A Story From The Store
Dear Editor:
My father was in a ShopRite recently when a man noticed he was wearing a kippah. The man approached him quietly and said, “You know, you really shouldn’t be wearing your kippah here. It’s too dangerous.”
He wasn’t being unkind. He was Jewish, too, and his words came from fear—fear born from the reality that antisemitism today can come from both the left and the right.
My father listened calmly and replied, “It’s okay. I’m just visiting.”
As my father spoke, the man noticed his accent and asked, “Are you from Israel?”
When my father said yes, everything changed. The man wrapped him in a bear hug and said, “If you’re from Israel, I have to give you a hug.”
In the middle of a grocery store aisle, fear softened into warmth. Two Jews who had never met became family for a moment.
Malki Marks
To the Editor
Dear Editor:
The activist, speaker, and writer Shabbos Kestenbaum recently said that we need to confront the antisemitism of today rather than build more museums remembering the antisemitism of the past. In my view, this controversial yet correct statement reflects his boldness and courage.
Like the Kotzker Rebbe, Rav Menachem Mendel Morgenstern, zt”l, whom Kestenbaum sees as a role model, we must not be afraid to speak up. The Kotzker went into isolation for 19 years after despairing over Yaakov calling Esav “my master.” Why, he asked, do Jews lower themselves to appease their enemies?
Today, countless dollars are spent remembering past hatred while present threats go unaddressed. Jewish voices are silenced under the guise of “cancel culture,” while those complicit in hate are protected.
As we recall the 10th of Teves, we are reminded that reliance on false allies leads to disaster. May we merit clarity, courage, and the final geulah speedily in our days.
Chaim Yehuda Meyer
Winter Tips
Dear Editor:
The following are tips for safe snow shoveling from experts, along with some general winter tips.
Shoveling snow can be enjoyable and good exercise; however, overstraining can be harmful and, in rare cases, life-threatening. People sometimes suffer heart attacks due to the strain. A study found that 1,600 people died of heart attacks related to snow removal between 1990 and 2006. Many thousands were injured.
The American Heart Association and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offer the following tips for safe snow shoveling:
— Consider whether you are healthy enough to tackle the snow. Familiarize yourself with the signs of a heart attack and hypothermia. Cold weather raises the risk of heart attack and other injuries because it constricts blood vessels. “If you haven’t been exercising and exerting yourself in the recent past, this is not the way to start,” says Lawrence Phillips, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Medical Center.
— Don’t drink alcohol or eat a heavy meal before tackling snow. Alcohol can make it difficult to gauge how much strain you are putting on yourself (not to mention increasing the chance of falling), and a heavy meal can place strain on the heart. These tips are important all year. The Rambam says one should not do heavy physical exertion after a meal. Wait an hour, or at least half an hour.
— Shovel periodically during the storm. Doing so is easier than shoveling large amounts at the end. Drink warm beverages and stay hydrated, even in winter, and dress warmly.
— Push, don’t lift. If you must lift, use proper technique: feet hip-width apart, back straight, and do not twist. A saying goes: “Lift with ease, straight back, bent knees.” Ergonomic shovels with wheels can help greatly. Mechanical snowblowers, many now electric, are also an option.
— Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you are not able to shovel safely, hire someone or ask a neighbor. It is a mitzvah to make services available, even for pay. Some cities have programs that match volunteers with residents who need assistance.
— For us Yidden, for Shabbos, speak to a rav about arranging for snow removal. There are also heating systems that automatically melt snow in walkways, driveways, and steps.
— General tips for keeping warm: While the baalei mussar taught restraint in immediately putting on a coat, one must know himself. Rav Shach once traveled from Bnei Brak to Yerushalayim and brought a sweater, explaining the temperature difference. He donned it upon arrival.
Enjoy the winter!
S.R.
Those Were The Days
Dear Editor:
“Those were the days.” Remember rolling your eyes when your parents said that? You’d respond, “Yeah—no A.C., no color TV, and no Netflix.” Yet whenever it snowed, there was a gaggle of kids asking to shovel your sidewalk for a small fee. No more.
Try taking out an ad to find someone—anyone—to shovel your sidewalk. When you finally succeed, you’ll need to empty your IRA to pay them.
Which brings me to the real culprit: the meteorologist. If he predicts one inch, expect half a foot; if he predicts half a foot, expect an inch. And why Central Park? I don’t live there. I don’t even walk dogs there.
And when they say, “Drive with caution,” do they think I’m racing the Indy 500? Instead, they should advise driving like you’re on the Van Wyck—slowly.
Debbie Horowitz
To the Editor
Dear Editor:
We write not out of anger, but out of pain—and hope.
To the dedicated shadchanim who invest heart and effort into helping people find their zivug, we thank you. Your work is a true mitzvah.
At the same time, many singles are struggling with growing financial pressures in the shidduch process. Fees for resumes, introductions, and even dates can feel overwhelming and, at times, dehumanizing.
We are not asking for miracles—only to be heard, respected, and treated with dignity. Clear and compassionate communication can make all the difference.
We believe shadchanim are shluchim of Hashem. With that role comes great responsibility. Our hope is for a system that feels more human, more caring, and more aligned with the values it represents.
Thank you for giving voice to this concern.
Sincerely,
A Frustrated Single