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Yehuda Lave is an author, journalist, psychologist, rabbi, spiritual teacher, and coach, with degrees in business, psychology and Jewish Law. He works with people from all walks of life and helps them in their search for greater happiness, meaning, business advice on saving money, and spiritual engagement.

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Shalom Polock trip to Hula Valley on Nov 30

The birds are returning! ( and they are not in "bidud")

Upon the advice of the experts at the bird sanctuary and migration grounds in "Agman Hahula", we have decided upon the best day and hour this season to visit the reserve and be taken for a private tour to the inner recesses of the park.

The day is Monday, Nov 30. We reserved the most appropriate hour - sundown, to observe the birds as they return to the migration grounds.

We shall depart from the Inbal hotel at 11:00 am.
This will give us time for a leisurely and interesting ride to the north with commentary about the sites we pass and for comfortable rest stops along the way.

We will stop for a picnic lunch where you may buy drinks and snacks.

The price is 300 shekels
shalompollack613@gmail.com

The Three Musketeers at the Kotel

Tefilot Shabat Medley with Micha Gamerman (Official Animation Video) | מחרוזת תפילות שבת - מיכה

Brazilian singer Micha Gamerman is back with a new Album - Shabat Oneg with Micha Gamerman. This is the first animated music video of the project. A few years ago Micha released 6 animated Medleys for his Moadei Israel wich became very famous with millions hits. This Album also should be a big hit for Micha´s fans. Enjoy!!!!

Shabat Oneg Im Micha Gamerman consists of six medleys arranged by Benny Laufer; 1. Tefilot Shabat Medley, 2. Leil Shabat Medley, 3. Yom Shabat Medley, 4. Seudat Shlishit Medley, 5. Birkat Hamazon Medley, 6. Havdallah Medley. This album has so much energy and flavor that the Shabat come alive for everyone, both young and old.

How the State of Israel can help its citizens mental health during the pandemic

Israel must address the psychological needs of citizens during the pandemic in addition to economic and physical health issues.

The coronavirus pandemic has killed over one million people worldwide and over 2000 people in the State of Israel alone so far, while governments across the world have been struggling to cope with the pandemic. Many governments have implemented lockdowns as a means of fighting against COVID-19. This particular strategy of fighting against the pandemic has come at a high psychological and societal cost, with the World Health Organization claiming that mental health services have been adversely affected by the pandemic in 93% of the countries worldwide. According to the International Red Cross, 51% of the people surveyed in seven countries stated that the pandemic has adversely affected their mental health.

The State of Israel is not exempt from this global trend. According to a report by Elam, a charity that monitors youth-at-risk in Israel, one out of every 11 teens that Elam met with reported that the pandemic exacerbated hunger, poverty and unemployment, which led to psychological depression. Drug usage, sexual abuse and domestic violence have risen in comparison to 2019.

There are steps that the State of Israel and other governments can take to mitigate the psychological cost of this pandemic. Firstly, the State of Israel should make hypnotherapy fully subsidized by the Israeli government. According to the Independent, studies have demonstrated that the coronavirus lockdowns across the world will cause one in four people to suffer from a form of post-traumatic stress disorder. The Wellness Institute has reported that "hypnotherapy has emerged as a credible-evidence based treatment option for sufferers of PTSD." In some cases, a good hypnotherapist can completely cure PTSD, thus enabling someone who suffers from this illness to live a normal life again.

However, the average Israeli who suffers from PTSD or complex PTSD does not have access to this life-saving treatment. It is expensive and not covered by any of the health insurance plans in the Jewish state. The Israeli government should see to it that hypnotherapy is as widely available as possible, free of charge. This will significantly help to mitigate the psychological damage caused by the last two lockdowns, as well as any future lockdowns.

On top of that, the State of Israel should appoint a Minister of Mental Health as soon as possible to see to it that the psychological and societal cost of the lockdown measures are addressed. The issue is important enough to merit its own ministry, independent of the Health Ministry. Although the government has many expenses right now, money spent towards the development of a Mental Health Ministry is justified, given that the World Health Organization has found that every $1 spent trying to fight against anxiety and depression will lead to $5 being returned to the economy. After all, if a person is too psychologically damaged to return to the workforce due to the trauma experienced by the last two lockdowns, this will be a major burden on the Israeli economy. If these people are treated in a timely manner and given proper psychological care, they can work and be productive citizens again.

If another lockdown is needed, the rules of the lockdown should be changed so that mental health will be taken under consideration more. Limor Pineles, a manager at the Mercaz Yotzrim Hatzalacha (Creating Success Center), has been treating children with anger management problems, fear problems, self-confidence problems and all sorts of other issues for the past six-seven years. During this past lockdown fromwhich we are now beginning to emerge, Pineles' center and other centers were not permitted to operate. She believes that was a mistake and that people like her should be permitted to operate if there is another lockdown.

"It is critical that these children get treated in a timely manner or else their situation will deteriorate," she stressed. "Psychologists and psychiatrists could work, but not people who do emotional counseling at a time when we are needed most. These children are tired of learning over zoom. They need to have someone to talk to. Because of the corona, there are many children and parents living in fear and it is only getting worse. A lot of social problems are caused by lockdowns. They are not meeting with other children and this causes them to miss out on critical socialization. Many of the people that I help were angry to be told that I could not help them."

Centers of that nature should be labeled an essential business if there is another lockdown, so that the psychological health of children who need that help will not deteriorate. Children do not always respond to conventional therapy and there is a need for innovative counseling, sometimes as an adjunct form of therapy, to learn to overcome their issues. Thus, a child with emotional problems may not be able to express himself via words but may be able to speak out about his issue via artwork. For this reason, the work done by emotional counselors with children is no less important than that done by psychologists and psychiatrists.

"The COVID-19 health crisis has exacerbated the psychological distress of millions of people," ICRC Director-General Robert Mardini stated. "Lockdown restrictions, a loss of social interaction and economic pressures are all impacting people's mental health and access to care. Mental health is just as important as physical health, especially in crisis situations, when mental health needs are especially critical."

For this reason, the Israeli government should start to address the psychological cost caused by the pandemic, just as they are doing everything else to fight against the coronavirus.

Rachel Avraham is a political analyst working at the Safadi Center for International Diplomacy, Research, Public Relations and Human Rights. She is the author of "Women and Jihad: Debating Palestinian Female Suicide Bombings in the American, Israeli and Arab Media."

The right to repair movement

Big electronics makers have made it difficult for consumers to fix their devices — from smartphones to computers — when they break down, or simply need a new battery. Correspondent David Pogue reports on the Right to Repair movement, a coalition of consumer advocates, digital rights activists and environmental groups that is fighting for laws that will help combat our throwaway culture.

12 Facts Every Jew Should Know About Rachel

By Menachem Posner

1. Rachel is one of the Four Matriarchs

Along with Sarah (wife of Abraham), Rebecca (wife of Isaac), and Leah (her sister and fellow wife of Jacob), Rachel is one of the four mothers of the Jewish people.

2. She is referred to as Mamma Rochel

Like the other matriarchs, she can be referred to as Rachel Immenu (Rachel Our Mother), even though she is technically only the mother of two out of the 12 tribes of Israel. In Yiddish she is affectionately called Mamma Rochel, reflective of her special place in the heart of the Jewish people (more on that later).

3. Her name means "sheep"

In Hebrew, the name Rachel means "sheep," associated with her loveable, serene nature. And it is perhaps no accident that we read of how she would watch her father's flocks.

4. The Bible describes her beauty

Scripture is sparing in its depiction of the physical appearance and features of the people whose stories are told. One of the few exceptions is Rachel, who we are told "had beautiful features and a beautiful complexion."2

5. She was the beloved wife of Jacob

When Jacob came to her hometown of Padan Aram to search for a wife, he helped her water her father's flock and the two felt an immediate deep connection. Jacob so wished to marry Rachel, that the seven years he had to work for her father, Laban, to earn her hand in marriage, "were like a few days in his eyes."

6. She sacrificed for her sister

Recognizing that Jacob was a "catch," Laban decided to secretly place Leah, his elder daughter, under the bridal canopy. Suspecting that Laban may pull a fast one, Jacob gave Rachel a prearranged password to identify herself. Knowing how mortified Leah would be when discovered, Rachel gave her sister the secret sign and watched as she married the man of her dreams.4

The following morning Jacob discovered the ruse and agreed to work for seven more years if Laban would allow him to marry Rachel a week later.5

7. She suffered from infertility

Soon after her marriage, Leah began to produce sons (she had six in total). Even Bilhah and Zilpah, their maids, had two sons each. But Rachel's "closed womb" caused her so much grief, she told her husband that to live without children was akin to death.6

Her pain was eased (but not erased) when she was blessed with a son, whom she named Yosef (Joseph), meaning "he shall add," expressing her wish for yet another son.

8. She "stole" her father's idols

As Jacob prepared to move back to his native Canaan (eventually to become the Land of Israel) with his wives and children, Rachel stole her father's teraphim (idols)7 in a final effort to wean him from idol-worship.8 When Laban confronted Jacob about the missing figurines, Jacob innocently declared that whoever had taken them should die.

9. She died in childbirth and was buried on the roadside

Jacob's ill-spoken words came true, and Rachel died shortly thereafter, while giving birth to her second son, Benjamin. Jacob buried her on the road near Bethlehem, on the way to Efrat.10 She is the only one of the matriarchs not buried alongside Adam and Eve and their respective husbands in the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron.

10. She cries for her long-lost children

Buried alone on the roadside, Rachel is a pathetic yet proud figure, the quintessential Jewish mother, looking out for her children who have been dispersed all over the world. In the words of Jeremiah: "A voice is heard on high, lamentation, bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, she refuses to be comforted for her children, for they are not." And G‑d replies to her: "Refrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears … and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. And there is hope for your future … and the children shall return to their own border."1

The sages paint a heartbreaking scene, in which Rachel evokes her sensitivity for her sister's distress and pleads with G‑d to have mercy on His children. Indeed, even after disregarding the prayers of the patriarchs and even those of Moses, He agrees to return the exiles in response to Rachel's arguments.1

11. Her Passing is celebrated on 11 Cheshvan

Tradition places the anniversary of her passing on 11 Cheshvan. Thousands flock to her tomb to pray, evoking her lonely sacrifice and suffering, and beseeching G‑d to have mercy in her merit.

12. She is associated with speech

Chassidic teachings explain that Leah's soul stemmed from the world of thought, while Rachel's soul was from the world of speech. Leah was introspective, a master of meditation and internal communication, while Rachel was charismatic and appealed to others. Together, they laid the foundation for our nation. Rachel instilled within us the strength to exude a powerful and far-reaching aura of influence. Leah gifted us with the strength to tug at our soul strings and talk to G‑d with integrity.

Footnotes

1.Berachot 16b.

2.Genesis 29:17.

3.Genesis 29:20.

4.Megillah 13b.

5.Genesis 29:23-30.

6.Genesis 30:1.

7.Genesis 31:19

8.Genesis Rabbah 74:5.

9.Genesis 31:32.

10.Genesis 35:19

11.Jeremiah 31:14-16.

12.Eichah Rabah, Petichta 24.

13.Torah Ohr, Parshat Vayeitzei,

By Menachem Posner

8 flights that show how COVID has affected the airlines

So much of our world has been reshaped by the outbreak of coronavirus.
And air travel is one of the industries that has been impacted the most.
Flights have been canceled, planes have been put out to pasture and
passengers have dwindled. These eight flights are just a snapshot of how
things have changed and what we can expect in the future.