A Magical Season for the YU Macs

The following is my piece in the March 19, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link about the Yeshiva University men’s basketball team and their magical season:

A Magical Season for the YU Macs

November 9, 2019. That was the last time the Yeshiva University men’s basketball team lost a game. After dropping their season opener against Occidental College in Los Angeles, California, the Maccabees have not lost, winning 29 consecutive games and claiming ownership over the longest winning streak in NCAA Division III.

It’s been a magical season for the Macs. They rank #1 out of 416 NCAA Division III men’s basketball teams in won-lost percentage (96.7%) and field-goal percentage (53.1%). In addition, they’re ranked second in three-point field-goal percentage (40.6%), assists per game (20.2), and total assists (605). They’re also ranked fourth in scoring margin (16.3) and twentieth in scoring offense (86.7).

There have been many really good Jewish basketball players over the years who have played for YU, but there is something unique and special about this year’s team. In fact, the YU men’s basketball program has been on an upward trajectory over the past several years, and the team’s rapid rise has endeared them to their legions of fans and the American Jewish community.

“There’s been excitement around the program for a while, but obviously with the NCAA tournament, it takes it to another level,” said Bala Cynwyd resident and YU Assistant Coach Eli Katz, whose brother Dani is one of the team’s senior leaders. “Coach (Elliot) Steinmetz has done an excellent job setting a culture and setting a standard which the guys have to live up to. Our leadership has been great – Dani (Katz), Simcha (Halpert), and Gabe (Leifer) and all of the seniors – they have helped set the standard for being selfless. We always talk about chasing letters instead of chasing numbers, and the idea of not just being unselfish, but being selfless, really embodies what these guys are all about. Obviously we’re talented, but there have been many great basketball players who have come through YU. It’s the selflessness and the style of play that kind of sets these guys apart from a lot of different teams in the country.”

“The guys are super-talented, but more so than anything else, the style of play, the motion offense that we run, obviously has had success,” Katz added. “You have to be selfless; you have to be willing to pass the ball to your teammates and not worry about who scores. To everyone’s credit, they’ve been so willing to get others involved and put their own personal accolades on the back burner for the betterment of the team.”

“It’s very hard to anticipate what we’re going to do on any given possession because motion is a system – it’s not plays – and you can’t predict what’s going to happen,” Katz said while referring to the Macs’ high-powered offense. “It takes a while to learn the offense, but once you establish it and learn it and you have a few years in it, like these guys have had, and then you combine that with our talent, then you start to see the product that we have now.

“Our offense is predicated on moving and screening. It’s a beautiful thing to watch when it works, and Baruch Hashem, now that we’re several years into the system and you have seniors running it now who have run it their entire careers, it’s as beautiful as I’ve ever seen motion offense. It’s such a joy to watch.”

In addition to their impressive accomplishments as a team, a number of the Macs’ star players are at the top of several statistical categories. Senior forward Gabriel Leifer leads Division III in total rebounds (412), triple-doubles (4), and defensive rebounds per game (11.86). Leifer also ranks second in double-doubles (23), third in rebounds per game (14.2), fourth in total assists (199), and eighth in assists per game (6.9).

Sophomore guard Ryan Turell is ranked tenth in total field goals made (240), twelfth in field-goal percentage (63.7%), and fourteenth in points per game (24.0) and total points (648). Senior guard Simcha Halpert is ranked fifth in total three-point field goals made (109) and sixteenth in three-point field goals per game (3.63).

The YU players have been generating attention for their exploits on the court all season long and their stellar achievements were duly recognized when the Skyline Conference released its season end men’s basketball all-conference teams and major award winners on March 2. Turell and Leifer earned spots on the all-conference first team, with Turell also being named Skyline Player of the Year. Halpert was selected as a member of the all-conference second team, while freshman guard Ofek Reef was recognized as Skyline Rookie of the Year. YU Coach Elliot Steinmetz was named Skyline Coach of the Year, and senior guard Daniel Katz earned a spot on the Skyline Conference All-Sportsmanship team.

There were numerous other instances this season where the Macs’ stars were in the spotlight. On February 15, Turell became the only sophomore in YU history to attain the coveted 1,000-career point mark. It took the LA native just 47 games in a Macs uniform to reach 1,000 points – no one else in the history of YU has gotten there faster than Turell.

Furthermore, on March 3, Leifer was selected as U.S. Basketball Writers Association Division III National Player of the Week, the first time a YU player received the notable tribute.

The Macs won the Skyline Conference Championship in front of a capacity crowd on their home court on March 1, beating Purchase College by a score of 86-74. Leifer demonstrated why he is one of the most versatile big men in the nation, walking away with a triple-double after scoring 16 points, corralling a career-high 24 rebounds, and dishing out 12 assists, and earning the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award in the process. Turell added 29 points, while junior guard Eitan Halpert chipped in 19.

YU’s magical season continued, as the Macs, who are ranked #8 in the nation in Division III, moved on to the NCAA tournament for the second time in their history. Their first NCAA Division III tournament appearance was two years ago, when they came up short in their opening round game against York College Pennsylvania.

Their second trip to the NCAA tournament started off much differently than their 2018 appearance. YU traveled to Baltimore to take on Worcester Polytechnic Institute on March 6 in first-round action. The Macs’ trip to Maryland began with them having to make an immediate adjustment, one that had nothing to do with their game plan. The hotel they were supposed to stay at abruptly cancelled the team’s reservations due to fears concerning the Coronavirus, forcing them to make alternate lodging plans at the last minute.

“It was not a great situation and it wasn’t something that we anticipated, but, like everything else that has come up this year with our guys, we moved on and didn’t let it affect how we play on the court,” Katz said. “There are many distractions and our guys have always responded well. The mental toughness of this team is really impressive. The hotel we ended up going to was very accommodating and very nice, and we had a great time. Shabbos was great and then we went out on the court and handled business like we usually do.”

In yet another Coronavirus-related wrinkle, the NCAA announced that spectators would not be allowed in the arena for the YU first-round matchups, meaning that the Macs would play their Erev Shabbos game in an empty Goldfarb Gymnasium at Johns Hopkins University.

“Regarding the spectators, that one hurt a little bit because we knew there was going to be a large, strong, supportive Baltimore contingent that was going to come out and watch our game,” said Katz, who is a Baltimore native. “Particularly for Dani and me, it was in our hometown and we were going to have a lot of family and friends there, and to hear that we weren’t going to have spectators was obviously crushing and it was not something that we wanted to experience. But again, the mental toughness of the guys – the idea that this shouldn’t affect how we play – kicked in and we knew that we just have to get on the court and play our game. Once you get between the lines on the court, you’re just playing ball, and they did exactly that. When game time comes, we just play ball. That’s all the kids like to do.”

YU senior guard Simcha Halpert

“We would have loved to have the Jewish community come out like they always do,” Katz noted as he spoke about the Macs’ loyal fans. “The Jewish community has been incredible in terms of providing a fan base. They have been unbelievable – I think better than any other fans in the country, if I may say so. The Jewish community has been amazing, so to not have them there was crushing and we would have loved to have had them there, but when push comes to shove and we had to get on the court, the bench was amazing at providing energy and the guys fed off of each other. Once we got on the court, I don’t think it was much of an issue.”

Once the game began, all of the distractions were set aside, and the Macs got down to business. It almost seemed like YU could not miss, as they shot an incredible 60.7% from the field (34-56) and an incredible 53.6% from behind the three-point line (15-28) on their way to a convincing 102-78 win over WPI to earn their first-ever NCAA tournament victory.

Turell was unstoppable for the Macs, scoring a career-best and game-high 41 points on 13-16 shooting, including 7-9 from three-point range. The two Halpert brothers also put on a show, with Simcha scoring 20 points and Eitan adding 14 points and 8 assists.

YU sophomore guard Ryan Turell

YU took the court again on Motzei Shabbos, March 7, for their second-round game against Penn State Harrisburg. The Macs’ balanced offense was on full display, as five YU players scored in double figures en route to a 102-83 win and a trip to the Sweet 16 for a matchup with nationally ranked No. 3 Randolph-Macon College.

The Macs’ torrid shooting continued, as they shot 65.1% from the field (41-63) and 64.7% from 3-point range (11-17). YU’s defense was spectacular, as they held Penn State’s offense to just 39.5% shooting from the field (30-76).

Leifer had his fourth triple-double of the season, with 10 points, 20 rebounds, and 10 assists. Turell had a game-high 30 points on 11-15 shooting, including 3-3 from behind the three-point line. Simcha Halpert added 21 points on 8-13 shooting, including 4-6 from beyond the arc, while his brother Eitan chipped in 18 points on 7-11 shooting, including 4-7 from three-point range. In addition, Reef had 16 points and Katz put up 7 points. As he has done all season, senior guard Tyler Hod provided valuable minutes off the bench, with his leadership skills and high basketball IQ helping to provide a spark for the Macs.

As always, the YU players and coaches know that there is much more than just basketball, and they are acutely aware of the fact that they are often perceived as de facto ambassadors of the Jewish community, a responsibility that they do not take lightly, especially at a time when anti-Semitism in on the rise, particularly in the New York area.

“Coach Steinmetz has been very vocal about the issue of anti-Semitism,” said Katz. “Baruch Hashem, bli ayin hara, it hasn’t really been an issue for us this year. I know in past years we’ve had some incidents, but with us getting better and making more national headlines, people are respecting us more, so we don’t hear as much negative stuff. In basketball, particularly on the D3 level, it’s more that game respects game. They know you can play, so it’s just about playing basketball at that point.”

YU senior forward Gabriel Leifer

“We definitely understand the magnitude of these difficult situations and all we want to do is represent the Jewish people in a positive light and make a Kiddush Hashem on and off the court,” added Katz. “We want to do the best we can to educate people and show people that we embody all the right things about the Jewish people. The kids are really well behaved and behave themselves on the court. They pick everybody up, no matter if it’s our team or the other team, and we just want to make a Kiddush Hashem no matter where we are. I do believe that’s the best way to counteract all the negative feelings people may have towards the Jewish people for one silly reason or the other. Hopefully, we can help people understand what we’re really all about through our play and our actions on and off the court – that’s kind of what we’re all about.”

The members of YU men’s basketball team have certainly made a Kiddush Hashem this season. Their play on the court has been extraordinary and their middot and conduct on and off the court has been exemplary. Like the Maccabees who fought back against Antiochus and the Syrian Greeks over 2,000 years ago, overcame all odds in their defense of Judaism and the Jews, and left behind a legacy of persistence and resilience, so too these modern day Maccabees have taught us that anything is possible if you consistently exhibit a degree of effort and endurance as you chase your dreams and head towards your goal.

Unfortunately for the Macs players, coaches, family members, friends, and fans, the NCAA announced on Thursday, March 12th, that it was canceling the remaining winter and spring championships, which includes the Division III men’s basketball tournament, thereby bringing YU’s season to an abrupt halt.

“What’s sad is that there was no real ending to this movie – just a blank screen,” Coach Steinmetz said after the remainder of the tournament was canceled. “Life is bigger than basketball, always will be. The world finds weird ways to remind us of that. Hoping everyone stays healthy and safe. Thanks to all who supported us this year.”

While the end was surely unforeseen, and it left all of us wondering what could have been as YU was on the brink of playing in the Sweet 16 for the first time, one thing is certain. It has truly been a magical season for the Macs.

Strengthening the U.S.-Israel Relationship with 18,000 Friends

The following is my piece in the March 19, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link about the 2020 AIAPC Policy Conference in Washington, DC:

Strengthening the U.S.-Israel Relationship with 18,000 Friends

I have been to Washington, DC on many occasions, including several times when the purpose of my visit centered around efforts to further strengthen the U.S.-Israel relationship. That being said, my visit to our nation’s capital in the beginning of March was an entirely new experience for me.

As I rode the Amtrak train down to DC early in the morning on March 1 and observed quite a number of other Jews making the same journey I was, I began to think about what was awaiting me at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center when I arrived. What was it going to feel like being one of 18,000 people gathering in the same place, for the same purpose?

The 2020 American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference was everything I thought it would be. It was my first time at AIPAC’s annual mega event, and it certainly lived up to its billing as the preeminent conference in support of Israel in the United States.

From the long lines to enter the cavernous hall where the General Sessions were held, to the packed minyanim, including several hundred attendees who came to a 6:00 a.m. Shacharit minyan on Monday morning, it was evident that the AIPAC’s Policy Conference is a must for American Jews and other supporters of Israel.

The AIPAC Village, which occupied the lower level of the convention center, was remarkable. Aside from the various food offerings and entertainment opportunities, there was an array of incredible exhibits from various Israeli organizations and companies, as well as an Iron Dome missile defense battery that rose tall in the center of the room. Whether it was Leket Israel, United Hatzalah, Magen David Adom, Sheba Medical Center Field Hospital, United Airlines (which was showcasing its Premium Plus travel option for people heading to Israel), The Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, or OurCrowd, I enjoyed not just seeing the exhibits, but also having the opportunity to speak with the exhibitors in order to gain a deeper understanding of all that they do to advance Israeli society in a multitude of ways.

We heard from President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, who spoke about his nation’s longstanding ties to Israel. He noted that his nation was the first to endorse the Balfour Declaration, proudly cited the existence of Theodor Herzl Street in Belgrade, and spoke about President Reuven Rivlin’s visit to his country several years ago. After noting that Serbia and Israel have always been with each other throughout history and are still friends today, President Vučić spoke about passing a Holocaust restitution bill, which resulted in the payment of more than 30 million Euros to Jewish municipalities in Serbia, and noted how he proudly displayed a yellow flag marked Jude outside the president’s building to mark the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. He received applause when he declared that his country is going to open an official state office in Jerusalem with the Serbian flag.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who appeared via video, received a tremendous ovation when he appeared on the large screens. “Israel will do what we need to do to defend ourselves and secure our future,” he said while speaking about Iran. “The best days of the U.S.-Israel alliance are still to come,” he declared. “Israel is here to stay, and the Jewish community is here to stay.”

Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, International Spokesperson of the Israel Defense Forces, discussed the threat coming from Lebanon and explained some of the ways that Israel is working to expose to the world what Hezbollah is trying to hide, noting that the IDF recently destroyed six Hezbollah attack tunnels, one of which was 220 feet deep and approximately a mile long. “Hezbollah looks for ways to kill, but we look for ways to protect life,” he said.

Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden appeared via video and spoke about the importance of standing up for the enduring partnership between the U.S. and Israel, as well as the need for the Palestinians to eradicate incitement and end the rocket attacks against Israel. “I will always call out anti-Semitism, whether it comes from the left, right or center,” he declared.

AIPAC’s lay leaders spoke about the organization’s work and the importance of getting involved. “Israel is stronger today than it has ever been and that is due in part to our work together,” said AIPAC Chair of the Board Dr. Mort Fridman.

Betsy Berns Korn, the new AIPAC President, gave a rousing speech and spoke about some of the challenges facing the pro-Israel community, while exhorting the crowd of 18,000 to get more involved. “Once among the best, most authentic expressions of bipartisan support in America, the U.S.-Israel relationship as we know it, is under attack,” she said. “Those who stand against the U.S.-Israel relationship must know: The pro-Israel community will work to defeat them.”

Rep. Steny Hoyer, the House Majority Leader, gave a well-received speech, noting that he just made his 15th visit to Israel in August, when 41 of his House Democratic colleagues joined him on that trip together over 30 House Republican members, all of whom stood together at a press conference at the King David Hotel and spoke in one voice. He spoke firmly about the need to combat BDS, which he called “a discriminatory movement,” in the U.S. and in the UN, stating that, “America must not be fooled by BDS, and that is up to us.”

Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, International Spokesperson of the Israel Defense Forces, at the AIPAC Policy Conference

“It is up to all of us to ensure that our fellow Americans – in communities across the country – understand that our bipartisan support for Israel in Congress is a strategic asset for Israel and for America,” Hoyer said. “It is also vital that we make sure they know the history that requires and demands support for Israel’s sovereignty, survival, and success. When they forget how Democrats and Republicans have stood unequivocally against anti-Semitism, bigotry, and hate – those pernicious diseases that made the modern Jewish state so critical – we must remind them.”

Former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who received a standing ovation and big cheers, told the over 4,000 students in the room that, “America needs your voice more than ever.”

“Growing up, my mother was our temple president and kept a kosher house – but my parents taught me that Judaism is about much more than our rituals,” he said. “It’s also about living our values. For my parents’ generation, that meant realizing the dream of a Jewish Holy Land. And for us, it’s about revering the miracle that is now the modern state of Israel.”

“America’s safety and Israel’s safety are inextricably linked,” he added.

The crowd roared when Bloomberg said that Senator Bernie Sanders “is dead wrong” after calling AIPAC “a racist platform.”

“The reality is, AIPAC doesn’t fuel hatred. AIPAC works to combat it and the violence that it can produce,” Bloomberg said. “Israel should never be a football that American politicians kick around to score points.”

Vice President Mike Pence, who received loud cheers from the crowd, proudly noted that he has spoken at every AIPAC Policy Conference since he became Vice President. He went through a litany of actions taken by the Trump administration relative to Israel, including withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal, moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, shutting down the PLO office in Washington, DC, signing the Taylor Force Act into law, combating anti-Israel sentiment in the UN, recognizing Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and declaring that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are not illegal. He also spoke about the need to root out anti-Semitism from every part of our society, declaring that, “It is not just a threat to Jewish Americans and Jews around the world, it is a threat to us all.”

“We stand with Israel because her cause is our cause, her values are our values, her fight is our fight,” said the Vice President. “We stand with Israel because we believe in right over wrong, in good over evil, in liberty over tyranny.”

“The bond between our two people is woven in the hearts of the people of our countries,” he added. “It is unbreakable and so it shall always be… Israel and the United States will always stand together because America and Israel are more than friends. We are more than partners or allies. My friends, the United States and Israel are family – we are ‘mishpacha.’”

Vice President Mike Pence at the AIPAC Policy Conference

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who also got a big ovation, similarly reviewed some of the steps the Trump administration has taken to further the U.S.-Israel relationship. “Under President Trump, Israel is not a pariah, but a partner,” he said. He also spoke about what some other nations are doing to support and strengthen Israel. “The more the Middle East embraces Israel, the brighter its future will be,” he added.

Referring to Iran, which Pompeo called “the number one state-sponsor of anti-Semitism in the world,” he noted that, “the regime stokes hatred of Jews to serve their own, corrupt ends, through classroom textbooks, state media propaganda, and the poisoned declarations of their unelected leaders.”

The crowd embraced Rep. Nita Lowey, Chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, who is retiring at the end of the year. A true friend of Israel throughout her career, Lowey proudly declared that this was her 32nd AIPAC Policy Conference. “You can never take anything for granted and you can never predict the future, so we have to make sure the U.S.-Israel relationship remains strong,” she said.

Like Rep. Hoyer, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, the House Republican Leader, spoke about the bipartisan trips to Israel that he has been part of. Noting that the U.S.-Israel relationship is mutually beneficial and a priority and that, “Israel has a right to defend herself from missiles, bombs, tunnels and knife attacks,” he said that, “our task is to maintain American support for Israel in both parties.”

After opening his remarks with a shout-out to Yeshiva University’s men’s basketball team, Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic Leader, got down to business, noting that, “the international community at the United Nations never misses an opportunity to single out Israel for condemnation.”

He spoke passionately about the U.S.-Israel relationship, stating that, “The safety and security of Israel must always be a priority of the United States. And as long as I am a leader in the Senate, support for Israel’s security in the Senate will be nonnegotiable.”

Schumer also addressed the critical need to ensure that U.S. support for Israel remains bipartisan. “The friendship between our two countries must be unshakeable,” he said. “The friendship between our countries must be unbreakable. Support for the friendship between our countries must not depend on which party you belong to. No matter what: we must keep the U.S.-Israel relationship bipartisan.”

He also stated unequivocally that, “the rise of anti-Semitism in the United States is a national crisis.”

“We cannot, and must not, allow anti-Semitism to gather any more strength, and we must do all we can to protect our vulnerable institutions,” he said. “So on this stage, surrounded by friends of Israel and the Jewish people, I call on Congress to quadruple – quadruple – funding to protect at-risk synagogues, shuls, and other houses of worship where our families gather – to provide hardened security so this will never happen again.”

There is no question that the rise in anti-Semitism was at the forefront of everyone’s mind at the AIPAC Policy Conference. I attended a breakout session entitled “Staying Safe: Responding to Threats Against the Jewish Community.” Naomi Mestrum, Deputy Director at the Center for Documentation and Information on Israel in The Netherlands, noted that while Jews make up a small percentage of the population, a large percentage of the hate crimes are aimed at the Jewish community. In a sign of the gravity of the current situation in Europe, she warned people not to wear a t-shirt with Hebrew writing on it in European cities.

Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, also talked about the “pandemic of anti-Semitism,” stating that “it’s not just ‘anti-Semitism,’ it’s ‘Jew hatred’ and ‘baseless hatred.’” Hoenlein said that, “we have to raise accountability” and that there should be mandatory sentences for those who incite and those who engage in anti-Semitic acts. “A society isn’t judged by if they have haters; it’s judged by how they handle haters.” “Anti-Semitism can’t just be a Jewish problem; it needs to be an American problem,” he added.

Mitchell Silber, a former NYPD counter-terrorism expert who recently took charge of a new initiative to help secure Jewish institutions in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County, NY, as part of a $4 million Community Security Initiative, spoke about the effort to protect 1.5 million Jews and approximately 2,000 Jewish institutions in the geographic area that he services. “The Pittsburgh shooting in October 2018 was like a 9/11 moment for American Jews,” he said while describing how the threats facing the Jewish community have increased in the past several years.

Patrick Daly, Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer at Secure Community Network, focused on the need to continue collaborative efforts between law enforcement and the Jewish community, noting that, “there needs to be comprehensive and collective ways to deal with the attacks.”

While my time at the AIPAC Policy Conference was both quite busy and somewhat exhausting, the fact is that it is an experience like none other, and one which every member of the pro-Israel community should endeavor to be a part of. There is nothing like advocating for the U.S.-Israel relationship in our nation’s capital with 18,000 of your closest friends.

Rav Doron Perez: Bringing Energy and Excitement to the Mizrachi Movement

The following is my piece in the March 19, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link about Rav Doron Perez, Chief Executive of the World Mizrachi Movement:

Rav Doron Perez: Bringing Energy and Excitement to the Mizrachi Movement

Over the past several months, he has been one of the most recognizable faces in the Modern Orthodox, pro-Israel community. With all of the excitement surrounding the recent elections to the World Zionist Congress (WZC), there has been one individual who has seemingly been at the center of it all.

As the Chief Executive of the Mizrachi World Movement, Rav Doron Perez played a pivotal role in the coordination of the Orthodox Israel Coalition (OIC), which is comprised of nine major Modern Orthodox, pro-Israel organizations: Religious Zionists of America-Mizrachi, AMIT, Orthodox Union, Yeshiva University, Touro College, Bnei Akiva, Torah MiTzion, National Council of Young Israel, and Rabbinical Council of America.

“There are nine different organizations, which are not necessarily aligned on everything,” Rav Perez told me as we met on the sidelines of the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington, DC. “Some have different focuses and they are from across the spectrum, and them coming together is a very big thing.”

“It’s been an effort based on relationships between the different organizations and ideological alignment, and those two together really create a very powerful coalition,” he added. “The incredible fact about this election is the unity. The fact that so many Modern Orthodox and Zionist organizations have come together under one banner is not a small thing.”

PJL Publisher Nachi Troodler with Rav Doron Perez

Rav Perez, who was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, made Aliyah when he was 18. After learning in yeshivot in Israel for many years and serving in the Hesder program in the IDF, Rav Perez returned to his roots and did shlichut in South Africa for 15 years. During that time, he served as Executive Director of Mizrachi South Africa, the Senior Rabbi of the Mizrachi Shul, and Head of the Yeshiva College school, which is the largest Torah school in South Africa. He moved back to Israel in 2014 to take the helm at the Mizrachi World Movement.

As we spoke, Rav Perez’s passion and boundless energy were evident. His desire to continue infusing the global religious Zionist movement with innovative initiatives and a renewed focus on Jewish identity and Torah values has motivated him to take bold steps to positively impact World Jewry.

The stakes of the recent WZC election were extremely high, with the allocation of nearly $1 billion annually for Jewish educational and communal causes for the next five years hanging in the balance. The elections to the WZC effectively affects what are referred to as Israel’s four national institutions, which existed before the State of Israel and founded the State of Israel: the World Zionist Organization, JNF Israel, the Jewish Agency, and Keren Hayesod.

“It’s called the parliament of the Jewish people because it’s the only place where Jews from organizations in Israel and every community around the world can sit on a combined board,” Rav Perez said while referring to the WZC. He noted that the WZC’s delegate makeup is roughly one-third from Israel, one-third from the United States, and one-third from the rest of the world.

The actual WZC is set to take place in October, after Sukkot, which is when the delegates will go vote. The next six months will be spent finalizing the OIC slate and determining who will actually be going to Israel to take part in the WZC.

Rav Perez offered some perspective on the Mizrachi World Movement, which he said has “historically been the Orthodox Torah voice in the world Zionist movement since it was founded in 1902.” The term ‘Mizrachi’ is an acronym for merkaz ruchani – a spiritual center. “The founders saw themselves as bringing the Torah, the spiritual values, to the Zionist movement,” said Rav Perez.

“In America, we decided not to call it the Mizrachi slate, because America, as opposed to many other communities around the world, has got such powerful and strong religious Zionist and Modern Orthodox institutions, which are so big and impactful,” he said while explaining how the name and makeup of the Mizrachi slate came to be. “We decided to call it the Orthodox Israel Coalition because it made sense to bond together.”

After the excitement over the recent WZC election fades, what can we expect over the next five years until the next election comes around, I asked Rav Perez.

“It shouldn’t be that we have to wait every five years to understand the relevance of these organizations,” he replied, referring to Israel’s four national institutions. “We should be hearing about it a lot more often….The issues facing Jewish communities around the world are not always being represented adequately in these institutions.”

“Zionist organizations in America and around the world are rediscovering the national institutions and running to have representation, because they realize these massive institutions can and should be impacted and held accountable by Jews running shuls and communities and organizations in America and around the world, and they understand the need to push them to be more committed and more in touch with the needs of the community,” he said.

The Publisher’s Perspective – 3/19/20

The following is my piece in the March 19, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link:

When I walked out of shul following Shacharit on Friday morning, March 13th, I had no way of knowing that it would be my last time in shul for an indefinite period of time.

Particularly since last May when my father passed away, going to shul has been an integral part of my daily routine. With just two weeks left to the 11-month period of saying kaddish for my father, I was extraordinarily proud that during that time, I have missed minyan just once, which happened when I was traveling in December. Other than that single instance, I have davened with a minyan three times a day and said kaddish each and every time.

The disruption caused by the rapid spread of the Coronavirus is unlike anything we have ever seen before. The widespread shul and school closures are virtually unprecedented. Terms like “social distancing” have become part of our lexicon, and we are being forced to reconsider even the most basic interpersonal interactions. Businesses are being shuttered and hospitals are filled to capacity. The pandemic known as COVID-19 is unquestionably wreaking havoc on our community and our world and turning our lives inside out.

As I recently attempted to navigate a shopping cart through the congested aisles at a local supermarket whose shelves were nearly bare due to people stockpiling the “basic necessities” in fear of further closures and restricted movement, I could not help but think how panic seemed to be setting in. However, as I stood on the long lines that snaked through the store and waited for what seemed like forever to check out, I was nudged back to reality by the kindness of those around me and the good-natured conversations that I engaged in with my fellow shoppers. Despite the angst over the Coronavirus and the deleterious impact it was having on our daily lives, people seemed to be taking it all in stride. People were extraordinarily polite and friendly, notwithstanding the seemingly endless lines, and smiles were evident, while any sign of strife was conspicuously absent.

It has also been heartwarming to see how our community has come together in the midst of this crisis and resolved to persevere despite the obstacles that it presents. Schools have worked diligently to put into place distance learning plans to ensure that our children are able to continue learning while the school buildings remain closed and unveiled creative ways to make certain that our children can interact with their teachers and peers in fun and engaging ways through online tools like Zoom and Google Hangout. Parents have taken to social media to collaborate on activities in order to keep their children occupied during their time alone in their homes. Shuls have sent out communications with useful materials ranging from drashot from the Rabbi, to parsha activities for our youth. At a time when we are engaging in social distancing, our community has thankfully found ways to actually come together and get closer to one another in a figurative sense.

As we attempt to navigate the uncharted territory that we find ourselves in and work to cope with what has become an extremely fluid situation, it behooves all of us to put aside all of the inconveniences with which we are dealing and take some time to think about those who are dealing with the real threat posed by COVID-19; namely, serious illness. The Coronavirus has taken the lives of far too many people, and there are numerous individuals who are sick due to the pandemic. Make sure to take time out of your day to pray for all those who are in desperate need of a refuah shleimah. There are people who need our tefillot and turning to Hashem for help and guidance at a time like this is absolutely an appropriate course of action.

When I learned less than three hours after leaving shul on Friday morning, March 13th, that my shul made the difficult decision to suspend all onsite activities and close its doors for the time being, I was absolutely stunned. It is not that I was questioning the conclusion reached by the Rabbi, lay leaders and medical professionals. In fact, I am thoroughly convinced that the decision they made was both right and responsible. Rather, I was completely dumbfounded because I quickly came to the realization that I had said my last kaddish that morning, and at the time, I didn’t even know it.

For some time, I had contemplated what it would be like to say the final kaddish for my father once the 11-month period elapsed. I would get sentimental thinking about it, because kaddish has been an emotional and spiritual tool through which I have been able to honor him since his passing. I thought about how strange it would feel to suddenly stop saying kaddish after it has been a central part of my everyday life since last May. Considering what sort of thoughts would be running through my head during that final kaddish was incredibly overwhelming.

However, God had other plans. After all that, I never had the chance to experience that “last kaddish” due to COVID-19 and the effect it has had on all of us. At the end of the day, I said my final kaddish and I didn’t even know it.

Fabulous Food and Fine Wine at an Extraordinary Event

The following is my piece in the March 5, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link about the Kosher Food & Wine Experience in New York City:

Fabulous Food and Fine Wine at an Extraordinary Event

The excitement was building even before people made their way through the front door. “I cut my vacation short to come back for this,” said one gentleman as he stood outside on the security line. “I never miss this event,” declared another individual as he chatted with his friends while waiting for the doors to open.

The Kosher Food & Wine Experience (KFWE) is undoubtedly New York’s premier kosher food and wine extravaganza. The 14th annual KFWE, which took place on Monday, February 17th, at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan, showcased fine kosher wines from around the globe and specialty foods prepared by renowned kosher chefs and caterers.

KFWE was hosted by Royal Wine Corp., which was founded in 1848 and is owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family, whose winemaking roots date back eight generations to 19th century Czechoslovakia. Headquartered in Bayonne, NJ, Royal Wine Corp. is the leading producer, importer and distributor of kosher wines and spirits, offering more than 300 brands in its portfolio.

PJL Publisher Nachi Troodler with Ambassador Dani Dayan

Thousands of people attended the sold-out event, balancing wine glasses and plates topped with innovative cuisine as they endeavored to make their way through the room, which was filled to capacity. Conversation was made, much wine was poured, and plenty of food was consumed.

In addition to an endless sea of wine and spirit bottles representing over 60 wineries, the culinary offerings spanned the gamut – from kosher poke and street tacos, to barbecue style smoked salmon and creamy non-dairy frozen gelato pops.

It was in essence a “who’s who” of kosher restaurants and caterers, including Buffalo2go, Graze, Judd’s Memphis Kitchen, Kosher Poke, Le Marais, Marani, Reserve Cut VIP Experience, Sushi Tokyo, T Fusion Steakhouse, Taam Eden Bakery, The Hangry Heifer, The Loft, UN Plaza Grill, Urban Pops, and Wall Street Grill.

Sampling some of the scrumptious offerings was a real treat. The “Meat Pizza Rolls” (I partook of both the Sloppy Joe and BBQ Pulled Brisket varieties) by Silverleaf Caterers, which is based in New Rochelle, NY, were phenomenal.

Weiss Brothers Catering, which is based in Linden, NJ, had a large display, where I got to try a number of their dishes. Their lamb sliders were quite tender, with the mouthwatering meat nestled between two soft buns. The cholent (yes, I had cholent on a Monday), was delicious – it had great texture and an abundance of meat. Of course, I could not pass up their mini hot dogs, which were very flavorful and left no doubt that they were freshly made.

Great Falls Bistro, which is in Passaic, NJ, had an array of different dishes that they were offering, including their signature rib-eye, which was cooked to perfection and virtually melted in my mouth, bourbon gelato, which was cool and refreshing, waffle chicken, lemon squares, chocolate brownie bites, and pastrami parmesan, which was made with vegan cheese.

At the table hosted by West Wing/Diamond Caterers, which is based in Woodmere, NY, I enjoyed a chicken slider that was breaded to perfection, as well as a tasty plate of wings.

United Airlines made its KFWE debut and presented samples from its new menu, which is available to its Polaris business class clients on flights between Newark and Tel Aviv, including everything from blintzes and bagels to kale quinoa burgers served with Herzog wines.

PJL Publisher Nachi Troodler with Etti Edri of Carmel Winery

As far as the wines and spirits at KFWE, it was a veritable smorgasbord of the finest kosher wines on the market today.

“An extraordinary bounty of wines from all over the world is coming to market in 2020,” said Nathan Herzog, President of Royal Wine Corp. “This year’s most extraordinary bottlings included Château Léoville Poyferré Saint Julien 2017, Château Giscours Margaux 2017, Flam Noble 2016, Champagne Drappier Rosé de Saignée, and Herzog Single Vineyard Calistoga 2016.”

This year also marked the 30th anniversary of kosher wine production by the acclaimed House of Rothschild. “We were delighted to celebrate with the introduction of Barons Edmond and Benjamin de Rothschild Haut-Médoc Anniversary Edition 2016 and their first-ever kosher Château Clarke Listrac-Médoc 2016,” said Herzog.

Jay Buchsbaum of Royal Wine Corp. noted the steady increase in the kosher wine market in recent years. “Consumption of kosher wine is outpacing general market consumption by more than 100%, with an average price of $20+ per bottle,” he said. “Every year sees more and more kosher wines earning top scores and prestigious awards from the industry.”

KFWE seemed to have it all. Barkan Vineyards presented its Cabernet Sauvignon from the Alma vineyard in the Upper Galil, which is aged in oak barrels for 18 months and is a light and fruity wine. J. de Villebois, a family-owned winery in France, offered its Caillottes Cuvée, which is made from grapes grown on the Calcareous soils originated in the Upper Oxfordian, and is a wonderfully aromatic wine. Boondocks had its American Whiskey, which is both fruity and spicy, and has a creamy and buttery mouthfeel.

Israel-based Psagot Winery, which is fighting against anti-Israel discrimination and anti-Israel boycotts in Europe, was also at KFWE. Psagot sued the French government and challenged a ruling that Jewish products made in Judea and Samaria, including wine made by the Psagot Winery, be marked “made in an Israeli colony.”

Barkan Vineyards, which produces over 15 million bottles annually from over 2,500 acres of vineyards across Israel that are exported to more than 45 countries, also showcased their products. Domain du Castel, a family estate winery located 10 miles west of Jerusalem that was founded by Eli Ben Zaken in 1992, was pouring their Rosé, which is a fine blend of early picked Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc grapes.

Tabor Winery, whose Founder and CEO Oren Sela is 4th generation of a family of grape growers in Kfar Tabor, Israel, had its Premium series Storm (or Sufa in Hebrew), which is a full-bodied wine that is a blend of Petite Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Alexander Winery, a boutique winery in Israel that was founded in 1996 and is located in Beit Yitzhak, on the Mediterranean coast between Haifa and Tel Aviv, also drew a crowd. People enjoyed their Grand Reserve, which is part of their flagship Alexander the Great label, and is made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon, grown in a vineyard in the Upper Galil that was planted in 1978, and aged in small French oak barrels for two years, and then for another two years in brand new, small French oak barrels.

Jezreel Valley Winery, which is located in Kibbutz Hannaton in Israel, offered attendees their Alfa Special Reserve, which is a rich red wine with intense black fruit aromas that is aged in oak barrels for 22 months.

I saw my friend Geoff Rochwarger, who became a partner in Covenant Winery last summer. Covenant, which produces wine in California and Israel, offers high-end kosher wines, and its immense popularity was evident from the throngs of people at KFWE who waited in line to try their various offerings.

 As I spoke to some of the representatives of the various wineries at KFWE, the significance of presenting their products at this particular event was evident.

“Carmel has been coming to KFWE since Day 1,” said Etti Edri, Export Manager for Carmel Winery. “KFWE is one of the most important, if not the most important show, because this is our way to expose our wines to all kinds of categories – restaurants, stores, etc.”

“The room is packed not just because this is one of the famous shows, but also because the Herzog family and Royal Wine do an amazing job spreading the word that it’s not just about being kosher; it’s about high-quality wine that happens to be kosher,” she added.

In addition to the unbelievable food and wine, one of the most intriguing parts of KFWE was learning about the different wineries and hearing the stories behind their formation and mission.

PJL Publisher Nachi Troodler with Aharon Ziv of Or Haganuz Winery

I had the opportunity to speak with Aharon Ziv, the winemaker at Or Haganuz Winery. Or Haganuz is a yishuv community in the upper Galil near Meron that was established in 2005.

“It’s based on the social rule of ve-ahavta le-re’acha ka-mocha (love your neighbor as yourself),” Ziv told me as he described the special characteristics of Or Haganuz. “When the Jews received the Torah, they were k’ish echad b’lev echad (like one man with one heart), they were united. This is what we try to do in Or Haganuz.”

In Or Haganuz, the sense of community is extraordinarily strong. In fact, the winery is a business that belongs to the community and the community actually owns it.

“It’s somewhat like a kibbutz, but we’re doing it because we believe it’s God’s mitzvah to do it,” Ziv said. “It has a real community feel, in that each person is working for the community, and the community is working for your needs. I make the wine the best way I can because this is something that I’m taking care of for the community.”

Aside from its solid community-centric foundation, Or Haganuz Winery is all about producing high quality wine.

“We are doing really well, because every year we produce more and more,” Ziv said as he noted that approximately 40% of production goes to export, and about 60% of the 40% goes to the United States.

“This show is important for me because I meet the people who drink the wine and hear about what they think about the wine, what they want, and what we could change,” Ziv said while explaining the vital role that KFWE plays. “This is important for me and it’s important for the winery because this exhibition exposes us to other people who don’t know about Or Haganuz.”

Ziv also offered me some perspective on the evolution of the world of fine wines, remarking that historically, most people would typically drink just for Kiddush. If you gave people in Israel dry wine to drink, they did not enjoy it, as they much preferred the sweet wine that they were accustomed to. Those days are long gone.

“Or Haganuz picks the best grapes and we use the best process to make the wine – we put it in barrels, and we age it under the sun,” Ziv said. “We make very impressive wine. In that way, we started to teach the community how to drink good wine, and now many Orthodox Jews, especially in Israel, know how to drink good wine. Every time I come here (KFWE), people tell me that they learned to drink wine because of our winery.”

PJL Publisher Nachi Troodler with Tal Bendor of Tulip Winery

 There is a remarkable story associated with Tulip Winery, which Tal Bendor, Brand Ambassador for Tulip, was happy to share with me.

Tulip Winery was founded in 2003 by the Yitzchaki family, which had three distinct goals according to Bendor. One, produce high quality wine, make good wine for a good price, and be approachable to the public. Two, do things that are different and special, as opposed to simply being generic, including making different varieties that you do not ordinarily see. Three, contribute to society.

They opened the winery in a community in Israel called Kfar Tikva (Village of Hope), which is almost like a kibbutz and is a community for adults with special needs. Established in 1964 on the Zeid Hills in the Jezreel Valley near Kiryat Tivon, Kfar Tikva has approximately 200 members with various age ranges, disabilities, and degrees of functionality. 90% of Tulip’s staff, which totals about 40 employees, are adults with special needs and mental challenges. “They are a big part of our winery and a big part of everything we do every day,” Bendor said.

Bendor told me about “Tulip at Home,” which was a drawing competition that invited all of the residents of the village to draw what home means to them. Tulip then labeled 1,000 bottles with four winning drawings and the profits from those bottles went to renovating the apartments in the village.

In 2010, Tulip Winery launched a competition called “Don’t Label Me” between four foundations for children with various syndromes, in which they needed to draw a picture of tulips. “The reason for that competition was to show that you can label wine, but you can’t label people,” Bendor said. “The story of the drawing is on the back of the bottle and people can read it and it really has an impact.”

Bendor proudly showed me one of the bottles labeled with the winning drawing, which was drawn by David Ashkenazi, a 16-year-old with Down syndrome.

When they gathered all of the contest participants in the winery and announced the winner, Ro’i Yitzchaki, the winemaker and winery owner, showed David the bottle, and he was so excited. The young man thought that his drawing was on only one bottle until they told him to turn around and he suddenly saw that the entire display had the label that he had drawn. Yitzchaki saw David’s excitement and told him that as long as he is a part of the winery, that would remain the label of their flagship wine. “Ever since then, this has been the label of our flagship wine, Black Tulip,” Bendor said.

I asked Bendor about the importance of being at KFWE and showcasing their products there. “For us, it’s very important to be there when you meet both with the vendors that support our brand and also the actual customers – to see them, see their reaction, and see their support,” he replied. “It’s through that connection to the market that we can see where we are and if we are doing things the right way. The exposure is so important.”

The savory food samples and the scintillating stories made KFWE a very memorable experience. If you enjoy good food and appreciate fine wine, attendance at KFWE is mandatory.

The Publisher’s Perspective – 3/5/20

The following is my piece in the March 5, 2020 edition of the Philadelphia Jewish Link:

More than a quarter century ago, I played Division III college ball. My kids poke fun at me every time I bring it up, but the fact remains that I was indeed a college athlete.

Yes, I realize that this missive sounds like it’s coming from a guy who’s trying way too hard to hold on to the past and resurrect the days when he was in the prime of his athletic career (okay, it may not have actually been a career and my prime may not have been all that I’ve cracked it up to be). However, I’m not writing about my time as a member of the Yeshiva University men’s volleyball team in a feeble attempt to relive my collegiate days. I bring it up because of an incident that recently occurred, which disturbed me greatly.

It was just going to be another match when YU’s men’s volleyball team squared off against Brooklyn College at the Max Stern Athletic Center on YU’s Washington Heights campus, which is the same gymnasium in which I played in the early 1990s. As is customary before each game at YU, the U.S. national anthem was played, as was Hatikvah, Israel’s national anthem. What happened next was anything but customary.

As Hatikvah was playing and the crowd was singing along, two Brooklyn College players, Omar Rezika and Hunnan Butt, “took a knee” and knelt on the ground until the Israeli national anthem concluded. The blatant form of political protest employed by the two Brooklyn College students shocked the YU players, shocked the crowd, and shocked the Jewish community.

The barefaced breach of protocol was absolutely appalling and the players’ decision to belittle the State of Israel on the campus of Yeshiva University garnered international attention due to the sheer audacity of their disrespectful act of defiance.

What happened to the sacrosanct rules of sportsmanship that we work so hard to instill in our children? We teach our kids to respect their athletic opponents, not to “talk trash” to their opponents, and to always say “good game” to their opponents as they shake their hands after a game, regardless of the outcome. We constantly remind them that good sportsmanship is supposed to be a fundamental component of any athletic competition.

I had the opportunity to speak with YU President Rabbi Dr. Ari Berman this week about what took place and we briefly discussed the complexities of the situation. In response to the students’ actions, President Berman had taken the high road, focusing on the importance and beauty of YU’s longstanding practice of singing Hatikvah at its sporting events. “It is unfortunate that some members of the opposing team disrespected Israel’s national anthem,” he said in a statement. “We are proud to be the only university who sings both the American and Israeli national anthems before every athletic competition and major event. Nothing makes me prouder to be an American than living in a country where our religious freedom, our Zionism and our commitment to our people will never be impeded and always be prized.”

In contrast, Brooklyn College president Michelle Anderson took a far different tact. Rather than speaking to the heart of the matter and directly addressing the damage caused by the students’ machinations, she completely punted. “The students’ kneeling itself is protected speech under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution,” she said. “The college, as a public institution, is bound by the First Amendment, which prohibits the suppression of speech based solely on its content or viewpoint.”

The First Amendment? Freedom of speech? As much as I respect those tenets of our democracy, this troubling episode cannot be explained away by invoking a constitutional argument. What President Anderson should have done was talk about basic decency and common courtesy. She should have spoken about the importance of Brooklyn College students respecting others, especially when they are visitors in someone else’s home. She should have said that what the students did was categorically wrong. She should have called out their anti-Israel behavior and condemned it. Giving them a pass was the wrong thing to do and an affront to the YU community, the Jewish community, and the pro-Israel community.

For this former YU volleyball player who never experienced anything remotely similar to this shocking incident during my collegiate career, I am aghast at what transpired at YU’s Max Stern Athletic Center. Shame on Omar Rezika and Hunnan Butt for their antics and shame on those who hide behind empty explanations and try to sweep an issue of this magnitude under the rug. The Jewish community deserves better.