First of all, thank you so much for inviting us into your chambers here in D.C., and for taking the time to sit down for this conversation.

Chief Judge Solomson:
      It’s my pleasure. I’m happy to share a little of my story with the community.  Fire away.

Chief Judge Solomson at his Senate confirmation hearing.

Let’s start from the beginning—how did you grow up, what was your education like, and how did you find yourself drawn to law?

      I grew up all over the country as an Army brat. My father is a retired colonel and surgeon. By the time I reached eighth grade, I had already lived in nine different places: Louisiana, Texas, West Point, Silver Spring (once before), Savannah, San Francisco, Honolulu, Augusta (Georgia), and finally back to Maryland.

I went to public school here in the area, in Potomac. For college, I attended Brandeis, and by the end of 1995—just a month before my wedding—I didn’t have a job lined up. It was stressful. I had been interviewing in New York, Boston, Chicago, and here in DC, but with no luck.  Lisa and I were getting married in three weeks and I had no job lined up. Although it’s really not my thing at all, I was spending Shabbos in Brookline (Boston) and went to the Bostoner Rebbe for a bracha for parnasa.  I received a job offer from a large economics consulting firm back in D.C. later that very week (conclude what you will).  That brought us to Silver Spring, and we’ve been here ever since (minus a half-year of yeshiva in Israel).  Kemp Mill has been a wonderful community in which to raise our three kids. We have friends who are like family, and it’s been such a blessing to watch everyone’s kids grow up together.  Our wonderful mechutanim also live around the corner – something we could never have foreseen when we first moved in.  And my parents still live in Potomac.

So once you were back in the area, what path did your career take?

I knew that I wanted to apply to joint JD/MBA programs and those generally require work experience, so I worked at the consulting firm for a little more than a year. Once I applied and was accepted to a JD/MBA program, however, I left the firm, asked the school for a deferment, and took a year off to learn.  We spent some time in Israel, and here at YGW as well. 

After law and business school, my first job was clerking for a judge on the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, where I now serve as the Chief Judge.  So my career has come full circle in a way that I could never have anticipated.

When it comes to managing a career, you can make plans, do everything “right,” and still have no idea where you’ll actually end up. When I started clerking here at the court, I couldn’t even tell you exactly what this court did. But I interviewed, received an offer, and accepted the position. At the time, I fully expected to go into patent litigation—that was my plan – and the judge for whom I clerked promised me the opportunity to work on patent cases with him.  But when I joined my first firm after clerking —  Arnold & Porter, one of the largest firms in D.C.—they steered me into work before the Court of Federal Claims, primarily focused on government contracts.  At first I wasn’t thrilled about it, but over time I came to really enjoy the work and the completely unanticipated career path.  It’s why I tell new lawyers to keep an open mind about what they want to do.

Chief Judge Solomson being sworn into office by then-Chief Judge Sweeney, with his wife Lisa holding the Chumash.

So I ended up building my career around the jurisdiction of the Court of Federal Claims, which includes not only government contracts, but also a wide-range of monetary claims against the United States government, including intellectual property, tax, employment, Fifth Amendment takings, amongst other types of claims. Eventually, I published a very thick and boring book about the court’s jurisdiction and that – combined with my experience in the private sector and the Justice Department – ultimately positioned me for the bench. It was a grueling, nearly three year process.I first interviewed with the White House for the judicial position in 2017, just after the inauguration, in April—right around Pesach. In fact, the initial interview date I was offered was on yuntiff and I considered trying to work it out rather than ask for a different date, but Lisa – who is always supportive – all but made me ask for another date.  The White House had no problem with accommodating for unavailability for Pesach.  Then, about a year later, on Purim, the White House called to say they would move forward with my nomination, assuming the background check went smoothly. The background check took a full year. Following the nomination, it was another few months before I had a Senate confirmation hearing and then approximately nine more months before I finally had a Senate floor vote. 

What made you want to go through the interview process in the first place?

Sender, it was a complicated set of considerations. On the one hand, being a judge in the federal system is, I think, one of the highest honors you can have as a lawyer in this country. It’s also an opportunity to serve the country and play a vital role in the legal system.

One of my biggest regrets is not having joined the JAG Corps following the  9/11 terrorist attacks. I really wanted to join the Army as a lawyer, at least in the reserves. But with young children at home, it just didn’t seem like the life my wife had signed up for.  Lisa had no objections, for the record. But I didn’t do it, and I regret that to this day. Now, I’m not trying to compare serving as a judge to serving in uniform—our armed forces put their personal safety at risk and often leave their families for long stretches of time—but being a judge is still a way to do some small part to serve my country.  I’ve also always had a passion for the legal system itself. We have a fascinating, beautiful, and fundamentally just system in America. The chance to be part of it, to resolve cases, and to apply the law to new factual situations is both meaningful and enjoyable professionally.  So I won’t claim it’s only about service. It’s also what I love to do—solving legal problems and helping to resolve disputes. And that’s a privilege in itself. Because what’s the alternative? In other systems or societies, people sometimes settle disputes through violence. In America, we have the rule of law—rules that are known in advance, applied by an impartial judge. Whether as a judge or as an attorney, whether in private practice or with the government, I think the practice of law is a noble profession and everyone who participates in the system is helping the country in a material way.

So when I got a call from a friend of mine—someone else who lives in Kemp Mill—proposing to recommend me to the White House for this judicial position, I said, “You’ll have my resume in five minutes.” And that’s how I wound up here.  Of course, it was a very long process, and it didn’t happen without the help of many friends along the way.  I am happy to share the hashgacha stories with you some other time.

The confirmation process sounds exhausting. What was it like going through such an intensive background check?

It really was crazy. The investigation went all the way back to my eighteenth birthday. At the time I started in the process, I was, perhaps, forty-three? I had to provide the FBI, the DOJ, and the Senate with every location I had ever lived, every job I had ever held. I had to provide a slew of  professional references—including the names of opposing counsel from my cases—and copies of everything I had ever published.

Chief Judge Solomson leading Tehillim at a memorial service with fellow judges at Har Herzl.

I thought I had submitted a complete set of my work, but DOJ or the Senate staffers still dug up a letter to the editor of the Brandeis newspaper I had written in college—a piece I didn’t even remember. When they showed it to me, I acknowledged that it looked like my writing at that age, and that it had my friends’ names as co-signatories, but I insisted I had no recollection whatsoever of having written it.  The letter had criticized my college newspaper for running an advertisement from a Holocaust denier. My point was simple: as a private newspaper, they didn’t have to accept such ads, and I couldn’t believe that the flagship newspaper of a Jewish-sponsored university like Brandeis would publish one.  I asked the Justice Department lawyers, “Is this going to be a problem for me?” I worried someone might call it anti–free speech or something. They laughed and said, “Do you really think any senator is going to attack an Orthodox Jew for criticizing Holocaust denial? No one’s going near that with a ten-foot pole.” And they were right—it was never an issue.

But that shows how deep the process goes. The FBI talked to my neighbors, my parents, my friends—and then asked my friends for more names. Because we had spent six months in Israel, they even contacted the Israeli national police to confirm I had no criminal record in that country. That step alone added several months to the process.  And of course I had no record there – I spent all of my time walking to and from yeshiva or doing Shabbos shopping in Geula.

Speaking of anti-semitism and universities, after October 7 you took to LinkedIn with a strong stand, refusing to hire law students who signed letters sympathetic to Hamas. How did you find the strength to do that?

It’s funny—when I was confirmed, I made perhaps two final thank-you posts on social media. One on Facebook for friends, and one on LinkedIn for professional colleagues. I announced I had been confirmed, thanked everyone, and essentially said, “This is the last you’ll see of me on social media. Everyone knows where to find me. Have a great life.” And I meant it. I stayed off social media almost completely—until October 7.

That day changed everything. I felt compelled to speak out. Reasonable people can disagree with that decision. Judges generally aren’t supposed to opine on controversial issues outside of their cases. But our ethics rules also encourage us to teach, to express opinions about the law and the profession, and to promote the rule of law and principles of justice. I thought it was important to address not only the terror attacks themselves, but also what they meant for the Jewish community in America. Within days—before Israel had even responded—you already saw anti-Israel protests. Really, anti-Jewish protests. On campuses, in New York City, and elsewhere.

Initially, what received a fair amount of press was my statement on LinkedIn that I would not hire as a law clerk any Harvard student who remained a member of the organizations that signed onto a pro-Hamas letter. If you resigned in protest, fine. But for students who stayed members of those groups, I argued they were not fit to be hired as Federal judicial law clerks, any more than would a student who expressed support for the KKK. Both the legal and mainstream press covered my statement.  

Soon after, a number of major law firms—far more powerful than a single judge—began rescinding job offers to students who had signed or made pro-Hamas statements. Soon after, another judge, a friend of mine, followed suit with a similar statement.

Look, there’s a wide range of legitimate views about the Middle East. You can argue for two states, or whatever. That’s fine. But when you cross the line into supporting terrorism, that’s different. Free speech protects your right to say even very offensive things. But it doesn’t obligate me to consider you for a clerkship.  And when protests move from speech into physical harassment—physically blocking Jewish students or intimidating them on campus—that’s not speech anymore. That’s prohibited conduct. And that’s exactly what we saw on a range of campuses.

After Harvard, you were also involved in the boycott of Columbia Law School. How did that come about?

I have hired law clerks from a range of law schools, including Harvard, UPenn, NYU, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Maryland, Cornell, Pepperdine, Fordham, Cardozo, and GWU.  I pay attention to what is happening at law schools. At a certain point, what I was seeing at Columbia was intolerable. On my own, I knew I wouldn’t move the needle—if one judge says he or she won’t hire Columbia grads, no one cares that much. So I reached out via email to Judge Jim Ho of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and to Judge Lisa Branch of the Eleventh Circuit. Both had previously led boycotts of Stanford and Yale – refusing to hire their law students – after those schools mistreated conservative speakers and generally showed hostility to conservative students.  Neither judge is Jewish.

Together, we concluded that a simple letter of condemnation wouldn’t change anything. The only way to get the university’s attention was a boycott. So thirteen or so federal judges, including myself, signed onto a statement saying we would not hire Columbia graduates going forward—starting with the incoming class, so prospective students had the chance to choose a different school. I published a Wall Street Journal op-ed explaining our decision. (Incidentally, it must’ve been Kemp Mill day at the Journal –  my close friend Dr. Tevi Troy had an article published on the same page as mine.) 

Some people argued that our hiring boycott would unfairly hurt innocent students, including Jewish students. But as Judge Ho explained, that critique is born of  a loser mentality because it assumes failure.  If you assume the boycott will succeed, that would mean the university has changed and reformed, and the boycott ends with a net positive result.  And, indeed, Judge Ho is correct that if only thirty or forty judges had joined, the pressure would have been overwhelming, and the schools would have no choice but to change, and then no student would face any repercussions.  So asking about innocent students makes a critical assumption that the boycott would not achieve its intended effect.  All of those who signed the boycott had the attitude that we would succeed and perhaps more judges would join us.

Another final story on this is worth relating.  Judge Ho called me later and said that his initial reaction to my email request was that this antisemitism issue was not his fight.  After all, he had already taken a stand against Yale and Stanford, and caught flak for that.  But then, he told me, he prayed on the matter one evening, and woke up thinking – and this brings me to tears every time I tell it – “what kind of person would I be if I only stood up for Christians and conservatives, and not my Jewish brothers and sisters.”  

You mentioned that the boycott didn’t come without cost. What was the reaction like, and did you ever worry about security?

I think we’re tremendously blessed in this country. By and large, our fellow citizens support us, and that’s why America doesn’t look like some other places that seem to have been overrun by Hamas sympathizers.

But yes, the boycott drew criticism. Professors criticized us. Even some Jewish professors criticized us, calling it mean or unfair. And it wasn’t cost-free—we all faced ethics complaints (that ultimately were dismissed as meritless). But it was a small price to pay to help focus legal employers on the plight of Jewish students at Columbia.  As for security—yes, it’s always a concern. Judicial security is an important issue. There’s always someone who loses in court, which means there’s always someone unhappy with you as a judge. In fact, if you look at recent years, Congress has been grappling with this very problem. One Federal judge in New Jersey, Judge Salas, was the victim of a serious crime – an evil man who I believe once had a case before her, came to her home, shot her husband, and killed her son. And I think that some (if not all) Supreme Court justices today need around-the-clock security due to threats. So yes, it’s definitely something we think about.

I heard that after October 7 you even brought Rabbi Frank in to speak at the court. How did that come about?

Yes. In the aftermath, a number of Jewish colleagues—both inside the court and lawyers I knew outside—felt this real need to connect with other Jews, to connect more deeply with Judaism, and to process what had happened and what we were experiencing in the Diaspora. I think we were all feeling that need, no matter our observance level.  October 7 was like a pogrom out of old-world Europe—or like Chevron in 1929—only carried out in our time. When you stop and scale the numbers, if the same thing had happened here in the United States, it would have been the equivalent of something like 40-50,000 people murdered in a single day. It’s unfathomable.

Because of that need, I invited Rabbi Frank to come in and speak to a group of judges and lawyers who expressed interest in getting together. It was a very diverse group of Jews—I think he remarked that it was the most diverse group he’s ever addressed. We actually brought him in twice, and the feedback was incredible. People said it was sensitive, thoughtful, and exactly what they needed. In fact, I think one of those shiurim ended up being his most downloaded from his podcast library. We’ve talked about doing it again and I’ve had others ask about it.  It’s been a while now, so maybe it’s time to regroup.

And what about being an openly observant Jew—has that ever posed unique challenges for you on the bench?

Not at all. Honestly, it was more of a challenge in private practice. When you’re a young lawyer, you have to explain Shabbos and yom tov to every new boss. Or you’re out to eat with colleagues, sipping a Diet Coke and eating cold fruit while they’re eating burgers, and it can feel awkward.

As a judge, though, I set the schedule. And I have the luxury of being able to close chambers for Jewish holidays—and out of respect, I do the same for my non-Jewish clerks between December 24 and January 1. I’ll work from home, but they get that time off.

Before my Senate confirmation hearing, I asked a DOJ lawyer helping us nominees through the process whether it would be a problem for me to wear a yarmulke at the hearing. He said, “Not with our side of the aisle—and we have all the votes.” Funny answer. I was confirmed by a very wide margin, so nobody was too troubled by my religious observance.  

Do you have any memorable experiences explaining your observance to employers before becoming a judge?

One of my favorite stories goes back to when I received a job offer at a company. I had a standard spiel I’d give to every potential new boss. I’d say: “I’m a Saturday Sabbath observer. From Friday evening until Saturday night, I’ll be completely out of pocket—no phone, no email. But I’ll pick up the work Saturday night, I’ll answer emails every night before bed and first thing in the morning, and I’ve never dropped the ball. If this is a problem for you or the company, that’s fine—just let me know now. I won’t sue or complain about discrimination. I just want this to be a good fit.”

One boss—now a good friend—told me it wouldn’t be a problem. But on my very first Wednesday, he came into my office and said, “Don’t you have to be getting home?”  I replied, “Why would I need to get home?” He shrugged and said, “Well, it’s getting dark out.”  I said back “So?” “Your Sabbath?,” he asked.  I realized he thought I had to be home every night before dark. I laughed and explained, “The Jewish Sabbath starts Friday night and ends Saturday night. I don’t need to leave early today.” He just shook his head and said, “Whatever, man,” and walked out. He literally didn’t know when Shabbos was.  That’s a common thing I warn young professionals about – outside of NY or LA, people aren’t familiar with Jewish observance or, say, yarmulkes.

That’s hilarious—but did you ever feel it was a challenge to maintain observance in the workplace?

I never really had an issue. Sometimes you do have to work harder to show you’re not slacking. But if you do great work, if you’re responsive and deliver high-quality results, people respect that. They’ll be respectful of your religious commitment and the fact that you’re offline on Shabbos or yom tov. 

But you absolutely can’t coast and expect special treatment. You’ve got to set the bar high, because in the middle of a litigation deadline, when everyone else is working around the clock, you may need to say, “Sorry, I’m out for three days.” And of course, people don’t understand that you’re not at the beach. On Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, you’re in shul twelve hours a day, or fasting—but nobody cares. To them, you’re just unavailable and on vacation. And you can’t expect sympathy. You just make it work, and you make up for it by being excellent and fully committed the rest of the time.  I also always offered my non-Jewish colleagues to cover for them during the Christmas season or around Easter.  

Sometimes people assume that being an Orthodox Jew must affect how you approach the law. How do you think about that intersection?

It’s important to separate between two very different things: halacha and skills from learning.

Halacha has nothing to do with the substantive answers to American legal questions. My oath is to uphold the Constitution and to faithfully apply American law. Above me in the judicial hierarchy, I have the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and, of course, the United States Supreme Court. My role is to faithfully apply to cases the statutes Congress passes (and the President signs into law), the regulations the Executive Branch promulgates, and the binding decisions of the Federal Circuit and the Supreme Court.   

It’s hard to even think of an issue in my court where halacha would have a view, but if you asked, what if halacha conflicted with American law in a case before you?—the answer is simple. I would apply American law. Period.  My oath and duty require me to apply American law. If halacha ever conflicted with American law, my duty would still be to apply American law.  If I ever felt I could not fulfill my oath to do so, for whatever reason, I would resign. That’s the deal. Other religious judges — including a sitting Catholic Supreme Court justice — have essentially been asked this kind of question, and to me it reflects a subtle anti-religious bias. Nobody asks a secular judge what happens if the law conflicts with their secular humanist philosophy as if it’s not essentially a religion. In any event, my answer is that my religious views stay outside the courtroom.

What about the skill set from learning in yeshiva—does that translate into your work as a judge?

That’s a different story. Yeshiva provides a kind of legal training in its own right. You do case analysis, close reading of texts, and you apply rules to new factual scenarios. That’s excellent preparation for law school. At the same time, law school also teaches things yeshiva doesn’t—structured theory, legal vocabulary, and different frameworks for interpretation.

For example, in American law, there are at least three approaches to interpreting a statute, for example:

1. Textualism – sticking closely to the plain, original public meaning of the words of a binding text like a statute or constitutional provision.
   
2. Purposivism – looking to the broader purpose of the law, even if it pushes beyond the text.
   
3. Intentionalism – focusing on what Congress specifically intended, sometimes based on congressional committee reports or debates.

When I was learning Yoreh De’ah, I sometimes noticed that one authority might be more sensitive to specific language and word choices, another to the broader purpose of a rule, and another to a related text elsewhere. It struck me that some poskim were essentially doing “textualism” while others were “purposivists,” etc. – even that vocabulary isn’t used.  But that’s my point – in my experience, the beis medrash isn’t focused too much on legal theory or methodology (even in the context of halacha).

And you’ve kept up your learning alongside your legal career?

Well, I’ve tried, but admittedly some periods of my professional life have been more productive than others in terms of Torah learning. A few years ago, however, my son encouraged me to pick up something more challenging that would motivate me. And so I applied and was accepted to the yadin yadin kollel program at YU/RIETS. The learning is self-study, and it takes about four years, I understand, to complete the basic curriculum.  We have weekly chaburas via Zoom and in the several past years I have attended the chabruas at RIETS in person (thanks to Amtrak). In addition to bechinos, another requirement is that we must present a chabura once per year.  I’ve completed two thus far (available on YUTorah) and it is likely the most challenging, most intimidating thing I have ever done – more so than appearing before an appellate court or the Senate.  I am not exaggerating even a little.  The Roshei Kollel – including HaRav Mordechai Willig, HaRav Yona Reiss, and HaRav J. David Bleich – typically attend, as do the other chavrei kollel, all of whom are, of course, tremendous talmidei chachamim. It is a tough crowd. My goal is limited – not to embarrass myself.  

In 2024, you joined a delegation of judges on a trip to Israel. Can you tell me about that experience?

Yes. A group of three other Jewish judges and I organized it—14 federal judges in total, evenly split: seven Jews, seven non-Jews; seven appellate judges, seven trial judges. The World Jewish Congress sponsored the trip, and it lasted four or five days.

We met with Supreme Court justices, Knesset members, Israeli State Department lawyers arguing  Israel’s case at the ICC, and military lawyers and generals. But we also went south. In Kibbutz Be’eri, we were guided by a chayelet who had lost a handful of  family members on October 7. She walked us through their homes, through the devastation, and shared her story with extraordinary gevurah. I honestly don’t know how she did it without breaking down. For the rest of us, it was overwhelming.  

We were also shown a 47-minute video of the atrocities – the one that hasn’t been released publicly (phones weren’t allowed in the room). The footage was horrific. Everyone came out shaken; some sat in silence, others cried openly. It was, without question, one of the most emotional moments of my life.

It was a great privilege—and very emotional—to stand together, to meet hostage families, and to bear witness to the atrocities.  I think every judge who joined us on the trip has since spoken to law school groups about October 7, our experience in Israel, and what we learned there.

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As we enter the High Holidays, do you have a message for the community?
My wife Lisa always reminds me – correctly – that the holidays are a chance to take a beat to be grateful … to express gratitude to our Creator for our lives and to appreciate the opportunity to spend meaningful time with our family and friends (who are like family), while also reflecting on what makes life meaningful. It’s a chance to rebalance our priorities for the upcoming year. We in Kemp Mill are indeed very lucky to live in such a special community with special friends and neighbors. I don’t think I’m in a position to offer a message, but I’d say that everyone should try to appreciate the time you have with the people you love and don’t wish the time by.  Even if you’re young, and work (with the Jewish holiday season) feels very difficult – something I remember – it all goes by quickly and you can’t get the time back.

By Rabbi Dr. Avichai Pepper

There is something unmistakably unique about Chanukah. When we reflect on the Jewish calendar, we notice that most of our holidays are inward-facing. We celebrate them within our homes, our shuls, and our personal spiritual space. We do not stand in the middle of the street blowing shofar for all to hear; we do not walk around publicly holding up our matzah to declare our freedom; even the kedushah of Shabbos is observed with dignity and privacy.

Chanukah alone breaks that pattern. The mitzvah of pirsumei nisa, publicizing the miracle, is not a detail but the very definition of the mitzvah. The Gemara (Shabbos 21b) states clearly that the candles must be placed “קובעת שהדלקת נרות חנוכה נעשית על פתח ביתו מבחוץ”, at the entrance of one’s home, facing the outside world. So central is this value that one cannot even recite a bracha unless the light will be visible to someone (Shulchan Aruch O.C. 672:2). It is a mitzvah designed for the eyes of others.

There is another perplexity as well. No other mitzvah excludes personal benefit. We eat and sleep in the sukkah. We enjoy Torah on Shavuos. Shabbos itself is “חצי לה’ וחצי לכם”, half for Hashem, half for us. Yet the words of הַנֵרוֹת הַלָלוּ remind us that the Chanukah lights are kodesh, holy, “ואין לנו רשות להשתמש בהן”, we are prohibited from using their light for any personal purpose. The candles radiate outward, yet remain sacred and untouchable.

Why the difference?

A Light Born of Crisis

To understand this, we must revisit the history of Chanukah. The Yevanim decrees were not aimed at our bodies, they targeted our identity, our spirituality, our Torah. The Yevanim sought to “make them forget the Torah and to remove us from Your ways”, the ways of the Torah (Al HaNisim). Many of our brethren succumbed and assimilated. The Maccabean revolt was not only a battle against an empire but a battle within our own communities as well. There were those who gave in, leaving Torah life, and there were those heroes, like Chana and her seven sons, who embodied unwavering courage, sacrificing everything to remain faithful to a life of kedushah.

The miracle of Chanukah was not only the military victory or the oil that burned beyond nature. It was the miracle that a group remained loyal, that the flame of Torah did not go dark. As the Midrash in Bereishis teaches, “מעט אור דוחה הרבה מן החושך”, even a small light can push away great darkness.

This is at the heart of our pirsumei nisa. We place the candles facing outward to declare publicly that not only did Hashem perform miracles then, but the light of a committed few can uplift the many now. The message is one of solidarity and strength:

“איש את־רֵעהוּ יעזורוּ ולאחיו יאמר חזק”, each person helps his friend and says to his brother: Be strong (Yeshayahu 41:6).

Our lights say to one another: We are still here. We are still strong. And together, we will remain faithful.

Why We Cannot Use the Light

The prohibition of using the Chanukah lights emerges naturally from this understanding.

The Ramban (Shemos 27:20) writes that light represents spiritual clarity. The Maharal (Ner Mitzvah) explains that the Chanukah light represents the supernatural divine illumination that preserved Torah in that dark era. Such light is not utilitarian. It is not meant to serve our needs. It exists to proclaim something greater, the presence of Hashem even when darkness seems overwhelming.

By forbidding personal use, the halachah teaches us:

This light is not about me.

It is about us but our identity, our faith, our resilience, our collective future.

Building Community Through the Candlelight

If the candles are meant to shine outward, what does that ask of us today?

The outward flames remind us that our community, like these neros, is holy, that each person carries a spark that lifts the whole. The holiness of the candles reflects the holiness of the people who gather around them. When we light, we declare that our community, too, is kodesh and that we carry responsibility for each other.

Chanukah invites us to ask:

Drive around your neighborhood after lights the Chanukah Menorah and consider these ideas; How do we care for our neighbors? How do we unify our families and our shul, or friends, and Yeshivas and schools? What chessed can we illuminate for someone facing darkness? How can we strengthen the kedushah of our community so that children grow up surrounded by light? Just as the candles must be seen by others, our actions must shine as well.

A Prayer for Our Community

As we stand before the menorah this year, let us daven that our community continues to grow in strength, achdus, and kedushah. May we support one another during challenges, lift each other during moments of weakness, and build a future where the flame of Torah burns with warmth and clarity for our children and for all generations.

יהי רצון שנזכה להאיר זה לזה, ולעשות את קהילתנו מקומות של קדושה, חסד, וביטחון.

May the light of Chanukah shine outward, and inward, guiding us toward a stronger, holier, and more connected community.

About the Author:

Rabbi Dr. Avichai Pepper is a seasoned educator with a rich academic and professional background. A graduate of the New England Rabbinical College in Providence, RI, he has devoted his life to the pursuit of knowledge and the nurturing of young minds and support of Torah and Jewish communal growth. Rabbi Pepper holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Liberty University, alongside a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Bellevue University and a Master’s degree in Counseling from Liberty University.

Currently serving as the Director of Educational Advancement and Community Relations at the Yeshiva of Greater Washington, Rabbi Dr. Pepper leverages almost 30 years of dedicated service in Chinuch (Jewish education) and community development. His extensive experience in Jewish education includes various impactful roles, demonstrating his commitment to fostering academic excellence and personal growth within the Jewish educational system. He has played a role in the Jewish Day School movement in several cities including Providence, RI., Houston, TX., Seattle, WA., Phoenix, AZ., and currently, Silver Spring, MD. He also serves as a teacher coach through Lomdei and is an adjunct professor at Woodmont College – School of Education and School of Behavioral Science..

Rabbi Pepper’s expertise lies in cultivating an environment of positivity and encouragement, where students thrive academically, socially, and spiritually. His leadership is rooted in the belief that a supportive and dynamic school culture is key to unlocking each student’s potential and empowering students’ growth, ensuring their holistic development and success.

We got you in. Well… kind of. Not through a secret back entrance — but the next best thing. And thanks to Jake Turx, you’re walking into the White House without ever leaving home.

Silver Spring Live! is bringing you a behind-the-scenes experience you don’t get every day — a walk inside the White House with Jake Turx, Senior White House Correspondent at Mishpacha Magazine.

Thanks to Jake, our community gets an exclusive two-part video series:

The moment Jake arrives and makes his way into the White House grounds:

Stepping into the legendary White House Press Briefing Room — where presidents’ press secretaries take questions from reporters around the world.


From security gates to the front row of American journalism, these clips put you right in the action. Whether you’ve followed national news for years or just want a peek behind the scenes, you’ll enjoy this rare view.

📹 Watch both videos below and enjoy the VIP access!

Big moments don’t just happen on TV — sometimes they land right in your WhatsApp feed. Thanks to Jake Turx, we got to bring you closer to the heart of American politics than ever before. From the first step through the gates to the click of cameras in the Press Briefing Room, you’ve just walked the same halls as the country’s top journalists. That’s the kind of access you only get when you’re part of Silver Spring Live! Stay tuned — the next big moment might be even closer to home.

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When passion meets planning, industries change. This is how the Jewish trade show world was born.

Let’s start from the beginning—how did this whole idea even come about?

Sure. Maybe we can spend a few minutes going back to how this all started. First of all, to introduce myself—my name is Mike Weber. I grew up in Boro Park and went to yeshiva there for a few years. I got married in Boro Park and started out working upstate in the Catskills. My first job was actually managing a bungalow colony.

It so happened that they needed some upgrades, and during my first year managing, I got involved in some construction projects. That’s really what got me into construction. While I was doing that, a friend introduced me to the National Builder Show in Vegas. It was a big group of frum people who went together.

The timing was complicated because the show was Thursday through Sunday, which meant being there over Shabbos. But we had an organized group and a full Shabbos program. This was about 23 years ago, when the internet was barely a thing. Email wasn’t common, and social media didn’t exist—so trade shows were one of the few ways to connect and share.

I remember thinking, “We need something like this for our community.” But these things take time, money, energy. A few years later, I partnered with a good friend, Mendel Lerner, who ran the Raleigh Hotel in South Fallsburg. I told him, “Mendel, we need to do something. Maybe you’ll help me out?” He said, “Sure, I’ll give you the venue and a good price on food—just make it happen.”

We scheduled it three weeks later, and boom, we were doing an expo.

Most people in the community had never even heard of a trade show. They thought it was like a camp performance—they didn’t really get the concept. So I had to explain: “You do what you do every day. You talk to people about your product or service. You see if they’re interested. You give more information. That might lead to a deal. That’s a trade show.”

Fast forward 15 years—now you have big events being done by major kehillos like Satmar, Skver, Klausenburg, and others across New York. People are much more familiar with what a trade show is. And it’s taken off in a very big way.

Today, the New York show takes place in a venue over 60,000 square feet. We get over 5,000 attendees and 300+ booths. It’s become a real movement.

That’s a major leap—from a bungalow colony to 60,000 square feet in NYC. How did it grow from Catskills-to the broader community and start reaching other communities like Washington D.C., Silver Spring & Baltimore?

At some point, I felt a sense of mission—this can’t just be for New York. Other communities need it too. The first event I did outside of New York was actually still upstate, in the Catskills, but on a small scale. Since I was already a contractor, I had connections with a lot of subs. I reached out to them, and we put together our first local expo with 30 booths. That was the first year. And it was a hit—people left on a high.

The next year we had 50 booths. The following year? Seventy. It just kept growing. Then someone came to me and said, “You need to take this to the next level. It’s time to do something for the broader community.”

Upstate was still limited—it was mostly for the bungalow colony crowd. People had just started buying second homes up there, but it wasn’t the main market. So we pivoted. We decided to bring the event to the Monsey area—Monsey, Monroe, that whole region.

It was a huge step. I still remember: one company really pushed me. They said, “I’ll sponsor. I’ll help. Just do it.” I ended up getting nothing from that company in the end, but it was their nudge that gave me the guts to put down a $25,000 deposit on a 60,000 square foot venue. That was a serious leap of faith.

That kind of risk—$25,000 upfront—that’s not small change. Did you already feel confident in the model?

I knew we had something powerful. The event had already proven itself. So we jumped in. And since then, we’ve done more. We did a big event for the tri-state area, centered around the five boroughs and surrounding parts of New York. Obviously, Brooklyn is a hub, and people were asking us, “When are you doing something for the city?” So we did it.

But I always try to emphasize: nothing starts out big. It starts with a vision, and it takes a huge amount of effort—cold calling, explaining what this is, convincing people to try something new. It was a process.

Last year, we brought the show to Baltimore for the first time. And baruch Hashem, it was a huge success. We had nearly 1,000 attendees and over 50 exhibitors. For that community, it was brand new. The concept was unfamiliar. But people were excited.

And now we’re gearing up for year two. There’s momentum.

You’ve built something incredible—what’s your message to families and professionals in Silver Spring, Potomac, Rockville, Chevy Chase, and D.C.? Why should they be there?

Because amazing things happen when people come together. I’ve seen it—guys walk in not expecting much and walk out with real opportunities! New vendors, new clients, even new direction. There’s so much talent and drive in your area, and this event brings it all into one space. If you’re even a little curious, just come. You never know who you’ll meet or what doors might open.

And you really believe one day can make that kind of impact?

I do. When people show up with an open mind and good energy, powerful things happen. One conversation, one handshake—it can shift your entire year. And that’s what this is about: real connections, real growth.

And the truth is, we’re just getting started. 
There’s so much more I want to share in Part Two next week. You’ll see—it’s only going up from here!

 OJBA Mid-Atlantic Builders Meetup

 Wednesday, August 13, 2025

 Baltimore Convention Center – Baltimore, MD 21201

RESERVE YOUR BOOTH OR REGISTER TO ATTEND TODAY

 www.ojbamidatlantic.com

Mid Atlantic Region Event

(Flyer below. Please share it with friends and family!)

Dr. Selena Snow

The long sunny days of summer can seem like a time for relaxation and fun as school is out and work slows down. Yet mental health challenges can continue despite the warm season. People who struggle with depression or anxiety can feel even more isolated and alone when they believe that others are having a wonderful time at the pool or traveling, but that only they failed to get the life memo on how to live a carefree life and frolic with friends and family during the summer.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Depression and anxiety are distinct, but there are several overlapping symptoms. They often co- occur, regardless of which one develops first. People may also become anxious about how depression affects their life, roles, and relationships, or become depressed and hopeless about how anxiety limits them. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, known as CBT, is an evidence-based treatment, meaning that extensive empirical research has proven its effectiveness. CBT focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors in order to change the way that someone feels.

Mistakes in Thinking

Both depression and anxiety cause distorted thinking (“thought traps”) involving harsh self- judgments and hopelessness as well as unhelpful behaviors such as avoidance. Thought traps can distort how people think about themselves, others, and the future. They may believe negative thoughts about their own competence, worth, and lovability. They might see themselves as fundamentally flawed and inadequate, feeling shame or embarrassment about their perceived shortcomings. A common pattern of thought traps is the overestimation of threat or difficulty of situations coupled with an underestimation of the ability to cope with discomfort (e.g., “I couldn’t handle that if it happened”). These negative thoughts often contribute to withdrawal and avoidance of other people and activities.

Unhelpful Behavior: Short-Term vs Long-Term

Avoidance plays a key role in many mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety, by maintaining a vicious cycle. The more you avoid, the more you tend to avoid. As individuals rely on avoidant coping, their world shrinks, with fewer opportunities for positive experiences and to collect evidence against negative thoughts and expectations. The short-term relief that comes from escaping or avoiding a difficult situation reinforces the belief that someone can’t handle uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, or sensations. For example, they might think, “Phew, thank goodness I didn’t go to class today when I felt unprepared!” This pattern can lead to a downward spiral of more avoidance of situations and interactions, which can worsen depression and anxiety

in the long run. For example, someone may come to think, “I’ve missed so many days of class that I can’t go back now; I’d better drop the course. What’s wrong with me? I’ll never be able to graduate”.

Fighting Depression and Anxiety

Fighting depression and anxiety involves resisting urges to engage in avoidance or safety behaviors. Safety behaviors are things people do to reduce anxiety and help them feel safe, such as scrolling on their phone in a social setting to look busy so they feel less anxious that others will think they are weird standing alone. (Another vicious cycle- if you do look busy, it will prevent someone from coming over to talk with you!) Instead of avoidance, people are encouraged to tolerate discomfort and make decisions based on personal goals and values.

Related to reducing avoidance, another essential strategy for combating mood and anxiety difficulties is Behavioral Activation. There is a link between mood and activity such that when we don’t engage in activity, we tend to feel worse, whereas we get a mood boost and a sense of accomplishment from engaging in activity. People often tell me that they will resume activities when they feel better AFTER their depression or anxiety has improved. I gently ask, how will that happen? We can’t directly control our mood but we can have much more control over our behavior. Planning to first change mood and THEN change behavior keeps a person stuck waiting to feel better before they can take the steps that we know can help to decrease depression and anxiety. Behavioral activation flips the script and empowers people to FIRST change their behavior and increase activity, in spite of not wanting to do so because they feel depressed or anxious, in order to bring about the desired change in mood.

Engaging in CBT with a trained licensed professional can help modify the unhelpful patterns of thought and behavior that keep people stuck and serve to maintain avoidance, depression, and anxiety. Below are 5 tips to consider implementing on your own.

Summer strategies to combat depression and anxiety:

1) Create structure. A lack of structure during summer can make it difficult to feel motivated to get up and start the day, which can lead to spending more time in bed. This may be especially true for teens and young adults who were registered for programs in Israel this summer but had their plans canceled due to the war. Consider scheduling an activity in the morning to push yourself out of bed. Plan an activity with someone else to increase accountability and improve the chances of following through, such as taking a walk with someone or attending a shiur together. It will be harder to cancel at the last minute.

2. 2)  Take small steps to reduce avoidance and reliance on safety behaviors. Take small, manageable risks and notice what happens. If socializing after shul feels uncomfortable and you usually leave right after davening, try staying just a few extra minutes. Instead of avoiding eye contact (a safety behavior) and hoping that nobody notices you, make eye contact with one person and start a brief conversation. Even if the situation does not go as you would have liked, you may notice that, nonetheless, you were able to get through it. As you learn that you are more resilient than you think and can handle situations even when things don’t work out, you may feel emboldened to try other activities or interactions. You are not a delicate flower and you can do hard things!
3. 3)  Put down your phone and go outside. Summer offers us longer days with more opportunity to catch some sunlight and fresh air in the late afternoon/early evening, which can help boost mood and increase physical activity. Give yourself some respite from incessant political stress and war updates and leave your phone behind.
4. 4)  Medication changes. Summer can be a good time to consult with a medical professional to start or change psychiatric medication when the stakes at school or work may be lower, in the event of side effects from beginning or tapering off medication.
5. 5)  Be realistic and plan ahead for Fall. If you or a loved one experienced significant depression or anxiety before the summer but seem to be feeling better during the summer (especially true for college students who suddenly have several months of reduced academic and social demands), consider whether some of those symptoms are likely to return when stressors resume in the fall. Summer can be a good time to research licensed clinicians who provide CBT and begin therapy to address depression and anxiety when there are fewer demands on your time. Proactive steps during the summer can prepare you to face returning fall stressors with new tools in your psychological toolbox and greater confidence to effectively cope with challenges, both now and in the future. This article is provided as psychoeducational information for the community and is not intended as psychological treatment and does not constitute creation of a doctor-patient relationship. If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call 9-8-8, the national behavioral health emergency number, or go to your nearest emergency room.

Dr. Selena Snow is a licensed psychologist. She is the founder and director of The Snow Psychology Group, a private practice of psychologists specializing in CBT and other evidence-based treatment for depression, anxiety, OCD, and trauma for ages 12+. They also conduct neuropsychological evaluations for ages 18+. Services are provided In-Person in Rockville, MD and via Telehealth in over 40 states. For more information, visit www.snowpsych.com or call the office at (240) 676-4206 x1.

Judah Wealcatch

If you own a home or drive a car in today’s world, insurance isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. But that doesn’t mean it’s always simple to navigate. Between deductibles, liability limits, exclusions, and endorsements, many people understandably feel overwhelmed and default to “whatever we had last year.” The good news is, understanding your coverage doesn’t need to be complicated—and small adjustments can make a meaningful difference.

Let’s start with home insurance. At a minimum, your policy should insure your home at its full replacement cost—not just what you paid for it or what it costs on Zillow. Especially in today’s construction market, rebuilding after a loss can cost far more than expected. Make sure your policy accounts for this.

Pay attention to coverage for personal property as well. Many standard policies cap reimbursement for items like jewelry, silver, or certain religious articles unless you schedule them separately. If you’ve renovated your home, finished a basement, or purchased new high-value items, it’s a good idea to update your coverage so it reflects what you actually own.

Auto insurance also deserves a closer look than it often gets. Maryland and DC minimum requirements are low, and in the event of a serious accident, they may not be nearly enough. Your liability limits should realistically reflect what you’d be responsible for, G-d forbid, in the event of an accident. This is especially important if you own a home or have savings that could be at risk in a lawsuit. You should also make sure your uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage is adequate, which is protection for when another driver causes an accident but doesn’t have enough insurance to cover injuries.

If you or your spouse own a small business, especially one that operates from home or online, it’s important to know that most homeowners policies won’t cover business-related losses. Whether it’s product inventory, client property, or even a visitor injury during a business-related appointment, a separate policy may be needed. Fortunately, business coverage can be affordable and flexible, tailored to match your risk and industry.

Insurance may not be exciting, but it is one of the few areas where a little bit of knowledge can protect a lot. If you haven’t reviewed your policies in the last few years—or if you’re not quite sure what you’re paying for—it might be time for a fresh look.

The bottom line: your insurance should reflect your life—your home, your family, your responsibilities. And while no one enjoys thinking about worst-case scenarios, there’s a certain peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re prepared.

As someone who lives in the frum community and works with clients across Baltimore and Greater Washington, I understand the rhythms, priorities, and sensitivities that come with our lifestyle. I’m always happy to answer questions, explain options, or review your current coverage.

I’d be happy to help. Just reach out to discuss how we can tailor a policy to fit your needs.

About Judah: Judah Wealcatch is a licensed insurance broker based in Baltimore, Maryland. He works at Herman E. Wealcatch Insurance, a family-owned agency that has been serving Baltimore, the Greater Washington area, and beyond for 40 years.

📞 443-541-7354
✉️ judah@wealcatchmd.com
🌐 hermanewealcatch.com