then recite Hallel (prayers of praise and thanksgiving). What are you most grateful for in your life right now? (My rule: you can’t say something that someone else has already said!)
  9. Which of the Four Sons were you most like as a kid? (Make sure to act out the Four Sons with dramatic voices!)

Dos and Don’ts for Running an Explanatory Seder

Do

  • Make sure everyone at the table feels like a player on the field and not a spectator watching the action.
  • Have all participants use the same Haggadah. A user-friendly Haggadah with clear, large-type Hebrew and English fonts, which includes a few colorful illustrations, is a better choice than one with extensive commentary.
  • Make sure that everyone in the room gets a chance to have his voice heard at least once during the evening. Provide opportunities for participants to answer questions (see page 50 for Seder questions), offer a devar Torah or share a memory of Seder experiences they have had in the past (on campus, this gives unaffiliated students an opportunity to recall things they learned from their grandparents who often led the Sedarim they attended as children).
  • Have family heirlooms at your Seder. Children will grow up cherishing the memories of using zeide’s Kiddush cup and will want to use it at their own Sedarim one day.
  • If you don’t have family heirlooms, start making them! Don’t get a new Seder plate or afikoman cover every year—just because the item is not eighty-five years old or from Warsaw doesn’t mean it can’t create its own legacy. Familiarity with ritual items breeds a close relationship with those objects and offers security and meaning in a world where everything is replaceable and impermanent.
  • Use props. Place a few toy frogs around the room and have a costume on hand so someone can dress up as an Egyptian taskmaster—get the kids asking questions!
  • Act out parts of the Haggadah. Whether it’s the section on the Four Sons, the Sages in Bnei Brak or any other episode in the Haggadah, asking people to act it out (preferably give them advance notice) is a great educational method that often leads to laughter.
  • Sing! The concluding songs of the Haggadah should have the whole family out of their seats, and there should be actions accompanying the words. Everyone has been sitting patiently for a long time at this point, so it’s a great opportunity to end on a high. Make sure to choose tunes that everyone knows, or teach everyone your favorite one.

Don’t

  • Wait until Seder night to figure out how you are going to make it meaningful and participatory. Preparation is essential.
  • Have the Haggadah read entirely by the father of the house or the Seder leader. Go around the table and ask each participant to read a paragraph, whether in Hebrew or English. People will feel less like they are in class and more like it is a shared experience. Also, knowing you are going to be called on soon forces you to make sure you have the place.
  • Don’t let the meal drag on. The end of the Haggadah is the best part and you don’t want to lose your audience.
  • Be inflexible. Adapt to the facts on the ground. If half of the table is falling asleep and it’s very late, if you insist on reading every word, the Seder may become a negative experience. Use your discretion to skip some of the lengthy texts if necessary.

This article originally appeared in the Spring 2014 issue of Jewish Action, the quarterly magazine of the Orthodox Union | All Rights Reserved | ou.org | oupassover.org

By: Gideon Black

 

 

Flatbush Rabbonim Deliberate Important Issues At Forum

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The Rabbonim who attended were from all segments of the greater Flatbush area, including the Sephardic, Chasidishe, Russian, Yeshiva and Litvish communities. A committee was formed to work on vital communal issues.
Among the many topics on the agenda was a presentation on technology and its impact on Yeshiva and Bais Yaakov students by Rabbi Mordechai Kirschenbaum, Menahel of Yeshiva Ateret Torah; and a FJCC effort to help needy families on a weekly basis in partnership with Masbia of Flatbush, by the executive director of Masbia, Alexander Rapaport

Over forty Rabbonim representing a cross section of the Flatbush community gathered last week to deliberate important issues at an FJCC coordinated meeting.

Among the many topics on the agenda was a presentation on technology and its impact on Yeshiva and Bais Yaakov students by Rabbi Mordechai Kirschenbaum, Menahel of Yeshiva Ateret Torah; and a FJCC effort to help needy families on a weekly basis in partnership with Masbia of Flatbush, by the executive director of Masbia, Alexander Rapaport.

Rabbi Moshe Tuvia Leiff, Rov of Agudath Israel Bais Binyamin, stated “It is important for our Rabbonim to meet on common relevant issues. It is through this type of united effort that we can effectively accomplish great things for our Flatbush Kehila.”

The Rabbonim who attended were from all segments of the greater Flatbush area, including the Sephardic, Chasidishe, Russian, Yeshiva and Litvish communities. A committee was formed to work on vital communal issues.

The meeting was chaired by Josh Mehlman, chairman of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition, FJCC, and hosted by Rabbi Aharon Harari-Raful at Congregation Keter Torah.

Rabbi Moshe Tuvia Leiff, Rov of Agudath Israel Bais Binyamin, stated “It is important for our Rabbonim to meet on common relevant issues. It is through this type of united effort that we can effectively accomplish great things for our Flatbush Kehila.”

Rabbi Yisroel Reisman, shlita, was among the chashuva rabbonim who participated at the forum organized by the FJCC

Rabbi Mordechai Twerski, Rov of Bais Medrash Ateres Shloime, explained that “The Rabbonim are facing the toughest challenges in our community. They need and want to meet these challenges. It is essential that the Rabbonim take upon themselves responsibility through which Klal Yisroel can gain true Torah guidance”

The meeting was chaired by Josh Mehlman, chairman of the Flatbush Jewish Community Coalition, FJCC, and hosted by Rabbi Aharon Harari-Raful at Congregation Keter Torah.

Edited by: JV Staff

 

Shabbat HaGadol as Independence Day

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The Royal Table, written by Rabbi Norman Lamm. In this haggadah, Rabbi Lamm points out that in the Talmud, katan does not always mean minor, nor does gadol invariably connote an adult. In certain contexts, Rabbi Lamm informs us, a person’s status is not a question of age but a question of independence.

I remember well when the age at which one could vote or drink was 21. From my perspective when I was a child, and frankly eager to do these things, it seemed to be an injustice to set the age bar so high. 21 seemed a long way off.

As time progressed, the age for all of these things became lower and lower. By that time, I was well past the age of 21 and was critical of allowing children these privileges prematurely.

That’s just one example of how our perspective changes with regard to the age-old question of who is a child and who is an adult. At what age does one pass from the status of a minor into majority?

From the point of view of Jewish religion things seem quite clear. Traditionally, boys become men at age 13. Recognizing that females mature earlier, our rabbis defined age 12 as the age of majority for a girl.

So it is with regard to the performance of mitzvot and other religious functions. A girl celebrates her bat mitzvah at age 12, and boys wear tefillin and are counted as part of a minyan at age 13. Before the age of 13 he is a katan, a minor. Afterwards, he is a gadol.

Gadol can mean adult, or it can mean large or great.

This Shabbat, the last one preceding Passover, is known as Shabbat HaGadol. How are we to translate it? Is it the adult Shabbat, the large Shabbat, or perhaps the great Shabbat? Or does the word gadol mean something entirely different in this context?

Many have a custom to do a preliminary reading of the Passover Haggadah on this Shabbat. Those of us who do so, and I count myself among them, will have an opportunity not just to read the ancient words but to study some commentary upon them. Thus, we will have the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with one of the dozens of haggadot on the market.

I would like to recommend one in particular, called The Royal Table, written by Rabbi Norman Lamm. I recommend this work in its entirety, but I would like to draw your attention to his creative approach to the meaning of the word gadol, and not just in the context of Shabbat HaGadol.

The author writes: “Take Maimonides, the Rambam. His Torah scholarship and personal spirituality were unparalleled. Yet he embarked, quite intentionally, upon many new paths in his life. He undertook significant positions of community leadership, delved into areas of study of which his own teachers never knew, and did not fear to express his independence of thought even when he differed from some of his predecessors.”

Rabbi Lamm points out that in the Talmud, katan does not always mean minor, nor does gadol invariably connote an adult. In certain contexts, Rabbi Lamm informs us, a person’s status is not a question of age but a question of independence. In the words of the Talmud, “A katan who does not rely upon his father’s table is a gadol. A gadol who is dependent upon his father is a katan.”

This piece of Talmudic wisdom allows us a definition of gadol with entirely new vistas of insight and understanding. A gadol is someone who is self-reliant, who can stand on his own two feet, not just intellectually but in every other sense as well.

Thus, Rabbi Lamm teaches us that this Shabbat is called HaGadol because it marks our independence as a people. It was on this day that we were able to demonstrate to our Egyptian slave masters that we no longer feared them and were about to declare ourselves religiously, culturally, and physically independent.

I find myself taking the implications of Rabbi Lamm’s insights much further than he does. Nowadays, we refer to those Torah sages whose authority we revere and to whom we look for guidance as gedolim,” the plural of gadol.

I have often struggled with the question, as I am sure many of you do, as to what makes a gadol. Is it just his piety and erudition? Surely these are the necessary prerequisites for the status of gadol.

But reflection upon the great sages of Jewish history reveals that the outstanding Gedolim of the generations had streaks of independence, which they asserted in unique and often courageous ways.

Take Maimonides, the Rambam. His Torah scholarship and personal spirituality were unparalleled. Yet he embarked, quite intentionally, upon many new paths in his life. He undertook significant positions of community leadership, delved into areas of study of which his own teachers never knew, and did not fear to express his independence of thought even when he differed from some of his predecessors.

The author writes that Rabbi Moshe Sofer, known as the Chatam Sofer, was “generally thought to have been an ardent traditionalist. Yet he too demonstrated great independence when he formulated his own approach to combating the heretical movements of his time. He invented new ways to fight old battles.”

Or consider Rabbi Moshe Sofer, known as the Chatam Sofer, who is generally thought to have been an ardent traditionalist. Yet he too demonstrated great independence when he formulated his own approach to combating the heretical movements of his time. He invented new ways to fight old battles.

The saintly Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kagan HaCohen, zt’l, was a 20th century gadol who along with HaRav Moshe Feinstein zt’l “did not merely mimic their teachers and peers but undertook new approaches, new emphases, and dealt with unprecedented issues relying upon their profound scholarship for sure, but also were confident in their independent judgment.”

The Chofetz Chaim and Rav Moshe Feinstein, to take two twentieth century gedolim, did not merely mimic their teachers and peers but undertook new approaches, new emphases, and dealt with unprecedented issues relying upon their profound scholarship for sure, but also were confident in their independent judgment. Rav Moshe even committed to writing some of his thoughts about the necessity of a posek, a halachic decisor, not to fear to express his independent thoughts when he was confident that they were correct.

HaRav Moshe Feinstein, zt’l even committed to writing some of his thoughts about the necessity of a posek, a halachic decisor, not to fear to express his independent thoughts when he was confident that they were correct.

Shabbat HaGadol gives us the opportunity to cherish our independence in so many ways. We must never abandon our Torah and tradition, but we must realize that there is a place for independence when it is appropriate.

Passover is the holiday of freedom and independence. Our sages teach us that no one is as free as he who studies Torah deeply. Independence of thought and creativity are values which are cherished by our tradition, and Passover is the time for us to celebrate those values.

By: Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb

Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb is the Executive Vice President, Emeritus of the Orthodox Union. Rabbi Weinreb’s newly released Person in the Parasha: Discovering the Human Element In the Weekly Torah Portion, co-published by OU Press and Maggid Books, contains a compilation of Rabbi Weinreb’s weekly Person in the Parsha column. For more information about his book, go to https://www.ou.org/oupress/product/the-person-in-the-parasha/. For other articles and essays by Rabbi Weinreb, go to http://www.ou.org/torah/parsha-series/rabbi-weinreb-on-parsha

Bezalel Academy of Arts & Design Unveils Variety of Passover Related Judaica

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Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Israel’s oldest higher education institution and the birthplace of Israeli culture, unveiled a variety of different works of Passover art as part of its commitment in 2018 to chronicling the 70 years of Israel’s independence.

Bezalel Academy trains emerging artists, designers and architects in a wide range of disciplines, including fine arts, visual communications, ceramics & glass, jewelry & fashion, and industrial design. Bezalel preserves and develops traditional techniques and crafts, as well as create cutting-edge design and art in the realm of the most advanced technologies of the 21st century. For Passover the Academy curated a digital sampling of Judaica created by past students, including multiple takes on the Seder plate with different shaped designs, both modern and traditional, of the holiday centerpiece.

Designs include 3D round towers, Jerusalem stone, fusions of pyramids and Star of David themes, pieces combining the Seder plate and Elijah’s cup, separate pieces allowing hosts to set up their Seder plates as they wish and even a flower shaped design illustrating the seasonal time of the holiday. Other items include pristine sketches included on Passover Haggadah pages, paintings depicting the holiday’s icons of Matzah and the 10 plagues and an animated interactive Haggadah.

The works include both pieces of fine art as well as riveting takes on traditional Passover items like a Bedikat Hametz tabletop tractor set as well as Seder plates from the different decades since the birth of the state. The pieces take viewers through the decades with a hint of influence from their individual time periods.

“Students of Bezalel Academy have been creating Judaica since the Academy’s establishment in 1906. We are the only place on the globe that teaches Judaica at an academic level and in honor of Israel’s 70th anniversary, we wanted to showcase the evolution of Passover Judaica artwork through the years,” said Bezalel President Prof. Adi Stern.

Founded in 1906, the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design is Israel’s oldest institution of higher education and the birthplace of Israel’s art culture. With programs ranging across the discipline, Bezalel’s graduates influence the world through their designs utilizing the top skills instilled within them in their time at the historic art academy in Jerusalem. Bezalel offers courses in fine arts, architecture, ceramic & glass design, industrial design, jewelry & fashion design, photography, visual communications, screen based arts, urban design, and art history & theory. For more information, please visit http://www.bezalel.ac.il/en/.

Edited by: JV Staff

 

Instagram Exposes a Crumbling Brooklyn College Campus

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A photo of the disrepair at Brooklyn College. (Photo via Twitter)

Students at Brooklyn College have taken it upon themselves to use social media to push for their campus to get much needed repairs.

Students were asked by several signs hung up throughout the campus to take photos of things that are “broken or falling apart” and submit them with the hashtag #thankyoucuomo to an Instagram page called @cuny_brokelyn_college.

The expansive lawns and gorgeous Georgian buildings at onetime ranked the 26-acre Brooklyn College campus in Midwood as the Number 1 most beautiful campus in the country in a college guidebook. Unfortunately, the beauty does not run very deep, nor withstood the test of time; with the campus’ infamous clock tower even no longer ticking.

Close to 90 photos have been posted to the Instagram page in just a month, featuring ants in the cafeteria, a cockroach in the library, leaking ceilings, broken floor tiles and elevators.

According to The Post, “An entire section of chairs is roped off in one classroom because of leaks and a trash can is perched on top of them to catch the water. There are many photos of busted bathrooms showing an array of toilets and urinals covered in plastic, broken soap and paper towel dispensers and even a video of a continuously flushing toilet. Six stalls in one women’s room had “out of order” signs in one photo with a caption noting that only two toilets actually worked.”

The many posts on Instagram and Twitter poke Cuomo with hashtags pleading for him to help #fundcuny.

The page’s creator, 20-year-old Brooklyn resident and college sophomore Andrea Di Salvio said, “I want as many people as possible to be able to see this issue at Brooklyn College. I hope that enough people see it and get upset/shocked and ask the question, ‘Why isn’t CUNY being funded?’ and demand permanent action be taken to fund the school, not just a temporary cover-up of everything that is broken.”

“Di Salvio said she’s been getting three to five photos a day. Corrinne Greene, 21, a theater major from Buffalo, said the college had to rent space off-campus for performances and that music students played in gymnasiums. A new performing arts center that was slated to be ready by 2014 is still not open,” according to The Post.

Greene told the news outlet, “I truly believe that nothing is going to change until we get better funding from the state.”

Currently over $186 million in construction work is taking place throughout the campus, according to a spokesman for Brooklyn College. He said, that there is also a restoration planned for the iconic clock and that the school “will continue to work with elected officials at the city and state level so that Brooklyn College has the resources to make the necessary upgrades to keep our facilities in a state of good repair.”

Funding for CUNY’s four-year colleges is posed to get around a 3 percent increase in the 2019 budget proposed by Governor Cuomo.

By Hannah Hayes

 

Day School Students Rally in Albany for More Funding for Nonpublic Schools

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OU Executive Vice President Allen Fagin told students, “Today is about how you change the way state government thinks about education and our schools. Today is about hundreds of students coming to Albany to talk to our elected officials, to explain to them that your education matters; that education is a civil right; that your right to choose how and where to be educated, without financial penalty or hardships, is a civil right that every parent and student in this state should enjoy.”

Teach NYS delegation of students, parents and educators push for increased STEM education and security funding

Hundreds of students from Jewish day schools around the state traveled to Albany, NY on Tuesday, March 13th, as part of the Orthodox Union’s Teach NYS delegation to advocate for increased and sustainable funding for nonpublic school STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education programming and additional security. The students hailed from Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Westchester and Rockland Counties and Long Island.

Representatives from both sides of the aisle addressed the crowd, sharing their commitment to increasing nonpublic school funding for STEM education and the importance it will have on the future economy of the state. Legislators in attendance included: New York Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-East Northport), Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Senator Todd Kaminsky (D-Long Beach), Senator Jeff Klein (D–Bronx), Assemblyman Walter Mosley (D-Brooklyn), Assemblywoman Carmen De LaRosa (D-Inwood), Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D-Queens), Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal (D-Queens), David Weprin (D-Queens) New York Senate Finance Chair Cathy Young (R-Olean). Following the speeches, the students and lay leaders broke into groups and went to the Statehouse where they met with more than 60 state legislators.

“What you are doing today will change who you are,” said OU President Moishe Bane. “Torah means we care about everyone, every child, every family. That’s what we are doing here today…We are not just asking for ourselves, we are asking for everybody.”

New York Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said, “I want to impart to you that the work that gets done [here] really is important. Your advocacy – and I am particularly talking to the young boys and girls who are here – your personal advocacy makes a difference. You strengthen my resolve to work with my colleagues to ensure that your trip is productive in the short term and the long term.”

Chief among the issues discussed was additional, sustainable funding for New York’s historic STEM program. The program, which passed last year after a prolonged advocacy campaign by Teach NYS, allows the State to reimburse nonpublic schools directly for the cost of qualified STEM instructors. Also on the day’s agenda was advocacy for increased funding for schools’ security budgets and continued funding for Comprehensive Attendance Policy (CAP) and Mandated Services Reimbursement (MSR) programs.

OU Executive Vice President Allen Fagin told students, “Today is about how you change the way state government thinks about education and our schools. Today is about hundreds of students coming to Albany to talk to our elected officials, to explain to them that your education matters; that education is a civil right; that your right to choose how and where to be educated, without financial penalty or hardships, is a civil right that every parent and student in this state should enjoy.”

Edited by: JV Staff

 

NYC Student Awarded 1st Full Scholarship to BGU’s Med School for Int’l Health

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The Medical School for International Health (MSIH) at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) has awarded its inaugural Ben-Gurion Global Health Scholarship to Shayna Miodownik of Flushing, New York.

The Medical School for International Health (MSIH) at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) has awarded its inaugural Ben-Gurion Global Health Scholarship to Shayna Miodownik of Flushing, New York.

The highly competitive Ben-Gurion Global Health Scholarship covers full tuition for the M.D. program at MSIH, the groundbreaking medical school that incorporates global health components into all four years of its core medical curriculum.

MSIH was one of the first programs worldwide to provide medical training for physicians to work with underserved populations in developing countries, rural areas, inner cities, and Israel’s Negev region, which has large communities of Bedouins and immigrants.

“My experiences working with underserved communities in many places has helped me understand the need for a holistic, culturally sensitive approach to healthcare,” says Miodownik, who is currently working as a research analyst and consultant for biotechnology and pharmaceutical firms.

“I know MSIH’s philosophy and curriculum will provide the comprehensive medical school experience I need to pursue my passion of working with diverse, underserved communities as a physician in the global health arena.”

Miodownik will begin her studies in July. Her desire to attend Ben-Gurion University is deeply rooted in her mother’s experience meeting David Ben-Gurion when she was 10 years old, two years after the 1967 war. “David Ben-Gurion’s words still resonate with my mother today,” says Miodownik. “At his kibbutz in Sede Boqer, Ben-Gurion told my mother she must come to Israel because Israel needs the youth to build the country. Now, 50 years later, I am thrilled to be the one to bring my energy and passion to Ben-Gurion University and to the field of medicine.”

“Shayna’s drive, commitment and experience working with underserved global populations embodies so much of MSIH’s spirit and ethos,” says Lenore Taplitzky, administrative director of MSIH’s New York office. “She has already accomplished so much working with underserved communities while advancing her medical research skills, and she will be a notable member of the class of 2022.”

Miodownik has been motivated to serve the sick and less fortunate since she was a teenager. She began in high school as a home helper to a single mother of triplet babies who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. After high school, she continued her volunteer work in Israel, spending a year at a hospital that provides therapy for Palestinian and Israeli children with traumatic brain injuries, and a year working with Yemenite immigrants on a farm and at a rehabilitation center for adults with developmental disabilities.

Her work with diverse, and low-income populations ranges from shadowing doctors at Maimonides Hospital in New York, a hub for immigrant patients, to volunteering with local doctors and clinics in underserved Uganda villages where many patients were seeking asylum. In Kampala, she participated in deworming projects, taught breastfeeding mothers about the risks of infection and HIV, and designed creative programs to help break the cycle of malnutrition, decrease infant mortality, and promote better hygiene in areas that lack basic plumbing infrastructures.

Miodownik, who currently lives in Tel Aviv, has an M.S. in molecular biology and genetics, and a B.S. in life sciences from Bar-Ilan University, where she served as a teaching assistant in biochemistry and biology labs, and a research assistant in several additional labs. She attended Shevach High School in Queens.

The prestigious four-year MSIH scholarship will be awarded annually to one outstanding medical student anywhere in the world who has an excellent academic track record and a demonstrated interest in building a career in global health.

Edited by: JV Staff

 

First-Ever Jamaican Passover Program to Launch in Montego Bay

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The 5-star Melia Braco Village resort in Montego Bay will host the first-ever strictly Kosher Jamaican Passover program this spring.

“Royal Passover’ Makes Jamaica Accessible to Strictly Kosher Tourists

Though Jamaica boasts over 400 years of rich Jewish history and is a prime location for family-friendly vacations, there has never been an organized Passover program for Jewish tourists on the island. That will change later this month, when a new partnership with the Jamaica Tourist Board, the Chabad of Jamaica, and Royal Passover brings the first-ever strictly kosher Jamaica Passover program to the 5-star Melia Braco Village in Montego Bay.

Chabad of Jamaica celebrating Passover

“We are thrilled to partner with Royal Vacations to bring the first-ever Jamaican Passover program to the island,” said Jamaica’s Director of Tourism Donovan White. “Jamaica has long been an ideal destination for Jewish families looking for both a tropical island getaway and a healthy dose of Jewish heritage, and the Jamaican Passover program is a great addition to the ‘Jewish Jamaica’ experience.”

Seeing untapped potential for Jewish tourism in Jamaica, Tzvi Berg, a veteran of the Passover program industry and the Director of Royal Passover, has embraced the island vibes and is working to make Montego Bay the next big destination for Passover programming, as well as Jewish weddings and Bar Mitzvahs.

“Jamaica is well known for her extraordinary natural beauty and world-renowned culture, but many do not know about her Jewish history and the many Jewish historical sites that dot the island. These include several preserved Jewish cemeteries, the final resting places of some of the Jewish pirates of the Caribbean, and the 100-year-old Shaare Shalom Synagogue, one of four remaining sand floor synagogues in the world,” said Mr. Berg. “It is my mission to make Jamaica truly accessible to strictly-kosher tourists by removing the kosher food concern entirely and providing Jewish heritage tours and programs.”

While Jewish travelers to Jamaica have long struggled with finding kosher food on the island, the Royal Passover program and the Chabad of Jamaica will make such concerns a thing of the past. Under the strict supervision of Rabbi Yaakov Raskin, co-director of Chabad of Jamaica, the program will highlight delicious kosher cuisine prepared by a team of top Israeli chefs. The menu will also feature a medley of gourmet cuisines from France, Italy, the United States, and Israel, as well as authentic Jamaican jerk chicken, prepared by a team of Jamaican grill masters.

In addition to steel drums, reggae music, and beachside barbecues, Royal Passover hopes to inspire its guests with a private Jewish music festival featuring world-class entertainment including Avraham Fried, Cantor Yaakov Motzen, Nissim Black, Tal Vaknin, and Yoni Z. The Jamaica Passover program will also include stimulating lectures and Torah classes by Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie, Director of the Jacob E. Safra Institute of Sephardic Studies at Yeshiva University; Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Senior Rabbi of the Park East Synagogue New York City and Founder and President of the Appeal and Conscience Foundation; Professor Alan Rechtschaffen, Senior Lecturer of Laws at New York University; Rabbi Samuel Frankel, an expert in mindfulness; and Meir Kay, a motivational speaker and producer of viral videos about positivity and Jewish values.

To find out more about Royal Passover’s all-inclusive program at the Melia Braco Village in Montego Bay, Jamaica, please visit www.RoyalPassover.com

Edited by: JV Staff

 

FDA Considers Lowering Nicotine Levels in Cigarettes

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“We see a historic opportunity here to use that product standard to potentially more rapidly migrate smokers off of combustible cigarettes, that we know cause a lot of death and disease related to tobacco use, and potentially onto products that can provide adults with access to nicotine without all the harms associated with combustion,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said during a media briefing.

In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday said it plans to cut the amount of addictive nicotine in the nation’s cigarettes.

The goal is to lower the amount of nicotine to minimally or non-addictive levels, the agency said.

“We see a historic opportunity here to use that product standard to potentially more rapidly migrate smokers off of combustible cigarettes, that we know cause a lot of death and disease related to tobacco use, and potentially onto products that can provide adults with access to nicotine without all the harms associated with combustion,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said during a media briefing.

But e-cigarettes “and other products that could offer a bridge to quitting need to be properly evaluated,” he noted.

One lung health expert applauded the move.

“Exploring a product standard to lower nicotine content in cigarettes to minimally or non-addictive levels is an exciting concept,” said Andrea Spatarella, from the Center for Tobacco Control at Northwell Health, in Great Neck, N.Y. “Any and all efforts to reduce or eliminate the health burdens and tobacco-related deaths to millions of Americans deserves consideration.”

Tobacco use — mainly cigarette smoking — kills more than 480,000 Americans a year and costs nearly $300 billion a year in direct health care and lost productivity, the FDA noted.

Mitch Zeller, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, said at the briefing, “Given their combination of toxicity, addictiveness, prevalence and effect on non-users, cigarettes are the category of tobacco product that causes the greatest public health burden. In fact, cigarettes are the only legal consumer product that when if used as intended will kill half of all long-term users prematurely.”

Reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes and other policy measures could help prevent millions of tobacco-related deaths in the United States, Gottlieb added.

The proposal on reducing nicotine levels includes a review of current science about how nicotine creates and sustains addiction to cigarettes, and asks for public input and review.

Gottlieb said answers will be sought on questions such as, “What potential maximum nicotine level would be appropriate for the protection of public health? Should a product standard be implemented all at once or gradually?”

Also, he added, there could be “unintended consequences” to making cigarettes less addictive, for example, the growth of a black market in high-nicotine cigarettes.

Still, Gottlieb said a new analysis, published online March 15 in the New England Journal of Medicine, has suggested that millions could benefit from the proposed move.

“If this scenario were implemented, this analysis suggests that approximately 5 million additional adult smokers could quit smoking within one year of implementation,” Gottlieb said.

“And with this scenario, an even greater impact could be felt over time: by the year 2100, the analysis estimates that more than 33 million people — mostly youth and young adults — would have avoided becoming regular smokers. And smoking rates could drop from the current 15 percent to as low as 1.4 percent,” he added.

“All told, this framework could result in more than 8 million fewer tobacco-caused deaths through the end of the century — an undeniable public health benefit,” Gottlieb said.

Young people would benefit hugely from the proposed move, one lung health expert said.

“The benefits the FDA cites for this proposal are extraordinary,” said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

Edited by: JV Staff
(HealthDay News)

Survival Odds Improving for Severe Burn Victims

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The study was published online March 9 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

The odds of surviving severe burns have steadily increased in recent decades, researchers report.

“Remarkably, a patient up to the age of 40 who has sustained a 95 percent body burn now survives half the time, whereas in earlier times a 50 percent body burn killed that same person,” Dr. David Herndon said in a news release from the American College of Surgeons. He’s director of research at the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Galveston, Texas, and director of burn services at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Herndon led a team of researchers who analyzed the records of more than 10,300 adults and children who were burn patients at those two hospitals between 1989 and 2017.

Over that time, the risk that burn patients would die fell about 2 percent a year, the study found. The risk was highest among people who were older, those who had burns over a large area and those who had lung damage from inhaling smoke.

The researchers credit the reduction in deaths to improvements in the standard treatment for burn patients. That includes:

New protocols for managing inhalation injury.

Nutrition to fight infection and promote healing.

Early burn excision and skin grafts immediately after the injury.

Improved transfer of critically ill patients to hospitals and burn centers has also played a role, according to the researchers.

“The most dramatic decreases in [deaths] most recently have been in patients over age 40,” Herndon said.

“For example, a woman over the age of 40, with very large burns, is a patient who can survive today if these protocols are implemented,” he explained in the news release.

Along with reducing the risk that a burn victim will die, researchers also need to identify treatment methods to improve survivors’ quality of life, Herndon said.

And, “burn specialists also need to focus on implementing the protocols that have allowed this improvement in survival to occur,” he added.

“We hope our findings will inspire other burn units to try to keep people alive with extensive burns because it’s clear that it can be done,” Herndon said.

The study was published online March 9 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Edited by: JV Staff
(HealthDay News)

Coffee May Have Bigger Effect on Your Body Than Thought

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Kanabo Research’s VapePod for medical cannabis inhalation. Photo by Moshe Yefet/HeadShot

Coffee has been tied to many health benefits. Now, a small study suggests a daily java habit may affect the body’s metabolism more extensively than thought.

The study, of 47 adults, found that heavy coffee consumption — four to eight cups a day — altered blood levels of more than 100 metabolites. That refers to a broad range of chemicals that change after eating or drinking.

Many of the effects were expected, researchers said, but a few were surprising.

“This approval is a significant announcement for the medical cannabis patients in Israel who will be able to use the medical vaporizer for the first time,” said Avihu Tamir, cofounder and CEO of Kanabo Research.

For example, coffee cut levels of certain metabolites related to the endocannabinoid system — the same system affected by marijuana. This reduction is the opposite of what happens when you take pot, the researchers said.

What does it all mean? That’s not clear.

But many studies have found that coffee drinkers typically have lower risks of various diseases than nondrinkers do, explained Marilyn Cornelis, the lead researcher on the new work.

The possible benefits include lower risks of Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and certain cancers.

“But most of those studies are just looking at associations,” said Cornelis, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. “They looked at people’s self-reported coffee intake and their risk of disease.”

This study, she explained, tried to “get more at the mechanisms — the biology that might be underlying those associations.”

The findings, published March 15 in the Journal of Internal Medicine, come from a clinical trial that involved 47 Finnish adults. All were habitual coffee drinkers.

Researchers had them abstain from coffee for one month, then drink four cups per day the next month, and eight cups a day the following month. Blood samples were collected at the end of each month.

In general, coffee consumption triggered many expected changes in metabolism, Cornelis said.

But her team also spotted some previously unknown effects. Besides the endocannabinoid changes, there were shifts in certain metabolites related to the steroid system and fatty acid metabolism. The steroid system includes cholesterol and hormones such as testosterone and estrogen.

Whether there are implications for people’s health, however, is unknown.

“We hope that this will be hypothesis-generating,” Cornelis said. Future studies, she explained, could dig into the connection between coffee and endocannabinoid metabolites, for example — to see whether it helps explain why coffee drinkers have lower risks of certain diseases.

The endocannabinoid system helps regulate a range of body functions, Cornelis noted. These include blood pressure, sleep, appetite and calorie-burning. Coffee has been linked to better weight control, and it’s possible, she said, that its effects on endocannabinoids play some role.

She said the effects of coffee were the opposite of what you’d expect with marijuana — which is a famous trigger of the “munchies.”

For now, though, it’s hard to know what to make of the findings, said Angela Lemond, a spokesperson with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She was not involved with the research.

By: Amy Norton
(HealthDay News)

 

Coffee May Have Bigger Effect on Your Body Than Thought

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Coffee has been tied to many health benefits. Now, a small study suggests a daily java habit may affect the body’s metabolism more extensively than thought.

Coffee has been tied to many health benefits. Now, a small study suggests a daily java habit may affect the body’s metabolism more extensively than thought.

The study, of 47 adults, found that heavy coffee consumption — four to eight cups a day — altered blood levels of more than 100 metabolites. That refers to a broad range of chemicals that change after eating or drinking.

Many of the effects were expected, researchers said, but a few were surprising.

For example, coffee cut levels of certain metabolites related to the endocannabinoid system — the same system affected by marijuana. This reduction is the opposite of what happens when you take pot, the researchers said.

What does it all mean? That’s not clear.

But many studies have found that coffee drinkers typically have lower risks of various diseases than nondrinkers do, explained Marilyn Cornelis, the lead researcher on the new work.

The possible benefits include lower risks of Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and certain cancers.

“But most of those studies are just looking at associations,” said Cornelis, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. “They looked at people’s self-reported coffee intake and their risk of disease.”

This study, she explained, tried to “get more at the mechanisms — the biology that might be underlying those associations.”

The findings, published March 15 in the Journal of Internal Medicine, come from a clinical trial that involved 47 Finnish adults. All were habitual coffee drinkers.

Researchers had them abstain from coffee for one month, then drink four cups per day the next month, and eight cups a day the following month. Blood samples were collected at the end of each month.

In general, coffee consumption triggered many expected changes in metabolism, Cornelis said.

But her team also spotted some previously unknown effects. Besides the endocannabinoid changes, there were shifts in certain metabolites related to the steroid system and fatty acid metabolism. The steroid system includes cholesterol and hormones such as testosterone and estrogen.

Whether there are implications for people’s health, however, is unknown.

“We hope that this will be hypothesis-generating,” Cornelis said. Future studies, she explained, could dig into the connection between coffee and endocannabinoid metabolites, for example — to see whether it helps explain why coffee drinkers have lower risks of certain diseases.

The endocannabinoid system helps regulate a range of body functions, Cornelis noted. These include blood pressure, sleep, appetite and calorie-burning. Coffee has been linked to better weight control, and it’s possible, she said, that its effects on endocannabinoids play some role.

She said the effects of coffee were the opposite of what you’d expect with marijuana — which is a famous trigger of the “munchies.”

For now, though, it’s hard to know what to make of the findings, said Angela Lemond, a spokesperson with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. She was not involved with the research.

By: Amy Norton
(HealthDay News)