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Friday, December 2nd, 2011
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Is Our Children Learning By Joel Moskowitz Much is made about the state of education in our country. The U.S. seems to have fallen behind other countries in math scores. Apparently, we don't produce as many scientists or engineers as we used to. Our children read less then we did and more time is spent in front of one screen or another than ever before. The smartest of our youth have opted away from careers in science and engineering and focused on finance. With the financial crisis going well into its fourth year, some of those bright kids are still looking for something to do as work in finance is becoming harder to come by. Looking back at the education I got, I'm convinced that kids today learn more than we did, have better tools with which to learn and certainly better technology to help them along. We certainly have better knowledge today of behavioral and learning issues which enable kids with those issues to advance further than ever imagined. It would appear that we don't have a crisis in education so much as we have a crisis in priorities.  BEST PRICES AROUND AIRPORT SHUTTLE CHEAP NO PERSON OR LUGGAGE LIMIT
WILL HELP WALK DOOR TO DOOR *************** ENRON: OCCUPYING MY MIND By: Suri Stern Where did the decade go? When Enron broke, I thought that there was supposed new laws enacted to prevent greed from kidnapping free market interplay. But there were at least three factors in play then, and still today, that permit lawlessness and free play for the wealthy. I love democracy, v. socialism, autocracy, theocracy or dictatorship. Darwinism, survival of the fittest. A free market system is supposed to have free flow of information and equal opportunity for all. There is a trickle down from the wealthy on Wall Street to those who sell them food, cars, boats and downward to those who shine their shoes and clean their homes. Free flow of information that balances the investment field. That is is why insider trading is so hotly (?) pursued. It undermines the whole idea that no one person has an advantage over another, other than individual motivation, education and a pursuit of knowledge that is public to all. IT IS SUCH A DARN SHAME that no one could vocalize for occupy Wall Street what Main Street is angry about. So allow me. We are tired of lawlessness. We are tired of companies, organizations and individuals with money and power "lobbying"/ paying off our politicians for their own agenda, which is feeding off of the poor and disenfranchised. Lobbying is no better than the criminal payola in other countries, where companies pay to play. Where the 1% tell the government how to rule the other 99%, where laws do not pertain to them, and an easy sentence for Wall Streeters is openly available for purchase on the open market. CLICK HERE FOR MORE  | | Click here for menu |
D'var Torah The World of Learning By Rabbi Label Lam Then he (Joseph) instructed the one in charge of his house, saying, "Fill the men's sacks with as much food as they can carry and put each man's money in the mouth of his sack. And my goblet- the silver goblet- place in the mouth of the youngest one's sack along with the money of his purchase." And he followed Joseph's word exactly! (Breishis 44:1-2) The Talmud says, "If we are not prophets we are at least the sons of prophets." Meaning to say that if congregations of holy Jews throughout the world have been doing something for so many generations there must be some good reason that may be deeper than the eye alone can perceive. There is a widespread custom for Jews to give money to little children on Chanukah. I was witness to Rabbi Yakov Kaminetzky giving coins to the young children who had joined us on our Chanukah visit to him. Till this day I can remember the scratchy beard and the kiss of my great grandfather when he gave us each five dollars for Chanukah. Ziv HaMinhagim explains that the intention in giving children money on Chanukah is to encourage them to learn. It also sweetens the child's memories of the holiday and grants a greater assurance that the goodness will continue from generation to generation. The question is why money and not something else? Why not just get swept up in the shopping craze? What's the difference? At his son's Bar Mitzvah a father stood up and told to the guests in attendance a story that was most likely directed to his son. He said that when he was in Yeshiva they had a practice to chip in and buy a set of the Talmud or Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law) or even a handsome Kiddush Cup for any one of their group who was about to be married. There was one fellow who was notoriously lax in his studies and was definitely more interested in playing basketball than picking up a book to learn. When he was about to be married they decided to be practical and not waste good money on a set of books that would crowd his shelf and collect dust so they bought him a toaster oven. When the head of the Yeshiva caught wind of this he took immediate action. He rebuked the fellows and forewarned them of the potential damage that could result from the giving of such a gift. "You're condemning this man to be nothing more than a toaster for the rest of his life! Give him a Talmud and maybe he'll yet become a Talmud Scholar." The father concluded with a report, believe it or not, that this fellow today heads a Yeshiva and has produced numerous students of his own. Imagine had they given him that toaster. He might have been cast into a static role and become "toast". Included in the word "Chanukah" is the idea of chinuch-education. When one gives a gift within defined parameters, like an appliance, the customer maybe happy for a short time but an educational opportunity has been lost and that may be the whole point for the giving of the gift on Chanukah. The implication of money and/or a Torah book is "potential". Time and thought, like AAA-batteries, are not included Along with it, though, come a grant of trust and a bundle of lessons about the art of applied discretion. A good educator provides a floor and not a ceiling for the student. Therefore, a present, in the spirit of Chanukah, as Joseph's gifts to his brothers, challenges the recipients with new responsibilities to exit the comfort zone and enter the world of learning.
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D'var Torah
Parshas Vayeitzei
Every Nana Second
By Rabbi Label Lam
And he met "the place" and he slept there because the sun (suddenly) set, and he took from the stones of "the place" and he arranged them around his head, and he lay down to sleep in that place. (Breishis 28:11)
He arranged them around his head: In a circular shape because he was afraid of wild animals... (Rashi)
And he said to them, "The day is yet great, it's not time to gather in the flock, give them water to drink and go shepherd." (Breishis 29:7)
It would sure be amazing to meet someone like Yaakov Avinu! That would undoubtedly be the experience of a lifetime. What could be more exhilarating?! That's not a rhetorical question! He we have in Chumash chosen snippets, windows- into the actions and words that define the essence of Yaakov and the other Patriarchs as well. These words, these selective accounts are authored by none other than The Almighty. What an opportunity we have to gain a crystal clear composite picture of the greatest people that have ever walked on the planet.
Here we have just two incidents of many. One describes simply how Yaakov went to sleep for the first time in many-many years. The other narrates a confrontational episode with the citizens of the place that would become his new home. Both accounts are inviting us to take a closer look.
As incredible as it may sound, our sages tell us that Yaakov did not sleep for the fourteen years while he was busy studying Torah at the Yeshiva of Shem and Ever. After that time he left to follow through on the instructions of his parents to continue to Charan, and find a wife.
Not having slept for so many years can make a man pretty tired. Yaakov's head should have hit the proverbial pillow like a led balloon but we are treated to a few details that indicate that he had a competing concern. He first arranged a protective circle of stones to guard his head first. (Don't ask me how this works) If he was merely fearful of wild beasts, then why did he set them up around only around his head?
I believe the answer is that Yaakov's effort was to guard his mind and even while he slept. King Solomon had told us similarly, "From all the things you watch, protect your mind, because from it founts life". How much more so should someone guard his intellect, his thoughts with ultra-caution especially when awake!
Then we find Yaakov engaging the shepherds, he presumes, are taking a siesta at midday. He feels compelled to rebuke and remind them that the day is yet long and there is plenty of work to be done. The Mishne in Pirke Avos however states, "The day is short and the work is much..." How can Yaakov portray, "the day is yet great"?
I once heard the following brief explanation on that Mishne, "When is the day short? When the work is much!" When, then, is the day long, boring, and painfully protracted? When do we tend to push the clock in our minds? When one perceives that the work is little or already done. Alternately, given his work ethic, Yaakov may be speaking of the actual weightiness of the day. "The day is yet great!" In any case, he must have been pained by what he saw on display, to approach total strangers and tell them off in such a bold manner.
Yaakov Avinu couldn't stand to see time being wasted. Imagine people shoveling perfectly good food or hundred dollar bills into a furnace. It would be hard for us to witness this and sit still. The famous poem of the Ibn Ezra reads nicer in Hebrew rhyme but still makes perfect sense in translation: A man worries about the loss of his money (momav) but he doesn't worry about waste of his days (yomav). His money ultimately doesn't help (ozrim) and his days are not returning (chozrim)!"
It's hard to make a whole garment out of these few threads of info about Yaakov our Father but we see an important pattern emerging. If he were alive today and visiting our lives, would he feel entirely comfortable with the time we spend on our computers or would he be repulsed by the enormous waste of time and alarmed about the profound moral dangers that are lurking there every nana second!?
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The Five Towns Weather
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 53. Calm wind becoming west between 10 and 13 mph.
Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37. North wind between 8 and 11 mph.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 46. North wind around 9 mph becoming east.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 40. South wind between 7 and 9 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.
Sunday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Monday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 57.
Monday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Tuesday: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a high near 57. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Tuesday Night: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 47. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
Wednesday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
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For More Community Events, Click here
Gitti Allman at Breezy's
Join us for a hands-on cake decorating class by Gitti Allman at Breezy's in Cedarhurst!
We are so excited to have Gitti teach us how to create a beautiful Chanukah inspired cake
Click Here For More Info
CLICK HERE FOR COOKING DEMOS
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**************** 5TFRRCLSW presents CHEVI GARFINKEL in THE MOST POWERFUL FIRE OF ALL December 11th, the 15th of KISLEV at 10:00 A.M. at Cong. Beth Sholom 390 Broadway in Lawrence or call Debbie at 516-239-0494 ********************
FIVE TOWNS COMMUNITY WOMEN'S SHABBOS SHIUR IN MEMORY OF YERACHMIEL MEIR BEN NISSIM AVRAHAM A"H If you would like to speak, host or receive emails please contact:Chana Bienstock-569-4077- Marcia Behar 374-0741-Chana Epstein- 295-2537 HYPERLINK "mailto:chanaeps@optonline.net" chanaeps@optonline.net A Kesivah V'chasima Tova 5772 THE SHIUR WILL BEGIN 3:15 P.M Dec 3/7Kislev-Vayeitze-JOSEPH & GIZELLA ELBAZ, 495 W. BDWY. CED. Dec 10/14 Kislev-Vayishlach-.MEIR & DEBBY ROSENFELD, 120 ELM ST.WDMR. Dec 17/21 Kislev-Vayeshev-NECHAMA SPIEGEL, 271 OAKWOOD AVE. CED. Dec 24/28 Kislev-CHANUKA Mikeitz-DAVID &FRAN SCHARF, 541 HEMLOCK DR.,CED. Dec 31/5 Teves- Vayigash- MITCHELL & TAMMY PAK, 434 OAK 
To Buy This Book and For More Info Please Click Here *********** Donating Challah For the Troops Fighting Overseas Click here ***************** The Avraham Yonah Reading Group
There are many people in our community who are home bound or for various reasons cannot get out often and seldom have visitors. The Avraham Yonah Reading Group is a volunteer group consisting mostly of women, who go to these peoples homes and read to them. It gives these individuals an opportunity to make friends, have consistent visitors and know that others care about them.
The organization is intended to help people who are home bound, elderly, ill and in treatment or anyone else who may benefit from this service. Volunteers will visit the individuals home for approximately 1/2 - 1 hour, and will either read a book, learn Torah, play a game or just talk with the person depending on their preference. There will be a different volunteer going each day of the week, depending on how many days are requested by the person in need. It is hoped that each volunteer will continue to visit on the same day of every week. If you know of anyone who could benefit from this service, please contact us. We hope you will be interested in volunteering to be a part of this wonderful chessed and join us in reaching out to our friends and neighbors who are in need and hopefully making a difference in their lives. To volunteer, please contact: Helen Wolff, Helencharlotte@gmail.com 516 569-4813 Jenny Rosenberg Jennyrosenberg@msn.com 516 569-4450
Irit Kerstein Diygk@aol.com 516 374-3608
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