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See ad on page 28 Fall 2008 | Elul / Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8 | FREE To Advertise “ 052-6404414 | 052-3868768 | [email protected] | www.modiinfo.com ] [
Citation preview
Fall 2008 | Elul / Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8 | FREE
See ad on page 28
To Advertise “ 052-6404414 | 052-3868768 | [email protected] | www.modiinfo.com
] � [
] � [
Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
Dear Readers,Welcome back from a busy but hopefully restful summer. We hope that by now you
have all received the new ModiInFone 2008-9. If not, feel free to pick one up at one
of the many pickup points. E-mail us for details at [email protected].
This issue covers a lot of important topics including education, Rosh Hashanah
and the Modiin municipal elections. ModiInfo is pleased to be facilitating the only
opportunity to ask your questions in English to the mayoral candidates. The panel
will take place on September 15 at 20:30 on 18 Rechov Yosef. Don’t miss this
unique event.
After almost five years of publishing ModiInfo we are proud of its growing success
and our contribution to the Anglo communities of our area. Now ModiInfo has
made an exciting change to the magazine format and schedule. ModiInfo will come
out four times a year making each issue bigger with more ads and more articles. Our
website will continue to be a reliable source for new information and updates. Don’t
forget to visit us on the web and see what’s cooking on ModiInFood.
Best wishes for a shana tova,
Caryn and Daniella. ßModiInfo is an independently owned, advertiser supported publication distributed monthly to Modiin and the surrounding neighborhoods. ModiInfo welcomes all articles and ads but reserves the right to edit or reject submissions. The views expressed by writers and contributors are not necessarily those of ModiInfo. ModiInfo is not responsible for facts or claims made by ads or authors, nor for any typographical errors. Work produced by ModiInfo is the property of ModiInfo and may not be reproduced without consent.
Daniella Hellerstein & Caryn Meltz
Co-publishers and editors0526-404-414 | 0523-868-768
Studio Dana CyviakDesign & Layout
054-635-8580
Judy Simon Ad Graphics
Ilana EpsteinMarketing Assistant
Fax: 077-201-1310
To Advertise:[email protected]
www.ModiInfo.comPrinting by Dfus Ayalon
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] � [
By: Rav David Lau
The year 5746 was a difficult period
of time for addressing the rhetorical
question posed by the prophet
Yishayahu: “Can a woman forget the
child of her womb?” The prophet
seeks to comfort Israel by saying that
just as a mother would never forget to
have mercy on her child - the fruit of her womb, Hashem
will never forget his people. The violent and hurtful
events that have occurred lately threaten the premise of
Yishayahu’s rhetorical question.
We have become accustomed, unfortunately, to
hearing about victims of traffic accidents on the news,
and hopefully have changed our behavior to become
safer drivers. We have convinced ourselves that we have
control over the amount of traffic accidents, and that
Looking into Ourselvesit’s in our power to prevent or seriously diminish the
accidents that occur.
One place we always felt safe is our homes. The
warmth and safety of our families and the image of a
mother’s comforting arms hugging and pacifying her child
always provided us with comfort and a feeling of safety.
The recent, frightening accounts of parents abusing or
even murdering children have broken all boundaries.
Violence has entered the sanctity of the home.
HaRav Yisrael Salanter, the founder of the Mussar
Movement, teaches us that the impact of our actions
influences society. Just as we have the power to reduce
traffic accidents, we have the power, through our actions
towards each other, to prevent violence in our society.
When we behave gently, politely and with respect
towards others, our actions influence our surroundings.
When we behave in a negative manner, we have a
negative influence on our surroundings making it a place
] � [
Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
susceptible to violence – even within the family and
home. We do not live in a bubble. A person who trains
himself to relate to others with love and respect creates
a healthy atmosphere that influences society making it a
place where acts of violence will not occur.
As we stand before the beginning of a new year, this
is the time to renew within us the feeling of friendship,
respect and patience towards each other. Although
the period of elections is an emotional time for the
citizens of Modiin, it is also the right time to improve our
interpersonal relationships, heighten our respect for one
another and with cooperation, build the city of the future
- a city that will symbolize friendship and good will – a
city of peace. ß
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] � [
By: Daniella Hellerstein
Moish Levy was born in Jerusalem but
spent much of his childhood with his
family on Shlichut in the Paarl Jewish
community of South Africa. At the
age of nine, the family returned to
Jerusalem. Moish attended Himelfarb
High School, where he was selected
to be a member of the Foreign Ministry Youth Delegation
to the USA. After matriculation, Moish earned a law
degree and served in the IDF as a lawyer, where he still
serves as a military judge (res).
Moish and his family moved to Modiin 11 years ago
with the first residents. He rapidly became involved in
the city’s education system. Moish has served on the
City’s Moatza for the past four years as a representative
of Shachar Osim Chinuch and as the Holder of the City׳s
Education Portfolio (Machzik Tik Chinuch).
ModiInfo met with Levy over the summer to find out
where the educational system in Modiin is heading.
ModiInfo: What are some of the specific challenges to
Modiin as far as education goes?
Levy: Unlike any other city in Israel, Modiin must
build 2-3 new schools a year due to the influx of new
residents. Thousands of children move here and we are
required to ensure that there is a chair for every child.
This year alone the number of school age children (3-18)
grew from 20,000 to 22,000. In August, 300 children not
previously accounted for registered for school. Modiin
builds 15-20 new ganim every year, not to mention
elementary and high schools. In a recent development,
the Buchman high school which was slated to be built on
the corner of Yitzchak Rabin and Nahal Tzalmon (where
there are already two large schools) has been moved to
Reut where the high school building there is available.
Understanding Education in Modiin
] � [
Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
Continues on page 14
Instead a new high school will be built in Kaiser.
ModiInfo: What improvements have you implemented
into the Modiin school system?
Levy: Until recently Modiin’s school system expanded
yearly but lacked an overall educational plan. One of our
most important achievements was to create a tochnit
av which is a strategic educational plan. We now have
mapped out what we expect Modiin’s educational
system to look like and we can therefore prepare for it
and improve it.
ModiInfo: As a parent and city council member, are
you satisfied with the educational system here?
Levy: You can never be satisfied because then you stop
looking forward. In education there is always room to
improve and new, more progressive methods to employ
so one must never feel completely satisfied. One of the
areas that I wish we could better improve is to reduce
the class size. According to Misrad HaChinuch, class size
is allowed to reach 41 students before the class is split. In
Modiin, we try our best to keep classes smaller by playing
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] � [
It was Benjamin Franklin who said, “in this world nothing
can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Had
Franklin lived to see the Israeli political system, he may
have added elections to his list.
On November 11, 2008 a number of municipalities,
including Modiin, will hold elections to elect a mayor
and city council. Local elections in Israel are held once
every five years. The number of city council seats is based
proportionally on the overall population using a formula
developed by the Ministry of Interior. Due to the increase
in population since 2003, the number of city council seats
will increase from 15 to 17. Members of the city council
are not paid, but the mayor and any deputy mayors do
receive monthly salaries. The following is a short guide to
the electoral process:
Eligibility:Any resident whose 17th birthday falls no later than
on which the elections take place and who was registered
Election Fever By: Elliott Cahan
along with his/her address on October 2, 2008 as a
resident of the local authority. Therefore, any resident of
Modiin, age 17 and older as of the date of elections is
eligible to vote. All eligible voters will be notified by mail
21 days prior to the elections where their polling station
is located. There are an estimated 45,000 eligible voters
in Modiin.
Voting: The actual voting process is quite simple, especially
compared to the United States, for example, where
voters must elect various candidates for many positions,
but also vote on referendums as well. Modiin voters will
be cast two votes separate votes; one for mayor and one
for city council. Candidates for office may or may not be
associated with a national political party, but will have a
party name of some sort.
Continues on page 25
] � [
Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
To Advertise “ 052-6404414 | 052-3868768 | [email protected] | www.modiinfo.com
] 10 [
By: Nancy Benjamin
One of the greatest “dividends”
of living in Israel is experiencing
the festival of Sukkot. The chag, of
course, is wonderful, with a plethora
of sukkot on every balcony and
courtyard. The “arba’at haminim”
are fresh and beautiful. But the week
of “Chol HaMo’ed” when everyone
is on vacation is the
nicest of all! There
are all kinds of tiyulim
and family-oriented
activities around the
country during that
week. But those living
in the Modiin region
have the advantage of having Neot Kedumim, the Biblical
landscape reserve in their backyard!
Three special sections of the 600-acre reserve are set
up specifically for Sukkot.
1. All of the 4 species flourish in their “natural habitats”.
The description from the Talmud, Masechet Sukka, is
very detailed, and we included all the other “candidates”
for the “fruit of a glorious tree” and “branch of a thickly
leaved tree”, together with written explanations.
2. Forget about your standard box-like sukka! How about
a round sukka, a double-decker or a tepee-shaped one,
a sukka under a haystack or on a camel’s back?! Our
sukkot exhibition includes 22 different sukkot , some
of them so oddly-shaped, that one can’t believe that
they are all described in the Mishna. In front of each
sukka, the mishnaic ruling, as to whether each sukka is
“k’shera” or “p’sula” is displayed.
3. The “Festival of Ingathering” trail is a paved walking
Sukkot Celebration at Neot Kedumim
] 11 [
Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
tour, with several stops for
hands-on activities, including
deciphering coded messages and riddles relating to
the 4 species and the different symbols of the chag,
orienteering, with compasses and maps, weaving
baskets made from palm leaves, observing a potter at
her wheel, and hearing her explanation of her craft,
and watching the play: “Nakdimon ben Gurion”.
There will be large kosher sukkot set up in which families
may eat, with restrooms nearby. Thus it is easily possible
to spend an enjoyable 3-5 hours at Neot Kedumim! ß
For more details, please go to www.n-k.org.il, 08-9770770.
To Advertise “ 052-6404414 | 052-3868768 | [email protected] | www.modiinfo.com
] 1� [
Getting to Grips with Schooling in ModiinPart 1
By: Elise Rynhold
The very world rests on the breath of a child in the
schoolhouse. (Babylonian Talmud: Shabbat, 119b)
Being open to change, adapting to different norms and
adjusting expectations are an integral part of moving to
any new country. Although often referred to as “coming
home”, the process of making Aliya is no exception to this.
Integrating our children into the Israeli education system
can seem very overwhelming so here are some facts about
the system.
Centralized System
Israel’s education system remains highly centralized
with much of the decision-making and budgetary power
residing in the Ministry of Education in Jerusalem, while the
TheListening HeartAre you looking for a way to open the doors of communication to family and friends?Do you want to improve interpersonal relationships and feel better about yourselves?
Come join our unique & interactive workshops:
Teen to TeenMoms & DaughtersBuilding Self-Esteem
•••
A Time to Listen (Bat-Mitzva)Reaching 4 SuccessOvercoming Obstacles
•••
Facilitator:Ruhama Ben-David, licensed teen coach and member of the Israel Coaching Community.
Moms & Daughters Workshop: Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 6pm. Up to 16 participants.
Don’t miss out!
For information and registration:
esi
gn
.co
.il
] 1� [
Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
Continues on page 20
local authority’s role is limited. The Ministry is responsible
for school curricula, educational standards, supervision of
teaching personnel, and construction of school buildings.
Core curriculum (the largest part of the school day) is set
by the Ministry, while other subjects are at the discretion of
the municipality, school principals and parents.
Free of Charge
Although parents currently do need to pay for books,
extra-curricular and cultural programs as well as for
educational school trips (this may change in Sept 2009),
education is by law free of charge from age 6-18.
Short School Day and Six Day Schooling
There’s no getting away from it - the school day in Israel
is short, running from 8:00am-12:45pm, six days a week.
To lengthen the day, many schools add hours based on a
payment system “Talan”. There is a growing consensus in
Israel that the school day should be lengthened but the
major obstacle to this remains a lack of Ministry funding.
Class Size
According to Ministry of Education regulations, class size
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] 1� [
‡Continued from page 7
with numbers because we know that smaller is better.
Sometimes we succeed, sometimes we don’t, but we
always try. The other area that is difficult to deal with is
the fact that our funding for new buildings comes from the
Ministry of Education. Often it takes a very long time for
funds to come through which can be very frustrating.
ModiInfo: What is being done in the educational
system to better integrate new olim?
Levy: Misrad HaKlitah is in charge of absorption of
olim including chidren. We are currently implementing
a more specific plan for better teacher training, more
communication with parents and improved programming
for students.
ModiInfo: As a volunteer in the iriyah, how do you
have the time to invest in addition to your professional
and family life?
Levy: It is only because I care so deeply about education
that I can find time to work towards improving it. I advocate
for Modiin’s needs inside the Ministry of Education. I work
with other departments in the municipality as well as the
mayor. I visit the various schools in Modiin and meet with
parents. I also participate in various educational steering
committees and consult with educational professionals.
ModiInfo: What are you looking for in the next mayor
of Modiin?
Levy: The next mayor needs to understand that
education has to be a top priority. The education budget is
over 50% of the municipal budget and that must continue.
We have also established special education schools as well
as a school for gifted children. We launched the Student
Scholarship Fund for needy college students in return
for community volunteering. I was also very instrumental
in the planning of a state-of-the-art computer portal
for inter-school resource sharing.. Modiin was recently
awarded the National Education Prize.
There are many more exciting achievements that I have
planned for the coming four years to improve education
for all the children of Modiin. ß
] 1� [
Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
To Advertise “ 052-6404414 | 052-3868768 | [email protected] | www.modiinfo.com
] 1� [
Haim BibasHaim Bibas is 39 years old, married to
Yafit, and father of Roy, Dana and Shiri.
He has been a resident of Modiin-
Maccabim-Reut since 1997.
For five years Bibas has served
as Modiin’s voluntary, non-salaried
Deputy Mayor.
He has a M.A. in Public Administration and Local
Government, from Bar Ilan University. M.A. thesis
on Local Government Reform and Professional City
Management.
Bibas was a Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) – Commander of
a Training Squadron for Officers, Company Commanders,
and Reserves Duty Training Courses. He has extensive
experience in Municipal Management – Senior professional
positions in local government - managed annual budgets
in excess of half a billion NIS.
Bibas is the Director of National Construction and
Development Division-Educational and Public Institution
Construction Project Manager, Jerusalem and Central
Region Environment and Transportation Project
Manager.
He is responsible for Modiin’s Planning and
Development - Member of the City Council and Strategic
Planning Team; Member of Modiin’s Education, Planning
and Construction, Finance, Transportation and Security
Committees, and a Founder of the Modiin Kindergarten
Parents’ Leadership Board.
Alex WeinrebAlex Weinreb is currently Deputy
Mayor of Modiin-Maccabim-Reut and
was among Modiin’s first residents.
Alex Weinreb is aged 50, married to
ELECTIONS 2008
Nili and has four children (two soldiers a 13-year-old and
a 9-year-old).
Alex Weinreb immigrated from the United States in
1970. Following completion of his military service, he started
a business enterprise in Jerusalem, which he managed and
developed for many years.
Alex began his public activities in 1996 and in
2003, he was elected to the post of Deputy Mayor of
Modiin-Maccabim-Reut. Within this framework, Alex
undertook responsibility for matters such as quality of
the environment, which until then was considered only
of marginal importance and thus did not receive any
attention.
Alex fulfills many other public roles in the city: Member
of the Planning and Construction Committee, Chairman
of the Acquisitions Committee, Chair of the Quality
of the Environment Committee, Chair of the Tourism
Committee, Chair of the Names Committee, Chair of
the Sites Preservation Committee and Chair of the
Contributions Committee.
On the national level, Alex Weinreb also holds a
number of posts: Member of the Local Authorities’
Environmental Quality Committee, member of the Public
Council for a Beautiful Israel, and member of the Yarkon
Drainage Authority.
Doron SchuldenfreiDoron Schuldenfrei is 51 years old,
married to Esterjja and father of
four boys. He studied law at Bar Ilan
University and for 10 years was a
partner in a law firm that specialized
in commercial trade.
In 1992, Doron joined Ligad and
from 2002 until June 2008 he was CEO and owner of
Ligad, a public company traded on the TASE. He came to
] 1� [
Modiin eight years ago looking for a better quality of life
for his family.
Doron built his home and the only large center of
employment as he recognized the fantastic human
resource potential of our area.
His first steps as mayor will include three main areas:
1. Security - A very serious plan for 24/7 security
patrols that will be available on call.
2. Employment - Modiin is very appealing to investors
and entrepreneurs. There is so much potential that is not
being utilized.
3. Youth - The youth are Doron’s priority. We must
find jobs for the youth during the summer months and
holidays, set higher standards for matriculation eligibility
and more.
Amonon MerhavAdv. Amnon Merhav is 43 years
old; married to Shir ; father of three;
resident of Modiin since 1997.
Merhav is one of the Modiin’s first
opinion shapers. He is a partner in
a successful law firm in Modiin and
Ramat Gan.
Merhav’s municipal & administrative experience
exceeds that of any of the other candidates. He has
been one of the people who have laid down a diverse
educational substructure as well as leads and takes part in
major municipal issues, projects and reforms.
Merhav has held various positions in the Modiin City
Council and its subsidiaries. He is well connected and
has profound understanding of the national government
system. He has personal acquaintance with key persons
from various political parties on a national level.
He has significant experience with fundraising, as
well as an understanding of the business sector and
commercial systems.
Merhav believes that in order to succeed he must listen
to citizens and understand their needs in order to create a
new but realistic vision, while supporting the Municipality’s
General Manager & professional staff, providing them with
tools needed to implement this vision.
Yigal ZadokYigal Zadok is 54 years old married to
Tova, a father of three and resident of
Modiin. He is a Lieutenant Colonel in
the Israeli Air Force Reserves.
He currently holds the position
of Director General /CEO of the
Municipality of Ashdod and also
lectures at the University of Bar-Ilan in Tel-Aviv on local
government.
He held the position of Director General/CEO of the
Modiin Council between 2002-2004 and also was the
Modiin Council Engineering Dept. Head between 1998
and 2002.
Yigal Zadok was responsible for executing the work
of the Municipal Council and the work of the Council
staff. He was in charge of the Engineering, Engineering
Infrastructure, Supervising Construction, Gardening and
Landscape, Maintenance, Sanitation, Business Licensing,
City Supervision, City Appearance, Sign Postings, and the
Better Housing Association.
As the Operational head of the Modiin Council
during 1996-1998 his duties included development of an
Operational System in the Modiin Municipal Council with
an emphasis on service to its residents according to the
growing demands of a city which is forecasted to reach
240,000 residents.
September 2008 | Elul/Tishrey 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
To Advertise “ 052-6404414 | 052-3868768 | [email protected] | www.modiinfo.com
] 1� [
Where did it go? Why was it so short? I’m speaking of
summer vacation. All of a sudden, it’s time to get back
into school. Each year the summer seems to go by more
quickly. It’s once again time to handle the deluge of school
papers that flow in and out of our homes. For students
and parents alike, getting an organized start to the new
school year can make the difference between having a
successful school year or not. Follow these simple steps,
and you and your child will have the best year yet.
Here are our 7 best back-to-school tips to make it a
fun, relaxing, productive and organized school year.
1. Schedule all the medical tests and immunizations
first thing as required by your child’s school. As school
opening nears, the doctors are going to have less and less
appointment times open.
2. Work out lunches. If your children don’t have school
Seven Best Back-to-School Organizing Tips By: Claudia Brodsky
luncheon programs, sit down with them to work out a
healthy schedule of meals you can brown bag for them
that they will eat and enjoy. Prepare lunches the night
before if possible so your kids can grab and go.
3. Get ready for all the paperwork. Make an individual
file folder for each child so they can put any paperwork
for school inside, specifically schedules and paperwork
that need to be signed and returned. If they are little
ones, help them place their paperwork into the folder. It
would be a wonderful good habit to start if your kids are
just starting school.
4. Create a homework zone. Determine where each
of your children will be doing his or her homework, and
how soon after school that homework should be done.
Work these details out before school starts, so your kids
know what you expect of them. Determine the rules
] 1� [
Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
now and write them
down. For example,
no television and
no radio during
homework time.
5. Put a large
family calendar
on the fridge.
Assign each family
member a different
color dry-erase
marker. Each person
is responsible for
filling in school schedules, after-school activities, events,
etc. Mom and Dad, please check regularly to ensure there
are no conflicts, or to determine how to work around a
conflict if necessary.
6. Don’t forget about breakfast. Mornings can be hectic.
Work out what you and your family will eat for breakfast
the evening before. Have at least 3-4 possibilities, so
there’s a different, healthy choice each weekday.
7. Team up. Find friends and neighbors whose children
go to the same school as your kids. See if you can work
out carpool arrangements--you drive the kids one week,
your neighbor drives the kids the following week.
Happy Organizing! ß
Claudia Brodsky is a Professional Organizer of SOS Simple Organizing
Solutions. She can be reached at 054-521-3689.
Her focus is on new creative ideas, information, structure, solutions
and customized systems resulting in your home, office, and corporate
environments. This helps take control of your surroundings, your time,
your paper, and your systems for life.
To Advertise “ 052-6404414 | 052-3868768 | [email protected] | www.modiinfo.com
] �0 [
‡Continued from page 13
can reach 40 children. In Modiin in practice, most of the
classes are closer to 35 students. Everyone understands
that children in larger classes receive less individual
attention and so there are often efforts to split classes for
some subjects. Some schools have extra teachers that float
between classes in order to allow smaller work groups and
more individual attention.
May this new school year be one of learning, growth and
joy for all our children.
With thanks to the Ministry of Education, JAFI and
particularly Joanna Maissel, Coordinator of English-Speaking
Olim, Modiin Absorption Dept, for information provided
above. ß
Elise Rynhold made aliya 10 years ago from the UK and moved
to Modiin eight years ago. Elise is currently working as a Marcom
Manager in the hi-tech sector and is involved on a voluntary basis in
local politics. Elise is married to Dr. Jonathan Rynhold, a Bar Ilan senior
lecturer, and their two “sabra” boys are happily ensconced within the
Israeli education system.
Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
] �1 [
Sushi for Everyone! By: Daniella Hellerstein
Burgers, falafel, pizza, Indian, shwarma, Chinese, bagels and
plenty of dairy cafe׳s. Modiin does not lack for places to eat
- except a kosher sushi restaurant. That void was recently
filled by Met Su Yan, a kosher meat restaurant in the Kaiser
neighborhood specializing in Pan Asian Cuisine. Two new
olim, Ze׳ev Stepsky from London and David Blum from
Toronto, set out create a place that accommodates
everyone. The restaurant is big enough for families to sit
comfortably but elegant enough for couples to enjoy a
night out. It carries the highest possible kashrut certificate
(mehadrin) so everyone can enjoy. Customers are coming
from all over the area to choose from the extensive menu
which offers a variety of dishes including noodles, chicken,
meat and duck, desserts and of course, maki, nigri and
sashimi sushi. To celebrate opening night, Met Su Yan threw
a world class party serving up sushi, noodles, champagne,
music and entertainment. And that׳s only the beginning. ß
Food for Thought
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] �� [
By: Hendy Lyons
The Talmud states, “Omens are significant; therefore
one should accustom oneself to eat, at the beginning of
each year, gourds, leeks, beets and dates.” It has therefore
become traditional to conduct a “seder” on the first night
of Rosh Hashanah; some do so on both nights.
A handy aid for the “seder” is Sefer Hakiddush. Aside
from containing all the different forms of kiddush recited
throughout the year, it also includes the Rosh Hashanah
“seder” in its entirety. Starting from the apple dipped in
honey to wish us all a good, sweet year, it goes through
different symbols and lists their appropriate “Yehi Ratzon”
prayers. Most of these are based upon word play whereby
the symbolic foods are either hinted at or mentioned by
name.
The Symbolism of Rosh Hashanah
] �� [
Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
For example, one partakes of a gourd and recites, “May
it be Your will to tear up the evil decree. Tear up, שתקרע,
and קרא (gourd) are homophonically related. Another
example is the pomegranate. Here we recite, “May it be
Your will that our merits be as numerous as the seeds of
a pomegranate.”
These symbolic foods are not exclusive. Many make up
their own requests. Consider, for example, the following
made up of a raisin on top of a piece of celery, “May it be
Your will that this year should bring a raise in salary!”
Kidashta, the new Modiin branch of Jerusalem’s The
Personal Touch will become a Jewish center of sorts in
the Modiin community. “We hope that the residents
see the opening of our Judaica and Wine boutique as
a resource to the community for all things Jewish. We
anticipate hosting classes on a variety of topics, featuring
new musicians and enlightening the local population -
helping to enhance their homes and lives with Judaica”
says Yaakov Kessler, a founding partner of Kidashta.
Wishing you a happy and sweet new year! ß
To Advertise “ 052-6404414 | 052-3868768 | [email protected] | www.modiinfo.com
] �� [
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Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
‡Continued from page 8
Mayor: Voters will vote for an individual to be mayor. To be
elected mayor, a candidate must receive both a majority
and 40% of the votes cast. If one candidate does not meet
both these thresholds on November 11, a runoff election
will be held between the two highest vote recipients.
City Council: The 17 city council seats will be awarded proportionally
based on the number of votes each party receives.
It is estimated that the threshold for one seat is about
2,400 votes. Voters will cast one vote for a party. Some
of the national political parties’ field lists of candidates
while others do not. Each party will have a list of up to
seventeen candidates ranked from one to seventeen.
Candidates that are placed higher up on the list are more
likely to be elected. Each party has their own process
for selecting their candidates for city council and their
respective rankings.
Coalition Building: Depending on the results of the elections, the candidate
that is elected mayor will then have to put together a
coalition to ensure that they are able to govern the city.
While it is possible that the mayor’s own party may win
a majority of the council it is unlikely. The mayor will
probably have to enter into a coalition agreement with
other smaller parties.
Who to vote for? Candidates are eager to get your
vote. There will be plenty of banners, stickers, flyers,
advertisements, and candidate forums. Remember that
someone that votes is someone that has influence. ß
For more information: Contact the Ministry of Interior National
Elections Supervisor at 1-800-300-059.
To Advertise “ 052-6404414 | 052-3868768 | [email protected] | www.modiinfo.com
] �� [
Representing Israel with a Baseball By: Danial Zacks
This past summer, River
Shertz, my dad (coach Arye
Zacks), and I went to Italy
as part of the Israel Juvenile
National Baseball Team. It
was a long hard journey just
to get there. First, there were
All Star teams from all the
regions in Israel. There were
about 50 kids that were in that. From those 50 kids the
coaches cut the amount of players to 24. Then, they cut
us down to 20, 18 of which would go to Italy. Then we
had practice every week until the summer. During the
summer, before we left, we had a two-week mini camp in
Kibbutz Gezer. Then they chose 18 players to come.
SportsOn our first day there we had a triple header. We tied
our first game 0-0, lost the second on a walk-off home
run, then won the third 14-1. The next day we crushed
the opposition 17-1 and the following day won 8-1. At
the end of the first tournament we had the second best
record but came in fifth because of the groupings.
Our first game in the second tournament was against
the Czechs. We slaughtered them 10-0. Later in the day
we beat the Arrezo home team 7-1. Next up were two
Italian teams and they both went down in order by at
least 10 runs. On the final day of the tournament we
lost in the morning and in the championship against the
Czechs.
After the second tournament we went touring in
Sienna and in Rome. We saw the Trevi Fountain, the
Pantheon, the Arch of Titus, the Colosseum, the Vatican,
and much much more.
In the end we went 7-4-1, we beat the Czechs, and
captured the silver.
Some reasons that we did so well were our spectacular
hitting and pitching. The main reason though was our
flawless defense. It was an extremely successful year for
Israeli baseball. ß
Jewish Jocks By: David Nachenberg
Seven of the 60 Jewish Olympic athletes in Beijing came
home with medals.
While we Israelis are proud of Shahar Tsuberi’s bronze
medal performance in windsurfing, Big (2.06 Meters, 105
Kg) Josh West of Great Britain helped his rowing team
win the silver medal. Sada Jacobson (USA) won a silver
medal in fencing. Four Jewish swimmers on Team USA
also came home with medals. Ben Wildman-Tobriner
won one gold medal, Garrett Weber-Gale won two gold
medals, and Jason Lezak won three medals (one bronze
and two gold medals). Dara Torres, a 41 year old Jew-by-
choice, proved she still has what it takes and won three
silver medals. ß
Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
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BillboardTell our advertisers you saw their ad in
To Advertise “ 052-6404414 | 052-3868768 | [email protected] | www.modiinfo.com
] �� [
“Osso Buco” means “hole of bone” because this marrow
provides the rich flavor to the sauce. A marrow spoon,
one of those long skinny spoons found in your Bubbe’s
old silverware sets, would come in handy with this dish
(although they probably used it for cholent bones, unless
they were Italian of course), as the tender marrow can be
tricky to extract (I personally don’t eat marrow, but it adds
a wonderful depth to this dish while cooking – on the other
hand, my kids put it on challah like butter). This is a truly
authentic recipe from the tenements of little Italy in New
York, it is unique in that it uses extra virgin olive oil, for the
browning of the veal and cooking of the vegetables.
Misenplas for two
1-2 cups brown veal stock (1 veal bone, 1 carrot, 1 leek,
½ turnip)
Osso Bucco By: Jay Engelmayer
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 veal shanks
1 diced carrot ( ¼ inch cubes)
2 diced celery ( ¼ inch bias)
1 medium onion, diced ¼ inch pieces
1 Tbsp (about 2 cloves) chopped garlic
3-4 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 1 tsp. dried)
1 cup dry red wine
Flour for dusting the meat before browning and developing
a roux
Salt and Pepper
2 Tbsp Minced flat (Italian) parsley
1 Tbsp grated lemon zest
2 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
½ onion brunoise
½ red and ½ green pepper brunoise
1 cup corn meal
Recipe Corner
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Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8
Brown Veal Stock
You want to take your misenplas for the stock (listed above)
and sauté them in your stock pot with a little oil until they
become nice and brown. Deglaze the pot after browning
has happened using ¼ cup of wine and add 2 liters of water
to your stock pot. Add a few peppercorns and a bay leaf.
When boiling occurs (or just before), skim the scum off
the top, leaving as much liquid as possible. After stock has
cooked at a low-med boil for 30 minutes, strain and discard
all but the liquid.
1. Preheat oven to 155°C.
2. Heat a pan on the stove top over medium heat for about
five minutes. Add the olive oil to the pan stirring the oil
around occasionally until a little smoke happens.
3. Season the veal shank well with salt and pepper. Dredge
the veal shanks through some flour, shake off any excess,
and add the meat to the hot olive fat in the pan. Increase
the heat to medium high and cook the meat on each
side until well browned (about 5 minutes per side).
Remove the shanks to a plate, set aside.
4. Add the onions, carrots, and celery to the pan oven.
Cook the onion mixture, stirring frequently, until the
onions are translucent (about five minutes) and toss
in the garlic and rosemary. Continue cooking until the
vegetables just begin to brown (about 10 minutes).
5. Add the shanks back to the pan. Pour in the remaining
wine, and then add enough stock to come a little more
than half way up the side of the shanks. Bring to a simmer.
Cover the pan and put it in the oven to cook until the
meat is tender, about an hour.
6. Combine the gremolata ingredients, place in a separate
small serving dish.
7. Saute peppers in small sauce pot and add 2 cups of
stock, season with salt and pepper and a touch of olive
oil and lemon juice, add polenta and stir frequently until
polenta absorbs the stock and thickens. ß
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to contact me:
To Advertise “ 052-6404414 | 052-3868768 | [email protected] | www.modiinfo.com
] �0 [
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] �1 [
Fall 2008 | Elul/Tishrei 5768 | Volume 5, Issue 8