Lifestyles2017

PAGE 2B HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

Intel Haifa created the tech inside the Project Alloy VR headset at CES 2017.

The Israeli gadgets wowing the worldBy Viva Sarah Press

A s t he 50t h a nnua l Consumer Electronics Show gets underway today in Las Vegas, the world’s gadget-aficionados and tech devotees are keeping an eye on the newest technologies making debuts.

Once again, many Israeli companies are taking part in the world’s largest consumer electronics show, snagging top interest and media coverage for their novel technologies.

Intel demonstrated its Project Alloy VR headset to much hype at this year’s event—handing out barf bags to hundreds of reporters and analysts in case the gaming experience proved too much for them. The technology for the headset was created in Intel Haifa using RealSense (Israeli-developed 3D vision technology).

Consumer Physics, the Israeli makers of the SCiO device, teamed with China’s Changhong and US chipmaker Analog Devices to unveil the world’s first molecular sensing smartphone at CES.

BMW made a headline-grabbing announcement at CES about its plan to roll out a fleet of approximately 40 autonomous vehicles by

the second half of 2017. The BMW 7 Series cars will employ cutting-edge technologies from Intel and from Mobileye, Israel’s premier developer of vision-based advanced driver assistance systems.

“Making autonomous driving a reality for our customers is the shared a m bi t io n b e h i n d o u r cooperation with Intel and Mobileye. This partnership has all of the skills and talent necessary to overcome the enormous technological ch a l lenge s a he ad a nd commercialize self-driving vehicles,” said BMW’s Klaus Fröhlich at a media event preceding the show.

Autotalks, the Kfar Netter-based company developing automot ive -grade V 2X (vehicle-to-everything) communication solutions, announced at CES that it has joined forces with Taiwan’s RoyalTek, a leader in global positioning systems (GPS) and satellite navigation technology, to improve road safety by developing an innovative vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) solution.

I n a d d i t ion t o t he multinational companies using CES to publicize their plans for 2017, the January 5-8, 2017 exhibition attracts

tech editors and reporters from all major media outlets seeking the hottest tech trends to come.

A handful of Israeli startups are included in their roundups so far. BBC highlights TytoCare telehealth system. USA Today put Kado’s super-thin battery chargers on its “CES 2017: 5 gadgets that made me say wow” list. CBS tells tech-lovers not to miss out on 2breathe’s sleep inducer.

Overall, CES is expected to draw 3,800 exhibitors and 170,000 attendees spread out over 2.6 million net square feet of exhibits.Israel Pavilion

Dozens of Israeli companies are taking part in the tech extravaganza.

Israel has more than 500 consumer electronics and digital media companies with innovative solutions for mobile devices, smart home and smart TV, video and gaming, automotive, wearables, Internet of things (IoT) and other arenas.

As in past years, the Israel Export Institute and Israel Ministry of Economy Foreign Trade Office have set up an Israel Pavilion at CES.

The 15 blue-and-white companies on display in the

pavilion are: Cinema2Go (optical solutions for head-mounted displays); meeba ( c u s t o m i z a b l e s m a r t do or b e l l s) ; R a d iom i z e (gesture-controlled steering); 2breathe sleep inducer; CMo o Sys tem s (home control and monitoring); DigiSense (wearable real-time monitoring sensor for diapers); Idomoo (automat ic a l ly gener a t e d , c inem at ic -quality personalized videos); Imagry (visual recognition engine); Alango Technologies (DSP processing software);

TytoCare; Beyond Verbal (emotion-detecting voice analytics); Say Wear (smart necklace); Nano Dimension (3D printing); MySizeID (measurement technology applications); and Kado (ultra-slim chargers).

“The companies at the Israeli Pavilion exhibit innovative solutions that meet the needs of the entertainment and consumer electronics sectors including wearable technologies , advanced solutions for audio and video technologies, 3D printing,

IoT technologies, mHealth and smart cars,” said Michael Admon, director of the high-tech department at the Israel Export Institute.

“The global entertainment arena is at an advanced stage of development of new fields in IoT, autonomous vehicle, augmented reality and virtual reality. The Israeli Pavilion display offers a variety of innovative solutions and we expect visits by senior representatives from the consumer and entertainment electronics arena.”

What came first—start-ing a bridesmaid for hire business or writing a book titled “Always a Bridesmaid (For Hire)”?

From the looks of it, the business came as a surprise, first.

Jen Glatz moved to New York to start her writing career, what she got instead were a string of phone calls that began with, “Jen, I have something exciting to tell you!” and ended with, “I’d be honored if you would be my bridesmaid.”

She became pretty good at being a bridesmaid, so she posted, jokingly, an ad on Craigslist advertising her services as a “profes-sional” bridesmaid. That ad went viral and Glatz’ life took on a new journey as she walked down the aisle at strangers’ weddings.

Glatz even has a website, bridesmaidforhire.com, where she describes herself as “The gal pal you never knew you needed during the time you need her the most.”

Her site is full of all

kinds of much needed in-formation to help brides, maids-of-honor and brides-maids enjoy the wedding experience. She even has a Bridesmaid Crash Course Video Series.

Now this vibrant young woman has finally started her writing career sharing her experiences. This book, according to a review on Amazon.com, is “a hilari-ous and insightful memoir about one New York City Millennial’s journey to find herself, her dream career, and true love, all while juggling a truly unique job as the world’s only profes-sional bridesmaid.”

Amy Schwartz Kimlat, marketing director of The Roth Family JCC, is excited for Glatz. “Exactly 10 years ago, my PR Intern sent me a draft of an article I’d assigned her to write about our JCC Summer Camps,” said Kimlat. “She was a freshman at UCF, 18 years old, and I remember being taken aback by how colorfully she was already

writing—penning phrases descr ibing campers a s , ‘taking a dive into the chilly pool’ and ‘dancing to the beat of fun.’

“Today, one decade later, she has released her first book with a major pub-lisher, ‘Always a Bridesmaid (For Hire),’ published by Simon & Schuster. I ’ve read the prologue so far, and she’s as colorful and entertaining as ever.”

“Writing a book is per-haps not the hardest thing a person will ever do,” said Glatz. “In my life, so far, learning to say goodbye and let go of people, places, and things has always been much harder.”

She continued: “Which is why, perhaps, harder than writing a 320 manuscript is pressing the send button, watching it get printed, thousands of times, and waiting for it to arrive in the arms of dear friends and complete strangers. To tell you the truth: I haven’t slept in days. My heart is beating as if It’s trying to keep up

with the melody of a Ke$ha song. I have stress-sweated through five t-shirts. My Acid Reflux is at an all-time high, so please excuse me for a second while I go chew a handful of TUMS...

“I went for a walk this morning at 7am. New York City was practically still asleep. The cold, wet, air slapped me in the face, as if to say, why are you here? Who is it that you want to be today? I stood on the corner of third avenue, look-ing up at buildings much larger than I’ll ever be, and screamed out loud: ‘I’m Jen Glantz. Today, world, you get to know my secrets.’

“My book is out today. So thank you - in advance - for eyeballing the words I left for you on paper and for spending your hard-earned money on my hard-worked dream.”

“Always a Bridesmaid (For Hire)” is available on Amazon.com, and if you are looking for help for your wedding, visit bridesmaidfo-rhire.com on the Internet.

From bridesmaid (for hire) to author

(StatePoint) If you are in the market for a home, you are probably weighing a range of factors, including size, amenities and architectural style. But experts say that the old adage ‘location, location, location’ should never stray from one’s thoughts.

“Location not only affects your daily life in countless ways, but it also has an unquestionable influence on the current and future value of your home,” says Charlie Young, president and chief executive officer for Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC.

Young points to The Coldwell Banker Home Listing Report, billed as the most extensive home price comparison tool in the US, as a good place to begin your research. The report, which can be found by visiting bit.ly/coldwellbanker2016HLR, analyzes the average listing price of more than 50,000 four-bedroom, two bathroom homes on ColdwellBanker.com between January 2016 and June 2016 in more than 2,000 markets.

The findings reveal that while the national average

listing price for a sample size home of $320,120 can buy a similar home in nearly 1,300 markets across the country, there are some major outliers on both ends of the price spectrum. In Detroit, the country’s most affordable market, the average listing price of a sample size home is less than $65,000. However, in Saratoga, California—the most expensive market—that same size home costs nearly $2.5 million, fueled by the region’s high-tech enterprise.

But Young says not to view

home prices as a yardstick for quality of life, “You can find a great place to live in most markets. In fact, Detroit has been experiencing a renaissance in the last few years. An invigorated community, culture and a resurgence of young professionals, is making it an affordable, viable city in which to settle down and build roots.”

Another major location factor homebuyers should take into consideration is the local school system. Even if you don’t have a child in

the family, schools can play a major role in home value.

But remember, location matters beyond pure finances and can affect every aspect of your life, like the length of your commute, the presence of parks, the walkability of the surrounding area, and the relative safety of the neighborhood.

Other factors to consider may include doing a bit of research. How large is the community and does it fit with the type of place in which you want to raise your family? Will your new home

be situated near key shopping destinations for daily staples like groceries, dry cleaning and other necessary services? Will your new community wind up costing you more in local taxes or other municipal fees? A bit of advance checking can help you make the best choice for your needs.

So while you are counting bathrooms, admiring a newly shingled roof or imagining yourself enjoying a prospective property’s pool, don’t forget location and its potential impact on your lifestyle and your wallet.

Buying a home? Don’t underestimate location, location, location

HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 PAGE 3B

Every day that you’re outside, you’re exposed to dangerous, but invisible, ultraviolet (UV)

sunlight. Left unprotected, prolonged exposure to UV radiation can seriously damage the eye,

leading to cataracts, skin cancer around the eyelid and other eye disorders. Protecting your eyes

is important to maintaining eye health now and in the future.

Shield your eyes (and your family’s eyes) from harmful UV rays.

Wear sunglasses with maximum UV protection.

For more information, visit www.thevisioncouncil.org/consumers/sunglasses.

A public service message from The Vision Council.

HEALTHY EYES WEAR SUNGLASSES

activities, including zip-lining and horseback riding.

The Taste program is available for kids until the fourth grade.

“To be honest, in some ways it’s more for the parents than the campers,” said David Berlin, assistant director of Camp Judaea. “The parents tend to be more nervous. This is our way of hooking them into camp.”

Additionally, the ratio of campers to counselors is lower for the Camp Judaea’s Rishnonim campers, hovering around 3 to 1, as opposed to about 4.5 to 1 for the older kids.

To prepare the first-timers, Camp Judaea holds parlor meetings for new families, most of whom come from the southeastern U.S., Berlin said. New campers get to watch a video, hear about a typical day at camp and have their questions answered.

“It allows the families an opportunity to meet the staff before the summer begins,” Berlin said.

They also used to send first-timers a book about sleepaway camp—“Sami’s Sleepaway Summer,” by Jenny Meyerhoff—but it’s out of print. Berlin said the book was a great way to get young campers excited and have them learn what to expect—he’s looking for a replacement.

At Camp Gilboa, located outside Los Angeles and part of the progressive Zionist Habonim Dror movement, you nger c a mpers c a n experience sessions as short as four nights.

“We focus on easing them into camp,” said Executive Director Dalit Shlapobersky.

But because Habonim Dror of fers year-round programming, kids can get involved prior to starting

camp, and therefore become acquainted with other Gilboa campers and counselors well ahead of time, she said. The camp also invites families to visit during the year for weekends and retreats.

Shlapobersky said campers typically start Gilboa at age 8.

“At that point they’ve already gone through quite a few separations—they’ve had to get used to a new community at preschool, and then a new one at kindergarten/elementary school,” she said. “These things are all about practice. The more time we practice doing something different, the more ready we are to take something new on.”

But Shlapobersky gives c a mpers a nd f a mi l ie s added support through the preparation process, which includes weekly emails beginning in May that focus on different aspects of camp—like what to expect on the first day of camp, what sort of communications there will be to and from camp, a glossary of camp lingo. New campers also receive introductory phone calls from counselors a couple of days before the session begins.

Additionally, Gilboa calls new parents to find out more about individual campers, making the camp more prepared for them when they arrive.

“For example, if we know they’re really into magic, we can have one of the counselors who loves magic tricks ready,” Shlapobersky said.

Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, which is affiliated wit h t he Conser vat ive movement, offers a seven-day Ta’am Ramah (Hebrew for Taste of Ramah), to children entering third grade.

Rabbi Ethan Linden, the

camp’s director, said there’s a higher ratio of staff for the youngest kids.

“We’ll have 20 to 25 kids and 10 staff counselors, plus a group leader,” he said, adding that for older kids, there are typically 14 kids to four counselors per bunk.

“We usually have more experienced counselors for the little ones,” he said. “We know we have to hold their hands more.”

Linden said he’s found that most kids are ready to start camp between the ages of 8 and 10—and agrees with other directors that parents are sometimes the last to be ready. But Ramah in the Berkshires pays extra attention to first-time campers regardless of age.

“We’re particularly sensitive to issues of homesickness and integration,” he said.

Linden said the camp employs sta f fers ca lled “yoetzim” — people who are a little older, usually parents—who can get involved in tough situations. The camp also does “a lot of training on bunk dynamics, trying to make sure that no campers slip through the cracks,” he said.

“We work to find that one thing the kid loves to do and then use that to ease the transition,” he said.

At Camp Modin, a pluralistic sleepaway camp in Maine, and the oldest Jewish camp in New England, the youngest campers are 8, or going into third grade. Director Howard Salzberg said Modin used to have even younger campers, but found they weren’t quite ready for the experience.

While Modin doesn’t have extra-short sessions for first-timers—the shortest “regular”session is 3 1/2 week s — coun selors for younger kids are trained

to give more personalized attention, Salzberg said.

“We don’t expect these kids to unpack their trunks or do their own laundry,” he said. “We recognize that these kids need extra help changing out of their wet bathing suits, that we need to make sure they’re showering, that they know how to open their soap in the shower, that they’re combing their hair.

“With older kids it’s more about mentoring. For younger years it’s more parenting.”

And in some ways, the younger kids are easier, Salzberg added.

“They present different challenges, but honestly, younger kids can be a lot easier than hormonally challenged teenagers,” he said, laughing.

At Modin, newbies are matched with returning campers in a “big brother, big sister” program—the older campers call the younger campers before the session starts, and at camp they meet up on opening day. The older group gives the younger charges a small gift, like a goody bag or a Modin bracelet.

Regardless of what age a child starts camp, the camp directors noticed that first-born kids tend to start camp older, and slightly more nervous, than their younger siblings.

“Younger siblings have parents more prepared for the sleepaway camp experience, are often familiar with the campgrounds from visiting day,” Alford said. “Plus, they’ve seen how much fun their older siblings have at camp.”

This article was made possible with funding by the Foundation for Jewish Camp. The story was produced independently and at the sole discretion of JTA’s editorial team.

Two young campers at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires enjoy the waterfront. At the camp, those entering third grade can try out a seven-day session.

Here’s how summer camps welcome their youngest charges

By Lucy Cohen Blatter

(JTA)—Wondering if your child is ready for overnight camp?

A sure sign, according to Karen Alford, a sleepaway camp consultant, is that he or she has grown tired of day camp.

“At 9 [or going into fourth grade], you’ve probably been doing day camp for several years, and there’s just a natural progression to sleepaway camp,” she told JTA.

Of course, Alford added, some kids aren’t ready until they’re older.

“You have to know your child and what they can handle,” she said, adding that “some parents with kids who have trouble separating find camp even more helpful at a younger age because it builds independence.”

Luckily, most Jewish summer camps pay close attention to easing their

youngest k ids into the sleepaway experience. From pre-camp meet-and-greets to special presents for first-time campers to the common availability of ultra-short sessions—anywhere from five to 11 days—camps are acutely aware of the need to gently transition their littlest and newest campers into the culture of overnight camp.

In addition to providing additional resources for the young newbies—and, of course, their anxious parents—many camps also hire additional staff and train them in some hand-holding.

Take Camp Judaea, a pluralist Jewish camp in North Carolina. It offers a Taste of Camp Judaea, an 11-day program for kids as young as 7. Unlike older campers who can “specialize” in certain activit ies, the youngest campers, called Rishonim, get to sample all of the camp

colors and patterns that help bridge the gap between rooms. Accomplish this with a large piece of geometric artwork or by utilizing color-blocking techniques to paint an accent wall, which tricks the eye as to where one room ends and another begins.

Before painting an accent wall, it’s important to tape off windows, doorways and trim to prevent splatter. One of the most important tools for any painting project is a premium painter’s tape, such as FrogTape brand painter’s tape, which is treated with patented PaintBlock Technology to help ensure your work looks seamless and to deliver the sharpest transition lines between the newly painted accent wall and adjacent walls.

3. Interweave textures and bold patterns. Be bold and embrace this indie-meets-mid-century trend to add character to a space. An easy way to attain this look is by pairing patterned pillows with deep, intense colors from an area rug. Or, take it one step further and create a wall design comprised of overlapping paint using rich shades such as blue, pink o red, for a truly authentic look.

4. Create luscious layers. A l low yoursel f to feel wrapped in luxury with this emerging trend. When

creating a peaceful nest, immerse yourself in layers by integrating different textures and soft patterns in colors, such as blush pinks, creams and soft grays. Start by adding blankets and sheer drapery. Place a rug on top of carpet. Finish the look with ruffled pillows or a faux fur throw for a space that is cozy and chic.

5. DIY haute homemade projects. Elevate your home with handmade personal touches that bring comfort and warmth into a room. Go bold and paint stripes on an area rug, or give flea market finds a chic update with metallic paint. If you want to start small, try transforming an ordinary basic into a fun planter by painting the bottom with fresh white paint. For professional looking results, you can use FrogTape brand painter’s tape to achieve a crisp line.

6. Incorporate nature’s influence. Integrate fresh flowers and surprising pops of color, like yellow or teal, with natural finishes, such as wood, to create an unexpected yet whimsical look. Or create a statement accent piece by painting a nature-inspired pattern like florals or feathers. All you need is paint and painter’s tape to DIY a look that brings nature’s outdoor influence inside.

Six ways to update home décor this spring

(StatePoint) Spring is the perfect time re-evaluate your home’s decor and color palette. After the long winter season, interiors often need a facelift.

Get inspired to freshen up your home with these six 2017 decor trends from interior designer and DIY television personality, Taniya Nayak.

1. Add timeless touches. Tasteful updates can help

create an elegant family room that will never go out of style. Display heirlooms and vintage-inspired items, such as traditional candle holders or a vase, and pair with a modern color scheme such as white or navy, to achieve a tailored and timeless look in your living room.

2. Apply modern morphing techniques. Morph a wide-open space together with bold

More inspirat ion and popular trends are available at frogtape.com.

Get started on your decor

projects now so that you can ensure your home is up-to-date with the latest design trends.

PAGE 4B HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

the bottom. It would be dairy free, perfect to serve after any meal. I’ve always loved the challenge of making rich, decadent desserts without dairy.

My discerning roommates and neighbors enlisted themselves every weekend over the past few months as taste testers, happily devouring each and every version. We’ve had cookie crusts, shortbread crusts and almond crusts. A number of surprising ingredients, like tofu, coconut oil and even homemade cashew cream cheese found their way into the fillings. While each trial and error resulted in something magnificent, each had a wrinkle to smooth. Normally I don’t chase after such finicky ideas, but I believed in this pie—and it seemed to believe in me.

In the end, the recipe with the simplest ingredients and easiest directions clearly won out. You won’t find any tricky gluten-free ingredients or dairy substitutes in here—you might even have these items ready and waiting in your pantry. Since the directions are so easy, I think you’ll find that the hardest part is waiting for it to chill!

Nothing feels more right this week than to give something homemade and hard-won to the people I love. Finally, here’s the recipe they’ve been waiting for!

Ingredients:Crust:

1 1/2 cup walnuts 1 heaping cup pitted dates, soaked for 10 minutes

2 tablespoons raw sesame seeds 1/3 cup cocoa powder 1 teaspoon salt, more to taste

Filling: 2 cans full fat coconut milk chilled overnight in fridge (Certain brands will not whip. Thai Kitchen has worked best for me )1 cup tahini 4 tablespoons maple syrup or powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla

Ganache: 6 ounces semi-dark chocolate 4 tablespoons almond milk or dairy-free milk 3 tablespoons sesame seeds

Materials: Either an 8-inch springform pan lined with parchment paper or a 9-inch pie plate.Hand mixer or stand mixer and a food processor.

Directions:First, chill a tall glass or

metal mixing bowl in the fridge for at least 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, make the crust: In a food processor, blend the walnuts, drained dates, sesame seeds, cocoa powder and salt until the mix ture look s blended throughout. Walnuts should be processed into small pieces, and dates should be smooth like a paste.

Press the crust mixture into the bottom of your pie pan of choice. If you want to use a springform pan (so as to display the pie without a plate), be sure to line it as best you can with parchment paper. Use your fingers to press the crust in an even layer on the bottom and sides.

Next, make the chocolate

ganache: Place chocolate in a double boiler and let melt for a minute or two. Then add milk, whisking until your ganache has a smooth, even consistency. Spread ganache onto the bottom of the pie and top with sesame seeds. Place in the refrigerator or freezer to firm up.

Last, make the filling: Remove the cans of coconut milk from the refrigerator and open them. Carefully scoop out the hardened, creamy top layer (about half the can) into your chilled bowl. Try not to scoop any of the coconut water that sits below the cream into the bowl. Pour the coconut water into another container to use in smoothies.

Next, with the mixer turned off, break the chunks of coconut milk into smaller pieces by pressing the blender into the hardened coconut cream. Mix on the lowest setting until it comes together as a stiff, whipped cream texture, gradually mixing faster. Add the tahini, vanilla and powdered sugar or maple syrup. Blend until smooth, about 30 more seconds.

Remove the pie from the fridge and spread the filling atop the ganache. Refrigerate for 2-3 more hours and serve!

Aly Miller is the editorial assistant of The Nosher.

The Nosher food blog offers a dazzling array of new and classic Jewish recipes and food news, from Europe to Yemen, from challah to shakshuka and beyond. Check it out at www.TheNosher.com.

Aly Miller

Dairy-Free Cream Pie with Tahini and Chocolate.

Dairy-Free Cream Pie with Tahini and Chocolate

By Aly Miller

(The Nosher via JTA)—Some recipe ideas come together on the first try, without any mess or fuss.

Others are true labors of love, like grains that simmer and simmer but never get soft until some unexpected moment at the end. This recipe happens to be one of the latter.

Using tahini instead of peanut butter is one of my classic moves, and I know I’m not the only one. Tahini adds a nutty flavor with a hint of bitterness that goes perfectly with a smooth, dark chocolate. Sometimes, sesame seeds themselves are called for. While in Amsterdam last year, I became obsessed with Lindt’s sesame dark chocolate bar. The texture of crunchy, toasted seeds encased in velvety dark chocolate had me at “hello.”

With these flavor visions in mind, I began recipe testing tahini cream pie with a dark chocolate crust and a hidden layer of chocolate ganache at

(StatePoint) While make and model are still dominant factors on car lots, today’s consumers have a new set of priorit ies, thanks to increasingly sophisticated in-vehicle technologies being offered in new cars.

From connectivity systems that include voice command controls to technologies that make parking a cinch, today’s consumers want more from their rides.

In fact, nearly half of consumers—48 percent—p r i o r i t i z e i n - v e h i c l e technology over brand or body style, according to the 2017 Autotrader Car Tech Impact Study. And they know what they want, too. The study found that consumers these days are researching the exact features they’d like to purchase before visiting the dealership.

“What once seemed like something only for ‘The Jetsons’ is quickly becoming everyday reality in the automotive landscape,” says Brian Moody, executive editor for Autotrader. “And it’s not just vehicles with a high price-point. Many mainstream family cars are now equipped with technology features only seen on top-of-the-line luxury vehicles just a few short years ago.”

Experts say that while consumers should embrace t h e c o n v e n ie n c e a n d enhanced safety offered by new-car technology, they also need to educate themselves so they fully understand what these features can—and just as importantly, what they cannot—do.

“Understanding your car can help you become a better, safer driver,” says Moody.

However, the future may

also involve less driving. Self-driving technologies are become more sophisticated, affordable and normalized. To that end, a growing number of consumers say they are willing to take a hands-off approach to their cars in the future. Indeed, 49 percent of respondents indicated they’d give up control of their car in exchange for some free time, up from 35 percent in 2016.

To learn more about today’s must-have technology, v i s i t a u t o t r a d e r. c o m /MustHaveTech.

W het her you a re a parent concerned with the latest safety features, or a Millennial expecting your vehicle’s technology to be every bit as robust as your smartphone, get educated about the features that matter to you, before heading to the dealership.

Surprising factors impacting car buyers’ decisions

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HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, FEBRUARY 24, 2017 PAGE 5B

By Andrew Tobin

JERUSALEM (JTA)—The shrapnel that exploded into Asaf Ventura took a lot away from him: His body and brain were shredded, his right hand was mangled. He was unable to fire his gun, swing his tennis racquet or maintain focus.

But over time, Ventura realized the injuries he endured during a mission with his army unit in the West Bank gave him a new perspective, which as it turned out made him a great industrial designer.

“I remember in the hospital thinking, ‘I’m only 22 and I’ve lost my body and my looks. I can’t do any of the things I used to do,’” he told JTA. “Eventually I realized that because I don’t think like a normal person [anymore], I can actually do some new things with design technology.”

Ventura, now 35, discovered his talent for design years later—attributing it to the effect of the metal fragments that tore through his brain—when he became a student at the prestigious Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem. He credits his experience at the school with helping him come “back to real life.”

“Bezalel Academy demands 100 percent from you, and I have 72 percent disability,” he said, referring to a state scale for physical disability that goes from 0 to 100 percent. “But they gave me a chance to succeed. I learned from amazing teachers and got to work with really talented classmates.”

Bezalel, a 111-year old mainstay of the Israeli art world, is known for producing top-notch talent in a variety of fields. The school also prides itself on promoting an

inclusive creative process for people with disabilities.

About a decade ago, Bezalel started a class in industrial design for people with special needs. Over the years, students have created dozens of products: costumes that encourage children to move during physical therapy; air-cushioned prosthetic legs with superhero designs; fashionable clothes that people with limited range of movement can easily get on and off.

Due to this kind of work, Bezalel in December won the $50,000 Ruderman Prize in Inclusion, which recognizes organizations that foster the full inclusion of people with disabilities. The Ruderman Family Foundation has been awarding the prize for the past five years; this year the $250,000 was split among five organizations around the world involved in art, technology and media.

“We loved the fact that Bezalel is a very well known art and design school, and not a disability organization, yet they still choose to include people with disabilities in what they do,” said Shira Ruderman, the Israel director of the Ruderman Family Foundat ion. “We think they are an example of how Israel can use innovation to change the Israeli mindset on disability.”

With the prize money, Bezalel will launch two undergraduate courses next fall in “inclusive design.” And this week, the school began awarding scholarships—worth more than $1,000 each—to students whose final projects are in inclusive design.

“We are committed to increasing awareness of people with disabilities and the difficulties they face,” said Liv Sperber, the vice

president for international affairs at Bezalel, who applied for the Ruderman Prize. “This allows us to get more students involved in creating beautiful and inclusive designs.”

L u c a D a l c e r a , 2 8 , learned Monday that he is eligible for a scholarship for his project. In his fourth and final year of school, he is designing an inflatable pillow to help lift a person with mobility issues out of a seat. The idea came from helping manage the care of his wife’s grandfather, who has Alzheimer’s disease and is relegated to a chair.

“To pick him up takes two people because he’s a big guy, so that means a family member has to be around 24/7 in addition to an aid worker,” Dalcera said. “The situation is very difficult for the whole family. So I wanted to create something that doesn’t solve the problem, but at least eases it.”

Like other fourth-year students, he is in the conceptualizing stage of his project. Starting next semester, Dalcera plans to begin developing and testing designs. Money is tight, he said, and the grant will help him “create a better project” than he could afford otherwise. Dalcera is already working on a patent for the design.

There were no grants when Ventura graduated from Bezalel in 2015, but he said there were other forms of support. The school challenged him like any other student, he said, but also accommodated his cognitive and physical disabilities with services like mentors and options for test taking.

For his f inal project, Ventura built a floating gym for people rehabilitating from injuries. Over the six month-plus process, he was

Asaf Ventura posing with his floating gym at an Israeli army rehabilitation center in Haifa, June 2015.

Jerusalem art school fosters design talent among students with disabilities

helped by some of the people who were part of his own rehabilitation. Madatech—the national science museum, where he interned for two years before Bezalel—let him use its tools and space. And wounded soldiers at Beit Halochem Haifa, the army center where he did more than four years of intensive rehabilitation, helped him test his designs in the training pool.

“ In the pool, people can do all kinds of things they wouldn’t be able to do otherwise,” Ventura said. “They are lighter, of course. But also, they don’t have to feel ashamed of their bodies. Underwater, nobody can see your scars.”

In the summer before he graduated , Beza lel displayed the gym, which Ventura dubbed the Venduza (a portmanteau of his last name and “meduza,” Hebrew for jellyfish), along with

hundreds of other students’ art and design projects. Bezalel’s annual exhibition draws some 25,000 people. Ventura appeared on Israeli TV and had visits with several government ministers.

He went on to found a company called Left Hand Design, aiming to bring the Venduza to market. Ventura now lives with his father in Haifa and has taken out loans to produce an upgraded prototype of the gym. He is looking for investors. In the meantime, Ventura also works part-time at Madatech, where he designs exhibitions.

Av it a l Sa ndler-Leof f, the director of JDC-Israel Unlimited—a partnership bet ween the A mer ican Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, the Ruderman Family Foundation and the Israeli government—said not all people with disabilities are able to find the support Ventura did. The country is 30

years behind the United States when it comes to services for people with disabilities, she said, and the lag is reflected in social attitudes. According to a JDC study, more than half of Israelis are not willing to be neighbors with or rent an apartment to someone with a mental disability.

But Israel’s embrace of high tech has been driving progress lately, and institutes of higher education have the potential to take the lead, Sandler-Leoff said. Her group plans to launch a program for autistic students at three universities this month, as well as a curriculum on disability studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem next month.

“There are more and more places like Bezalel, where a new generation of young people are saying, ‘We want to be part of society. Let us contribute,’” she said.

if there is long-term value in installing soft carpeting? The answer is yes, as these days, there are options that are durable, soft and easy to clean.

Such carpet features as permanent built-in stain and soil protection, found in options like SmartStrand Silk Reserve by Mohawk Flooring, help to maintain a carpet’s beauty. Indeed, in an independent walk test, the carpeting endured 60,000 steps—the equivalent of seven years of foot traffic—and still remained beautiful. The carpet also comes with Mohawk’s All Pet Protection and Warranty, so pet owners have long-term

protection. To learn more, visit MohawkFlooring.com. Reupholster Furniture

Add beauty to your living spaces with a furniture facelift. New upholstery can add luxury and style to items that look worn out but are actually in great structural shape. Whether you are a DIY-er or you have this task done professionally, opt for scratch-resistant, hair-repelling leathers and fabrics, especially if you have children and pets or just prefer low maintenance furniture.

Give your home a touch of comfort and style with durable floor to ceiling updates.

Durable décor upgrades that add comfort and style

(St atePoint) Inter ior upgrades should make a big impact—adding style and comfort to your home. They should also last a long time, even if you have a busy household, with lots of foot traffic.

To add both form and function to your living spaces, consider the following ideas.Paint and Decorate

Sometimes going from drab to fab is as simple as a paint job. Even if you’d like to keep your white walls, a fresh coat can make a room feel brighter, cleaner and more comfortable—however, you may want to consider the addition of an accent wall or textured design for some pop.

Don’t forget your prep work. Sanding and cleaning the walls helps ensure the paint applies nicely and looks great for a long time.Redo Your Carpeting

Soft carpeting provides luxury and comfort at once. However, homeowners who have children or pets, or whose rooms otherwise see a lot of foot traffic may wonder

PAGE 6B HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

By Sara Debbie GutfreundAish Hatorah Resources

A good friend of Warren Buffet was having dinner with Warren and a dozen others right before the New Year. As they discussed different upcoming events and meetings, Mr. Buffet pulled out a small, personal planner for 2017.

“Do you want to know what I have in my daily planner?” Everyone at the table leaned forward, eager to see what was in the planner. He held the planner up and showed them blank page after blank page. “I have nothing planned. Nothing. I need all the time I have to learn and think.”

Everyone at the table sat there silently for a moment as they thought about their overflowing calendars. Mr. Buffet was living one of the quotes for which he is well known: “Invest as much as you can in yourself. You are

your biggest asset by far.” When Buffet is asked what he does with most of his time, he answers that he reads. He reads all day, and he thinks. That seems to be how he comes up with his greatest ideas. But it’s also how he has grown into one of the most giving, thoughtful leaders of our generation.

Here are some more gems of wisdom from Warren Buffet:

1. On Israel: “You can tell prospective investors that I would have taken a perpetual bond if you had offered one. I believe Israel is going to be around forever. If you are looking for brains, energy and dynamism in the Middle East, Israel is the only place you need to go.”

2. Investing in the next generation: “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree long ago.”

3. Lessons from yesterday: “In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield.”

4. Taking action: “Predicting rain doesn’t count. Building arks does.”

5. Protect your good name: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.”

6. Developing habits: “Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.”

7. The value of family: “Basically, when you get to my age, you’ll measure your success in life by how many of the people you want to have love you actually do love you.”

8. Money and character: “Of the billionaires I have known, money just brings out the basic traits in them. If they were jerks before they had money, they are simply jerks with a billion dollars.”

9. What matters is what you do today: “The investor of today does not profit from yesterdays’ growth.”

10. Look for the next small step: “I don’t look to jump over 7-foot bars. I look around for

1-foot bars that I can step over.”

11. On love: “The only way to get love is to be lovable. It’s very irritating if you have a lot of money. You’d like to think you could write a check: I’ll buy a million dollars’ worth of love. But it doesn’t work that way. The more you give away love, the more you get.”

12. On what’s important: “If you get to my age in life and nobody thinks well of you, I don’t care how big your bank account is, your life is a disaster.”

13. On mentors: “The best thing I did was to choose the right heroes.”

14. On thinking for yourself: “A public opinion survey is no substitute for thought.”

Warren Buffet still resides in his modest home in Omaha, Nebraska, that he bought before he became wealthy. He has donated millions of dollars to Israel and has earmarked the majority of his wealth to nonprofits. As his son Peter, a musician and

Warren Buffet

Lifestyle of the rich and famous: Warren Buffet’s gems of wisdom

an author, remarked: “My father transferred values to me, not wealth. He doesn’t believe in inherited wealth. His management style is the way he is in life. In a business environment, he finds great management and says ‘I believe in you’ and then leaves them alone. That’s the kind of father he is too. I would have never found my own success

if I knew that my father was there to bail me out.”

Sara Debbie Gutfreund received her BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania and her MA in Family Therapy from the University of North Texas. She has taught parenting classes and self-development seminars and provided adolescent counseling.

(StatePoint) Getting more out of a vacation starts with finding ways to stretch your travel budget.

To help, travel deals p u b l i s h e r Tr a v e l z o o recently unveiled the top six destinations where Americans will find the strongest deals in 2017.

“We predict three trends will influence travel deals next year. Increased choice for flights, a strong U.S. dollar, and hotel openings will create increased supply leading to competition and more deals,” says Michael Stitt, president, North America of Travelzoo, which recently unveiled its annual Wow Deal Destinations for 2017.Florida’s Gulf Coast

Seven new hotels opened in 2016 in the Clearwater area, including the luxury Opal Sands Resort. A new Wyndham Grand Resort

on Clearwater Beach is among severa l upsca le brands opening their doors in 2017. Budget a irline Allegiant flies into St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport from 20 U.S. cities, and nearby Tampa airport is serviced by most major U.S. carriers, resulting in heavy competition and frequent airfare sales.New Zealand

The number of airline seats to New Zealand has doubled this year, with three top airlines introducing direct flights from the U.S. The increased competition means packages that used to cost $2,000 per person can now be found for as little as $1,299. Travelzoo deal experts also recommend the Air New Zealand Explorer Pass, a cost-effective way to see the country from North Island to South Island.

PeruThere are now seven

airlines flying nonstop from the U.S. to Lima, creating more intense competition than ever. The dollar is at a 10-year high against the Peruvian sol. Recently the Peruvian government started limiting the number of visitors to Macchu Pichu, so those interested in visiting should do so soon.Paris

The French department of tourism reports a 1.8 million drop in the number of visitors to Paris for the first 10 months of 2016 compared to 2015. If this trend continues, it will put pressure on Parisian hotel rates. At the same time, a favorable exchange rate and sharp increase in low-cost flight options mean Americans can experience the French capital for the lowest price in recent years.

United KingdomThe British pound hit a

31-year low after the U.K. voted to leave the European Union in June 2016. A weak pound, coupled with a drop in airfares means increasingly aggressive deals available to U.S. travelers.Washington, D.C.

A slew of new hotels makes now the time to visit a city that’s already popular with deal-seekers. Washington, D.C. has a huge number of free attractions, including world-class museums like the newly opened National Museum of African-American History & Culture on the National Mall. Fourteen new hotels this year and 16 opening next year will likely drive down room rates. For deals, consider weekends, when business travelers leave town.

For more information on the 2017 Wow Deal

Vacation destinations where you can stretch your Dollar in 2017

Dest inat ions, v isit the Travelzoo blog at travelzoo.com/blog/2017wow.

This year, consider taking

advantage of the trends identified by experts that can make amazing destinations affordable and convenient.

giving you something to look forward to.

But where to go, you might ask. One great option is Florida’s Space Coast, a destination that, while renowned for its ties to the U.S. space program, also offers an astonishing abundance of adventure-filled, outdoor vacation activities.

If you’re starting to explore your spring or summer vacation possibilities, here are some can’t-miss things to do that make the Space Coast an out-of-this-world destination:

• Ta ke a n ight t ime “bioluminescence” kayak tour along the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge or Cocoa Beach. These tours allow you to get up close and personal with some of

the glowing creatures who magnificently inhabit the waters along Florida’s Space Coast.

• With so many great beaches, the area is an ideal destination for surfers and other water sports enthusia st s . Here, you can visit the flagship Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach—a 52,000-square-foot, multilevel store offering a huge selection of surf boards, swimming attire and other surf-brand apparel. Meanwhile, at the nearby Ron Jon Surf School, you can arrange a surfing lesson or even rent a paddleboard.

• Immerse yourself in nature at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a 140,000-acre park that is home to at least 1,500

species of plants and animals, including alligators, manatees and a wide variety of birds. If the time of year is right, you can also take a guided nighttime Turtle Walk to observe sea turtles as they lay their eggs.

• The region is a paradise for birds, making it the perfect place to host the annual Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival, normally held early in the year. Bird-watching, or “birding,” is just part of the fun at the festival, which also offers entertainment, unique dining experiences, special events and more.

• In Titusville, sign up for a Coast-to-Coast Bike Tour and get an up-close view of the region’s vibrant wildlife areas and historic sites. Or, for an epic ride, venture out on your

own along the Coast-to-Coast Connector Bike Trail.

• Get your adrenaline pumping with a zip line aerial tour. Brevard Zoo’s Treetop Trek allows you to zip line, crawl or climb your way through acre after acre of lush Florida landscape.

• The Space Coast is one of the few places you can personally witness a rocket launching into space, and it is breathtaking. Rockets carrying satellites into orbit or transporting cargo to the International Space Station launch periodically throughout the year. You can find the launch schedule at SpaceCoastLaunches.com.

To learn more about Florida’s Space Coast and plan your spring or summer getaway, head to visitspacecoast.com.

Outdoor adventures offer out-of-this-world fun on Florida’s Space Coast

(BPT)—When winter cold and snow force you indoors, you might dream of getting away to somewhere warm and sunny that offers plenty of energizing fun and a much-

needed change in the weather. Planning for your spring and summer vacations is a great way to score some budget-friendly deals. It also helps you beat the winter blues by

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(BPT)—Stop dreaming about summer boating and make it a reality by finding the best deals this winter. Starting in January, boat shows take place across the country. They offer some of the best pricing and incentives of the year—a major draw for the millions of Americans who take to the water each year on more than 12 million boats in the U.S. , according to the National M a r ine M a nu fac t urer s Association. For those ready to plan their summer fun, boat shows are often the place to start.

Whether it’s fishing, sailing, cruising, riding personal watercraft, wakesurfing or tubing—boat shows have it all and create a unique shopping experience with hundreds of boats are under one roof to board, browse and buy. However, most people don’t know about the special pricing, incentives and perks these events offer.

Discover Boating, the national awareness program

to help get people on the water, offers five tips to find the best deal at your local boat show.

• F ind your v ir tua l dreamboat. Before visiting a boat show, you’ll want to know which boats to shop. Start your search online with DiscoverBoating.com’s Boat Selector to identify which boat types fit your lifestyle, interests, and budget. Plug in your preferences for on-water activities, number of passengers, boat length, price range and propulsion, to narrow down boat options before heading to your local boat show.

• Warm up with hot deals. Unlike auto shows, boat shows are the place to buy. Hundreds of new-year models are available to buy right at the show, often at some of the best prices of the year as exhibitors generally offer special show pricing or other incentives. Plus, it’s the perfect time to order a new boat to ensure it arrives ready to launch in spring.

• Make the most of show pricing. It helps to know what fits in your budget before shopping a show. Use this boat loan calculator on DiscoverBoating.com to estimate monthly payments, which can be as low as $250 a month or less.

• Try out the boating lifestyle. Boat shows are a great place for beginners to learn about boating and for more experienced captains to hone their skills, plus they offer lots of fun and interactive activities for the whole family. Look for boat shows that offer knot-tying, DIY boat maintenance, a sailing simulator, remote control docking ponds, virtual boating simulators, paddlesports pools, fishing for kids and much more. It’s not only fun to learn new skills, but smart to take advantage of the onsite training boat shows offer usually at little to no cost. Plus, it’s a great place to meet other boaters as many make their local boat show a winter rendezvous.

Get ready for summer and warm up with hot deals at your local boat show

• Look for the seal of approval. When shopping for a boat at a show, online or at a dealership, always check to make sure it is certified by the National Marine Manufacturers Association. An “NMMA Certified” seal means a boat has met strict

industry standards for safety, construction and federal regulations, ensuring the best quality to the buyer. Look for the NMMA certified sticker near the helm.

Boat shows not only offer the best deals of the year, but they are also a way to learn

how to get on the water, while enjoying a taste of summer boating during the off season. Visit DiscoverBoating.com to find a boat show near you, a list of certified dealers and manufacturers, and unbiased advice for getting started in boating.

PAGE 8B HERITAGE FLORIDA JEWISH NEWS, FEBRUARY 24, 2017

(StatePoint) This season, get together with friends and family to indulge in delicious food and wine pairings. To guide you through the party planning, here is some expert advice on how to alleviate the potential stress of being a host.

“Planning a menu can be a challenge. Knowing the flavor profile of each course, salty, sweet, sour or savory, will help you pair wines with your meal,” says Dean Busquaert, senior wine educator at Napa Valley’s Sequoia Grove Winery.

With more than 30 years of experience in Napa Valley, the team at Sequoia Grove Winery have become specialists in not only producing delicious wine but also educating their customers on wine and food pairings.

“If your meal is mainly savory dishes, the Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 (SRP: $39.99) would be a terrific choice. It is elegant, with concentrated dark fruit flavors and wonderful s t r u c t u r e . C a b e r n e t Sauvignons do not live up to their full potential in the presence of sugar, but become soft, almost velvet-like with a sauce that has a good acidic backbone.”

With this tip in mind, work past the traditional thought process that red wine only pairs with red meat and remember that the key to a successful meal is thoughtful preparation.

The winery recommends a recipe for Sliced Chicken with Lemon Butter Sauce.

Ingredients:Four 6 oz. boneless chicken breasts1/2 c. all-purpose flour3 tbsp. canola oil2 tbsp. butterLemon Butter Sauce2 tbsp. butter1 garlic clove, minced3 tbsp. all-purpose flour2 c. low-sodium/fat-free chicken broth1 lemon, zest and juice

Food and wine pairing ideas

1 tbsp. chives1 tsp. thyme, de-stemmedKosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:Preparing the ChickenSlice chicken horizontally

into three or four thin pieces, then pound flat using a meat mallet.

Dredge the chicken in the flour until coated.

Heat oil and butter in a large non-stick sautee pan and add the chicken. Brown and cook on each side; approximately 3-5 minutes per side depending on its thickness.

Place each piece in an oven safe dish until all of the pieces have been cooked.

Preparing the SauceMelt butter in a medium

saucepan and add the garlic. Sautee for 1 minute, then whisk in the flour forming a roux.

Gradually add in the

chicken broth, whisking as you pour to create a smooth sauce.

Add the lemon zest, juice, chives and thyme. Bring to a boil then allow to simmer for 5 minutes until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper.

Top chicken with the sauce, then bake in a 350-degree oven for 15-20 minutes. Serves six (approximately 12-14 pieces of chicken)

The recipe pairs nicely with the complexity of a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Busquaert, adds, “The secret is to eliminate sweetness and embrace tart flavors.”

For more information about Sequoia Grove winery and its educational food and wine tasting seminars, visit sequoiagrove.com.

Use these helpful hints at your next dinner party to create a meal with the perfect wine pairings.

Eliezer Sobel’s mother, Manya, reading his first book for adults with memory loss, ‘Blue Sky, White Clouds.’

By Lisa Keys

N E W YOR K (J TA) —The book is large and fits comfortably on a lap. The color photographs nearly fill each page. Each image depicts real people doing everyday Jewish things—a young girl eating matzah ball soup; a bubbe and her grandchildren lying in the grass; a man wearing tefillin, praying. The sentences are in large print; they are simple (“Mother says the blessing over the candles”) and easy to read.

But the book is not for young children learning how to read, nor is it for parents to introduce Judaism to their preschoolers.

Rather it is designed for those suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive type of dementia that causes a slow decline in thinking, memory and

reasoning. The book—a series of independent pictures and captions—requires no memory to read and follow along, allowing those with memory-loss issues to enjoy and engage with each image on its own terms.

“L’Chaim: Pictures to Evoke Memories of a Jewish Life,” by Eliezer Sobel, is probably the first book of its kind—a Jewish-themed book created explicitly for adults with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

“There’s such a richness to Jewish content and imagery and history and culture,” Sobel, 64, told JTA. “There are so many Jewish people in Jewish nursing homes, and Jewish families with loved ones who have dementia.”

Sobel’s family is among them. The author took inspiration from his mother, Manya, 93, a refugee who fled Nazi Germany and has

have Alzheimers, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Inspired, Sobel—a writer (previous books include the novel “Minyan: Ten Jewish Men in a World That is Heartbroken”) and leader of meditation and creativity retreats—published his first book for adults with dementia, “Blue Sky, White Clouds: A Book for Memory-Challenged Adult s” in 2012 . Like “L’Chaim,” the book is a series of large color photographs of things like birds, trees and babies with captions such as “The baby is fast asleep” and “Snow covers the trees.”

“If patients see the pictures, say the names of the pictures, make some comments or are in any way affected by the books, that’s a good thing, period,” David Teplow, a professor of neurology at UCLA, told JTA. (Teplow provided a blurb for “Blue Sky”: “It certainly appears to be necessary to fill a void in this area of publishing, namely the realistic representation of images and ideas for people with memory and cognitive impairment.”)

Plus, Teplow added, “There are lot of Jewish people who have Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Certainly it’s

an important project for the Jewish community.”

For Sobel, having a Jewish-themed follow-up to “Blue Sky” was a bit of a no-brainer.

“It seemed natural to me,” he said. “It’s who I am; who we are. Especially my mother, the history of her Holocaust experience—it was a big part of my growing up, how she and her family got out, what they experienced.”

Sobel’s mother arrived in the U.S. at age 14, shortly after Kristallnacht in 1938. Though she escaped Germany with her immediate family—her grandmother was left behind and died in a labor camp—she remained scarred by her experiences and raised her kids to be wary of outsiders.

“Fair Lawn, New Jersey, was kind of like ‘Leave It To Beaver’—perfectly safe and lots of Jewish families,” Sobel said of his hometown in the New York City suburbs. “But my mom kept an axe under the bed when my dad wasn’t home.”

The family kept kosher; they had Friday night Shabbat dinners and Sobel attended synagogue on Saturdays with his father.

“My mother’s idea of keeping Shabbat was she

didn’t clean the house; she’d do something she enjoyed,” he recalled. “We’d drive—but not past the rabbi’s house.”

Sobel said that while he and his mother “were at loggerheads for a lot of my adult life,” when her Alzheimer’s set in, she was released from her terrible memories.

“It was almost a blessing to be around her; someone who radiated love and welcoming to everyone,” he said. “I was freed up to feel and express my love for her, which had been bottled up since my teenage years.”

The books, he said, seemed to provide her some comfort and—just as important—entertainment. Sobel’s father, Max, took care of his mother until he fell and suffered a traumatic brain injury himself three years ago, on their 67th wedding anniversary. (He died in November.)

“I watched my father, tearing his hair out, looking for things to do with her,” Sobel said. “There are so few resources for that.

“If she enjoyed being with the book in the moment, we could do it again the next day, or the next hour. We could read it 100 times—it never got old.”

Finally, a book for Jews with Alzheimer’ssuffered from Alzheimer’s for 17 years. As her memory deteriorated, her language slowly disappeared with it, Sobel said. Eventually, a few years ago, it seemed gone for good.

However, “One day I walk into the living room, and she was thumbing through a magazine, reading the big print headlines aloud, correctly,” he recalled. “I said, ‘Omigod! Mom can still read!’”

Sobel, who lives in Red Bank, New Jersey, said he headed to the local Barnes & Noble to get her a picture book for dementia patients.

“It seemed like the most obvious thing in the world,” he said.

Instead, he learned that such a thing didn’t really exist. After unsuccessful trips to bookstores and searches online, Sobel called the National Alzheimer’s Association. He said the librarian he spoke with on the phone was stumped at first—she said that while there were more than 20,000 books for caregivers, she didn’t know of anything for the patients themselves.

Eventually the librarian turned up a few books for Alzheimer’s patients: Lydia Burdick has a series of three books for adults with the disease, including “The Sunshine On My Face.” In subsequent years a few more have appeared, such as those by Emma Rose Sparrow. Still, the market for such products is very small, even though some 5.8 million Americans

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