Published Articles

Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

If all goes according to plan, the turmeric and moringa plants will be profitable.

When Menachem Stolpner was growing up in the Coney Island/Brighton Beach neighborhoods of Brooklyn, he could have never imagined he’d be one of Israel’s only turmeric and moringa growers.

The American-trained social worker, who has been living with his family on Kibbutz Shluhot, a religious kibbutz near Beit She’an, since 1996, has been training a group of young adults with disabilities to grow these special crops, believed to have a range of health and medicinal benefits.

Stolpner grew up in a religious-Zionist family. His parents and two older sisters made aliyah before he eventually came to Israel with his wife and (at the time, two) young children. Becoming a farmer was not an obvious career choice, though two experiences may have sowed this seed.

Stolpner spent a year on Kibbutz Yavne in 1977 and reports, “I felt like I was a country boy trapped in a city boy’s body.” Once back in America, his father saw an ad in The Jewish Press looking for a religious boy to serve as a ranch hand in Colorado. “I worked with sheep on 20 acres of land with a religious guy from California whose tzitzit were blowing in the wind.”

While the experience ended quickly and with great disappointment, Stolpner says, “I knew it was what I wanted to do. I felt attuned to agriculture and the country way of life.”

Stolpner also began to notice that people with disabilities were often doing “unmeaningful things” and wondered if there might be more meaningful work for them. This idea would always remain close to Stolpner as he settled in to his new life in Israel.

In Israel, Stolpner worked for 13 years as a raftan (dairy herdsman). When he hurt his back in a “refet accident,” Stolpner returned to social work, where he worked in the welfare department, and worked in a group home for people with Down syndrome.

Stolpner always wondered if he might one day work more independently. He took a course in animal-assisted therapy, and began training people with disabilities from neighboring settlements to work in the small kibbutz zoo, and later in the greenhouse. He started a nonprofit, Shai Asher, got permission to renovate an unused kibbutz greenhouse, and expanded his work training and hiring people with disabilities. A successful Israeli grower of organic crops learned of Stolpner’s work and came to learn how he might also employ people with disabilities. At the end of the visit, Stolpner asked the man for advice. “What can I grow here?” “Kurkum [turmeric] and moringa,” the man replied without missing a beat. “They come from hot climates and would do very well here.” He even offered Stolpner his first moringa seeds, which he began germinating throughout his kibbutz house.

Stolpner was off and running. He went to a nearby store and was astounded at the price of these spices and crops. He visited an organic farm and market in the North and learned that they import turmeric from China. “I told them I want to grow it and they said, ‘If you grow it, I will buy it from you. They told me there is a market for it.”

After watching YouTube videos and reading many articles on the Internet, Stolpner and his crew of workers with disabilities began growing turmeric and moringa this year. “They are easy to grow and they require a small area. You can get 70 kg. of kurkum out of those 10 bags—and they sell for NIS 30-40 per kg.!”

Stolpner points to the educational benefits to his work crew of growing turmeric. “It takes nine months to grow and is perfect for us since you get to see all of the stages.” Stolpner notes, “Moringa is so healthy – you can sprinkle it on food or eat if off the tree!”

And if all goes according to plan, the turmeric and moringa plants, which he hopes to harvest in December, will be profitable. Given the reported health and medical benefits, Stolpner may be right.

PROF. MARIA Luz Fernandez of the University of Connecticut, an expert on moringa, got interested in the plant through one of her graduate students. She got her first samples for her lab from Mexico, where she says the plant is abundant.

“Moringa oleifera leaves contain a great number of bioactive compounds. They are rich in vitamins, carotenoids, polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, tannins and saponins,” she says. “These compounds have been associated with the protective effects of moringa leaves against oxidative stress), inflammation, hepatic fibrosis, high plasma cholesterol, bacterial activity, cancer and liver injury.”At Edge of the Woods Market, a health food store in New Haven, Connecticut, located an hour south of Fernandez’s campus in Storrs, the entire upper floor is stocked with vitamins and health supplements. Jahi Locke, a store worker and yoga teacher, says the store sells moringa as leaves ($29/pound), which customers use in teas, and as powders ($38/pound), which are used for capsules for smoothies and shakes. He cites the additional benefits for regulation of the menstrual cycle and as a sex hormone.

Locke also says he sells many products with turmeric. “Turmeric is very popular, accessible and not too expensive, and it reportedly treats a wide range of things including inflamed joints, high heart rate and cancer.” He notes that many use it as a powder, and also in capsule form. “I juice the [turmeric] root each morning.”

Turmeric, the major source of polyphenol curcumin, is well-known to cooking enthusiasts. It is popular in Indian, Persian, Moroccan and Yemenite cuisines. Susan J Hewlings, director of scientific affairs at Nutrasource and a professor at Central Michigan University, and her colleague, Doug Kalman, collaborated on the paper “Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health.”

They wrote that turmeric “has received interest from both the medical/scientific world and from culinary enthusiasts, as it aids in the management of oxidative and inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, anxiety, and hyperlipidemia. It may also help in the management of exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness, thus enhancing recovery and performance in active people. In addition, a relatively low dose of the complex can provide health benefits for people that do not have diagnosed health conditions. Most of these benefits can be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.”

Hewlings notes that turmeric has “been around for centuries,” though it is “not very available,” meaning that it needs something to help in its absorption. “Black pepper is the easiest and cheapest to help in absorption.”

Kalman has spent time in India in the fields with turmeric growers and says there is now some research suggesting that there may be some benefits from the “waste,” the part of the turmeric root that was traditionally discarded; it may have potential as a protein source.

While Kalman cites numerous studies about the benefits of turmeric, he offers a very practical approach to its use. “Don’t be intimidated to use it as a food. Take a food-first approach – it is a more wholesome way to get benefits. We cook chicken or turkey burgers or barbecue with it…. Find ways to include turmeric in your daily diet because of the polyphenols, which are shown to help with inflammatory conditions.”

Hopefully Stolpner and his crew of growers will be successful with their harvest – and will make a profit. For now, Stolpner says he is the happiest he has been in his entire life. He and his workers haven’t missed a single day of work due to COVID-19, and the success of the crops in this region of Israel shows “there has to be a God!”

In any case, Naomi Eisenberger, executive director of The Good People Fund, which has supported his work, is proud.

“After meeting Menachem Stolpner and seeing firsthand the work that he does with the participants of Shai Asher, it was an easy decision for the Good People Fund to offer funding. Menachem puts his heart and soul into the program and loves and respects everyone. His patience is infinite. The fact that his young workers are learning a skill and finding meaningful work amidst the serenity of nature is impressive. The fact that some of the new plants they are cultivating, like ginger and turmeric, also have healing properties is just icing on the cake.”

Read more

Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

“I almost feel like Neil Armstrong right now, the first person there doing this. A small step in moving the journey forward, sharing best practices and keep going!”

On the same day that a small senior delegation from the United Arab Emirates, including ministers of economy and finance and two deputy ministers, met in Israel, more than 650 people from 83 countries met on Zoom and Facebook to also make history. They participated in a four-hour conference sponsored by Access Israel, featuring Dr. Ayesha Saeed Husaini, founder and director of Manzil from the United Arab Emirates.

Husaini’s presentation on PRIDE (People Receiving Independence and Dignity through Empowerment), the Manzil employment program for people with disabilities, was part of the international webinar, titled “Employment of People with Disabilities – Challenges, Solutions, Technologies and Best Practices.” It was simultaneously translated into Spanish, Russian, Hebrew, Arabic and American Sign Language and was closed-captioned. The webinar included attendees from the United Arab Emirates.

Michal Rimon, the CEO of Access Israel, met Husaini in February 2020 in Austria at the Zero Project Conference, which brought together accessibility leaders and organizations from around the world. Rimon was particularly impressed with Husaini and the work she and her team were and are doing at Manzil, and began wondering how the organizations might work together.

“We discussed what options do we have? I have an American passport, someone there has Portuguese citizenship. You know, maybe we can meet and collaborate,” reported Rimon somewhat ironically, as she had no idea that in a few short months, Israel and the UAE would sign historic accords.

“The changes that have occurred… the peace treaty that was signed, opening the doors, making connections possible, overcoming barriers, this is for us really an exciting time, and I can tell you that when I met Dr. Aisha I was really impressed by what they were doing.”

Alison Brown, deputy cultural attaché of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, was particularly pleased with Husaini’s participation as she addressed the audience from her home in Tel Aviv.

“I would especially like to extend a special welcome to Dr. Husaini,” Brown said. “Her participation in this conference is one of the fruits of the recently signed Abraham Accords, the historic agreement between Israel and the UAE and between Israel and Bahrain, which will make it possible for people of all walks of life, of all abilities and all religions, to connect with each other and build a more secure and prosperous future in the Middle East.”

Husaini began her remarks, “I almost feel like Neil Armstrong right now, the first person there doing this. A small step in moving the journey forward, sharing best practices and keep going!”

Participants enjoyed Husaini’s presentation and appreciated the significance of her participation. Attendee Debra Ruh noted in the chat, “This is a historic moment. So proud to see the collaboration. Makes me hopeful for the world. We are stronger together.”

Jamie Lassner, executive director of Friends of Access Israel, a collaborative partner of Access Israel, said, “October 20, 2020, is a date that will be forever be etched in our hearts as a giant step was taken by our sisters and brothers at Access Israel and Manzil, who joined in a united effort to make our globe accessible for all. May their efforts be blessed, inshallah, to serve as a catalyst for global change.”

Read more

Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

The Danish Jewish Museum in Copenhagen presents 400 years of Jewish life in Denmark.

This High Holy Days period – when most synagogues around the world have made the difficult decision to tell members not to come for in-person services – I am transported back to a special Yom Kippur four years ago at Copenhagen’s Great Synagogue.

I spent the holiday in the synagogue where the current rabbi, Jair Melchior’s great-grandfather, Chief Rabbi Marcus Melchior, also told the congregation on Rosh Hashanah Eve 1943 (September 29) not to come for Rosh Hashanah services. His congregants were not facing a pandemic; rather the Jews of Denmark were facing a roundup and likely extermination by the Nazis.

The miraculous outcome for nearly all of the Jews of Denmark offers inspiration and hope to all of us living through difficult times.

A compassionate German diplomat tipped off Rabbi Melchior, who stood at the bimah and urged the Jews to hide or flee, and to share the urgent message with their friends and family members. Non-Jews in Denmark mobilized and hid Jews in homes, churches, convents, schools and hospitals.

Nearly 7,200 Jews and 680 of their non-Jewish family members were helped to safety by Danish fishermen who shuttled the Jews by fishing boats across the water separating Denmark from Sweden. Nearly 500 Danish Jews who did not make it out in the fall of 1943 were eventually deported to the Czech town of Terezin, or Theresienstadt in German. Yad Vashem planted a tree in the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations in honor of the Danish underground and its rescue of the Jews.

I think of this incredible story every Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I had the wonderful opportunity to pray with the Jewish community of Copenhagen for slihot (penitential poems and prayers) and Shacharit (morning services) during the week leading up to Yom Kippur, and for all Yom Kippur services. My wife and several other observant Jews were in Copenhagen for a conference and knew it would be impossible to return home to America or Israel in time for the start of the holiday. Some left the conference early; a handful were lucky enough to experience Yom Kippur in Copenhagen.

On my early morning walks through the dark streets of Copenhagen to the synagogue built in 1833, on Krystalgade 12, and during my long daily walks through the beautiful city, I learned that there are many reminders of the Holocaust, both obvious and subtle. A fellow worshiper, a 6th-generation Dane who informed me of the sizable Danish-Jewish community in Ra’anana I never knew about, pointed out a nondescript law office building that once served as Nazi headquarters and was rebuilt after a bombing by the Allies.

When I first arrived in Denmark, I set out for the Chabad House to introduce myself to Rabbi Yitzi and Rochel Loewenthal, the Chabad shluchim (emissaries), to arrange Shabbat and holiday meals. The Chabad House, located at 10 Ole Suhrs Gade, is on a street with old-world charm, between the Botanical Gardens and Sortedams Lake. A careful observer may spot a green door with a mezuzah – and a gold sign overhead that reads: Chabad Huset, or Chabad House. The building was once used as Nazi headquarters.

IT IS now the Chabad House and the home of the Loewenthals, who arrived in Copenhagen in 1996 to serve the Danish-Jewish community. This community traces its history in Denmark back to the 1600s. In the early 1600s, King Christian IV founded the town of Glückstadt and allowed Albert Dionis, a Jewish merchant, to settle in the city. He later extended this right to a few other Jews in 1628. Jews were offered protection, and the right to hold private religious services and maintain their own cemetery, which they founded in 1693. Since 1900, another Jewish cemetery has been used as the burial ground in Copenhagen for more than 6,000 Jewish people.

By 1780, approximately 1,600 Jews lived in Denmark. At this time, the king instituted a number of reforms that helped Jews integrate more fully into Danish society; they were permitted to attend university, join guilds, build schools and own real estate. In 1814, Danish Jews were granted civic equality; they received full citizenship rights in 1849 – one of the first countries in Europe to do so. Nearly 3,000 Jews came to Denmark in the early 1900s to escape such events in Russia as the Kishinev pogrom of 1903 and the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905.

The Danish Jewish Museum in Copenhagen, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, presents 400 years of Jewish life in Denmark. The design of the museum offers another reminder of the Holocaust experience in Denmark. The word “mitzvah” constitutes the emblem and concept of the museum, and the museum was reportedly designed around the courage demonstrated by the Danes.

The Chabad House itself contains some important pieces of Danish Jewish history. The England-born rabbi and his American wife, who have learned Danish and continue to speak to their children in English, Yiddish and Hebrew, proudly display two pieces of local history on the wall of the main room of the Chabad House: a 400-year-old coin from King Christian the Fourth, bearing the tetragrammaton in Hebrew; and a yellow Jewish star from the Holocaust.

The Loewenthals have the important responsibility of helping to look after the Danish-Jewish community, which now numbers about 7,000 people. There are few kosher shops or restaurants in Copenhagen, few kosher-certified products in local grocery stores and kosher meat is hard to find and expensive, mainly because of Denmark’s laws prohibiting shechita (kosher ritual slaughter). Thus, all kosher meat must be imported. Rabbi Loewenthal regularly visits companies where he oversees kosher supervision, teaches local Danish school students about Judaism and teaches at the Jewish day school.

Rabbi Loewenthal prays each morning, either next door to the Chabad House at Machsike Hadas (if there is a minyan) or at the Great Synagogue, a 15-minute walk from his home, through the Botanical Gardens or up Gothersgade Street, or even past Rosenborg Castle, the National Gallery of Denmark or Copenhagen University. I met the rabbi at services each pre-Yom Kippur morning. Security was tight, even on a weekday morning, partly as a result of the February 2015 shooting death of Jewish security guard Dan Uzan, 38, by Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein, during a bat mitzvah celebration outside the Great Synagogue.

SECURITY WAS especially tight on Yom Kippur evening, when the entire community assembled for Kol Nidre. A Danish police officer, after questioning those seeking to enter, used a special key to open the shul gate. Flowers outside the synagogue served as a reminder of the killing a year and a half earlier.

I was struck by the range of people – and by their outfits. Some wore fancy dresses, jewels and furs; others wore shorts and Guns & Roses T-shirts. Some stayed for the entire service – led by a cantor and an all-male choir. Some stayed only for the brief Kol Nidre part; yet others left after the very moving reading of “the names” in Danish. The rabbi movingly read the names of the members of the community killed by the Nazis.

Community members were welcoming, though most were not well-versed in the High Holy Day liturgy. The voices of the Israeli cantor and choir were heard while those of congregants were barely audible.

The current chief cantor, Edan Tamler, is a very hip 20-something, American-born Israeli who made aliyah in 2012 and lives in the mixed religious/secular yishuv of Esh’har in the Lower Galilee. Tamler was a contestant on The X Factor Israel TV show in its first season, reaching the finals as part of a boy band named Fusion that the judges built around him. He was subsequently signed by Israeli pop star Ivri Lider, X-Factor judge and mentor to Tamler.

Tamler has been in Denmark for several weeks this August, serving as full-time cantor and teaching music at the Jewish school. “It’s been great to be back in Denmark and getting to pray with a congregation once again,” reports Tamler. “It hasn’t really been possible in Israel since the novel coronavirus started. I’m so excited to be reunited with the community and looking forward to leading the Yamim Noraim (Ten Days of Repentance) services that are less than a month away! It’s a true honor to be able to lead prayers in such a magnificent synagogue and beautiful community with so much history.” The Loewenthals, who provided tasty pre- and post-Yom Kippur sustenance when I was there for the holiday, continue to care for the needs of the community – even during these unusual times. “Obviously COVID-19 has had an effect. Denmark closed down very early, but started reopening in April with the shuls – big and small – opening since Shavuot. We have reopened the shuls – big and small–  albeit with precautions and a limited capacity.

“The same is true of the Chabad House, where we have classes, though most are also online, and for meals we have families sitting together with space between the family groups. We have seen that some people are concerned and stay home, and I suspect that will last for a while. Most families with children are more or less back to normal business. For Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we are taking precautions and will probably put a tent outside to help accommodate more people in the correct fashion,” says Rochel Loewenthal.

The Lowenthals are busy preparing for the High Holy Days. Yet, she has time to say kind words about the talented young cantor in town. “Edan is a great guy. A wonderful hazan and he brings a youthful perspective and fresh tunes to the shul.”

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in Denmark promise to be meaningful – even during these unusual COVID-19 times.

Read more

Original Article Published On The Jerusalem Post

After early US Open ouster, 24-year-old outspoken New Yorker gives feedback on tournament organizers and players’ mental health in these crazy times

Being successful as a professional tennis player requires natural ability, dedication and hard work. Making it during a global pandemic while also exposing injustices in “the system” and bringing attention to the mental health issues of fellow players requires you to be Noah Rubin.

Rubin, only 24 years old but wise beyond his years, is no stranger to the US Open and to advocacy.

A proud Jew, Rubin – No. 228 in the world in singles and No. 703 in doubles – was eliminated with partner Ernesto Escobedo in the first round of the men’s doubles tournament at the recently completed, spectator-less US Open, held in New York City. Their match vs Israel-born Denis Shapovalov and Rohan Bopanna was suspended due to rain and continued the next day, when Rubin and Escobedo lost 6-2, 6-4.

This was Long Island-native Rubin’s seventh trip to the US Open since competing in his first qualifiers in 2013. Rubin spent the days leading up to his first-round defeat with all other players and tournament personnel at the Garden City Hotel. He said ironically, “I live nine minutes away. It was a strange situation.”

Rubin spoke with The Jerusalem Post about his experience in the US Open “bubble,” gave suggestions for improving pro tennis, and reflected on his popular “Behind The Racquet” project.

The United States Tennis Association took great pains to assure the Grand Slam tournament would be played this year. USTA CEO Mike Dowse and US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster shared details of the safety plan at several press briefings.

“We really established some guiding principles at the beginning. The first one was could we do it in a healthy and safe way for everyone. That included the players, the staff, even the local community here in New York. The second guiding principle was is this good for the sport of tennis, will it reignite our industry in the broader tennis ecosystem. The third question is frankly did it make financial sense, that included for the players and for the USTA, again the broader tennis ecosystem. As we went through this journey starting in mid-March, we couldn’t say yes at all times against those three guiding principles. But ultimately on June 16 we said ‘yes’ with this formula we put together.”

Rubin and other players had mixed reviews of the plan and of the tennis bubble.

“At first, there were very few problems,” noted Rubin. “It was great. I gave them so much credit before the tournament – for how much work they put in.”

Rubin playfully noted that the players-only set up meant that players could wander the grounds freely.

“I didn’t see my third-grade teacher asking for tickets!

“It was great, [but] then there were issues that they handled poorly.”

Rubin spoke of the boredom.

“They had basketball [in the hotel] – it was fun shooting hoops – and they had mini golf, but there is only so much 9-hole mini golf you can play!”

Rubin reported spending some days “lying down in the middle of the park…not their fault.”

And he spoke of playing in front of empty stands.

“The thrill is with the fans, but I am used to not having people at my matches.”

Rubin began to witness problems after the first coronavirus case were detected.

“It didn’t seem they were ready.”

Rubin felt communication was poor and that rules were constantly changing.

“They didn’t really tell us everything. It seemed like they were hiding something. And there was a lack of consistency.”

Rubin was referring to a situation where French player Benoit Paire tested positive for the coronavirus on the Sunday before the US Open, though he was not showing symptoms. Paire, the No. 17 seed, was set to play Kamil Majchrzak of Poland in the first round and was forced to withdraw from the tournament.

“There was a lack of consistency. Top players were put on a pedestal.”

Rubin described it as “a fake bubble in a lot of ways,” with hotel staff going home, therefore coming in and out of the bubble. He also reports sharing the hotel with other guests not connected to the tournament.

“They got to the 10-yard line and dropped the ball a little bit. They did the hard parts really well. It was a good effort.”

Rubin is no stranger to speaking out on issues which he says as affecting professional tennis. He has spoken out on income inequality the sport, and started the “Behind the Racquet” website and podcast, where he allows professional tennis players to share personal stories of mental health issues and other struggles.

As Rubin wrote on the website: “From the beginning of my life there was nothing I loved more than chasing around that yellow ball.

Wherever it went, I followed. I could not always articulate the impact I wanted to make but I had this innate feeling that I needed to leave my mark on this sport. As I progressed through the levels, meeting and experiencing all there is to, I started understanding that there is a true disconnect between how spectators interpreted this field and what actually is the reality.

“The perceived glamorous, travesty-free lifestyle was far from what is actually taking place. The combination of this blinded misconception along with the antiquated mentalities of some at the top, running our sport, made me feel a responsibility to implore change.

“I have grand dreams to drastically evolve the sport we all love in order to prevent this continuous decline of fans. This is where ‘Behind The Racquet’ (BTR) plays a major role. I realized that this disconnect has arisen partially due to the lack of connection between potential fans and players. I started BTR to give players the platform to share their stories on their own terms, while also giving fans an opportunity to relate to a player on a deeper level.

“In doing so, I am also helping to fight the stigma of talking about mental health, especially in the world of professional sport. I truly dream that these stories, told by honest and bold people, inspire you to see deeper into who they truly are. Everyone has a story and it’s time to share yours.”

Despite the tennis tour being on hiatus until recently due to COVID-19, Rubin reported that “life is the most hectic it has ever been.”

While he hopes to play in the upcoming French Open in two weeks, he is devoting a great deal of time to “Behind the Racquet.”
“I have worked six years in six months,” exclaimed Rubin, who has built a team, collected 50 stories, and has a book and possible documentary on the horizon.

His mother, Melanie Siegel Rubin, is proud of all of Noah’s accomplishments.

“Noah has trained all his life to accomplish what he has on the court as a junior and professional tennis player. His dedication and determination are beyond admirable. In recent years, Noah’s off-court endeavors, through ‘Behind The Racquet,’ have taken my admiration of him to an even higher level. Noah giving other players an outlet to express themselves, resources to help themselves and a platform to reach so many, has surpassed what I could have dreamed for him. His work with NAMI [National Alliance on Mental Illness], North Shore Animal League and as a voice for change for his fellow players are just some of his undertakings that should be commended. I couldn’t be more proud of my boy.”

Read more