Year: 2020

Have Corona Tyrants Overstepped?

Civil Rebellion and Lack of Faith in the Health Ministry and Government

A government is elected (?) by the People, to serve and protect the People, not to cause economic distress, and unjust policies. Seems this is not being done to the satisfaction of the People.

Civil rebellion: Stores across Israel to open against coronavirus rules

Government approves in principle the decision to increase fines on those who operate against the law.

The announcements began on Saturday night with the “I Am Shulman” movement, which fights on behalf of self-employed people and small and medium businesses, with a video on Facebook stating that it was calling on street-side businesses to open on Monday at 9 a.m., despite regulations. “Go out and earn a living!” said one of the members of the movement in the video.

“The government has lost it,” added the member, asking why cosmetic services and schools were allowed to open while street-side stores were not, despite the possible risks presented by reopening schools.

The “I Am Shulman” movement will provide legal services to help businesses that decide to reopen. The member in the video stated that Haim Bibas, mayor of Modi’in-Maccabim-Reut, and chairman of the Federation of Local Authorities in Israel, promised him that he and the local authorities were providing their full support behind the decision to reopen businesses.

“We are giving the government 24 hours to think about it and to change their delusional decision,” said the movement in an ultimatum, saying that the government had until Monday to provide a logical and fair plan.

The BIG shopping center group followed the move by announcing on Sunday morning that it will open its open-air centers in green cities on Monday and will begin demanding full rent and fees from businesses located in the centers.

IN A LETTER to businesses in BIG centers, BIG group CEO Hay Galis stressed on Sunday that while businesses received support and compensation from the government and unpaid leave, the BIG group did not receive the same support and did not send workers on unpaid leave. The group also forgave rent and management fees.

“We did not receive a single shekel for this period, neither from the state nor from you,” wrote Galis, adding that the group had tried, and failed, to convince business owners to protest against the conduct and decisions of the government.

“The ability to open business is in your hands, from now the results are also passed onto your shoulders. Carry it and succeed,” wrote the CEO. “Now it’s your turn. The honorable government is playing with us, playing with you, asking for a few more days, and a few more days, because of the hysteria and disconnection of the Health Ministry and the prime minister’s inability or unwillingness to make a decision.”

Galis added that despite claims that street-side shops are safer than shopping centers, it is “proven” that in large shopping centers regulations are followed much more than in such shops.

“The store area is larger and therefore there is a possibility to maintain the rules of social distance. Opening only some of the retail space will certainly cause a crowding of people, who could have been better dispersed across more stores and retail space, if these were available to all,” stressed Galis.

“This time we too are tired – tired of taking responsibility time and time again and finding ourselves attacking alone. We are tired of the feeling that we are turning from fair people into suckers. We have run out of the desire and patience to support everyone instead of the government (supporting them),” added the CEO.

After the announcement by BIG, Zim Urban Life shopping centers announced that they, too, would open open-air centers on Monday, including in red cities, according to Channel 12 news. The centers are planning to open in locations such as Beit She’an, Arad, Netivot, Umm al-Fahm, Yarka, Tira and Tayibe, among others.

FINANCE MINISTER Israel Katz called on Sunday for the government to allow stores to reopen on Tuesday.

“The insistence of the Health Ministry is unnecessary and lacks a factual basis, and leads to anarchy and the lack of supervision, which will only increase infection rates,” tweeted Katz.

In response to the calls to reopen, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein warned that those who are calling to “recklessly” open the economy, “are leading us with open eyes toward another lockdown and an economic, social and health disaster.”

“I understand the plight of store owners. It is our duty to help them and provide them with an economic safety net, to really care – not just in statements,” said Edelstein. “At the same time keep in mind that a quick opening now means another closure later. Complacency will eventually lead to a death sentence for many businesses.”

Edelstein pointed to the lockdowns and spikes in infection rates being reported in Europe and other locations around the world, saying that Israel needs to “understand that the decisions to open the economy must not be a populist competition that could lead to the destruction of the economy instead of its rehabilitation.”

The Health Ministry and coronavirus commissioner Prof. Ronni Gamzu have pushing since last month to increase fines.

The proposed increases are as follows: Opening a business illegally: NIS 5,000 to NIS 10,000; holding a wedding or similar event against regulations: NIS 5,000 to NIS 20,000; and opening an educational institution against the law: NIS 5,000 to NIS 20,000.

The increase on educational institutions originally proposed by the ministry was to NIS 25,000. Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) lawmakers pushed back, saying that such an increase was unacceptable when the infection rate was declining.

“It’s crazy that we’re opening up in a dramatic way without raising fines,” senior Health Ministry officials were quoted as saying by Israeli media over the weekend. “It’s critical. Five-thousand shekels does not deter anyone.”

Hundreds if not thousands of haredi schools have opening illegally since the High Holy Days.

On Sunday, grades one through four opened classes, one-on-one activities and services (such as driving lessons or personal training) and alternative medical treatments were permitted to resume and salons and bed and breakfasts were allowed to reopen.

Last Thursday, the Association of Commercial, Fashion and Catering Chains warned it would no longer be able to prevent business owners from breaking Health Ministry regulations and reopening, and had ended discussions with the government.

“After our inquiries fell on deaf ears, we announce the cessation of discussions with the government,” said the association, according to Globes. “The government continues to pursue a policy leading to the destruction of businesses, and we do not want to be the factor responsible for the loss of livelihood of business owners. Starting Sunday, everyone will have to make the best decision for themselves, their employees and their family.”

Small business owners took to the streets on Thursday as the cabinet convened, begging the government to allow them to operate. However, ultimately, the cabinet decided to push off opening street shops another week, until November 8, unless there was a significant drop in infection.

About 400 retail and fashion chains around Israel announced last week that they would open next week on Sunday, November 8, even if Health Ministry regulations continue to forbid their opening. The stores only plan to open in open-air centers in green areas and follow Purple Ribbon regulations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to calm business owners in a video message shared Friday: “To all of my friends, the merchants, I know how difficult it is. I request that you cooperate for another few days. We have promised to open next Sunday, maybe earlier if morbidity goes down, and this is the main problem.

SHOW THE PEOPLE THE DATA FOR ISRAEL, THE TOTAL DEATHS FOR 2020 COMPARED TO 1919 ON A MONTH TO MONTH BASIS

“Morbidity is leaping forward around the world,” the prime minister said. “With joint forces we succeeded in lowering it. We do not want it to go up again – and then we would need to re-impose the restrictions. I will help you in every way. We have helped you economically; we will help you with even more measures.”

LOCKDOWNS ONLY REPRESS INFECTION, NOT ELIMINATE THE ILLNESS

ONLY THE ELDERLY AND COMPROMISED NEED STAY OUT OF CROWDS

EVERYONE ELSE NEED TO LIVE NORMALY

SOCIETY NEEDS TO GROW

PEOPLE NEED TO LIVE

From Habayitah, here.

A Chazon Ish Family Living In Eretz Yisrael

Stepping Stones

Bracha Toporowitch CHT, Zichron Yaakov

In my professional practice of Mind-Body Healing, I often tell people that difficulties can be looked at as stones. It is up to them to decide if they view these stones as stumbling blocks or stepping stones. Aside from the “sunny side” of living in Eretz Yisroel, my own experiences here included such challenges – stumbling blocks that were really stepping stones – as well.

My husband is Israeli, but we met in America and settled in Lakewood. Although I was never exposed to life in Eretz Yisroel, nor had any of my own close family members living there, I knew I wanted to live there. As a Jew, being drawn to Eretz Yisroel was just an integral part of my neshamah. When we already had four children, I told my husband that if we wouldn’t make the move now, we would never. So on Zos Chanukah 1970 we moved to Bnei Brak.

We lived there with our four little children in a third-floor apartment with no elevator. There was no home delivery back then, so there was a lot of shlepping to do. In the winter the apartment could get really cold. I had my fifth child when my oldest was all of seven years old, with none of my family around to help.

As followers of the Chazon Ish, we would not use the locally-generated electricity on Shabbos, or the water pumped on Shabbos into our pipelines. We would use kerosene lamps which would sometimes blow out before the end of Shabbos, leaving us in the dark till Motza’ei Shabbos. We didn’t have our own water tank on the roof like some others had, so I would fill the bathtub with water before Shabbos and make sure the bathroom door was locked to keep the kids out!

I remember having to manage our first Shmitta year in 1972. There was almost no produce. A truck would come, and people would come and share a sack of potatoes, some onions, and some carrots. We’d have to manage with whatever we got.

There were difficulties and challenges. There were things I had to adjust to. There were changes I had to make. Though in spite of it all, I still always just wanted to stay and live here, where áveera d’Eretz Yisrael machkim – the air (atmosphere) of Eretz Yisroel makes one wise. I believe this atmosphere greatly influenced our family’s spiritual growth. We were close to many gedolei Yisrael of the Litvish world living in Bnei Brak; my husband was a ben bayis (like a member of the family) by some of them. We were upstairs neighbors of Rav Chaim Greineman ztz”l, a nephew and adherent of the Chazon Ish ztz”l. I very often discussed issues, such as child rearing and cooking, with his wife Rabbanit Chana z”l. My children gained tremendously in their spiritual lives from growing up friends with their children.

A bit after the Yom Kippur War (1973), we ended up leaving Eretz Yisroel to England, and shortly thereafter to Monsey, where we lived for the next few years. We were destined to undergo quite a bit of moving, with all the challenges that entailed. We did return to Eretz Yisroel in 1980 and remained for ten years. Then we did another ten year stint in Monsey.

Finally, when we had our sights on moving back to Eretz Yisroel in 1999, we decided it wasn’t going to be to Bnei Brak. We were looking for a place that would be a bit more spacey and quieter. We moved to the Chareidi kehillah in Zichron Yaakov, on the northwest coast of Eretz Yisroel, where we built our own house. Like Monsey, it was in a pastoral setting, with small private houses and a lot of greenery. We were very happy with the calm and quiet atmosphere.

At the time we came we didn’t really know anyone living there. Over time I got to know the local Americans more and felt comfortable with them, and I eventually gave shiurei Torah in both Hebrew and English. Although there may always be political or hashkafic “stress” anytime and anywhere, amongst the women I didn’t feel it at all.

There was a yeshivah gedolah down the street from our house where two sons-in-law of Rav Chaim Greineman ztz”l were the roshei yeshivah. Though many mosdos were local, for Beis Yaakov high school the girls would have to travel, about a half an hour commute, to nearby Chadera. My boys went to the local yeshivah gedolah, though one did go to learn in Bnei Brak.

Living far from the center of Eretz Yisroel had its own set of challenges. I would rarely go to a wedding in Yerushalayim, as travelling with public transportation could take about 1 ½ hours in each direction. Friends coming from America would just never get out to Zichron (as Zichron Yaakov is called in short). I would travel once a week to the center where I operated a clinic, for many years in Bnei Brak, and more recently in Ramat Beit Shemesh – a two-and-a-half-hour commute by train and bus – where I would stay over for one night. B”H my therapy sessions and evening “Joy & Vitality” workshops in Beit Shemesh, Bnai Brak and Zichron were very popular. I worked to create awareness of the connection between mind and body. I wanted to make people healthy by positive thinking, talking, and emotions, utilizing the various modalities of Mind-Body Healing.

Our choice is what we do, physically, emotionally and spiritually, with the situation HaShem gives us. We can go shlepping and complaining through hard times, or we can learn to cope and become so much stronger. Being spoiled will just be to our detriment. This applies to everything in life, including the challenges of living in Eretz Yisroel – the place where we all belong.

Sparks of Radiance

My most recent book, “Sparks of Radiance” (Mosaica Press 2020), includes a fictionalized account of a terror bombing attack. I wrote it to help people understand the mindset of victims of terror, and how steadfast faith and an intense desire to create kiddush HaShem turn these darkest moments – which have effects for years and years – into brilliant radiance.

My daughter, her husband and three little children were on the Egged #2 bus bombing seventeen years ago; my 3-year-old granddaughter was killed, Hy”d, and all others were injured. There were a lot of interviews in the media. I remember saying to one reporter, “People are afraid there’s no peace here in Israel, but it’s we who have to make peace. Peace will come when we make peace with each other.”

It doesn’t matter where you live, for you are not necessarily safe in any place on earth. The recent Covid-19 virus proves this. Therefore, I believe that lack of safety is not a valid reason for not living here. No one can escape what HaShem plans for him. Let us realize that we all belong here and make the best of it. With a positive mindset we can turn our greatest stumbling blocks into powerful stepping stones of elevation.

How To ‘Recharge Your Batteries’

Short-Term Burnout & Care of Self

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In the previous two blogs, we have looked at long-term burnout, and how to evaluate whether this requires a career change.

In this blog, we look at how to prevent and to cure short-term burn-out.

A. AVOIDING BURN-OUT

Keep on Growing

If you don’t feel that you are growing, professionally and personally, you will not be able sustain enthusiasm and motivation for the job. Really, all the points below amount to this idea.

1. Learn Five Minutes for Yourself

Learn something you love at least 5 minutes a day early morning and again at night no matter what. This time must be guilt-free. (I should be learning Gemorrah, halacha, etc.) Even if you are yotzei your chiyuv of “Vehagisa bo yomam valaila” by giving a shiur or preparing for one, there is nothing like the unadulterated joy of learning, just for yourself. You may be so tired that you can’t concentrate on Gemorrah, have no cheishek for Mishnayos, etc. Find something that turns you on, that generally comes in small bites and that you can handle at this time. You would be amazed how much you can get through with five minutes a night. The satisfaction will give you a much better feeling when you drop into bed. Some of the texts which you could use are the Chofetz Chaim, the Sefer HaChinuch, Avos, or a few pesukim of the Parsha with the pirush of the Seforno. Sign up to an English “halacha a day” thing, or listen to podcast on a Gemorrah you are already familiar with.

2. Setting and Attaining Realistic Personal Goals

If you don’t have goals, you can’t measure your progress, and that leads to feeling blah. On the other hand, working towards and attaining realistic goals gives one a sense of growth and fulfillment.

3. Every Night Ask Yourself What You Learned that Day

It may take a few minutes of reflection, but you will always find some new insight, skill, approach or mistake to be avoided.

4. Read at Least Two Books a Year

Books on management, books on actualizing yourself and on mindfulness, books on educational philosophy and methodology (or whatever is your expertise).

My bathroom reading is generally articles and studies that impact my work: Studies about millennials, about management and leadership, about how people organize themselves, as well as general articles about science, psychology and other areas.

 5. Mentors & Role Models

Mentors are not the same as role models. Mentors are people you are close with; role models do not have to be. We are also not talking about your rabbi or rebbetzin or mashpiah here. Rather, we are talking about career mentors, someone who can guide you through staff problems, politics, strategy, etc.

The ideal mentor is a legacy mentor, someone who is interested in helping you achieve your legacy in life and sees your professional development as just one part of that.

6. Balance

There is balance within work and balance between work and other things. (See last week’s blog.) Maintaining balance is very challenging because, every time one wants to do something, one is always making a choice not to do something else. Hence, you never just get into balance. It is an ongoing process of constant recalibration, with different emphases at different times. Moreover, there isn’t a sweet spot. It is not realistic to be satisfied all of the time. Most of the time is more realistic.

7. Professional Development Seminars

In Israel and America (the countries I am familiar with), most professions require a certain amount of professional development per year to keep your professional license. I would love to see the same in the nonprofit world. Certainly motivational and professional seminars and courses exist aplenty, including the excellent range of Harvard Business School seminars for nonprofits. (I know several people who did these courses and felt transformed by them.)

B. CURING BURN-OUT

There is a huge difference between the way one deals with short-term as opposed to longer-term burnout. We will deal with short-term burnout here, and follow up with a separate blog on long-term burnout. Finally, we will deal with care of self, or how to avoid burnout to begin with.

1. Treat Yourself – Be Kind to Yourself

  • Leave work early and don’t feel guilty about it.
  • Go out in the middle of the day and catch up on your e-mails in a coffee shop.
  • Treat yourself to your favorite milkshake after doing something particularly odious.
  • Ask for help when you are feeling overwhelmed.
  • Share your feelings with a trusted colleague.

2. Take an Emergency Vacation

Take it When You Need It:  You cannot schedule burn-out. And when you are burned-out, you cannot wait for scheduled summer vacations. Nor can you wait for a good time to take a vacation. There is never a good time to take a vacation. Therefore, it’s up to you to decide if this is an emergency.

Get Rid of Guilt: You should never feel stuck – that you desperately need a vacation but cannot afford to take it because the organization needs you. You would be amazed how well people will do without your “indispensible” presence.

In addition, you may get burned out only a few months after your last vacation. You cannot pre-determine the frequency of your burn-out. I have sometimes gone years without vacation, and then required several vacations in a single year.

However, if you find you need these breaks more than three or four times a year then you are in an unhealthy work environment, even by kiruv standards.

Continue reading…

TV Producers Are Just Legal DRUG PUSHERS

“I ate breakfast last week with the president of a network news division and he told me that during non-election years, 70% of the advertising revenues for his news division come from pharmaceutical ads. And if you go on TV any night and watch the network news, you’ll see they become just a vehicle for selling pharmaceuticals. He also told me that he would fire a host who brought onto his station a guest who lost him a pharmaceutical account.”

Robert F. Kennedy, in a 2015 interview with Jesse Ventura