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Group-Aliyah Exploration by Lakewood Avreichim (NOT Yeshivas Lakewood/BMG Division)

Momentous Event in Lakewood: Group of American ‘Avreichim’ Exploring a Move to Create an American ‘Torah Community’ in Eretz Yisroel.

By Yosef Benari JUL 7, 2021

A public meeting was held in Lakewood this past Tuesday evening sponsored by group of Avreichim in Lakewood, for the purpose of inspiring others to move to Eretz Yisroel and establish a thriving Torah community for American B’nei Torah.

This project that began to take shape nearly 2 years ago, spearheaded by Rabbi Dovid Koleditsky Shlita, R”Y of Yeshiva Etz Chaim in Lakewood.

Initially, it was proposed to Rav Malkiel Kotler as an adjunctive community to Lakewood/BMG. Rav Kotler was greatly interested. However, the project stalled as a result of COVID 19 and all of the misfortune that followed.

However, Reb Dovid never shelved the idea and continued to research the possibility. As the idea simmered and began to take shape a prospective site emerged in the city of Acco which seemed to provide a generous opportunity that would enable both affordable housing as well as an already existing infrastructure that would provide for the establishment of Mosdos for both boys and girls.

Reb Dovid engaged the interest of Rabbi Menachem Leibowitz, who as it were was himself seriously planning a move to Eretz Yisroel with his family. Reb Menachem joined Reb Dovid’s efforts and together they created the plan that would IY”H be the framework for this promising project.

Expanded Partnerships

In time, Reb Dovid solicited the assistance of HaRav Gershon Sharaby in Eretz Yisroel along with his brother, well known Lakewood Askan Rabbi Avraham Sharaby, who presented both to the local municipality of Acco as well as the State Government, all of what would be needed in order to actualize this new community. In both cases the results were very successful, property areas were already earmarked, and some buildings which will be move-in-ready immediately after Succos 5782.

Inaugural Presentation in Lakewood

On Tuesday July 6 at 8:30 PM an inaugural meeting was held at Estreia Restaurant. There were over 100 people in attendance. Many from outside the Lakewood community had signed up to attend but were subverted by the storm. Additional meetings to the public are expected immediately shortly. Other meetings are currently being scheduled by request from other communities in the Tri-state area.

Many have already reached out from as far out as Los Angeles, as information of this project makes its way around the U.S.

Continue reading…

From JNews, here.

Don’t Waste The 9 Days!

Nine Ideas For The Nine Days

By  Shmuel Sackett – 

The “3 Weeks” have now become the “9 Days” and life has just gotten far more difficult. No laundries, no showers, no swimming and no pastrami sandwiches. Seems like the big expression around here is simply; “Just Say NO!” Therefore, please allow me to change things up a bit. I have always trained myself to think differently so here is a list which you won’t read anywhere else. It is a list of things which you can actually say “YES” to during these 9 days. I call it my “9 ideas for the 9 days”.

1) Say “yes” to living a meaningful Nine Days. Don’t be bitter, mad, and depressed. Don’t focus on the negative and how many hot dogs you could have consumed. These are very special days and you need to focus on the positive.

2) Say “yes” to getting to know everything about Machon HaMikdash – The Temple Institute. For 30 years this amazing organization, led by Rabbi Yisrael Ariel and Rabbi Chaim Richman, has educated our nation about the Mikdash. Just walk into any Judaica store and see how many books, pictures, puzzles and games explain the beauty and significance of the Beit HaMikdash. All of those items are a result of the groundbreaking work done by the Temple Institute.

It recently a 400-page sefer on the menorah! It has published machzorim, siddurim, Mishnayos, and Gemaras. It has children’s story books and coloring books and games and software that makes teaching about the Beit Hamikdash fun and educational. Finally, it has an amazing website that is constantly updated with videos, shiurim, and fascinating information: www.templeInstitute.org. During these nine days, drop Facebook and Instagram and spend quality time on Machon HaMikdash’s website. You won’t regret it.

3) Say “yes” to your family. These days are perfect for quality family time and you don’t need a vacation to do it! Since you can’t go to the pool or the movies or even the mall for a fun shopping spree, why not sit at home and get to know your own family? Talk to your spouse and your kids. I realize this sounds silly but when was the last time you actually did that?

4) Say “yes” to learning from an older person. We don’t realize the treasure we have in the older generation. Every one of the older men and women in your shul or community can write a 500-page book on their life experiences. They are walking and talking museums. During these nine days, go over to an older man after minyan and ask him to tell you about his life. I promise you will be amazed by his reaction and stories, which will brighten both your day and his.

I recently went over to an older man in my shul in Herziliya. I never saw him with a wife or children so I became his friend and asked him about his life. This man was a partisan fighter during the Holocaust, came to Israel after the war, married, had two kids, and worked as a spy for the Mossad! The man was a hero but until I spoke to him, he was just some old guy in shul.

5) Say “yes” to learning Torat Eretz Yisrael. We were thrown out of our land during this time, so now is a perfect time to study about what makes Israel so special. There are many books today in English by the great Rav Kook including online shiurim that explain his holy words. Listen to these shiurim. Learn the sefer Eim Ha’banim Se’meicha (available in English). Visit the website of Rav Nachman Kahana; it’s replete with Torat Eretz Yisrael and can be found at www.nachmankahana.com.

6) Say “yes” to inreach. We all know what “outreach” is and how vital it is to bring Torah close to those outside our world – but “inreach” is just as important. This word means to reach out to those in our community who might have fallen a bit to the side or who find little or no excitement in a Torah was of life. Inreach can be performed with kids still in yeshivos, not just the ones who ran away. We tend to rush and invite those kids who are already off the derech – and that is wonderful – but what about those who are still on the derech but making several wrong turns?

You need to counter their complaints about the Nine Days with positive energy, telling them how special our nation is to have the ability to connect to events from thousands of years ago. What other religion does that? Who else in today’s modern world thinks about yesterday… let alone 2,000 years ago? How special that we identify and salute the great men and women from long ago! What an honor to be part of this nation!

7) Say “yes” to calling and meeting with Nefesh b’Nefesh. What better time to open your aliyah file than the Nine Days? All the great kabbalists say our job is to do a “tikun” – to rectify and repair the mistakes of old. Well, 2,000 years ago our grandfathers and grandmothers made some serious errors and were driven from the Land. Now is the time to repair those mistakes and return. We all know sinas chinam destroyed the Beit HaMikdash and all the Rabbis say that it will take the opposite – ahavas chinam – to rebuild it, but I say that is not enough. We must also move back to Eretz Yisrael!

8) Say “yes” to living a life of kedusha (holiness) and not just halacha. I know these two should go together, but they often do not. This article is already too long, so I will not go into this concept is detail but allow me to write this: Be honest. You know exactly what I mean when I say kedusha.

The Nesivos Shalom speaks a lot about this. He states many times in his wonderful sefer that all other religions have holy men or holy women, but they don’t have the notion of the entire nation being holy. In our Torah, over and over again it says, “Kedoshim tiyu” – commanding every Jewish man, woman, and child to be holy. What a special opportunity we have, which has not been given to anybody else!

9) Say “yes” to being part of history. With the help of Hashem, this will be the last time we keep the Nine Days this way. By next year, these will be great and happy days with lots of meat… the meat of the korbanos in the Beit Hamikdash! Wine will be flowing and happy songs will be sung by the Levi’im. We will dance during these nine days and celebrate with our children and grandchildren. Therefore, make these nine days memorable because they will be the last ones with all the restrictions. You will be able to tell your future generations that you fasted on the last Tisha B’Av!

From The Jewish Press, here.

Think the Minimum Wage Is Just and Beneficial to Low-Wage Workers? You Can’t Think Straight

The Left Will Tell You That Raising the Minimum Wage Will Boost Productivity – Don’t Let That Fallacy Fool You

By Walter E. Block

Western Journal

June 28, 2021

According to this fallacy, Henry Ford raised wages so as to increase productivity

The “newspaper of record” trots out this economic fallacy: “Perhaps the most famous illustration of the benefits [of higher wages stoking the sputtering engine of economic growth] is the story of Henry Ford’s decision in 1914 to pay $5 a day to workers on his Model T assembly lines. He did it to increase production — he was paying a premium to maintain a reliable work force. The unexpected benefit was that Ford’s factory workers became Ford customers, too.”

Who says so? What is the evidence that he did this so as to increase productivity? His own claim? Why believe him?

Were his workers starving and feeble before this great generosity of his? Of course not. And, even if this were true, it by no means follows that this is the royal road to profits.

From an economic point of view, even if this were the result, it would have been in spite of this “decision” of his, not due to it.

The best estimate of productivity, indeed the only one, is actual wages paid.

Of course, there are always errors in any market comprised of flesh and blood human beings. But the incessant hunt for profits and to avoid losses ensures that there is a continually operating tendency for productivity and wages not to diverge too greatly.

In any case, if this Ford fable were true, as per The New York Times, it would undercut its support for minimum wage laws and organized labor. These would not be needed if we could rely on employers voluntarily paying increased wages so as to boost productivity.

As for enough to buy back the product, the people who sell burgers at fast-food restaurants can already easily afford to consume them as well.

But what about the producers of airplanes, yachts and office towers? There is no way that the average individual employee can be able to purchase these pricey items.

Is this then yet another “market failure”? Hardly. The failure, rather, is one of logic. There is simply no earthly reason why those who work on a product should be able to purchase it, too.

Further, this fallacy is often used to buttress the minimum wage law. But even supposing that this is precisely why Ford practically doubled the wage he offered, that was a voluntary act on his part.

The minimum wage law, in sharp contrast, is a compulsory mandate, compelling all and sundry to go along with this enactment or suffer fine and even a jail sentence.

Just because one man doubled the remuneration he offered his staff with no negative aftereffects does not at all demonstrate that if this sort of thing becomes a legal requirement, no ill effects will ensue.

Rather, if the minimum wage level is approximately doubled from its present $7.25 to $15.00 per hour, all those with productivities below the latter level will soon enough be added to our unemployment rolls.

And what about the present enactment requiring that $7.25 be paid? This spells the death knell for the employment prospects of all those who cannot add that much, on an hourly basis, to the bottom line.

Get rid of this pernicious law, and the highly unskilled will also be able to earn an honest dollar.

The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website.

From Western Journal, here.

Are Your Boys Drinking Alcohol in Summer Camp?

MAILBAG: The Alcohol-Drinking At Yeshiva Camps Is Out of Control And Being Ignored

Dear YWN readership.

I regret saying this, but my letter was sent to 4 Jewish publications before the summer, and unfortunately, it was ignored. I have since updated it to reflect new information (from as recent as last night), and humbly request it be published for the sake of saving lives.

Parents sending their boys to summer camps in the Catskills may think their boys are safe, but they aren’t.

No, I am not referring to pedophilia. That problem has Boruch Hashem been dealt with by organizations such as Amudim and the Gedolim behind them who devote their lives to helping the victims.

The topic I want to address is alcohol-drinking in camps. But not just any camps. I am referring to the elite “yeshiva / learning” camps. I have decided to leave the names of these camps out and hope that this letter alone will hopefully awaken the masses.

Please don’t start telling me that this is a minor percentage, because it’s not. This is a roaring problem that is largely being ignored and not being taken seriously by the people running these camps. I humbly question why the Roshei Yeshiva of these boys allow them to go to any of these camps as it’s no secret regarding the alcohol consumption at these camps. In fact, I have had many conversations with leading Roshei Yeshiva about this, and they just shrug their shoulders.

Just last night a bunch of these camps joined together to go to a well known amusement park. The day was capped off with a concert and a band with singing and dancing. I don’t think your readership needs to see the footage of the drunk boys staggering all over the place, so I’ll hold that for round two – If immediate action isn’t taken.

What are these camp owners waiting for? Do we need a few boys to die of alcohol poisoning before people boycott these camps? Why is the “zero tolerance for a smartphone” enforced but the drinking epidemic being ignored?

I should add (not that it makes any difference) that I am not referring to drinking beer. I am talking about bottles of hard liquor that the boys have stashed away.

I am demanding that the camps take action before I and others like myself take appropriate action to ensure the problem is dealt with another way. We will make sure your camps are (legally) exposed and blacklisted by every single family in America.

Thank you for publishing my letter, and I am sorry for being so harsh, but the reality demands this.

Have a wonderful and safe summer.

Yeshaya Dovid Braunstein – Lakewood

NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of YWN.

From YWN, here.

Chochma Bagoyim: Even ASSUMING Children Should Be Allowed a Smartphone, Let’s Delay at Least…

What’s the Right Age to Get a Kid Their First Smartphone? 3 Tech Thinkers Weigh In

Brett & Kate McKay • July 8, 2021

Parents have long had to figure out when to let their kids pass through certain “firsts” and milestones as they grow up. First time walking to the bus stop by themselves. First time riding their bike to a convenience store on their own. Getting a job. Getting a driver’s license.

In each case, the parent must decide whether in granting a new privilege, the child is ready to take on the responsibility that goes with it. They must weigh whether the risks that are attendant to the new freedom are worth the benefits the child will gain. With the exception of getting a driver’s license, no external entities set a definitive age for when an appropriate balance of these factors is typically reached. Parents just have to use their practical wisdom, and wing it.

The improvised nature of these kinds of decisions is particularly acute when it comes to dealing with an issue that didn’t even exist when many of today’s parents were growing up: when a kid should get their first smartphone.

What’s the Right Age to Get a Kid Their First Smartphone?

When to allow a young adult to get their first smartphone is a fraught question. On the one hand, there is research that links the amount of time a person spends online with higher rates of depression and anxiety, and every adult knows how much distraction their own phones create — and they’re not even as socially attuned and connected as their kids!

On the other hand, having a smartphone can be crucial for allowing young adults to socialize with their friends these days (and for facilitating schoolwork and extracurriculars as well). Cutting them off from those opportunities to integrate with their peers may cause the very depression a smartphone-withholding parent is trying to prevent.

The average age at which a child gets their own smartphone these days is ten. But is that actually a good age for parents to introduce this kind of powerful technology into their children’s lives? Is there a best age to introduce a smartphone that allows kids to take advantage of its connection-building benefits, while mitigating its potentially negative effects?

While answering this question isn’t a science, we wondered how folks who have spent a ton of time thinking about the impact that digital technology has had on human minds and culture would weigh in on it. (Bill Gates, for one, didn’t allow his three children to have smartphones until each was 14 years old). We thus reached out to three tech thinkers to see what they had to say:

Continue reading…

From The Art of Manliness, here.