One of the only jobs on this earth where a person is veritably on call 24/7 is the occupation of a shadchan. As such, when a woman starts making shidduchim, she will find herself a nomenclator for landmarks around the world – landmarks named after her dating couples: some who get married and some who don’t. Dating singles have these landmarks as well, but from a different angle, and singles’ parents do as well.

As the economy begins to open and demand for service rapidly grows, certain industries, such as hospitality, retail, and more, are facing a shortage of employees. In fact, during Memorial Day weekend, some beaches and parks across the country could not open due to lack of staff. To tackle this obstacle head-on, some companies are advertising using new channels to recruit talent, like posting signs in their storefronts and neighborhood listservs. They are even offering sign-on and retention bonuses as incentives to prospective employees.

I grew up in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, and attended the Spinka and then the Satmar cheder there. While in Satmar, I learned first-hand their unbelievable quest to do chesed, collect tzedaka for others, and help people in need – a trait which makes Satmar shine in its own unique piece of the puzzle that is Am Yisrael. At the same time, I learned about Satmar’s strict view on the concept of Eretz Yisrael in today’s age, lumping most positive aspects of Eretz Yisrael today under the blanket term of “Tzionus.” I even participated in many of the protests. Because of this upbringing, I lacked any connection to the Land and its history, including any yearning for it. The thought of living there never crossed my mind, unless a supernatural phenomenon would start happening. Then, we, the Satmar chasidim, would surely be allowed a front seat to the excitement of Mashiach, because we had it right and everyone else, sadly, had bowed to the avoda zara. So, I thought, until…

After 16 months of COVID, we are all still being challenged in manifold ways. It seems to me that one of the “tests” that we are experiencing is in the area of v’ahavta lerayacha kamocha, loving others as ourselves! “Loving” others is not simple! In fact, how we love those around us may reveal who we are!

Israel’s latest operation in Gaza, a few weeks ago, ended like most of the other conflicts and campaigns over its 73 years of statehood: in military victory but widespread vilification by the nations of the world: in other words, a bittersweet victory.

But there was one conflict, whose “yahrzeit” is this June,

Twenty-five years ago I had an amazing Noahide speak to my community in Cape Town, South Africa. His name was J. David Davis. It was 1996, and he had published his first book, Finding the G-d of Noah.

Many Jews have never heard of Noahides. Those who have often think of them as non-Jews who observe the rule of law, accept the core of the Ten Commandments, and don’t eat from a live animal. In fact, there are Noahides who are Torah-observant, G-d-fearing non-Jews who reject all religious beliefs other than the laws of Noah as defined by the Torah. One of the modern leaders of these individuals was J. David Davis of Athens, Tennessee.

Thank You, Hashem, for giving us Abba. HaRav Yonasan Binyomin HaLevi Jungreis, zt”l, was an extraordinary individual and most beloved father. Besides being a tremendous talmid chacham, he took a sincere and loving interest in every person he interacted with. Our Abba took great pride in his heritage and strove to instill in his children the special middos of his illustrious ancestors, the generations of Jungreis rabbanim. Abba was a direct descendant of the renowned miracle worker, the Menuchas Osher, HaRav Asher Anshel Halevi Jungreisz.

A new tax law takes effect for 2021 that provides big handouts for families with children. The child tax credit is going to $3,000 ($3,600 for those five and under), and half of it will be coming in monthly checks! That is automatic. There is also a significant increase in the child care tax credit. That is what I will be discussing.

The Old Child Care Tax Credit

According to the prior law, you got a 20% credit for the cost of care in preschool and day camp for under age 13. The maximum costs considered were $3,000 for one child and $6,000 for two or more. You could therefore save a maximum of $1,200. ($6,000 x 20% = $1,200). This credit was non-refundable. That means that if your tax liability was $500 and your tax credit was $1,000, your taxes went down to zero but you did not get any money back. Therefore, you only saved a total of $500. The concept is that daycare is a “work expense” to allow woman to go to work.

Rabbi Pesach Krohn tells a story about a guard who worked in a slaughterhouse. When he was about to lock up the facility at the end of the day, he realized that one of the shochtim had not come out. They went inside to look for him and found that the shochet had gotten locked in one of the freezers. He was slowly freezing to death, but the guard were able to revive him. How did the guard know that this shochet had not left yet?

As I write these words, Naftali Bennett is sitting with Yair Lapid and closing all the details to create a government consisting of all the left-wing parties in Israel, plus Bennett’s Yemina, plus Gideon Saar’s New Hope, plus the Arab Ra’am party of Mansour Abbas. And they’re all in a giddy mood. They’re “bringing new hope to the nation.” They’re “creating unity and ridding the nation of hatred.” They’re “restoring mature, statesmanlike leadership.” They’re “saving the nation from the calamitous specter of fifth elections.” Orwell would be thrilled.