The Sentinel: 12/27/24

Commentary |
Am Yisrael Chai – It’s just a slogan, it is a way of life

by Leor Sinai, Rabbi

Am Yisrael Chai – It’s just a slogan, it is a way of life

I remember growing up as a kid in Brooklyn singing the Am Yisrael Chai chant, we’d sing it with great excitement and with great pride. And then I remember myself as a young adult, growing into my career as a professional Jew working for various nonprofits, always ending my talks, and my social media posts, with the chant: Am Yisrael? (audience) Chai. I remember how friends and colleagues thought it was cute, reminiscent of a time when they too may have sung the song as kids, they’d chuckle. That’s what I was known for, I was the guy who people knew would scream out AM YISRAEL CHAI wherever and whenever possible. Am Yisrael Chai is not a slogan, it is a way of life.

The earliest use of the slogan appeared as early as 1895 in a Zionist songbook

Fast-forward to post October 7, 2023, Am Yisrael Chai has once again re-emerged as the rallying cry for the global people of Israel. My wife jokes that I should’ve copywritten the slogan back then, not that I think that would’ve been possible, but boy I would’ve been a millionaire by now! The reality is that we stand at an intersection of historic proportions, a point of reference requiring us to rise to the challenges confronting our people, once again elevating the rallying cry: Am Yisrael Chai!

I know, I see it all over social media, and I hear it all the time, you do too, and I love it.

Am Yisrael Chai is not a slogan, it is a way of life.

The earliest use of the slogan appeared as early as 1895 in a Zionist songbook, and again at the Second World Jewish Conference in 1933, summoned to fight Hitler's new Nazi regime through economic boycott. Rabbi Stephen Samuel Wise ended the final address by declaring to the crowd: "We are prepared to defend ourselves against the will of Hitler Germany to destroy. We must defend ourselves because we are a people which lives and wishes to live. My last word that I wish to speak to you is this – our people lives — Am Yisrael Chai!"

And again, on April 20, 1945, five days after the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was liberated, British Army chaplain Rabbi Leslie Hardman led a Friday evening Shabbat service for a few hundred survivors at the camp. Knowing the service was being recorded by Patrick Gordon Walker of the BBC radio service, a Jewish army chaplain proclaimed "Am Yisrael Chai!, the children of Israel still liveth" after the group sang the anthem Hatikvah at the conclusion of the service.

The slogan reemerged in 1965, when Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach was asked to compose a song ahead of a planned Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry (SSSJ) rally in front of the Soviet Mission to the United Nations in New York on April 4, 1965. While in Soviet-dominated Czechoslovakia, Carlebach wrote and first performed "Am Yisrael Chai" before a group of youth in Prague.

At each of these historic instances the slogan Am Yisrael Chai served as a living reference and driving force inspiring Am Yisrael at its most challenging times – The People of Israel LIVE!

Am Yisrael Chai is not a slogan, it is a way of life.

Fast-forward to today, we know that Am Yisrael Chai isn’t merely a slogan, rather Am Yisrael Chai is a way of life with a purpose that is projected forward from generations before our time to future generations yet to be born, driving our active participation in reclaiming, retelling, and realizing our story. Just as in the examples shared above, so too today, the slogan serves our current global Jewish anchor of hope and forward moving existence.

Am Yisrael Chai is not a slogan, it is a way of life.

Our ancestors who outlived exile and perpetuated Jewish life for 2000 years in exile

The question is how do we perpetuate and live this value? By doing something about it. By being an active participant and not a bystander. By getting involved in every which way possible, by educating yourself, educating your children, and sending your kids to Jewish youth group and sleepaway camps, and by educating your community. It means getting involved in your local synagogue/temple, in a local communal organization, and getting involved with a cause that directly impacts Jewish Peoplehood and Israel, and it means role modeling for your children and others.

Am Yisrael Chai is not a slogan, it is a way of life.

What kind of ancestors will we be to our future generations?

My hope is that we will be just as amazing as those who came before us. Our ancestors who outlived exile and perpetuated Jewish life for 2000 years in exile, ancestors who witnessed the rise and fall of empires, ancestors who maintained their Jewish way of life—in hiding if needed, ancestors who survived the worst that humanity has to offer during the Holocaust, ancestors who came out from the ashes of the Holocaust to make the dream of the modern nation state of Israel, a reality.

And now it is our turn, Generation Zion, to choose life!

In the future, this period of history will be learned about, talked about, and will be celebrated. Who knows? It may become a holiday (think Hannukah or Purim) where we read a megillah, pray and sing, make kiddish, eat a meal, maybe candy, and celebrate that the People of Israel live, all because you, we, did something about it.

And remember: Am Yisrael Chai is not a slogan, it is a way of life.

Rabbi Leor Sinai is Principal of Sinai Strategies, a consulting agency focused on advancing Global Jewish – Israel relations, Education, Leadership Development, and Organizational Advancement. Sinai also serves as a motivational speaker, sits on the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Board of Governors as Chair of the Youth Aliyah & Absorption Committee, and serves on the board of Atchalta—a non-partisan think tank advancing social cohesion and national resilience in Israel. Originally from New York, Sinai made Aliyah with his family in 2011.

Prep Hoops |
Thursday Basketball Scores

Girls' Basketball

Attica 39
Oakwood 47

Caydence Vermillion hit seven three-pointers on her way to a team-high 23 points and 15 rebounds against the Red Ramblers. Gracie Hanner hauled in 11 rebounds of her own, finishing nine points and five assists for the Comets.

Armstrong 27
Unity 36

Unity 53
North Vermillion 54

Kera Dunham tallied 15 points and Nora Thomann, a freshman, contributed another 13 in the non-conference win for the Falcons. Thomann led her team with eight rebounds and three assists. Dunham credited with six steals and four assists.

St. Joseph-Ogden 29
Bishop McNamara 41

The Spartans fall in State Farm Holiday Classic action at Normal West. Senior Katie Erickson scored three treys to lead SJO's scoring effort with nine points.

Boys' Basketball

Oakwood 37
Tuscola 94

Harding Academy 52
Champaign Central 60

Maroons' Cayden Love shot 75% from the free throw line on his way to a team-high 16 points. Chris Bush and Luke Swanson nudged Central in the non-conference win with 13 points each. Love, a sophomore, collected four steals in the win.

St. Joseph-Ogden 56
Winnebago 42

Coy Taylor led SJO's scoring effort with 19 points. Tanner Siems added another 14 points and Collin Thomey chipped in 10. The trio, frequent visitors to the free throw line, made 12 of their 17 attempts.

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Outlasting a talented Tri-Valley squad, SJO basketball advances to State Farm tournament quarterfinals

BLOOMINGTON - The St. Joseph-Ogden boys basketball team trailed on the scoreboard for 19 minutes of their quarterfinal game against Tri-Valley (10-1) at the State Farm Holiday Classic. That was until Spartan Coy Taylor sank a field goal with 4:57 left in the game to give his team the one-point go-ahead, 41-40. Persistent and tenacious, SJO (5-3) held the late game lead to win by two 44-42 at Illinois Wesleyan's Shirk Center on Friday.

Down by four, seven minutes away from being bumped into the consolation bracket, Ryker Lockhart drilled a three-pointer to close the gap by one before Taylor's bucket.

After a brief six-point advantage, SJO led by two at the end of the first quarter, 14-12. Vikings' Tommy Kinsella tied the game up a little over a minute into the second quarter, forcing SJO to battle through the next two and a quarter periods in catch-up mode.

Senior Tanner Siems led the team offensively, scoring 10 points. Will Haley added nine points of his own, and Parker Fitch finished with 8 points in SJO's scoring effort.

Tri-Valley Kinsella led all scorers with 15 points, and teammate Ayden Jensen, who went 6-for-6 from the free throw line, chipped in 12 more.

St. Joseph-Ogden's Coy Taylor tries to dribble around El Paso-Gridley's Chancesaye Maxon during last December's small school title game at the Shirk Center. Up by two and with less than two seconds on the game clock, St. Joseph-Ogden lost the back-and-forth game 49-48, thanks to a 20-footer launched by Maxon at the buzzer.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

One game away from making a third-consecutive appearance in the tournament's championship contest, St. Joseph-Ogden will face a familiar foe at 4:30 PM on Saturday at Normal West High School. The Spartans will be looking for revenge on El Paso-Gridley, last year's small school champs, after suffering a heart-breaking loss in a buzzer-beater at the Shirk Center last December.

More SJO sports news ~

Kearney steps up to lead Spartans in State Farm win over U-High

BLOOMINGTON - Rebounding from their 41-29 loss to Bishop McNamara on Thursday, the St. Joseph-Ogden girls' basketball team advanced forward in the consolation bracket at the State Farm Holiday Classic after holding off a huge second-half surge from Normal University to win, 36-33 on Friday. The victory guaranted SJO at least a fourth-place finish in the consolation bracket.

In an outstanding defensive effort, the Spartans held the Pioneers to just two free throws in the second quarter, taking a 22-9 lead into the locker room at the half spearheaded by senior Sara Kearney's seven points. Kearney added another bucket in the third quarter to finish game two at the tournament with a team-high nine points.

SJO got off to an explosive start thanks to a three-pointer from Addison Brooks, Kayla Osterbur, and Hayden Dahl. Brooks went on to finish with eight points, tied with Timera Blackburn-Kelley as the team's second-leading scorer. Osterbur sank another trey in the final quarter to finish with six points, rounding out the top four scorers.

Kendyl Schroeder led U-High's offensive effort with 11 points. Scoreless in the second and third quarters, Schroeder bookended the drought with six points in the first frame and five in the fourth.

The Spartans, who improved their record to six wins against seven losses, return to Normal Community High School for a 1 PM semifinal game against Rockford Lutheran.

More SJO sports news ~

Think a toy is unsafe? There are options available to report the potential danger to children

by Terri Dee
Illinois News Connection

Don Fountain, with the law firm Clark Fountain, believes consumers' assumptions about toy reliability are not always accurate.

CHICAGO - The National Retail Federation expects people will spend nearly $989 billion by year's end on holiday shopping but the costs cannot compare to an injury or death due to unknowingly buying a faulty product.

Many children's toys are manufactured in countries like China and India. In their haste to avoid possible Trump administration tariffs, a few safety steps may have been skipped before sending them to the States, said one product liability attorney.

Don Fountain, with the law firm Clark Fountain, believes consumers' assumptions about toy reliability are not always accurate.

"The general public has this notion that the government checks and tests all the products that we buy: 'Surely somebody has tested all these things and they're safe for my children or my family,' But in reality, that's not how it works," Fountain explained. "The government doesn't have the resources or the ability, or I don't think even the interest in doing that."

The Consumer Product Safety Commission website lists thousands of unsafe or problematic items. Fountain notes complaints listed on the site are due to public grievances, not government detection. He recommends the commission's website to report or search for information about unsafe products.

The Commission's November 2024 report said last year, hospital emergency rooms treated children ages 7 months to 14 years for nearly 232,000 toy-related incidents linked to choking, chemical burns or poisoning. Fountain also identified sharp or pointed objects, small pieces and moving parts on toys as hazards that could be fatal.

"Pinch points are a real problem," Fountain noted. "Things where two pieces come together that can cut or pinch or trap somebody, or choke somebody. Anything that gets hot, anything that involves fire or spark or fireworks, those types of things."

Research on toy safety by the Illinois Public Interest Research Group Education Fund said balloons, toys with magnets, or those constructed with chemicals like lead or chromium can cause lifelong health issues.

Fountain recommended taking photographs and keeping the defective product and its packaging, as well as a purchase receipt to support your case should legal action occur.

Illinois farmers await proposed Trump tariffs, questioning how they will affect their agribusiness operations

Photo: Wolfgang Eckert/Pixabay

by Terri Dee
Illinois News Connection

Increased political instability on the global front and greater export competition is creating anxiety for agricultural producers.

CHICAGO - A new president will move into the White House in less than a month and Illinois farmers are questioning whether Donald Trump's tough talk on tariffs will become a reality, and how his decision will affect their livelihood.

The National Corn Growers Association said a trade war with China could reduce corn and soybean exports nationwide by millions of tons. The projection could harm Illinois farmers, in a state that is second in the nation for corn acreage.

Ben Palen, co-owner and manager of Ag Management Partners, a Denver-based sustainable agriculture advisory firm, said increased political instability on the global front and greater export competition are creating some anxiety.

"I just don't think that you can have a coherent and consistent policy for agriculture if you go from one crisis to another," Palen argued.

Last weekend's last-minute spending bill in Congress to keep the government running through mid-March includes $10 billion in one-time payments to farmers, and another $20 billion for those affected by natural disasters in the last two years.

During Trump's first term, emergency aid was sent to farmers affected by the initial trade war. But the emphasis now is a push for budget cuts, which could include rolling back billions in unspent funds from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Palen looks to legislators to identify new markets for farmers to sell their crops and thinks it is not the time to dwell on trade disputes.

"I think farmers are very good at production," Palen pointed out. "It's just part of our DNA; we want to produce, produce, produce."

The most recent U.S. Census of Agriculture data for 2022, showed Illinois farms and ranches produced almost $27 billion in products, a 55% increase from 2017.

Exposing misconceptions about infant nutrition for new moms

by Tim Ditman
OSF Healthcare

Photo: Jonathan Borba/PEXELS

DANVILLE - Bringing a new baby home raises the focus on their and mom’s well-being. Toward the top of the list: what and how the child is being fed.

Whether you choose to breastfeed or use formula, misconceptions about infant nutrition are everywhere. Xandra Anderson, a certified lactation consultant at OSF HealthCare, cuts through the noise.

Do I need to change what I put in my body while breastfeeding? This covers a lot of ground, from a mom’s diet to whether she should abstain from alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and medication.

Breastfeeding moms generally don't need to change their diet. Drinking a caffeine-heavy drink before breastfeeding may keep your baby awake longer than normal. After drinking alcohol, wait a few hours to nurse.
Moms can also generally stay on medication while breastfeeding. Talk to your health care provider if you have questions or if you have a medical procedure.
If you smoke, do so after breastfeeding. Then wait a few hours to nurse again.
Have breast milk you can't use in feeding? Use it on baby acne or in their bathwater.

Do I need to change what I put in my body while breastfeeding? This covers a lot of ground, from a mom’s diet to whether she should abstain from alcohol, caffeine, tobacco and medication.

Diet:

Healthy eating is always good. But Anderson says new moms generally don’t have to change their diet for breastfeeding. If your diet is heavy on certain things (like garlic or dairy) and you notice your baby is extra fussy, you can try changing your meals. A provider may also want to test your baby for allergies.

Alcohol and caffeine:

Drink these in moderation and with precise timing, Anderson says.

“Babies are very sensitive to caffeine. If you have a cup of coffee and nurse right away, the baby is going to be awake for a lot longer than normal,” Anderson explained.

“That doesn’t mean you have to not drink coffee. Just maybe not add three shots of espresso to your morning coffee,” she adds with a smirk.

For alcohol, Anderson says the drink will filter out of your breastmilk like it filters out of your blood. So after having a couple of alcoholic drinks, wait two to three hours before breastfeeding or pumping.

“The breastmilk isn’t ruined. You just need to give it time,” Anderson says.

But here’s a lifehack if mom feels full of breast milk and wants to pump right after having a drink: Go ahead and pump, and use the milk on your baby’s acne or in their bathwater. Just keep it away from their mouth.

“It’s antimicrobial. It’s antibacterial. It’s moisturizing,” Anderson says, singing the praises of breast milk. “Our babies are in the most perfect environment in the womb. Once they’re born, their world is cold, dark and dry. They can get dry skin, acne or cradle cap [greasy or flaky spots on the scalp]. Breast milk is a great way to prevent or heal those things.”

Medication and other health care issues:

Anderson says most medication is safe to use while breastfeeding. In fact, it’s important to stay the course – for example, with mental health medication – so you can be the best mom possible. Talk with your health care provider if you have questions.

If you have a medical procedure, also get advice from a professional. For example, Anderson says if you get a hepatobiliary iminodiacetic acid (HIDA) scan for a gallbladder concern, you’ll be radioactive for around 24 hours. Don’t breastfeed during that time. Or if your breasts feel full and you have to pump, dump the milk down the drain.

Tobacco:

Anderson admits it’s tough to kick the habit. But she reminds moms: infants are very sensitive to nicotine. It can disrupt the child’s sleep and feeding and even interfere with organ development. Secondhand smoke can increase the risk of a respiratory infection and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

If you’re smoking with a new baby at home, do so after breastfeeding, then wait two to three hours before nursing again. Wear one jacket while smoking so you don’t get an odor or residue on a lot of your clothes or the baby.

New Year - New Diet: Be wary of fad diets on social media

by Tim Ditman
OSF Healthcare

SAVOY - Among the New Year’s resolutions worldwide, many people have pledged to find and stick with a healthy diet. But there’s a lot more to it than just grabbing every “reduced fat” item off the grocery store shelf.

Karen Whitehorn, MD, an OSF HealthCare internal medicine physician, hears questions all the time about diets. Her first question back is usually: what do you want out of your diet? Do you want to be healthy? Lose weight? Manage a medical condition? Sort through the details, and you’ll find the best option.

Exploring the popular options

U.S. News and World Report each year consults a panel of medical and nutrition experts to rank the best diets. The Mediterranean diet topped the list. Dr. Whitehorn says this diet is based on the eating habits of people who live near the Mediterranean Sea. It’s a plant-based diet, incorporating fruits, vegetables, whole grains, brown rice and seafood.

An added benefit: recent research shows the Mediterranean diet could reduce dementia risk.

Dr. Karen Whitehorn
OSF HealthCare Internal Medicine

“The Mediterranean diet is actually pretty easy to follow. But you need to make sure you have the right food in your home,” Dr. Whitehorn says. “It might be a little more difficult during the winter to get fresh fruits and vegetables. If you can’t, frozen is OK. Canned is OK. But we recommend you rinse the canned food first to decease some of the salt.”

Number two on the U.S News list is a plan Dr. Whitehorn recommends often: dietary approaches to stop hypertension, or the DASH diet. It recommends foods that are low in sodium and high in magnesium and potassium.

Some people may incorporate fasting into their diet. Dr. Whitehorn says fasting, when done in consultation with a medical expert, can work. But she’s hesitant to recommend it broadly.

“Our bodies need nutrients every couple hours. So to not eat anything for 12 hours can cause other problems,” Dr. Whitehorn says. “If you’re diabetic and don’t eat for 12 hours, your blood sugar could drop too low. Then when you eat, it could go too high.”

Avoid misinformation and fads

Watch out for fad diets on social media, Dr. Whitehorn says. Remember the saying: if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

“Fad diets are not consistent. They’re not healthy. They don’t provide you the nutrients you need. If it requires you to take a pill or drastically reduce your calories, it’s not really a healthy diet. It can only be followed in the short term.”

On the contrary, working out a diet plan with your health care provider has a better chance of achieving long term results.

“A healthy diet gives you the energy you need to do everyday activities,” Dr. Whitehorn says. “It has been shown to increase your life expectancy. And it helps prevent chronic medical problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and heart disease.”

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