Community Magazine September 2011

Departments 10 Letters 44 Mabrouk 52 Mitzvah Man Adventures 54 Kashrut and Health Alerts 58 From The Files of The Bet Din The Heat of the Summer, R. Max Sutton 59 You Be the Judge 60 Top 10 Questions & Answers Praying with a Minyan 64 The Shaatrah Files Training the Tots, Rachel Dayan 68 Recipes Appels n' Honey, Rena Chehebar 70 Fashion The 5 Updates, Jennifer Esses 72 Ask Sito 73 Sage Advice 7 4 To Your Health 76 Dental Health Zirconium, Dr. Jacques Doueck 78 To Junior’s Health 80 Community Chest 90 The Lighter Side 91 Riddles & Trivia 92 Life in the Big City 96 Crime Report 9 8 Classifieds & Real Estate Community Magazine is published monthly by Bnei Aram Soba, 1616 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11223. Periodicals postage paid at Brooklyn, NY, USPS Number 0021-802 (ISSN 1552-809X). Copyright2010byBneiAramSoba.Domesticsubscriptions$18or$3when included inmembershipdues. Internationalsubscriptions$120.POSTMASTER:SendaddresschangestoCommunityMagazine, 1616 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11223. Advertising and sponsorship proceeds are used exclusively for charitable purposes. Advertisements do not necessarily carry the endorsement of the Publisher. Readers should always verify kashrut status independently. Advertisements for Internet and related services are intended only for those who have received a heter from their rabbi for use of such services. This Publication contains messages of Torah and halachot. please handle it appropriately. Elul 5771 September 2011 Volume X Number 12 (718) 645-4460 COMMUNITY Features 12 LUI: Living Under the Influence Rabbi Eli J. Mansour If the generation that entered Israel were forewarned against the dangers of exposure to the gentile nations, how much more so must we take heed to protect ourselves and our children from pervasive contemporary influences. 24 Betrayed by a Magnet Dave Gordon They are convenient, sturdy, ubiquitous and, until recently, they were thought to be secure. But now it has been revealed that the popular five button push button combination locks from Kaba, one of the world’s biggest lock manufacturers, can be opened with a simple magnet. 28 The Humble Benefactor: Mr. Frank Beda a.h. Rabbi Daniel Yaakov Travis Because of his great humility and the quiet and unassuming way he set about undertaking hesed, the full magnitude of loss after the tragic and sudden passing of Mr. Frank Beda, Shabtai ben Batya a.h., has yet to be fully recognized. 34 Arabic Instruction: Appropriate or Obsolete Arabic – the language of our ancestors, yet simultaneously the language of terrorists and the countries that expelled us. Emotional and economic factors fuel the debate over whether our schools should offer Arabic language instruction to our children. 36 The 19th Century Inspiration Behind a 21st Century Sephardic Revolution M ozelle Mimran In his first full biography focused on a single sage, author Yehuda Azoulay, who has made it his mission to promote the Sephardic heritage, has aptly chosen to headline an illustrious leader who himself is credited with spearheading a resurgence of Sephardic tradition and pride some 150 years ago. 46 Rebalancing Your Assets Puts You in Charge Ash Rajan Volatile financial markets can take your portfolio on a roller-coaster ride. Find out how regular rebalancing can help ease the bumps and reduce the risks. 48 United in Prayer The recent all-inclusive prayer event at the Jersey Shore, dubbed “CommUNITY,” brought together an unprecedented array of participants, irrespective of synagogue affiliation, ideology, or political persuasion. 6 Community Magazine